Technology Generation Gap
| posted by Stephen WA few weeks ago I received a survey from Gartner, for their Emerging Trends Conference. The survey was for 18-24 year olds, so mainly college students (fitting since i received the email though the college I attend). I didn't have any intention on taking part of in the survey but the question asked has been on my mind none the less. The surveys main question was:
"What's the single most distinguishing characteristic you think sets
you apart from the people who graduated ten or more years before you - as it
relates to technology and/or the Internet? (besides you age.)"
The biggest thing that comes to mind for me is trust. I think my generation trusts the Internet more than past generations. I remember when we first got a computer in my house and we got AOL with the dial up modem. The Internet was this entire different world, one that couldn't be trusted. There were hackers, spammers, con-artist, viruses, and a million other bad things that could happen to you if you clicked on the wrong thing or gave too much information out. This made people very hesitant to do anything online. People had a multiple spam blockers and generally only visited sites of big corporations they new, or ones that AOL directed them too. This has changed greatly with my generation.
Today, people trust everything to the Internet. People store their emails, their documents, their music, their pictures, everything they can, they put online. And there are million services that are willing to store all this content for you. My generation is quick to try new products and new websites also. We are always looking to be on the cutting edge, we want things faster, better, cheaper (most web applications are free/ad supported). Web 2.o and the web application craze has created hundred of thousands of sites that a person can use. People aren't hesitant as they used to be. People readily give out their email on a regular basis and any other information they need to, in order to sign up for a new product or service, or new social network.
A person can have their entire life online if they want. People socially interact through youtube, facebook, myspace, and many other site of the kind. A person can interact with more people online then they might be able to in the physical world. You can reach a much larger audience, as the world is your stage.
This is why trust has changed the way my generation uses the Internet. We aren't second guessing ourselves or worried about some virus coming onto our computer. We are more adventurous and want to explore the Internet. This is why the web startup business is booming right now, there are hundreds of new startups everyday, and somehow they are making money. People want to try new things and no longer have that same hesitation and fear that once was there. This is what has caused the Internet to change so much in my generation.
*taken from Technology Should Be Simple
