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Time to bridge the gap
The world today seems to be made up of two kinds of people: those who are techies and those who are not. While technology has become an integral part of our lives, it cannot be denied that it has managed to create sub-classes within a social structure.
Gadgets, gizmos and tech toys. Ipods, USB flash and smart phones. Other than the utility factor, these have all turned into fashion statements as well. So much so that to many these technological inventions have become a sign of prestige.
The more features your cellphone boasts of, the more affluent you must be. Carrying a laptop automatically puts you on a higher social pedestal. Considering that advanced gadgets cost an arm and a leg, these can only be afforded by the affluent.
But that is just one of the least important aspects of digital divide. More importantly, the gap is causing ‘mediums’ within people’s minds. Remember, Urdu-medium and English-medium syndrome that most of us grew up with?
Well, with the changing times, people are being divided into the techie and non-techie sub-classes. To grow up in the world today, you have to know the technology of the day. Technology being the buzzword, and also a fad, it has become a popular topic for discussion on many forums. I remember that there was a time, not long ago, when people would actually measure the lengths of their cellphones and the one with the smallest mobile was considered the winner.
Today, gadgets having the most techie features have become an effective way of impressing others. Plus, people with a good technological know-how have not only become an asset but their popularity graph is also a notch higher than others in many circles.
A recent survey in the US suggests that nearly 90 per cent of the taxi drivers, hairdressers and the like have no idea what a podcast was, and more than 70 per cent had never heard of blogging. However, a counter-argument holds that not everyone is aware — or should be aware — of the technological jargon. For example, if the very same people had been asked what internet-based journals are, instead of blogs, they might seem less ignorant.
However, keeping this argument aside, if we were to emulate this research in Pakistan, with a slight modification — let us include people from different classes instead of just one — one can safely assume that the outcome would be similar. One reason why the public is not aware of such hi-tech gadgets could be that technology has yet to find its roots in the country.
People, and this applies to all classes, generally limit the use of technology to their specific needs and are not interested in broadening their horizons. Secondly, since a large segment of our society cannot afford to buy high-tech equipment, they do not exhibit any interest in them. Also, the older generation has a hard time grasping the understanding of these complicated gadgets, having grown up in a relatively simple, gadget-free world.
Many parents will tell you how they faced a communication gap with their kids because they could not speak the gizmo language. Or because, to them the cellphone was simply a means of making and receiving calls.
Mp3? IPod? What are these? A camera in a cellphone!!!??? I know how my father looks down with scorn at the digi-cams that our generation uses, still banking on his tried and trusted flash camera that he bought ages ago.
But then, why should a person who has no need for a computer buy one? Or if one is uncomfortable with the idea of a techie cellphone, why carry one? And more importantly, if they are not interested in the subject, why learn it? Do we study literature if it doesn’t interest us?
The geeks in our midst counter that by saying that in today’s world everyone needs to be technology literate. A harsh truth that may be for many, as records show that lucrative jobs go to technology savvy people. Today, the world is such that every job requires at least something from the tech platter.
According to the National Academy of Engineering
Unfortunately, much as people try to argue, buzzwords remain buzzwords and fads remain fads. At present, it is the geeks who rule the roost, and the lesser mortals try their best to emulate them. But the time has come that we bridge this digital gap.
A technological divide has a lot to do with the mindset. It can exist within a certain class. It can even exist under the same roof where one sibling may be tech savvy, while the other one ignorant of it.
The best way to bridge this digital and technological divide is to introduce tech-literacy at school/college/university levels. This way, kids who cannot afford computers or other gadgets can be exposed to them at their educational institutions.
But education should not be limited to computers and web only. Kids should be taught about equipment and devices the very same way they learn history and geography of other countries, even if they don’t visit these places.
Given the tech boom, it does not take a lot to figure out what the future is going to be like. When a child grows up with a certain mindset in favour of technology, he will eventually warm up to it and extract from it what he is most comfortable with. Besides, a technologically advanced person is better able to handle rapid changes, which are bound to happen.
Also, unless and until we make entire generations familiar with technology there is little hope of bridging this divide, which plays a key role in the socio-economics of the country.
The writer <tezgaam79@ gmail.com> works for Dawn
