Personal Soundtracks
Have you seen small groups of teens hanging out? Why are they all plugged into their mp3 players at the same time? I’m seeing more and more kids walking around together, yet they are all wearing headphones. Why didn’t we see this with walkmans? Why mp3 players? What is going on in our society that’s leading these people to be together but not. Have TV and movies finally convinced kids that their lives need soundtracks at all times?
Maybe I’m just getting old.
November 3rd, 2005 at 6:19 pm
Well, seeing as I’m now seeing ads for parents telling their kids they have to stay up to play their dvd (which is supposedly teaching them to read) and now you have to buy interactive books-on-dvd for your kids (it’s not enough to just read paper anymore, you have to be able to push buttons, hear bells, listen for whistles!), I’m not at all surprised that kids are plugged in all the time, everywhere.
I’m constantly observing groups of kids together where each kid is on his/her cellphone. I walk the dog in the afternoon when the teens are walking home from school, and to see kids talking to each other is a rarity.
It’s sad. What is life going to be like when these kids grow up? What will relationships be like for them?
And then, what about their kids?
Our grandparents generation said our generation would have rotten brains because of television, so I don’t think it’s all doom and gloom, but I’m certainly not optimistic, either.
November 5th, 2005 at 11:12 pm
I think the answer is your favourite topic! Usability!!
Large storage MP3 players make the portable music player more usable and more attractive to carry everywhere. All of your music is on it. All the time. Listen to whatever your want out of your collection. What could be better?
But this doesn’t explain why kids will listen to them non-stop. I wouldn’t be too worried about a lack of human interaction. Cell phones, e-mail, and IM provide enough faceless communication that the basic interactive need is met. Is it such a big deal that they can’t carry on a conversation without a keyboard in front of them?
November 7th, 2005 at 3:02 pm
I’ve often been of the opinion that whether or not people need soundtracks, each individual deserves to have his or her own theme song. But of course, if it’s a really good theme song, they can sing it together with their friends in harmony.
What would your theme song be?