Technology for better or worse

I was in class today and we were talking about how education has/changing with reference to the technology available. She said there were 3 distinct generations interacting and the differences that can be obstacles or ways to interact better.

Baby Boomers - Born in the 40's-60's, grew up during the civil rights movement and segregation, color tv had pretty much phased out radio and b/w tv as the primary means of entertainment. Used record players and the 32 *i think) mm film projectors...the ones with 2 reels. 8 track tape players were in cars.

Generation X'ers - born in the late 60's-80's. Microwave ovens reached mass appeal, cable tv, VCRs and personal computers were for rich people. Walmart was just getting started. Cassette tapes had pretty much replaced 8 tracks and cds were just starting to replace vinyl records. The ATM was starting to appear a many major banks.

Millennials - born in the late 80's-2000. This generation has always had all the things everyone else learned to love, not to mention the internet, cell phones and DVDs. Few have ever heard of an 8-track or has seen a vinyl record. Personal computers are available for public use and in schools. Wireless internet access is available at most coffeehouses and hotels.

Among other things we talked about was the ways these technologies made today's kids better, and also worse. 2 things that we all agreed made todays kids worse off was penmanship-from always typing on a computer and learning how to cook-without a microwave. When grew up (gen x) the microwave was neat because it allowed me to cook some things FASTER, because I used it in addition to cooking on the stove or oven. Nowadays the microwave replaces the stove, and if there is nothing to microwave, call dominos. Not good.

Another way that technology was actually bad was that communities are actually getting smaller with each generaton. Ask any baby boomer and they will tell you about their large families and/or large circles of friends they had growing up and even now. As the generations progressed, those communities and families got smaller whether that was due to economics or social climate, people just dont talk the way they used to. One person said blame that on the drugs (prozac, zoloft, etc.) not the technology. But all this stuff does make you wonder, with all this technology are we better or worse off? Even scarier, if the proverbial lights go out, how long before we become cavemen....again?