Online technology of my generation

Katie D.

August 18, 2011 - 9:48 PM

For two months this summer, I was without a computer, without an ipod, and without regular internet access. These two months forced me to recognize just how deeply I have come to rely on the internet as an extension of my brain, both as a source of information ("I wonder what the capital of Uzbekistan is. Let's look it up!"), and as a source of entertainment. My generation has integrated our technology-heavy existence so completely into our lives and cultures that it is hard to imagine a world without email, music downloads, instant news updates, Google searches, or the constant bombardment of social networking. Believe me, I missed these things daily.

But I did emerge from this summer with a new appreciation of the power and joy of the internet, and with a strong desire to write about some of my favorite online sites. Many of these date back to freshman year, when friends in my dorm introduced me to a host of new internet oddities. I will loosely group them into the headings of "music," "comedy," "serious stuff," and "entertainment."

(And, just for clarification, none of these groups is sponsoring this article)

Music

I have two beloved music sites online. The first is well-known these days as a pioneer in music genre identification and free radio. Pandora [http://www.pandora.com/] is an online radio station that creates tailored playlists based on the music you enjoy. When you enter a song or artist, they match the instrumentation, lyrical pattern, and musical tendencies of that entry with other songs. You can also refine your playlist, saying you don't like certain songs, and do like others. For example, I put in the song "Hotel California," and get a playlist that includes other songs from the peak years of the Eagles, but I also get songs from bands I have never heard of, and then I check out later. I love this site for new music.

Grooveshark [http://grooveshark.com/] is the site I use to check out the new music I find on Pandora. You create your own playlist, and listen to the specific songs you request. It's not a download site, but is perfect for trying to decide if you will buy music later.

Comedy

I missed my online comedy so much this summer. The obsession began freshman year in the dorms, when my seven best friends would gather nightly to watch the Daily Show and Colbert Report. Both these shows are available online, and are my favorite source of consistent humor and serious news. Tragically, Comedy Central does not stream to Latin America. Two months without my nightly comedy.

Freshman year also introduced me to Eddie Izzard. For those of you not familiar, Eddie Izzard is a British comedian and actor, and does his comedy routines in drag. His humor hits me just right. I highly recommend these two videos for the starter Izzard fan: "Covered in Bees" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs-tl6GBOBo] and "Being Bilingual" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IzDbNFDdP4] (Note: comedy sketches contain some profanity)

Another favorite of mine is the web comic xkcd. I do not know the origin story for that name, nor have I looked up the author of the comic. These comics are often nerdy (science, math, and computers), sometimes about pop culture and current events, and often about love and life. This has been one of my very favorite websites for several years: http://xkcd.com/386/

Serious Stuff

My "serious stuff" of the internet is mostly in two categories: news and podcasts. Instant news is something I have come to value immensely, as is the ease of cross-checking and verification online. I take current events seriously, and there is so much information out there for those willing to dig a little. My favorite news sources is DemocracyNow! [http://www.democracynow.org/]

I am also an avid podcast listener. I listen to podcasts all the time: while walking to class, while cleaning my room, and while exercising. It's a great way to multitask, and I've found some real gems that are free to listen to or download. Here are my favorites:

"How Stuff Works" http://science.howstuffworks.com/stuff-you-should-know-podcast.htm

"Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me" http://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/

"Freakonomics Radio" http://freakonomicsradio.com/

Also, Ted Talks, which are fabulous speeches with accompanying videos on an enormous range of topics. Ted Talks: http://www.ted.com/

In an average week, I spend between ten and twenty hours listening to podcasts. If any readers have other favorites, please pass them along! Finding a new podcast is enough to send me into a room-cleaning, podcast accompanied frenzy. Both my room and myself would thank you.

Entertainment

This is a vague category for some of my internet favorites. The first is a tool for finding other cool things. StumbleUpon http://www.stumbleupon.com/ helps you find new websites, based on your interests (kind of like Pandora does with music). I highly recommend this website, but also warn you that it is a huge time sink.

Also included in this genre is a generational phenomenon of young people who have turned internet creativity into a business model. One of my favorite bloggers writes and illustrates simple stories (with surprisingly simple art), and supports herself through selling merchandise. I think this is a fascinating trend, and find her writing style to be hilarious. Here's my favorite blog article by Hyperbole and a Half: http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/11/dogs-dont-understand-basic-concepts.html

I could continue, certainly, with funny YouTube videos, internet memes, and bloggers. But I think I'll leave it here for now. This is the core of my internet favorites. Let me know what you think-to me, the different reactions people have to online content, and the variety of options out there is a really exciting piece of our modern culture. I hope you enjoy!