Slashdot Mirror


Tech Tools Fostering "Mini Generation Gaps"

Hugh Pickens writes "The NY Times has an interesting report on the iGeneration, born in the '90s and this decade, comparing them to the Net Generation, born in the 1980s. The Net Generation spend two hours a day talking on the phone and still use e-mail frequently while the iGeneration — conceivably their younger siblings — spends considerably more time texting than talking on the phone, pays less attention to television than the older group, and tends to communicate more over instant-messenger networks. 'People two, three or four years apart are having completely different experiences with technology,' says Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project. 'College students scratch their heads at what their high school siblings are doing, and they scratch their heads at their younger siblings. It has sped up generational differences.' Dr. Larry Rosen, a professor of psychology at California State University, says that the iGeneration, unlike their older peers, expect an instant response from everyone they communicate with, and don't have the patience for anything less. 'They'll want their teachers and professors to respond to them immediately, and they will expect instantaneous access to everyone, because after all, that is the experience they have growing up,' says Rosen." Read below for another intra-generational wrinkle.
Another intra-generational gap is the iGeneration comfort in multi-tasking. Studies show that 16- to 18-year-olds perform seven tasks, on average, in their free time — like texting on the phone, sending instant messages, and checking Facebook while sitting in front of the television; while people in their early 20s can handle only six, and those in their 30s about five and a half. "That versatility is great when they're killing time, but will a younger generation be as focused at school and work as their forebears?" writes Brad Smith. "I worry that young people won't be able to summon the capacity to focus and concentrate when they need to," says Vicky Rideout, a vice president at the Kaiser Family Foundation.

6 of 322 comments (clear)

  1. Let me get out my violin... by Pluvius · · Score: 5, Funny

    They'll want their teachers and professors to respond to them immediately, and they will expect instantaneous access to everyone

    And they're going to be quickly disappointed.

    Rob

    1. Re:Let me get out my violin... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      They'll want their teachers and professors to respond to them immediately, and they will expect instantaneous access to everyone

      And they're going to be quickly disappointed.

      Rob

      Dammit, we are tired of waiting for quick disappointment! We demand INSTANT disappointment!

  2. I don't have time to read this... by erroneus · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... would someone just FAX it to me and I'll read it while I'm on the toilet?

  3. Re:Bullshit level: High - Storm likely. by fast+turtle · · Score: 5, Funny

    Get Off My Lawn Kids

    Having been classified as ADHD in the early 70's it's so nice to finally get my revenge now that everyone has been infected with the damn Attention Deficit Syndrome. Those who don't learn to focus and develop short term memory are bound to fail and I can sincerely state "Welcome to my World" - sukkers.

    --
    Mod me up/Mod me down: I wont frown as I've no crown
  4. Discovery channels is way more than blowing things by 140Mandak262Jamuna · · Score: 3, Funny

    Discovery is more about blowing stuff up than explaining science, the History channel seems to be nothing more than WWII and explosions.

    Come on Discovery channel is way more than explosions. They got computer generated imagery of dinosaurs, shark bites, more dinosaurs, disgusting food from tribals, some more dinosaurs, disaster videos, and some dinosaurs, some more shark bites and did I mention dinosaurs?

    --
    sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
  5. Re:Bullshit level: High - Storm likely. by tengu1sd · · Score: 3, Funny
    >>> When someone starts talking to you, you have two options: a) schedule them in with the rest, and make them believe you're not paying attention (and/or are unable to, hence ADHD), or b) throw your whole state of mind out the window, and listen to their highly informative and productive inane ramblings.

    It's called marriage.