Week 9 - d) daily frustrations of a fictional neolddite at university now in the UK

The term 'Luddite' came from the Industrial Revolution. A luddite was against the shift from people to machines doing most of the work. From the 1970's the Neo-Luddite was born, these were people who were against the use of technology and sometimes even chose life without the use of technology altogether. Their even against the use of life supprt machines which i find really odd.

Anyways heres Jim. He attends university. Although it was extremely hard for him as applying for uni involved the use of UCAS on the computer. Anyways he's here and wants to get stuck in. His first day of uni is very difficult. He is unable to look at his timetable as it needs to be accessed by logging onto his lincoln account. So he has to walk to the faculty office and they are able to tell him.

He attends his first seminar, and gets along fine with everyone. He disapproves with the use of a powerpoint as an introduction but listen anyways. The tutor then asks the seminar to form a group and swap mobile numbers and email addresses. There's absolutely no way for Jim to put down anything as he's never used email before and doesn't approve of mobile phones. So he has to write down his address so that if someone wants him, they have to visit him, which doesn't humour the rest of his group very well and from the on feels shut out.

He obtains bad marks because he writes he handwrites his essays and when he's asked to do presentations, he stands in front of the class with a flip board and a few pens, trying to express his opinions, whereas is fellow students are able to produce a powerpoint, with video's and images. He is shut out from social events because they are all organised on Facebook or through text. He feels shut out from most aspects of university life and finally drops out.

Week 9 - c) A person known to you who most threatens the notion of native/immigrant in digital culture

Well i could stick to my Uncle who is 45 and is finds computers natural. Supposedely anyone who's born before 1980 aren't capable of using computers and are considered a 'digital immigrant'. However im a 'digital native' and i'm forever asking him to fix my computer, as i've managed to get a virus, or i ask if he can sort out my internet because i've lost my connection. I've been to him for computer advice more than i've been to Mcdonalds. I'm even able to talk to him on IM and he uses the same language as what i do, he doesn't have an 'accent' like Prensky explains. He is more like a digital native than i'll ever be. I'm still learning about computers and i should be fluent in technology according to Prensky.

Week 9 - b) The youngest digital immigrant you know

The youngest digital immigrant is my step dad. I would to say my younger brothers and prove Prensky wrong but my stepdad who is 39 is absolutely useless. Everytime i go home, he asks me to do something, like to even change his mobile phone ringtone or upload some photos onto the computer. Im sure my youngers brothers who are 9 and 10 would be able to tell him now. He is learning though and is now on facebook chatting away. He just isn't as capabable of using a computer as my uncle who is a couple of years older than him. Maybe it comes with the job, my uncle having to learn about computers because of work? Maybe not though cause i know loads of family members who can use computers and their jobs dont need the use of computers. Who knows.

Week 9 - a) The oldest digital native you know

the oldest digital native i know is my uncle, he is 45. His job is based around computers and works for the American Air Force. He says he cant tell me much about his work because its 'secret' ha, but i know that on a day to day basis he specialises in being an IT Technician. I know Prensky once stated that the young and old use computers different, but i think that that my uncle uses computers just the same as any other youngster. After work, he would be on the internet, chatting on IM, buying and selling things, scanning photo's onto his computer etc. So even though he uses computers for work, he also uses it for entertainment purposes too. He is quite capable of using computers and definately a digital native in my books.