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About All In
All In is a place for everyone who works at NCPR to share behind the scenes activity, and surprising, curious, lovely or distinctly local tidbits from our travels around the region. We’ll post the best of what we find online, too. From time to time, you may hear from others—if you’d like to write an entry, send it to [email protected]. What makes this place what it is? How do we connect to each other and the world? That’s what ALL IN is all about.
I would characterize “too connected” as when one or more of one’s devices accepts connections from unauthenticated devices. Put differently, you’re too connected when your security is not up to snuff.
I suppose the more philosophical among us would claim one is too connected when the connectivity of one’s devices tempts us to spend time “not overcoming.” That phrase is from Nietzsche-speak :–)
Otherwise, I say “the more connections the merrier!” Online I have three desktop computers, four notebook computers, and an Android tablet (not all online at the same time — that is usually limited to two desktops always running: my main studio workstation and the bedroom Macmini…the rest go on as-needed).
My home thermostat is not on the internet, nor is my sump pump.
–Bob
If you control the devices, you can never be too connected.
Face to face conversation is always the best.
Since I live where cell phone coverage is limited, my cell phone is always turned off. If I leave the area and think I might want to use my cell phone, I take it with me but only turn it on when I need to use it.
When we get good cell phone service, the cell phone will remain turned off and I will used my land based phone to make and/or receive calls.
At home, my phone has caller ID so I never pick up the phone unless I know who is calling and I want to talk with them.
The computer is great. I need it to do my job.
If you have a problem, it’s your problem, not the fault of the device.
Like everything in life, it is finding the balance. I love the few devices I have (a desktop computer with a nice big wide screen and a cell phone that does nothing but telephone stuff…oh, and texting which apparently I’ve had for quite awhile but only realized recently) I am getting a laptop, partly because I need it for my new work as a photographer with NCPR and partly because I would like to work from home on occasion…which is something I avoided for a long time so I could maintain that balance. As Pete points out, too connected is when we allow the devices to start to control our lives. I live in the Adirondack Mountains and I am glad that cell phone coverage is limited, primarily to population areas which is appropriate. My hikes, skis, paddles are without any devices…although I’m imagining paddling the canoe out to one of the islands on Lower Saranac Lake this summer and doing my Photoshop work on my laptop while sitting by the lake and not in my studio. I still don’t have an answering machine on my home phone…which is connected by a wire, has a dial on it, actually rings and works when the electricity is off.
Mark makes a good point about land lines and why you should never get rid of it even if you do have a 24/7/365 cell phone service because when you lose your electricity, your cell phone doesn’t work – as happened to many in NYC when they last had a blackout.
My cell phone saves me 50 miles per week, and since i no longer have to run to a phone…several hours. Greater productivity and a smaller carbon footprint.
My 19 year old son however…loses a couple hours per day…texting. In addition, he pays too much for his service. Lower productivity and no savings of any sort.
Most useful gizmo? I have a fine carbon steel knife in my kitchen that gets used 40 times a day. Good food creates its own social network.