Tech toys transform the lives of young professionals Offices and coffee shops across the state contain a fascinating group of people. They stare at square screens all day, moving their fingers fast and furiously. They speak into rectangular pieces of metal and stick little buds in their ears to hear sounds coming from another rectangular device. A unique bunch, this is the latest generation of young professionals. They are logging on, tuning in and capturing moments all over Wisconsin. Today, the lives of young professionals are significantly different than they have ever been. This new generation is thriving in an age of increased digital technology. They use tech toys constantly in both their professional and personal lives. E-mail and voicemail keep them connected, computers and palm pilots keep them organized, and iPods, DVD players, satellite radio and digital cameras keep them entertained. Many of these tech toys play a central role in their daily lives. Modern technology enhances their work as well as their leisure time. “I love radio, and I love music,” Stacy Shedivy says. She uses her new XM satellite radio in her car and at work. Satellite radio allows listeners to hear radio stations segmented by genre, without advertisements. One can listen to the same 150 or so channels anywhere in the country. Another new digital trend in music is the iPod. “The iPod is the best invention since the CD player. I think its just good technology,” Matt Canter says. Canter works for Senator Russ Feingold in Milwaukee. With his iPod, he can have thousands of his favorite songs right at his fingertips. Today, young professionals have become accustomed to having everything at their fingertips. Young professionals benefit because they always have access to the latest information and are able to complete many of their daily tasks with the aid of a little technology. Consumers have come to expect instant gratification from their products. With the iPod, they can hear any song they want to right away. With digital cameras, consumers are able to point, shoot and see the picture instantly. They are able to decide immediately whether they like the picture, and if not, they can delete it and take another one. Then, they can just upload their pictures to a computer and print them out on photo paper. “Nobody’s buying film anymore because everyone is going digital,” says Scott Anderson, a photographer for the Racine Journal Times and a freelance Web developer. Anderson benefits from the speed and portability of modern technology in his career. Through laptop computers and the wireless Internet, Anderson can bring his work out of the office and with him wherever he goes. “I can sit in a coffee shop and do Web editing or site design,” Anderson says. Modern ideas about workspaces are constantly changing, as technology is becoming more portable. It is easy for young professionals to take their products along with them when they are so small. Today people look for products that are easily accessible. “We’ve got this awesome little tiny camera that just sits in your pocket,” says Shedivy. Technology is central to Shedivy’s job as a senior project manager at U.S. Bank, and she loves taking pictures with her camera in her free time. Modern technology is not just changing the ways young professionals conduct their business, it’s changing their lives as well. “I think being as high-tech as we are puts such a demand on us,” says Josh Andrew, who does pharmaceutical testing at Covance in Madison. “We spend too much time on that, rather than relaxing and doing other things.” Today, young professionals receive e-mails and voicemails at all hours of the day and night, seven days a week; even when they are on vacation. “You are always reachable, which is sometimes a downfall too,” says Janine Anderson, who works at the Franklin Hub newspaper. “Caller ID is a wonderful thing.” Since young professionals are reachable 24/7, they are expected to be more productive, which often makes the workday longer. “We don’t have as much downtime as our grandparents did,” Andrew says. “I pretty much live at my computer.” This takes a toll on young professionals’ free time and communications with friends and family. “The only way you communicate with them half the time is through voicemail because everyone is working so hard,” Canter says. Young professionals are a busy group, and technology allows people to get the most out of their work and play time. Technology is always changing and improving and there are many resources to keep young professionals up-to-date about current technology. According to Heather Vick, the sales supervisor of digital imaging and wireless in the East Towne Madison Best Buy, the 20- to 30- year-old crowd usually knows what they want when they come into the store. They ask a few questions and then make their purchase. “Our primary goal is to educate the customer, not just sell them something,” Vick says. Young professionals keep themselves educated about current technology, but at the same time many claim that they are not tech savvy. “I don’t think of myself as a technological person,” Canter says. Dan Hinkel, a reporter for the Janesville Gazette, describes himself as not being technology-oriented. He recently received a new cell phone, after using his old outdated phone for a long time. “You had to turn a crank to get it to work,” he jokes. “Surrounded by technology all day long, sometimes you just need to escape,” Shedivy says. During what little leisure time they have, young professionals in Wisconsin often like to get away from technology and back to nature. “I try to stay low-tech outside of work,” says Andrew. “Most of my new toys lately have been fishing poles.” “However, a number of the guys still enjoy playing video games during their free time. I’ve always liked video games,” says Andrew. “They are distracting and it’s something you can have bragging rights with over your friends. It’s a great way to get a competitive fix.” Young professionals don’t characteristically succumb to the constant pressure to keep upgrading their digital toys. “You find something much more capable than the previous model and twice as cheap,” says Anderson. “You think, ‘Oh, I could take advantage of this great feature,’ but you just end up chasing your tail.” Anderson commented on the importance of having technology, but he feels you have to exercise your judgment to have the most affordable and useful technology. “You can never really stay ahead of technology,” he says, “You can keep buying, but if you do that enough, other areas of your life are going to suffer. It has to be a balance.” For young professionals in Wisconsin, balance is the name of the game. Balance between work and leisure time, between technology and nature. “You have the disposable income to buy your tech needs, you can always have the latest and greatest technology at your hands if you want it,” says Shedivy. “It’s justification for higher education.”
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