Digital generations are those who have grown up using technology and the Internet, and therefore feel more at home in the online world. Nowadays, almost everyone in this world owns at least one cell phone and a social media account. Almost everyone knows how to use blogs and how video works. Even in our daily life, almost every time we using machine or interact with them. Are we the digital generation?
Digital Generation “Things”
Blogs
Blog (Word made up from ‘web log’) is a discussion or informational website published on the World Wide Web consisting of discrete, often informal diary-style text entries. Began as outlets for amateurs who want to express ideas or creativity. Appealing because present personal views, are funny and creative, and present a quirky perspective on current events. Now used as alternatives to mainstream news and for business public relations. Popular blogs have 100,000 to 500,000 readers per day and can peak at several million views per day.
Video Sharing
- Rise of amateur videos on the web.
- Boom of websites like YouTube and Myspace.
- Many videos on the web can infringe on copyrights owned by entertainment companies.
Cell Phones
- Can now be used for travel, last-minute planning, taking pictures and downloading music
- Talking on cell phones while driving is a problem.
- Cameras in cell phones and privacy issues.
Social Networking
- First online social networking site was www.classmates.com in 1995.
- Myspace, founded in 2003, had roughly 100 million member profiles by 2006.
- Facebook was started at Harvard as an online version of student directories.
Collaboration:
- Wikipedia, the online, collaborative encyclopedia
- Open Directory Project (ODP)
- Collaboration between scientists in different states or countries
E-commerce and Free Stuff
- Free stuff on the web: email, books, newspapers, games, etc.
- www.Amazon.com started in 1994 and 10 years later, annual sales reached $8.5 billion.
- TV show episodes are available to view on the Web
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, and Motion
- AI suited to narrow, specialized skills
- Robotic devices often special-purpose devices and may require AI to function
- Motion sensing devices are used to give robots the ability to walk, trigger airbags in a crash, and cushion laptops when dropped.
Tools for Disabled People
- Restoration of abilities, productivity and independence
- Screen readers and scanners
- Speech recognition
- Prosthetics and motion sensors
What’s Next?
Maybe medical records on chips attached to medical bracelets? or biological and computer sciences will combine new ways to insert micro-processors or controlled devices on human bodies.
