Techno-illiteracy

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2010
Techno-illiteracy

With all the talk about techno-literacy and achieving it; is it stupid to ignore the counterpart?

The illiteracy problem of the world and lack of ability of people, educational systems or governments to deal with it is compounded geometrically by the Techno-Revolution. This Techno-Revolution is not something that began with computers or even with the Bronze Age, Iron Age or Industrial Age. It is not something that began in the Communication Age. The Techno-Revolution began with the age of man and just keeps on keeping on. Although in ways it magnifies the problem and speeds up the rate that it is occurring, the Computer Age is not causing Techno-illiteracy. The Computer Age leaves the unfortunate behind, unfortunately more quickly.

Not knowing all of the definitions of specialized techno-babble is not at the root of the issue. Instead, it is people’s natural avoidance of adoption of new technologies that would be to their ultimate advantage; in a way a denial of their own existence. The Information Age, as with all the other Age’s is but an eye blink in the entirety of the Techno-Revolution. It normally takes generations for man to get in step with even a small shuffle of technology. We still have people on earth that cannot read! It is not just generations or even centuries that this has been going on. It is eons!

Television and computers did not replace the written word as the written one did not replace the oral one or even gestures. The medium always seems to be the message. Too many Techno-illiterates are just ignorant to that fact. The written word supplanted symbols and is again being supplanted itself by symbols, numbers, code and pictures. What goes around, comes around. This is all the same thing only it happens in different ways. This is communication.

In what we may think of an advanced age of our Techno-Revolution, when we have barely taken a baby step forward, we can not leave the shaping of our communication completely to youth. Although youth today is capable and willing to take up the gauntlet; this can not be totally left to them. The simple lack of understanding of that fact magnifies the predicament. Some older people have taken this as some kind of battle… an “It’s us against them.” kind of thing.

Youth stands the chance, if this is a war, of winning this one for one of the first times in the history of man. After all, it is the adults that are buying the weapons of war for the youth of today… the computers, smart phones and iPads. Hopefully soon the Android based computer tablets. Computing is finally being pushed grudgingly past its mouse and keyboard, past even the Multi-Touch Magic Trackpad. Designers and computer engineers keep getting stuck on the interface. Who knows, youth today may start using some of these weapons to conduct voice recognition communication like conversation or phone calls instead of texting.

Youth today is forcing the existing infrastructure to get up to speed even though it keeps dragging its feet and forecasting “by the second quarter of next year”. The needle has been stuck in that groove for far too long.

I am still waiting for my Dick Tracy 2-Way Wrist Radio introduced before my birth or my Star Trek Communicator. I promise not to lose patience although the second quarter next year seems never to get here.

Although for only $14 from one seller on Amazon you can get one, “Two to beam up! Get ready for the ultimate Star Trek adventure with this original series Communicator! With sound effects and clips from the ground-breaking classic series, each of these limited collectibles features a pop-open design and deluxe window-box packaging. Don't be caught on your next landing party without one of these handy life-savers!”

I have an old analog bag phone laying around somewhere. I wonder if I can trade it for a Porsche or an iPad.

© 08.02.2010 steven d philbrick SR+ DakotaDawg