image from: http://www.vail-beavercreek.com/airports.cfm
Our conversation started when I was pecking out an e-mail last minute on my phone before the cargo door closed. The lovely lady next to me asked me what I was "computing." I must have looked a little surprised, but she and her husband just laughed and said something along the lines of how they had no idea how "youngsters" these days spend so much time on their phones. I was fairly certain they were mocking me, but their tone was non-confrontational and they had just called me a "youngster" so I decided to play along. Our conversation went something like this...
Me: Well, I have a job and I have to answer e-mails and calls, so if I can do it while I am not doing anything else on a plane or in an airport, I have more time to spend with my family or friends when I get where I am going.
Sweet lady: Seems to me like people forgot how to talk. I see couples at the restaurants and no one is talking. They all have out their little gadgets.
Me: I suppose that's their choice. I actually don't condone that, but sometimes I will pull my phone out in front of my family at the table. I have a 6-year old and 8-year old and sometimes we decide last-minute to go to the movies or something. I can use my phone to look up what time we need to be there. I'm not ignoring them, I am actually planning on how to spend more time with them.
Dear man: What about this "chatting" and "messaging?" What's so important that you have to do that? Who are people chatting with?
Me: Friends, family, I don't know about everyone. I like to use chat and texting because it is free for me, so it does not cost the same as a call. Sometimes I take a cute photo of my kids and send it to all of their aunts and uncles as well as their grandparents at once. They love it! And sometimes it's more convenient than a call because it is a simple message like a well-timed, "Good luck!" or "I love you!" I suppose many messages are silly, but I think there's a real purpose for it as well- especially if that is how most of your friends and family communicate.
Dear man *eyebrows raised*: Most of OUR friends don't communicate that way! Hahaha!
Me: Maybe. But I just set my grandparents up on Facebook and they love being able to see their kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids, send us messages, comment, and even post their own thoughts for us to enjoy as a family. It's like a one-stop- shop for them instead of having to log onto email, call each of their seven grandchildren (and now 17 great-grandchildren!) separately, wait for paper-mail service to see cute pictures of their family. Since my grandparents are in California and us grandkids are spread from Louisiana to Virginia to Italy, it has really made it easier for us all to keep in touch.
AND THEN *BAM*!! It hit me!!
I had slipped into training mode. I was talking about My Big Campus to the reluctant teachers! I was pitching the Mobile Learning Expert responses as an automatic response. The answers were flowing easily and there wasn't any hostility, just a sincere misunderstanding on their part about what technology could do for them.
We chatted for the better part of the two hour flight about phones, smart-phones, computers, Facebook, and Twitter. I even explained a little about what my job is. I am not sure they will be setting up a Skype account tomorrow, but I do believe they left a little more open-minded about how technology really can improve communication, make life more efficient, and keep people more connected. I think that is the first step. In order to embrace technology, people need to see the value first.
When we landed, I got on my United app to check out my connecting flight information. I heard the couple discussing how they didn't know what gate their next flight was, so I plugged in their data to my app and told them Gate B84. The man actually grabbed my phone, looked at the information, adjusted his glasses, and chuckled, "Well, I'll be darned. Look at that! Hahaha! THAT's mighty useful!"
I could not agree more- I just wish my connecting flight was not delayed!
image from: http://patdollard.com/2013/04/faa-sequester-furloughs-kick-in-some-flights-delayed/
