Technology Readiness Level
Business Technology Readiness Level
Technology Readiness Level (TRL) evaluates the ability of an individual to integrate technology into their common work experiences. The significant observation is not the level itself, but the correlation of age to technology readiness. The more “mature” have a lower TRL than the “young.”
As a generalization there is room for variance. But generally this is true. Take your post-millennial generation that got iPhones in elementary school. They have no idea what TRL is. And if you explain it to them, they’ll be like, “Really? Well, so what? Why bother?” It simply will not compute. I still recall the trips to the library to read up on computers and how they worked. This was in 1985. (No, I’m not a Millennial.) I was in a career change and looking to upgrade my skills. Computers were interesting, but for some reason, I felt the need to know what went on inside that black box. It helped. So did the personal mentoring of my good friend, Dale Smith, at Alliant Technology Group! He brought my technology readiness level up several notches.
So what’s your TRL? Here’s what Post-Millennial, Griffin Picciani, 14, has to say about technology readiness among his age group: “My age group has grown up with all of this social media at a much younger age. I think that’s given us a different perspective.” Not just a different perspective. A head start! So what are the rest of us to do?
Even Millennials, strictly speaking, are disadvantaged in technology readiness. When they began playing video games it was without today’s super computing power and without the growing ubiquity of WiFi connectivity. “And perhaps most important, he and his friends can’t remember a time before Instagram and Snapchat,” says Josh Sanburn in his December 2015 Time article.
TRLs have a very wide usage from NASA to DoD to Oil & Gas Industry to Education to Business. And more (Wikipedia).
Have we answered the question? You could tell me whether you’re over 40 (50 anyone?), and we’d know that you’re uncomfortable with selfies and social media. Me too! But what about daily use of the box on your desk? Feel uncomfortable with that too? Sometimes they just don’t make much sense.
But then what are friends for? Give Alliant a call. No question too outlandish. All ages welcome! Your need is our necessity, your demand, our delight. Make use of your friends who are high in TRLs. Call us at 626-461-1300.
