Digital_Nation

Tonight we watched the PBS Frontline special called “Digital_Nation, Life On The Virtual Frontier”. We found it fascinating and thought provoking. We had recorded it on our DVR. From time to time during the hour and a half program we paused it in order to pop on the internet and look something up. To say we were self aware would be an understatement; self conscious would be more accurate. In my own defense, I did refrain from Tweeting during the broadcast!

The program highlighted many positive aspects of how we are increasingly connected to each other via technology. The most troubling aspect of the show was their discussion of technology, especially video games, as addictions. But the most fascinating segment was the early research which shows that folks who multi-task excessively with technology aren’t absorbing information in the ramped up, super-efficient way they think they are. Stanford Professor Clifford Nass said: “We have not yet found something that [multitaskers] are definitely better at than people who don't multitask.”

Uh oh...