Technologically Speaking, Are You a Native or an Immigrant?

What’s the hell is that question? Well it’s the result of a conference I attended for the second time yesterday – as people know me for, I understand very fast, but need people to explain me for long time   -. René Barsalo, Director Strategy & Partnerships at The SAT (stands for Société des Arts Technologiques),  gave this presentation he used to give since he accepted the invitation to reinvent and develop The SAT.

René’s topic was about the faster than ever race to appropriate technologies within our communication behavior. Beside the story of how he came up with the principle explaining the underlying conflict of technology based generation at The SAT, it was so good to be faced by this reality check.

I hope René will not blame me for trying to summarize it! Basically, communication started thousands of generation from now. While earlier on, the rythm of appropriation of communication technologies was fairly long, making sure people got to fully understand it, since the mid 20’s century, the rythm of innovation in communication typically went up to a new major innovation per generation (fax, electronic, cellular, etc.). Not to say this is a problem or it is bad. But simply pointing out that while people had almost 40 years to fully manage telegraph usage, a 50 years old person, whom would have grown with TV as the communication media for instance, had to manage fax, computer, cellular, Web and so on, at the same time that his/her employees, arround their 20s consider the Web as the communication media. So here comes the terms of digital’s natives (25 and younger) and immigrants (26+).  

The question is how do you manage this technology’s based communication chasm? Well, no single answer I guess. First you need to be aware of it and recognize it. Second, perhaps more difficult for people used to controlling and managing, is to work in confidence and coaching … But this should be a specific topic to talk about!

What I like with René is that he do not only preach! He actually implement on a day-to-day basis at The SAT and many other organizations he work with. Just look what is being done in the company, mixing experts in technology with artists and creators that go far beyond geek trips (look at their work on the Website)! Another initiative to mention is the Interfaces Montréal that connects digital interface knowledge and expertise throughout the various ICT sectors in order to stimulate productivity among the many contributing researchers, entrepreneurs and artists.

So back to the question? Is this simply a question of age? I guess no! I remember the first time I heard René on this, I sent to him an email afterwards saying “René, can we be a native a 40?”. René’s answer was “theoritically no, but some 26+ will be more open to new communication medium, willing to experiment and use. Sure you can! I consider myself as an in-between”. So I suggest a new term to René : ImmiNa or iNative!

Back from the conference yesterday, Hélène, a colleague of mine, said to me: “Didier, I think you’re a Kool Kid, but who don’t know it yet”. To understand what that means and get the true story, I suggest that you attend next René’s presentation or read on his work and experience!