The Google Generation

THE CLAIMS

Google Generation show a preference for visual information over text ……………………………………………………..

Google Generation want a variety of learning experiences …………………………………………………………………………

Google Generation Have shifted decisively to digital forms of communication ………………………………………………

Google Generation‘Multitask’………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Google Generation are impatient and have zero tolerance for delay …………………………………………………………..

Google Generation find their peers more credible as a source of information than authority figures ………………..

Google Generation need to feel constantly connected to the web ……………………………………………………………….

Google Generation learn by doing rather than knowing ……………………………………………………………………………

Google Generation prefer quick information in the form of easily digested short chunks rather than full text ……Google

Generation have a poor understanding and lack of respect for intellectual property……………………………Google

Generation are format agnostic ……………………………………………………………………………………………

For the Google Generation, virtual reality may be as real as the real experience

Peter Williams and Ian Rowlands

Freedom of Information, Wikileaks and the public

After watching a documentary on Wikileaks, I thought I built my own stance on the issue. To those who don’t know what Wikileaks is, its is a non-profit organization interested in publishing private, classified content concerning governments. That’s the cold, official explanation of who they are. But its far more than that, they started as a group of hackers, where they used their skills to gaine classified information, and publish them on the internet. The huge scandal exposed by Wikileaks, was the American invasion ofIraq, when a soldier Braddely Manning released media content to Wikileakes, consequently shedding light on American soldiers killing innocent civilians for fun. The case was huge, and Wikileaks became a new journalistic super-hero to the world, where they advocate transparency and free flow of information. Other than the heroic part about Wikileaks and Julian Assange’s sexual misconduct charges, I want to discuss the concept of freedom of information. The concept of why are you hiding something, is a strong argument here.  Some argue that, in order to establish the perfect government, policy-makers and officials should believe in transparency and allow free flow of information. On the other hand, in our times, the deep, complex structure of political systems must be preserved. I mean, this is the government, whether good or bad, they must have classified data that shouldn’t be public. I know this might sound wrong, but concealing information from the public is better than publishing it.

                                                                                     

Now media outlets are hungry for information, once they grasp something, panic is all over the world, conspiracy theories are brought up and eventually the truth is lost again. Concealing information may serve the public. And even Wikileaks methods of gaining leaked documents are illegal and unethical. I remember during the revolution El Hayat Channel aired between segments the following statement: “Wikileaks documents verify that high Qatari officials met with Isreali prime minister”. This was a cheap move to turn people against Al-Jazzera. So the word Wikileaks now is being used to support any conspiracy theory. To conclude, I believe that some information must be concealed from the public for National Security. It feels like I’m Mubarak when I say this, maybe I’m wrong.

Link for a Wikileaks documentary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvmfOaZ34Pk

Google is making you stupid!

Surprisingly, I’ve been always thinking about the internets vast information database in relation to our minds. This issue always grabbed my attention; in my history classes I always tried to imagine the process of knowledge in relation to time and technology. Although, the internet may seem the perfect source for information, its not. In a very-insightful article, Nicolas Carr, explores the effect of Google culture on us. The writer argues that Google and the internet generally changed our way of processing information. As to start, I’ve been writing and thinking about the internet for some time now. It’s amazing, but its not what we think it is. The process of reading itself has changed; the deep, calm, meditative reading no longer exists online. Even on another level not mentioned in the article, before the internet, people used to go through a long process of looking for information. I mean through reading a lot and researching, you are knowledgeable about the issue through the process of seeking information. But by Google, you get the minimum precise information without gaining anything from the process.

The bright white light from your screen is incomparable to reading a book anywhere. What I’m trying to say is, information now belongs to global ‘fast-food’ culture. The new think before you talk, is GOOGLE before you Tweet. Maryanne Wolf is mentioned in the article, “We are not only what we read, we are how we read” the process of reading online definitely changed our way of thinking. We process information faster, lose concentration and create a new self online. Another interesting thought I found in the article, the “abstract framework of divided time” became “the point of reference for both action and thought.” Think about this for a second, before the creation of ‘time’, we weren’t able to divide actions and thoughts; relating the concept of time in early times to the internet now. Is it because we were born in ‘time’ we act upon it? I mean we develop according to our environment, and now it’s the internet. So change exists. Is it for the better?

A fresh perspective on the digital world…

After spending a week in Sinai, in isolation, with the least amount of technology, I found out something new. New is the perfect word to describe it, a new perspective to life and accordingly to the digital world. By isolating ourselves from our regular lives, we are allowing new ideas, thoughts and energies to be absorbed into us. In simpler words, technology builds a wall between humans and nature. The easy smooth life of the city seems too difficult. There, I find myself. Although life in the city seems easy and at the desert harsh, its not. At Sinai I found happiness in the least. Minimal technology, less people, more of Gods perfect creations and extreme happiness. Its hard to explain, but we underestimate the power of technology. In less than a minute I see my friends, chat with some, browse some links and videos, and check world news. This is the digital world, the fast food culture dominating our world. Fast, fast, fast everything in maximum speed. It feels like we tend to incorporate ourselves into the digital era. I mean, it’s not about spending time on your computer or television, but being aware of this time. We are living a digital life, through the internet we can see, find and gather information, but not knowledge. Technology changed our way of thinking and behavior, the process of seeking knowledge is absent. It seems like technology and nature will always clash. Nature is God’s creation; it’s beautiful, timeless and perfect. As for technology its human’s creation, imperfect and definitely worldly. Accordingly, balance between both is the most important, between the digital and the natural worlds.

peace

Stop Rumors!

For a film class, we decided to work on an idea about the word “Bey2ollak”. Which literally means ‘someone said’, the film communicates our need to stop spreading rumors. So stop spreading rumors.

 

Shokran Merci.

The Internet in Society: Empowering or Censoring Citizens?

During this crucial time, democracy and internet are closely related. This video offers an insightful look on Internet and politics in societies,  illustrating how internet actually changes, effects and monitors societies.

Just Watch it!

Egyptian-ness

Although to me, the revolution was more bout Egyptians than politics. Each and every day I’m proud of myself and my new country. The past month wasn’t just a political revolution, but a celebration, a liberation of our Egyptian-ness.

And yes this is a word!