Discuss work, or the weather, and you're fine. You're normal.
Discuss computers, technology, and gadgets, and you're a geek.
Normally, I wouldn't be so bothered by this, except current trends continue to move technology more and more into the mainstream. Things like processors, graphics cards, and intelligent software are pretty much staples of every day life in North America. But discussing these day-to-day pieces of technology elicits little more than blank stares most of the time. It's all geek to most people.
This bothers me for two reasons:
1) Almost every person has or will at one point, rely on computers to accomplish something. The amount of understanding people require to use a computer is surprisingly spartan, but instead of pushing for education, trends are moving to greater levels of obfuscation - actually hiding the machinery behind the scenes, and presenting technology as something people can use without any understanding of how it functions. You don't need me to tell you that using something with no inkling of how it actually does its job is bad.
2) I actually like technology, and I dislike having a conversation about what I do, where I have to use grade 6 language to spell it out. Everyone who uses a computer should know what a processor, RAM, and an operating system does for them. I've yet to meet someone who drives a car and doesn't know how gas, oil, and temperature are factors in their cars correct operation. I'm completely blown away by how two pieces of technology can go in so completely different directions in the public mind. Almost everything about cars is common knowledge. Everything about computers remains techno-mumbo-jumbo. Smoke and mirrors behind swirling veils of conspiracy.
I'd like, one day, to be able to tap my watch to answer a telephone call. I'd like to be able to access the internet anywhere on the planet earth. But these are all just geek-think for this guy. Trying to explain how it would all work to other people usually just results in a blank stare, a "yeah, whatever," or a "I love my Apple."
Computers are, bar none, the single most powerful piece of intellectual and communication technology available to human kind right now. We might as well start treating them as such.
3 comments:
This is all true.
Though, you might actually be surprised at the number of people who don't know what oil does for a car and so on.
Truth is, a lot (most?) people don't give a shit how something functions, just that it does and serves them...which is kind of sad...but that's our world.
Hey now, I love my Apple AND know at least a little bit about computers.
But I get what you're saying. I have a vague idea of what oil does for my vehicle. Enough so that given a multiple choice test I could likely ace it, though I couldn't intelligently discuss the topic.
There is nothing wrong with liking Apple.
That said, Apple is one of those companies pushing for the obfuscation that I mentioned. They'd rather you use their stuff because "it works," rather than making the effort to explain why.
A good example: after nearly a month of bad press, the iPad is now publicized as a holy grail that will make technology accessible to the layman.
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