In today’s world, the increase in technological advancements is sparking a new era that is continually shifting human dependency toward the need to have certain technical knowledge. Technology has become a part of everyday life. Unfortunately, without certain technologies, people will fall behind with the times, seeing as a revolution waits for no one. Digital literacy is now a crucial characteristic that people need to acquire if they intend to be successful in the modern world.
Foremost, let’s define digital literacy. Erik Hamann describes it as “the confident and critical use of Information Society Technology for work, leisure and communication [and] the use of computers to retrieve, assess, store, produce, present and exchange information to communicate and participate in collaborative networks via the Internet.” By definition, digital literacy seems more like a supplemental skill then a necessary one yet that is not the case. Given the increase in convenience and practicality of many software devices such as cell phones computers and video games, society has assimilated these accessories into everyday life. As previously mentioned, those without these basic technologies are at a disadvantage and will only continue to fall further behind. Technology is far from peaking and one week one could have the newest of items and the next week that item could already be out-dated. This is a particular technological trend that worries me, because as newer products keep coming out, some become a “must have” that people who can afford it get and those who can’t don’t. As this trend continues, some people get ahead and others fall behind. For example some people are on the computer daily developing a better acquaintance with digital knowledge while others might not even have a computer to use at all. In today’s society, having knowledge of digital literacy is a key factor in obtaining jobs and moving up in the work force, so it is progressively creating an unequal opportunity for all people.
With this in mind, it is time to discuss the relation between my personal experiences with digital literacy and how it ties in to the general population as just mentioned. Technology is an aspect of my life that will never cease to exist. Regardless of the function of the device, chances are that I have it and know how to work it. Born during the boom of the technological revolution, I have continually watched it become a leading aspect of today’s culture. I consider myself a technological adept person, meaning I can figure out how to efficiently work most gadgets I come across. I have had a computer since I was about six years old and now I cannot even imagine my life without an accessible computer. I say this because I use computers not only for my social networking on programs such as Facebook or Myspace, but I use the internet whenever I am doing any research for school, essentially every day. I feel the uses of computers are a part of my life that I am healthily dependent upon because I feel that it has greatly contributed to my success as a student and has most certainly shaped me to who I am today. One difference between societies today vs. the society before the technological boom is the level of convenience when it comes to finding things out/getting things done. The internet can take a few seconds to find exactly what you need rather than going out of your way to try to look something up in a book, a convenience I truly cherish.
Another technology that I find myself very advanced at as well as dependent upon are video games. Video games have replaced books for me in a way. A lot of people see this as a negative change but I feel as though it has increased my digital literacy as well as my general literacy. My justification for this is that games have certain intricacies that require knowledge of digital processes as well as an understanding of general literacy aspects. For example, in the case study of Charles Jackson by Devoss, he states that “I think with playing games there is a grammar. Games have different genres just like games do. So when you pick up a certain genre you kind of expect to know how to play that kind of game. You expect certain controls to be there and when they are not there you get confused, because the grammar is not complete in that game.” I see video games as a luxury item to fine tone physical skills by the understanding of digital skills. For me, being a premedical student with desire of being a surgeon, video games have crafted my hand precision and ability to spot out minor details often overlooked; aspects in my life that I will certainly depend on to be a successful surgeon.
The third most influential technology in my life is the cell phone. I got my first cell phone about five years back and I have had one with me every day since then. Communication nowadays is very dependent on the use of cell phones. If you ever need to get a hold of someone all you have to do is push a few buttons. Knowing how to use a phone seems like a very minuscule ability to master today because it is a part of digital literacy that has been easy to comprehend over the years due to its similarity to general literacy, i.e. reading and interpreting letters and numbers but in terms of using a keypad rather than a pen or pencil. I know that I would rather type something out then to write it out. I have become very dependent on having my phone, maybe a little too much. Every other second I check my phone to respond to a text to the point where I practically live my life vicariously through my phone; one trend that many people have experienced to some extent.
Clearly the direction and characteristics of my life are defined by my interaction with and knowledge of digital literacy. Without a doubt I am dependent on them and need them to continue to grow along with the shift towards the digital world. Megan Poore describes it well by saying, “The potential for people to recognize their ontological vocation to become more fully human [is] through the cybersocial affordances of the technologies that inhabit the knowledge space.”
