Society Archives - Page 5 of 5

Is 40 really the new 30?

Posted on: November 2nd, 2011 by Amy Lynn Smith 1 Comment

I’ve been told many times in recent months that I look like I’m in my early 30s. I have no problem with this, because I just turned 47.

Before you assume people were just being nice, I will hasten to point out they had no reason to be. Some of them don’t even know what I look like, because we interact via phone and Internet exclusively.

One person was a store clerk. I mentioned it was my birthday and she wanted to guess my age. She said 34. There was no potential tip in it for her. Another was a colleague who guessed I was in my 30s, without ever having seen me. I still get carded a lot buying booze, too.

I have other examples, but you get the picture. The thing is, I haven’t really changed anything about my physical appearance lately. For once, my hairstyle has not evolved throughout the year. I haven’t gained or lost weight. I haven’t taken on a new style or fallen in love. No tangible reason for me to have a particularly youthful glow.

Plus, some people don’t even know me from anything other than my Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn profiles, and my photos there are quite recent. So they’re going on other clues, I suppose.

What is it, then, that makes me seem so young? Am I just one of those people who is naturally young at heart? I can’t argue with that, because I certainly don’t feel 47, at least not most days. I do stay current with trends and news, music and pop culture, so I can talk about things with my 20-something friends and family that other people my age can’t.

But there has to be more to it than that. I’m wondering if it’s the fact that I’m generally energetic and enthusiastic, characteristics that can fade with age (not that they always do). Does a typically sunny disposition and optimistic attitude make you seem younger? Or am I just damn lucky to have good skin and enough brains to stay out of the sun?

I suppose everyone has their own reasons for thinking I’m younger than I am. And far be it from me to argue with any one of them.

Tags: 30s, 40s, age, aging, appearance, attitude, beauty, looks, older, perceptions, younger, youth, youthful
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Man (or woman) and machine

Posted on: October 22nd, 2011 by Amy Lynn Smith No Comments

I don’t have the new iPhone, so I haven’t personally experienced Siri. But from what I read, she can be pretty hilarious, much like iPhone’s autocorrect. Which made me think: Is high-tech always the best solution?

Don’t get me wrong. I love my iPhone 4, although the autocorrect is often perplexing. Why would I want to type “u’s” instead of “us”? I don’t know either, but that’s what my iPhone thinks. I tried using the Voice Command feature, but it requires you to say things in a very specific way. I never got around to learning the lingo.

I also appreciate how technology can simplify certain tasks or improve accessibility. When my father became too arthritic to type anymore, he relied on voice recognition software to keep writing. But it was always riddled with mistakes.

In my work, I frequently have my recorded interviews typed out by human transcriptionists. There was a time when I thought I’d be able to save that expense by using voice recognition software instead. But the technology isn’t there yet. Many programs have to be adjusted to the speaker, so good luck adapting it to multiple voices and accents.

What’s more, I’m not sure I will ever want to replace a human with a machine. If my transcriptionist can’t understand a word, she puts it in red so I know she’s unsure. That way, I’ll know to question whether a source said “maniac” or “cardiac.” I’m sure some technology will flag that for you, but I still think a human can be more discerning.

Maybe that’s the biggest reason of all why I don’t see myself going all-automated any time soon. I like hiring people who deliver a service I need. They make my life easier. I help them make a living. And we make human connections I could never make with a machine.

Tags: autocorrect, economy, employment, hiring, human, iPhone, Siri, software, staff, technology, transcription, transcriptionist, voice recognition, voice recognition software, work
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Say nice things about Detroit

Posted on: October 11th, 2011 by Amy Lynn Smith 4 Comments

Detroit is due for some good times.

Seriously, we’re overdue. Detroit has recently faced some of the toughest times in its history. But Detroiters are tougher than anything you can put in front of us.

High unemployment in every sector, from automotive to what was, for a while, a burgeoning film industry. Urban blight. High crime rates. A struggling education system. One of the worst housing markets in the country. The list goes on.

But through all this, we never stopped fighting. As I said on the day Campbell-Ewald lost the Chevy account after one of the longest professional partnerships in history: “Detroiters are scrappy. We’ll get through this.”

Say nice things about Detroit

And we are getting through this. Yes, we had some help, but there’s nothing wrong with that. The auto industry is turning around – even reporting profits. Ad agencies are hiring again (and some of the Chevy business has returned). New tech endeavors are taking off. Creatives are fighting to keep the film/TV industry alive while continuing to grow a lively visual and performing arts community. Even the Lions are doing well (I don’t follow sports, but I know this is a big deal).

We still have work to do. But Detroit is proof that smart solutions can work. We were helped by government stimulus, but now we’re moving forward on our own power. Detroit power. Never count us out. Because Detroiters are never down for the count.