Between The Keyboard and Chair

In section 6.2, page 95 Accessibility focused on the fact that as technologists we need to not only focus on the level of user-freindliness itself, but making sure that we match the tool with the end user and their level of experience. " It is, therefore, not the level of user-friendliness itself that is important, but rather the right match between the user's experience and the complexity of  the system." Again, I am in this program in order to help me translate new technologies into the K-12 environment. It is for that reason when we talk about "user-friendly" in terms of accessibility, we talk in terms of "dumbing-down" the tool. I have said this to others, and behind closed doors I might add, that we have a baby boomer logjam when it comes to integration of new tools. This puts an added need to find tools that fit the end user and still meet the needs of a changing data-driven demand for accessibility to information.

In BOX 6.1 there is discussion about using a tool that was meant for on purpose being used inappropriately for another. The idea that you would hold a fact-face-meeting and send folks back to an email treasure hunt to find out if you are fired is almost criminal. However, it does demonstrate one use. I did however, have a cousin of mine who is attending Stout "break up" with his girlfriend by simply changing his relationship status on Facebook.com. If you talk to him it worked just fine for both parties.

My point? "Effective communication depends on choosing a medium that is compatible with the task at hand." It is true that there are various competing theories about how to do this, having a dialog about administratively "dictating" the appropriate use of these tools is part of any job. We have just adopted a new Acceptable Use Policy for SDMA because of misuse of these tools as was described above. I find it interesting the level of resistance to the incorporation of new, better suited tools, such as Chat over e-mail. We have covered that already.

Therefore, I think I subscribe, for now, to the Subjectivist approaches to the adoption and integration of technologies into an organization. "The social influence model argues that media richness cannot be determined objectively. What is important is the way various media are perceived. The perception depends on the user's attitude as well as the options and behaviour of others. Furthermore, different people may have different perceptions." Point in case as it applies to Chat versus e-mail. Skype versus a phone call, and so on.

This leads me to the end of this post. When we consider the introduction of new technologies into an organization we have to understand that our end users will make assumptions that can not be determined objectively. "The same goes for matching medium and task: different users will make different choices based on their personal perceptions."  As I said, it is between the keyboard and the chair.

-G