Confession Time.

I confess: I don't know my Wii from my Wi-Fi. I am what Urban Dictionary calls a "Digital Immigrant," someone who grew up before the digital age and is fairly new to the Internet - basically, anyone who is over the age of 28.

When I was growing up, I was the polar opposite to some people's stereotypical image of a geeky computer, technology and maths loving Chinese/Far East Asian person. Think creative dreamer with multi-coloured hair and you get the picture. Think creative dreamer with a few grey strands artfully disguised by my hairdresser and you get the picture of me now!

Trends & Technology Expert?!

With all this said, it was a nice surprise when I was appointed the Trends & Technology reporter for the new lifestyle section of my local newspaper, The Spotlight, where I already had my own blog. Coffee Mates is a window into my world as I navigate the challenges of being a woman, a non-American, a short person and a barely sane mother.

Rather than an expert's opinion, the Editor wanted an outsider's perspective on technology and with trends I had carte blanche - so phew and fantastic! To be fair on my abilities, I've worked hard to get competent with technology so I don't feel like a stranger in the modern world.

I Sound so Old!

Technologically speaking, it's a completely different world from when I was growing up in the 1970s and 1980s. I remember being in raptures over the latest Casio fx-350 scientific calculator, which my father brought back from Hong Kong in the late 1970s. I happily studied the operating small print and showed off my gadget to envious school friends. Now my circa late-1970s prize is considered "vintage," the domain of collectors and buffs and on sale on eBay for mere pennies, when it cost my father a substantial sum brand new.

I can imagine it's the same for kids today who drool over "Wii" video-game consoles or long for an IPod Touch portable media player or wait impatiently for their copy of the "Guitar Hero III" or "Pokémon Diamond and Pearl" video games. The only difference is the media environment.

I never thought I'd be the person who said, "In my day...," but, here goes: In my day, growing up in England, I had three and then four television channels to choose from. We didn't have a home computer and a mobile phone was a big block held to the ear by some character on a TV show. I didn't learn to use a computer until I was in my upper sixth form and first year of university, and then we learned basic programming.

It's a Different World.

Now kids are at ease with the proliferation of technology and multitask with different types of media, such as texting or uploading photos while watching television.

I've grown to love my computer; I have e-mail accounts, Google everything, read the news, shop and bank online, and write and chat on blogs.

For a digital immigrant like me YouTube, the video-sharing Web site, is a new discovery. My husband calls it his "new best friend" or his "jukebox," but we haven't even ventured into social networking Web sites like Facebook, MySpace or Bebo. I don't text on my cell phone; I rarely use IM (instant messaging - real time communication via the computer) to chat with friends, and I don't own a PDA (personal digital assistant).

E-mail, No Thanks, Texting is Where it's at!

A quick survey of friends (and my nephew at university) confirms their older children and young people in general use IM and text messaging in their daily lives. From what I've read in recent articles, young people text or use IM because of the efficiency and immediacy of response, and convenience of use during situations that require quiet. E-mail is described in such articles as "snail mail" or "so last millennium," full of spam and only used with parents or for school/university communication with people in authority.

Researchers argue that text messaging is a young person's way to respond to their environment with no evidence to show that it makes them introverted or unsociable. Although, other commentators think that use of text is an excuse to avoid personal communication - how convenient to end a relationship with a text message.

When it comes to text messaging, I'm like a child learning a new language, no different from my 4-year old son, who loves to play with the mouse and keyboard. He has no qualms about playing with new things while text messaging overwhelms me. I sure in a few years I'll be asking my son for technical advice.

Trying to decipher "text-speak" is a bit like that TV game show "Name That Tune" I watched in the 1980s. Name this text in one go: ROTFLOL. The translation is "Rolling on the floor laughing out loud."

"Text-Speak" - Does it Have to Appear in Everything?

While I understand the reasons for short text messaging from mobile phones, "text-speak" irritates me when it appears in e-mails and written communication unnecessarily or is inappropriate for the communication. However, from what I've read, it doesn't bother young people; they prefer expediency to proper grammar and spelling. A friend who is a professor at a university gets text messages in e-mails from her undergraduate students and "text-speak" appears in their essays and papers. As far as she's concerned, these are professional communication channels and give her a bad impression.

Have We Lost the Basics?

As a parent, I realize I need to be in touch with today's multimedia environment, even if it's not second nature to me. I don't want my children to accuse me of being ever so 20thCentury.

Of course, I can see the advantages of text messaging; I'm not arguing that we should return solely to pen and paper (although my fanciful imagination sees me sitting at a desk in a long white muslin gown writing her missives to her friends - think Jane Austen), but I do want young people to understand and connect to their rich written and spoken cultures when they use the new media.

In the case of British-born Chinese, who are more comfortable with English, this means a thorough knowledge of the basics - to be able to write a proper letter with pen and paper, and on the computer with good spelling and grammar before they rely on text message shorthand and to be able to have a real one-to-one conversation in the flesh before they use texting or IM as their primary modes of communication.

Letter Writing - A Lost Art.

When I met my husband, he was already living in the United States so we started with a long-distance relationship. Although we were computer literate, we actually wrote letters to each other with pen and paper. There was something exciting about receiving an envelope every few days with a handwritten address on the front and an overseas stamp, and within it a beautiful gift of words. Letters signify the writer had taken the time and energy to think about the words and meanings - unique in today's "I want it yesterday" world. And I treasure those letters; a legacy I can hand down to my children.

The Digital Divide.

Under-28s could argue that I don't understand their world and the mental abilities needed to use this new media. Perhaps they have a point. Certainly, I realize young people can multitask well with different media, but I question whether they lose depth of context in favour of a superficial overview.

Young people could say my issues come from a digital divide that separates the different generations. Thus, while the older generations grapple with new technology and value personal conversation and professional, properly written communication, the under-28s dive straight into media multitasking and value expediency over correctness.

I certainly don't want to go back to the Dark Ages, but I think I make some valid points about the pros and cons of our technological reality.

Your Views.

Am I the only one to feel like this? I would love to hear from you if you have similar concerns and, especially, if you're a young person (under 28) reading this article and think I've got it totally wrong. Please share your views below or email me at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

Susan S. Cheung

P.S. Thanks to my nephew, Yu-Ting, for adding street cred to my piece by telling me what's hot and what's not in the UK and, also, Linda in the UK and my friends in the US, who surveyed their older children and extracted and deciphered their answers for me.

 

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linda lau - confessions of a digital immig Posted 12:15 on 27 March 2008 as someone who has lived through the technological and digital age (now in my fantastic 40s!), i can empathize with your views. i remember when i first started as a cadet journalist in malaysia, i had to write my articles on a manual typewriter with carbon paper. then i moved on to an electric typewriter, a word processor, a pc and the height of my techno cred in the 90s...a Canon notebook computer with inbuilt printer. I still have my Compaq notebook which i bought cash with my first big paycheque in the early 90s. my children call it 'jurassic'! now i have a PDA (very useful with a Tom Tom satellite navigator), a Macbook and an iPhone! but wading through the conundrum of technology hasn't been easy because i have been a full-time mum for the last 10 years. i struggled to keep up-to-date with all the jargon and lingo, all the buttons and dongles and what have you. i did a part-time course in Quarkxpress (industry standard page layout sortware) and taught myself Indesign and Illustrator just so that i can keep my skills current. Not being out there in the workplace has also contributed to my sense of tech inadequacy. having two boys between the age of 8 and 10 who are techno-savvy and have absolutely no fear have kept me on my toes! text-speak as written language, however, leaves me in despair. convenience language has its place but not in everyday usage; just like convenience food is for the odd occasion but not for staple. Reply | Quote

Susan S. Cheung Posted 11:31 on 29 March 2008 Dear Linda, Thank you for sharing your experiences with life and with technology. I say bravo to how far you have come with technology and keeping competent with hardware and software. I am of the same generation as you and I often feel that I struggle with "new fangled" things much like my mother and mother-in-law did with operating a VCR and using a cash machine/ATM! But I feel I need to keep in contact and competent with technology because I know my children will be tech savvy before too long and I need to know what they are doing online and be completely aware of the dangers for children on the Internet. And also for my own confidence. Reply | Quote

Tommy - It's not generational Posted 16:59 on 6 April 2008 An interesting article, although I'd have to disagree with that the digital divide is generational. I think it's more to do with how willing individuals are to adapt to change, regardless of their age. You only have to look at all the people who developed the technologies everyone uses today - most of them are over 28. And from a personal point of view, both my parents, who are in their 60s, use the Internet regularly and they also enjoy playing computer games. As for the usual assertions regarding the decline in English, I remember the linguist David Crystal saying that language is like a wardrobe of clothes. There are times when you dress formally and there are times when you dress casually. The key is not correctness, but having a wardrobe which allows you to choose what is appropriate for a particular occasion. And lets face it, people have different views over what is appropriate for different occasions. Reply | Quote

Susan S. Cheung - It's not generational Posted 22:31 on 6 April 2008 Hi Tommy, Thanks for taking the time to comment on my article and for sharing your thoughts. To a certain extent, I agree with your point that the digital divide can transcend generations. For some, it can be about the willingness of individuals to adapt and change regardless of age. Take my parents for example, my father only learnt how to use a computer in his early 60s and now he uses it daily and we speak via webcam. However, my mother like many of her generation is petrified of technology. I can see how it is very daunting for her - even for some of us in our late 30s, 40s and 50s. It's become a young person's world. My mum is scared of using the VCR, ATM machine and doesn't even answer her mobile phone that often. And she won't go near a computer. I like the analogy of choosing an appropriate dress for a particular occasion to describe language use. My argument is that it's still appropriate to be professional in a business setting, speaking as a manager, and that means it's inappropriate to see "text speak" in formal letters or business communication via email, and basic grammatical mistakes in correspondence that spellcheck doesn't pick up. You speak of people having different views of what's appropriate for different occasions. While it's still the norm to be professional in a business setting, I think people do themselves a disservice to be so casual in all situations with their communication. Obviously, text speak is great in short messages via mobile phones, and of course you can be friendly in emails if you have a well-established professional relationship with the person. I'm not against technology at all, I use it every day, but I think that we forget the foundations and basics of good communication in our 24/7 high tech, mobile and expedient world. Reply | Quote

Mogwaiyung - textspeak Posted 22:07 on 7 April 2008 Hi Susan have you eaten rice yet? (Thats the first thing my parents always no matter where I am) Anyway,I think we all try and use correct diction if we can, but not everyone has undergone hardcore english schooling, me included. One only has to scan the comments of Dimsum to notice the numerous grammatical errors and unconventional wording, but that is not a bad thing because it feels right and raw. Thinking more deeply for a sec, I also think using language precisely can suggest an intellectual superiority, it may be appropiate in CVs, exams or in business corporate context. Putting my critical cap on, it can imply an elitist conservative attitude, a need for order and discipline haha that why young rebels don't like it! I still use txtspk informally with likeminded friends its quicker and suggests the my mood more appropiately; it s also more fun to speak like that, I have a list of canto-txt-speak lingo, including a few rude words that would be inappropiate to mention the family show here. Heycumseen :P Reply | Quote

Susan S. Cheung - textspeak Posted 1:34 on 8 April 2008 Hi Mogwaiyung, Thank you for asking, we have just eaten dinner. Thanks for sharing your views from a younger person. I think new technology, IM and text speak is great and highly appropriate for social networking (the rawness of language can be very emotive and reflects the here and now); also appropriate for quick messages in business on the go and between friends. I quite understand the need for speed and efficiency - after all why do you need to call 20 people to confirm a meeting point when you can text them. And I understand the freedom for young people in using the new technology. I'm not saying we should use high-brow words in communication, just an appropriate communication for the situation. We should use language to the best of our ability when there is a need to be professional (and it is within the capabilities for those of us who have gone through the majority of our schooling in the UK), and for etiquette purposes, such as a properly worded thank you letter, etc. Unfortunately, the world of work still revolves around business formality, structures and practices (can be seen as elitist to some). Until these are changed into different business models, the casualness that some people use on a regular basis will be seen in a negative light. Reply | Quote

Anonymous Posted 20:57 on 15 April 2008 I am reminded by the recent speeches from the Democrat campaign particularly when words like "bitter" and "elitist" are contested. Does it sound a bit patronizing? Reply | Quote

Ben Lincoln - New Media Cultures Posted 17:47 on 11 August 2008 Hey there I'm a 21 year old student at the University of Lincoln, UK. We don't all want wii's and I think we all still appreciate a good old fashioned face to face conversation. I would be regarded as a digital native though and to be honest I am one! But we don't all cut down our language to text talk and in fact I don't even have a phone! Well I do have a housephone to be fair but they've been around for ages! I also don't sit in on computer games but I do love my Facebook! (and overuse exclamationmarks too apparently) Anyways there was something on the news the other day about a university lecturer arguing that shortened words like you would text with should be accepted in assignments as correct as he was fed up with correcting them!!! I thought it was totally crazy and I'm sure the bloke has lost a lot of credibility from announcing that! I don't think you sound old anyways and in fact I admire people that have had to learn as a digital immigrant as it's clearly harder than being bought up with it all so well done :D Reply | Quote

Susan S. Cheung - New Media Cultures Posted 20:57 on 28 August 2008 Hi Ben, Thank you for sharing your views as a digital native and putting things into perspective. I'm not trying to lump all young people together as obsessed multi media users and it's heartening to know that you believe in old fashioned conversation. There something very human and powerful about a one-to-one conversation or group discussion, be it serious or just a chat. Many great ideas have bounced off from people's brainstorms. I agree it's far too easy to give in to shortened text in assignments. I think langauge is organic and develops and changes, but for me it would be a sad day to see a formal letter with words spelled like UR! Thank you for acknowledging I'm trying to deal with new media technology. I think it's great, but I need more time to digest and use. And I'm in awe of my 5-ear old son who can pick up the mouse and click, point, drag and drop like a pro! Susan Reply | Quote

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