Modern Technology Increases Stress at Work

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3774713.stm' target='_blank'>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3774713.stm</a><br /><br /></div>Some uplifting Monday morning news for you. The BBC are reporting that Mobile phones, laptops &amp; PDAs are increasing levels of stress in the workplace:<br /><br /><i>"Most people said they found email and mobile phones necessary for contacting colleagues and clients instantly. But the survey showed their increased use was adversely affecting the patience of others in the workplace. More than half of those surveyed believed it was inappropriate to use any form of IT equipment in a meeting or when talking to another person at work. Only 11% thought it was acceptable for a mobile phone to be switched on during a meeting. More than 80% felt it was inappropriate to look at or send text messages when with others. Some 60% of respondents said there were informal workplace rules for the use of IT equipment, while two out of five said the use of mobile phones was not allowed." </i><br /><br />That's quite a high proportion of mobiles being barred. Note as well, that if half of those surveyed believed it was inappropriate to use IT equipment in a meeting or when talking to someone at work, it means that half thought it was OK. :? <br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/computer-head.jpg" /> <br /><span><i><a href="http://www.billhall.com/comp-head.htm">IMAGE SOURCE</a>. Painting by Bill Hall.</i></span><br /><br /><i>"Researchers said it was generally recognised that a certain etiquette is required when using mobile phones in the workplace. Responding to a call when speaking to somebody implies that the phone call is more important than the person, the survey said. Answering a call during a meeting suggests the meeting is not important. However, the study showed that younger people were less likely to be offended by others answering mobile phone calls during meetings." </i><br /><br />Interesting. I wonder if the same applies to PDAs as well? :wink: What are your thoughts on the stresses of modern communication technologies and the etiquette involved in using them in daily life?

[bjornkeizers]

Part of it is also basic body language: If I play with my pen, it means I'm not interested in what you have to say. If I cross my arms, it's a defensive gesture. If I put my pen in front of me, I'm marking my personal space - same thing with PDA's.

Cellphones - that's a bit different though. Being one of the 'younger people' I *DO* become offended when someone pulls out a cellphone during a meeting or conversation. To me, it's the pinnacle of anti-social behaviour. You do that, you better run, or I'm going to stick your phone where the sun doesn't shine. Unless you're waiting for a donor kidney, you really don't need to be that connected.

I don't mind other forms of tech - PDA's, laptops - because I have those myself, and so do most of the people I work with. If someone is taking notes or downloading his E-mail, that's ok with me. If they play bejewelled, that's a different story alltogether.

[arebelspy]

Note as well, that if half of those surveyed believed it was inappropriate to use IT equipment in a meeting or when talking to someone at work, it means that half thought it was OK. :?

I'd say it's okay to use a PPC (IT equip) during a meeting for taking notes (although some would play games).

-arebelspy

[piperpilot]

I play games on my iPAQ all the time during staff meetings. I keep it on my lap, so it's not completely obvious what I'm doing. If I weren't playing games, I would be doodling, so it's a "lesser of two evils" kind of thing for me. I actually feel like I can concentrate on the meeting better if I am playing a mindless puzzle game.

[Techtoys]

People above me in the organisation where I work tend to dislike the use of PDAs in meetings, whilst peers and others don't seem to mind. I can understand that if you are using recongnition software like transcriber you tend to look unfocused as you are paying attention to what the machine is doing. I find people object less if I use a keyboard with my iPAQ, which is strange as the mechanical key noise is distracting to me whilst I type. Obviouosly I always use the PDA without sound.

I work in an operational environment, so phones are OK so long as it is for an operational reason. People who do not have an operational need are frowned on for taking calls though.

The interesting thing for me is that when I first used PDAs about 10 years ago the whole team had Psions - and nobody objected. It was only when I started using iPAQs that it seemed to become an issue. The other people use a pen and paper now.

[Vincent M Ferrari]

I don't know about the etiquette, but the practicality of having a connected PDA, at least for me, is indisputable.

I have an iPaq 2215. A couple of days ago, I got an email from someone having a problem with SQL. I logged on to the server through Gotomypc, checked the services (one had stopped), reset SQL server, and they were back up and running.

I think this kind of always on connectivity is great because it saves trips to the office, but at the same time, it's always blurring the lines between work time and private time, and with less down time, people are more prone to stress. But for some of us, it's just the way of the world.

[ricksfiona]

I have a problem with the noise cell phones make. If you're in a meeting, put it in silent mode please! That way if you absolutely need to take a call, you can walk out with your phone with much less distraction.

I take notes with my PDA using a keyboard. I can tell some people in the room don't like that... But that's their problem. Two reasons why I do this:
* I'm going to transcribe everything I write into a computer file. So why should I make double the work?
* Recycling. Hey, I like trees! No paper = no trees being torn down, no machines to create paper, no chance of trash/litter. Yes, I'm from California :wink:

Though if there are parts of a meeting that are completely useless to me, then I will check e-mail or IM with a friend. No one can see what I'm typing, so they think I'm just checking notes. You just gotta look up at the speaker once in a while so that you look like you're interested at what they are saying. :wink:

[lapchinj]

To use IT equipment related to hosting a successful meeting is fine. Unless someone is on call for emergency response reasons the use of cell phones or 2-way radios is considered rude and those people who do not turn off their phones are asked politely to do so (I've seen this happen at VSLive conferences). Those people that are on emergency response are asked to keep it on vibrate if that is enough of an alert.

When it was my rotation to be the official meeting minutes taker ( :cry: ) I would bring in my tape recorder and place it in the middle of the meeting table. I kept a low profile and it was not considered annoying or disruptive to the meeting. (Of course I asked permission from the meeting chairperson to use a tape recorder.)

As far as using a laptop or PDA for taking notes that's also fine. If someone is just using the laptop to kill time by the meeting he/she is asked not to bring it next time (usually said after the meeting). If the meeting chair thinks that it's too disruptive that person is asked to close it (I've only seen this happen only once).

Meetings tend to stay on target and get finished faster once the interruptions and distractions are under control.

(People who snored 8O by a meeting were also asked to wake up - so the annoyance did not have to be hi-tech.)

Jeff-

[CTSLICK]

I did get some odd glances or slightly disapproving glances when using my PDA in a meeting but over the last 2 years folks have just come to realize that this is what I use. I rarely bring paper to a meeting unless its a printed report to distribute. Now I am working on "acceptance" of my laptop in a meeting (when appropriate of course).

My cell phone is ALWAYS on but I switch to silent mode during work. If it rings (or in this case vibrates) in a meeting or during a conversation I normally ignore it unless I am expecting an urgent call. I do use my phone to connect my PDA to the internet (email checks) during meetings but thats invisible to anyone else since I use bluetooth.

The bottom line is that I can normally use a PDA and even check email and still be engaged in the meeting( or conversation). I guess I use this as my guiding principal when it comes to using technology in a meeting. I have definitely been busted by getting too involved with a side task on my PDA and losing the flow of a meeting...but hey...that can happen to me by getting too involved in a doodle :lol:

So all I expect is that others follow the same principals (is that too much to ask :wink: ). Generally, the biggest offenders are cell phones going off during meetings. I tell ya' ringtones are gonna be the death of me. The next time I am "treated" to some corny sounding ringtone of the latest pop song I'm gonna snap.

[Prevost]

"... Responding to a call when speaking to somebody implies that the phone call is more important than the person, the survey said. Answering a call during a meeting suggests the meeting is not important. However, the study showed that younger people were less likely to be offended by others answering mobile phone calls during meetings."
Exactly my thought. I do not accept that, not even while in a private meal. Concerning younger people's opinion, I'm affraid they accept that because they want to be accepted when doing that themselves. I'm affraid they believe "having" to answer the cellphone gives the impression of being "VIPs", too. :rotfl:

Interesting. I wonder if the same applies to PDAs as well? :wink: What are your thoughts on the stresses of modern communication technologies and the etiquette involved in using them in daily life?

I don't think it is the same with PDAs as with cellphones. Using a PDA means you are working (or at least you will LOOK as if you are working :mrgreen:) and can give others a sense of been taken seriously. When you stop a conversation to ask a call, you mean something absolutely different.

In the end, I think consideration to other's feelings is the base for good etiquette. Anything that can make the other one feel of lesser importance for you is wrong to be done.

[Lorenzo]

I don't own a cell phone because I hate them. They are annoying
and a pain. Cell phones are more of a problem today then ever
before, people use them everywhere, resturants, banks, office
buildings, grocery store lines and it's just plain annoying.

The sooner they band them the better. I was hit on my motorcycle
back in november by a driver who was talking on his cell phone
so don't tell me they don't cause accidents. My leg, arm, wrist
and foot were broken. The driver behind him said, he was talking
on his phone and didn't even look over shoulder when he entered
my lane..

Cell phones suck.

Lorenzo

[Vincent M Ferrari]

I was hit on my motorcycle back in november by a driver who was talking on his cell phone so don't tell me they don't cause accidents. My leg, arm, wrist and foot were broken. The driver behind him said, he was talking on his phone and didn't even look over shoulder when he entered my lane..

Cell phones suck.

:roll:

Well hell, Lorenzo, why not blame the car? If he wasn't in a car you never would've been hit.

Seriously, you can't blame technology because people use it irresponsibly. If the idiot that hit you wasn't looking, he's guilty, not the phone he was holding.

[bjornkeizers]

Seriously, you can't blame technology because people use it irresponsibly. If the idiot that hit you wasn't looking, he's guilty, not the phone he was holding.

Indeed. You really can't blame a cellphone; unless this person was throwing the phone at you...

I do agree with you on the banks/resteaurants/cinema's etc. You really don't need to be that connected, do you? Like I said, unless you're on a list waiting for a donor organ, or you're a doctor/surgeon, you really don't need to be reachable in those situations. I've seen people carry on a conversation while watching a movie. Good thing he was sitting a few rows back, otherwise I would have beaten him over the head with his own phone.

Me, I found the perfect solution: My phones are never on. And yes, I said phones - I have four cellphones, which are always OFF! That phone is there for MY convenience, not so YOU can bother me. Since I rotate my phones on a random schedule (security purposes), nobody knows which phone I have and thus they have a 1 in 4 chance to pick the correct one, assuming I turned it on in the first place. You can't reach me unless I *want* you to reach me.