Foreign Concept

Oldies are Immigrants to Computerland

Talking to my friend Jan today, and picked up an idea that really struck a chord.

My wife and I are both immigrants to New Zealand.  In Susan's case, the transition process has been, and still is, dramatic.  So we are very aware of the challenges of adaptation, and how you never really "get" some things about your adopted culture.

Then there's the world of personal computers.  For those of us who are old enough to have grown up without computers, we are immigrants to computerland.  What a fitting metaphor.

For myself, I was 37 when I first encountered a computer.  Now, of course, the PC is central to my life and work.  But there's nothing I can do to alter the fact that it will always be a second language, a foreign concept.

My son was 10 when we got our first computer.  Now he is an I.T. professional.  It is intersting to see how stuff I struggle with is second nature to him.  Just like a kid who migrates to another country soon speaks with pretty much the local accent, and sometimes has to help interpret (language and culture) for his parents.

Now my daughter is 6.  She has lived in a house where there have been more PCs than people since the day she was born.  'Google' was one of her first words.  Her blog is here.

Like many parents, we are concerned that our child's use of the computer should be appropriate and beneficial.  Most of what she needs to learn and develop, the computer can't provide... but that's another topic.  Nevertheless, she's a native citizen of computerland, and I will be fascinated to be part of this future with her.

Technorati tags: computing, child+development, personal+development, cultural+adaptation