Can't Deny It

I am about to be a father for the first time.  This news is exciting and wonderful and I often times think back to my childhood and how different the world will be for my son.  I'm 23 years old, and the way technology has grown is amazing even since I was a young kid.  I grew with a box television, VHS tapes, the walkman, cd's, AIM, dial-up internet, Super Nintendo (and Nintendo 64), and the list goes on.  When I hear people talk about how technology is a major distraction and a major deterrent, though this can be true considering the context, I often shake my head.

I was walking down the toy isle at Target I had this strong realization that technology will have such a huge impact on my kid's life.  Toys that look like smartphones with dial tones designed for babies, toys that require smartphone or iPad apps, tablets designed for toddlers, even Monopoly games that you control with an iPad.  It's impossible to deny that technology has taken over, which implies impending doom, but I don't mean for it to.  My son will grow up quickly learning how to use these devices and it will become second nature.  He will expect speed, convenience, and new technologies constantly.  I have grown up at the ideal time to adapt to this lifestyle, but I still appreciate the technology and the capabilities of the technology before me (mainly because I still remember getting kicked off the internet because someone picked up the phone).  He will take technology for granted and always expect more, not because he is spoiled, but because of the day and age he will grow up in.

On top of all that my son will have the ability to communicate in a different light with people all over the world.  He will be able to find information instantly at the push of the button, and this wont be spectacular it will be expected.  He will learn in a whole new way, he will communicate in a whole new way.  It will be amazing to watch him grow up with a world of possibilites at his fingertips.  To deny the technology is ridiculous, it's here and the impact it will have on future generations will be great and immense.