{"id":55,"date":"2015-02-08T15:57:36","date_gmt":"2015-02-08T15:57:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hhayleymatthews.wordpress.com\/?p=23"},"modified":"2015-02-08T15:57:36","modified_gmt":"2015-02-08T15:57:36","slug":"topic-1-digital-visitors-and-digital-residents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2008-2015\/2015\/02\/08\/topic-1-digital-visitors-and-digital-residents\/","title":{"rendered":"Topic 1: \u2018Digital Visitors\u2019 and \u2018Digital Residents\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Prensky\u2019s research into \u2018Digital Natives\u2019 and Digital Immigrants\u2019 was very influential at the time. Using this terminology, he suggested that technology plays an integral role in young people\u2019s lives \u2013 \u201cnative speakers of the digital language\u201d (Prensky, 2001). Contrastingly, older individuals have their foot in the past, attempting to adapt to the digital environment that surrounds them. The \u2018Immigrant\u2019 metaphor in relation to older individuals, who are somewhat technologically inexperienced, suggests that using the web is like \u201clearning a second language\u201d \u2013 they can become quite skilled, but never gain the fluency of a \u201cnative speaker\u201d (White, 2014). However, this model is based on age and technological skills, it fails to consider an individual\u2019s \u201cmotivation to engage\u201d (Bennett et al, 2008). Thus suggesting that the \u2018Native\u2019 and \u2018Immigrant\u2019 terminology does not encapsulate the complexity of the relationship between individuals and technology.<\/p>\n

As a result, in 2011, White and Cornu coined the terms: \u2018Digital Visitor\u2019 and \u2018Digital Resident\u2019. Some of the key characteristics of these terms include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Digital Visitor<\/strong><\/td>\nDigital Resident<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
    \n
  • Unlikely to have an online social profile, due to concerns of privacy.<\/li>\n
  • Will restrict themselves to email and Skype in order to maintain relationships.<\/li>\n
  • Do not view the web as a place to think.<\/li>\n
  • Infrequent users, with a specific need when using the web.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
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