The New, Disposable Generation
At a recent meeting of fire chiefs, all six attendees had smartphones, three had iPads, and one chief had a 3-year-old laptop — for which he was teased endlessly. The three iPads stacked together didn’t match the thickness of the laptop.
This prompted a conversation about ever-changing — and ever-shrinking — technology. Several of us remembered the hesitation we felt when computers were first introduced decades ago, fearing a screen-freeze that would require costly hours on the phone with technical service. Mystical terminology like DOS and COBALT made computer technicians godlike, and the machines’ cost and sophistication demanded respect and awe from new users.
As computers evolved, they became smaller and more affordable. Apple computers became commonplace in schools and classrooms, and younger generations became eager to play with computers and test their limits. To them, the need to reboot simply meant “try again,” rather than “you failed,” as it did to my generation of computer neophytes.
During the meeting last week, Novato (Calif.) Fire Chief Mark Revere told us that 10 career fire departments in Marin County received a FEMA grant for $500,000 to update their computerized database system. As part of the upgrade, the departments will replace obsolete computers on 32 fire apparatus with iPads. The existing computers, which originally cost between $5,000 and $6,000 each, will be replaced with iPads, which will cost less than $600 apiece. With the addition of a dispatch app and a few other apps, the upgrade will also be complete in a shorter period of time.
“Even if the iPads last only a year, we can easily replace these and still save money,” Revere said.
With Bluetooth keyboards and iPads, Revere said his officers can take the iPads everywhere and use them for e-mail, note-taking, and PowerPoint presenting.
Revere has had similar success with using his smartphone for work. “It’s amazing what you do with an iPhone,” he said. “You have a computer, wireless connection and projector. We also have Apple applications where I can use my iPhone and hook up to a station’s 60-inch TV, so we’re all looking at the same data.”
All this talk about new generations of technology reminded me that over the holidays I watched a 9-month-old baby squeal with delight as she touched a smartphone and made the picture change, while a 2-year old played a game with his Mom’s iPad. It’s going to be interesting to watch as new generations grow up with technology that still has many of us awe-struck.
