This document summarizes the evolution of technology in the workplace over time and how predictions about new technologies often proved inaccurate. It discusses the introduction of desktop computers, the internet, instant messaging, mobile phones, social networks, and mobile messaging. While these technologies were initially dismissed by some, they went on to see widespread adoption in both personal and professional use. The document advocates giving new workplace technologies an open mind before dismissing them.
13. ”This ’telephone' has too many
shortcomings to be seriously
considered as a means of
communication. The device is
inherently of no value to us.”
− Western Union memo, 1876
17. “In the mid-70s, someone came to me with
an idea for what was basically the PC.
I asked: 'What's it good for?' And the only
answer was that a housewife could keep her
recipes on it. I personally didn't see anything
useful in it, so we never gave it another
thought.”
− Gordon Moore, Intel
30. ”Enterprise social networking sure can
sound a lot like the benefits that were
supposed to be delivered by previous
generations of [software]. Sure, sure, it’s
different this time. ”
− David F. Carr, InformationWeek, 2011
33. ”As technology progresses, texting is
slowly becoming more and more
unnecessary. All it does is give us
another way to interact with others with
a lot of added nuances.”
− Alexia LaFata, ThoughtCatalog,
2014