Dick Tracy: Not on My Watch

The wristwatch was meant to be the device of the future. Dick Tracy, a man ahead of his time, used his two-way wristwatch as a radio to communicate with police and capture villains.

Futurists with high hopes knew this would be a reality one day. In the early 80s, one such futurist proudly showed me his watch that could store phone numbers. G wore a similar geek watch when I met him late last century.

The futurists got the mobile device part right. Nearly all of us --across all generations --carry at least a cell phone. Or a cell phone and iPod.

Still, I was surprised to hear that people of a certain generation have stopped wearing wristwatches. This new breed just checks the time on their phone, or their Blackberry, or whatever device they carry.

I don't consider myself slow to adopt new technology and abandon outdated hardware. But this, I must ponder.

Does this phenomenon applies to girls, who more often have purses than pockets? Will it ever be as easy to find my phone in my purse as it is to twist my wrist? Will everyone wear clothes with pockets now? (Cargo Pant Heaven!)

Like typewriters and land lines, the wristwatch will disappear, I guess. But not until all the people who can't break the habit of looking at their wrist when someone asks, "do you have the time?" have disappeared too.

(And who says "wristwatch" anymore? It's been a hundred years since the device had to be distinguished from the alternative "pocketwatch.")

Casual Fridays, good; Summer Fridays, great; but Email Free???

Don't blame the message-sending device--blame the messenger.

According to USA Today, several companies, including US Cellular, are adopting "Email-Free Fridays" where employees are encouraged to pick up the phone or speak to their colleagues face-to-face.

I am against banning a tool because people don't know how to use it effectively. Teach people to use the tool. You toilet-train your children, don't you?

Is it the spam you're trying to avoid? Then don't open spam, just delete it. Don't tell me you can't recognize spam by the sender name and email title yet. We're all trying to avoid unsolicited advertising in all delivery methods. You haven't stopped watching television because of the commercials, have you?

Is it that you miss talking to your colleagues and bosses? If you like someone, you will get up and talk to them. If no one is sticking his head in your office, maybe no one likes you.

At work, especially in large companies, the same message often needs to be documented and communicated to many people. How should you do that? Work your way around the building and speak to each one? Call everyone individually? How much time you got?

Should you call a meeting? Great idea: let's substitute emails with meetings. People will be begging for emails back.

Emails are often misread or unclear. But all employees should learn to write effectively. That's what we are supposed to learn in school. Perhaps the next generation will be required to take "Writing Effective Emails." An email writer must close up loopholes by writing short sentences with a lot of specific nouns.

A well-written email is often the safest means of communications. Anyone who has a boss or colleague who flies off the handle when faced with new "challenges" can vouch for that. My advice for dealing with the Tina Tirades, if you haven't learned this already:

Write a comprehensive, carefully-worded email. Wait until 5:29 pm. Hit Send. Then head for the train.