We are nerds, geeks and otaku. We love technology. We love gadgets. We're into them. We're fully 100% out as raging technophiles. From the youngest geek to the oldest profan and protaku, we love our gizmos.
We use technology all the time. We take our gaming systems on the train to kill time. We take our smartphones to conventions to stay in touch and take photos. We take our iPad to our job interviews to overwhelm people with how cool we are.
In many cases, we may realize that technology says something about us. Having a DS is an invitation to trade Pokemon (even if you don't play it). A smartphone will lead people to assume you have a GPS (which they may not tell you until they're lost). An iPad says you're cutting edge and have spare cash. We usually enjoy what these things say about us.
We just may not be conscious about it – and that presents the danger that our technology, which is more omnipresent all the time, may say the wrong things about us. We're so used to technology that we may not think that how we use it, what devices we display, may not say good things about us.
Think for a moment of how your gaggle of gizmos can say different things in different situations:
- A DS or PSP at a convention says you're a gamer. Sitting waiting for a job interview it may look unprofessional.
- Having a smartphone makes you look, well, smart. Having a ringtone of Carameldansen or "Baby Got Back" is not something you want going off in front of most clients.
- An iPad can look cool – but it may also seem pretentious – depending on the situation.
- A netbook can make you look productive – or make you look like you never leave work behind.
Technology says things about us – and as progeeks it perhaps says even more than people that don't work in the geekonomy. When you consider the image you present, both recreationally and professionally, keep your technology in mind as well. It says things about you.
You may just not realize it because you're so used to using it, and because we're used to thinking anything cool is cool all the time, everywhere, to every person.
– Steven Savage