The COW talks tech

 I'm a COW, I admit it, A Cranky Old Woman. Technology can be great. It can be hell. Consider:

1970

Phone rings:                                                                                                                                     Nathalie: Dr.'s Smith's office.                                                                                                                        Me: Hi, Nathalie. I need an appointment next week.                                                                                 Nathalie: The 25th okay. 3 p.m.?                                                                                                             Me: See you then.

2005

 

Phone Rings:                                                                                                                                                  Audio: You've reached the office of Dr. Smith, Jr. Your call is important to us. If you want an appointment for a headache press 1for an intestinal problem, press 2, for skin press 3.                          Me: I press 1. 1                                                                                                                                    Audio: If you are a new patient press 1, if you're a returning patient press 2                                             Me: I press 2.                                                                                                                                        Audio: If you need an appointment within a week press 1. If you can wait press 2.                               Me: I press 2.                                                                                                                                              A human: How may I help you? They arrange an appointment.

2021

 Phone rings:                                                                                                                                          Audio: You've reached the office of Dr. Smith, III. For an appointment please go to the website: www.regionalmedicalapointments.com                                                                                                   Me: I go to the website and fill in the form,  city, Dr.'s name, my name, address, mobile, check the day and time I want. I hit submit.                                                                                                                       Screen comes back with the message: You did not check if your address is on a Street, Blvd. Avenue. Screen: returns totally blank.                                                                                                                     Me: I fill it out again. Submit.                                                                                                              Screen: Thank you. We are sending you a three-number code to your phone. As soon as you receive it, enter it here to verify your appointment.                                                                                                     The code comes in 15 minutes later.                                                                                                         Screen: You are timed out.for

This is only a slight exageration.     

My husband spent over two hours trying to bank on-line. The code came in two days later. We could have walked to the bank, done the transaction at the ATM or chatted with the friendly teller, had a tea at the local café and been home in half the time and none of the frustration.    

Technology can be a great help, but it can also make life much more difficult when they take something that should be simple and complicate it.          

And speaking of technology...the tabs and spaces went bonkers when I published this.