The twenty first century consists of more technological advances than ever before. As soon as one new tech toy comes out and consumers purchase it, the newer version is already being manufactured and perfected. As time goes on, technology is getting smarter, more advanced, and also more compact. Some people might consider this to be an issue with our country and our time period, being revolved around technology that is, where as other people are thankful for this century being this way. Technology today is the core of almost all people and is increasingly growing throughout time.
Being born in the generation right before the Millennium, has forced me as an individual to understand and teach myself technology. Even though my parents encouraged reading, I personally cannot recall a time in all of my school where there was not a computer in the classroom. Basically, I was raised with technology. As technology became more advanced, my understanding of how it functioned did as well. I can recall in third grade using a program to teach the students how to type. The layout of the keyboard, how to place our hands, and how to enter punctuations were all covered in an online program. All throughout years at school as a student I had to practice using Microsoft office and typing. Even back then, teachers knew that technology was an important curriculum. Not only did being in school help me with my relationship with technology, but so did my family. My older brother was more advanced with computer games and being online than I was so I was able to watch and understand just by keeping an eye on him. Just like the case study of Danielle DeVoss, she “eventually learned how to use it by looking over his shoulder” (184).
Thanks to growing up in a “techy” generation, I see myself as a very technologically advanced person. There are many different ways to be tech savvy. For example, some people can excel at things with multimedia like editing music, making videos, and creating music as well. Personally I understand mostly the simpler aspects of technology. I can teach myself in a heartbeat how to use a new program on a computer, how to use a new cell phone, and even how to maneuver my way around a brand new laptop. Currently I consider myself to be good at things like Microsoft office, Photoshop, any kind of cell phone, Limewire, ITunes, the Internet, and typing. One thing that I am not so good at is using an Apple Mac. As much as I try and teach myself how to use a Mac, I cannot get used to it since I was trained on a PC. The computer has helped me in the aspect of being able to teach myself how to do tasks on my own. Since I practically taught myself a computer, teaching myself other things is not difficult. The computer has played a big part in who I am today, but I see it as only a good thing. It has increased my knowledge in many areas that I’m not sure if text ever could do the same.
Compared to other generations, in which for example my parents grew up in, my generation has a very close relationship with technology. Even generations that are younger than I am are more advanced than before. Kids are now getting cell phones at the age of eight years young compared to when I got my first cell phone when I was twelve years old. When I get on a computer and browse around my parents are always amazed by how fast I can weave in and out of programs. My parents are always asking for computer help even when I am 300 some miles away. Just this past month my parents learned how to Skype and even then it is hard for them to figure it out whereas my friends and I can learn our way around it rather quickly. As an eighteen year old college student, my phone never leaves my side. I am able to admit that I am 100% dependent on my cell phone, but I am not ashamed because, so is the rest of my generation. Our generation has grown up with technology by our side. It was taught in school, out of school, and an actual requirement to pass some courses in middle school. All of this was a precautionary for the future advancement in technology.
As time passes, technology is only going to overtake our society more and more. Already, books have been turned into online books, and text books come equipped with a CD-rom. In the chapter by Selber “Computers are indeed a fact of life in educational settings, yet too few teachers today are prepared to organize learning environments that integrate technology meaningfully and appropriately,” indicates that technology is overtaking classrooms and school even though some people are not prepared for such change, or advancement. Some people still believe that text is the way to go, but as time goes on these people who are stuck in the library cracking open a book need to become accustomed to the internet and how to browse the web. Since some people believe that the internet can help students better understand readings due to graphics, I believe the internet will soon be the main source of reading instead of text books. Internet literacy is becoming the new library, and with time the digital literacy world will over power the library as a whole. Motoko Rich, author of an article I found in the New York Times stated that, “some literacy experts say that reading itself should be redefined. Interpreting videos or pictures, they say, may be as important a skill as analyzing a novel or poem.”
Throughout my future, hoping to become a Forensic Scientist, my knowledge of technology must increase to even more than what it is now. In the field of forensic science you must know how to increase the clarity of and analyze audio recordings. That requires learning a whole new program and how to navigate throughout the program. Also I must be able to interpret laboratory findings to identify substances and other evidence collected from the crime scene.
Technology has its ups and downs, and it has its bads and goods, but overall technology has become a way of life. People who have not quite become accustomed to this way of life will have to do so sooner or later because it is only going to continue to advance and evolve. Technology will maintain its reputation for keeping the people on their toes with new products and newer ways to accomplish tasks. As time goes on, the time period from when innovative merchandise is released to when an even newer version comes out will become shorter and shorter. Technology will continue to amaze people and also advance in the digital literacy world.
