I had my third class last night and we were discussing genealogy resources, including online resources. We were discussing access to computers and the instructor asked the class the class, as a matter of passing, if everyone had access to the Internet. There were several people who raised their hand who didn't - ok, I can understand this to a certain extent, about 75% of the class is over the age of 55. Not all have sons/daughters who are on-call tech resources to overcome all the perceived challenges of getting online. A bit surprised by this, however, he back peddled and then asked if they had access to a computer, at least three people said no. Lastly, one woman raised her hand and said not only did she not have access to a computer, she had never typed.
Now stop and think about this one...she had never typed.
For the audience reading this, of course you have access to a computer and probably consider typing, as I do, like breathing or walking, it is just something you do without thinking....but when this women said she had never typed, it really made me pause and think about how much of my world revolves around typing and what I would if I couldn't/wouldn't. Even if I take away any part of a "career" revolving around a computer, I still pay all my bills, write letters, check the weather, organize my pictures and a multitude of other small thinks, everyday. I feel my world would be very lonely and inconvenient without the computer and an effective method of input, like the keyboard.
It really gave me a new perspective into understand how the other half lives. I guess I have never been so acutely aware of the digital divide as I am now, especially now when I think about her every time I sit down at my keyboard!
BTW - even after this discussion in class I overheard she was still debating if she should do the class for credit, which includes a 7-10 page (typed) essay!
Too bad I got rid of my old Brother electric typewriter with a floppy-drive I had from high school. At the time this was quite the leap forward for me and I had been saving it as a sentimental museum piece, but just couldn't justify saving it any longer - it would have been a great high tech gadget for her! :)