ARE WE ACTUALLY MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE?

Yesterday I engaged in a conversation with an associate regarding how our communication technology has advanced. Can you remember the day when we all had the one line pagers on our belt? It would vibrate and we would have to run to the nearest dirty pay phone and call to see what was important. Then things really improved and Motorola came out with the multi line pagers. WOW, we were really tied in now being able to see the number of the page plus a one line message of what it was regarding!

Now look at us with mobile phones the size of the old pagers itself! You know this obsession is amazing. I have to hold my Blackberry by my side afraid I would be cut off from the world without it. Why is it so important to us? Are we waiting for that e-mail or instant message that is just going to change our lives? Do we just want to feel part of and be in the "loop" of everything going on. I can't quite figure out if we are more or less productive with these electronic devices.

Please tell us what you think?

(By Howard Millstein)