Reading Response #4 Digital Nation

The video "Digital Nation," is a Frontline, PBS special, directed and produced by Rachel Dretzin. The point of this documentary is to show how technology has affected us all, from kids to adults over the years, and we're not sure if its a good thing or bad one. Technology was supposed to be alot more mainstream today, than it was long ago, but there have been some adverse effects of it.

Sherry Turkle, a psychologist and director of the MIT Initiative on Technology on Self, has said, "Students now a days need to be more stimulated, or kept in check, which means that teachers these days need to teach differently in order to keep their kids focused, teachers are too boring, whereas computers and technology offer alot of distractions.

There were also some comparisons about children and their behavior in a digital nation. It seems everyone has a computer, cell phone, etc... so, no one is completely out of the technological loop. Alot of children would much rather play computer games, or chat, then would rather study, some even get 'addicted' to the internet and games, there were examples of kids playing for 50 hours a week, which is 10 more, than a typical work week. And, kids these days will do almost anything to play games, including ignoring family or friends, as we saw in South Korea. South Korea also had to start up an internet camp, or a internet get away from camp, because of the addiction factor, also at these internet camps, kids actually get to play like kids, as if they never learned how to play outside, kids should never be couped up for too long, it isn't healthy.

Alot of students think that being a multi-tasker is a great thing, and yes it does seem like it is, but in actuality the human brain can only do one thing at a time with high success rates, the more the brain has to do, the less success it has in accomplishing all tasks. In the internet cafes in South Korea, kids stay up to 50 hours in a week, which is 10 more hours than a full work week and sometimes they never know when to quit.

Jason Levy, a Principal in Southern Bronx New York, has said, "Todays job market has everything to do with technology, and very little sitting around in the office," so, he has started having all students use laptops and technology as much as possible, and do all homework online.

Lastly, Philip Rosedale, the creater of "2nd Life," a virtual simulation game, has said that he believes everything in todays world is much more technological, and his game, or simulation, is like really living, just in a virtual world. There were IBM executives who would have meetings through the game and not even be in a real office, it was all virtual, in ways that was more cost effective for people, no traveling anywhere, just plugging in to the game.

Those unfamiliar with this school of thought may be interested to know that it basically boils down to technology is here, and whether we like it or not, its not going anywhere soon. In my 37 years, technology was very basic in the 80's and 90's, it was supposed to be a great thing, idea, etc... Now, its a great thing, but it seems like it went way to fast forward, and now everyone is being computer driven, and there has always been a demand for it. In some ways, computer technology is a good thing, and in others, its not. Are we really ready for all this change, I think so, just maybe need to do so in more moderation.