TRIPPING OVER OUR OWN TECHNOLOGY

In an all out effort to bring the first-ever interactive book to market these past weeks, I tripped over so much insanely stupid answers to my questions used on and by the ground floor, I ended up in an emergency ward – no kidding! I now know the stupid-aspect literally made me incredibly ill with what doctors thought was a brain tumor! Released last Wednesday evening from emergency (it isn’t a brain tumor) however my mysterious illness left the doctor scratching her head.

On Friday July 9, 2010, I felt like coping for the first time in 8 days and then the stupid-aspect began all over. Once again I became lightheaded and nauseated with a sharp pain running through the center of my forehead to the back of my head as I read one human generated email and four computer generated emails—NONE of which had a rats-ass association with my original human email query—NOT EVEN THE ONE HUMAN REPLY.

If I had not heard Ryan Van Cleave’s radio interview about the seriousness of technology-addiction the prior evening, specifically about gaming, I would be in self-reprimand – even apologetic and schedule appointments with a neurosurgeon or psychologist to uncover what’s wrong with ME.

In the interview Dr. Van Cleave pointed out a majority of those less than 30 years of age cannot discern between reality and the world of technology. To varying degrees, based on both age and use, the world of technology is a reality to THEM—their identity, the place where they live! Among his many credentialed research analysis, one case was dynamic.

Several years ago, parents refused to buy their youngster a much wanted video game. Dismayed, the youngster found his parent’s gun, approached them and said, “Close your eyes. I have a surprise for you.” They closed their eyes and he shot them both in the head! During the trial, the judge proclaimed that the youngster honestly believed his parents would come back to life—after all, that's what happens in a video game!

Because of Dr. Van Cleave’s personal experiences coupled with his research, he is now dedicated to shining a light on the worldwide problem that technology-addiction is leading to an individual’s inability to discern everyday reality. It is becoming epidemic and a critical concern among human resource departments as well as social services, psychologists and—now me.

After becoming ill this morning, I clearly see my age is anchored in everyday reality. Technology is something I use just as one would use math or any other tool. In order to define this to myself, I recognize I was asking questions in everyday reality.  We'll call that an A-brain wave activity.  I was receiving replies from and by one who is very young that I am going to call techno-addicted or a B-brain wave activity. There is an underlying conflict within the psyches between A and B and no way for them to logically communicate depending upon the depth of their identities in either A or B.

I now know I am 100 percent subconsciously entrenched in A. Under pressure to achieve a specific outcome yet thwarted at every turn, my communication with a B did something to my sense of reason and mental equilibrium during the book processing activity. I kept asking my “A” questions and got her “B” answers. In turn, this escalated to endless frustration that went beyond my psychical ability to cope. I don’t know what happened to “B” and, to be very honest, became so ill I never thought about it.

I can’t define any of this and won’t even attempt to, although I have learned since last Friday, July 9, 2010, some technology classes address techno-addiction—many in depth. I also don't know a solution only that it is physically and frustratingly painful attempting to get straight answers from techno-addicted human robots who guard the front line of their respective companies in today's business world!

What’s the value from this lesson? Now that I am aware of Van Cleave’s analysis, I will deal with those under 30 differently. For each business need, I will first determine the front-liner’s age. Then I’ll anticipate what the canned email responses might be.  As a final step, I'll figure out how to ask the simplest of robotic questions--questions that these human-robots might understand and maybe even answer!  What a waste of time but, hey people, we're stuck.

So, it stands to reason, if I ask 4 or 5 simple questions their replies can easily be grouped together, deciphered and then analyzed to achieve my answer. OR, here's another shot. I can buy stock in the company and make sure I vote my stock to shake up the Board and replace the CEO, COO and VP of Customer Service! Hmm, on second thought, there seems to be something wrong with this picture, but what the heck, I don't intend to end up in an emergency ward AGAIN!

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