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.
Those interested in gas prices (aka, everyone) might want to check out Econobrowser’s description and causes of gas demand. Here is the post.
Future Wire has an interesting post on the number of Japanese that are at least 100 years old. The number is expected to reach 1 million by 2050 (I’m not sure what the assumptions to this estimate are). Three things were interesting in the post. First, a discussion of the longest living Japanese citizen (112 years old) and the major events that have happened in her lifetiime. It puts the amount of change in the last decade into perspective. Second, some good discussion on policy issues for an aging population. Third, a question (no answer) of why Japanese lifespans are longer than some other Industrialized nations. For the US, this is a key question (see this map for a color graphic of the US trailing much of Western Europe and Japan).
Implications for Extension Professionals: The US has an aging population that will require additioinal researcha and programming needs. What is happening in Japan? I’m finding very little information in a brief, cursory google search. One interesting post on Japanese rural life (not much on aging) and Extension can be found here. I have not started to look at the projections yet, but it would be a good idea to see how many centenarians the US will have over the next few decades. Key ramifications will be in pensions, public policy, building codes, and employment categories. Here are some earlier posts on aging and its impacts on Extension:
Econobrowser has a nice summary of the afteraffects of the Katrina. Specifically, how the economic ramifications appear a few days into the post-’cane recovery. Some comments about the port at New Orleans and agriculture products. A good, quick review for busy Extension Professionals.
We are seeing more and more information on the impact of baby boomers on society. Tom Peters has a post discussing a recent CNN Money article about boomers. See the post for a summary or go to the article here. See the link within the article for ideas for the type of services that might be successful for boomers. Extension Professionals need to start thinking and planning for the aging of this group (77 million strong according to the article). What type of programming and research do we need to be creating and planning to do?
One of the major demographic trends that we are dealing with is the sandwich generation. Generally described as baby boomers that have unmarried children living with them and also a responsibility to care for one or more parents. Don Iannone has a posting on this phenomenon in Canada.
Wikiepedia has no heading for the sandwich generation, so an enterprising Extension professional out there could add one to it…..
Extension Daily has an interesting post on China and the agriculture. Seems like a growing China will need food imports. Tom Peters has been posting some on the growing strenght in China. See this post for a new book on China from an economic perspective and this Peter’s link to a current Atlantic Monthly article on China from a military viewpoint. Time to add some things about China to the reading stack….