Technology is a good thing

Siemens Says – If it wasn’t for technology, research, people willing to risk all, and of course resources, we’d be a backward people and deprived to say the least.

Several weeks ago, I spent parts of two days having a nuclear stress test. The first day, Monday, the technicians injected a dye into my bloodstream, so the x-ray technician could keep his camera rolling looking at the blood flow of my heart when resting. On Wednesday, the procedure had a slightly different twist, medication to simulate a racing heart, the same as if they’d take me on a treadmill until the point of exhaustion, or until I’d say, that’s it, I’ve hit my peak, or something like that to indicate please stop.

Within minutes, less than two, more than one, after releasing this medication into my bloodstream, the symptoms appeared as described by the doctor in charge. My chest felt as if the heart would jump out of its protective casing, a splitting headache, and arms that felt light and the weight of lead, both at the same time.

The doctor and technician also told me ahead of time if the symptoms became too severe, they could reverse it in a jiffy. While my symptoms were are all good, the headache persisted. When they injected the medication to reverse the earlier procedure, within 20 seconds, it stopped, gone. What a relief.

I asked the technician if he could get me that medication because it worked so well, he laughed and said it is straight caffeine. What, I said did I hear you right?

Yep, he responded. That is why we asked you not to have any food or substance in the last 24 hours, or you would have reversed the initial procedure.

I have no idea how, who or what, but technology, research, and people all played a huge part making this all work.

For Christmas, all I wanted was the iPhone 4s, and thanks to my good wife Judith, and my daughter Lynn, it magically appeared on December 24.

I love technology, first because I love to explore it when it becomes available, and second because I know if many others use the new product, by the time I have it, it must be useful. Well, this little miracle machine, although a little pricey, helps me stay abreast of what is happening in the world of agriculture, the political scene, and just life in general.

A little iPhone etiquette is in order. Now I must practise what I preach because it bugs me to no end when I see people out together spending most of their time text messaging, most likely to someone else. A constant reminder please put my iPhone away.

That aside, I’ve spent a small fortune on apps, shortcuts that make that technical wonder perform like another computer, if you learn how to hit the right keys on the virtual keyboard. I do many interviews, used both for audio, text, and even sometimes for video purposes. Before I used Skype on my laptop, and I still do. But when I called up my journalist friend in South Africa, Hans Lombard, who I had introduced to Skype after we met on a tour in the United States in 2004, so we could keep in touch, on my iPhone using Skype, I knew the technology passed the test.

Hans says that is the clearest I’ve ever seen you, all thanks to the advancing technology.

While attending the Western Canadian Wheat Growers meeting in Moose Jaw earlier this month, there was a downside to so many farmers using BlackBerry and iPhones – while in a meeting.

If the speaker kept their attention, most phones stayed undercover, if he or she did not, over half of the audience was checking emails, text messaging, browsing, or all of the above.

My hat off to all those who sacrifice, work endless hours, and invest so people like me can benefit from their fruits and labors. Agriculture is on the leading edge, judging by displays at farm shows and exhibitions.