Get your tissues ready.
Technology and IT are both allowing us to break normal communication boundaries and barriers on a daily basis. I stumbled across this NY Times article about a 7-year old boy named Owen Cain. For him, technology is making magic happen.
Owen has a horrible disease called spinal muscular atrophy Type 1, meaning he is mostly paralyzed and mute and has a very weak immune system. Daily activities for a 7-year old, like communicating, doing homework, and reading books do not come easy to Owen.
But, thanks to the Apple iPad, with its relatively cheap price tag, large screen and diverse software options, Owen can effectively communicate, read books, and do math homework, simply by touching a screen. Thank you iPad.
As we are learning in IT this week, a vision and mission empowers the strategy of any firm, especially in the strategic IT Planning Process. A portion of Apple's mission is as follows: "Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork, and professional software."
Thanks to an empowering vision, Apple created a piece of technology that has changed one young man's life; by creating the "best computers in the world," Apple allows Owen to break communication barriers every day.
Technology generally makes things easier and more efficient for people. When it helps people with any sort of disbility do things others can take for granted, that really says somthing about what future technology can bring.
ReplyDeleteMallary I couldn't agree more. Wow, Erika, you manage to find the most interesting human-nature/technology peices. Kudos.
ReplyDeleteReally interesting story, Erika. I really like how you were able to tie in Apple's business maxim and vision to this situation. It really is interesting what future technology can bring, not only for sick children, but for every man and woman. geaux ipad.
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