After watching the two videos posted, it has become clear to me that I most definitely take technology in my life for granted. The computer and the internet opened many doors in my life, both for educational and entertainment purposes, as did cellphones. Until now, it has not been clear how often I overlook the technologies I use everyday. Even now - I'm on a laptop typing this post and eventually I will post it into the internet bubble using my WiFi connection. I have probably sent more than one text since the beginning of this entry and have most likely checked Facebook, too. So, how do kids who do not have constant access cope with modern technologies?
Olivia, the girl in the first video, said she uses the computers at school, in the basement of her building, or at friends' houses. However, it's obvious that just because she does not always have access to these technologies it does not mean she does not know how to use them. In fact, the other people who were interviewed described Olivia as technology savvy. She describes her technologies (computer, cellphone, and iPod) as her life-line, saying that without them life would be hard, especially in her neighborhood which she says has a lot of drug use.
The students in the second video use technology for many different reasons, such as: making music, learning other languages, Twitter, texting, and website creation. Most of the kids say that being able to experiment with new technology is important.
The most influential technologies in my life, so far, have been the cellphone, the internet, and social networking sights like Facebook. They allow you to always be in contact and the more recent models now give you instant access to things like email, internet, and games. It's like having a small computer in your pocket. However, cellphones are also distracting and people have become dependent on their phones. Teenagers and kids who can't remember not having a cellphone often say they "feel naked without their phone" or, as the girl in the second video said, "it's like my third hand."
The internet has impacted my life in so many ways, both in education and entertainment. I remember having no internet in my house and I remember dial-up internet that took way too long to connect, used your phone line, and was very loud. The introduction of wireless internet into our home was one of the best things to happen to my family. The internet gives you amazing access to so much information that you may never have been able to find otherwise and it's EASY to find this information too. The internet can also be a wildly entertaining place. However, like cellphones, the internet is distracting, It's where everyone goes when they're trying to write a paper no matter how hard they try to stay away. Being constantly "plugged in" diminishes skills in research and social situations, as well as limits physical activity. This is producing children who do not know how to talk or play with one another. The internet does, however, provide many good resources for learning new information and is an excellent tool to be used in teaching and learning.
Like the internet, social networking sights such as Facebook or MySpace have played a huge role in my life, especially throughout high school. Sights like these give you instant and easy access to people you know, easy distribution of personal media such as pictures, entertainment, reconnection with people you knew, as well as networking. But for the most part, Facebook is a waste of time. People over-share details from their life and put up way too much personal information, which increases vulnerability to internet predators. Sights like these also diminish our social skills and rarely help us learn new information.
The kids in the videos seem more appreciative of the technologies they have and therefore use them in a more productive way. I feel like I waste a lot of valuable time on the internet or on my cellphone when I could be reading a book, making a drawing, taking a walk outside, or doing homework. It did not seem to me that the kids in the videos used technology the same way as I do, even though we were on similar websites, phones, etc.
