When considering a new tool, platform, or gadget I consider what it can do for me. How can this new device make my job easier?

Photo by: Kate Ter Haar

As a journalist, when considering a new platform,  I’m also looking for the community factor. How many people are using this? What is my exposure going to be? A gadget, I’m looking at features and what it can offer not only myself, but my audience. For example, if I’m considering a new camera I want to know what quality video, sound, and video download capabilities. Cost is also a factor, if it seems like a good service or product and it’s in my budget I may consider if the features fit.

The hardest part is sticking with the product. It could be the most amazing service or product, but something has to keep me going back and using it. I’m sure many of us have picked up a product used it once or twice and then put it aside. I believe there are numerous factors in why the thrill of purchasing or using a new gadget or platform dwindles away.

For me, the service or gadget does not become apart of my daily life. Change is easier to handle for other people. I love trying out new products and services don’t get me wrong. I have a habit of starting a new service only to forget I registered there. Keeping me with the product or service is the issue. I have tried so many different social media networks, who all do pretty much the same thing but at the end of the day I still use the three or four I have always used.

Another factor is the advertising and excitement generated by the product. Apple has a unique and effective way of advertising and getting average and professionals alike excited about their products. The products may be the greatest or only mediocre (depends on your personal taste and opinions) but their advertising gets you excited – at least for. The emphasis on the new and improved and how much better than anything else would keep me using a gadget or service.

The psychological factor plays a role too. There are only 24 hours in a day. With so many services and products trying to enter our personal life we can only take on a few. After awhile it becomes overbearing to have so many services and so many gadgets at our disposal. Over the years, the trend is to converge multiple devices into a single device. Our iPods are not limited to audio playback. We can now watch movies, record video, take snapshots, and surf the net. We do not need separate devices to do all of these things.

Technological advancements will not only continue to converge other products into a single device, but also improve the ones we have. Journalists can now take HD quality video from their cell phones and use it in their newscasts, websites, and more. We can interview people on the street with our cell phones, record interviews, and update our social networking sites in the field. We no longer have to carry around multiple gadgets or bulky equipment.

As our field changes, we need to find the technology and gadgets that will help us deliver our stories to the people. Our duty is to change with the times. We cannot fight it, we need to ride that wave. Because that wave is going to allow us to travel so much farther.

What do you think? What keeps you using a service and/or gadget?