Young and Wired

Iria · May 14, 2006, 09:19 PM

Source: SFGate
__________
One winter Friday just as the sun was going down, Nathan Yan settled at the computer table in his parents' Daly City living room and began what he calls "my rounds." That includes checking his e-mail, friends' blogs, his Wikipedia watch list and scanning for news about "Lost." If he has time, he might post a blog, peruse his spreadsheet of baseball statistics or cyber window shop, watching the price of camera equipment he can't afford drop almost daily. He also listens to music, using headphones so he won't bother his parents or younger brother, who often sits at an adjacent computer, also wearing headphones, ensconced in a game.

This evening, though, Nathan, a senior at a public high school, forgoes the music so we can talk about what is directly in front of him -- a somewhat large, bulky computer that is without the latest technological accoutrements and relies on dial-up Internet access, but is nonetheless the focus of Nathan's teenage existence. He estimates he spends five to six hours a day on the computer, including doing his homework -- often concurrently with other activities. But even when he's working on "non-computing activities," he's usually in front of his computer. Tonight he'll probably be on until about midnight.

"I'm pretty much on the computer 24/7, when one is available," he e-mailed me before we met. "I take the usual breaks, for sleep and school and other such necessities (and I don't believe that computer use really encroaches or takes away from those activities), but otherwise I'm most always on the computer."

If the amount of time Nathan spends on the computer seems unusual, it's not. It puts him directly in sync with other kids his age.

May 14, 2006, 09:19 PM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	Young and Wired Source: SFGate __________ One winter Friday just as the sun was going down, Nathan Yan settled at the computer table in his parents' Daly City living room and began what he calls "my rounds." That includes checking his e-mail, friends' blogs, his Wikipedia watch list and scanning for news about "Lost." If he has time, he might post a blog, peruse his spreadsheet of baseball statistics or cyber window shop, watching the price of camera equipment he can't afford drop almost daily. He also listens to music, using headphones so he won't bother his parents or younger brother, who often sits at an adjacent computer, also wearing headphones, ensconced in a game. This evening, though, Nathan, a senior at a public high school, forgoes the music so we can talk about what is directly in front of him -- a somewhat large, bulky computer that is without the latest technological accoutrements and relies on dial-up Internet access, but is nonetheless the focus of Nathan's teenage existence. He estimates he spends five to six hours a day on the computer, including doing his homework -- often concurrently with other activities. But even when he's working on "non-computing activities," he's usually in front of his computer. Tonight he'll probably be on until about midnight. "I'm pretty much on the computer 24/7, when one is available," he e-mailed me before we met. "I take the usual breaks, for sleep and school and other such necessities (and I don't believe that computer use really encroaches or takes away from those activities), but otherwise I'm most always on the computer." If the amount of time Nathan spends on the computer seems unusual, it's not. It puts him directly in sync with other kids his age.