It is amazing how quickly a 2-year-old picks up on the importance of technology. The digital versus analog question comes into play early with so much technology present.
If I pull my iPhone out in front of Jamie, he might clamor for photos, videos, or circles depending on his mood. Circles is his name for a flash card app that I run with him to teach letters, numbers and some basic vocabulary.
He’ll also hand me the remote and say “TV? TV?” If he has something specific he wants to watch, he’ll ask for the main character. “Elsa?” “Buzz?” “Ralph?”
Digital Versus Analog
My son clamors for “outside!” every time we get in the car or he looks out a window. That’s something I’m grateful for, and a sentiment I hope he can keep until he’s older. He loves his cars, blocks, stuffed animals and other analog, non-technology toys.
On one hand, technology will be an integral part of the rest of his life, and he needs to understand how to use it. It’s good to get him introduced to iPhone pictures, flashcard apps, games and other technology for toddlers. On the other hand, I’d rather him play with some toys that do more to spark his imagination. Ah, digital parenting.
His experience with technology will be so different than mine. I just read this great piece on the technological middle ground that my generation became a part of. We were the last generation to do so many things, and the first generation to do so many others. Being wedged into this middle ground gave us solid perspective on digital versus analog.
Sometimes I think about the advancements in technology that have happened within my lifetime, and how Jamie might react to what I grew up with. There are so many technology advancements that just make me feel old.
For instance, what if next time he wanted something on my phone, I showed him a plugged in landline? He’d probably look at it and say “No pictures!” And I’d have to explain that phones didn’t always have pictures, buddy. What if that plugged in landline were rotary, and he had to make a phone call? Oh man, we’d all be in trouble.
I am pretty sure that we have a VCR around our house somewhere. We haven’t used it for years. But what if we wanted to watch a movie, and got the VCR out instead of Netflix or Amazon? I’m guessing Jamie could probably tell the difference if he sees something not in HD. Some of the lines that flitter across the screen on a tape would be a clue something’s up. If it didn’t drive Jamie nuts, I’m sure it would drive his dad nuts.
Jamie’s shown an interest a few times in taking pictures with the phone. What if he had to use a film camera? Then, what if he had to send the film away for at least a day before he could see the results? It almost seems like a cruel joke.
Speaking of cruel jokes, what about video games? If Jamie expressed an interest in video games, maybe I could introduce him to pong, Carmen San Diego, or Oregon Trail. If he’s nice to me, I could show him Super Mario Brothers, and teach him about plumbers going on an adventure to save a princess.
I can tell him about the days when music came on a record, disc or tape, instead of in the digital ether. All books were made out of paper. It all seems so ancient. Making Jamie use any of these things for anything other than the “wow” factor might seem cruel and unusual.
If technology has changed this much in a few short decades, I wonder what it can do for the next generation.
There are aspects of an analog life I want Jamie to experience, however. I want him to know what it’s like to write a letter. I want him to have the experience of receiving something other than a bill or an ordered package through the mail. I want him to see the imagination and purity in playing outside, or playing with his toys.
Today’s generation has access to more technology than ever before. I hope they can take advantage of everything in front of them while maintaining an appreciation for an analog lifestyle. Both need to be balanced. Everything in moderation.
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