Academic Analysis

Tracheostomy

Mayo Staff Clinic. (2010). Tracheotomy. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tracheostomy/MY00261

Academic Analysis Article

Madan, G., Stadier, M.E., Uhrich, K., Reilly, C.,&  Drake, A.F. (2011). Adolescents with Tracheostomies-Communication Cyberspace. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 75(5), 678-680. Retrieved from http://journals.ohiolink.edu.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/ejc/article.cgi?issn=01655876&issue=v75i0005&article=678_awtic.

 

Tracheotomy is a surgical procedure in which an airway is made within the trachea by means of an incision.  The airway then becomes the position for the tracheotomy tube which enables breathing for those patients with disabilities and or serious neck/mouth injuries (Tracheostomy).  Many patients with a tracheostomy have a very difficult time with speech and communication (Tracheostomy).  Yet, new media technology has allowed for adolescents with this procedure and other speech and communication obstacles to not only communicate, but generate relationships and support groups with each other via Facebook (Academic Analysis Article).  I believe Social Networking Sites, such as Facebook, are becoming great portals for health-centered support groups for young adults, such as tracheostomy patients (Academic Analysis Article) because this technology breaks down the speech barrier multiple patients could have while also bringing them closer to other patients with diseases such as their own for support and friendship. 

Research was conducted in order to verify if Facebook was a good networking environment for patients with tracheostomies and the results indicated that it was (Academic Analysis Article).   Adolescents between the ages of 11-18 were used in the study (Academic Analysis Article).  Of the ones utilizing Facebook, and with the ability and opportunity to, results found that Social Networking Sites, like Facebook, offered an appropriate way for them to network and communicate with other adolescents with tracheostomies (Academic Analysis Article).  They were able to post pictures of their tracheostomy and gain friends and support with people they otherwise would have never come in contact with.  Facebook and other sites which allow networking are very relevant and popular today.  The majority of adolescents are on some form of a SNS and most are using Facebook to communicate.  Therefore, these sites do provide a good window for people with more rare diseases to find someone to network with who has their diagnosis as well.  The ability for patients to be able to communicate when disorders prevent them from doing so and also to find other patients globally via a Social Networking site, in order to gain support and friendship are reasons why Social Networking Sites are great portals for health-centered support groups.    

 

Tech Diary Day

Technological Convergence

McGuigan, Brendan.   (2011) What is Technological Convergence.   Wise Geek.  Retrieved from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-technological-convergence.htm.

Tech Diary Day 11/20

Tech Diary Numbers 11/20
Task	Technology	# of Uses	Total Time Spent within a Day
Text Message	Cell Phone	52 received text messages + 56 sent = 108 Total text messages	Based on an average of 30 seconds spent either receiving or sending a text message = 54 minutes Total
Face book	Computer	2	32 minutes total
Twitter	Computer	1	10 minutes total
Listen to Music	Computer	1	1 hour
Email	Computer	2	8 minutes
Watch TV	Television	2	1 hour and 30 minutes
Homework	Computer	4	2 hours
Skype	Computer	1	35 minutes

    

     On Sunday, 11/20/2011, I had spent approximately 409 total minutes having mediated/technological interactions and the basis for this excessive amount stems from communication convergence technology and the need for increased efficiency in our society today.  Western society, in general, is fast paced and deadlines being met both on time and correctly are very critical in business, school, etc.   I believe that the culture and set of values in the society in which I live, has created a greater need for communication technology convergence and therefore the amount of time spent utilizing technology. “Technological communication occurs as technologies merge into new technologies that bring together numerous media, where previously, devices handled one medium or task at a time (McGuigan, 2011)".  Therefore, the ability for me to utilize a limited number of devices that each work to aid me in meeting deadlines and needs quickly and proficiently is essential.  The convergence of technologies into one has eliminated extra work for me, and therefore greatly increased the amount of time I use technology.  My media/technological interactions were efficient and mainly used as multitasking tools to conduct social interacting, multitasking, homework, emails, and relaxation.      

    

My time spent with these technologies was efficient.  The main source of my technological use was with my lap top computer, 265 minutes out of 409 minutes used.  The reason was due to the fact that I was able to multitask on one devise.  Technology convergence has resulted in devices, such as my lap top, which interact with the media they are primarily supposed to handle, but now also with a number of other formats (McGuigan, 2011).   While only using my lap top I was able to listen to music on iTunes to relax while conducting research for a marketing paper due the next day.  I typed my paper using Microsoft software which saved me the time of writing out my paper by hand and looking up words from a dictionary.  I didn’t need to flip through numerous research articles or books, but quickly used the internet to access exactly what I needed.  I also answered emails with co-workers and class group members. This enabled me to avoid physically visiting them, ultimately allowing for more time to get my work done.  Socially, I messaged friends on Face book as well to keep up with friends who were from high school and attending other colleges.  Later, I was able to Skype with a good friend living n Cincinnati while I am in Columbus, therefore providing me more time because I did not have to drive to visit him.  Text messaging on my cell phone was another way for me to contact people in about 30 seconds per text message.      

                                                                                

Ultimately, my technological use was excessive for one day, but also very efficient because it allowed me the opportunity to work quickly and proficiently.  In Western society, where I live, the technology advances rapidly and the convergence of these technologies is always increasing.  There is a growing need to meet deadlines faster and eliminate as much error as possible along the way.  Therefore, in order for me to “keep up” with these deadlines and with society as a whole, my use of technology is also among a limited number of devices but my heavy use is efficient.     

Music Review: Britney Spears: Hold It Against Me

Hold It Against Me

Hold It Against Me: Escaping the Media and Technology

No, I will not hold it against Britney Spears for almost encompassing her entire music video, Hold It Against Me, with technology.  In fact, the technology in the video is what allows it to make a statement and to illustrate the story of the song.  Technology such as lighting, TV, microphones, Internet and computers, cameras, and stereos each play a part in her recent music video.  Although the technology did serve a purpose, it both enhanced and detracted from the experience. 

                Hold it Against Me tells a story of a woman (Britney) wanting to see a man but not being able to escape the crowds to go be with him.  The video displays Britney in a limited number of sets, but the main one being with her surrounded by  TVs, radios, microphones, cameras, and her fingers are even connected to wires as she sings.  Metaphorically speaking, I believe Britney Spear is making a strong effort in this video to say she cannot escape the media and the news that follow her.

The Technology Used

                Each technology was used to illustrate the song’s purpose.  The lights were constantly blinking bright to represent flashing camera bulbs; while cameras were included as well.  This was to show that paparazzi follow her.  TVs and Radios surrounded her to show that she was on TV and in the media continuously and could not escape it.  Wires were connected to her fingers to show she was connected to all of this communication technology, and that it has become a part of her.  Britney evens uses a fake website resembling “Match.com” to find her man.  This is actually extremely relevant because many people are resorting to technology such as the Internet, in order to socialize with potential significant others.  The stereos shown vibrating and close up helped to elaborate on the beat of the music.

Enhanced

                These technologies enhanced Britney’s new music video because it allowed her to display social media technology today through a different perspective.  Today, new communication technologies, such as the Internet, make communication both effective and easier than ever.   However, as Britney shows, it is incredibly difficult to now escape social media and technology.  Once something is on the Internet, it’s there.  Unlike a phone call to one individual, a broadcasted news report all over the daily news on TV is mass mediated.  In her video, Britney continues to say, “if we could escape the crowd somehow” (Spears, 2011).  Yet, you never actually see a live crowd; just the social media mentioned surrounding her throughout the video to the point that she cannot escape it. 

Detracted

The music video was, at times, too much.  All of the blinking lights and constant TV streaming, etc did distract the viewer from the song itself.  I had to watch the video a few times to really understand the concept.   

In Conclusion

Britney Spears did utilize social media technology and communication technology within her new video, Hold It Against Me, to prove a point.  She, or anyone else, can truly escape these technologies.  The internet and TV make it so much easier to be able to keep in touch and communicate, but also make privacy that much more difficult.  Her video gave a different or negative perspective on the growing love for new social media tools and mass communication efforts.  The technology did enhance the video to make a statement and display the meaning of the song.  Yet, sometimes the amount of communication technology being displayed distracted the viewer.

Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Edv8Onsrgg

Citation

Spears, Britney. (2011). Britney Spears-Hold It Against Me. You Tube. Retrieved from

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Edv8Onsrgg&noredirect=1

News Item Response: M2M and the Internet of Things

The Internet of Things and the Cloud

Talking Business

Recently, I had the opportunity to intern at a well known cellular, wireless carrier’s corporate office.  During this period, I had my first realization of the emerging new Internet of Things era communications is making headway into (Salkever, 2001).   This new era is driven by machine to machine technology and will allow for less human error and greater efficiency, but will also have negative effects as previous communication responsibilities get replaced by machines .

 As technological progress continues to boom, the world of communication is becoming even more focused on efficiency, speed, and face-less communication.  As the concentrated competition within the telecommunications market continues to accelerate, so does the quantity of wireless connected machines that are free from human interaction.  The result is an emerging new era of machine to machine technology (M2M) and the “Internet of Things”, ultimately leading to the demise of human interaction (Salkever, 2001). 

Why So Popular?

As I had learned on the job, new M2M products that erased the “middle man” were on the rise in the wireless B2B world.  The technologies were fascinating.  For example, products, shipments, and even employees could be tracked 24/7 to ensure efficient work, inventory, shipping pathways, and temperatures were present without a single human interaction being made.  M2M occurs when machines “talk” to each other and to intermediary services, eliminating the machine-to-human interaction contact (Salkever, 2001).  M2M has opened up a significant opportunity for businesses and technology today due to its ability to increase efficiency and reduce human error (Salkever, 2001).  

How does it Work?

The storage of data between the machines is within a “cloud” in which a specific IP address is needed to have access to this information and transmit it (Salkever, 2001).  The increasing amount of data moving through IP networks and clouds is due to the fact that the hardware needed to store that massive of an amount of data would be way to expensive (Salkever, 2001).  Therefore, the cloud is becoming the best option in order to manage and track the Internet of Things (Salkever, 2001).  Yet, with amounts of data so large, failures of machine to machine communication could therefore total millions of time-specific inofration, even if just for a few second (Salkever, 2011).

The Negatives

Whether concerning private or public clouds, hackers and corruption are always a negative and important factor to be prevented as the future moves into this new era (Salkever, 2001).  The information hackers could obtain would be detrimental if on a government level, or other significant level.  Also, failures in clouds do not provide blame (Salkever, 2001).  There is no user error to point a finger at and to work to solve a problem towards (Salkever, 2001).  The days of simply resetting a machine’s server or image if, for example, traffic lights went out, would be obsolete (Salkever, 2001).    

In Conclusion

Although machine to machine technology opens the doors to more efficiency and less human error, the consequences from a M2M errors outweigh those of previous machine-to-human interactions.   Before the era of The Internet of Things comes in full force, privacy issues and failure issues must have almost full proof protection (Salkever, 2001).

Link

http://gigaom.com/cloud/alex-salkever-on-the-internet-of-things/

Citation

Salkever, Alex.  (2001). The Internet of Things and the cloud.  GIGAOM.  Retrieved from

http://gigaom.com/cloud/alex-salkever-on-the-internet-of-things/