Have you ever noticed how important it is to us to customize our technological toys? We want a certain desktop wallpaper, background, cursor image on screen. Our name is associated with a certain signature, smiley or title. Our website, blog or facebook page has a customized dashboard, wall or layout. Our cellphone has a certain ring, with a certain personalized case cover.
I noticed one day teaching grade 4 computers that when I allowed the students to customize their desktop computers with a photo from a photographers gallery, they were excited. These 9 year olds came in weekly to change that background even though it was changed back to the default everytime they logged out of the computer lab.
Grade 2 and 3 students, 7 and 8 year olds, were thrilled to play an online math game because the game included an avatar that they could customize with different hats, hairstyles, glasses, skin color, eyes, nose and facial features. These students also love playing on a webkinz site where they can buy and change things for their little stuffed pet.
As adults we can customize our cars, homes and other possessions. We have always had the choice to express ourselves this way. However, it seems to me that lately we have been offered this ability in increasing amounts on every gadget we own.
If young students and adults alike, enjoy the ability to customize programs, avatars, desktops, cellphones etc., why has this phenomenon become so popular? Is it just a big marketing scheme?
It is motivational I'll agree, but does this makes us feel unique or just one in a million?
What customizing phenomenon have you noticed?
Do you think it has always been in our human nature to personalize our space?
Does having a unique profile in a more globally connected world makes it hard for anyone to stand out?
Is customizing a way to carve out our little niche in the world?
Customizing gives us the chance to "feel" unique and express ourselves. It's more about how we see ourselves than how the world might see us.
ReplyDeleteI agree. We do want to express ourselves and feel unique. However, once we've had the chance to do this, don't we want the world to see how we look?
ReplyDeleteI've heard "Come here. Look at my avatar." as soon as each kid has created it. They can't wait to show others.
Customization is about as old as human history. Thousands of years ago, everything was made by hand. Everything was customized, because everything was unique.
ReplyDeleteNot having items customized is relatively new. Factories took away the customization that was already there. Computers bring back the customization that people have had for ages.