Media at the Market and Technology in the Testing Center

Technology is being used to fill so many of the needs that were done in person in the past.  Sometimes it's a plus, but other times it becomes so much of a hassle that it frustrates me.  For example, today I tried to pay for my groceries with a check.  In the olden days, cashiers accepted handwritten checks, and took them to the bank to be processed.  Now they just take your blank check, run it through a little machine "that goes ding ding ding" (as the cashier said to me), type in the ID number found on your driver's license, and give the check back to you.  In theory it sounds like a great idea right?  Quick and easy.  But it's a different story when the system doesn't work, the cashier has to call another cashier, who then calls customer service to come over, all while there are so many people waiting in the check out line that they spill over into the grocery aisle.  

For another example, my friend told me how she was planning to use the student ID found on her BYU app to get into the testing center.  Another great idea in theory.  No worry about losing or forgetting her ID card.  But then, after she made it through the testing center line and right when she got up to the counter to get her test, her phone died.  

I guess though that problems like these have always existed and they will probably just serve to help us continue improving technology.  I guess there's really no point in complaining about it, it's probably better to accept the newfangledness and embrace the good it brings while working to improve or eliminate the bad.  

This week, even the elderly lady teller at my bank exclaimed, "look how modern we are!" as she described the bank's new app that allows one to deposit checks by simply taking a picture of them.  Although I'm wary that it might not work as well as she described it over the phone, I guess I'm supporting it because I just downloaded the app.