ComTech

In my life, communication technology is very important and I truly do not think I could go very long without things like my smart phone or computer. Next time you’re out just take a second to look around and notice how many people are sitting there staring at their mini smart phone screen.

We are living in a world in which technology is controlling us and it is almost impossible to be unplugged from this. No matter if you’re on vacation or what, technology is with you and is hard to even cut back on. This is both a good a bad thing because technology in general is great and is keeping our world up to date but we need to steer clear of becoming dependent on these communication technology things.

I have learned so many things about communication technology and the simple fact that new components arise while others fail. Many theories have been brought into play throughout this time and my favorite has to be the displacement theory. It is a theory that is so simple yet makes so much sense. As time moves and more technologies become available, others decrease because there is simply not enough time in the day to do it all. I believe that communication technology is everywhere we look and is an important thing in most everyone’s lives. I am anxious to see what the future holds for communication technology and what new things will arise.

Blogging

Blogging to me is interesting and kind of reminds me of when I was a little girl and used it write in my diary. Unlike most girls, I wouldn’t write my personal secrets or who I had the latest crush on. I would instead write about things that I learned about in school or new topics I wanted to find out more about or even interesting things I would hear. To me blogging is the same type of thing, well for me at least, and I somewhat enjoy it. There are some people who blog about every little thing in their life, personal or not, which I do not like so much. Some things are meant to be kept private and do not need to be broadcasted for everyone to see via the internet.

As time goes on though, I believe that blogging will continue to increase and has many impacts on society. I recently heard that Elementary Schools no longer teach cursive which is so bazaar to me because I remember that you could not pass the 3^rd grade without being able to write in cursive. I think this is due to new technology and things like blogging. Sooner or later, there will be no more penmanship and everything will be typed.

 
Since we as Americans have the right to freedom of speech we can publish anything online, which is not at all a bad thing. If we are allowed to say whatever we want why can’t we type whatever we want? The only problem I see with this is the privacy factor and people not truly aware of how public the information they post is. All in all I like blogging but maybe it is because I know what needs to be kept private and what should be publicly seen.

Big Brother is Watching

In high school, we were required to read a book entitled ‘1984’ by George Orwell which explained how life would be having everyone under complete surveillance by the authorities. Ever since reading this book, I have been skeptical about the entire ‘big brother’ propaganda. As our technology in today’s world continues to become bigger and better, we have to sit and wonder if it will ultimately lead to ‘big brother’ watching our every move.

Various information about us is being collected and stored, sometimes even sold to marketing companies and most of the time we have no idea. Our activities are being tracked and recorded, whether it is online, on mobile phones, television, Kroger cards, bank cards, etc. Also cameras are practically everywhere in public settings and these tapes are watched and kept on file. Now considering this information is not all publicly available to view, where do we draw the line and how do stop this before we fall into a phase where big brother is watching?

Honestly, this all scares me and I truly believe that one day everything will be monitored and dictated if this keeps up. I do have a Facebook page in which I make everything private so only my accepted friends can see it but I am still careful about what I post. I try to take steps to protect my private life and privacy unlike many of my friends.

I believe that people are not informed and do not truly know how much information is being tracked in turn making them feel somewhat invincible, especially online. This is something that everyone should research and be concerned about since there are no laws that protect our collection of surfing online data. Privacy advocates see risks and are working on passing a Do Not Track law in which your information online cannot be tracked and collected. To me, this is a great idea and will help in trying to regulate things better. Overall, I hate the fact of being watched especially when I do not know what information is stored and sold about me. Everyone needs to be informed and laws should be passed to protect our personal privacy and lead us away from being watched and controlled by some Big Brother before it's too late.

Video Games

Growing up with an older brother, video games have been in my life since I can remember. Starting with the second generation of video games, my family owned Nintendo '64 and SEGA genesis. Then we moved up to the handheld gaming system with the game boy. Moving along to the third and fourth generations of video games, we purchased the Xbox and Play station and ultimately ended up with the Wii. Now even our iPhone is equipped with various games to play as well. With each of these improved gaming systems came multiple new features and graphics in which made the games more realistic.

Video games are sometimes looked down upon for multiple reasons. For one, I’ll bring up the displacement theory again which is when a person chooses to use a newer technology and in turn has less time to send on other things. This relates to video games because people are concerned that since teens sit and play video games for hours on end, they are not socializing as much and not engaging in more physical activity. With newer game systems being introduced like the Wii, more physical activity is being done while playing these games and even includes games like the Wii Fit in which you work out.

Another thing that has changed as video games have developed is the age in which people play these games. The average game player is 35 years old and has been playing for over 12 years (ESA, 2009). Also, the number of women playing video games has increased to 40% of game playing public (ESA, 2009)  This fact is mind blowing to a lot of people because video games are stereotyped to be played by young males but just think about it. With ratings of video games being enforced, more graphic content and themes are allowed with a harsher rating in which draws an older audience. Also with the introduction of the Wii Fit, many older people have reporting using this system regularly in a way branching various generations together.

Newer technology will bring many things to the table for video games including 3D images and digital cameras that incorporate recognition of physical characteristics. I think there are both positives and negatives in video games but as time goes on, expect bigger and better. We are in a new generation full of new technology, it’s hard to tell what the future holds for video games but as far as I’m concerned, they aren’t as bad as people think.

My first experience with computers

Computers seemed to always be around in my childhood. I can remember in Elementary School, we had a class that we were required to take which was a computer lab. We learned how to use programs including word and excel as well as have timed typing tests etc. We also had a program in which we read a book and took an online test to view our understanding of the context.

 Since I was introduced to computers early in my lifetime, I feel as if understanding computer concepts and programs is much easier for me than my other friends who weren’t introduced as young as I was. This is an important thing to me since computers have become so huge and will continue to get more complex. I believe that all Elementary Schools should have a class like computer lab in which they are introduced as I was.

 It’s crazy to me to realize how far computers have come since my childhood days and it’s hard to imagine what the future holds for them. Our computers in lab were nowhere near the sizes of the first computers ever (ENIAC or UNIVAC), but they were huge, bulky monitors with a boxy hard drive off which it ran. Computers now are a lot more sleek and easier to maneuver.

In a 2012 study of 1000 random results conducted by consumer reports entitled “what America needs” states after the microwave oven at 25% the home computer comes in 2^nd at 19%. New technologies like the smartphone helps bring computers to your pocket as many can access internet via 3G/4G services. As you probably know, computers are huge in today’s technology world and will continue to become more important in Americans lives.  

Homemade Videos

Homemade videos are a form of communication that I believe is growing and are quite popular. Shows including Americas Funniest Home Videos and Tosh.0 are based solely on homemade videos. These shows along with others prove just how important homemade videos have become and how this communication form is becoming somewhat viral.

YouTube is a site in which anyone and everyone can upload their videos for the world to see and this communication form is starting to become a new form of literacy. For example, Jenna Marbles is just a regular girl who posts videos on YouTube every Wednesday. Her videos do not have a set topic or anything, just common comical topics. Her videos have been featured on ABC news and she has also had an article printed about her in the New York Times. She has over 500 million page views and over 3 million followers. This just shows you how viral these homemade videos have become and prove that with time, they will continue to take over.

Homemade videos are a technology that has become more increasingly important in our lives. Since they are 'homemade' most of the videos (like the ones seen on Tosh.0 or YouTube) are not properly made and usually are taken from Smartphone or webcams. As more people post their videos and this technology continues to grow it will effect communication tactics and one day may be a true literacy. I think a person studying communication as their major should definitely learn how to properly shoot and edit videos because one day in the future, videos will become the most important form of communication technology.

Displacement Theory

The displacement theory was developed by leading mass media scholar, Maxwell McCombs. Basically this theory describes how we as individuals only have so much time in our lives that we can communicate. Meaning that participation in one communication domain takes away from others, when a new communication technology is introduced then we have less time for other communication activities. This theory is based on the fact that time is a limited resource and the amount of time we have constrains communication activities.

 This theory holds true in my life and I can relate it to my use of television. Television has and will be a huge communication technology I use in my life every day. This displacement theory holds true in my television use for many reasons. For one, I find myself trying to decide whether I want to watch television or listen to my iPod and a lot of the time I choose to watch television.

With the introduction of many new technologies like the iPod, MP3 player and satellite radio, it is hard to manage our time between these and television. The displacement theory uses somewhat of a sum game which starts at a baseline of 0. Once you bring in new technology it adds points, you have to take away from other communication activities to get back to the baseline of 0.

This is difficult to do because one has to decide which communication activity they favor more. With these new technologies becoming more advanced and new ones being introduced, the television is sometimes left in the dust but I honestly believe that it is an activity that will not be forgotten. It is the only device that an individual can watch live programs and watch shows that are not offered online or through streaming. It is something that continues to develop itself through things like HDTV and satellite television. When I find myself with spare time, the television is what I choose to fill that time but that also means that I spend less time using other things like my iPod, radio, or other activities proving the displacement theory true.

Music, can't live without it!

Music is a very important thing in today's world. No matter someone's age, young or old, everyone has listened to music and has their own genre they prefer. I listen to music everyday of my life whether it is in the car on the radio, on my laptop at my house or simply on my iPhone.

 

Honestly I love music and do not think that I could live without it. I do not have a so called favorite type of music to listen to, it really just all varies on what type of mood I'm in. My playlist ranges from rap to rock to country and anything in between. I listen to music for multiple reasons the number one reason to just let out some feelings I keep inside. I do a good job of hiding my inner thoughts and feelings so music is a way for me to express these feelings through someone else's lyrics and beats. I listen to songs that somewhat relate to my life.

 

Some stats that we covered in my Communication technology class:

What do college students do with their time?

13.4 hours in ‘communication day’

55% listening

17% reading

16% speaking

11% writing

Some other reasons I listen to music are to just let go of everything around me and concentrate on the words, almost obvlivious to the world. Also music opens a lot of room for interpratation of the words and critical thinking beyond the lyrics which I find very interesting. My iPhone contains most all of my music so when I hop in the car I just plug in my AUX cord and select a playlist depending on my mood and what I want to listen to. When I'm out of the car, my headphones are plugged into my phone of my laptop is playing my iTunes or pandora music. I honestly do not think I could live without music, it is art for the soul and I just love it!!

 

MP3 music allows individuals to control and “transform urban journeys into pleasurable and private spaces.” (Simun, 2009)