Woe Is Us, The Computer Generation

I’ve been accused of spending a lot of time on my computer. Well, accused would be a strong word. Reminded, observed, noted, repeatedly, perhaps. In the 25 years since I bought my first computer (an Atari 800 with a word processing program and a dot-matrix printer), technology has come so far. It’s both simplified and complicated my life. How wide our world was made by the World Wide Web.

 

I spend hours per month ensuring my computer remains safe from viruses and spy programs. I am forced to update software continually. As annoying as this is, if my computer is down, I am lost. I don’t think this bodes well for the future of mankind if even 25% of Americans feel the same way.

 

I’m literate in both Mac and Windows. I even took a Unix class, just because I have a feeling open source is going to be where we all end up and I am really afraid of being left out of the technology loop.

 

I can find out just about anything I could ever want to know by making a few keystrokes. I check the weather, shop, travel, use an online calendar (to aid my ever-forgetful brain), check news sources, find people, research things that pop into my head randomly, and just basically try to keep up with the world around me. I’ve officially gotten old, because I had no idea who many of the actors/actresses attending the Oscars were this year—so I Googled them to check out their pictures and to find out why Jessica Alba is important (she’s not, I’ve learned).

 

My mom, who lives in a remote area in NE Iowa (nearest paved road, 6 miles; nearest grocery store, 25 miles), has dial-up. When she first got the computer, it was like the heavens opened up to a new world. She no longer had to drive 70 miles to go to a major retailer—she can order it online. She is endlessly curious and is able to get the answer to most anything she needs to know. She has put her entire cookbook collection on CD so we all can benefit from her years of culinary learning. And, she has found a passion for genealogy research. It’s connected her with far-flung and distant relatives who compare notes and stories to add to the family lexicon.

 

The kids do their homework on the computer. They use Microsoft Student to organize themselves, research, and verify their data. They have their own websites that are far more sophisticated than mine. Joe has an online Guild with a website on which he plays a children’s fantasy game. His distantly located stepbrother and his twin sister communicate with him via this space as they all play the game together. When the chores don’t get done, removing the computer is how the axe falls.

 

But, what if it all ended? What if we could not communicate by e-mail anymore? Would we pick up the phone more often, or would we narrow the scope of our endeavors? Would we find ourselves at the library that is operating on a limited budget with fewer hours to research a topic? Would we make more of an effort to meet people in our own space/time in favor of chat rooms, interest groups, mail lists, and online dating services?

 

What worries me is that we are shutting down the part of our brain that experiences life—you know, the big, wide, beautiful world outside the confines of our office space where people could actually shake hands or hug instead of sending little icons ; ) to express their feelings. I no longer know the name of my librarian or have a travel agent. I rarely go to the mall. I trust the travel website is providing me an accurate picture of the hotel I booked when I do venture out.

 

I love to connect with people, but because of the crazy pace of life I live, this is the best alternative for me. I’m looking out my window right now and imagine I would much rather be out there, sitting under the sprawling old tree in the backyard, having a picnic with someone I’d like to get to know better. Instead, I’m here, working.

 

Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant. 
~ Mitchell Kapor

 Published on: Apr 26, 2006