Blog 2

Wow! When reading Baym and Herring I was amazed and taken back into time. It's get weary when I think about the harm new technology can cause, when a change is taken place. I am mostly concern about the different channels and set up of the different types of messenger and chatline that are up today. Also, I have great concerns about the different uploads of software and other attachment that can be affected of sudden or unfamiliar change.

I for one hope that the world think carefully, when agreeing or accepting hazardous changes of tranformation for new technology. I'm very concern about the digital technology that is discussed in this reading. I believe that digital technology will delay or corupt valuable material that have been years for years.

I just don't believe in changes in technology that have been effectively in this world. When I think of change, I think of delayed response in areas that we can't afford to experience.

Last, but not least, I believe in allowing a new technology to be first tested behind the scene for a period of 2 years, before the world has to accept it.

Digital effect! Scary, but so real in today's world use.

Will's Blog 2

Wednesday, January 26, 2011PEW Quiz
Hi guys,

I took the PEW Quiz and I was labeled to be a desktop veterean. Smile.

I normally don't like to take quizzes, but this one was truthful and fun.

I am a visible aid person, and I like things that are directly in my eye sight, although I do wear glasses.

When I am using anything electronic, I must be at a dest or table so, that I can focus on my target.

I notice most people loves to sit or lay in bed while completing many electronic task, but I have to be sitting upright, before I can be focus.

I'm feeling a sense of relief that I will really enjoy this class. I think I am going to find out alot of thing I didn't know about my self.

I am a direct person, and I don't have a problem expressing how I feel, or how I understand different subject.

Any ways, I'm looking forward to learning from each one of you, and I hope I will type something that will enlighten your minds.

Thanks!

WM

Blog 2- Fears and Hopes

With any new thing that hits the world, like new technologies, people have both hopes and fears. With e-mailing, instant messaging, and facebook people are able to be in contact with loved ones more, which obviously, make people happy and gives people hope in technology. Technology is being advanced every day and new CMCs are being developed. So much new technology is making people fearful that we are becoming too dependent on technology. I know that I am pretty dependent on my cell phone, laptop, and internet sites like facebook. I always need to have my phone with me in case I get a call or a text message. While I don’t see the problem with being dependent upon technology, some people think it’s dangerous. New technologies that are able to pinpoint where you are or sites where one may overshare about them selves scare some people because they believe this interferes with our privacy. People are also becoming worried that human to human reaction will soon be nonexistent. Adults were also becoming worried with the growing amount of porn on the internet and were/still are very worried about children and online predators. In cases like this, CMCs are able to help navigate us through these new technologies. Parents can set up security on their computers so they can protect their children. With every new product there are pros and cons but it’s how we handle them that really matters.

Baym and Herring

After reading the two texts, I came away with both expressing the fact that people have hopes and fears when new technologies are introduced. Most people can see the benefits in new technologies and how it will help/improve peoples lives. A lot of people can also see where the new technologies can go awry. Take Google and Facebook for examples. Both provide a great service; Google helps you find things on the Internet and Facebook helps you find and stay in touch with friends and people who are otherwise hard to stay in touch with. But, for me, both abuse your privacy big time. Google with it's targeted ads based on your surfing habits is very annoying. Last year I went on a cruise. For months that’s all I saw were ads for cruises on sites I visited. I'd already made my cruise reservation, I didn't need to see ad after ad of cruise adverts. Eric Schmidt, (outgoing) CEO of Google said this about privacy: "if you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place". Maybe so, but a lot of people do things in private they later regret doing and don't want the whole world to know about it. that's why it was done in private. And Facebook, just TODAY said they would let advertisers use comments on your page without your permission when you "liked" their product. With no way to opt out. To me, that's taking privacy too far.

So people are right to see the good and bad in new technologies. Because new technologies will be used for good and bad.

Blog 2

I believe that balance is everything in life. The Information Age or Digital Age in which we live, allows for information and digital communication available whenever the user finds fit. Many users, then, are amongst the people that have trouble deciphering a healthy limit. Our culture is so overexposed with the constant discovery of newer and smarter technology that the boundless access never seems like enough. Not that anyone thinks enough is ever enough. My argument here is that there is much to fear when it comes to the power of the internet and all of which we are exposed to everyday.
When the internet was available and later faster connections became available the communication environments increased greatly (Haider 2004). Therefore, the content in which people were revealed to became increasingly boundless and indulgent. It was no longer just at their work computer or at a wealthy friend’s desktop setup but now readily available to people at all times, at all measures, no matter the content. While this is fine, according to one’s own moral ethics, it poses a problem when young teenagers or children become overexposed and able to get information that has caused fatalities and confusion. The availability and flexibility of computer-mediated communications has offered to young people the “out” when forced to deal with problems face to face. The balancing act and protection of users, I believe, is something we may need to fear, as it is directly effecting our future generations.
As the Haider article mentions many experienced users have become more cautious online. To try and regain control some of the balance people are now taking more precautions of what they do with their information online. This, I feel, is a way to lean toward what we know as individuals, which is not to trust completely or conform completely to the ways of the internet world.
While I am one that prefers face to face as the preferred communication, it is in my own experience that I have found fear and hope are the perfect balance when accepting the freshness of computer-mediated communication. It is in this type of communication where both positive and negative culture is being formed. I am sure that as many more new and innovative ideas come to surface hope and fears will be found within them as well.

New Technology is Killing Us.............Or is it?

When reading Baym and Herring both had interesting points but led to some of the same fears and hopes about new technology. The use of technology is supposed to help with improvements in our daily life (Baym 28) knowing now we are in the Information Age. So our society is at a point where it is becoming a digital media because new technology is being made every day. One of the biggest hopes is that society can advance with technology equally and not that society use technology as a crutch through life. Fears came about as technology moved faster five years ago. Baym describes the fear of technology being abused in a harmful way such as privacy, dealing with relationships. Little human to human interaction would come into play is how Herring is looking at it. In chapter two of our textbook (Baym) one feel’s Google is making us stupid and is dumbing us down as human beings. Technology is making humans lose control. These hopes and fears are well-founded just turn on the television and see how technology is shaping our communication. We are becoming technology for example, children play violent video games and the next day go to school and act them out, which later on end up on the news for some outrages thing he/she did. New type of CMC comes faster then we can blink our eyes; Herring describes CMC on the internet as “slouching towards the ordinary” (Herring 27). These are the people that chose not to step outside the box, to call or meet someone (interaction). Instead, making things simple as far as, “I can email or text him/her later.” The web is making things so trouble-free because CMC is moving at a rapid paste.

Blog 2

This reading really took me back. I remember being 8-10 years old PRE-World wide web, playing text based games on local billboards... "The Final Frontier" for any old skool nerds out there... Yes Im sure none of you even know what that means, but I watched the internet become what it is through all these avenues that these articles are refering to. Hell back in my day MIRC or IRC was used for nothing but illegal uploading/downloading on a ratio run system (hypothetically). I remember I made so much money in high school because I was the only person who had the know how to get the illegal music and burn it for resale, hypothetically... I remember the day ICQ came out I was "Uh-Ooo"-ing all over the place, I actually still have friends that conduct business on that fossil of a chat proggy... But hey, Romanians... what are you going to do, they haven't caught up with us quite yet... I mean it's not like AIM is hard to find or get, I can link you to a page right now that will give you every version ever created... but anyway... The fears of this article are ridiculous, once again I see nothing to fear other than privacy issues but if you are a normal citizen and not trying to overthrow the government or working with the late Mr. Escobar Id say you will be fine... Allthough I did have one friend, true story, who put up a java pic of a gun shooting at a W sign 5 years ago and within 3 days the secret service was questioning his entire family... We checked his outgoing packets a month later from his house and it was being re-routed to a military base in Florida... but he took care of them... I think the means of communication on the internet are amazing and I think the stronger and stronger bandwidth gets the better it's going to become... Keep using the internet, keep chating away, keep facebooking, keep bloging, and keep buying, because we need the internet... After China buys the entire planet it will be all we have left... :)

I am a Digital Collaborator

When I finish taking the test it proved that I like to share my creation with other people. Which is true when I come up with new ideals I tend to ask people what do they think? I believe the test covered all possiable types of internet users I mean basically the internet is taking over our lives. We can acces the internet with just the click of a button on our cell phones or any pocked carrying device.

Treonna'Joy............Finally

Hello classmates,

My name is Treonn'Joy in I am a Journalist major in May 2011 I will have the pleasure of walking across the stage yeah me! I took this class because I think it will be intresting knowing the fact the intrenet is apart of our daily lives. I look forward to having a great semster with you all!

Thanks,
TJW

Tech User score

Good evening! Though I am late, I still wish to participate!

I was categorized also as a digital collaborator. I assume this means there is a smidgen of "geek" in me. I do agree with this category assigned to my answers, however I believe that the quiz is missing at least two categories. The first one that came to mind was, if I can use them, I can build them. There is not such a category that suggests a type of hardware engineer in electronics. The second category I would suggest would be the level of digital dependence.
I have many electronic devices: cell phone, Ipod MP3, digi camera, PSP, NDS, other game consoles, 1 desktop, 2 laptops, 1 net book. All in all, I know how to use them, though I do not know how to build them!
I check my email at least once a day but only because I choose to pay extra on my cell phone plan to check it there as well. I do text message, picture message, and sometimes actually use the call options on my cellular device.
I believe that we are the digital age and that it has benefited us greatly with the new abilities offered within its services. However, I also believe it is hindering us greatly with the lack of personal contact with each other. I am concerned slightly that as the years pass, this need for personal contact will change, become a smaller need, and possibly be completely replaced with this "digital age".

So yes, I believe I am digitally competent and confident, but not dependent!
I think it is entertaining to be considered as part of the "mostly male" group of digital collaborators. I understand this number is caused by many things, but still non-the-less entertaining. The report given by Horrigan was extremely interesting to me in that I had to right a research paper last semester by these same guidelines. Fortunately, I did not have to do the survey work, so understanding this report as one I could have been interested in myself was attention grabbing. All of the numbers sort of flooded me with information, but seeing the graphs illustrate what was measured helped tremendously to my understanding.

All in all, my reflection on typology is correct in my perspective, and my reflection on Horrigan's report is that I am very interested to dig deeper into what else was uncovered out of the general population.

Thanks for reading!

Lauren R.

Hi fellow class mates,

My name is William Moorehead. I am a Paralegal/Firm Administrator for a great law firm here in Memphis. I am taking this class to advance my communication skills more effectively in many ways. I am a working on a second undergraduate degree here at the University. My major is Liberal Arts.

I hope to enhance the vibe of the wonderful works of the Communications Department in which our professor has developed for us.

If I can be of any assistance to anymore, please don't hesitate to ask!

Thanks for reading my blog.

WM

The Pew Typology quiz, categorized me as an Ambivalent Networker. Yes, this result seems to fit me and my lifestyle. I am a "baby boomer", knocking at the door of 50 years old and by deault became part of the IT staff over 25 years ago at an insurance company. I have actually grown with the ICT's as part of my career path as well as my social life. I actually trained contact software for insurance agent/brokers for 7 years.
I feel the research and breakdowns were very detailed. The categories descriptions made me think of other individuals and thei usage of ICT's. My parents, for instance are almost 70 years old, both with college education. Neither one really cares for the convience of the internet, such as paying bills, but the cell phone, that's were they come alive. So I thought they could be considered "mobile newbies" or even "the tech indifferent", both seem to fit their life styles. While choosing one or the other would place them into to totally different categories, which are "Motivated by Mobility" or " Stationary Media Majority".
One more point, the demographics, I didn't quite agree. I realize that this was an average, and I'm considered an "Ambivalent Networker", whereby I am neither a male nor am I in my late 20's. Next, and this is a personal observation, when the new technolgy hits the streets, usually individuals of lower socio-economic status seem to have them.

Pew Test

You are an Digital Collaborator

This couldn't be anymore perfect for me as I have multiple PCs as well as laptops with a 3 monitor setup as well as a 200" projector for my digital media room, it's really quite insane in there. I leave there and go to an office with 2 laptops one with a 3g data account for a second selling access port for 4-5 different selling locations on the web, it basically gets the word out for our merchandise faster. I use a droid cell phone for my social networking as well as on the go gaming, and I also use the ebay listing tool for on the spot picture/selling. Basically there is no area I am not one with the internet on, you can call me Neo if you'd like.

The Article was a very informative piece. Actually seeing the statistics of the nation right in front of my face is rather shocking. All these things that I take for granted are not even used by so many people I would assume could not live without them. The day my father picked up an Iphone was the day I started to realize, this movement is becoming rampant. The internet, constant connection to infinite knowledge as well as instant communication is becoming so needed/demanded that the direction of the world is soon to be run through mobile devices. Business as we know it is about to lose face to face contact on the lower tear levels. Average dealers will be selling merchandise with nothing but a name and an address. Paypal will be controlling a massive amount of the worlds finances, off of a 3% commission per transaction. It's technically becoming the world bank via internet sales. It's actually very amazing to see this type of transformation as well as wealth redistribution happening right in front of my face. I am just glad that I have been involved with it for the amount of time that I have.

Ambivalent Networker

I don't think any other type would be fit me more perfectly than an Ambivalent Networker. I do use the internet for information and for my entertainment, however, I do not like the fact that I am so easily accessed by others. Not responding to my phone has posed a real problem with me among friends because people get aggravated with me for not answering my phone all of the time. (Mad is an exaggeration, however, my friends always comment how I always screen my phone calls). My rebuttal: I live in the present. I want the people around me to feel like I am engaged in our conversation and time together. Likewise, I am offended when I am talking with someone and they are texting or checking their Facebook on their phone. I feel like the present isn't enough stimulation for people and that is bothersome.

It seems I confirm my feelings that the wealth of access can be intrusive. This is often noted even more so when I am around younger people. I feel like many teenagers cannot communicate as well because they are able to text among friends rather than look them in the eye. I admit, I have "folded" into the use of my devices and text has helped me out of sticky situations that I would otherwise never confront. Therefore, I submit to the notion of the Ambivalent Networker as relying on text rather than actual phone conversations for the majority of my cell phone use.

I thought the quiz was useful and specific. I was surpised by some of the group's ages that didn't seem to match up with their confidence in their access. I also thought of how it would be interesting to add occupation to the survey. Education level was included, but I thought of how much of a person's profession plays a role in their access and usablity with the internet. I was surprised that Ambivalent Networkers made up a mere 7% and the Off the Network users made up twice as many at 14%. It is surprising to me that such a high amount of people are "off the network," which seems almost impossible to avoid.

Digital Collaborator

According to the quiz results, I'm a digital collaborator. I'd say I'm on the cusp of digital collaborator and ambivalent networker, though I probably lean towards the former. While I do spend a large percentage of my life online for work and play, and I'm completely comfortable managing my digital devices, I do find that my digital life can interfere with my actual life at times. For this reason, and when my schedule warrants it, I take breaks to rest my brain and get some fresh air, unobstructed by mobile devices and the internet. Otherwise, I'm heavily dependent on the information I obtain and exchange online.

Pew's coverage of the types of internet users is extensive, covering nearly every type I could ever imagine. The only exception I can think of is the growing number of baby boomers, who are now using social networks like Facebook to interact with family and friends. My mother-in-law doesn't use email or any features on her phone, but she knows her way around Facebook better than a number of people my age. She uses it as a communication tool and an outlet for promoting the non-profit organization she fundraises for.

Overall, I found Pew's study eye-opening. It's difficult, though not impossible, to imagine a group of individuals in the United States, who have no digital connection whatsoever, or those who do have the connection, but prefer to abstain from using it. I also found it interesting that my classification places me in the company of well-to-do males in their late 30s. I'm female and hardly well-to-do.

Hey, It's White!

My name is David White, I am a comm major at Memphis and I'm looking at 9 more hours and Im never coming back. I can't wait to get this over as I am a full time employed sales representative for Callan Salvage/World Sales Liquidators in Eads. If you need it, it's not a car, odds are we have it, or we just sold it. I like my job but I can't wait to finish school to pursue another other career opportunities. I hope this class is great and I can't wait to get into everything we are about to learn.

Blog 1- Pew typology

My type was Digital Collaborator. Apparently, I fit into a group comprised mostly of older men. I would have to say that I do agree with the result but I would also agree with the results if I got Ambivalent Networker. Like an Ambivalent Networker, I have “folded mobile devices into how you run your social life, whether through texting or online social networking tools” and I rely on ICTs for entertainment. I have a facebook, a twitter, a blog that I share with my friend, and I use my iPhone to check on everything.

I thought some of the questions on the quiz were pretty silly. One question was something about if I thought it was easier to stay in touch with family through the internet...I was thinking “well of course it’s easier to stay in touch with people on the internet” because there are so many possibilities like facebook and g-chat on g-mail. This quiz also made me feel like I had an addiction to my phone and laptop (which I probably do). I thought that the Pew typology had too many groups. I thought some were so close together to they could be combined into one group.

PEW Typology

After taking the PEW Typology quiz, I found out I was an Ambivalent Networker. This type is classified by a user who has embraced technology and uses ICTs for entertainment, and mobile devices in ways such as texting or social networking. I would agree with these statements, as I feel at ease with technology. I take advantage of the internet as a resource and the many things it has to offer. My type also stated that I feel this technology can sometimes be intrusive and that I am confident in troubleshooting with many of these devices. I only partially agree with these statements. While I think the internet can be different things to different people, I do not find it intrusive with my use or in my life. Also, I can probably manage to get by as far as troubleshooting goes, however I would much rather hand it over to someone else for that.

I think everyone would fit into one of the categories within the two groups, those motivated by mobility, and stationary media. I believe people either embrace technology or tend to overlook it. I found the report by Horrigan interesting. I think technology is more commonly used among younger generations, however it is interesting to see people who are unfamiliar with it take advantage of it. I have one grandmother who would likely be classified as ‘Off the Network’, she has no cell phone, and her landline phone still has a cord. She also doesn’t know a thing about computers or use the internet. In contrast, my other grandma is 84 and more of a ‘Media Mover’. She has a facebook and enjoys using it in order to keep in touch with family that lives further away, and thinks digital photo sharing in amazing. The survey being done 20 months apart with the same group shows not only how many people actively use ICTs, but the rapid rate at which more people are embracing them.

Pew Quiz

After taking the Pew Typology quiz, I came out as a Digital Collaborator. But, while I have all the digital devices (digital camera, video camera's, dvr's, laptop, desktop, iPhone, iPad, and all the other "i" devices), I really don't publish that much about myself. I do have a Facebook page, but I was pushed into setting it up (I forget the exact reason) and I tend to stay away from Facebook as much as possible and only reply to others who post on my wall. Only once have I posted on someone else's wall that was not in direct response to a post on my wall. I think younger users are much more willing to give up personal info about themselves to the world than those of us who grew up before the Internet. I first started using the Internet twenty odd years ago and I used the text-based program called gopher to get around the Internet at a whopping 2400 baud connection.

If anything, I consider myself to be very much a consumer of digital information, news and various other types of info (weather for weather apps for example). For me, I rarely go out of my way to publish anything including blogging or adding a comment to a news article.

As with any attempt to categorize anything, especially people, you can never be 100% accurate. Even though the quiz says I'm a collaborator, I don't feel I collaborate that much. I consume a great deal. For me, trying to carry on a conversation via email or blogs is cumbersome because you lose too much 'environmental feedback' and emoticons are a weak substitute.

I agree with the statement in the Horrigan report that what qualifies as high-tech has risen over the years, and I think it’s obvious it will continue to rise as new uses are discovered. I also agree that the penalty for having little or no access will also rise as time goes on, or what is better known as the “digital divide”.

Hi everyone...

My name is Dan Albaugh and I work at the Univ. of TN Health Science Center. My major (Technology Management) is through University College. This is my first class to be online so it will be interesting to see how it pans out. Not having physical feedback from people when interacting with them (such as facial expressions, tone of voice, body gestures) should make this class interesting.

Hey there.

Good Friday, everyone! The name's Jamie Elkington, and I'm majoring in communication with a minor in journalism. A bit of background: I'm not a traditional student as I also work for a small PR firm in Memphis writing press releases and pitching client stories to area tv and radio broadcasters. I transferred to the University of Memphis after a brief stint studying biology at CBU and decided science wasn't my strong suit. I've since dabbled in business studies and journalism, but found communication classes to be much more interesting. So, here I am! I tend to use the Internet for the majority of my communication with friends, family and colleagues, which led me to take this class. I'm excited to get to know all of you! It seems like the crowd is getting more diverse by the post.

Lauren Rutland

Hello all,
My name is Lauren Rutland. I am 23 years old and a communications major. I decided after dipping my toes in the business school that I truly hated working with numbers and I absolutely love the applied communications field. I have no idea what I want to do with my major; I only know that I do well at what I enjoy. I am planning to graduate in August following the summer semester with a Bachelor's degree. I am engaged to be wed one month after graduation! Therefore, an online course will help with my schedule of work and full time communications classes. I am also a newbie with the online course but I think that it will be fun!

Megan Lacina

Hello class! My name is Megan, I am 22 years young, born and raised in Los Angeles where I currently live. I love working with and meeting new people. I am majoring in communications and I think I would like to work at a PR firm in LA someday. To be honest, I was never one of those people who always knew what they wanted to do, but I refuse to get any older without obtaining my degree. This way, if I'm 30 asking myself what I want to be, I can at least be educated! In my free time I like to be around my friends and family. I love being outdoors and exploring new places to hike. I am a huge soccer fan and like watching sports as well as playing them. I like to laugh and try new things, I have always been a bit free-spirited. I look forward to meeting everyone and hope it is a great experience!

Mandy Pattison

Greetings fellow bloggers! I'm Mandy Pattison and I'm a senior at the U of M, however after changing my major 5 times, I will not be graduating this year. After being a political science major I decided I wanted to change again and stumbled upon Communications (hopefully this one sticks). I turn 22 in a week and am not happy about getting older. I like watching Tv and I love watching old movies. I have a beautiful 2 year old german shepherd/rottweiler mix named Roscoe. I'm really excited to be in this class semester and I think it's going to be a very interesting course! That basically sums me up.

Introduction

My name is Katherine. I am a stay-at-home mother with two children. I have a Bachelor's degree in Communication and a Master's degree in Education. I am a non-degree seeking student and am taking Communication classes for enjoyment. I love staying at home with my sweet children. When my youngest starts school, I would like to eventually teach Communication classes at the collegiate level. I am taking this course because I have never done an online class before and am excited about trying something new.

Welcome!

Hi, my name is Kris Markman, and this is the class blog for COMM 4014, Communication on the Internet, being taught online at the University of Memphis. We will use this blog as one of the primary tools for discussing the class readings throughout the semester.

Please post a short note about yourself to get started on the blog and introduce yourself to your classmates. Why are you taking this class? What is your major?