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TO BE OR NOT TO BE  - THAT IS THE QUESTION!
By Angus M Robinson, Past President, Rotary eClub One

With apologies to Shakespeare, for a Rotarian these days to figure our how to be or not to be (i.e. how to exist or live) in this rapidly changing world of converging communication technologies presents many challenges.

For the older Rotarians, the transition from rudimentary telephone communications supplemented by telegrams through the telex and fax age through to the current plethora of ’real time’ voice, data and multimedia options delivered no matter where you are in the world has been quite a journey.

For the younger generation who have been born into a world with moving colour pictures and mobile phones, talk about telephone exchange operators, party lines, long distance ‘trunk calls’, crystal (cats whiskers) radio sets draws a complete blank – my bet is that the vast majority would have difficulty using a public phone box, that’s if you can find one these days!

And as for written communications, this art form is disappearing from across all generations, replaced in part by an enthralling and now word-processed Christmas circular (featuring an update of the communicator’s family life story)!

For those Rotarians who operate in the eClub environment, where email and teleconferences are now par for course, additional ‘social media’ options of media such as Facebook, Twitter.com, LinkedIn, and ‘Second Life’ are now being offered by the new technology adopters as the new (and only) way forward, not forgetting that these new media are becoming increasingly utilised by non-Rotarians, young and old alike.

In this context (and as a long-standing ‘road warrior’ member of Rotary eClub One with a commitment to being ‘connected any place, any time’), I would like to offer a few observations which might assist others who have difficulty in decision making at the never-ending communications options crosswords.

1. A fundamental rule of effective communications is to use communications that others use and with which sender and receiver feel most comfortable.

For most people in developed countries, it would not be unreasonable to assume that with the dominant usage now of mobile phone technologies, telephone, email and SMS represent a reasonably universal basic communication package, the operations and limitations of which the vast majority of users now understand.

It is worth remembering that within the first five years of the widespread introduction of email, many people were assigned or adopted email addresses but rarely used them, in many cases because they were afraid to admit that they did not know how to use this new technology.

2. It is also worth remembering that every person has different preferred communication modes and different capabilities for using these technologies.

3. As a corollary, group communications such as webinars and teleconferences are most effective where the platform used is basic and ‘lowest common denominator’ (i.e. it is understood by the least technologically capable participants). Moreover, these forums are never effective communication media where the facilitator allows conflicting and potentially controversial views to be aired and debated!

4. A communication sent is only effective when its receipt is acknowledged promptly by the intended recipient. Particularly for those in business, superior customer service is delivered when the communication process is both reliable and responsive! It is suggested that everyone should establish personal standards for handling communications – with the objective of gaining a reputation with friends and business colleagues as a reliable and engaging communicator.

5. Electronic communications (and group interactions) are improved ‘out of sight’ if they are polite, friendly, helpful and engaging.

6. As an alternative to social media sites such as Facebook, the establishment of a personal web site with an individual’s own domain (and linked email addresses) is worth considering – might be a little more expensive to establish, but can prove more credible on the internet and with a higher level of individual control.

7. Before launching into social media sites, a user needs to seriously consider whether he or she has enough time to properly engage, and whether the time committed is really all that worthwhile. Perhaps more time spent ‘face to face’ with friends and family might prove more rewarding.

 8. Potential users of Second Life really need to consider whether they wish to communicate and engage effectively in the real world or become part of some ‘virtual unreality’ experience!  From a Rotary perspective, one really has to wonder whether ‘service above self’ can be delivered in this environment or whether Second Life goes anywhere near meeting any tenet of the Four Way Test!

 9. In a world where the Internet is being increasingly exploited by a wide range of people of dubious character, it makes no sense of committing personal data (such as home addresses, birthdays, detailed resumes etc) to any web site, personal or social media related. To do so risks identity theft!

 10. Professional networking ‘social networking’ sites such as LinkedIn and Plaxo genuinely offer the opportunity to identify commercial opportunities and to keep regularly in contact with colleagues with whom a professional association is enjoyed. Properly managed and strategically developed, a professional networking facility can complement standard communication tools. It is arguable whether a user also needs to go to the extent of building other social media sites and linkages, but this is an area where there individual needs are important.

 Having regard to the above, if it is fair to say that Rotary eClub One of D5450 serves a much needed meeting place for committed Rotarians to be connected, informed and inspired, using only those information and communication technologies (ICTs) that best enable them to deliver ‘service above self’.

 In this way, our Club has managed to apply and offer those communication media which enables the members to get on with the job without succumbing to the temptation of just being ‘early technology’ adopters for the sake of it!

 About the author: In 1994, Angus M Robinson joined The Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering at The University of Sydney as General Manager. In 1995, as a leading technology diffusion centre, The Warren Centre launched one of Australia’s first commercial web sites. Over the ensuing years, Angus has held leadership roles at Australia’s first major technology park, and until his recent retirement, with an industry association which represented Australian companies in the electrical manufacturing, electronics and ICT industries. He is a Past President of Rotary eClub One, and a Paul Harris Fellow.