WEEK 9. 7D

Describe the daily frustrations of a fictional neo-luddite at university now in the UK.

The life of a neo-luddite at university today would presumably be filled with struggle and overcoming the use of technology which is rapidly dominating the way a student’s life works. To start with, student timetables are available online. For some courses timetables change weekly and must be checked every weekend. Any last minute changes to these timetables are then either emailed to student’s university email accounts or posted on Blackboard. Without the use of these facilities is would be almost impossible to receive up-to date information on what classes are being held where. Of course the neo-luddite could ask friends for updates but the fastest ways to receive these updates are again technology filled; by text message, mobile phone call, email or maybe via a SNS. The next issues the neo-luddite may face come with university work. Research without using a library database online, online journals, websites etc etc would be an initial problem (after the unavoidable use of technology via swipecard to actually enter the library!). The work then has to be submitted in a word processed way, unless it is an online unit like NMC…both unavoidable as a student but disliked by the neo-luddite. University social life is then mainly arranged through a variety of technologies; A recent MCC night out has been discussed and arranged on Facebook, with messages and updates from the organisers, instant messaging on MSN and text messages also giving updates. The neo-luddite could hear about these things IRL but would fail to hear up to date changes or plans as quickly as they may do online.
A neo-luddite would simply not be able to function at university without overcoming their dislike of technology. While some aspects of this are just an inconvenience, others are ingrained into the way university works and are unavoidable aspects of being a modern day student.


The above eg suggests several things. Firstly Livingstone's notion of literacy; Having avoided technology for so long the neo-luddite is likely to struggle with any university course and it's demands for technology, even to make graphs or word process at the least. This would need to be learnt before it was possible to complete a degree. Secondly it has implications on a digital divide. It suggests that a digital divide is likely to increase between those who posess higher education and those who don't. This also means that a neo-luddite may fail to find employment because a lack of a degree and the failure to demonstrate desired technologcal skills required in a range of jobs. This divide may also then reflect socio-economic status' in community.