Social:
When friends or family visit, I need to entertain them as paramount as possible. I can easily switch on the digital set-top box and so allow them to view their desired programmes. I think that this flick of a button is very handy; also I do not need to be there while they watch. I find digital television very good because I can provide guests with effortless entertainment. However upon rare occasions I cannot find anything that would appeal to them.
However, if they want another form of entertainment I would turn on my games console. The wide variety of games means that even if guests do not like a particular genre of game, there are many more which they may like. My games console is great as it is to most a new form of entertainment which means that I can amuse my guests easily. However, sometimes there seem to be no games that I have which appeal to some of my guests; this could be improved by making more games aimed at less common demographics.
School:
When I am at school - due to my digital television- I am provided with conversation topics, this is good for beginning conversations and so making new friends. In school I have few needs for my gaming devices. I need to be able to react quickly within sports and some genres of game have been shown to speed up reaction times and so my reaction time within sports can also be improved. However, I also need to concentrate on my school work and due to development of addiction I would not be able to concentrate on it; therefore it does not perform well in meeting my school needs. Although, this can be avoided by playing for a limited time and trying not to become fanatical about it.
Internet
The Internet is the worldwide, freely accessible network of interconnected computer networks that transmit data by packet switching using the standard Internet Protocol. It is a network of networks that consists of millions of smaller domestic, academic, business, and government networks, which together carry various information and services, such as electronic mail, online chat, file transfer, and the World Wide Web.
The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked, hypertext documents that runs over the Internet. With a web browser, a user can view Web pages that may contain text, images, and other multimedia and navigates between them using hyperlinks.
E-mail allows the user to send and receive messages which may include images, documents or video via a telephone signal. Additionally, web based messengers such as windows live messenger allow the user to communicate with contacts through the internet.
Advantages
- Perpetual access to an unlimited amount of information about everything.
- Email provides a free communication method, which is obviously cheaper than to post, telephone or fax.
- Major source of leisure.
- Many services now available: online shopping, online banking, online gaming and media streaming.
Disadvantages
- Without the proper software, viruses can render a user very distressed due unwanted file deletion, system breakdown and identity theft.
- There may be at times too much information and therefore at times there may be unreliable and misleading information.
How the Internet meets my needs
Personal:
The internet allows me to contact my friends or family when they are unavailable via email. Due to this I can ensure that if I need to send a message to someone they can receive it without their presence being required. Phoning them when they are unavailable would not be practical. Also if I am abroad or I want to talk to family who are abroad I can do so with email or instant messaging which is a lot cheaper than phoning. The internet also provides a form of entertainment as I can download a range of multimedia which I can also access portably on my Ipod. This is very useful when I am not near a computer. I can also shop online which I find to be a lot cheaper than stores and also there is a huge selection. Personally, the internet is good because I have ready access to information and I can shop.
Social:
The internet allows me to inexpensively chat to friends keeping the phone line free so my family can use the phone, due to the lack of cost I can communicate with my friends, for as long as I desire, I find this very resourceful. Before I go on an excursion I can view the area’s website in order to find the location and fees of the certain excursion, this is very easy and I can search around to find the best place to go. This is a lot quicker than using the Yellow Pages to search for places of amusement and is free whereas searching in the Yellow Pages and phoning individual areas would be very sluggish and costly. Socially the internet meets my needs well because I can contact friends and family cost-free. However some may not have email accounts or instant messengers and so I would not be able to communicate with them.
School:
When in school I may need to use online learning resources which are accessed through the internet, this is a useful adaptation of the internet. Also if I do not possess a suitable data storage medium I can email my files to myself and retrieve them at home or at school. This free data transfer method is very handy, especially when no other means of data transfer is available. The internet is also very useful in research for school projects and homework. I can find an infinite amount of information related to my school work also if I feel the need for improvement in any subjects there are many websites with useful information obtainable. Regarding school, the internet is very good in meeting my needs because I have unlimited information for research and can transfer files to different areas without cost. However, files sent can sometimes become corrupted due to viruses and therefore data can be lost.
iPod
Apple’s development of the iPod was a great success, it now is a fully functional media player meaning that it can play videos and music, display pictures, play games, and play podcasts in wonderful quality.
Advantages
- The iPod allows me to play and view media from pictures to games; I can also copy my songs from CDs and copy my videos from DVDs.
- I can download my favourite media and play it on my iPod very cheaply.
Disadvantages
- This device is highly desirable and is prone to theft.
- Some models can be very expensive and so difficult to replace.
- Viewing pictures or video on such small screens tend to strain the eyes.
How my iPod meet my needs
Personal:
Whilst travelling on buses or trains or walking or queuing I need some form of entertainment to keep me amused and to mask the boring reality. I use my iPod when out to listen to music or watch videos, I find this a very formidable use of mobile technology as it has a long battery life so from morning to evening I can leave it on and take advantages of its features for many hours. I think that my iPod does very well in providing for my needs because I can listen to my favourite music and watch my favourite videos very easily when I would otherwise be very bored. However, I have previously had my iPod stolen when it was not in use and so that is clearly a huge disadvantage; its sleek design is very desirable and so prone to theft.
Social:
When I am out with friends I can share my iPod with them and therefore allow them to take advantage of the entertaining features of the mobile device. This masks their boredom as well as my own. I think that my iPod works very well in amusing my friends when we are out because we do not realise the boring reality due to constant amusement. However, when travelling it is quite difficult to share earphones and if they are unplugged passengers become annoyed due to disturbed peace. The only way to solve this is to convince my friends to get one as well.
School:
Unfortunately, in school I have virtually no need for my iPod because taking into account all its features, not many are particularly useful when doing my work. I can use my iPod as a mass storage device and store my school work on it so that I can transfer it to and fro school. Also, when I am doing work at home I can listen to music which I find has a
slight relaxing effect on me, allowing me to keep calm in distressing situations. I think that my school needs are virtually unaffected by my iPod, it could be improved by adding some sort of educational applications for example a dictionary/thesaurus.
Mobile Phone
A mobile phone is a long-range, portable electronic device for personal telecommunications over long distances. Along with telecommunications, (depending on the model) users can also do things such as SMS (Short Message Service) and even play music, take and view photos and many more.
Advantages
- Portable telecommunication means that I can call anyone anywhere where there is a signal.
- Latest mobile phones can play music, take and view photos, use SMS, set reminders, listen to radio, use wireless internet, play games and use GPS providing a huge array of features for many circumstances.
Disadvantages
- I cannot make phone calls, use SMS, or use wireless internet where there is no signal.
- These mobile devices are very prone to theft.
- High charges for phoning.
- Some models can be very expensive and so difficult to replace.
- Viewing pictures or video on such small screens tend to strain the eyes.
How my Communication Technologies meet my needs
Personal:
When I am out I need to inform my parents of my safety, I also need to be able to be contacted when I am out in case of emergencies at home. I can use my mobile phone to voice call my parents if I am out with friends and am running late, this clears my parents’ worries however since the phone call can be very short, sometimes I will simply use SMS due to its cost effectiveness. Also if I am needed at home my parents can easily contact me by SMS or voice calls. I think that my mobile phone is very good at meeting my personal needs because I can easily contact my friends and family when I am not at home. However, voice calls are very expensive and so if they were cheaper, I would be able to phone people more. Also there is practically no need for a mobile phone when I am at home because landline calls are cheaper.
Social:
If I am not home and there is something worth knowing, I would need my friends to contact me about it. For example: If am out and my friends call me on my mobile phone stating that they are close by, we can arrange to meet and go to the cinema or another excursion together. I think that socially my mobile phone is very good in assisting me to communicate with my friends when I am out for planning excursions.
School:
Within school we aren’t allowed to keep our mobile phones switched on, this is a huge disadvantage as in case of emergency my parents or friends would not be able to contact me directly. Therefore, due to lack of contact my mobile phone does not perform well when I am at school. However, if at some point they are allowed, we would be able to be contacted and so it would be advantageous.