Celebrating a week out of the office, JOHN HARRIS reflects on how technology has liberated busy professionals from the shackles of work.

Firstly, there’s nothing at all wrong with me.

Despite my sweet wife’s concerns to the contrary, I am very clearly the master of my technology and not its flunky.

Sure, I stay in touch, checking email as it arrives on my iPhone and replying when necessary, but this just part of customer service for a small business owner.

My wife’s concern started this week when we took a family holiday to see the outback wearing a green ballgown, after wonderful winter rains.

Our aim was to head for a country for respite from the intrusions of the working week, so we fled up Port Wakefield Road towards Coober Pedy.

As we unpacked, my wife suggested that I’d brought too much technology.

The tech kit included my Fujitsu notebook, my iPad, a couple of iPhones and a Nokia mobile, two Nikon DSLR cameras and one Minolta as well as a Sony video camera.

To keep the kids occupied in the back seat, each has a Nintendo DS handheld gaming consoles plus they share a portable video player with a screen for each of them.

And, of course, I’d packed a very large powerboard and an UltraCharge portable power supply, which can charge my iPad and iPhone at the same time.

Oh, and I brought a three-inch reflector telescope for a little outback stargazing.

A couple of years back, when on a US trip, a mate acerbically observed as we went through security that I had enough electronics in my case to take over a small African country.

Whereas my wife quietly pointed out she’d left our electric toothbrushes at home to save space.

Now I’ve heard technology addiction can be a problem.

In China, the Government is so concerned it is frogmarching Web-addicted teens off to boot camp to undergo IT cold turkey.

But neither the authorities nor my wife need worry about me.

In fact, I demonstrated my disdain for technology today when I informed my son that he was having a Nintendo DS-free day to encourage his healthy mental development.

After the obligatory groan, he ended up creating figures with playdough and getting out his football.
Although my daughter snuck in a couple of iPhone games as I was putting her brother to bed, she too had a largely tech-free day.

Clearly, I have this technology thing well and truly in control.

So, once I’ve emailed this story, I’ll post a holiday note on Facebook and tweet to Twitter before settling down to watch a US TV show on my notebook.

It really is great to get away.

John Harris is managing director of Impress Media Australia. Email jharris@impress.com.au.