Walk into a classroom and you'll see that the cell phone replaces a simple calculator. A flash drive, or memory stick, replaces the notebook and floppy disk. In some cases, even a pen is unnecessary, as students point and push a writing stylus for the Blackberry or Palm personal planner. Many of these planners happen to double as phones with Internet access, too.
When students have extra time -- thanks to all this technology -- they chat with friends in Internet communities on Web sites like MySpace (www.myspace.com) and Facebook (www.facebook.com). These sites group users by "friends," and a group of friends can range from two to 2,000 or more, depending on collective interests.
A few MSU students sound off about their current can't-live-without-it technology, whether for learning or leisure, below.
Brian Jordan, senior, business management, Laurel
What is your "essential technology" device?
My 1GigaByte USB flash drive.
What do you use it for?
I use it for everything -- school, work, and leisure. It holds critical school documents, my resume and a collection of my favorite music and photos. It's a convenient and portable way to take essential documents from work to school to home.
What would you do without it?
Try to figure out another way to easily transport documents to my current location. The USB stick will travel anywhere regardless of Internet connectivity.
David Loessberg, junior, business management, Manhattan
What is your "essential technology" device?
The Internet.
What do you use it for?
E-mail, to check internships, homework, games, news and everything, really. I can easily find information regarding certain topics, and it makes for easy communication with groups.
What would you do without it?
Probably something more productive half of the time.
Jordan Schmidt, graduate student, pre-med, Bozeman
What is your "essential technology" device?
Internet phone service.
What do you use it for?
To keep in touch with friends across the globe.
How does it work?
Two very close friends moved overseas, one to New Zealand and the other to Japan. Before they left, one set up a Vonage phone account and the other Skype. The accounts use the Internet to transfer our voice conversations. Over the last year I've talked to them both at least once every two weeks. Having an inexpensive method to talk has made it very easy to keep in touch. This new technology has allowed us to stay involved in each other's lives even though we are thousands of miles apart.
Patricia Muñoz, senior, liberal arts-global and multicultural studies and Spanish, Tuscon, Ariz.
'What can I say -- I'm a FaceSpace junkie.' --Patricia Muñoz
What is your "essential technology" device?
I tend to use my iPod everyday, along with the Internet and my cell phone.
What do you use them for?
My cell phone might as well be attached to my ear, because I use it constantly. I have special rings to identify who's calling, and I have the ring back jukebox, so when someone calls, they get to enjoy a different song every time. I use the Internet to stay in touch with my communities and to do research for my classes. All of them help me keep in touch with people. My iPod helps me stay sane while I drive from Big Sky to Bozeman.
Do you use Facebook or MySpace? What are the benefits/drawbacks?
...Ummm, I'm totally addicted. I use both Facebook and MySpace every day. I even change my MySpace layout at least once a week. I love it because I have been able to keep in touch with all of my high school buddies, first loves, etc. What can I say--I'm a FaceSpace junkie. A drawback to these pages is that people that you didn't like in high school come searching for you, and it really is time consuming.
Molly Nichols, freshman, sociology, Woodbury, Minn.
What is your 'essential technology' device?
My cell phone with tons of features.
What do you use it for?
I use it to stay connected to the world. It's my only form of communication besides e-mail and instant messaging. It keeps me in touch with family, keeps me organized, wakes me up in the morning and tells me what time it is.
What would you do without it?
I don't think I could exist.
Do you use Facebook or MySpace?
If so, which one, and what are the benefits/drawbacks?
I use Facebook. I get to keep in touch with friends I went to high school with. It's easier than communicating via telephone, because I can contact multiple people at one time. The disadvantage is that I call my best friends less and less often.
