The proliferation of personal portable audio devices is raising questions about how aware people are of their surroundings while listening. Health practitioners are increasingly concerned about damage to hearing health. Legislators are concerned of the increased probability of an accident to those who are unaware of danger cues from their surroundings. Crossing streets while wearing headphones and driving while using a cell phone are but two examples of dangerous practices. “Working the Beat,” an article in the April 2008 issue of HR Magazine, reports that nearly one-third of U.S. employees, , most of whom are young employees, listen to music on a personal device while working. Results of Harris Poll cited in the article revealed that 90 percent of workers ages 18 to 24 and 89 percent of those 30 to 39 said that music improves their job satisfaction or productivity. Interestingly, only about one-quarter of baby boomers made the same claim. Employers are concerned about workers' lack of understanding of the non-verbal messages that wearing headphones communicates to others. Excessive wearing of headphones might also suggest social withdrawal. Something to think about. What non-verbal messages are you sending when using personal audio devices?

Further Reading

“Working the Beat,“ HR Magazine, 53(4), pp. 51-54, April 2008, www.shrm.org

Shazia Ahmed et al, “Use of Portable Audio devices by University Students,“ available online: www.utm.utoronto.ca/fileadmin/w3psy/Fall_2006/CAAIpodFullMSOct2.pdf

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Here are some of the things going on in and around the engineering community:

• Where is the world heading? The World Future Society’s article “Trends Shaping Tomorrow’s World: Forecasts and Implications for Business, Government, and Consumers” will provide you with well informed predictions that will help you achieve career success. (The Futurist. 42(3):35-50. May-June, 2008. www.wfs.org ) Marvin Cetron and Owen Davies discuss technology, labor, work, management, and institutional trends in their report. Reviewing these predictions will provide you with the insights necessary for effective career management. The World Future Society is a leader in forecasting and has been involved for more than four decades in studying and reporting on our changing world. This well-written factual report on trends and their implications is essential reading for the career savvy individual.

• Many companies focus on the immediate needs of the business and do not create a culture of succession. In: “After You, Who?” (CIO. 21(15): 52-56. May, 2008. www.cio.com ) Diane Frank provides you with information on why you need a succession plan and provides tips for putting a succession plan together. Although focused on the IT industry, the principles discussed apply to any business entity. Not only is succession planning important to the organization but knowledge of the practice is also important to the employee in their organizational environmental scan and career planning.

• As we age our housing needs change. A house design that worked well for many years often does not meet your needs in later years. A house design that requires minimal maintenance, has few stairs, and is accessible will allow you to remain comfortable in your home as you age. In: “Renovation Revolution” (Forbes. 181(12):60-66. June, 2008. www.forbes.com . ) Ashlea Ebeling discusses the issue and provides information on remodeling your home to meet changing abilities as you age. In addition well thought out renovations will add resale value to your home. Further information on the topic is provided in the report “Aging in Place” (http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/publications/seniors/lawler_w01-13.pdf ).

• Increasing obesity is placing a heavy burden on the health care system and the workplace. In: “A Weighty Issue” (Best’s Review. 109(2): 32-35, 2008. June 2008. www.bestreview.com ) Meg Green discusses how increasing obesity is placing a heavy burden on US workers’ compensation claims. The research is clear, overweight workers are less productive than their healthy counterparts. In a related article “Finding Wellness’s Return on Investment” (HR Magazine. 53(6): 75-84. June, 2008. www.shrm.org ) Susan Wells discuses the return on investment in employee wellness programs. Guidelines are provided for how to build a wellness program that will provide a return on the investment. An inset reports on the 2008 employee benefits survey report conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management.

• Global demand for freshwater has tripled in the last fifty years and will only continue to grow resulting in water becoming an increasingly scarce resource. In: “Draining our Future: The Growing Shortage of Freshwater” (The Futurist. 42(3): 16-22. May-June, 2008. www.wfs.org ) Lester Brown discusses how shrinking water supplies endanger not only the natural environment, but also food and energy supplies and even statehood and international stability. In a related article to the growing shortage of freshwater (“There will be Water” BusinessWeek. #4089, 41-45. June 23, 2008 www.businessweek.com ) Susan Berfield discusses T. Boone Pickens belief that water will become an increasingly scarce resource and that it will be the “Oil” of the future.
  
  Boone Pickens is American philanthropist and billionaire businessman. He recently officially opened the Boone Pickens Centre for Neurological Science and Advanced Technologies. (www.ucalgary.ca/news/june2008/pickenscentre) at the University of Calgary. This center will bring together Canada's top brain researchers to conduct neurological and biomedical engineering research.

 

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