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Communicating with another person from another generation can sometimes be difficult, yet humorous in hindsight. Cross-generational communication can be especially confusing when it comes to advances and trends in technology.

For example: Last week at Barnes & Noble Bookstore, I couldn’t help but overhear a conversation between two gentlemen. One looked to be in his early 20s, working his way through school, stocking magazines and books. The other gentleman looked like he was in his early 50s, in search of an audio book.

The elder of the two asked, “Where can I find books on tape?”

“What kind of tape?”

“You know. Cassettes? Cassette tapes?”

“Oh, yeah. They’re over here. Follow me.”

For a brief moment, I wondered to myself if someone ever attempted to transcribe a book on to a roll of masking tape or duct tape. But I quickly dismissed the thought as improbable, but not impossible.

I understand how the man from the baby-boom generation might have felt a small level of frustration with the young man from Generation Y. On the flip side, though, I understand how the boomer’s request didn’t click right away with the kid from Generation Y.

One grew up spinning 45s and LPs, progressing to 8-tracks, cassettes, and perhaps CDs. The other probably started his life with his parents playing cassettes, but rapidly switched to CDs and ending up with MP3s on an iPod.

I’m just old enough to remember having vinyl records as a youngster. I wasn’t allowed to set the needle in the groove for fear that I would scratch the record. My dad’s Nat King Cole albums would have fit the cliché of sounding like a broken record had I accidentally marred them. Try to use the broken record cliché with kids today, and you’ll receive some puzzled looks. Believe me. I tried with the kids I used to teach.

Now audio technology is coming to the point with which my children’s generation possibly won’t even understand what a repeating CD sounds like since MP3s and iPods are gaining popularity. Whether you’re 8 or 88, you probably know someone with an iPod downloading their favorite music or podcast from the Internet.

However, I don’t think I’ll purchase an iPod until the car manufacturers stop installing CD players in vehicles. I’m a little stubborn in that respect. Until then, I’ll gladly keep spinning my music and audio books on CD.

Maybe in 20 years I’ll be the one in Barnes & Noble asking the college-aged kid where the books on CD are located. That is, if CDs still exist. I wouldn’t be surprised if I get a puzzled look and an innocent reply, “Sir, our books about certificates of deposit and other investments are right this way.” That they are.

Columnist Tim Gray, a West Salem resident, can be reached at tim.gray.matter@gmail.com.