Obama Says iPad, iPod, Xbox, PS3 are Distractions

The U.S. President works his BlackBerry fine, but doesn’t know how to work an iPad, iPod, Xbox or PlayStation.

U.S. President Barack Obama spoke to an audience of the class of graduating students at Hampton University, Virginia with his views on education, technology and modern media.

“You’re coming of age in a 24/7 media environment that bombards us with all kinds of content and exposes us to all kinds of arguments, some of which don’t always rank all that high on the truth meter,” Obama said, according to the AFP.

Some of Obama’s comments were made in light of how certain blogs and talk radio shows can publicize their views; “Some of the craziest claims can quickly claim traction,” Obama said. “All of this is not only putting new pressures on you, it is putting new pressures on our country and on our democracy.”

Obama then specifically named a couple of popular Apple portable devices and HD gaming systems as diversions and distractions.

“With iPods and iPads and Xboxes and PlayStations, — none of which I know how to work — information becomes a distraction, a diversion, a form of entertainment, rather than a tool of empowerment, rather than the means of emancipation,” he said.

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