AV Technology - June 2008 - (Page 35)

PHOBESTECHNOPHOBE hend, learn, and use it, or uncertainty that it will work reliably, technology managers often must confront deep-seated apprehension. Ernie Bailey, director of audiovisual services at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, says he tries to keep a lid on staff technophobia by focusing on technology education and ease of use. A “Teaching With Technology Resource Center” helps educate and familiarize instructors with emerging classroom AV and IT. “We strive to make devices as user-friendly as possible so we don’t see fear in the instructors’ eyes when they walk into a classroom,” he says. “Our rule for integrators that we hire to design new room systems is that it takes a minimum of two touches on a control panel to get an image on a screen.” ADDRESSING GLITCHES Inevitably, though, technology will fail on occasion. When it does, technophobes need to be reassured that glitches can be quickly addressed. For that reason, says Jackson, technology managers must develop a robust support network that can swing into action to correct problems. More importantly, the existence of that support needs to be communicated. “You can’t just put this technology into a classroom and say, ‘Here it is, figure it out,’ and not provide any support on the back end,” he says. “In the education arena, in particular, we need that capability to solve problems immediately because it’s a fast-paced environment where classrooms can change over in 10 minutes.” While it’s important to address technophobes’ fears, Jackson cautions against going too far in “dumbing down” technology. For one thing, technophobes’ ranks could thin as more people become ever more comfortable with technology, although he senses some may be perpetually behind as the pace of technological change quickens. Additionally, putting too much emphasis on user-friendliness may be shortsighted. “In the education environment, you really need to have tools that are complex enough to really bring about deep changes in learning,” he says. “That may mean having tools that require a steep learning curve, but which can bring about the goal of creating a more robust and interesting learning environment.” And overindulging technophobes also may amount to selling them and, indeed, even the human race short, Jackson adds. “Humans are adaptable and can learn to do complex things,” he says. “The key to dealing with technophobia may be making the goal of learning and feeling comfortable with it so compelling that you’ll invest the time and effort to overcome it.” ■

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of AV Technology - June 2008

AV Technology - June 2008 Contents Precedent Corporate: Global Standardization Government: Strategic Technology Planning Education: It’s All Just a Click Pre-Empting Projector Breakdown Dealing With Technophobes Keeping Ahead of Technology Obsolescence Understanding Video Codecs Rules of Engagement Network, See & Learn Sound From the Heart Sportsbook Makes an Impact Upgrading an AV Image Product Review: Polycom’s RealPresence Experience HD Tech Horizons: A True AV Networking Standard? Product Spotlight: Digital Media Servers; Flat Panel New Products Ad Index AV MO: Calculating Fiber Optic Transmission Distance

AV Technology - June 2008

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