Growth of "users"

It is blatantly obvious that Sally Wyatt’s Nonusers Also Matter, was written almost a decade ago. As we continue to move further and further into the digital age, things like the computer and Internet no longer seem trivial or confusing. Instead, they have become a way of life, and using them has become second nature to us. Particularly for the generations who have grown up with Internet their entire lives, there is little that surprises them about the World Wide Web and it’s web of technological improvements and advancements. This hones in on the author discussing cars being analogous to Internet in its use of the “trickling affect”. I agree with the author’s take on that, in most part because of the last decades evidence, but also because of the dynamic world we live in, I believe this growth will continue

         I disagree with the data presented in regards to the stereotypical “user,” and am glad to hear that even then they saw a change in the future for such statistics. It narrows in on young, white, university-educated men, limiting the global reach of the Internet, which now remains a stable part of most households worldwide. That being said, I also disagree with the evidence presented by the Cyber Dialogue studies, in which growth was thought to be slowed down by the cost of a computer, and the average consumers inability to afford them. However, as we see today, a large majority of the population has access to the Internet on a multitude of fronts. The smart phone is one of the largest, followed by computers – but there are also ways to obtain Internet access without costly fees or monthly bills. Internet café’s are becoming ever more prevalent, and nearly all libraries provide Internet access to patrons without charge. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-519-x/2006001/c-g/chart5_3_5.gif

         In this day and age it is not only difficult, but quite frankly nearly impossible to not come in contact with the Internet multiple times in a day. For those non-users, I think it is safe to assume that they are that of an older generation. Not having grown up in a technologically savvy environment, it may, not surprisingly, be more difficult for them to learn and retain all the information the Internet has to offer. This is not to say the Internet is essential for everyone, but it is a hobby that has, as I previously stated, turned into a way of life for most. It may not be crucial to the human race’s survival, but it definitely takes a lot of responsibility for it’s growth, and continued advancement into the technological era.