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Technophobia is Conquerable!
Uma G. Gupta
Dean, College of Technology
University of Houston
Posted February 23,
2001 Student
Affairs Online, 2 (Winter)
For many of us life, without computers is unimaginable! The first
thing that almost 90% of the knowledge workforce does when it gets to
work is turn on the computer and check the email! Those are the lucky
ones! Many others, live with pagers, beepers, and wireless devices
24-hours a day. If life without computers were unimaginable, life
without microchips would be, simply speaking, miserable. Our remote
car keys help us to open car doors from a distance; our microwaves
are programmed to pop the perfect popcorn; music is no longer just
turning on the radio; telephone manuals read like instructions for a
nuclear reactor; VCRs and DVD players are humiliating experiences as
highly intelligent individuals learn how to play a tape or a DVD; the
list is endless! In a world where an overdose of technology is
considered normal and healthy, the idea of technophobia, fear
of computers and related technologies, sounds almost alien and
unnatural. Yet it is an issue that affects many people, many of who
don't even know they have it!
Technophobia, like other phobias, is fear or intense dislike, for
technology. It invokes a wide range of negative emotions, such as
anxiety, incompetence, fear, stress and nervousness. We are only now
beginning to comprehend the existence of this phenomenon and its
far-reaching consequences on individuals, organizations and even
entire societies by minimizing their ability to reap the rich rewards
of technology.
To understand technophobia, we must first understand the invasion
of technology into our personal and professional lives. Many other
industrial events and advancements in the history of mankind took
place at a steady and understandable pace. Technology, however, was
behind the scenes one day and in our faces the next. Take for
example, the printing press, the automobile, flying, highways, and
medicine. Progress in these fields gave men and women to adjust their
mindsets to a new and evolving world. In other words, growth and
change in these domains has, to a large extent, gone through what we
call the human life cycle: birth, infancy, adolescence, and maturity.
In technology, however, the change for many individuals has been from
birth to maturity. And just when they think they have a grasp on it,
the world of technology handles another baby to them, only that this
one has four legs and six eyes! Hence it is no surprise that
individuals are overwhelmed with technology.
Why should anyone care about technophobia? Technophobia affects
all of us to different degrees. If you are a manager who is pushing
for technology in your organization, then individuals who are
technophobic can slow you down, and in some cases, even prevent you
from achieving your goals. We often tend to classify such individuals
as "slow to change," "unwilling to accept new responsibilities," "too
traditional and conservative." In fact, these may be individuals who
like the end result of technology but are simply afraid to embrace
technology. If you are technophobic, then life at work can be
stressful and anxiety-driven. While the rest of the world appears to
be moving ahead, there is a sense of rapidly being left behind and
the idea of playing catch-up leads to more frustration, anxiety, and
despair. So regardless of which end of the spectrum you may fall,
technophobia affects you.
What are some symptoms of technophobia?
- Fear of computers and related technologies
- Resistance to automating processes
- Unwillingness to change from one system to another or one
software to another.
- Highly critical of any technology changes or
implementations
- Passive resistance to new technology initiatives
- Unwilling to attend training classes
- Slow to learn new technologies
- Providing excuses for not attending training sessions
- Relentlessly arguing the lack of need for technologies
- Pleading "the old way is the best way!"
- Convincing colleagues that "I have made it this far without
technology. Why now?"
These are few of the many ways in which technophobia can manifest
itself in the organization. In many cases, individuals are unaware
that these are symptoms of techno phobia and even if they are aware,
understandably many individuals are reluctant to admit their
phobia.
What are some things that organizations can do to address this
issue? Here are a few guidelines and suggestions:
- Hold seminars, workshops, and brown bag lunches on techno
phobia. The more we share information and knowledge on the topic,
the easier it becomes for individuals to recognize that they have
a problem.
- Technophobia is not a shameful thing. It is not a disease and
it is certainly not a reflection on the intellectual capacity of
the individual. Hence it is important to delete blame and shame
from any discussion on technophobia. Share with individuals that
this is a problem that ails many individuals, from CEOs to
delivery folks.
- Admit and recognize the information overload problem and the
relentless pace of technology. Let individuals know that all of us
struggle with keeping up with technology; its only the degrees
that are different.
- Provide meaningful and sustained support to help individuals
identify and overcome their phobia. A class or a forum to discuss
technophobias may be a first step.
- Create a friendly learning environment. Educate people that
failing a few times while learning new technologies is normal. In
fact, the more you fail the more you learn!
- Help people take one small step at a time. Reward their
efforts and be a mentor.
In conclusion, technology is here to stay. That's the simple
truth. How we prepare for a world that is so dramatically different
from what it was a decade or so ago is to prepare ourselves for the
next decade! Some of us will be quarterbacks in the technology field
but all of us must be players. The choice has already been made for
us!
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