A Tech Diva at Age Two

After reading my post of  4/19/2011 “Ten Year Olds Rule The World”, a friend recounted the story of a two- year old relative who fought against some old technology. Apparently, the young tech diva’s grandmother was taking some pictures of her on a disposal camera. Well the two year old posed and cooperated after being the star of several of her mother’s photos and wanted her grandmother to know that same joy of  granddaughter to enjoy.

Immediately after a few poses the two year old leaned over to get a glance at the back of the disposal camera to see how she looked. She  was shocked and astonished at not seeing a display screen – wondering what kind of game her grandmother was playing. She crossed her arms in defiance. Realizing that her grandmother was using a “play” camera,  she protested and refused more poses. The grandmother’s pleas of, “Really, sweetie, this is a real camera” and “I have to take these to the drug store and get them developed” were only the ramblings of someone obviously out of touch with reality.

The two year old diva’s world is one where here contemporaries know how to Google and look up You Tube videos. It scary what the world will become in the year 2100 when she will only be 91.

Thanks for the story “G”.

Do you have story idea or comment  for Russ Anthony 411? If so, please leave one at the end of this article or email me at russ@russanthony411.com. It can take a few hours for your comments to post, so please check back later after you send it.

By the way, when you realize that all you know is all you know, then you will really begin to learn.

Russ

 

Ten Year Olds Rule The World

Recently my niece showed me how to change my iPhone pass code from using four digits to the more secure alphanumeric mode. Two weeks ago, or so it seemed, I was patiently being the good uncle by explaining to her this fancy new gadget (original iPhone, circa 2007) I bought. “Look here, see the pretty lights?” I told her trying not to overwhelm her with technical jargon and concepts. So imagine my wounded pride a few days ago when she showed some frustration that I couldn’t follow her instructions with the pass code change. “No Uncle Russell! You go to settings…oh here, let me do it!” She used to be so cute. What happened? Was I starting to loose my touch? Here’s what happened: My niece learns and communicates with the world with a perspective starting in the early nineties. In her world everyone gathers information and processes it quickly. She does not know about calling the reference librarian to help with her home work or waiting for the paper to be delivered to get the news – of yesterday.

In the 1980’s  I worked as a retail manager for a well-known electronics retailer. As sales people we wowed customers by explaining how they could record one channel on their video cassette recorder while watching another channel on their television. It was like magic and we felt like kings. I felt like Marlon Brando in “Apocalypse Now”. Remember, “A snail slithers on a razor’s edge”. If you are fifty, like me, or older it is too easy to get comfortable with the technology that we know.

At home my niece has access to 300 channels on TV not three like we did; (well four if you include the public station). She hears about  something interesting and can go to the Internet and interact with that information right away. No reading the encyclopedia with its out of date maps and pictures of deposed world leaders. In her world information changes constantly and she adapts to it as needed.  Her way of thinking is in the present and future. The baby boom generation had it good for a while but “kids today” will one day see the rate of technological progress from the 1960’s to the 1990’s in months not decades.  They will not have the time nor desire to keep doing things the old way, just because it is the old way.

The jobs that have been lost due to technological improvements in manufacturing probably won’t be coming back. The days of working 40 years for a company from high school to retirement,  with employer-provided training along the way, have gone with the wind. The key to being successful in business and in a career is not counting how long you have been coming to work but the value  you possess. Information and education will be the keys to success. Previous jobs that called strictly for manual labor will be manual labor plus.  Digging a ditch plus designing the ditch. Loading trucks plus identifying logistics. Picking up trash plus evaluating costs of trash removal.

So my niece represents the change that is coming and is already here. There is always something new to learn and learning comes natural to her generation. It is not the desire to learn that is so different, it’s the ease as which information can be gathered. My hope is that her generation will not loose the power of discernment and wisdom that can come only with the words, “back in my day we didn’t have these new fangled…” Until then I am going to ask her to show me how I can get Internet service on my laptop by using the signal from my cell phone. If I’m lucky she will sigh with frustration and say, “Oh Uncle Russell, let me do it!”

By the way, it should make you mad or sad,  if  you let someone make you mad or sad.

Russ

Read about “Social Work Technology”

"Been comin' down this road for years. Don't see no harm"

This photo of a horse and buggy is from a story about looking at technology in a different way. See what an old technology has to do with new technology.

On March 11, 2011 in “About Russ Anthony 411“, I spoke briefly about “Social Work Technology”. I am happy to report that I have posted a description about Social Work Technology. You can read about it here or go to the top menu and click on “Social Work Technology”. There will be other articles posted on this topic. I appreciate your comments and feedback.

Creating A Meaningful Life with Lowell Perry, Jr.

Lowell Perry, Jr. gives a very topical and thoughtful delivery in the latest RussAnthony411 video from Anthony-Denmark Communications. “Creating a Beautiful Life with Lowell Perry, Jr.” will cause viewers to reexamine priorities and consider how the world is impacted by the decisions we make. This video is four minutes long. If you would like to see more of his speech please leave a comment at the end of this article, on the website were the video is being shown  or  email me at russ@russanthony411. com. Please click here to view.

 

Link to Russ Anthony 411

Please use this banner to link to Russ Anthony 411. It is similar to the header except to the web address at the bottom. Thank you!

The Evil Left by Long Distance Phone Charges

Next time you are in a crowd or driving down a busy street notice the people who are on the phone. It is funny because a lot of the people who are on their cell phones have someone right beside them or in the car. Yet, the telephone conversation takes precedence over the person next to the phone talker. We were not always so inconsiderate until we could take the phone out of the house.

We can blame the long distance phone call of yesterday. Remember. A family would get a long distance call and all regular activity in the house was put on hold. Let’s be real. If some one from “out of town” was calling, it was costing them  money so you had to answer it.

Remember.

“Auntie, you have a telephone call!”,  you would yell out.

“Tell then to call back, I’m busy cleaning the bath tub!”

“It’s long distance from San Francisco!”

“Long distance!” Then she would hurdle furniture and small children in a scramble to get to the phone – apologizing profusely to the long distance caller when she did.

So the phone call demands our attention – even when Caller ID allows us to see who is calling and there is not a different charge for a local or long distance call. A ringing telephone demands our attention.

“I’m sorry its the bank/mechanic/sitter/dentist office, I have to take this” we say sheepishly.

Or if you’re the one calling, you are chastised for calling at a bad time. “What do you want? I’m in the dentist chair!”

Blame the long distance call for rearranging our priorities. It wasn’t that long ago if  you were walking down the street and heard someone talking to himself, you would think maybe some sort of mental illness. Now it is a status symbol with Blue-tooth technology. “You know, this person on the other end of the line is more important than you are”. That’s what the Blue-tooth phone talker is telling you. In fact all cell phone talkers are giving out that message. Except, the Blue-tooth talker makes a bigger show of it when you mistakenly think they are talking to you. They whisper or point to their device saying, “I’m on the phone, they’re more important than you. How dare you interrupt me?”  

But don’t blame the phone talker, blame the phone company for charging us for long distance. You know it made sense to us: The further you called, the more it cost. Then cell phones started giving “free” long distance. (It wasn’t free. If it was really free you could just make long distance calls and never be charged for anything if you did not call locally).

By the way, if you  foster positive relationships with family and friends during uneventful times, they are more likely to be present during significant occasions in your life.

Russ

 

8 Seconds of Passion

I am an Internet pauper standing at informational intersections. What I see concerns me. I am holding a sign. Instead of, “Will work for food”, my sign reads “Working, please click here. Takes  8 seconds”. Today, our civilization is at a cross roads. Where do we turn? Now that I have found my passion of putting a little more good in the world, I am very much aware of the negative influences shown over the Internet, cable TV and newspaper/magazines. Some of the most popular videos and sites are of people singing about bodily sounds, falling down or entertainment of the mishaps of others. I also enjoy reading and watching the sometimes hilarious posts on the Internet. I am not suggesting that we loose our sense of humor. Far from it. Laughter and watching others laugh is a needed human expression. But for 8 seconds you can make a positive change in the world and it won’t cost any money and very little time: 8 seconds.

The work of this site is my passion. For those of you who have found a career that is your your passion, you know of what I write: the late nights, the fearless in speaking to others about what you are doing and the ease of asking for what will make your endeavor successful. It will be unlike any other site you have seen before. Just read my earlier posts. It is difficult to translate my emotions into words when I speak of what this site will be. Putting a little more good in the world and leaving it a better place will be the outcome of all of my hard work. Today I ask for 8 seconds. For the 8 seconds it takes to click LIKE on the RussAnthony411 Facebook page, you can help put some more good in the world. That is what my site www.RussAnthony411.org seeks to accomplish. It only takes 8 seconds to click LIKE and make a difference. It’s okay, Charley will still be biting his brother’s finger. Thanks.

Online Vote #1

Please click here to watch and my vote on my Anthony – Denmark end logo 1 on You Tube. Thank you.

An Outstanding Job (98th TCSW Conference)

Dustin Keller and Scott Ridgeway describe a successful 98th TCSW conference.

Click here for the video. It was only the second day of the Tennessee Conference on Social Welfare’s 98th meeting in Franklin, TN and already Dustin Keller and Scott Ridgeway were all smiles. It was only during post production that I realized that I heard Scott say “an outstanding job” more than once. Then as I thought about how well the conference was organized and conducted –  it was clear that everyone connected with this year’s meeting performed outstandingly. Sometimes we use words like “outstanding”, “excellent” and “perfect” too much thereby rendering those words almost meaningless. But this was a great conference. Imagine Dustin and Scott going around and cheering the conference staff and volunteers on they performed there duties. “Hey, you’re doing an outstanding job!”  Smiles and gratitude are infectious. As I was working on how to end this video, I became aware for the first time that I said, “You’re doing an outstanding job” at the end. (I really do not remember saying that but I do remember feeling good while I was conducting that interview).  I played the segment back again and sure enough it was my voice. Wow. So Scott Ridgeway set me up with his big smile and  “outstanding jobs”. Watch at the very end right before the logo, he has a mischievous look like he is thinking, ” Ha! It worked!”  I’m on to Ridgeway. Next year I’ll be on guard.  But, you know, perhaps that is one phrase that can’t be over used. Next time when the moment arises, tell someone that they are doing “an outstanding job”. Then remember how good you felt saying it.

Evolution of Communication – Pts. 2 and 3

Communication technology comes by so quickly that it is hard to keep up. Watch as Nicholas Holland, CEO of CentreSource Interactive Agency, slows it down for you in Evolution of Communication. This is a series of short videos that explains how humans have communicated since the beginning of time. In Part Two: “Cave Drawings and Written Letters”, Nicholas explains the first permanent means of communication. In “Part Three: Diversifying – Channel vs. Medium“,  he shows how messages began to move  from one location to another. Evolution of Communication – it’s something to talk about.

Coming soon: Part 4: The Telephone