Are You a Digital Native or a Digital Immigrant? — Big Design Events

Not all Digital Immigrants fit into a single category. Current research classifies Digital Immigrants into three categories:

 
1. Avoiders.
    This group does not adapt to new technology quickly, if ever. For example, my father-in-law still gets the newspaper, orders cigars through the mail, and uses the USPS to deliver letters to his friends. He is happy with his life.
 
2. Reluctant Adopters.
    This group is aware of new technology and adopts to it at a slow pace. In many respects, I fall into this group. For example, I still have a second generation phone. It took me 10 years to finally get a DVR, even though I knew it would change how I watch television as soon as I saw it. I am happy with my life.
 
3. Eager Adopters.
    This group enthusiastically adapts to new technology. They embrace it. For example, Jeremy Johnson, one of the organizers of the Big Design Conference, falls into this group. He seems to be plugged into every device, network, tech trend, and so on. Jeremy personifies an Eager Adopter. Jeremy is happy with his life, too.
 

Digitial Immigrants can never become Digital Natives because they were not born after the introduction of digital technology.  Eager Adopters, however, are clearly the class Digital Immigrants that can relate more closely to most Digital Natives.