As most people know technology is always changing. It’s very easy to get caught up in the new factor, and we often forget to appreciate how far we’ve come. The video below highlights some of the most drastic differences between past and present technology.
From the Computer Room to the Commute
When I was growing up, many families had desktop computers, though they weren’t a necessity. What’s even stranger than that is the fact that the desktop computer often had a whole entire room dedicated to it. A lot of my childhood was spent with my cousins in the “computer room” playing games like Diner Dash or Hidden Mysterious. This idea is very different from the new generation’s access to laptops and tablets. For example, a close friend of mine explained to me that while taking her children on a trip to the zoo, each child gets their own smartphone/tablet to play games on during the commute. It’s odd. In the short span of 10 to 15 years, computer games have gone from the “computer room” to zoo commutes. And let’s not forget about the quantity of computers family’s now have access too. Everyone in my family has sole ownership of at least 2 computers, this includes phones and laptops of course, which essentially are handheld computers.
From Entertainment To learning
Another interesting discussion is the shift of technological use for entertainment to business. Way back in the early 2000s cell phones were banned at school. And so were most devices that you could play games on such as computers, gamboys, and even some calculators which had the ability to download basic games if you knew what you were doing. Teachers tried their best to discourage the rapid technological use. Now they embrace it. Many teachers now will allow students to use their cellphones and smart devices to take quizzes, use the calculator function, or even access educational websites and games.
Internet Storage Is the Same as Real Storage.
The video mentions this as well, but the way we store data is perhaps one of the most evolving aspects of technology there is. Moving forward from floppy disc, to flash drives, to SD cards, to renting invisible internet storage. Me and a fellow co-worker used to laugh at the subject a couple years ago, stating that “the cloud” and “google drive” were essentially the same thing as renting a local storage unit to keep your extra junk. Both methods call for the same advice: get rid of stuff and buy your own storage instead of renting someone else’s.
Back in the day…
We all have heard the good ole “back in the day” stories. My parents and older Co-Workers often like to inform me of the days that consisted of typewriters, dark rooms, post office mail, pay phones, etc. The odd thing is that technology changes so fast that even Gen-Zers and Millennials like myself are often able to describe their own “back in the day” stories when relating to technology. Here’s a mind blowing fact, the internet was invented only 37 years ago so anyone in their 40s has lived through a massive transition. So, try to cut your grandpa some slack when it comes to Facebook.
LIS 4022 Spring 2020 