perhaps i should have split up my “different types of tech” even further. first, i should really speak specifically of the Internet as opposed to all the other technologies you list in your original assignment. but of course the Net is massive and multi-faceted on its own…

yes, there are the aspects of communicating in a networked society that tend to make us scatter-brained, “multi-tasked”, hopped-up and hopelessly distracted, but there are also entire new realms of genuinely creative, focused, and interconnected activity that are available to us (collaborating on writing software, remixing cultural messages, providing on-the-ground up-to-the-moment news coverage, building social movements, sharing all manner of specialized knowledge…).

at this point i suppose i’m moving pretty far astray of the initial thrust of this project. i can certainly see and feel the distractability Mr. D mentions in the kids i know, but i just mean to state that we should be nuanced when we look at the technology. are any of you students writing code? maybe the next hacker whiz-kid is in the class, dutifully following the assignment but deprived of a very creative, meaningful and focused part of her life!

for me, as a working stiff and with a child of my own, i spend very little “brainless” time on the Net in proportion to the time i spend actively, creatively, deliberately crafting meaningful communication and building web sites. (my particular “brainless” vice is watching soccer highlights!)

in any event, great work, class! i hope you all examined your lives a bit more during all of this, as Mr. Porter mentioned, and as i’m sure is Mr. D’s ultimate goal with this project.

It’s hard to judge about my children and technology. For all I know, they may destroy the public school building by 2030 (estimate), when my children would go to school. They may depend on technology to tie their shoes for all I know. While it’s always good to do things the old-fashioned way, if they do change for this direction, then we pretty much have to sit back and let it happen. So it’s way too early to see how much my child will need tech to be able to see if he’d need it or not. Although I’m leaning towards the fact that he’ll need it.

Thanks Mr. D, it was worthwhile challenge.