Generation Technology

There’s no denying the fact that we here in 2015 live in a technologically advanced world. It’s become the norm to see toddlers operating smart phones and iPads, and kids spend a big portion of their day on ‘Screen Time’ – whether it is on a computer, TV, video game console or portable device. Kids just have a way of understanding these better than most adults do. I’ve just come to accept that when I walk into a new classroom, there will be at least 5 kids I can ask to set up the computer and interactive whiteboard for me (and they do a better job than any IT person would!). Don’t ask me how they are able to make calls, text and surf the web simultaneously on literally ANY smart phone they pick up, but they are also able to find hidden menus we can’t EVER seem to see on our tablets, and are able to fix up computers WITHOUT just switching it off and back on again! Where have all these little people picked up this knowledge from, seriously?

Yes, all these kids with technological superpowers are pretty impressive, but is it just a natural progression because we now just seem to have so much technology in our lives? I know when I was a kid I was big on Television and Movies, and I would happily sit with my family each night and watch shows and videos (children will stare at you blankly now if you mention a videotape), and we used to have to either watch the shows when they were on, or tape them onto said videotape. There was no streaming, you couldn’t watch it on your computer later and DVD’s had only just been invented - but literally NO ONE had a dvd player yet (children are now staring at you with their little jaws on the floor).

So if things have come this far in the last 15 years or so, how different must each generation’s lives begin to look?

I saw this video on Facebook earlier in the week, and it really made me think. It’s a really interesting look at 3 different generations thought’s on what they did/do for fun as a kid. It’s both fascinating and also pretty sad to see how the responses have changed. It’s upsetting to think that the majority of kids these days associate having fun as being alone, playing video games or being on an IPad or phone. It really makes you wonder what future generations and kids’ lives are going to be like.

 

Check out the thought provoking video at the link below, and see what you think about it!

http://buzzpo.com/so-incredibly-sad-this-is-how-3-generations-answer-the-same-question/

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