Looking at the digital divide between Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants in Prenskys work, we may also be able to identify a divide in society. Digital Natives are more likely to use the internet for shopping, not only with sites like amazon, e-bay and play, which are exclusively online stores, but many high street stores such as TopShop and Le Senza now have online stores, as well as supermarkets. Obviously, by allowing people to shop from the comforts of their own homes,this is largely going to benefit the companies. This wouldnt apply for digital immigrants, as they are more likely to leave the house to use such services.
The whole idea of the digital divide effect interaction between immigrants, natives and things we do. For example, rather than actually meeting up or making a phone call, many people nowadays rely on MSN, social networking sites and text messaging at the main ways of communication. Even childhood is effected by this digital divide. When I was younger I used to have books read to me and spend summer in the garden with my neighbours, but it seems this has changed. When I visiting my young cousins last weekend, they were using consoles to read stories and play games, rather than physically reading of playing the games themselves.
When we think of global access, we generally think of the positive things, like how communication between people miles apart can be effectivley active. This new digital way of communicating allows us to talk to people over the other side of the country and world, which obviously benefits us as its convinient and bridges a gap.
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The digital revolution is certainly taking effect on society for positive and negative reasons. However where do you see this new technology leading to a more technology based community rather than a social one? Whereby face to face communication is imitated and technology will become the more communicative form?
ReplyDeleteAll the things you mentioned that are changing (e.g playing on consoles)....do you think that will increase more and more, and cause more disadvantages? Or do you think people will address the situation and try to control it?
ReplyDelete(After all, video games etc are blamed for child obesity!)
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The various divides argued for in new media literature (and in the unit core text Lister et al) are about differential access. You seem to have passed that over somewhat? I like your point about an age divide on styles of shopping but I would've liked more about the negatives of being 'frozen out' of the modern global technologised 'information society' -because that's where the debate is.
ReplyDeleteAgain. if students on the unit had considered the answers to all the week's questions before posting on any of them. The neo-luddite and this question of divides might have been seen as related?