Does the Internet really make our lives easier?

Well we are often told it does, but it often isn't true. If I want a quick answer I will always use the phone. Recently advertised a horse for sale, and it was an interesting experience in the use of a variety of media. 'Sammy' was advertised in 'Horsedeals' a monthly paper based magazine. There is a new online (only) competitor recently arrived from the UK, but for now Horsedeals is regarded as the best place to advertise. After the magazine has been out for a few days, the content is then available online as well in a searchable format. There is still something about paper that people love, but it is fading fast I know.

Within a day of publication the enquiries started. A couple of phone calls, several emails, and a number of text messages. I was interested that I only received one call on my home phone, the rest were to my mobile. Now that's OK I suppose except my reception is bad at home so it made taking calls more stressful. And if you miss a mobile call there an be a message, missed call (but number), missed call (blocked), or a message to text. I only wanted to sell Sammy.

The emails were annoying. 'Can you tell me more?' Well more about what? I put extra pictures on my web page, and if specific questions were not asked what information was required? One person sent a text which read 'wil give u 1500 site unseen. Y/N'. Was this a quiz that I was meant to participate in? I didn't really know, and didn't want to. Call me old fashioned but I don't sell my horses sight unseen. It's a bit like meeting the parents when your kids have a sleep over.

Phone calls were so much easier. I could ascertain the level of ability and interest of the caller with some degree of certainty. At last my perfect match telephoned. Yes she had had an Arabian before, she understood their personality, she wanted him for endurance, and all was good in the world. Sammy has now gone which is a little sad, but I know he and his new owner are well suited.

So now it's back to work and back to the Internet. We recently signed another new University to FolioSpaces as an institutional user which is great. I sent an invoice with all of the details, such as our name, address, ABN, the price and bank account details for direct deposit. I received back (by email) a request to complete a 'New supplier form'. It required our name, address, ABN, the price and bank account details for direct deposit....... Why did I have a sense of Déjà vu? It wasn't really a problem, and we almost expect such things. Only took me five minutes to fill in. Then the signature box wouldn't accept my electronic signature. That was OK though as I printed it out. But the printer was low on toner. Fixed that. Printed, signed, scanned, converted back to PDF, emailed. 'Too easy' as one of my students would say (I am not really comfortable with that term either, but will leave that for another day).

The web (and information communication technologies in general) have become an integral part of our daily lives, but occasionally it is so good just to turn it all off. It should make life easier not harder. My personal conspiracy theory is that the IT Mafia create millions of useless forms as the basis of a 21st centenary protection racket. And then of course there is Facebook....