BY Suh Ji-Seop
Samseon Middle School
We are now living in the age of the Internet, in which the development and widespread use of electronic devices has become inevitable. It’s human nature for people to become accustomed to the actions they find most efficient. I undoubtedly argue that most college students use electronic devices for a multitude of purposes. New electronic devices such as tablet PCs or smartphones play a significant role in our everyday lives. In the midst of these fast-paced technological trends, we see many college students using laptops near their schools and just about everywhere else.
The number of smartphone and laptop users in their 20s is so substantial that LG has targeted most of its promotions at college students. Students can obtain discounts with a university ID card, and Apple offers devices at a discounted rate for those who register with a university email account. Cafes near college campuses are no longer places to sip coffee but to enjoy fast Wi-Fi service.
When I interviewed a 22-year-old university student who lives near me, I asked him about the role of smartphones and laptops on college campuses. He said that electronic devices are essential for organizing ideas during class time, and that while many college students have their own ways of staying organized, most use their electronic devices.
He also pointed out that it is almost unimaginable to go to class without an electronic device since the possession of them is somewhat assumed, and lectures are often designed for those who take advantage of such devices.
Such trends have already become a part of college life, and those who eschew such technology will eventually find themselves getting left behind.
Customizing oneself to a fast-pacing environment is a diligent endeavor. And owning electronic devices and taking advantage of them must be interpreted through the same frame.
Unlike other generations that criticize the use of electronic devices, college students have blended cutting-edge technology into their academic environment–not only during lectures, but at other times as well.
Almost everything can be done electronically–from signing up for classes to connecting with friends on and off campus. College students deserve respect for their creativity.
sjs9968@naver.com
SMART & STORY 