When I was considering the history of the internet and the computer I had to stop for a moment and contemplate why I considered myself a digital immigrant that spoke a different language from the digital native as described in Prensky's article.(Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants). Rewind 20 years when I in fact can remember XT computers, in my opinion, the birth of computing for the masses. This was a time when data was stored on 5 1/2" floppy disks, you could make a cuppa in the time it took to boot up your computer, the word-processing package of preference was WordPerfect for DOS and anyone from that generation can tell the difference between a back slash and a forward slash, what dir: represents and that cd was not something you put in the drive but rather what you typed to 'change directory'. I suddenly feel very old. So why then do I consider myself to be a digital immigrant when I was around when they were becoming entrenched in homes across the world?
When I consider that 2011 marks my entry into the ‘naughty forties’, I concede that half of my life I survived without an iPod, mobile, laptop, personal computer, email, internet banking and even Facebook…aahhhh. Communication was either face to face or over the telephone. Gauging a person’s sincerity and interest was made obvious by either their body language or tone of voice. Remaining anonymous and keeping personal information private was a choice not a luxury. I realise, I was not been born into an era where technology was a way of life, instead I have had to adapt to the changing technology over the last 15years. It is in the adaption phase that I have chosen to accept and or reject many technologies as I feel they are intrusive and do not allow me to gauge the sincerity of the person using it. It does not seem to bother the digital natives that they have 500 friends (who they really don't know or even possibly like) that can randomly place photos of them on the internet for all and sundry to see and no permission was ever sought. Privacy and integrity are a major sticking point for me and the new communications of today appears to have little of both. Perhaps this is the foremost reason for my apprehension and resistance to any major technological leap into becoming a native.
So in conclusion, by labelling myself a digital immigrant I am merely typecasting myself and limiting my potential purely based on my age and where I fall within the timeline of technology. In reality, I do actually speak the language of the digital native; there are just elements of the language that I find easier than other parts. Is this not relevant to any language? I hereby inform to all and sundry, I am now a qualified digital native!
Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. Retrieved 20 January, 2011, from: http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf
So in conclusion, by labelling myself a digital immigrant I am merely typecasting myself and limiting my potential purely based on my age and where I fall within the timeline of technology. In reality, I do actually speak the language of the digital native; there are just elements of the language that I find easier than other parts. Is this not relevant to any language? I hereby inform to all and sundry, I am now a qualified digital native!
Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. Retrieved 20 January, 2011, from: http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf
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