Laptops, cell phones, social networks and more – increasingly over the past several years I have inserted these tools into my routine, and I am happy to say that I am sold on their effectiveness at facilitating modern life for the modern female.  The following is a description of the way in which I use communications tools in my everyday life:

Mobile Phone: I utilize a mobile phone on a daily basis, to keep in touch with my classmates, colleagues, friends and family members within my city of residence as well as all over the world.  I make international calls (using a special service) and local calls as well as send SMS messages. Interestingly, I do not use a traditional landline – all of my telephonic activities are carried out either via mobile phone or internet.  While I do not currently have an IPhone or blackberry, I plan to get one as soon as I can.  Use Initiated: 1999; Current Frequency of Use: Several Times Daily

Laptop: I use a laptop for word processing and spread sheeting; storing music, photos and videos; and accessing the internet.  Use Initiated: 1999, Current Frequency of Use: Several Times Daily

Internet: My laptop plus the internet enable me to access the bulk of the technological communications tools that I use. 

·         University Intranet: I use the internet to connect to my school’s intranet, and thus, access the online campus, where I can retrieve MBA assignments, articles, slides, grades; connect to the university’s library; and access academic blogs, careers services, etc.  Use Initiated: 1999 (at previous university); Current Usage: Several Times Daily, especially on the weekdays.

·         Online News: I read the news and keep up with current events on the internet.  My homepage is set to BBC News and New York Times; Use Initiated: 2005; Current Usage: Two to three times daily.

·         Search Engines: I use search engines (namely Google) to research all sorts of things related to school, careers, trips and life in general. Use Initiated: 1994; Current Usage: Several times daily.

·         Social Networks: I keep up a profile and communications with friends from all over the world on Facebook, and I keep up a profile and professional contacts all over the world on Linked In. Use Initiated: 2007; Current Usage: Two to three times daily.

·         Chat: I use MSN Live Messenger (primarily) and Yahoo Messenger and Skype (secondarily) to chat with people, both for school/professional and personal communications; Use Initiated: 2007; Current Usage: Several times daily.

·         VOIP/Skype: I use Skype to call the U.S. from Spain.  Use Initiated: 2007; Current Usage: Two to three times daily.

·         Online Shopping: I am not the most avid online shopper, but I do use the online sales points of Amazon and other clothing stores to send gifts to the States on a relatively regular basis.  Additionally, I book almost all of my travel arrangements online – flights, trains, cars, hotels, etc. Use Initiated: 1999; Current Usage: Two to three times monthly.

·         Online Banking: I bank almost exclusively via internet. Use Initiated: 1999; Current Usage: Two to three times weekly.

These tools make a tremendous impact on my life.  Mobile phone communications enable me to stay in close contact with friends and family and to remain available to take calls regarding school, or careers.  As an MBA candidate who will is exploring career paths and seeking a job, it is essential for me to remain available to take phone calls from professional contacts and potential employers.  Having a laptop that is easily accessible enables me to keep track of all of my important documents and to have them at the touch of a fingertip.  Most importantly, having a laptop handy (as well as a wireless internet connection) enables me to connect to the internet and, essentially, gives me the wings to fly. 

Once connected to the internet, I have access to a bank of information and a wealth of services (often free) that are simply phenomenal, and that only seem to get better with time.  I can find necessary information about almost everything by using a search engine to sort through the plethora of websites that exists on just about any topic imaginable.  I can keep in good touch with family, friends and personal contacts via email and internet chat – which is easier, cheaper and faster than phones/cell phones and which, in certain circumstances, can prove to be a more effective communication channel. 

Once resistant to social networks, chat and VOIP, I am now an avid supporter.  I joined Facebook approximately one year ago and have not only made closer connections with new friends but have additionally found and reconnected with friends from childhood, high school, college, etc., all of whom I could easily have lost touch with for life.  Previously, I saw chat as an enormous waste of time.  Now, if properly incorporated, I see it as a very easy way to, again, stay in touch with people and to facilitate group work.  While working, students and colleagues can quickly bounce ideas off of one another, share files and keep each other apprised of pace and progress.  In a similar way, VOIP is a great way to stay connected, especially internationally, at a low cost.  My parents (formerly oblivious to internet chat, VOIP and internet video functionalities) now use Skype to call me in Spain for free and as an added bonus, we can see each other as we share news and catch up. 

Online commerce, too, has proven to be a lucrative channel by which businesses can distribute their wares, and for consumers, it is easy, great for price comparison and very convenient.  Services like online banking, as well, make it much easier for an individual to save time on  

All of these factors make up the pros that characterize the communications innovations that technology has created over the course of the past decade or two.  Obviously, these communications additionally have their cons.  Namely, these are 1) that the internet can be an isolating place for some and a time waste for others.  If the internet world is not used as an enhancement to the real world and to real life interaction, it can harm the person social connections as well as the productivity that are important our modern human existence; 2) that with social networks, online shopping, search engine preferences, etc. we put an immense amount of information about ourselves onto the web and into the hands of others.  A number of right minded individuals are troubled by the lack of privacy that exists on the internet, and to a certain extent, they are right to be concerned; 3) the internet is a new and largely unregulated space – there is ample room for fraud and crime and protective legislation is still in the stages of development; and 4) 24/7 accessibility can make an already long work day, longer.  At some point, individuals do well to shut off the blackberry, internet, etc. and live life.  Considering these downsides, users of modern technology must question the role of technology in their lives and be smart about their usage habits.

 In my opinion, the most important benefit of modern communications is that they make life more mobile, information more accessible, keeping in communication across long distances and in very different landscapes/settings possible, and working in non-traditional places and spaces a much more feasible reality. All of this is very good for women in the workplace, who 1) are capable to take on challenging, high powered positions in the work place and 2) are a highly desirable addition to many workplaces but 3) have trouble merging the time and travel constraints of a typical executive career with those required by having a family.  With modern communications, a woman can better balance the requirements of her work day with the necessities of her family.  As a result, I believe that modern communications facilitate, rather than hinder, advancement of women in the workplace and connection of women with each other. 

In the future, I would like to see more technological innovations like the Blackberry or IPhone – those that enable individuals to access voice, chat and internet services while they are one the go and that make having a mobile office truly possible.  In addition, I would like to see companies distance themselves from the idea that presence means performance or productivity and, instead, begin to evaluate female employees on their contributions to their places of work.  As companies increasingly adopt this mentality and begin to view mobile performance as a valuable addition to their organizations, women will be able to connect modern communications with new professional performance measures and will have much better advancement opportunities in our world.