Data generations

My children were going to discuss the nature of the parent's work as one of the activities in their school, and at that time their question to me was: What is the meaning of the data? And so I started looking for an answer that would be easy for their classmates to understand, not just my children, and I remembered myself in the first year of high school after completing my duties. The professor of mathematics thanked me at that time. ?), And he answered me in the Egyptian local language: (builds your life organization). A few words have a deep meaning from a professor with whom I have great respect, and I did not know at the time that I would need them to describe the role of data for my children, even in my work.

Certainly the children are close to me and noticing me when I work on the laptop or while preparing for a TV or radio interview that may have given them a general understanding of what I do, but not enough to understand and explain the issue to their colleagues.

I wanted the answer to be tangible things for them and what they would encounter on their regular day, but I wondered whether the generation that uses the most technology may be suffering from "technical illiteracy"? Or he is at risk of this.

In an attempt to answer their question, the data explained to them that it was all the information they put in any conversation or communication with a person or machine. If you asked them for a game they downloaded to the smartphone or tablet (their iPad) their name, date of birth, age or country, this is data, and if they asked them to fill out a paper form, this is data, and when creating an email, personal information is data, and even the smart watch that records The number of steps, movement time and activity are data. Of course, the last example had a greater impact on them because I share a fitness challenge with them on the smart watch, and they rejoice when they walk a distance longer than me or work for a longer period of time.

Global studies have proven that most children and adults are proficient in using the user interface for technologies, but they do not have sufficient knowledge of how the technology works and its relationship to their life cycle, and there are many efforts to spread technical culture, but overcoming such a gap requires a clear methodology from education-based agencies on the one hand and the concerned authorities To implement technology and build solutions for cities and countries, and that efforts be focused on answering the bigger question and in the language of our children that I and others in the past asked: “What do you do about it?”

Some may say that it is not necessary for everyone to know the details of the technology and to leave this to professionals. We have been driving cars for some time, but not everyone understands mechanics. This may be acceptable talk in the past, but the future that we are working to build from now on has vocabulary such as data that requires us and our children to define its meaning in relation to our lives, and its definition will not be the same for everyone. Likewise, knowledge of these technologies will enable us to protect ourselves by distinguishing what works for participation on specific platforms without being compromised or putting the safety of our children at risk such as impersonation or other risks.

The question of the profession of the father is traditional and as old as schools in human life, but his answer varies from generation to generation, and today it appears that the need is urgent for a generation that is suitable to describe it as a generation of data.

Assistant General Manager, Smart Dubai, Executive Director of Dubai Data Corporation.

To read the previous articles of the writer please click on its name .