Born Digital. You’ve heard the term. People who never knew a life where there weren’t computers, cell phones, video games, streaming music and shows, email, electric cars, drones or selfie sticks. You know, Gen-Z, and everyone after.
Me, I was not born digital. I was born bored, invisible and human. But that alone is not a distinction. That’s like living on one side of a border. What’s incredible is just how much digital… was born me.
The advancements in digital technology — the big ones, the ones that changed the world — were lock step with my own personal development. Each new digital invention, or interruption, not only happened in my life, it happened for my life. At precisely the age in which a person could most use it.
The only distinction that gives me over anyone else’s experience with technology is that I’ve tended to be more excited about it. It’s been my digital fairy godmother, filling me with awe, wonder, curiosity, excitement… and maybe also a deep-seated inferiority complex. Was it me, or was it just this here bionic arm that managed through the chaos?
Late 60's: Lo and Behold
I’m born. The world is altogether analog. God knows how parents entertained us. Mostly, I’m guessing, they didn’t. I learned to crawl and found an open bottle of kerosene under the sink. Had to have my…
