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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.
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Tech toys transform the lives of young professionals
