-"In 1995, prophetic fifth graders predict Internet of the future" by Deborah Netburn, The LA Times
-Published on August 19, 2012 6:00 a.m.
In all of world's history there have been a huge amount of advancements that people have brought up. One of the largest advancements that people have created throughout the years is technology. From a simple cutting tool up to a device where you can do almost anything on, people have invented means for us to live a simpler, easier life. In 1995, a group of fifth graders, along with their teacher, created a video to let kids know about the Internet and how you can do so much on it. " 'By the time we are in college, the Internet will be our telephone, television, shopping center and workplace,' the kids say" (Deborah Netburn, The LA Times). It turns out these kids were able to predict the future correctly! The Internet IS all this to us and more. We can go on the Internet and find numbers to call, watch live shows and channels, shop through clothing sites, and have our own businesses through it. These kids make it seem like the Internet is possibly the best invention yet, but is it really? In 1995, the Internet was something new to children and to most of the world. It was not a huge part of their lives, and they used it only occasionally. Also, it was not as fast as today's Internet, and people were not as patient to sit and wait for hours until something came up. They simply checked what they needed to check and only sometimes did they use it for entertainment. The fifth graders in this video saw the Internet as a wonderful creation, but little did they know how much affect it has on us, 17 years later. The Internet has become part of our daily lives and one does not complete anything without it. We abuse this privilege we have. These kids were happy with what they had so far, and thought that when they transfer to college, the Internet will be good to them. They were right about what the Internet will become, but they did not know the truth about it being all that stupendous, or not. This video was put on YouTube years ago and made many years before that, and it just shows how predictable even a group of kids can be about the future, with all these technological advancements taking place.
Here is the video made by the "prophetic" fifth graders: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m4KZHDVWRE&feature=player_embedded
In the passage above you stated, "We abuse this privilege we have." and I agree with it one hundred percent. We do not appreciate these advancements which have and are taking place very quickly throughout these past few decades. Technology is advancing far to quickly for the people to keep up with, which scary to see what will happen in the coming twenty years.
ReplyDeleteAni, you made an excellent point by mentioning the speed of the computers compared from the times it was starting to become popular, up till now. I realize that because the Internet was not able to load contents as quickly as it is today, children used it minimally and spent more time outdoors, playing with other children, which kept them active. The speed of the Internet has greatly affected the way we function in this world, because of the fact of how dependent we have become on the information from the web rather than any other source. Scary how such young children in the past predicted such an enormous influence on our lives in the present!
ReplyDeleteI find it amazing that children of that age were able to make such an accurate prediction of the future! Not only has the Internet become much more advanced and faster, it is used each day of our lives for communicating with friends, homework, news, and shopping. And although at the moment it seems to us that technology cannot possibly become more advanced than it is now, this is just the beginning.
ReplyDeleteThe internet is truly amazing but it has positive and negative effects. The positive effects are that the internet can help one out with whatever is needed, and one can find whatever they want from the internet. But the internet can be negative as well, children are not as active as they could have been if the internet was not so popular. Also, the internet has become the main source for people to turn to, and books and newspapers have become outdated. Therefore I agree and disagree with one who thinks the internet is completely positive and one who thinks the internet I completely negative, there is most of the time two sides to every story.
ReplyDeleteEvery year, our internet speed and quality of technology, for computers, is advanced. I agree that this generation does, in fact, abuse the privilege of the internet. Most people do not fully understand that the internet is an amazing source that should not be taken advantage of or bypassed. The fifth graders that you mentioned were spot-on with their prediction; the internet has truly become a place to buy and sell, a place to work, a communication center, and a source of entertainment.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your argument, Ani. We come home and turn on our computers, laptops, or even our phones and start wasting our time doing nothing. If the internet were to spontaneously combust, I do not know what I would do with the rest of my life. You picked a good topic that we all have opinions on. Plus I think the video was awesome. I wonder where those kids are now...
ReplyDeleteI agree with your article. A day does not pass by without us sitting infront of the computer, communicating with the world. Technology has given society the oppurtunity to be more knowledgeable about the news that occurs throughout the world, and without the advancement of technology, we would not grow and advance.
ReplyDeleteWow it is amazing how a class of fifth grade children can predict a thing like the internet. Using the internet has been helpful in many ways and and has made it easy to recieve information on any topic. The children predicted the advancing of technology, but had no way of knowing what it would lead to. I do agree using the internet at all times is bad and can get you lazy, but it is also incredibly effcient. I agree with you to a certain extent, your summary was also intruiging to read.
ReplyDeleteI think it is amazing how a group of kids can actually predict something that we already have today. I agree with you too Ani; while the Internet is a great advantage to us, it also has its disadvantages. We go on the Internet so much and use it everyday, that we make it seem like our lives depend on it.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you, and also what everyone has commented. It truly is amazing how quickly technology could advance, but even quicker, it could become an actual part of our everyday lives. Even from when WE were in fifth grade, we have had many changes in technology. Back then, the Internet was not something we used every single day. Six years later, here we are, glued to our iPhones and laptops.
ReplyDeleteI love technology, but I think that everyone knows that, and I found this article to be completely true. Technology advances at such a rapid pace that it is very difficult for us to keep up with all of the changes to take place. I agree with the fact that even children as young as five and six are so involved in the use of technology that they are able to predict what the future will be like.
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