Technological New Year
By Laurence McKeown
Wouldn't it be great if I had one of those
voice-operated word processors. I could lie in bed
these dark mornings and dictate an article to the
machine, confident that it would accept my every word.
You will note I said `morning', Wednesday morning to be
exact, and the editor has a deadline to go to print
this afternoon. Aah, living life on the edge. But don't
be conned into believing that working under pressure
produces the most creative material. Just read on for
proof of that.
In these days of e-mail, the internet and cyber space
the whole language and method of communication has
changed rapidly yet things technological are as yet
fairly uneven in their application. For instance, An
Phoblacht reputedly has one of the best web-sites on
the internet, (You don't have to take my word for it
but the opinion of Sue Denham of the Sunday Times among
others on the matter is worth considering). Yet these
articles still go through a tedious process before
appearing in print. For instance, after I have written
this, edited it, checked it for mistakes, I then print
it and fax it to the office where Tina has to re-type
it onto the computers there.
The same process of checking for typing errors and
mistakes must then be undergone for the second time.
How much simpler it would be at the other end if I
could just e-mail the article directly onto the
computer in the An Phoblacht office. Tina, I'm sure,
could spend her time more productively on other
matters. Engage the editor for instance in lengthy
debates about his editorial decisions, or just have a
cup of tea on what must be a very hectic day. Consider
also that it is not just my article that undergoes this
process but most of what appears in the paper.
Before you all write off to Mala Poist in support of my
suggestion for e-mail facilities at this end I should
point out that the matter is already in hand. I have it
from a good source that the issue is being pursued with
some degree of urgency. A New Year resolution, you
could call it.
These meandering thoughts on technology and how it aids
communication were prompted by listening to a programme
about the internet and how, for instance, the world's
largest book store in the USA is operated entirely
through the internet. Compare that with the other
revelation on the programme which is that a new form of
spring-operated win-up radio is going to have the
biggest technological impact on African countries this
year. The contrast is incredible. It's not really that
the world is getting smaller in terms of speed of
travel and communication but that the rich, developed
world is getting smaller and more competitive.
I've mixed views about the wind-up radio, not in terms
of technology - in that regard I think the simplest is
always best - but in terms of the impact it will have
upon the culture of the people. Is the drive behind
this development to enhance that culture and bring the
pleasure of indigenous music, drama, politics and
entertainment to the masses or is it to brainwash them
with Coca Cola culture?
Whatever the motivation though, I believe it is better
that we move with the times and incorporate new
technological developments into our culture and
lifestyle where it is appropriate and resist that
conservative streak within us all to wish to stick with
what we are familiar and comfortable with.
Speaking of the old and familiar I do believe that more
basic forms of power and technology may still be
relevant in this most modern of worlds, the north of
Ireland. As a personal contribution to the peace
process I suggest we purchase some quantity of these
spring-operated radios, tune them into Radio Eireann,
2FM, Radio na Gaeltachta, BBC Radio 4 (basically any
station other than Radio Ulster), wind them up full,
remove the key and post them to prominent unionists.
Continued exposure to views other than how high are
Derry's walls, how wide is the Boyne and the
philosophical debate about how many Orangemen you can
fit into the graveyard of the church at Drumcree would,
I think, be effective. The other alternative of course
is to send copies of the Tellytubbies videos - but I
would prefer to use the carrot rather than the stick.
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)