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.
Hi Megan! I agree that technology is more typically owned by the younger generation. Just for an illustration, my grandmother just purchased her first laptop 3 months ago and has been taking classes on how to use it. She still doesn't understand what it means when it says "you have an update". My 19 yr old brother on the other hand, lives on his computer, and doesn't understand why everyone else lives outside of their bedroom. I think that it has benefited as well as hindered us!
ReplyDeleteWow! i cant believe your grandmother has a facebook megan! my grandmother just bought a cell phone and rarely uses it and sometimes she doesn't even bring it out with her. I sometimes have to answer computer questions to my mom. I grew up with computers and learned how to use them at an early age so all of this seems so natural to me.
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting that several people have mentioned their grandmothers in the posts & comments--but it is true that growing up with a technology has a very different impact that coming at it later in life. Back in the dark ages of the 1980s my parents tried to buy my grandma a microwave--and she would have nothing to do with it! Even when she visited us, she avoided the microwave like the plague. We couldn't get her to use an electric can opener, either. She was born in 1906, and I guess was just comfortable with the way she had always done things.
ReplyDeleteI mentioned this in one of my other comments, but I think it will interested in the future what catagory we will fall in compared to the new generations to come. PS your grandmother sounds precious
ReplyDeleteGood point! People would either embrace or look over technolgy because to some people it is really not that important. I totally agree with you when you stated that technolgy is for the younger genration because everything that is going on with technolgy now is pointing towards the younger crowed such as 3D movies and make believe cell phones taht actually look like real ones.
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