Connected

Human Need Not Apply

Recently, I went from Cleveland to Memphis without any human interaction.  I arrived at the airport, in Cleveland, and used a Kiosk to check in and get my boarding pass.  I uneventfully went off to Memphis. 

After arriving safely in Memphis, I went to the rental car agency.  Without a reservation, I simply went to a Kiosk, put in my number and was assigned a car.  Again, no human interaction was required.

I then went to my hotel, and in the lobby I saw another Kiosk!   So, I put in my credit card, and I was assigned a room.  The key card came out of the machine, and I was off.  Once again, with no human interaction necessary, it was just me and my machine.

It is amazing to me, that I was able to board a plane, rent a car, and check in to a hotel room, without human interaction. 

It was nice that there was no arguing, discussing or debating.  With the machines, I was even able to get upgrades that day, without asking, which is normally what is required, even if I am a gold or platinum member.  When dealing with pure data, the machine provided for an equalization, which is not based on gender, race, or other inconsequential criteria, instead service is dependent on how many points you have amassed.  It is no longer, the louder you yell or the prettier you are, the better your seat selection or nicer view from your hotel room. 

Did I miss human interaction that day?  Truthfully I did not.  I enjoyed the speed, efficiency, and calm of being able to conduct business without interference.  I was able to interact with machines, in a familiar fashion; and not have to deal with the commotion that people can cause. 

As a business traveler, who spends too much time in hotels, driving rental cars, and sitting in airplanes, often next to strangers, with whom you are obliged to interact; it was nice to have a day where though I was forced to be away from home, I could still be at home in my head.  My Connection, at least for that day, was not interrupted.

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