Public Technology

Everyone is an expert.  Well, at least so they say.

It used to be that techies were few and far between.  People would discuss our supposed electronic prowess with hushed tones and admiring sighs.  When you told someone that you worked with computers, they would always say with a knowing grin, “That’s a good field to be in.”  And it was.  And still is.

But now, everyone is an techie.  And everyone they know is an techie.

The guy down the street … the 40 year old lady at church … the 13 year old kid with his laptop.

Well, at least they are enough of experts to try to tell you how much they know and why what you know is wrong.  And, sometimes, they actually do know something that has value!  And it may be something that you didn’t already know.  (I hate that!  Especially when it is the 13 year old kid!).  And, it’s really not fair!  When did a 13 year old kid ever go up to an accountant and tell them that they debited the wrong account?  Never.  Doesn’t happen!  It only happens with techies!

I’ll admit it.  Keeping up with all of the developments in technology today is mind numbing.  In fact, it is practically impossible.  The latest and greatest wireless networking protocol is barely out and going before they introduce another.  Operating systems are being released with dizzying frequency.  New capabilities are springing onto the web.  Our phones are turning into computers.  And, everything is connected to everything … and it actually works most of the time!

As a tech guy (person) at the church, you have to be an expert at them all.  PC’s, Operating Systems, Internet, Phones, Macs, Switches, Wireless, WiFi, Servers, Programming languages, firewalls, file systems, network topologies, sound, video … it’s all in your realm.

So now, I will bring some focus to this rambleing … right?  Wrong.  I’m just venting.  I have no answers today.  I’m too tired.  Hey, I’ve been a tech guy for many years.  I forgot more than most of these guys ever knew.  But, of course, much of that was on old hardware, antiquated operating systems, retired protocols and promising technology that never came to fruition.

Oh well … their time is coming!