Technology gives us speed, convenience and depth of information. But is faster and easier always an advantage–or does too much data offer anything more than a base for self-fulfilling expectations?
We’re inundated with bad news and even worse forecasts. Consider this uplifting assessment of the commercial real estate industry, posted recently on the Internet by Paul Craig Roberts, assistant secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration: Continue reading
Filed under economic crisis, globest, life, philosophy, random, Real Estate, realtybytes, Technology, thoughts
Driving through Hollywood Hills more than a year ago, I was awed by the view, the homes and the unusually large number of “For Sale” signs. But I was struck even more by what I couldn’t see-a sense of foreboding or impending doom. Something just didn’t feel right, though I was clueless to say what.
Back in New York, I shared the experience with a commercial real estate broker I’d called to discuss technology. And he knew exactly what I was referencing. “Real estate,” he acknowledged, “has a heartbeat. And sometimes you hear it, even when you don’t want to.” Continue reading
Filed under economic crisis, globest, life, random, Real Estate, realtybytes, Technology, thoughts
I used to fantasize about the ability to save the hour we gain by turning the clocks back each fall. Now I fantasize about the ability to save the countless hours that I lose to technology. Continue reading
Filed under life, random, realtybytes, Technology, thoughts, time
There’s a website that boasts it’s so simple that “even a broker can use it.” It’s a tongue-in-cheek way to reassure CRE professionals about the ease of using the web-based application. But the message is only partly in jest.
A surprising number of smart, successful, well-educated people are still paralyzed by technology. Like a newborn in the arms of a childless person, they hold it nervously… fearful of breaking it, anxious about potential mistakes, data loss and irreparable errors. Continue reading
Filed under fear of technology, Real Estate
Technology makes it quicker, easier and more convenient to do many tasks. Unfortunately, it hasn’t erased human error or the complications of simple mistakes.
Take electronic fund transfers, for instance–a common component of modern work and life. At their best, they’re fast and efficient, benefiting everyone from a commercial real estate broker juggling a potentially volatile deal to someone trying to authorize payment of an overdue phone bill. Continue reading
One of the advantages of being older than 30 is having a slim electronic record of your adolescence. In the days when cameras were too bulky to fit in the palm of your hand and the cost of film made candid shots a luxury, few moments of teen stupidity endured beyond the moment.
Now there are voluntary and involuntary records of almost everything-a fact most teens savor until they start looking for a job. The ironic thing is those hefty collections of images and video may fade faster than the relatively few photographs that haunt those born before 1980. Continue reading
Filed under digital, Technology, thoughts
If you had asked me 18 months ago what I expected to learn from the Presidential election, I might have said something silly – like more information about the issues. Instead, I learned more than I expected about technology and its potential impact on virtually everything.
In the waning days of the campaign, I spent a lot of time thinking what a mistake it is to look at technology as simply a convenience. Technology makes it easy for anyone to do almost anything–take photographs, shoot video, research a topic or post unedited information on the Internet.
But that’s the problem. Continue reading
Filed under mistakes, random, Technology, thoughts
Reality Bytes
