Academic Analysis

“Facebook as a toolkit: A uses and gratification approach to unbundling feature use” by Andrew D. Smock, Nicole B. Ellison, Cliff Lamp and Donghee Yvette Wohn. In this study the researchers explored Social Network Sites (SNSs) such as facebook to seek information about users motives for using the site. They explored such thoughts through status updates, wall posts and chats that are all features found on facebook. This survey was given to a large group of undergraduate students at a Midwestern University.

The results of this study showed that facebook is not the same among all users, which validates the uses and gratifications theory, which states that there are different goals for different people, and it is often used for a mood management. They also found that using very detailed features, such as wall posts and status updates pinpoints positive and negative associations between motivations. (Smock, Ellison, Lampe & Wohn, 2011)

When looking at the students interviewed 65% of participants were male, with that being said, we know that males are not always actively apart of facebook, and their finding could have been different had they had more females participate. Woman are usually ones that log on to facebook and are more open with sharing things then men.

The implications of these findings for facebook, are what was expected, at least of the most part. Their study was valid in the argument that facebooks adoptions in technology is found under the uses and gratifications theory because when using social network sites members are active with different goals to get out of the site. This is one reason why facebook will always continue to have active members, because some use the site to stay in touch with friends from the past, and family and some it is just another way to communicate with friends and surround themselves with people around their university or community.

  When looking at this study as a whole, they do have some valid points, however facebook is used among all ages, not just college students. If they wanted to get exact accurate findings they would need to survey all ranges of ages,  facebook has grown to have members of all.  Also college students use for facebook for a much different reason then older adults. This is because adults use to see what their children and family members are up to, and as college students sometimes it is a way to remember what your weekend had entailed by the pictures you got tagged in. Facebook has been one of of the most successful social network sites, and it is only continuing to grow.

Sources: 

Smock, A. D., Ellison, N. B., Lampe, C., & Wohn, D. Y. (2011). Facebook as a toolkit: A uses and gratification approach to unbundling feature use. Computers in Human Behavior, 27(5), 2322-2329. Retrieved from http://journals.ohiolink.edu.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/ejc/article.cgi?issn=07475632&issue=v27i0006&article=2322_faataugatufu


Jesse Fox, Comm 240 Class Notes, "Adoption&Theories", September 29,2011
Jesse Fox, Comm 240 Class Notes, "Social networking sites", November 10, 2011

News Item Response: The iPhone 4s

Apple's iPhone 4s.

             Apple released its long awaited new iPhone on October 4, 2011. It is known as the iPhone 4s, many were surprised it was not the iPhone 5 they had often being hearing about. Nevertheless, Apple was still able to produce a product everyone wanted. The iPhone 4s had one specific feature that left millions talking about, Siri. Siri is basically a built in assistant into an iPhone, that you can simply ask questions and get a response, for instance; “ Do I need an Umbrella today” Siri will answer and also pull up the weather to show you exactly what the weather is for the day. Siri can also make phone calls, send emails and text messages, check and change ones schedule, including meetings and send one reminders. Siri is unlike any other feature found in a phone.  Another amazing change to the 4s was the 8 megapixel camera. It is a camera so vivid, that it is hard to believe it is on the back of a phone. iPhone’s have always been known for there good picture quality, but the 4s blew peoples minds away. It includes, face detection, advanced color, and reduced motion blur. ("Siri. your wish," 2011) 

With a phone with such a personal app software and high technology being used there will most definitely be a big change in society, the demand for a personal assistance with decrease greatly. Why pay someone to do the work, when you can just have your phone do the work for you?  However there are some things that Siri cannot do for you, like get coffee, or make copies for you. Although, at the rate Apple continues to make new features on their phones and other products it will be no surprise if they make this possible.  The other amazing change that has been made with the help of Siri is the voice activation system. Siri makes it possible that you never have to use the keyboard on your phone, you can simple talk to tell her and she will do it for you. With this being said, that leaves less work for the human population. As we rely on other people to do things, like search for the nearest ATM, we loose a type of interaction and become very dependent on our technology. Our society’s quick and vast change of technology is amazing, it will be interesting to see what other life altering features come out next. 
http://www.apple.com/iphone/features/siri.html
Sources:

Siri. Your wish is your command. (2011, October). Retrieved from http://www.apple.com/iphone/features/siri.html

Movie Review

The Lion King takes place in the Lands of Africa. Where there is a King who rules all of the animals that live amongst him and his family. The idea of the movie is based upon Mufasa teaching his son Simba, to be King. However when the death of his father suddenly happens things take a toll for the worst. Simba’s uncle, Scar makes the death of his brother look as if it was Simba’s fault, Simba quickly flea’s Pride Rock and grows up with his friends Timon and Pumba. Though, as time surpasses, he realizes he must go back and seek revenge on Scar. In a violent battle, Simba takes down his uncle and proudly becomes King of Pride Rock.

The Lion King uses an assortment of different technologies throughout the movie, such as; 3D, High-definition, and animation. The move was originally released in 1994 but just got re-released in 3D September 2011. “3D is a three dimensional motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception (Cohen, 2009).” It makes it seem like the images are coming towards you or popping out of the screen. When watching 3D movies one usually wears certain glasses in order for the images to really appear 3D. When watching a movie with high- definition affects is to make the features seem more defined and vivid, also the resolution is much higher. Disney is very popular with having movies with animation. The Lion king is an unforgettable example. Animation movies are typically used as cartoon figures. The idea of animation is an illusion of movement. One is suppose to get the impression that these characters are actually moving, however they are not. Modern day technology has really been able to change movies and make them seem more real then they ever have been before. With the changing affects throughout the movie you see a new life within the scenes, and really become a part of the film.
        As I watched this movie for the first time in years, I really enjoyed it in 3D. I could always remember the movie having bright colors, great scenic backgrounds and a wonderful storyline. I thought the movie in 3D made it much more eye-catching. I felt like it kept my attention the whole movie and really made me feel like i was in the lands of Africa.

 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110357/

Citation: Cohen, David S. (September 15, 2009). "Filmmakers like S3D's emotional wallop". Variety.

Technology Diary

        At 8:25 my alarm went off. I hit snooze and it went off again at 8:40.

·      After I got ready for class, I had a few minutes to spare and got on facebook for 10 minutes.

·      Right before I walked out the door to go to class, I checked my phone to see what the weather was like which took about 2 minutes.

·      Right before my class started I used my phone to check my emails, which took about 5 minutes.

·      During class, I received 2 texts and sent 2 texts back, which took a total of about 5 minutes.

·      When I got home from class I was on my computer for about 30 minutes, and I watched TV for about 45 minutes.

·      As I did both of those I texted throughout which was probably a total of 45 minutes on my phone.

·      When to class and took notes, so I was on my computer for an hour and 48 minutes.

·      After class I texted on my phone for about 20 minutes.

·      Dialed a class that lasted 30 seconds

·      Received a call that was 2 minutes and 46 seconds

·      Dialed call that was 15 minutes

·      Received call that was 1 minute and 26 seconds

·      Watched 30 minutes of TV

·      Drove 5 minutes away and had my radio on the whole time

·      On my computer for 20 minutes

·      Wrote an email that took about 3 minutes

·      Received phone call that was 7 minutes

·      Texting on my phone for 5 minutes

·      Watched TV for 35 minutes

·      Texting on my phone for 10 minutes

·      Online shopping for 30 minutes

·      Watched a recorded TV show for 60 minutes

·      Right before I went to bed played solitaire on my phone for 20 minutes.

Total technology use: 514.76 minutes, which is roughly 8.6 hours.

Where does my time go?

            When looking back at my recorded data, I can see that a lot of my day is spent on my phone texting and making calls or on my laptop checking emails or going on other distracting websites.

Was my time well spent?

            As the day goes on, I’ve never really realized how often I am using or overusing a piece technology. However, as I begun to write it down and evaluate how much of my time is wasted in front of the TV, or computer screen I began to question what I’m actually doing with my time. Today felt like a pretty productive day and I got the majority of my things done plus a little more. However, as I looked at all the down time I had and looked at what I decided to use the time on I question if it was really time well spent. I could have chosen to do other productive things such as study and work on homework but did not. Technology is always going to be used, but I hope that I can cut my use down and use my time on more sufficient things.

A theory that applies:

A theory that clearly applies to the use of technology would be the Critical Mass Theory. The theory deals with the value of technology, and how it goes up with the number of users. For instances the more users that use the technology makes the value greater. For example the more people that use facebook, the more people get of out it, people are more likely to subscribe to a social network if they knew a lot of their friends were doing the same thing.  When I had signed up for my facebook account, I was one of the last of my friends to do so, and the only reason I did was because I knew all of my friends were on the site as well. One of the main goals that the Critical Mass Theory goes for is universal access. As anyone can see the social network, facebook and twitter have gotten a large universal access. Facebook and twitter are the top two largest social networking systems in America, people all over the world join these two sites to keep them up to date with family and friends and other reasons as well.

Citation: Comm 240: Class notes, from September 29. Ch. 3 Adoption&Theories, by Jesse Fox.