How important do you think it is for people to learn to use new technologies?

depends. I think it’s essential to teach children and young adults how to use and understand new technology, because their understanding of it may convince them to pursue a career in advancing said tech.

but other than that, technology is usually just a convenience boost and not really essential, aside from same basic computer skills and being handy with a remote, it’s not really “essential” and I use that term loosely to be extremely tech savvy.

I’m already seeing a big schism between iPhone users and non-iPhone users.

Basic knowledge of computers and the web is crucial to function in modern society. It’s not only by paying bills, communication and news, but in aspects that are increasingly important. In the recent EU election, you could vote on the internet. This is essential technology, and one needs basic knowledge to cope with it, otherwise one will have problems.

Not at all. Things like facebook, iPods in particular are not necessary – most of the world gets by without them. You only need to learn enough to use the technology you really need. They are just tools – you don’t NEED to understand them – just to use them and that is usually by following prompts in English. A ten year old from the sixties who had never seen a computer could use one for most purposes – no learning required. An iPhone is still a telephone, an iPod is just a media recorder. Smaller and more powerful – but still functions in the same manner – even using the same icons on the keys.

I believe as the years go by, it gets more and more important to learn about computers. They are becoming an increasingly essential part of our every day lives. Any child that goes to school now will be required to learn basic computing skills. Almost every job in America uses computers in one way or another to keep it running.

As for iPods and Facebook. Those many never be quite as important as computers, but some form of them or another could reach high potential to be an essential part of our lives.

@erichw1504 I believe as the years go by, it gets more and more important to learn about computers.

What’s to learn if you don’t want a career that requires computer skills? We now have touch screens, voice recognition and prompts, in fact dealing with many software applications involves little more than holding a conversation with the computer. It makes as much sense as learning about mechanical engineering in order to drive a car or electrical engineering to use a microwave oven. Unless you have a need for more in depth knowledge they are just extraordinarily easy to use tools.

As “the years go by” they will become even more unobtrusive and “transparent”.

@DarkScribe I see what you’re saying, but I don’t see regular desktop and laptops going away any time soon. That is why schools are adopting the use of them in classrooms and holding specific computer classes before you even begin college.

@erichw1504 That is why schools are adopting the use of them in classrooms and holding specific computer classes before you even begin college.

Not schools around here. Few kids in school are not already computer literate. They might teach typing, spreadsheet use, database development, specific applications as applied to various curricula courses – but not computer use in itself. Teaching how to use a computer for a specific purpose is not quite the same. Take technical drawing – nowadays they might use a CAD program, but the course is still much the same as thirty years ago, only simpler in that using a computer when compared to manual drawing is faster, has more versatility, ability to change etc.

@DarkScribe Don’t you still need to learn how to use a computer if you are using it to complete tasks? I’m not saying you need to know every single aspect of the computer, just how to use it for whatever you need to accomplish.

Most schools are using computers now and more will in the future.

Yes.
If you don’t you will be left behind.

@erichw1504 _Don’t you still need to learn how to use a computer _

Yes, and with the remainder of the half hour you can have some coffee and a snack.

Twenty years ago it took some time to learn – now it is just a simple to use appliance to most people who do not have a real need for in depth computer skills. I have seen eighty year old women using one after fifteen minutes demonstration and instruction.

@DarkScribe you kind of touched on the topic a bit. If you don’t have a proffession in that requires knowledge with computers, no, you don’[t need to be a Poindexter about it. However, a vast majority of high end careers deal heavily with computational technology now. For instance, most physical sciences. 30 years ago you sat down with a notepad and 12 books, today you hop on your laptop and do 10 times the work in 1/10th the time. Technology is a good thing, it breeds effeciency, in the next 10–20 years you’re going to see an even greater increase of previously human powered tasks be aided and maximized by technological advancements in terms of computing and electronic management.
That 80 year old lady doesn’t need to be tech savvy because she’s most likely retired, but if you want top notch career these days technology has to be your best friend.

I think we should QUIT using it so much. We play too many video games, sit on the computer too much, listen to our ipods instead of communicate with others. We’re forgetting how to be social because of technology.

I realize it can be helpful too, though.

@deni I somewhat agree with you.

@deni as she fiddles away on the interwebs

@ABoyNamedBoobs03 lol, well exactly. im part of the problem. :(

@deni embrace the dark side.