Smart phones dumb people

Smart phones dumb people

Technology is not here with some secret agenda to transform life into a form of submission… it really isn’t going to be anything like the over-enthusiastic Hollywood script-writers keep throwing at us. The author feels that technology need not really be painted as some sort of a villain anywhere, any time.

…it is not impossible to design such a system and then further integrate it with your handheld devices such that you not only remain productive during the day, but hey, you don’t even have to think! I can only hope that this day does not come by; let us allow man further opportunities to exercise his gray matter.

Technology ‘can play a big role in eradicating corruption here’ writes Parthajeet Sarma… and this is just one of the conclusions he is attempting. The other being: Can we ‘manufacture a house’? So what is this book really talking about?

Well, the book is talking of technology the way it must be employed, the reasons it should be adopted and encouraged, and why it need not be feared. It also takes us into journeys into regulations, governance, and enforcement and all these too need to be harnessed to keep giving us viable solutions in areas of innovations, technology, entrepreneurship, and even corruption. Parthajeet has adopted a rather conversational style of expression that is chock full of incidents that every reader can identify with… and this is what makes him deserve a PAT.

Ah! But PAT to Partha isn’t the sort of pat we understand. He explains that ‘we must adapt ‘technology’ to suit our needs. What we see in such cases is a Process Alteration by Technology (PAT). Simply put, it is the application of the human intellect with modern technology in order to improve and alter business processes to bring in efficiencies, leading to overall development of industry and human beings.’

As a reader who is so accustomed to read fiction that doesn’t bother to even wake up the sleeping synapses sometimes, you will be surprised to find the going rather easy. Yes, despite all the talk of technology and a lot of figures thrown at you, you will soon start enjoying the way Partha puts you at ease with all things technical. No, this isn’t a book that will convert you into a technocrat… 164 pages are too less for that feat. But you will surely get converted into a person who would want to apply techno-solutions for all sorts of problems that you may come across. This is where the magic of the book lies. Let us take corruption as an issue that bothers you. The book tells us that ‘almost 60-70 percent of corruption cases happen in public dealings’ and that technology can play a major role is helping you clear this mess. The author writes:

Part of the reason why the western world does not see rampant shady public dealings at the individual level is because technology aided systems are in place.

The author also quotes Arvind Kejriwal as one who favours the use of technology for every sort of issue and admits that ‘I know technology can help in reducing corruption. But there is no political will to do tast. That’s the real problem. How do we tackle that?’

The book clearly and unambiguously states that ‘whoever sees the writing on the wall first and adapts will emerge glorious. Others will fade out. Innovation is no more a choice; it is the only thing which matters. Business houses being the basic framework of a nation’s wealth generation, the importance of innovation in India cannot be understated.’ It is obvious that all this goes with the premise that we also know:

What was ‘in’ in January is ‘so yesterday’ in February.

The author insists that it is adoption and the speed with which it is adapted and adopted that makes a real difference. Technology really needs to be a mandatory part of leadership anywhere, businesses of all hues, and must necessarily flow gently through even social causes. The book is actually all about using twenty-first century tools to address nineteenth century issues. Issues that are now older than you would care to admit can be solved when the right format of adaptive technology comes riding in like a knight to rescue the damsel in distress!

This is one book that I have kept in the ‘read again’ part of my library at home. 

Book Details:

Title: Smart Phones Dumb people
Author: Parthajeet Sarma
Publisher: Good Times Books Pvt. Ltd.
Pages: 164
ISBN: 938061956-1
Price: Rs 195/- (in 2013)

 

2013_06_17_The Education Post_Book Review_Smart Phones Dumb People

2013_06_17_The Education Post_Book Review_Smart Phones Dumb People

 

Arvind Passey
20 June 2013