IMO, this is the first generation of information overload though. It is becoming increasingly difficult for someone to catch up. The new generation learns the newest marketable technology pretty intuitively. But the mass of technology in both terms of breadth and complexity, is beyond even the youngest minds to absorb. It's drinking from the proverbial firehose, 24/7.
I remember my parents used to ask me to set up new components for them. For me, it was simple. Everything just made sense. So I'd set up the new VHS machine, cable box, speakers, etc., because it wasn't something they as readily understood. Now I call my sons once in awhile and ask why something doesn't work the way I think it should.
This all makes me wonder where the plateau is. Is there a saturation point where humans simply cannot continue to increase knowledge exponentially? A point where the need for the basic knowledge just to have something to build upon becomes so huge that the increase slows down?