All Gas, No Brakes.

The digital divide is defined as, “the economic, education, and social inequalities between those who have computers and online access and those who do not” (Merriam-Webster). It can vary from country to country, city to city, to even our next-door neighbors. Although we live in a technologically advanced country, not everyone has the same accessibility to the digital world.  The Affordable Connectivity Program was created in 2021. It helped enroll qualifying households with a $30 monthly credit toward broadband service. The program also sells laptops, tablets, and computers at a low cost. However, there is still the issue of not having the funds to be able to purchase the devices. Libraries can be a great free asset to solve both issues if someone has access to one.    Digital inclusion would allow more people to have access to digital literacy, jobs, and online learning/school. But how do we close the gap? Wolske notes that “digital inclusion and equity is more than an ...

Passwords, passcodes, facial recognition, and touch ID. These are all examples of ways to protect ourselves from not only the cyber world but from real-life personal invasions as well. These, among many others, are our first line of defense against hackers and unauthorized access to our personal information. When creating a password, there are often set criteria that must be met for it to be considered “strong”. 8-12 characters, at least one uppercase letter, numbers, and one special character. But with the advancement of hackers, malware, and viruses, how can we ensure that we are protecting ourselves to the best of our ability?   In Demystifying Technology, it’s stated that “depending on the technology being used, it’s possible that as we observe our own or others’ uses of the technology, our behaviors are shaped by the choices being made in that use. And it may be that we begin shaping our choices to further shape behavior.” (Wolske, page 55). AI (artificial intelligence) is inc...

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to technology and technological advancements. The end goal may be the same for everyone, but the journey there can be substantially different.  When I was 19, one of my best friends was in a near-fatal accident. He is now paralyzed from the waist down and has limited mobility with his hands. At the time, he felt that he had lost all of his independence and would never be able to do anything by himself. Technology was a great way for all of us to adapt and remind our friend that no matter the situation, he is still his own person and does not have to be entirely dependent on others.  With the accessibility of iPhones, we are able to text, Facetime, and call each other with ease by utilizing dictation. Mario Toboso states that there are different models when it comes to disability. There is medical, social, and diversity. Each model challenges the way that we look at disabilities to find ways to intertwine and "contribute to socie...

Technology is a great implement to utilize when it comes to time management. It can help one manage their schedules, to-do lists, appointments, events, appointments, etc. There are numerous applications out there, and you can find one that works best for you, depending on what you want to use it for. Some applications integrate with each other as well. For example, I use the calendar on my iPhone. If I receive an even through an email or text, I’ll get a pop-up that automatically allows me to add it to my calendar. When I’m working, I use Outlook to manage meetings and events with my team. We’ll send out “events” that you can either accept or deny and based off of the selection, it will be added to the calendar. I used to always use my planner and at times, I do miss being able to physically write down reminders for myself. However, my planner was not something I always had with me, unlike my phone. Having all my scheduled events at my fingertips gives me the ability to not overboo...

Critical thinking is the process of analyzing and applying information, demanding “a high level of concentration because it requires logic, clarity, and independent thinking.” Stone, M. (2014). In  Own your education!: A student's guide to greater success in school (and life) . essay, Pearson Education. It’s a methodical method we utilize in all parts of our day-to-day life, from deciding what will be for dinner, to what that underlying sound is from our car to what job career path we want to take.  Being able to see the bigger picture is something can set the foundation for where your life goes. This is also important when it comes to IT – you must be able to have a clear understanding of cause and effect.   When applying for a job in tech, there are many different directions you can go, depending on what your interests are. By using critical thinking skills, you can narrow down what would be best for you. In YouTube. (2022).  Choosing the Best Tech Career for...

Growth is both necessary and essential in our ever-changing world. It is a driving force in the way that we live and knows no boundaries.  The iPhone 14 was released recently, and specific models have a new trademark called Dynamic Island. It's an interactive feature that allows you to see notifications and alerts. When the first iPhone was launched in 2007, I doubt that they decided that that would be their final product. Over the last 15 years and through supply and demand, Apple has been able to make "an accurate assessment of what’s being asked, including the time and resources required and any issues or concerns"  Stone, M. (2014). In  Own your education!: A student's guide to greater success in school (and life) . essay, Pearson Education. Great ideas do not happen overnight and take time.  FaceTime was introduced in 2013 and drastically changed the way that people could communicate with each other. In 2018, Group FaceTime came into play and played a huge role ...

I am first generation. Both of my parents migrated to America in their late teens with close to nothing. Growing up, we didn't have much but we always had enough, which included a boxy tv and a purple home phone.  Now that I have kids of my own, their upbringing looks much different. We have a tv in every room, the girls have phones that they play on, and they have tablets. My 8 year old daughter just asked me for a laptop for Christmas so she can practice typing.  I believe that technology does help children learn how to make decisions and problem solve. Educational games have helped my kids flourish in ways that are fun instead of mundane. With appropriate boundaries, I believe children can benefit in ways that were not available to many of us when we were younger.  However - I also believe in limits. Screen time is only for a set amount of time and all phones are put away an hour before bed time. In-person socialization is very important so my kids will go outside ever...