The Section - High Tech Holiday
01/02/2006

The Section is a new feature within The Waterbury Observer written by, for and about area youth. It is produced by Media in Motion, a youth jouranlism program, in partnership with The Observer. For more information contact Youth Editor and Executive Director Quajay Donnell at quajay@leader365.org or 203-500-3891.

By Quajay Donnell

The holidays are over and as I reflect, I think back on the different technology that was requested and the different technology used this holiday season. The world has rapidly changed since our parents were kids, or even since we were kids just years ago. We rely heavily on technology and almost demand it in our every day lives. Our Christmas lists have gone from toys to mp3 players, from board games to laptops, and from Easy Bake Ovens to cell phones. Our generation and technology have changed the holiday forever.

Once upon a time, as if it was a fairy tale hundreds of years ago, people would spend hours and hours in department stores and malls. People are still doing it, but our generation has a little handy invention called the internet (I think Al Gore invented it, not sure) that has really taken off. As my mother would say, "everyone has an email address now" (fyi: she gets a little confused and thinks that the website is the email address).

Why buy a compact disc for someone, if you could just give him or her an iTunes gift card so they can download what they want online and then drop it on their iPod? That's what I did. Why go to the department store and spend time searching through aisles or in line with your final purchase, when you can go to their website? Most often there are better deals online and you can have it shipped right to your doorstep, or even their doorstep for that matter, especially for those larger items.

The day after Thanksgiving, also known as "Black Friday" (the day stores finally turn a profit), is a huge shopping day. There are blockbuster sales that start at 5 in the morning. People camp outside of the store and wait in line for hours with their turkey hangover. Well, like I said, it is a new day and the world is changing. This year while many did that, they also had the opportunity to take part in"Internet Monday". Internet Monday was a new promotion, which did fairly well in its first year out. The benefit? No lines. No camping out. No turkey hangover (unless you were still working on leftovers, which by this time may have become turkey soup or turkey sandwiches). Another huge plus - the deals were just as good on the websites.

Since the technology of the holiday has changed both what we ask for, and how we shop for it, think about the change in Santa's operation. The elves have become unionized, with 401k plans and they no longer wear elf "outfits" - they are more professional in their dress. They prefer to be called Santa Associates. They no longer make toys, that work is outsourced. They are more of merchandise buyers, and are constantly cutting deals for the big man himself to get the merchandise people want and have requested. It's all neatly placed in a database, and most orders are shipped through SanEx (Santa's version of FedEx). Santa is more of a CEO, Chairman of the Board type. He oversees the whole operation. The North Pole operation has moved to Canada somewhere, with satellite offices in around the world. Children no longer write letters to Santa, it's strictly all emails. Those emails are forwarded to his BlackBerry when he's not in the office. Santa travels via motorcade, with security (Santa Service) and flies from place to place in his private jet (Reindeer One). The whole thing has been modernized; because that's the type of world we now live in. It's an amazing operation. Rumor has it that the Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny are all in line to follow.

So, what will the world be like in ten years? How will we be doing our shopping then for holidays, or anything else for that matter? I mean you can buy groceries online like just about anything else. How will our generation's constant desire for technology continue to change the world? I guess time will only tell.

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