Readers probably haven't noticed, but The Japan Times has a new computer system. It's a lot like our old one, although it is speedier and it integrates a whole host of functions in one terminal; no longer do we have to leave our desk to accomplish different tasks.

To be honest, I'm probably a bad judge of the merits of the new system. I attended the training classes (they were pretty simple), but apart from learning a few new keys and commands, I haven't even scratched the surface of the new possibilities it offers. There are several reasons for that: time, need, inclination. Those all sound good to me, but there is a slight flaw in my thinking: If I haven't explored the possibilities, how do I know the new system won't help me in my work?

My situation isn't unique. Lots of people -- and not just technophobes -- hesitate to buddy up with new technology. Busy people often think they don't have time to spare for training and experimenting, forgetting that time invested now can yield productivity gains later. The logic can't be beyond them. These people spend big bucks training junior execs in the hope of a future payoff, yet somehow they themselves are immune to those savings. (Must be the thin air waaaay up there on the executive ladder that inhibits clear thought.)