College kids keep personal connections alive through technology

By Jessie Atkin

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As a member of the "Internet Generation," my typing skills vastly outrank those of my handwriting. I can write in a legible scrawl it's true, but any real handwriting, the craft of a thank you note, it's all lost on me. College students, especially, see keyboards as a lifeline to family and friends.

Staying in touch with a loved one away at college has never been easier. Convenience is key in the communication department these days of mobile phones, computers and the iPhone -- and yes, size does matter. The desktop has virtually been "banned" from the typical dorm room. That's not to say the desktop isn't superior to a notebook computer in some areas. But, the ease of use a notebook provides for the highly mobile college set far outweighs any extra computing power a desktop might offer.

Many college students would say that a laptop is crucial to one's mental well being, not only to staying afloat academically, but to surviving socially as well. E-mail is habitually checked and keeps students connected to home, and a quick peek at the news pages updates them on world events. The beauty of the laptop paired with wireless Internet and my typing abilities are all I need to transport.

Even more travel friendly is the cell phone. Second only to the laptop, a cell phone reminds the college student that there is a world even beyond the four-sided quad. It's important to note that message texting  isn't just for the T9 savvy any longer. The LG enV phone, for example, comes fully equipped with speed dial, camera and keyboard. That's right, typing talent is no longer tethered to the computer, it's on the go.  Not only can the phone take a picture and send it to forlorn parents, but now they can also even text back ("Are you eating?").

College students are probably going to eat up most of their minutes texting between each other. Combine that with chatting via laptop and visiting Facebook and there are the three main communication vehicles for college kids today. Facebook and other social networking sites make updates especially convenient since photos, videos, and information can be uploaded to one spot for anyone in the network to access.  When there's a more personal message to be conveyed, that's when e-mails, texts, the occasional real live phone call, and chatting are better bets. 

For those thinking of updating their computers, consider a Mac. In many Mac households, video chatting has taken over IM (instant messaging) in most instances. Laptops come with built-in cameras for video as well as photos.  Of course you can always use a PC and buy a Web camera; the Mac just makes the process very simple. Log in, click on, and a face-to-face conversation can take place instantaneously. No typing is necessary!

Staying connected, especially for college kids, businessmen, and anyone on the go, is about disconnecting from modems, and wires, and walls. Gadgets are getting more travel-friendly every day; look at the iPhone, a combination communication device you can hold in the palm of your hand. It’s still possible, mind you, to e-mail and chat from desktop computers, but on the college end it's far from convenient.  Plenty of grandparents e-mail college students from their desktops in Florida, for example

So those good, old-fashioned care packages should certainly have a note written in cursive attached to them. But wouldn't it also be great to log on to your PC to video chat, and see their reaction when they open it? Instant gratification: priceless.