Strange Places We Walk
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I’m experiencing the Digital Divide, redux. What I’m discovering this time around, however, is that there’s no “right side” of the divide.
I’ve taken technologies like Voice over IP and virtual worlds for granted. They’re things that have become obvious to me, simple conventions that I use to get things done and extend myself with. Words like “immersionism” and “engagement” are part of my daily lexicon. I’m discovering, however, that even the word “avatar” isn’t really as universally understood as I might have thought.
An old friend from a few years back got in touch recently. We used to hang out every day. She’s working at a temp job coordinating volunteers, but hoping to move into a company doing some really cutting-edge stuff with biofuels in third world countries. Her kids sound like they’re doing real well these days and she’s still with the same guy after all this time, so that’s a good sign. Winter’s already rolled in up where she lives, and she’s excited about the snow. She always did love the cold.
It was all going really well but then she asked me what I do for a living. Suddenly I realized I could barely even begin to explain myself.
“I work in these things called ‘virtual worlds’. Specifically, I help businesses find their feet in them. Oh, right, well a ‘virtual world’ is a ‘place’ where you… ah…”
After babbling on for a few minutes she kindly told me that while it all sounded fascinating, she didn’t understand a word I said. I couldn’t blame her.
It gets much worse. Last night I went to a friend’s birthday party. Lots of old friends, a few new ones, and a few people I didn’t know. They all seemed to want to know what I did for a living these days. “I… uh… I’m a writer. Basically. Well, also I produce a lot of live events too. And there’s some consulting work… in… well, in these things called ‘virtual worlds’.”
I take a sip from my beer and look around the room, hoping to be interrupted by one of the more drunk guests. No such luck. Part-way through my description of what I do one of the fascinated (drunk) guests tells me she doesn’t even own a computer because she doesn’t have a use for one.
She doesn’t even own a computer. She… seriously? Really? Not even just for Facebook?
The next morning I mull all of this over an Alka-Seltzer eye opener. These people that I’ve been speaking to over the last few days are smart, happy, and in no way living lives that are any less vibrant than mine.
You know, years ago I used to tell my friends about “the Internet”. “You’ve got to check it out! It’s this worldwide network of computers that you can use to interact with people all over. It has ‘Usenet newsgroups’ where everyone can contribute to one huge discussion, share files, and work together on things! I’ve been able to meet some incredible people on ‘IRC’, this big chat program. Oh, and I have what’s called an ‘e-mail address’, which is incredible because your letter will get to the person you’re sending it to right away…”
“Uh, yeah, whatever. So are we playing DnD tonight?” Even my geekiest friends couldn’t care less.
Of course message boards and instant-messaging are all old news now. Web 2.0 came, the bubble burst, and now all anyone can think about is how foolish they were to miss out on the big opportunities that were around back then. So here we are, surfing the bleeding edge, determined not to miss the “next big thing”. We’ve found it. Virtual worlds, augmented reality, and life-logging are going to change the world. There’s no fooling us this time, and no convincing us that it’s just a fad. We are on top of this.
There’s only one problem: some people still couldn’t care less. While we’re out there on the “next big thing”, they’re doing just fine without any of that nonsense. They’ll use whatever technology they’re stuck with at work, but that’s it. When it comes time to clock out for the day they’ll just stay offline while the rest of us fall all over ourselves with how edgy and awesome our gadgets are.
What really strikes me about it is that this new digital divide that’s forming is one of choice, rather than economics or physical access. We of the virtual worlds are choosing to travel there, and others never will. Some may never in their entire lifetimes create avatars. To me that seems like a downright bizarre thought; that there be a person on planet Earth who could ride this wave but chooses not to.
That wave must seem equally bizarre to them.
December 1st, 2007 at 10:14 pm
It isn’t so bad - try saying everything you said in a country that has 12% internet penetration and Content management systems are finally coming into demand.
That’s my life.
December 2nd, 2007 at 8:11 am
Wow, I hadn’t thought about that. We’re weird.
December 2nd, 2007 at 8:26 am
Heh, I agree with Nobody, even if we have a slightly higher internet penetration in the country I am living in nowadays (A former Eastern Block state).
Still, e-commerce is slowly picking up, I seriously doubt Social Web will really get here, though (people prefer things to other people outside the family/village circle), and one day my father-in-law may learn how to use an ATM. Perhaps.
Sometimes Second Life is not just a place for meeting others in my “old environment” (Urban, European IT-consultants at the forefront), but a lifeline to sanity. ;p
December 2nd, 2007 at 9:04 am
It’s funny how similar experiences with professional audiences don’t phase me, but with friends and family, I feel .. the need to explain myself, defend my choices. In front of an audience I’m matter of fact - this is really happening, it really is beneficial, it really is the next version of the net. With friends, though, it is as if their incredulity and blank looks makes me question myself more.
And yes, it bothers me too that in many case, it isn’t a socio-economic divide or lack of access, but I’m not _quite_ sure I would agree it’s one of choice. I think I’d argue it’s uninformed choice. Many people “choosing” not to participate really don’t understand the potential benefits. I think if they did, they would choose differently.
But maybe not, and that baffles me. Like Sin, sometimes I have to remind myself that the twittersphere and SL and all the people using them really do exist, I’m not just some lunatic.
December 2nd, 2007 at 3:34 pm
I had a similar experience yesterday; I took my 11-yr-old son to a birthay party. The parents there were IT managers, computer scientists, educators, and assorted spouses. Only the educators had heard of SL at all (and seemed interested in discussing it). One person ran a university PC lab that used several generations of technology (they just got rid of cassette tapes!), and SL seemed to be a likely candidate for updating some of the lab’s interactive features.
I usually end up feeling *really* out there when bringing up SL in a social setting, even among tech-savvy peers. Still, I feel compelled to describe its capabilities and potential. I suppose the Internet seemed equally bizarre (and irrelevant) 10 years ago.
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:03 am
Eleven years ago in Sweden, Miss Ines Uusman said: Internet is just a passing fad. I don’t think people in the future want to spend all that time it actually takes to surf the net.
At the time, she was the Minister responsible for IT related matters.
I think she still hears that, from time to time, poor woman.
Fleep, as for the reason, I think it’s a hard nut to crack. Variables affect variables, as we know. Socio-economic reasons influence choices, that one’s easy. People here have the money to get the hardware (and they have it. Their kids play computer games on it), their English is at least reasonably decent to get by.
But they have no tradition of looking past the village’s or little town’s border, lest alone the nation’s. You go abroad for the beaches, but home is home and our food is normal food, not that strange kind they have abroad.
When I worked with EU’s project eInclusion 2010, we had workshops in Brussels, trying to pinpoint this. A Greek colleague said they had big troubles with creating an e-governement, since people were not interested. They rather watched telly or sitting in the cafes.
Ok, feels like I am rambling here, but I think that “spark”, to be interested in discovering something that is beyond your (current) horizon can only be ignited by yourself. Yes, you are right, they don’t see the potential benefits. Not for them. And maybe it is so simple that even if they saw them, they’d dismiss them as not being benefits they want anyway?
Once upon a time, in my naive youth, I thought everyone would want to learn (not an education, learn). But on my way I have met many persons that actually actively, albeit perhaps unconsciously, tried to avoid situations where they risked learning something.
For me, that concept is still utterly alien. But I still meet them.
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:56 am
I’ve tried explaining to people what I do for a living. It.. well, charitably speaking, it doesn’t work.
I’m thinking I’d be better off if I told people that I was an indentured glass-miner or an underwater welder.
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:09 am
When asked what I do.. I don’t even begin… I move in a world where Managing directors have their email printed out by their secretaries, where a good website is one that has cost less than $500 and this is THE UK! at 51 years of age I am a freak in the social groups I mix… “wow… you have your own website… why?” so when I am asked what do you do… I tell them I am in sales… they soon shut up
December 6th, 2007 at 7:12 am
Oh how I love all you wonderful and wierd virtual explorers - thanks to all the e-pioneers that have released me from my telephone cords and stationary. Now that I know what the word “avatar” means, I look forward to experiencing Second Life - not until it’s old news for you, of course…
December 6th, 2007 at 9:16 am
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