Digital Nation

“A Digital Nation” written and directed by Rachel Dretzin, examines the issue of technology in the modern world, and how it applies to various groups of people. The video begins with students at MIT, one of the most prestigious colleges in the whole world. They first talk to a professor who has been at MIT for over 20 years, and she discusses how she has seen the shift into technology in her students. She mentions that students today need almost constant stimulation, this being in contrast to students of the past who weren’t so tech. dependent. Next several students who are considered “chronic muli-taskers” are interviewed. The students say that their professors don’t give them enough credit, and they are phenomenal mulitaskers. But when put to the test by Professor Clifford Nass of Stanford, the students feeling of being able to multitask without losing efficiency in any area did not stand. Nass mentions “ multi-taskers are terrible at every aspect of multitasking” and adds “ they get distracted constantly.”

The video then takes a look at the internet problem in South Korea, and the shocking affect it is having on the youth. They start off with explaining how Asia, in a terrible financial state, had to re-vamp its economy and used a digital revolution to attempt to do so. South Korea is facing a gaming problem with its youth, as video arcades filled with computers are available 24 hours a day, all over the place. This may not sound like a legitimate problem, but kids have actually died and been injured from playing for too long without break for food or sleep, it is now considered a health crisis. A 3 year study commissioned by the South Korean government revealed that 90 % of children used the internet in their daily life 10-15% are in high risk category. To help battle this problem children as young as 3rd grade are being introduced to computers, but also being told how to use them and how not abuse them, this seems like a great step in the right direction. The video then shifts its focus to how technology is being employed into education. A child who goes to a private middle school and uses a laptop in every class is profiled. The mother of the child said “since he is going to be using computers for the rest of his life he might as well learn to use them in a school setting.” This is similar to the view South Korea is begging to take, and one I feel is positive.

“A Digital Nation” made it extremely clear that ours is an age of technology. They showed many positive and negative side-effects that technology can have, and that we both gain and lose certain important things. In my opinion, if we can present technology as a learning tool, as well as something for entertainment then we will see so many benefits. But having a balance between the two is the difference between a revolution and a crisis.