- computer
- internet (google chrome, gmail, facebook)
- itunes/vlc player
- AOL instant messenger
- paint shop pro and photoshop (minimal experimental purposes)
- cell phone
- mp3 player -> ipod shuffle
An inventory of my media life:
- computer
- internet (google chrome, gmail, facebook)
- itunes/vlc player
- AOL instant messenger
- paint shop pro and photoshop (minimal experimental purposes)
- printer, scanner, external speakers, external hard drive, flash drive, tablet
- cell phone
- digital camera 5.1 megapixels
- mp3 player -> ipod shuffle
- Nintendo DS, Playstation Portable, wii, Playstation 3 40 gig
- TV
Specific tasks I manage with media technology:
I use the computer for socializing with friends via facebook and AOL instant messenger and occasionally for enjoying entertainment such as movies and television shows. Many texts and even comics are now online so I can expose myself to both "hot/cool" and "high/low definition" of mediums which require varying levels of conscious participation.
Also used as a creative outlet through minimal experimenting in Paintshop Pro and Photoshop and tablet. And of course many times for schoolwork in many ways such as required readings, research, occasionally exams/quizes/interactive problem solving (i.e chemistry course), and writing term papers. I also like to do a bit of online shopping as well.
Cell phone of course used solely for communication, I don't use the new fangled high tech-phones with a built-in keyboard (yet) or internet access. I do like to take pictures I see of things to send to friends if I don't have my camera on me at the time such as a giant sandwich or cucumber dressed in women's clothing. I do text for social purposes as well or for business if I need to contact my supervisor in advance and am unable to reach them through a call.
I use my mp3 player to pass time and help me stay focused on a single activity, especially when its a repetitive one or during travel be it during a walk to and from school or on the bus on my way to work.
Digital camera to take pictures whenever I want to. As we tend to store our pictures more and more into harddrives as pixels, we tend to value these bits just as much and be very useful if we have a back up in case we lost a physical print, we can always get another one from the ones we saved into our computers.
I have been mostly on handheld gaming consoles as of recent as I've been (regrettably) lacking enough time to dedicate some time to larger consoles. I play for leisure and in place of my mp3 player during a bus ride or wait if I'm not in the mood to just stand/sit around and listen to music.
Barely watch broadcast shows nowadays and only really use the TV for large console gaming.
How are you digital in comparison to my grandmother/father analog:
I am a digital type of person as I tend to be more reliant on computers for many things, such as research, information, socializing, and for leisure. This is especially true when compared to my father, who reads the newspapers and books for his information. When he needs a definition, he will look in the dictionary. I, however, would type in dictionary.com and then be on my way.
My parents and grandparents spent most of their educational years researching through books and libraries and little on computers while for me, it's the other way around. I only spent time looking through physical encyclopedias up to my middle school years until the internet became more readily available and affordable.
In terms of socializing, I, like many others, are much more reliant on social networks such as facebook and instant messenger applications to communicate with peers/friends.While I still send letters occassionally, I do rely much more on e-mails. They take less than a minute to arrive, while letters can take 3 to 5 days to get to someone. It's also easier for me to chat by e-mail, where I can gather my thoughts ahead of time, than by phone and be flustered.
Better yet, I can talk to more than one person at a time though instant messengers as well. There are also forums or the ability to leave 'comments' to interact with posted material made by anyone: friends, scholars, anonymous people on the internet. You can make friends from all over the country or even globe.
I also own a cell phone which my grandparents and father do not have. They rely much more on the traditional phones that travel through wires rather than signals.
Another way I am a bit more digital than my parents and grandparents is the use of an mp3 player to pass time as I travel by foot of public transportation. They would simply just wait and absorb whatever surrounding sounds are there.
What I and many others, who are more digital, do is multi-task, as it is easier for us. It is very easy to surf the web, type a paper, and talk to friends than taking the time to do one at a time. The downside to this is that we of the digital generation have become more impatient. Thanks to computers, we expect things at an instant rather than wait for it. My father and grandparents have a greater amount of patience because they didn't rely on machines.
Great job. Nice picture and great descriptions. Very nicely done.
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