ISEEK4 CONSULTING (c)

Technology and You: Is your technology life a match or mismatch?
By Uche Life Okafor

The need for technology in our society today is one that can not be denied but embraced. It is a funny thing to see a person in this current day and time, whip out an address book to take down important information from another. This is funny because with the continuous enhancements in technological gadgetry, products are constantly created to simulate and accommodate the various functions we partake in on a day-to-day basis. In the market today there are phones that act as digital cameras and digital cameras that act as camcorders. This infusion of different functions is something as consumers we can expect to see get evolved and enhanced continuously. It will not be far fetched to think that one day we will have a gadget that can make calls, act as a digital camera, a mini television, a news portal device, an organizer and a camcorder all in one. The use of technology is always encouraged, and through the years it has gained a heightened importance because, it can enhance you virtual, physical and corporate life.

The virtual aspect of life in regards to technology consists of all the day to day functionalities that cannot be conducted in person i.e. banking and its ATM system. The banking system is easily the single most important aspect of one's virtual life, because everything we do from bill paying to purchasing of goods and/or services all get processed virtually through networks. Through enhancements of the banking system over the years, the most current effective system in place is the Online banking system. This system allows you to check your balance, make transfers, pay bills and even make payment schedules to help you have better organization of your finances.

In the personal aspect of technology use, various gadgets come to mind that help in providing a more efficient running of one's life. These devices include things like the mobile phones, Personal Digital Assistant's (PDA), digital music players and a host of others. These gadgets are important to the user, because they provide a connection of sorts to all that is happening in their daily lives. These gadgets also create an organizational system, which allows a person to better arrange their lives and schedules, to match up with the amount of time they have to give per day. As technicians the need for technology is obvious, but that need is even more apparent for personal uses in day-to-day activities.

In the business field today, a lot of work gets conducted by professionals in remote locations away from the confines of an office setting. These professionals armed with their laptops and PDA enabled mobile phones, represent what the new age business man/woman should look like. As a business owner or as a corporate professional it is important to learn how to use information technology to enhance you capabilities, and increase you professionalism. The importance of technology to business is evident in all facets, and it can be a determining factor for a businesses growth or stagnant condition, therefore its use should not only be encouraged, it should be implied as a must.

To-do List: A good idea upon reading this column, is that you assess you personal and/or business technology needs, and see if you are up to date with the computer hardware/ software and gadgetry your business and/or personal life needs. This assessment will give you a well documented list of what needs to be updated and/or replaced, in order to give you an added competitive edge in whatever market you compete or exist in. .

U.Okafor (founder)