They may never have heard of Steve Jobs or know how to tie their own shoelaces, but six-year-olds know more about technology than people in their 40s. This is not theoretical, but real and… proven.
The arrival of broadband in Britain in 2000 has created the digital age generation, according to research released on Thursday. As Ofcom reports in its annual study, children born in the new millennium have never experienced dial-up Internet, but they are learning how to use smartphones and tablets almost from infancy. “This is the generation that will shape the new era of technology,” says Jane Rumble of Ofcom. “These are children who are growing up in the digital age and who are developing radically different communication habits from older generations, even compared to the 16-24 age group.”.
DQ tests
Ofcom created a DQ test (digital intelligence test) that involved 800 children and 2000 adults. The two groups competed in everything from tablets and smartphones to knowledge of 4G mobile networks and mobile apps.
Among six- and seven-year-olds who grew up with YouTube, Spotify music streaming and iPlayer, the average DQ score was 98. Among adults aged 45 to 49, the average score was 96. Understanding of digital technology peaks in the 14 to 15 age group, where the average score on the test is 113. Then as the age group gets older, the decline and fall begins…
Source: thetoc.gr
