Change

Change seems to be the topic of choice lately. After all, we are living in times where technology shows no sign of slowing its pace of innovation with promises of machines so powerful, few of us can imagine the culture that will receive them. I attended a workshop recently on “digital natives,” that group of young folks born with laptops and iPods in hand. One message delivered was that information is being sought through video or audio more frequently than not. People would rather view a video clip to remind them how to “cast off” when they take up their knitting project again than read about it. And many would rather listen to a bestseller.

I don’t intend to debate the good or the bad in all this, but to reflect on a few related questions. Why are we so protective of our own experience? Cursive writing is no longer taught in many schools so most everyone prints these days. Is it even necessary to teach people how to write by hand? After all, keyboards communicate the same message, and young adults 25 and under rarely Email anymore, they text. Phones are on hand in greater numbers than computers and pen and paper for that matter.

The paper news industry is drying up. People would rather check Online for their news; it’s more current, cheaper and environmentally responsible. The same writing appears on the wall for the printed book industry as well; digital book publishing is in full swing.

And with that last one I have to groan with fear that in a flash, centuries of knowledge could be lost. Already, we approach an age where thought and correspondence will not outlive their originators. Who keeps old Emails? How will future generations retrace their history or build on prior knowledge? More importantly, who will own knowledge in the future? The man with the “key” to the power plant?

Still, I can’t help but recall the historical initial resistance to the first mechanically printed books. And how did people overcome the fear of writing down traditional story in the first place as opposed to preserving it orally? If you no longer had to memorize and “tell,” it would be forgotten eventually, and you would be at the mercy of the scribes. What if they did not preserve it accurately?

I do not believe the evolution of technology will be governed.

And I am troubled by the fact that on a recent visit to one of our national parks, there were no digital natives sharing a picnic meal with their families under the shade of mountain trees or playing in the golden afternoon sun.