On a Wire
‘Several years back, I was in a seminar at the International Pool & Spa Expo when the instructor asked everyone who had an e-mail address to raise a hand.
‘Way back then – it was in the late 1980s or perhaps even the early ’90s – using the Internet for communication was a brand-new concept to most people and there were only a few . . . in the room who lifted an arm. I wasn’t one of them,’ observed Brian Van Bower in opening his September 2008 Aqua Culture column, ‘and at that point I had no idea that e-mail and Web sites would ever become such an integral part of my life.’ He continued:
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‘[W]hat a turnaround: As is true for almost everyone in business nowadays, I’ve become almost entirely dependent on today’s technology to the point that when my Internet service goes down – no matter how temporarily – it’s like someone has turned out the lights and hidden everything I need just to torment me.’
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‘I know I’m preaching to the saved when it comes to most of you who are reading this column. Indeed, for many of you, the power of the Internet and other forms of modern communications technology is already so woven into your daily lives that you might be wondering why I’m even bothering to bring this up.’
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‘Aside from the fact that it’s interesting to step back occasionally and think about the way technology influences and changes our lives, I also find it beneficial to consider not just the opportunities that come with this sort of change, but also the downsides that sneak in at the same time.’
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‘I wish at times that I could get completely away from what I see as the negatives of the Communication Age. As I see it, for instance, there’s no real substitute for direct human interaction, either on the phone or in person. As a result, I am pained when I see people become so insulated by technology that they use it in preference to more direct and intimate forms of communication.’
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‘[T]he Internet in general can be a nasty place. There’s lots of objectionable content, and I hate dealing with spam from all those generous folks in West Africa who want to send me piles of money if only I’ll provide a bank account number. There are times when I wish the Internet would just go away and leave me alone.’
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‘What’s exciting to me despite the downsides and what will probably hold my interest for many years to come is the way people are increasingly using the Internet to form communities defined by common interests and goals. Younger people especially seem to have tuned into these possibilities, but even those of us of advancing years can get involved and take advantage of pools of information, chat rooms, blogs and bulletin boards that seem to be forming all around us.’
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‘The great thing about these communities, beyond the information they carry and the resources they offer, is the fact that you can opt in or out and proceed at your own pace. They can be as grand or overwhelming as you want them to be, or you can check in as you wish to see what’s up.’
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‘Bottom line,’ Brian concluded, ‘the genie is completely out of the bottle when it comes to communication, and we’re clearly never going back to the days of pagers, fax machines and messenger services. These are exciting times, and I want to make certain I’m making the most of what’s available and that I’m using new technologies in ways that are sensible, considerate and effective.’
Brian’s discussion from 2008 is already a few steps out of date, considering all that has come up technology-wise since then, but do you think his basic points still hold? Has the Internet held up to its promise of enhancing your opportunities, or has it bogged you down in time-sucking silliness? Please share your thoughts by commenting below!
Brian Van Bower runs Aquatic Consultants, a design firm based in Miami, Fla., and is a co-founder of the Genesis 3 Design Group; dedicated to top-of-the-line performance in aquatic design and construction, this organization conducts schools for like-minded pool designers and builders. He can be reached at [email protected].