This might sound a bit sacrilegious coming from someone who is in the business of promoting technology. But if the technology doesn’t work the way you work DON’T USE IT. If it forces you to give up your flow, makes you come completely out of your zone, if it throws you off-step, and you waste  time adapting to it…it probably isn’t great technology.

So how can you identify great technology?

1. Great technology allows you to work the way you work.
   For keeping notes, tracking my ideas, keeping things organized I still like to use pen and paper. This old “technology” is handy and lets me capture things as the occur wherever I happen to be. BUT lately I have been using a great service called Evernote. It allows me to upload, from my computer, or phone, all the random notes and ideas I have. Now here’s the really cool part. Evernote can keep my paper notes too…if I find the things I jot down worth keeping I can take a picture of them with my phone, or scan them and upload them instantly. Evernote is great because it allows me to work the way I work.
2. Great technology offers the new in an accessible way.
   Apple iPhones and now the iPad, have kept with an “older” idea while brining us into the new. These devices still have a “desktop” with icon that you “click”…but they brought us into the new era of touch…we tap to click, we slide our fingers to scroll. These devices let us use the familiar while drawing us into the next generation of usability.
3. Great technology draws you in as you go.
   Little-by-little I find myself amending the way I do things in Evernote. It allowed me to work my way, but through continued use I see a new and better way to do  things…it “drew me in.” The same is true of the iPhone/iPad as people become comfortable with these devices they begin to see more uses for them and utilize them in different and greater ways.

So before you buy a new gadget, or implement a new technology ask yourself if it’s great technology. Anything new will come with a learning curve. The time it takes to adapt depends on the person and the technology. But truly great technology will let you do what you do, stay out of your way, and be ready with more when you’re ready for it.

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Aloha 'til next time
Ron Charlton MCSE
President- etechs Hawaii