Technology Through Time: Its Impact on an Older Generation

Click click click click click click click Ca-CHING! Does this sound seem familiar to you? I know it quite well, but only because my family was too poor to own a computer during my childhood.

Grace Fala, Professor of Communication at Juniata College, would recall the sound as well, remembering the frequent use of a typewriter during her young life, which gave her some insight into the world of technology. Grace also recalls the vast changes of technology throughout the years…from black and white television to color, the capability to record television on a VHS, and now the everyday use of DVDs. Grace also mentioned electronic mail (email) and the mimeograph as other key points in technological history. Heck, she even remembers when credit cards were invented; a time when only high-end businesspeople with very good credit could obtain one.

Forty years ago, if you had asked Evelyn Pembrooke what she thought of technology, she would probably respond with a questioning, puzzled look on her face. As the Alumni Office Specialist at Juniata, Evelyn uses email, software, and databases on a daily basis. Growing up, the closest thing to technology she knew was the local “party line,” and THAT was the big excitement among residents in all developing Small Town, USAs.

Hearing from people who were sort of thrown into the world of technology without choice is one thing, but what do current information technology experts think? Gary Feagley, Juniata’s IT Support Specialist II, has been at Juniata for decades and fondly remembers the use of the projector and slide projector. He considers U-matic recorders (aka the very first thing resembling a VCR) to be the biggest technology breakthrough in his lifetime.

Similarly, Grace agreed that the largest technology breakthrough in her time was “when you could start recording things,” and also was pleased with the invention of the digital camera because film wasn’t wasted, and unwanted pictures don’t have to be developed.

Evelyn believes the largest technology achievement she has seen is email, brought to us in the early 90s. She says, “It made life so much easier; instead of running across campus to tell someone in another department something, or having to send it through snail mail, I never had to leave my desk.” Her most prized technological item is her laptop, which she bought herself for Christmas two years ago. Describing her feelings about this addition to her life, she said, “I feel so empowered with it, especially with wireless [internet]. I can stay in bed with my cup of coffee and never have to get up to get things done.”

It is clear that these three people, who have all been at Juniata for at least 10 years, have some positive feelings toward the advancements technology has made in their lifetimes; yet there remains some hesitance on the subject. When asked what her favorite piece of technology is, Grace said, “I really don’t have one, because I favor none of them.” For her, face-to-face connections are vital, and each piece of technology she owns is replaceable and, in her eyes, unnecessary. Even Gary, who works with advanced technology every day, shared with me that his preferred piece of technology is the video projector because it has a bigger screen.

Jennifer DeLeo, a writer for PC Magazine online, says, “It can take years before a technology catches on, and even more time before we see a significant price drop. For the most part, however, technology does us more good than harm: It's reconnected us with old college roommates, helped us learn a foreign language, and encouraged us to exercise.”

And, she’s right. I’ll be the first to admit that asking an older generation for their opinions on modern technology wasn’t my idea of a good time. But, after a bit of questioning around, it appears as though I thought too little of said generation, and that perhaps they are just as excited about the newest iPhone or Dell notebook as my generation. Maybe my generation really can “connect” with our elders more successfully than initially perceived.

Source:

DeLeo, Jennifer. How Tech Has Changed Our Lives. Oct. 13, 2008. Jan. 31, 2012. Site: www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2332338,00.asp