Technology is a lever.
Levers extend capability. Levers expand capacity. They transport heavy loads. They relieve burdens. They remove the stubborn. They provide advantage.
Technology provides advantage. Technology is a lever.
Advantage is not equivalent to benefit. Technology can be used to many ends, not all of which are beneficial. The tech lever can enable good, harmful and unintended consequences. It can conceivably be used to move things better left in place.
Technology is a lever. It disturbs the status quo, the prevailing assumptions and the existing environment. It is a change agent.
Knowing what to move, what you’ll disturb, what follows in its place and how it creates benefit for the new world you’re creating factor into the tech decision matrix.
Technology is a lever. It might be a benefit.
Q: Do you understand why you’re using tech & how it’s benefiting your constituency?
Jan 20, 2012 @ 09:46:01
Great description, perfect timing. I’m frequently in discussions where I have to say something like “I’m not really a technology person, I just USE technology.” The “lever” story will make this so much easier! Thanks,
Jan 20, 2012 @ 10:35:29
Thanks, Tony. Do you have an additional image, story or description to add that simplifies the tech “mystique?”
Jan 20, 2012 @ 15:51:01
I don’t have a particular story in mind, but if I come up with one I’ll let you know. I keep going back to the old “Computers are here to make your life easier,” and I’m just not sure we ever accomplished that. In some ways, I think I was part of the generation that created the problem, along with the promise, and now I want to reverse that trend. As often as not, the solution is not MORE software, but less! Or, same software, different training approach. I’ll keep thinking about this…