The Softer Side of Technology

My days are filled with bites and bytes and feeds and speeds. It’s all about technology and for the most part pretty cold and clinical. Sometimes I lose sight of the amazing caring things people are actually doing with technology.

I was recently reminded when one of my friend’s 2 year old son was diagnosed with Leukemia. While he and his family have a tough, long road ahead he should be cured after his treatments. As with many unexpected illnesses it happened very fast.

Technology can help bring people together in those troubling times. My friend and her husband were told by the hospital and other families there about CaringBridge

It’s a great tool that allows families (at no charge!) to set up a webpage with photos, journal and guestbook. They can put all the updates on the webpage so that friends and family are updated on what is going on and the families are not having to repeat themselves or wondering who they’ve told what to whom.

As a person getting the updates I can just go in and look at the updates or get proactive notifications every time the care journal is updated. It’s been an easy way to stay connected.

And the really cool thing is that it’s not unique. There are many sites for people to stay connected. For example, Intel’s collaboration with the National Family Caregivers Association to develop the ConnectingForCare.com site, the first online community of its kind to connect the more than 50 million caregivers in the U.S. There are also sharing sites for patients that were highlighted in the New York Times today .

I like working for a company whose technology makes it possible for these sites to be developed for people to connect, share information and provide emotional support.