John Ndlovu
Information and Technology Reporter
The wave of digitalization has been constantly pushing aside traditional documentation of information.
In the past business and the masses in general used to keep track of their telephone contacts through use of Directories something which now seems to be a thing of the past.
Zim GBC News managed to engage Directory Publishers of Bulawayo and the general populace on the matter.
The Directory Publishers employee who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed to this reporter that they stopped publishing Directories back in 2016 after the telecommunications company Telone failed to disperse contacts to them due to evolution of the internet as most people and entities now resolve to keeping their database and contacts online.
“We no longer printing directories because we no longer getting contacts from Telone we last printed them in 2016. Most entities and people now resolve to keeping their contacts online due to digitalization henceforth that is why we abandoned printing Directories, ”He said.
Bongani Mthembo (not his real name) told this publication that he prefers using printed records for contacts as the new technology is still confusing him and also due to the fact that directories contained excess information in terms of company contacts and addresses at disposal plus they are cheaper as compared to the internet where one will need to buy data of accessing contact details online.
“I prefer using the directory for referring and searching for contacts as I am not that technologically literate, we grew up using directories so it is very difficult for me to get used to the current trends.”He stated
Luckson Musaka a technology wizard stated that storing of contacts on phones and on cloud is the best and secure way as printed contacts are prone to be destroyed by fire and even floods whereas keeping of contacts on online database such as the internet is easier and most secure.
“I would recommend digitalization as the best way of safe keeping of information and contacts as they cannot be destroyed or lost if one loses their phone they can always restore their contacts from Google contacts and one can even easily get access to any company’s contact details online with just a click unlike back then.”said Musaka
But a quick search online could not give emergency details to such places as United Bulawayo Hospitals, Zimbabwe Republic Police Station on Fife Street.
The contacts that are found online or personal cellphones are actually fed by an individual to their liking or into their gadgets.
Many citizens who were. interviewed were found wanting when asked for contacts which includes government departments, Police Stations, Private companies and citizens of note, such as the Mayor and or Ministers.
Whereas, the Directory would contain detailed information of individuals and companies at one’s fingertips.
“Excuse me ma’am can you direct me to the NUST Library in town or their phone number?” One lady was asked.
“Is there a NUST library in town, I thought it was there by the school, and as for the phone number, I don’t have, sorry.” She responded.
She was actually standing right next to the Library on Fort street.
Had there been a Directory nearby, all the requested information would have been easily. accessible.
Having a Directory handy assisted in locating sought after relatives, if they had a landline. The information would point to their name, telephone number and address.
Nowadays, as mentioned elsewhere in this report, many people rely on Google for positive directions, but the system has its limitations.
As long as data such as the identity of the person sought, their address is not fed unto the database, Google will not find them. Further if one has to use Google Maps or search, the search engine uses data that has been given.
Many people interviewed found it not necessary to have even emergency numbers such as Police, Hospitals and Fire and Ambulance. Moreover many did not know where these were located.
- Zim GBC News2023©