the digital divide

Technology has become today’s major source of communication, without it many would not be able to get from one place to another, or find out various types of information: it has taken over many of our basic needs and simplified them. These advancements in technology have changed our way of living, as well as thinking, to an alarming rate in the past ten years and for the most part, older generations have been left behind, not being able to stay caught with this high-paced improvements. Technology has simplified many of the normal events we do, but with this high rate of improvement, older generations are constantly confused limiting them to wanting or feeling the need to learn these new ideas. Many concerns have been brought up to the lack of knowledge the older generations have with this new technology and if in the future will they truly suffer from it.
Older generations have been hit hard recently with the large amounts of new technology entering our world today and many have been overwhelmed with the amount of learning they to do to simplify an already simple task. While, on the other hand, younger generations have easily adapted to these new methods because they have grown up amongst this whole process and were born into changes. Various scholars have thought through the idea that growing up with all these changes has really affected their way of learning and the different generations are growing further and further apart. According to an interview of Mr. Marc Prensky (CEO of education software maker Games2train) done by Low, Prensky’s theory revolves around how internet has changed the younger generation explaining “[g]rowing up constantly exposed to digital technology has affected and changed the way natives think” and now “children are multi-tasking” more than the older generation ever had (Low 1). The older generation cannot keep up with these new methods and with that, they are becoming less and less connected with the generation they once taught. Richard Sarson, a writer from The Guardian, explains the difference as how each generation views the computer, that mostly the older generation uses the computer for basic needs, such as word processor or their email, while younger generations use it for the internet and most of their communication. These differences might cause a big gap between the two generations leaving them distinct for many years to come.
With generations separating and the technology growing, the communication rate between the generations will only suffer. In many cases, communication might only be visual between the generations through face-to-face communication. The only solution to close this separation involves an easier method for the older generations to learn these new advancements or at least the basis of them, and without that, the gap will only widen more.

Works Cited:
Low, Aaron. "Bridging the Digital Divide." The Straits Times 5 Sept. 2006, sec. 1.
Sarson, Richard. "Technology: the Kids are Alright Online:." The Guardian 10 May 2007, sec. 1.