Is IT literacy on the decline?
Discussion
I've heard a few annectdotes of this before but witnessed it first hand yesterday...
Apparently those (roughly) 25-45 are more IT literate than those older and younger than them.
The younger bit suprised me, but its apparently due to the 'youth' now growing up with simple userfriendly interfaces and things that just...work. They've never really had to deal with random files and weird setups to pirate films and music. Deal with odd error messages or convoluted processes to install or get software to work. Had to understand the basics of PC specs when judging if something will work. Problem solving. Dealing with unfamiliar things.
Yesterday I was teaching (as a bit of a random thing) AI to a group of 10-17 year olds. I was utterly staggered by the lack of technical ability to even navigate and problem solve operating a laptop. Lots didn't even have an email address. In contrast with doing some IT bits with the same age cohort 10-15 years ago when they all picked things up instantly.
It wasn't the AI that was the problem it was simply operating an unfamiliar laptop. Really basic stuff.
Has anyone else witnessed this?
Apparently those (roughly) 25-45 are more IT literate than those older and younger than them.
The younger bit suprised me, but its apparently due to the 'youth' now growing up with simple userfriendly interfaces and things that just...work. They've never really had to deal with random files and weird setups to pirate films and music. Deal with odd error messages or convoluted processes to install or get software to work. Had to understand the basics of PC specs when judging if something will work. Problem solving. Dealing with unfamiliar things.
Yesterday I was teaching (as a bit of a random thing) AI to a group of 10-17 year olds. I was utterly staggered by the lack of technical ability to even navigate and problem solve operating a laptop. Lots didn't even have an email address. In contrast with doing some IT bits with the same age cohort 10-15 years ago when they all picked things up instantly.
It wasn't the AI that was the problem it was simply operating an unfamiliar laptop. Really basic stuff.
Has anyone else witnessed this?
I think it probably is. Those of us who first started using PCs and email in the mid 1990s went through various iterations of Windows etc, saw the Internet develop and then had apps, smart phones, tablets etc so adapted as we went along and figured stuff out.
If you started now it is of course much more user friendly I would think. Not that that’s a bad thing - my mum who is 77, is an avid tablet user for FB, messaging and video calls - she would never have touched a PC.
If you started now it is of course much more user friendly I would think. Not that that’s a bad thing - my mum who is 77, is an avid tablet user for FB, messaging and video calls - she would never have touched a PC.
It's been heading in that direction for a while.
But in my opinion it just reflects a reality that having some idea how a thing functions makes you better at using that thing, and the more "advanced" and simplified a user interface gets, the less... evolutionary pressure, I suppose? applies to encourage that.
I think it's true of computers, cars, bikes, all kinds of things.
But in my opinion it just reflects a reality that having some idea how a thing functions makes you better at using that thing, and the more "advanced" and simplified a user interface gets, the less... evolutionary pressure, I suppose? applies to encourage that.
I think it's true of computers, cars, bikes, all kinds of things.
mac96 said:
It is the sign of the product's maturity, you no longer have to be a geek or a hobbyist to use IT. Just the same with cars, where ownership no longer means spending Sundays adjusting tappets.
Very clearly. It feels a bit like cooking though to me...one of those skills you just accumulate. Apparently not now. Speaks volumes for the technology but it's going to be a massive problem in the workplace. Basic problem solving skills.
And with the rise of AI lots of these skills will actually be needed to implement/manage/control software in very ordinary jobs. We're not talking about coding.
For me it is not so much the 'fiddling with the OS and files in the background' so much as understanding how the new tools we have can work.
For example: I was on a bus from airport this week. A young* lady started asking where she should get off in the city to find the station. I and someone else assisted, and then I noticed she had a shiny Android phone - so suggested she fires up Google Maps and puts in the destination. We ended up getting off the bus together and I gave her a 1 minute ' how to use Google Maps. She had not opened it before, had not realised it would do walking routes, or that it responds to where you are...Yet in that 1 minute she had 473** WhatsApps and TikTok notifications.
.
.
.
For example: I was on a bus from airport this week. A young* lady started asking where she should get off in the city to find the station. I and someone else assisted, and then I noticed she had a shiny Android phone - so suggested she fires up Google Maps and puts in the destination. We ended up getting off the bus together and I gave her a 1 minute ' how to use Google Maps. She had not opened it before, had not realised it would do walking routes, or that it responds to where you are...Yet in that 1 minute she had 473** WhatsApps and TikTok notifications.
.
.
.
- Age of my kids, maybe early 20's.
- as a guestimate.
JoeRRS said:
In my experience the recent graduates at work cant even work word and excel properly never mind creating files.... Seems that its just not a thing anymore or they are all more used to apple derived products.
Feels like skills and ways of thinking when using computers business used to take for granted in the 2000's and 2010's will now have to be trained? crosseyedlion said:
Just slightly taken aback. Given how quickly they pick up phones and tablets, and spend so much time on them. When are they going to develop any mental agility?
They won't. They'll ask ChatGPT or similar, and take whatever woefully error-laden answer it gives as being gospel.I'm 36, advanced Linux user been using computers all my life. I can pick up any bit of tech like a computer with a different OS, Phone, Sat Nav etc and get it working with in minutes.
A few years ago now we hired two guys both around 22 ish who hadn't a clue how to use Microsoft Windows XP or 7 as everything they did was on their iPhone. Had to put them through training courses on excel etc.
I think it does depend on the person, but the majority of younger people do seem illiterate.
A few years ago now we hired two guys both around 22 ish who hadn't a clue how to use Microsoft Windows XP or 7 as everything they did was on their iPhone. Had to put them through training courses on excel etc.
I think it does depend on the person, but the majority of younger people do seem illiterate.
InitialDave said:
crosseyedlion said:
Just slightly taken aback. Given how quickly they pick up phones and tablets, and spend so much time on them. When are they going to develop any mental agility?
They won't. They'll ask ChatGPT or similar, and take whatever woefully error-laden answer it gives as being gospel.Yep it's exactly like that and not just in IT ways either. Being of the old fart end of this equation I'm used to that middle generation being a bit amused by old man two finger typing etc.
But it's exactly as described in the OP.
The other thing that I would add is there's a generational decline in the ability to find work around for both technological and practical things. This doesn't work, and there isn't an instant and easy "button" to press or the "genie" I've appointed to fix my s
t hasn't answered or dealt with my problem in 60 seconds, even though it's a Sunday evening, "Wah Wah Wah stamp foot"
Having said that against myself I had a right rant at RingGo yesterday with the perennial "Oh you need to update" - poor signal - eventually get the download - install - login - just need some more info - send you a security code for update- wait for text - wait for text - wait for text...
FML and FU RingGo .
But it's exactly as described in the OP.
The other thing that I would add is there's a generational decline in the ability to find work around for both technological and practical things. This doesn't work, and there isn't an instant and easy "button" to press or the "genie" I've appointed to fix my s
t hasn't answered or dealt with my problem in 60 seconds, even though it's a Sunday evening, "Wah Wah Wah stamp foot"Having said that against myself I had a right rant at RingGo yesterday with the perennial "Oh you need to update" - poor signal - eventually get the download - install - login - just need some more info - send you a security code for update- wait for text - wait for text - wait for text...
FML and FU RingGo .
crosseyedlion said:
Apparently those (roughly) 25-45 are more IT literate than those older and younger than them.
I shuddered the other day when I heard over 50s referred to as "silver surfers". In my experience the 40-55 year olds are the most switched on IT literate because they were children of the home computer generation, grew up in the late 70s and 80s tinkering with home computers, learning to program etcLinked to the IT question is typing.
To me, using a computer keyboard to write something is second nature. I've had no formal training in touch-typing but can produce written documents quickly and accurately without having to 'think' what letter is where. I'd say that typing has long been a fundamental life-skill that just grows through a process of repetition.
But I do see a lot of the younger generation that can compose an exceptionally long and complex text message using nothing other than their thumbs, but flounder on a keyboard.
To me, using a computer keyboard to write something is second nature. I've had no formal training in touch-typing but can produce written documents quickly and accurately without having to 'think' what letter is where. I'd say that typing has long been a fundamental life-skill that just grows through a process of repetition.
But I do see a lot of the younger generation that can compose an exceptionally long and complex text message using nothing other than their thumbs, but flounder on a keyboard.
I'm 55, and started programming at school in the early 80s. Learnt COBOL at college but went into the DTP industry instead, but as I worked with IT consultants I was also responsible for speccing/building/upgrading the DTP/consultant computers when setting up the project rooms (originally Macs, but then moved to Windows PCs).
I still act as the unofficial 1st line IT support for our team of 100, and am the family's tech support (both Windows, Mac, Android, iOS) and 'chief procurement officer'
I think some younger/older people just don't see the risks online and blithely put every last piece of info out there...and are not cynical enough to spot scams/malware/fake websites.
I still act as the unofficial 1st line IT support for our team of 100, and am the family's tech support (both Windows, Mac, Android, iOS) and 'chief procurement officer'
I think some younger/older people just don't see the risks online and blithely put every last piece of info out there...and are not cynical enough to spot scams/malware/fake websites.
Edited by mmm-five on Friday 11th July 11:54
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