Technology Crisis

I had a funny moment recently where I felt like maybe games were not the right field to be in. There are so many social networking applications taking the Internet by storm that it seems easy for games to be lost in the mix. They've been around for millennia; why should anyone start noticing them again? While I see the emerging merit in them, it's difficult to be the champion of a new spin on an old trick. Games are powerful tools that can be used to express important concepts or thought-provoking messages. They have not always or often been used for this purpose, but the psychology behind games makes them perfect for it.

This is only a smaller portion of a larger contemplation on technology as a whole. It was interesting to listen to statistics about people in my generation that are younger than me. It made me realize that as technology develops and brings people together faster than ever before, culture also shifts at increasingly rapid speeds. I would never have imagined that children in elementary school would be carrying around cell phones and laptops. Even more so, I refuse to acknowledge that students need access to social networking tools like MySpace while at school. There is a fine line between resource and recreational tool in the technological world today, I recognize this. But it is a pretty clear line in some places.

So, I begin to wonder: at what point is that line going to be drawn on an official level? In their fear or lack of understanding, will teachers start letting their students use AIM and Facebook in the classroom? If either of these has become a part of intellectual conversation, one has to be a little afraid that the answer may be yes.

It's funny to listen to digital immigrants talk about technology and how they implement it. From the standpoint of a digital native, these actions come off as "poser" moves. Our generation is in many ways united against all other forces in the world. If someone comes across to us as hokey, we all know it and no one will accept them. If an older adult, like Ann or John Cohn, proves that they're up to snuff with technology, we accept them into the circle. But once you screw up, it's hard to shake off the resounding laughter you may receive from kids today. I wonder if they will ever truly accept the ways in which older individuals have started using Second Life, or if they'll just wait for some of their Gen Y peers to get into the working world and shake things up. The latter option seems far more likely to me.

There's that thought. Oh, how unbalanced the world is becoming...

DigitalNow - InteractiveWhen?

Today, I am at a conference called DigitalNow. It seems to be focused on providing new technological tools to people in management and leadership positions within national organizations. Doesn't quite sound like my cup of tea, but I've surprised even myself today; I really love this stuff. I don't know how healthy that is, but I plan on plugging away regardless.

I don't feel like I am in over my head, but that I swim in a completely different and deeper sphere. These people understand the importance of shifting dynamics. They realize what technology can do. But they are keeping to the present; These people are playing catch-up without leaping towards the future. When my generation becomes the market that they are attempting to deal with, they will have no idea what to do with us. They have the shift in content down, but the idea of interactivity is beyond them; they have kept track of the "what" without the "how."

Rather than attempt to create new structures of organization, why not put it entirely in the hands of the user? Is this too much of a break from profits? When users are completely in control of what they are attracted to and how they are able to manipulate it, when you provide tools that can enable an infinite number of possibilities, how much need is left for the provider? Less than they seem comfortable with.

Games have a far greater negative connotation than I had previously realized. Having just gotten to the hotel last night, while scrambling for food, we ran into another conference goer who was enthralled by what we were here doing; but he mentioned that his job did not allow him the space that was needed to jump on board. Why would anyone do this? Either they do not understand or they are afraid of losing control. Is the control that they cling to even needed? Would group discovery and dynamics not be more productive on a community level? We won't know until we try.

As I write this, the technology at this conference has started to disappoint, in an ironic turn. The speakers are popping in general session, and one of the videos requested by a panelist was not played successfully by any means. Though the techno is sound (no pun intended), I do declare: it's just plain tech-tacky.

It's interesting to think that these organizations that are completely unassociated with the technological industry are looking towards change and improvement: but the people speaking to these issues do not all seem to be the experts I was hoping for. As with many conferences, it appears to be a preaching-to-the-choir dynamic. If I ever run a conference, it will be one led by people from all walks of life.