ENC 1102 Section 105
Jane Moody
2/9/10
I know that computers are relatively new technology but for me and other members of my generation we can’t remember a time without them. While we are supposed to coexist with computers, the truth is that we have come to rely on them like a crutch. I certainly don’t claim to be a technophobe, although I use computers everyday, I am still not the savviest computer user. Instead I would say that I am on that fine line between both ends of the spectrum.
The fact of the matter is that nowadays your worth in the world is directly related to your digital literacy. Digital literacy, as defined by Jones-Kavalier, represents “ a person’s ability to perform tasks effectively in a digital environment” (Jones-Kavalier 1). This is why my relationship with technology can be diagnosed by the technologies I know now, the technologies I need to learn for my future career, and by my dependence on computers.
As far as technology goes I am not the most adept at it but I can handle my own. I have been using computers since I was a kid, so I am familiar with all of the basic software like Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. I guess you could say that I am a “recreational” computer user because I am strong in the basics but as soon as anything unfamiliar comes my way I get a little bit lost. Lucky for me, just being able to use Microsoft Word was enough to get me through the first semester of college. This semester I am taking three online courses and it can be challenging for someone who is not too familiar with computers to navigate their way through the course. Most classes in college involve doing some out of class research and I could not imagine how painstaking that would be without computers. One of the earliest computer lessons I had in school was how to do research and look up information. So far, that has probably been the most useful. You might think that I am a proficient computer user but the sad thing is that for every one program I know how to use, there are countless others that I do not.
Despite my current experiences with technology there is so much I have to learn in order to become a Veterinarian. My dream job is to become a Veterinarian, which seems simple enough but in today’s world it also means learning some new technologies. When I was a kid I thought that all I would be doing is diagnosing animals and giving them medicine but I neglected all the things that came along with doing that. In order to become a Vet, I will have to learn how to use X-ray machines and MRI machines, I will also how to document information on computers so that I can look up the animal’s medical history. Although I am unfamiliar with these technologies, I am confident that I will be able to master them because of my experiences with computers and machinery. The scary part is that while I’m not that skilled in these technologies there are many people out there who are already familiar and frequently use these machines, which means that when we both compete for the same job, they will have the advantage. Some people are just naturally gifted with technology and in this day and age that entitles them to endless job opportunities.
Unfortunately for my generation, our blessing is also our curse. The fact that we grew up during the computer boom really established our dependency on technology. Joseph Johansen suggests that “ the imaginary line separating good and bad technologies has disappeared as the boundaries separating the human and the technological have similarly blurred” (DeVoss 191). We use computers to aid us but the fact is that they also inhibit us. As crazy as it sounds I rely so much on gadgets like the GPS that without it, I probably would not even be able to find my way home with a map. I don’t even want to think about what any of my papers would look like if I didn’t have spell check to save me. I don’t remember the last time that I manually capitalized the first letter in a sentence. That is the dangerous potential of addiction to technology; it helps us but also makes us dependent on it.
I guess in a way I have a symbiotic relationship with electronics because they are the digital crutches that I rely on everyday of my life. Technology even affects the way we communicate with each other through the invention of texting and e-mail, which, while very efficient, really affects how we interact with one another. Our dependency on computers is only increasing, as there are more advances in technology every day. We count on technology to make our life’s easier but it is sad that it has gotten to the point where our civilization would crumple if it were to all go away. The thing about technology is that the “new” thing is only “new” for a couple of weeks before it becomes outdated and the next big thing comes along. I still remember how much difficulty I had just switching from PC to a Mac. Computer technology is almost like a living organism that’s always changing. Honestly, the rate at which electronic technology is progressing, I’m afraid that I will not be able to keep up and that could almost certainly spell out the end of my future career.
I’m positive no one will contest the fact that technology has helped us monumentally but we need to control ourselves and not allow progress to consume us. I’m thankful for the way my life has been improved by computers but I’m worried about what the future will be like if I allow myself to stay on this path. The electronic industry is growing everyday and people are always craving new machines that will ease their lives, this is why I don’t foresee any change in our dependence on technology, myself included. Like all good things, technology should come in moderation.
Works Cited
DeVoss, Danielle. "The Future of Literacy." Literate Lives in
the Information Age (2004): 183-210. Web. 10 Feb 2010.
Jones-kavalier, Barbara, and Suzanne Flannigan.
"Connecting the digital Dots: LIteracy of the 21st Century." Educause Quarterly 29. (2006): n. pag. Web. 11 Feb 2010.
