We are in a time where we rely on technology for everything. Meetings have turned virtual when they could be in person and we use our phones for constant communication with family, friends and clients. While we should be able to unplug without increased levels of anxiety, it isn't always possible when you are trying to meet deadlines.
There have been several major outages over the past month. AT&T cellular service went down for a few hours and just yesterday the META social media platforms were down. If our technology is so advanced, how does something like this happen?These examples weren't dire - most individuals can do without Facebook for a few hours on a Tuesday afternoon, however, it. makes me a little fearful that larger outages are possible and imminent.
I'm not trying to say we should live in fear, because honestly, not having to use our phones for a couple of days might be nice. However, we do need to be prepared. Having important files backed up and alternative forms of communication is crucial. Ultimately, we cannot control the changes we experience with technology but we can try to be prepared.
One of the smartest things you can do is prepare for the inevitable Wi-Fi outage at home or office by learning how to use the "tethering" feature of your smart phone. Nearly every phone now has a Wi-Fi mobile hotspot feature, but don't ignore the ability to tether by USB (carry the right cable) or Bluetooth, both of which will be kinder to your phone's battery than Wi-Fi. USB will be faster than Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will be slower. Bluetooth tethering is fine for email and light web browsing, but not for streaming or a Zoom cal/meeting.
ReplyDeleteEach mobile and computer operating system will handle things like USB and Bluetooth tethering differently. So before you need it in an emergency, look up how to do it and practice it at least once or twice to make sure you are ready if Wi-Fi fails at home or at the office.
I agree that we need to be prepared for unexpected outages. It never ceases to amaze me how dependent we have become on technology in all aspects of life. And as technology improves, we expect more from it. Think about how impatient we are when waiting for information to load on our computers, phones and other devices. Most people in this class have never lived without technology of some sort.
ReplyDeleteOutages are a major concern and preparedness is paramount. You bring up a good point about backing up files. The worst feeling in the world is when you realize that your draft did not save. This gets compounded by an outage at the same time. I wonder how many firms have generators for their computer systems. While that will not fix a network outage, but perhaps it could allow for preservation of work files.
Lauren,
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the reasons I still stubbornly insist on having hardcopies of certain documents for work and a legal pad. If all of my equipment is inoperable, I can still get the job done, though I may have to transcribe and send it electronically due to my lackluster penmanship.