Seasoned Silicon Valley tech pioneer and writer Michael S. Malone describes in an edgelings column what his family equipped his son Tad with, as they sent him off to college for the his freshman year this fall. The first half of what Malone writes is about things that have not changed, like the need to include rolls of quarters and some laundry detergent. The second half of Malone’s account describes the technology he, his wife, and Tad chose for this first time freshman. Along with the details of what they chose, he makes these observations:
Twenty years ago, the cost of technology — as a percentage of total educational fees — probably peaked with the desktop computer and programmable calculator, clock radio and stereo-TV. . . . thanks to a couple decades of technological innovation, what would have been about $5K in today’s dollars for a crate full of electronic hardware and books, had now been reduced to two small devices, one the size of a pad of paper, the other a deck of cards – and all for half that price. God bless Silicon Valley. . . .
In the end, will this combination of hardware, software and serves in our brave new digital world of education prove more or less expensive than a few years ago? Hard to tell yet, but my gut suggests that it will all turn out about the same. But, that said, it is also important to note that Tad will enjoy infinitely more access to information and the ability connect to others . . . including his parents . . . than I did thirty years ago going to college just a few miles from home. As to whether that last is a welcome improvement, you’ll have to ask Tad.
