Skills that the current generation doesn’t have (or need)

  February 25th, 2008

SEOMOZ posted an interesting article about things that the current generation of kids (25 and under) probably have no clue about. Their full list, including commentary, can be found here, but here are some gems we liked (with our own comments).

  • Looking up Facts in an Encyclopedia or Dictionary -- the "pedia" where kids used to go to write their reports before wikipedia
  • Using the Phonebook -- who needs a phonebook would you have an iphone book?
  • Dewey Decimal System/Library Card Files -- ask a kid to explain this system and have fun watching them squirm in confusion
  • Modem Connection Noise -- remember when upgrading to a 14.4 kbps Hayes modem made you the envy of all those with 9.6kbps ones? Now a typical cellphone can surf at speeds nearly 100x faster. Sadly, it was easier to troubleshoot an Internet outage with that bit-gargling noise.
  • Unknown Values of Collectibles/Junk -- not only can you sell your stuff on the world's largest garage sale, but you also get a fair, market value for it as well.
  • The Office Mailroom -- think about how many emails you get a day. Now, you begin to understand why offices of all sizes needed an internal mailroom just to shift through all the non-junk mail.
  • Charting Maps & Directions - how *do* you get from point A to point B without Google Maps?
  • Buying Airline Tickets in Person - no, really, people did this. Amazing, huh, sonny-boy?
  • Watching/Listening to the News for Weather, Traffic, & News - there was a time when you had to *wait* for this type of information. Now, even my Chumby can send it to me.
  • Inaccessibility of Adult Content and Knowledge - the term "sex" may no longer be the most widely search online phrase (it was replaced by Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, ironically enough), but think of the impact of making adult-eyes-only content so readily available to anyone with, well, eyes.

Most if not all of these skills have atrophied within the past decade. What skills do you think will be irrelevant within the next one?

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