Foolish Box’
Many people in Korea call the computer the ‘Foolish Box’. Different from the nuance of the word ‘Foolish’, the computer can execute a great number of functions; it not only processes complicated works such as banking and complex computer graphics in video editing, but also performs simple tasks such as internet, computer games or music player. Other than these functions, the most innovative aspect is that all those indispensable functions in our lives can be operated simultaneously.
For example, computers can play music while diagnosing ailments using the vaccine program; this is called ‘multitasking. ’ However, while computers are multitasking, a fatal defect occurs. The more programs the computer opens, the slower the computer processes information. Human beings also multitask and are no different from computers. People listen to music while they are walking or they keep chatting while they are doing their work. Like computers, humans are no better in speed and quality when they perform multiple activities as opposed to performing a single task.
New media technologies have given rise to the “Multitasking Generation,” young people highly skilled in using computers, cell phones, and social networking sites simultaneously. However, multitaskers often have poor study habits and isolate themselves from other family members like their parents. Research is being conducted to establish whether student performance has been has been negatively affected by multitasking. This is because current students, M generation, consider electronic machines as extensions of their bodies.
Students are listening to music using I-Pod, working with their computers, watching TV shows and texting using cell phones at the same time. Listening to music is not a problem; the problem arises when students attempt to study, listen to music, text message, and surf the web simultaneously. Multitasking interferes with the student’s ability to learn effectively due to the need to divide one’s attention among the various tasks. The M-generation’s response is that they are conditioned to multitask. This answer is a means of self-justification. They do not realize that their concentration is not focused 100% on their work.
Take a hypothetical situation in which two students are in a room, and one student has an exam in few hours and another does not. The one who has exam might focus on studying for an exam and the other one may be bored for lack of something to. Assume that they are close friends and if the one who does not have an exam says something to the other, he would not response at first. If the friend who does not have exam repeats, the student studying for the exam would say “wait, what? ” or “um… I do not know. ” it is difficult to concentrate on studying and divert one’s attention to something else.
Ideally, the person studying would prefer to be alone. Students often experience such situations and get frustrated by any interruptions. In the current world with new media technologies, nuclear families face strong challenges. Children rarely have chance to have a talk with their family whose father usually comes back from work at nighttime and whose mother works as well because women’s status are higher than the past that women could not have chance to participate in work places. Children are left alone to study and busy themselves with whatever interests them.
Once they start operating the computer and watching TV shows, they are so absorbed that they do not recognize or respond to their parents who come back from work very tired. When parents ask children how the day went, they answer “it was good,”, “Not bad” in a half-hearted manner. The conversation is not deep enough to talk about what children are worried about in the present lives. When family members have a chance to sit around a table during meals and have a conversation, they cannot have serious discussions since the children are so absorbed with the computer or are watching television.
On most occasions the children eat at their computer tables or in front of the TV’s and do not join their parents. They often hesitate to eat because the computer or TV makes them forget that they are hungry. When they have dinner with the family, children eat quickly so they can return to watching TV shows without having conversation with family or sometimes they even skipped dinner and have dinner alone at night. Family members cannot maintain their tight relationship with each other and they become withdrawn and isolated; parents are considered machines that make money and support their children.
As the number of families in which parents and their children are not close increases, children are more likely to become delinquents. For example, a child may need to discuss pressing concerns with his parents, but they would have difficulty conversing because such talks are rarely held and the parents cannot understand their child’s problem. Consequently, the child could become defiant and run away from home. Multitasking among M-generation not only causes poor studying habits among students, but also contributes to the social problems between parents and children.
Even though people realize that M-generation’s multitasking have negative effects, they do not really have a solution to alleviate these effects. Students and children need to develop the art of conversation. Parents should monitor their children and discourage them from multitasking. Extreme ways of compelling students or children not to does not solve fundamental problems and stern measures including confiscating the computer or banning listening of music while studying may not produce the desired results.
Gentle persuasion and timely advice to children to stop multitasking may yield positive outcomes; children would obey their parents and have a chance to prove that multitasking while they are doing school work is not a good idea. Solution of family problem is same. Children do not always open up their minds to adults, and parents should approach their children to talk with them. Children need time to get together with other family members like their parents during functions like picnics or leisure trips. Busy parents can take a few minutes to have a walk with their children so they can discuss challenges and issues affecting their offspring.
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