Its amazing the way kids catch up with technology these days. Its not been a wonder anymore that today’s scholastic population uses computers to complete their projects. Its become one of their basic needs. At times they are much adept at using windows and powerpoint than their parents. With powerful online search tools like Google, Yahoo etc to help them they can tide over many difficulties on their own. They are way too competent intellectually than their earlier generations. These kids keep texting each other messages. Seeing them all around I often wonder though, if the future generation is really going to be extraordinarily self-sufficient to the extent of not needing to literally “talk” to any other person.
Its hard not to think about my own school days when telephones were a rare commodity and computers non-existent. What a bliss it was to talk to friends face to face for hours and hours on any topic under the sun! During College days phones had made their way subtly into our daily lives and it was great to chat with those inseperable friends after wee hours. I remember when computer craze had started rocking every household. My mum had been after me to take it up too. But the technology resistant lazybum in me had stood up against her, right till the moment it was absolutely necessary for me to have an e-mail id, to send my resume to prospective job recruiters.
Today it’s a completely opposite scenario in my own family when one of my kids picks up my cell phone. Her twin sister cries, so in a hurry I thrust my iPod Touch in her hand and set about to do my chores. Within no time I hear a familiar old Hindi song playing. I turn back with amusement to see that my two year old has not only unlocked the iPod Touch but also figured out how to play the music. My kids also know that they can talk to their grandparents back in India on mommy’s iPad. The news that they chatted with relatives back home reaches their dad before I have the chance to speak to him. They ask me to show pictures and why I don’t play songs on iPad. But this is about two year olds!
Recently I visited my nephew in Arkansas. He is a mere 5-month old baby, a dashing, aggressive little bundle of joy! I was showing folks my kids pictures and this young guy was leaping forth with full force to catch those off of my iPad. The moving images were enough to make him realise this was going to be his future domain. I didn’t let him touch the screen and he started crying. Thereafter everytime he saw the familiar pink smartcover, he wanted the iPad. Now that’s what I call a true technokid.
Kids nowadays don’t amuse themselves with colorful toys for long. So many in collection and parents showering yet more, kids quickly tire themselves of those. Their real playthings are iPhones, blackberries, notebooks, iPod Touch, iPads, all the technologically advanced thingamajigs which they see in their moms and dads possession. These kids are so much into these technotools that wherever they go they want to play games, listen to music, text their friends etc. Its their lifeline. That’s why I call these kids ‘The WiFi kids’. All their knickknacks run on WiFi. They will keep craving for all the latest innovations that keep hitting the market.
Here rests a major responsibility on our shoulders as the parents. We have experienced a WiFi-free world as they have not. We need to show them that world too. What would a WiFi dependant generation do in case of a major, irrevocable network failure? Just as information technology is necessary to enrich their educational expertise, so is love of nature & respect for culture, history and other human beings, to ensure their physical and emotional wellbeing. There is Chaos without Harmony. These kids can either develop a balanced persona with an inner strength which will help them face any crisis or they can turn out to be geniuses without the ability to act out in the time of need. The ball lies in our court, the future depends on which way we swing it!
