I love those moments when you think you’ve heard it all, then something else comes along to top it.  From Franb’s post on Technology in the US: 

Also, the other day I was craving a junior bacon cheeseburger plain with extra crispy bacon, so my husband proceeded to order the cheeseburger to suit my preferences. He went through the drive thru at Wendy’s and repeated my order to them, exactly the way I had stated it. Nonetheless, he got it home to me and it had everything on it. I was going to try to make it without the burger, but my craving just couldn’t leave so he headed back to Wendy’s. When he explained the mistake to the manager, the gentleman apologized and informed my husband that it wasn’t their fault because the orders are not even taken there at the restaurant! There is a lady that sits in an office in another state, and she has a camera where she can see you, and she takes your order, enters it in a computer, and forwards that order to the restaurant. Isn’t that crazy?

I have to admit that is a new one…..but a local fast food establishment I frequent starts your order with a recorded message before the live person comes on to take the order.  And what about ordering your pizza online?  I do it all the time from Pizza Hut and Papa Johns!  Haven’t you been in a store where it was too hot or cold just to be told the temperature was regulated from some main office in another state rather than in the store.  I realize all these measures are intended to maximize efficiency and PROFIT, but they do lack the quality of a personal touch….though it still amazes me how fast food restaurants have those TV screens showing your order, yet the teenager behind the counter can’t seem to read the screen AND get the correct items in the bag….a local fast food joint here is notorious for messing up orders…..everyone checks their bag before pulling away!

So does technology always improve things?  In itself, I’d say that technology provides a means to simplify the work, but if the person operating the technology is not competent, then it can be more hinderance than help.  I don’t feel its necessarily a lack of exposure to technology, at least certainly not on the part of the younger folks…I thinks it is more a problem of relying on the technology to think for you.  How many students today can even do simple math without the use of a calculator?  Technology should assist us….not be a crutch for our shortcomings.  I even saw an article on the BBC the other day where some prominent scientists claims that humans will be merged with implanted nanomachines with a couple decades which will make them perform better and faster….sounds like the Borg are at the door!