Digital Nation Essay

Scott Uria

Professor Warren

ENC 1102

February 19, 2013

Digital Nation

            Login, password, enter, and I am in! I have now entered a world used by so many, and I’m the prey of many more. The film, Digital Nation, brings to light the different ways technology is used today and the positive and negative aspects to go along with it. I feel that technology is beneficial to an extent, and on the other side, I am more of a traditionalist. This film mentioned companies using virtual meetings, military recruiting tactics, military operations, and effects of gaming. And the most negative aspect was the addiction of the gaming world. My views are close on some, and quite a distance away on others. Now it’s time to explain.

            One part of running a successful business is to know your personal, their strengths, and weaknesses. There are meetings with staff, and contracted affiliates, to keep the business running effectively and successfully. When the business is located at different locations, it’s not uncommon to have a conference call on a specific date and time. During this time of advanced technology, Digital Nation shared a growing trend of virtual meetings, vice personal and conference call meetings. Although similar to a conference call, I see these virtual conferences nothing more than adults enjoying the gaming world, minus the score keeping and violence. The segment on Digital Nation showed a virtual meeting where one associate was more focused on the shirt that another put on his virtual character. In my opinion, situations like this can become more of a distraction than focusing on success. I know that many businesses may not have in their budget to travel to a certain locations, but a simple conference call would suffice without the gimmicks of the virtual world.

            The United States military has changed the way it operates in certain fields and tactics. Digital Nation pointed out a couple of different areas in which technology has modified the standard operating procedure, whether good or bad. There is an Army Recruiting Station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that took recruiting to a new level, which I totally disagree with. The Army built a large arcade like facility to attract you people. Once the young kids are in and actively involved with the different simulators and games, the recruiters will pounce of them while their mind is captured by the excitement of the moment. As a prior Navy Recruiter, I am not surprise that the Army has stooped to this level. As a recruiter, my job was to make sure an applicant is qualified mentally, physically, and morally. If an applicant gets past that stage of initial blueprinting, it’s time to find out what the applicant is interested in, the goals desire, and how the Navy can help get them there. After that portion of the interview, it is important to set up an appointment with the parents, because parents can sway decisions either way. Believe it or not, parents can respect the character of the recruiter if the interest of their child is priority. I was a very successful recruiter because I wasn’t concerned with a monthly quota, but sincere with helping their child lay out a road map to meet their needs, and bonding close with family members during the process. I honestly don’t feel that an arcade recruiting building, with all the games and simulator, can establish a bond with a future service member. It has been ten years since I left recruiting, and to this day, I still keep up with many of the young people, and their families. Not sure a recruiter can actually know the complete background of a young person if they met them in a recruiting trap.

            Concerning the military and technology, there is one area that I totally agree with. The United States Air Force is utilizing a remote operated air craft, called Drones. With the war in Afghanistan, lasting over ten years, there have been a lot of unfortunate casualties. The Drone is used for surveillance, and destruction of targets if needed. The Drone is not operated by an onboard pilot, but a remote control operator on ground. This technology is very effective, and reduces casualties of war.

            Unfortunately, the world of gaming has taken our youth from exercise, studying, and social skills at home. Obesity in the United States is at an all-time high. Some is a result of a poor diet, but most is the lack of excising activities. Many gamers will stay up all night, sleep all day, and have little to say during family meals. University of Wisconsin Psychologist, C. Shawn Green expressed, “Video games change your brain.” I definitely agree, but is this change for the better, or worse?  Is this the activity we want for young Americans? I would have to say so, because online games, consoles, and disc games, are at an all-time high. There needs to be some type of regulation, restrictions, increased pricing, to help bring this lifestyle under control. If those areas were addressed, we may win our children back, for a happier and healthier life. On a positive note, there appears to be many relationships that have blossomed from the gaming world.

            Digital Nation shed some light on how advanced our world has become, and the uses to help advance business, and the pros and cons of gaming. Yes, our world has become much smaller with technology, but on a different aspect, it has caused our loved ones to be further away.