Why I Actually Hate Computers, Phones And Most Other Technology Gadgets

Clearly, I benefit personally from the increasing use of high-tech solutions and the gadgets and technology that drive them. Without advances, improvements or whatever else you want to call them, there would be no need for the high-tech industry to advertise, and that might be a problem for publishers, including my own parent company. But when you go cold turkey on technology and you step back and see what can happen without it, you realize that technology truly forces some serious trade-offs.

Despite the danger of turning this column into a "What I Did On My Summer Vacation" essay, I have a sincere need to tell you just that. I rented a cottage on Sebago Lake in Maine that had no television, no telephone and, obviously, no high-speed Internet access. I shut the cell phone off and checked voicemail just once in a week.

Contrast that with my normal lifestyle. At work I have access to all the gadgets we believe are needed to run a business these days. At home I have a wireless network with several PCs, three telephone lines and high-speed Internet access.

We have three teenagers in the house, and there are many times when all three of them are on instant messaging while carrying on a phone conversation at the same time. If you want to see your children come down with the shakes, drag them on vacation when they are getting to the age where they would rather be with their friends, and then deny them access to technology.

Remember, my children have never been in a home without a computer. They certainly don't know what it was like before the advent of simple things like answering machines and remote controls. Amazingly, after only two days of not hearing a phone ring, not being able to turn on the television or engage in instant messaging, an interesting thing happened. The kids started talking to each other instead of talking to computers. We all began playing board and card games, and the entire crew began reading newspapers that generally I only read.

I've often complained here at CMP that we run this company on voicemail and e-mail and don't have enough realtime conversations. If I can at least hear the other individual on the telephone, I can respond to not only what they are saying but also how they are saying it.

Clearly, I am a fan of technology and the productivity gains it affords us. But something is lost when we use it too much. In the pursuit of productivity, we are losing the art of the relationship.

But there is a dose of good news in all of this.

The channel is far too relationship-oriented to let technology get in the way. Our research here in CMP's Technology Solutions Group shows that some 60 percent of solution provider partners are in their customers' offices at least twice a month, regardless of the size of the account.

Selling and deploying technology is not something that just happens over the phone or via e-mail. Relationships are built through human interaction. That interaction may be enhanced by technology, but technology will never be able to replace it. And that's a resource for vendors who partner with solution providers.

As for my vacation, the kids said they would never join me again if I took them some place that didn't at least have a television. They don't know it yet, but I've already booked the same cottage for next summer.

Make something happen. I can be reached at (516) 562-7812 or via e-mail at [email protected].