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Source; Microsoft clipart
Not so long ago the media was abuzz about the President's extensive reliance on the use of teleprompters in his speeches. The word on the street was that for a Harvard graduate, with a clearly articulate public speaking ability, Mr. Obama seemed out of his league when addressing the media now that he is President. This has resulted in speculation that during his campaign he was merely making emotional overtures rather than speaking directly to the issues of the day. This column will not give an opinion on the President's ability, except to say that maybe it's not his skill at making speeches that should be questioned, but rather his ability to effectively manipulate the teleprompter technology.
We all know that despite its widespread availability, much of today's technology still has yet to become the preferred medium of choice for many people. I remember the first time I tried to use an electronic calculator, some dozens of years ago. As simple as it is, I felt overwhelmed. I knew how to add, subtract, and multiply in my head. But I lacked the skill to manipulate the buttons on the calculator to obtain the correct result. That's history now, but I still remember the frustration it caused me.
Some media experts wonder why Mr. Obama doesn't simply talk off the cuff rather than do such a lousy job in using the prompter. Here's a point, how many times did you fall off the bicycle before you learned to perfect a wheelie? Mr. Obama is so determined to be adept at making use of every available technology that he is not afraid to look foolish in his initial attempts. Give him time. The DVDs and iPod gifts to the Prime Minister and the Queen of England, respectively, was a well-thought out strategy. He has simply begun to lay the foundation for his legacy as "The Technology President".
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