The Tech Group at the IVFP 2006 conference is wrestling with technology. Within the group, there are folks who blog daily, are well-versed in digital photography, build PowerPoint presentations and live-or-die on the web.
Then there are those who are experts in the magic that happens when people gather together in person to tell strories and create large-scale maps and drawings.
And then there is David Sibbet who has built an entire outdoor facilitation space in Second Life
[pictured above], complete with talking circles, a personal library,
waterbed, campfire and billboard-sized samples of his detailed
information maps.
So when is technology necessary? Where should we invest our money in hardware and how much time should we invest in learning new software?
Just as the Amish do, we need to make our own individual decisions on when a tool adds value to our process and when it detracts from the quality of human interaction.
Here are some of the fun quotes collected from the session:
Technology is anything that wasn't around before you went though puberty.
The challenge of integrating the new technologies reflect the challenges of emerging participation styles.
The metaphor of "dinosaur technology" is not helpful. Old technolgy doesn't go away, it changes as more and more gets added on!
Technology is additive.
The paperless office is about as far off as the paperless bathroom!
We are never going to learn all the technology. The important thing is to begin to explore the areas we are interested in.
Awareness of the possibilities is key.
Play in one area, and you will pick up the skills for learning more.
Everything you learn how to do will add value.
To see a list of technologies discussed during the Tech Workshop, go here.
Comments