Introduction
Technology has revolutionized life in the whole world. Whether one is aged 100 years or 10 year, they have experienced some aspect of modern technology like receiving a phone call, undergoing some technologically-aided medical procedure, watching a live show on TV among others. In spite of such experiences being universal, there exist some major differences in absorption, use, dependence and creativity between Generation X (born 1965 -1980) and the Generation Y or Net generation (born after 1980) (Larry). Whereas people in Generation X were the first to use computer and are mostly computer literate, those in Generation Y cut their teeth on computers, the internet and video games.
There are some striking similarities between Generation X and Generation Y in the use and absorption of technology. Unlike the previous generations (The “Silent Generation” born before 1946 and the Baby Boomers Generation-born between 1945 and 1964), generations X and Y understand that it is inevitable for people to live without technology (Larry). Majority in the two generations are computer literate and result-oriented. They would for instance prefer electronic communication as opposed to arranging meetings or sending letters (Hartmann, Patrick and Joachim, 18). Michalakelis, Dimitris and Thomas note that both generations, there is a notable level of trust when these two generations use technology and there is minimal skepticism (543). Many people in previous generations are notably illiterate in many technology issues and view technology as a disruption to social order and an agent of moral corruption (Hartmann, Patrick and Joachim, 18).
Generation X and Generation Y both value time and rely on technology to enable them handle economic pressures. The two generations have little tolerance for time-intensive activities and prefer short meetings, video-conferencing, calls, texts and other technology platforms that can save time (Salkowitz, 24). The generations also demand minimal supervision from their bosses, personal time and value families all of which incorporate movements and communication that is aided by modern technology. Salkowitz, observes that Generations X and Y rely extensively on technology to do part-time jobs to enable them earn more and handle economic pressures (24).
There are significant differences between Generation X and Generation Y when it comes to dependence on technology. Whereas people in Generation X can do without certain privileges availed by technology such as social interactions, dating and entertainment among others, almost all people in Generation Y cannot do without technology (Latifi, 46). The average ages at which they start using computers and mobile phones is 3 and have learnt to send emails by the time they are in kindergarten. 3-year olds from the previous generation spent more of their time on playing with their peers in the fields while the current generation spends time playing online video games, sending instant messages among other technology-based engagements. As such there is massive and irreplaceable dependence on technology by the current generation as opposed to the previous generation.
The previous generation mostly uses technology for their work and other serious, non-social interactions (Michalakelis, Dimitris and Thomas, 544). The current generation uses technology for their work but mostly for social interactions. One is more likely to find a 24 year-old at work having opened his/her facebook page chatting with friends at work as opposed to a 40-year old. The 40-year old is more inclined to make a call or send a message to a friend if s/he wants to socially interact with a friend or a relative. The 24-year old will chat with the friend using coded, shortened and abbreviated messages, animations and other manipulated ways to communicate with his/her friend on social media while the 40-year old will approach use of social media more seriously if s/he will use it at all.
Since the 1960s to the early 1980s, technology gadgets such as computers, telephones, televisions, films among others were mostly used to reduce human effort and bring some level of comfort to human life (Latifi, 13). The generations that came up during the 1980s and afterwards have enjoyed numerous advancements in technology beyond the basics that were fundamentally relied on by those in Generation X. Today the mobile phone is more than a mere communication gadget; it is a powerful entertainment tool (games, music players, and video players), navigation tool (gps functionalities), security enhancing gadget (integration of house and car alarm systems), and informative tool (internet enabled capabilities). In other words, what was previously, a mere communication tool has evolved to become a highly important tool that performs many functions (Hartmann, Patrick and Joachim, 21). This creates more dependence in technology among the members of the current generation as compared to those of the previous generation.
In order to enable members of the previous generation to benefit more from advancements in technology, stakeholders in the technology industry need to simplify their platforms and usage of modern technology (Michalakelis, Dimitris and Thomas, 547). Makers of mobile phones can for instance come up with phones with similar capabilities to highly advanced phones such as the Samsung Galaxy4, but make it smaller, lighter, easier to handle or in a manner customized for people in the older generations. They can be more instructive so that they male it easier for people in older generations to use modern technology. In addition, they need to balance between usage of technology for social interactions and for business purposes so that they carry on board people from the previous generations who are more inclined to use technology for the latter reason.
I come from Generation Y and I am happy to belong to this generation. This is so because, besides technology enhancing my social interactions, I have used it to enhance my economic status by being able to meet with various businesspeople and strike deals online. Technology saves me plenty of time when I want to communicate with my friends and family regardless of distances and I feel that without it I would be a lonelier person.
Conclusion
Technology has revolutionized human life. Generation X (born 1965-1980) and Generation Y (born after 1980) have both benefited from technology but depend on it varyingly. People in both generations X and Y are very much computer literate and have embraced technology and its inevitability in modern life by for instance relying very much on electronic communication. They can also use technology to do part-time jobs. However, Generation Y is more dependent on technology for social interactions such as dating as compared Generation X that mostly uses technology for their work as compared to social interactions. The advancements in technological gadgets such as mobile phones from tools of mere communication has created wider generational gap between Generation Y and the previous generations. If technology stakeholders such as mobile phone manufacturers could make gadgets simpler, easier to use, more instructive and customized for all generations that could make other previous generations benefit more from technology.
Works Cited
Hartmann, Maren, Patrick Rössler, and Joachim R. Höflich. After the mobile phone? social changes and the development of mobile communication. Berlin: Frank & Timme, 2008. Print.
Larry, Rosen. Understanding the Technological Generation Gap. The National Psychologist. March-April 2004. Web. Feb. 7 2014 from http://www.csudh.edu/psych/tnp45.htm
Latifi, Shahram. Third International Conference on Information Technology, New Generations proceedings: April 10-12, 2006, Las Vegas, Nevada. Los Alamitos, Calif.: IEEE Computer Society, 2006. Print.
Michalakelis, Christos, Dimitris Varoutas, and Thomas Sphicopoulos. "Innovation Diffusion with Generation Substitution Effects." Technological Forecasting and Social Change 77.4 (2010): 541-557. Print.
Salkowitz, Rob. Generation blend managing across the technology age gap. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, 2008. Print.
