Do we care enough Digital Immigrants and Settlers?

Very interesting post Kirsten; thanks for bringing this up. This is quite a problem with a lot of applications because the developers who create them are highly "digitally evolved" as compared to users who would be using them so they tend to expect more from end-users and end up launching highly unusable products.

It's imperative to consider all levels of user-expertise while creating a product.

Very interesting post Kirsten; thanks for bringing this up. This is quite a problem with a lot of applications because the developers who create them are highly "digitally evolved" as compared to users who would be using them so they tend to expect more from end-users and end up launching highly unusable products. It's imperative to consider all levels of user-expertise while creating a product.

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Hi Kirsten:

You bring an important point.

I think the key to designing successful software is to keep it simple at surface and have options for advanced users. Lets take Google as an example : basic search and that is it. If you are interested, there are keywords you can learn to search within a website, pdf documents, ppt's or word documents as well. You can do image search as well. So, they design there software for ease of use for basic users - who will comprise a major chunk and for others, there are shortcuts/ methods available. We are trying to keep this idea in mind while developing WiZiQ - especially the virtual classroom. We are aware that most of the teachers would be above the age where we would be able to call someone Generation Y :)

Hi Kirsten: You bring an important point. I think the key to designing successful software is to keep it simple at surface and have options for advanced users. Lets take Google as an example : basic search and that is it. If you are interested, there are keywords you can learn to search within a website, pdf documents, ppt's or word documents as well. You can do image search as well. So, they design there software for ease of use for basic users - who will comprise a major chunk and for others, there are shortcuts/ methods available. We are trying to keep this idea in mind while developing WiZiQ - especially the virtual classroom. We are aware that most of the teachers would be above the age where we would be able to call someone Generation Y :)

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>> So, they design there software for ease of use for basic users

should be

So, they design "their" software ...

>> So, they design there software for ease of use for basic users should be So, they design "their" software ...

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Phil:

That is a good point. I think it has nothing to do with age but more about what is your experience with a particular technology/ environment.

I have never traveled via sea and really dread the day when I would, but my uncle [who is 70 plus] is a pro at that :) The same is the case with technology. Having said that, I think age would definitely play a part in design of software [font color, size etc.] come into it.

Do you think older people would more likely contact support if they can't figure out something and would be open to be helped on how to use something - rather than young people who want instant gratification and figure out themselves cues?

Thanks

Vikrama Dhiman

Phil: That is a good point. I think it has nothing to do with age but more about what is your experience with a particular technology/ environment. I have never traveled via sea and really dread the day when I would, but my uncle [who is 70 plus] is a pro at that :) The same is the case with technology. Having said that, I think age would definitely play a part in design of software [font color, size etc.] come into it. Do you think older people would more likely contact support if they can't figure out something and would be open to be helped on how to use something - rather than young people who want instant gratification and figure out themselves cues? Thanks Vikrama Dhiman

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Excellent feedback everyone - you've given me some good material for faculty presentation on embedding webinars or inactivity with traditional online classes.

Like Phil, I was born in '59 but am definitely a digital native having been involved with application development, databases, and user/tech training since the evolution of the PC (new term, digital neanderthal). I've seen end users of all ages who are definitely settlers or travelers in the digital arena.

Not only is software ease of use important but so it what I'll call digital gratification. Google again serves as an example with results that are instant and a few well placed ads thrown in as a bonus. We've probably all had online shopping experiences where driving the shopping cart to the checkout was so problematic that we gave up purchasing from that online site and went to a competitior.

Digital natives are of course very focused on instant gratification but so are users of all experience levels. If there are too many options, or roadblocks, the application won't be a winner and neither will the classroom.

Jack

Excellent feedback everyone - you've given me some good material for faculty presentation on embedding webinars or inactivity with traditional online classes. Like Phil, I was born in '59 but am definitely a digital native having been involved with application development, databases, and user/tech training since the evolution of the PC (new term, digital neanderthal). I've seen end users of all ages who are definitely settlers or travelers in the digital arena. Not only is software ease of use important but so it what I'll call digital gratification. Google again serves as an example with results that are instant and a few well placed ads thrown in as a bonus. We've probably all had online shopping experiences where driving the shopping cart to the checkout was so problematic that we gave up purchasing from that online site and went to a competitior. Digital natives are of course very focused on instant gratification but so are users of all experience levels. If there are too many options, or roadblocks, the application won't be a winner and neither will the classroom. Jack

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Then you Jack and Phil are called digital settlers, like me. What is your accent? ;)

I think software development should start on the lowest common ground. Like you said, take a look at things that seem to work like online banking, ebay, hotel bookings online. If older people can use it, young people can use it easily.

Then you Jack and Phil are called digital settlers, like me. What is your accent? ;) I think software development should start on the lowest common ground. Like you said, take a look at things that seem to work like online banking, ebay, hotel bookings online. If older people can use it, young people can use it easily.

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Hi guys,
I am back ;). Was still busy with the collecting the fragments of the ETCon.

Google is a very good example, Vikrama. And I think people are underestimating this fact being a part of there market leadership.

In my student group I have only one so called digital native, the rest are all settlers and immigrants. So I know how difficult it can be to explain how to open Skype in one and the text file I send in another window. As you guys said, software and I think hardware, too must be intuitive, natural and seamless as possible.

If I take myself for an example. I have an iPod, but I still buy CDs. I read business related articles and books on the internet and PC but privately I prefer real newspapers, magazines and books. I need to take notes with pen and paper to learn. I prefer to get my invoices per classic mail and not online.

So I really have a strong accent being digital settler although I consider myself being a techie.

What do you guys do?

Hi guys, I am back ;). Was still busy with the collecting the fragments of the ETCon. Google is a very good example, Vikrama. And I think people are underestimating this fact being a part of there market leadership. In my student group I have only one so called digital native, the rest are all settlers and immigrants. So I know how difficult it can be to explain how to open Skype in one and the text file I send in another window. As you guys said, software and I think hardware, too must be intuitive, natural and seamless as possible. If I take myself for an example. I have an iPod, but I still buy CDs. I read business related articles and books on the internet and PC but privately I prefer real newspapers, magazines and books. I need to take notes with pen and paper to learn. I prefer to get my invoices per classic mail and not online. So I really have a strong accent being digital settler although I consider myself being a techie. What do you guys do?

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This whole notion of "digital natives" is far more complex than setting an arbitrary birthdate after which one is considered to have taken root in the virtual world by some magical process. There are so many geographical and economic factors to take into account, to say nothing of individual preferences for the virtual or the concrete. Few of my students in a high school in France are tech-savvy enough to qualify as "digital natives, despite having been born well after 1980, whereas I, born in '59, am all over the web. Isn't it more of a lifestyle choice than a generational thing?

YMMV, --- Phil
eTwinning ambassador

This whole notion of "digital natives" is far more complex than setting an arbitrary birthdate after which one is considered to have taken root in the virtual world by some magical process. There are so many geographical and economic factors to take into account, to say nothing of individual preferences for the virtual or the concrete. Few of my students in a high school in France are tech-savvy enough to qualify as "digital natives, despite having been born well after 1980, whereas I, born in '59, am all over the web. Isn't it more of a lifestyle choice than a generational thing? YMMV, --- Phil eTwinning ambassador

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