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@alexandrine_ar

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Final Course Reflection

Introduction

Over the course of this semester I’ve learned many things that’ll help guide me through this technology obsessed world. While we all know how important it is to step away from the screen from time to time, it is arguably just as important to stay updated on what it has to offer. From fake news to anti-trust laws, these are some of the most important things I learned from my Technology and Communication class.

Trends 

Some trends I’m starting to see in the technology world that I believe will only grow their popularity at a faster rate are virtual reality headsets, automotive telematics, and Smart Homes. Virtual Reality technology is anything but new, but it is in the common household. Oculus, one of the leading developers for home virtual reality sets, released their first products to the public in May of 2019. With a fair base price of only $300+, we can only expect to see more technology be developed for VR sets and more companies come out with their versions. Within a few years, the prices of a VR set will eventually be affordable to any household and they will be commonplace. 

Automotive telematics is something that car companies have been advancing for decades now. One of the leading companies for car technology would be Tesla as they have one of the first car designs with an “autopilot” option. Designing affordable and practical electric cars is another thing many car companies are racing to the finish lines for. Consumers are interested in saving the planet but with with limited options on the market, they are forced to wait for until better opportunities arise. 

Within the last 5 years, Smart Home technology has been casting an additional line of value to the housing market. Extra security, convenience, and just looking super cool are all perks to making your house a little smarter. Ring Door Bells and smart locks are a popular augmentation that we will see continue to grow. There are even Smart lights that you can turn on even if you're not home, this is something people have been utilizing to ward off thieves by making them think the house is not empty. This and so many other gadgets to come will bring endless improvements to the housing market. 

Theoretical Approaches

Some of my favorite theoretical approaches that I’ve learned about this year are Diffusion of Innovation, and the Theory of Planned Behavior. The Diffusion of Innovation is a model that shows the rate in which our society consumes technology. We have innovators, the first to buy a product and at the very end laggards. 

The Theory of Planned Behavior is pretty self explanatory. Based off an individual’s attitude, norms, beliefs and behavior, we can accurately predict when, where and why somebody might complete an action. 

Policy 

One of the most important policies I learned about this year, would be the Anti-trust laws. Anti-trust laws are set in place to prevent monopolies such as Google and Facebook from getting too powerful and for good reason. Facebook owns thousand of companies including Instagram and Oculus. Facebook has been under scrutiny the last few years for security breaches. In fact, in September Facebook was sued for spying on their Instagram app users through their cameras without their consent. Even with Anti-trust laws these companies are so powerful that a lawsuit such as this doesn't even leave a scratch of damage to their influence. 

Social Issues

Speaking of Facebook, they are the biggest distributors for fake news and they know it. They also don’t care. In March Forbes found that Facebook spreads fake news faster than any other social media site. The technology capable of “circuit breaking” misinformation does exist, Facebook just rarely uses it, even if they are aware of the incredibly harmful spread. Fake news can be spread by anybody, anywhere and anytime and its circulation has increased by significantly since 2016. ABC7News Bay Area has reported upwards of a 242% increase in fake news in a report from October 2020. 

The digital divide is another social issue affecting everyone not he planet. Especially now during a time when every one is working from home due to the pandemic is it having an eve bigger impact. The digital divide is a lack of resources and accessibility to technological devices, specifically computers. Students and low income families are impacted the most by this. It can have a negative influence on the quality of education for some students and even discriminates against members of a certain race and gender. This can result in lower economic-social status and overall poorer quality of life. 

Conclusion

These are just a handful of some of the things I learned from my Technology and Communication class. It was by far the most enlightening class I have taken this year. There are still so many things I need to know about this broad subject but generally speaking I think I’ll be walking away with some critical tools that I can apply to my own life. 

#madt307

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FOMO has its benefits

FOMO or otherwise known as the Fear Of Missing Out is always viewed as being something bad. Usually when we think of FOMO we associate it with feelings of loneliness, insecurity, jealousy; but lately I’ve been experiencing the upside to FOMO. 

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved the idea of fashion design. Many women in my family are skilled seamstresses who have worked for big companies like Nike, Athleta, or even have their own business. Fashion design runs in my blood but I’ve always felt stumped by the fact that 1. My college doesn't offer fashion design as a major, 2. I don’t know how to sew, crochet, or knit and, 3. I have no marketing skills whatsoever.

The other day, I was scrolling through Instagram when I came across an old friend from high school. She had posted a set of pictures promoting some items from her new self-made business. I messaged her to let her know how cool I thought her new business was and asked her what her major was. I had assumed that because she went to a more popular school (UCSB) that she had acquired more knowledge and skills about how to do the things I so desperately wanted to learn. Then, she messaged me back. She thanked me and admitted that her major was environmental science; and that’s when it hit me; anybody can do this! Even though her products are small things like sweatshirts and tote bags, I was inspired by her determination. I turned that FOMO into my own motivator to do what she’s doing because it really is that easy. 

Sometimes we let FOMO debilitate us. We see these people living their best lives and think “oh how I wish I could be them and do what they’re doing” and then we roll over in bed and take our 3rd depression nap of the day. But what’s really stopping us is our frame of mind. We can do whatever we want! All we have to do is turn that FOMO into drive. It’s easier said than done of course but if it’s something important to you, you’ll find a way. 

#madt307

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Verona, Italy

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Inclusivity in video games

Inclusivity in video games has become an increasingly hotter topic in the last decade. Before, the only characters you could choose in a game were the quirky monsters from Mario Kart but now, as video games get more advanced, we can see them trying to imitate the human form. The only problem with this is that too many games keep creating the same type of character. Almost every fight game includes your generic white masculine hero as your only option. On top of that, these same games usually only include women characters as femme fatales. 

Only after more games came out and even more players became invested in gaming culture did this issue start to surface. Who decided these characters should be the only options? And what kind of effect is this having on the players psyche? According to an article titled, “What Inclusion Means to Players” a 2018 survey found that 56% of gamers aged 13-54 wanted their games to be more inclusive, 31% were neutral on the matter and 13% didn’t think it was important at all. Even though game designers have undoubtedly been working harder to be more inclusive of all types of people, there is still a long road ahead. Another survey from the same article found that about half of the same group of gamers aged 13-54 thought games were “getting better” at inclusivity. About 3% of that same group thought game inclusivity was “getting worse” 

Some games however have managed to go the extra mile and add not only more character types but give them quirks and identities. The Sims allows you to add things as small as having gap teeth while other games such as, The Last of Us and The Witcher include LGBTQ characters. This is a small win for not only gamers but the game designers as well. One survey found that 45% of people would be more likely to play a game if they knew it was more inclusive. 48% were neutral on the topic and 7% said they would be less likely to play the game. 

The last statistic came somewhat of a surprise to me. 7% of people would actually not play a game just because it was more inclusive? I found that odd and for lack of a better word, ignorant. What about inclusivity of more character types is so repulsive? However, avid gamers would find this not so shocking. 16% of players said that one of the top barriers for them was that they found the gaming community to be “unfriendly”. This is something gamer girls have especially struggled with. Jenny Shi, the author of “What Inclusion Means to Players” began her article with a story of getting bullied at her first ever gaming competition just for simply being a girl. Other gamer girls have discussed the hate and threats they receive online on a daily basis. It doesn't help that games continue to show women characters in a sexually objectifying fashion. 

Inclusion in video games is still something game designers are working on and even though it’s getting better, there are still too many problematic games out there. Exclusivity is also something that is embedded into gamer culture now and player’s need to unlearn certain behaviors and be accepting of all people. But then again, doesn’t the entire world need to?

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Single Song Purchases Are Dead, Streaming Platforms for the Win

In 2019, music streaming platforms saw a 22.9% increase in users according to a report from the IFPI. Apps like Soundcloud, Spotify and Pandora are thriving and have been for the last 5 years. The music industry is changing the way they distribute, market and sell music. All those apps that require you to buy each song you want to listen to, I’m looking at you Apple Music, are dying. 

Besides streaming, music downloading and other digital revenues saw a decline of 15.3%. Physical revenues like CDs and Vinyls saw a 5.3% decline and music concerts saw a 3.6% decline, the IFPI also found. So, what does all this mean? Certainly, there are some things that will never fully die because you are paying for the experience. Concerts with your favorite artists and the nostalgia of putting that fragile record on your player are among some of those things, but for the most part people are making the switch over to streaming platforms and for good reason.

We can make comparisons with the music industry and the film industry. Paying a monthly subscription to Netflix or Hulu to watch as many movies as your little heart desires just makes more sense than going to the theaters and paying $11 for one movie ticket and then another $30 for snacks. Not only are you getting the comfort of your own home when you stream, but it is considerably cheaper. There's less commitment in streaming, whether it be movies or music and if there’s one thing I know about Millennials and Gen Z, it's that they hate commitment. 

It is inevitable that we will continue to see exponential growth in music streaming. Not only is it advantageous to its listeners but artists will benefit as well. Local and smaller artists can get their music heard by anyone around the world when they pay a small fee to streaming platforms; and for every listen their song gets, they get paid. Music streaming platforms create a supportive and profitable environment for artists who otherwise could be begging for tips at your local coffee shop. Small artists are given the chance to go big if they wish and they don't need the latest expensive gadgets or to sign their rights away to get there. 

#madt307

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The Future of Automotive Telematics

Walker, A. (2020, August 10). The Future of Telematics; Factory Fitted, AI-Smart & Your Breakdown Service. Retrieved September 26, 2020, from https://insurance-edge.net/2020/02/26/the-future-of-telematics-factory-fitted-ai-smart-your-breakdown-service/

This article looks into the future of automotive telematics. Right now, car companies are in the process of engineering their cars with safety telematics but in the future, we can fully expect to see self-driving cars becoming the new norm. Automotive telematics will also have a hand in helping local car shops get business. Rumors of targeted marketing might be incorporated into the plans of these smart cars.

Manjrekar, S. (2020, September 11). Council Post: Why AI-Based MaaS Is Poised To Be The Future Of Transportation. Retrieved September 26, 2020, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2020/09/14/why-ai-based-maas-is-poised-to-be-the-future-of-transportation/

This article explains some of the challenges of designing a safe and effective smart car but also addresses automotive telematics marketing potential. The author of the article is a member of the company MaaS (Mobility as a Service). As someone who works directly with teleportation technology, he has some clear insight into what needs to be done to develop a successful and safe autonomous smart car. He explains that instead of an evolution, there needs to be a revolution for automotive technology.

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