1. How, if at all, have any of the three technologies impacted the ways in which you learn new information?
I think the technology that helps me learn new information the most is the first of my choices (music recorders and/or players). Any technology related to these things has helped me learn and advance so much not just with specific songs or pieces, but also with also with things like how music works, the fundamentals, how it’s created, how to recreate it and so on. Learning through music this way has also helped me learn a variety of historical aspects of music as well since having actual examples of history to experience does so much more for the mind than just reading a text about it. Sure, I love my computer as much as the next person and it certainly has helped me learn in other ways, but I think my computer is more of a device that helps me expand upon things that I have already learned elsewhere (unless, of course, I am actually listening to a recording on my computer). For example, I use my computer to write my papers, but I did not learn to write from my computer, I just use it to facilitate my writing. As for my phone, I really only use that for personal conversation whether it be text messaging someone or actually speaking to them on the phone (and maybe the occasional level or two or angry birds).
1. What are the similarities and differences between your uses of those 3 most influential technologies as compared to the uses of technologies among the young people from these 2 videos?
During these two videos I found quite a few similarities between the student speakers and myself. One major connection I felt was from the first video with Olivia and how she would create MySpace’s for her friends that did not know how to make them. This reminded me very much of myself when I was younger as I often teaching myself how to make intricate profiles on different networking sites, and was often asked by friends to make theirs for them. Not surprisingly, I also felt a connection with all the students that mentioned how music and technology related to it (i.e. the student who wanted his iPod glued to him, and the student who was experimenting with music recording) because I also integrate music in all technologies I own.
Some things I feel are different between my connection to technologies and the students that were in these videos is the idea that the things I love would cease to continue if my technologies were to disappear. Although I would be completely devastated (for a while anyway) if someone were to rip everything from me, O believe in my heart that I would manage to continue on with music and other hobbies that I enjoy. I completely condone using technology to its full advantage in any context, but I don’t think anyone who has a passion for something should ever see technology as the life support for that hobby.
