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Viodi View Newsletter - November 9th, 2005
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Our Packet Lives - Implications for Independent Telcos
By Ken Pyle, ken.pyle@viodi.com, Managing Editor, Viodi View
Multi-tasking was a metaphor that became popular sometime in the 1990s to describe what I am doing right now; watching a baseball game and writing this column. Most non-computer professionals probably do not realize that this phrase was originally used to describe computers that were able to perform more multiple tasks at once. To some extent, humans could multi-task long before the advent of the personal computer (at least those of us who could walk and chew gum at the same time).
Technology, however, provided us with many more opportunities to multi-task; we can now do things such as talk on the phone while we drive or listen to music while we garden. In short, technology has allowed us to become more like the computing machines that were supposed to be our servants. A similar transformation may be occurring, except this time the network will provide the metaphor.
That is, thanks to technology like email, instant messaging and ubiquitous wireless connectivity an increasing percentage of the population is online, all the time. This technology is allowing people to not only multi-task, but to behave like the packets that carry their communications. That is, instead of completing tasks in a serial fashion, as was the normal way of doing things 20 years ago, now people routinely jump from the task at hand to check email or send an instant message and then they jump back to what they were doing.
Technology is even changing the communications with a whole new language of abbreviations and symbols to make things more efficient. ;) With their embrace of cellular text messaging, instant messaging, blogs, etc., young people are at the leading edge of this evolution. Overall, this ability to communicate and to receive the information that one wants when they want it and in the form they want is probably going to be a net gain for society.
There are rumblings, however, that this sort of on-demand, packet life could have some negative repercussions. For instance, in an article titled, The Dot.Com Kids and the Demise of Frustration Tolerance, Dr. Marilyn Benoit suggests that the immediate feedback provided by a world of computers and communications is impeding upon the normal development process of young children. Benoit writes:
“The problem I see emerging in children is decreasing frustration tolerance. In lay language, this translates into a lack of patience, that old-fashioned virtue that people of my generation had preached to us repeatedly, “Patience is virtue”………We must concede that the rapidity of these technological changes, and their impact on our youngsters must have significant influence upon the way kids perceive, experience and adapt to their world.”
Her comments are reinforced by the widespread, anecdotal comments I hear everyday from other parents regarding the importance of limiting children’s “screen time.”
Could these concerns lead to a backlash against the purveyors of the broadband networks that enable this screen time? Although it is clearly the parent’s responsibility for how much time his child spends watching television, sitting at the computer or text messaging, it is not too hard to imagine broadband providers getting the blame for junior’s lack of attention. Other industries, such as tobacco, soft-drink and television programming, have certainly been restricted based upon their influence upon children.
Instead of waiting for lawsuits or government mandates, Independent Telcos should proactively take steps to help parents fight the negative aspects of broadband access. These steps could take many forms, including:
- Include as part of your broadband connection software, such as PC TimeWatch, that allows parents to set limits on computer time and/or web access.
- A similar feature, which could not be implemented in a traditional, cable television architecture, would be one that uses an IPTV system’s middleware and associated navigation guide to give parents the ability to limit children’s television viewing time.
- Provide a “kids channel” on your web site that has links to educational web sites. Many independent telcos already provide this service.
- Sponsor classes and educational forums that help parents deal with media and their kids. These classes might deal with a range of topics from dealing with the mechanics of setting up web filters to techniques for using the media in a positive way to influence children’s behavior.
- Create events and activities, such as contests that force children to be active in the real world. For instance, Horizon Chillicothe Telephone has created coloring contests, pumpkin carving contests and many other special activities where the results are fed back to their customers through their web site, newsletter and television show.
By being proactive about ameliorating the negative effects of children’s packet life, an independent telco has the opportunity to provide some unique product enhancements that will make for better balanced kids, happier parents and a customer-base that is less likely to churn to the competition.
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