Yestereday’s NY Times had a great article about the technology use of millennials (those born between 1980 – 2000). It reinforces the findings of the recent Pew Internet studies (see here for example) about video cell phones, messaging and other technologies to stay in touch. After plunking down some hard cash to get my son a 60gb iPod, I can attest to their use of hand held technologies to communicate and view information. Just watch the recent spurge in cell phone commercials to get a feel for where this is at (Verizon’s vcast commercials for example).
Extension is currently behind the curve in getting almost any of these technologies in place. Iowa State is the only state that I can find with a video podcast. The two that I’ve watched are interviews, but I really liked the 1.17.06 "From earth to the moon, to mars, and beyond." This is an hour video podcast, so expect a long download even with broadband. Use this link (iTunes needed) to find the podcast. If you are interested in space and education, be sure to check it out.
Are the millennials all technology, all of the time? Nope. A t-shirt worth buying is mentioned two-thirds of the way throught the Times article. Its byline: "Ctrl, alt, delete," referring to the need to unconnect from time to time.
The catch is that technology is changing fast, but not as fast as the most recent "hot" websites and blogs. How does Extension reach out and succeed in these areas? One way is start involving millennials in our projects, committees, etc. and let them pull us along. Another is to keep pushing interactive technologies that support social networks – the whole web 2.0 concept.
A last thought. In the final section of the google is discussed as both a verb and a noun. How does this generation (and I would argue most others now too)? Google. It’s not about going to an Extension site and then searching. It’s about the easiest route. And right now that is Google.
Found via the Institute for the Future’s Future Now blog.