Mobile Technologies: Social Impact

Task 1

MTCP4041 L03-Communication and Mobility in Everyday Life: The Rise of Apps Culture

The main ideas of this text are that there is a rapidly increasing rise of app culture, whereby mobile phone users install Apps that they use to interact online for various purposes such as purchasing a product online, accessing news, and engaging on any banking activity online among other activities. There is also a rise in various private networks, for instance there are certain Facebook parts, which cannot be easily accessible without inserting a username or password. These texts connect with other readings in the course, class discussions, as well as relevant outside materials, as they purpose to explore on Apps, as functions of the mobile phones, which enhance specific “mobility” to the users. The mobility in this instance is explored whilst discussing the movement of ideas, as well as people in the social network, thus, providing a social implication. This text provides an understanding that mobile technologies are dynamic and are full of innovations, as they purpose to adapt to the changing world, thereby also purposing to meet the needs of human sociality. Based on my personal experience, this text makes it clear that in due time, mobile phone apps will serve every individual needs, and as such, they will be preferred to any other mobile phone designs or functionalities. The strength of this text is that it provides valid information, backed up with sufficient evidence. On the other hand, the weakness is that it does not bring forth a comparison of mobile apps with other functionalities of the mobile phone

MTCP4041 L10-Mobile Technologies Cultures Practices-Consolidation

The main ideas of this text are that based on social determinism, which are regarded a social factors that contribute to the success of a given technology, which consequently shape technology. Moreover, another significant idea in the text is that mobility purposes to allow users to communicate at any given time, owing to the fact that technology enables devices to be connected at any time, any anywhere to any network. These texts connect with other readings in the course, class discussions, as well as relevant outside materials, as they emphasize on the significance of the arising mobile technology practices, which assist in communication and enhances mobility and sociology amongst people in the society. This texts provide a significant understanding that mobile technologies are driven by social factors, and are not self-driven and they aim at meeting the communication needs of people in the society. Based on my experience, mobile technologies will always exceedingly meet the needs of people at any time, as new innovations are on the way towards shaping the already existing technology. The strength of this text is that it provides definitions, and examples, to enable the reader to have a better understanding. On the other hand, the weakness is that it does not provide a broad scope of the topic of discussion.

Video 1: The future is all about mobile technology

Stephanie Hospital brings forth the idea that mobile revolution has been in the history of computing, which encourages users to adopt the usage of internet services. In this regard, she encourages that good business can be conducted through the mobile than through a computer. Moreover, she stresses that mobile interface is increasing rapidly in various places in the world, owing to the fact that the media is filled with mobility. This video connects with other readings in the course, class discussions, as well as relevant outside materials, as Stephanie Hospital notes that mobile apps have guaranteed users of various services, which allows them to engage in various activities in the internet, most importantly, in travel distribution, when consumers acquire their ticket online prior to traveling, and in the provision of mhealth solutions where fitness trackers, as well as health apps supply medicine to people’s doorsteps via video calls etc. This video boosts my understanding as it proves that various activities can be conducted in the internet through a mobile phone, using various apps. In my personal understanding, I believe that with the mobile phone device, people can successfully build on their business through communications as there are potential buyers online. The strength of this video is that it is presented in utmost fluency, with significant examples to provide sufficient evidence. However, its weakness is that it does not fully explore on various forms in which people can conduct their business online through the mobile phone.

Task 2

Introduction

This essay purposes to discuss the statement. “I think the biggest change, and the one we’re already starting to see take shape, is that globally the majority of internet usage will be done via a mobile device and for most people the mobile web will be their primary-If not their only-way of experiencing the internet.” This will be discussed, following three specific key items as provided below.

Mobile cultures and practices provide significantly needed, and empirically grounded studies, which provide a detailed connection between the current media technologies, globalization, as well as cultures. The key characteristics of mobile cultures and practices include the following: first, mobile cultures and practices depend of various social discourse, as well as practices (Frith & Kalin, 2016). Secondly, mobile cultures and practices are often user-friendly, in that their users increase daily. Thirdly, mobile cultures and practices are convenient tools, which assist people in the current society to stay connected, based on different levels of their mobile penetrations, which consequently lead to the development of a mobile culture. Fourthly, mobile cultures and practices are necessary for family life, friendship, work, and also security of the individuals involved. (Vanden Abeele, 2016). Finally, mobile cultures and practices involve a restructuring of a new culture sense, which entail reconceptualization of a social group’s heritage (Pink et al., 2018).

There are connections between cultures and practices, and wider forces and structure that have significant influence in the society. Various factors influence the adoption, as well as usage of mobile phones. In this regard, it is necessary to provide a clarification of the relationship existing between the cultural and social aspects of the usage of mobile phones (Hobson et al., 2018). Socially, it is evident that there is much emphasis on the need to generate new ways of using mobile phones, in order to enhance socialization in the society, and the usage of mobile phones in eliminating physical location as a major determinant of communication between individuals in the society. In this regard, mobile phones are regarded in the form of a specific social behavior manifestation, which significantly encompasses cultural influence (Rowsell et al., 2017). Moreover, it is also significant to note that the adoption of mobile phones and usages form a variety of divergent perspectives in the society. This has been known to enhance a social entity, which has aided in various fields including the economic entity. Evidently, in the Human Computer Interactions, the usage of mobile phones is noted to address various feature-driven perspectives for instance, which features do certain users use and their usability perspective whilst communicating with people in the society (Pink et al., 2018). Overall, it is evident that the distinct connection between culture and practices and the wider forced and structure provide a positive influence to the society, which also positively influences individual lives.

Various designs and functions of specific mobile devices enhance specific “mobility.” Of importance is WhatsApp application, which is significantly provides important functions for Android mobile device. This application has a specific video calling function or design, which enables users to contact their contacts via a call and whilst communicating, the two parties are able to see each other through their screens (Pink et al., 2018). This is almost similar to the function adopted by skype. Significantly, WhatsApp video call works across the IOS and android, thereby, making WhatsApp the best and widely used function across all the platforms for video calls. This function is technically free, owing to the fact that it does not charge people any amount for calling. However, it requires sufficient internet connection, in that, it consumes data from an android’s data plan whenever an individual is making a call. It is worth taking note of the fact that WhatsApp brings forth a specific “mobility.” This is because of the following reasons: first, it eliminates the need for traveling from one locality to another, based on this fact that it provides a face-to-face interaction (Rowsell et al., 2017. Secondly, it strengthens the existing relationships between individuals, as most people prefer face-to-face interactions, which then forces them to utilize this application, whilst building their relationships with others. Moreover, this is based on communication clues, which are often lost when people speak over the phone and they include body language, facial expressions, as well as hand movements. Without such cues, it is evident that a communication often feels awkward, thus, it provides a significant ground for establishing significant communication, and individual mobility. Thirdly, it is also evident that WhatsApp for android enables group communications, which significantly enhances communication and engagement between various individuals, who would have rather wasted their time, and resources, moving from one locality to another for the sake of communication (Vanden Abeele, 2016).

Conclusion

“I think the biggest change, and the one we’re already starting to see take shape, is that globally the majority of internet usage will be done via a mobile device and for most people the mobile web will be their primary-If not their only-way of experiencing the internet.” Based on the discussions provided above, this statement is fully answered, owing to the fact that people have purposed to adopt the usage of mobile phones to enhance their sociality. This is in line in various key characteristics of mobile cultures and practices. It is also worth noting that the WhatsApp function of the Android phone device has enabled video calls, which enhances communication between individuals in the society. As such, it is evident that many people would prefer to adopt the use of mobile web as their primary, if not their only way of experiencing the internet.

References

Frith, J., & Kalin, J. (2016). Here, I used to be: Mobile media and practices of place-based digital memory. Space and Culture, 19(1), 43-55.

Hobson, K., Lynch, N., Lilley, D., & Smalley, G. (2018). Systems of practice and the Circular Economy: Transforming mobile phone product service systems. Environmental innovation and societal transitions, 26, 147-157.

Pink, S., Hjorth, L., Horst, H., Nettheim, J., & Bell, G. (2018). Digital work and play: Mobile technologies and new ways of feeling at home. European Journal of Cultural Studies, 21(1), 26-38.

Rowsell, J., Morrell, E., & Alvermann, D. E. (2017). Confronting the digital divide: Debunking brave new world discourses. The Reading Teacher, 71(2), 157-165.

Vanden Abeele, M. M. (2016). Mobile lifestyles: Conceptualizing heterogeneity in mobile youth culture. new media & society, 18(6), 908-926.