Do Gadgets save work or make work?

Many today complain that they are so busy – they have to work long hours. Yet they are seemingly anxious to ensure that they are continuously and urgently in contact or available to all of those who might contribute to the intrusive demand on their time. 

Technology and our desire to have gadgets belies the fact that we are not happy working so hard and so long. And the research shows that New Zealanders work some of the longest hours in the world. There is something of snobbery. Witness what happens when you go to a meeting and someone produces the latest gadget, especially if it is not yet generally available. Everyone will zero in and the ‘thing’ will demand the attention of all, pushing all other thought and purpose into a back corner. My blackberry and Tablet laptop are great tools. I find them so helpful in my life, making it easier for me to maintain my varied work and community interests. I think the difference is between being controlled by, or being in control of them. 

These things work for me on my terms. Whilst some might think it eccentric, I put about quite openly, that I do my email on Wednesday and answer the phone on Thursday. Those who know me will chant that mantra at those who foolishly talk about emailing me or phoning me on some other day. There are many who are slaves and they can’t all be emergency on call doctors or special forces anti terrorist police. They are leaving home to go out and the phone rings so they rush back inside to answer the phone. 

With the assistance of messaging and answer phones we can leave the electronic interference to a time that suits. It is highly entertaining to watch people lunge desperately about their person, amongst their clothes and in their bags for their mobile phone which has just buzzed. They mount this spastic search in such a way as to convince you they are about to receive a history making call or say, “Yes Prime Minister, I shall rush to the ramparts and defend the city until the army arrives!” Instead we hear, “Hi, yeah I'm good...what say you just send me an email with the details and I'll get back?”