The Iphone, its pretty cool. Made by apple, it combines a phone and Ipod and so much more. I myself do not have an Iphone, I have a blackberry. Now when I first got my blackberry pearl, I thought it was great. I bought it last January, I needed a new phone and liked some of the features. I was originally against the Iphone because of its touch screen, I liked being able to feel the keys. Plus, my cell phone provider did not even have the Iphone so it was not an option. However, as time went on the Iphone kind of grew on me. I thought, well what if I crack the screen? Simple. I could purchase one of those supposedly indestructible screen protectors. I also got an itouch and realize that so many of the apps available on itunes were great, but worked that much better with an Iphone because they required constant internet access.
About a month ago, I gave in and decided I wanted an Iphone. I looked around and it seemed that everyone had an Iphone. Other phones just really cannot compete. Its the Iphone versus all the other phones. My blackberry-known by some as a crackberry, because of its constant issues, just did not have many of the features I liked in the Iphone. The ease of use in the Iphone makes it great for anyone wanting a cell phone, and it has thousands of apps you can download that truly make life simpler. There are financial, fitness, games, education apps and many more. Want to deposit a check but do not have time to go to the bank? No problem. With an Iphone, you can take a photo of the check and virtually deposit it into your account. Need to pay bills? Use your Iphone. Want to see if that box of cereal is cheaper at another grocery store? Scan the barcode with your Iphone. Trying to lose weight but constantly forget to keep track of your food intake? Lookup and keep track of your food and exercise with one of the many fitness Iphone apps.
The Andorid system, is the only series of phones that I have heard are remotely giving the Iphone competition in applications for a phone. However, Android is not nearly as popular and does not have the same ease of the Iphone. Not having an Iphone, I feel like I am behind the times. I am waiting until my family switches cell phone providers, and until they come out with the newest Iphone. Until then, my itouch will just have to suffice.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
4. Texting: A New way to Communicate
Texting. We all do it, or at least most people with a cell phone do. So what is it really? When I first got a cell phone, a birthday present in sixth grade-so maybe 2002, no one texted. Most of my friends did not have cell phones, so the people I would call were Mom and Dad. By 7th grade, cell phones had become a bit more popular and I think I sent a total of 10 texts that year. By 8th grade I used texting a bit more, but not nearly as much as I do now. On average, I send and receive several thousand texts a month. I think my record is somewhere around 5000. Now to some people this may be a lot, an average of sending/receiving 166 texts a day, but there are definitely people who text more than I do in a month.
Texting is like a whole new form of communication, complete with its own little language and interpretations. That's the hardest part of texting, you do not necessarily know the unspoken intonations and implications of a text. If I sent someone a text saying, "nice outfit you are wearing" it could be taken several ways.
In the textual world, it is difficult to convey emotions. Some people use emoticons to try to get their point across.
Example: blah blah :) would convey happiness or approval.
Example: blah blah :( would convey sadness or disappointment.
Those are just the simple ones that almost anyone could figure out, but there are many more. Texting is a new way to communicate, it does not require voice or sound, just the ability to navigate your way on a cell phone keyboard. It is convenient because it is silent, one can text virtually anywhere they have access to their phone. I rely on texting to communicate with my friends. If I want to finalize plans, I text. If I want to know what someone is doing, I text. If I want a more lengthy response, I will make a phone call. But most times I just want a quick answer, and that's why I text.
Texting is like a whole new form of communication, complete with its own little language and interpretations. That's the hardest part of texting, you do not necessarily know the unspoken intonations and implications of a text. If I sent someone a text saying, "nice outfit you are wearing" it could be taken several ways.
- I truly think its a nice outfit and want to compliment them.
- I am trying to be sarcastic, and in fact think the outfit is either hilarious or hideous
- I do not care about the outfit, I am just trying to start conversation
In the textual world, it is difficult to convey emotions. Some people use emoticons to try to get their point across.
Example: blah blah :) would convey happiness or approval.
Example: blah blah :( would convey sadness or disappointment.
Those are just the simple ones that almost anyone could figure out, but there are many more. Texting is a new way to communicate, it does not require voice or sound, just the ability to navigate your way on a cell phone keyboard. It is convenient because it is silent, one can text virtually anywhere they have access to their phone. I rely on texting to communicate with my friends. If I want to finalize plans, I text. If I want to know what someone is doing, I text. If I want a more lengthy response, I will make a phone call. But most times I just want a quick answer, and that's why I text.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
3. Technology and Social Interaction
Technology definitely influences social interaction, both positively and negatively. New technologies can connect us with people in another city, across the country or on another continent. I think that technology has positively influenced social interaction because we can interact with people effortlessly- instead of picking up the phone to make a long distance call, you can use skype to virtually talk to and see a friend or family member. Many businesses use video chat programs to hold business conferences, making deals with those who are thousands of miles away. What once would have required a plane ride, can now be done virtually from the comfort of your home or office. But is this virtual social interaction always good? It certainly does not replace a face to face interaction, there is no substitute.
Video chat just allows us to see the person we are talking to, taking a phone conversation to a more personal level. Technology has certainly made it easier to interact with others, but it has also made us lazier. If I want to know how an old friend is doing, I will look at their facebook page instead of giving them a call or attempting to have a face to face interaction. When I have the ability just to check up on them, maybe look through their photos and recent status updates, my curiosity is satisfied.
The Internet can be a great way of meeting people who you would never have the opportunity to meet. There are countless examples of internet chat rooms, online dating, forums and other sites that serve to connect people who have similar interests. Through the internet, you have the potential to meet someone from another place, someone whom you did not know existed. Some people believe that you cannot build a meaningful relationship through virtual contact, and this may be true. However, I do thing that society has benefited from this sort of social interaction. Virtual communication is part of the foundation, the building blocks, to a meaningful relationship. Thousands of happy couples have met through the internet. It gives you the ability to connect with more people than you could meet in your lifetime.
I think that internet communication and social interaction has its time and place. I believe that nothing can replace face to face interaction, but we cannot always have this sort of communication. As a society, we need to put emphasize the importance of communication in real life but also utilize the benefits of virtual social interaction.
Video chat just allows us to see the person we are talking to, taking a phone conversation to a more personal level. Technology has certainly made it easier to interact with others, but it has also made us lazier. If I want to know how an old friend is doing, I will look at their facebook page instead of giving them a call or attempting to have a face to face interaction. When I have the ability just to check up on them, maybe look through their photos and recent status updates, my curiosity is satisfied.
The Internet can be a great way of meeting people who you would never have the opportunity to meet. There are countless examples of internet chat rooms, online dating, forums and other sites that serve to connect people who have similar interests. Through the internet, you have the potential to meet someone from another place, someone whom you did not know existed. Some people believe that you cannot build a meaningful relationship through virtual contact, and this may be true. However, I do thing that society has benefited from this sort of social interaction. Virtual communication is part of the foundation, the building blocks, to a meaningful relationship. Thousands of happy couples have met through the internet. It gives you the ability to connect with more people than you could meet in your lifetime.
I think that internet communication and social interaction has its time and place. I believe that nothing can replace face to face interaction, but we cannot always have this sort of communication. As a society, we need to put emphasize the importance of communication in real life but also utilize the benefits of virtual social interaction.
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