By Helen Fischer, CMCA, AMS Community Association Manager

You’ll find that this is the last of the truly grounded generations; one in which you can witness, firsthand, where the diminishing art of traditional human interaction still exists.

We’ve now entered into an era in which paper and pens have been replaced with laptops and smartphones. The bulk of our communication is now coming and going in the form of emails and text messages. With the right tools, we’re now able to watch the grandchildren take their first steps and cherish the many other important moments of loved ones all from the comfort of our homes. There is no denying that the times are changing in the world around us, but are we all able to keep up? While technology is serving as an

excellent conduit for information to reach our communities quickly, it’s also been met with some reluctance from a generation founded on the more conventional types of exchanges.

There are a multitude of ways that a community can benefit from the proper use of technology. First and most importantly is any threat to the safety of the community. In these instances, information must be communicated quickly. Implementing emergency plans with the ability to disseminate crucial information very quickly is an invaluable tool. Innovations such as email, phone and text blasting ensure residents can stay informed throughout what can otherwise be an immensely disconcerting situation. Local

www.cai-illinois.org • 847.301.7505 | 45