The sound was familiar, but I didn’t immediately recognize it. Tap tap tap, tap tap tap. Of course, I could have just gotten up from my desk and walked down the aisle to see where the noise came from – but where’s the fun in that? I decided, instead, to take a mental walk down memory lane. Within a minute I connected the sound to an old typewriter that belonged to my Mother. She used it occasionally for her business and every now and then my brother would use it for one of his Boy Scout projects. But, most of the time it sat on a shelf in a big cabinet behind closed doors.
 
Gradually, we’ve moved from the typewriter to the computer, rotary dial to touch-tone phones, VHS to DVD and from mail to fax to electronic mail with attachments. Things that were once behind closed doors are now portable, out in the open and in an interesting way could almost be considered a fashion accessory. And as technology becomes increasingly popular, there appears to be a growing social pressure to keep up with the times. 
 
Sometimes it’s hard to leave the familiar and try something new. Afterall, the familiar usually contains few surprises or glitches. While that may sound boring to some, for others it emits a sense of peace. I’m sure that’s how many of the people in Ennis, Ireland felt when they were named “The Information Age Town” and awarded a windfall of new technology. But, most of them embraced change and actually discovered ways that technology could enhance their businesses, personal relationships and Irish culture. Check out the article “Gaelic Revolutionaries” by David Hill to read more about it.   
 
Other items this month include John Hockenberry’s article; “My Beeping Job” and Cynthia Froggatt’s piece called “The Networked Individualist.” John’s article shares personal accounts of his own career development and he describes the connection between what he does and the various environments he has worked in throughout his career.  Cynthia Froggatt explores how the work we do has evolved through time. She discusses how knowledge workers need autonomy, mobility and a range of workspaces in order to function in creative ways.
 
Before I forget, please fill out our quick one-question survey located on the home page. This month’s question concerns how well your work environment is equipped to support change through new and emerging technology. We’d love to hear from you.
 
Thank you, 
Pam Brenner, Steelcase
Editor, 360 e-zine
editor@360steelcase.com