TECHNOLOGY GAP ACROSS GENERATIONS

We commonly have heard the following words or terminologies, had discussion on forums, felt it around us in the society but ignore or unable to find a solution. I having years of experience in the field of Information & Communication Technology and perhaps in the middle of two generations (having parents and children) had experienced it in a different way and striving to get the solutions for eliminating this gap. 

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Why There Are Huge Technological Differences In Generations?

It took years for my mother to hardly understand the 3 buttons of TV remote i.e. On/Off, Volume & Channel change.  A few years back I bought her a smartphone but she had preferred her old mobile with buttons and a small CRT screen because it resembles a Landline Telephone Set.  Usage of USB, HDMI & Computers are far beyond her understanding. Even in the X-BOX GTA5 game sometimes she was not ready to accept that either it’s real live roads or people or a 3D stored game in a small box.

On the other hand, there is a big generation difference; my four-year kid, who just not only operates my smartphone completely but is well-versed in using the computer.  He knows how to download free games & themes from the app store, how to install and achieve the levels & scores in games.  These days he is playing PUBG game and knows how to enter the online room with his brothers & cousins and achieve the guided missions through maps. 

I got surprised when my 12 years’ son was playing PUBG through VPN when it was banned in Pakistan for few days but got more surprised when my daughter who is a Grade-4 student told me to create my personal channel on YouTube and she will assist me in doing it.

Unlike the technological revolutions in history that had taken centuries, modern Information Technology has penetrated society within 2 decades even in the 3^rd world countries.

Since 1992 I have been attached with the field of ICT and have read, seen & experienced all technological changes throughout these years.  IBM launched the first personal computer in 1980s and after the inventions of Microsoft Windows Personal Operating System in the same decade had revolutionized the world. Within a few years, the technology had captured the whole world.  In 1996 the Internet was launched, 2001 cellular companies introduced the smartphone, within few years the virtual education started in universities, LED TVs then Mobile technologies with Edge, 2G, 3G & 4G launched and finally during COVID-19 Pandemic, Virtual/ELearning/Blended Learning through LMS systems were also in place that was expected after few decades in developing countries.

Above are those years when these technologies were accessible for the maximum people in the society for usage.

It is therefore difficult for those who are experiencing it in late ages commonly after 40’s and so is my mother.  On the other hand; the new generation of children are TECH-kids and would be experiencing more in the future. Today our children have earlier and more frequent interaction with technology as compare to the old generations.  They even never accept or understand the world without the powers of the internet & devices. 

As we are Cricket lovers; just compare it in this way that our parents have no interest in Cricket, those who started technology at late ages are like Test player, we are like 50 overs match players and our kids are 20-20 players. The up-coming generation would be !!! BOOM BOOM !!!

Although technology has become an important factor in society within a short span of time and people are dependent on it but this rapid change is still not acceptable or being absorbed by most and blame that technology has reflected a negative impact on culture, education & health.  Somehow it's true but perhaps everything has positive & negative impacts so as technology but along with demerits, it has lots of benefits in our lives. 

The technological gap across generations is creating a huge social distance among different age groups and we specifically need to understand & get close to the generation who is currently out of this game.  The older & very young are the main affectees and getting alone but we need to get them close as much as we can. Moreover; there must be some guidelines that need to be implemented for who at what age & time have access to what & where.  

In this article, I had portrayed my personal feeling and symptoms I felt around myself and to share it among readers & friends, however; in continuation, I will discuss in detail the Benefits & Drawbacks of Technology AND the Guiding Principles of its Usage in my upcoming articles.

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