My Technology Use

        I never really thought about how much I use different forms of technology on a daily basis until I actually wrote down and kept track of everything I’ve used in a single day. It all started at 8am in the morning when I turn off the alarm clock that I have set on my phone. Shortly after, I am out the door and the real techno addiction begins. As I walk to and from class, I listened to music for about ten minutes at a time. When I add up all of the classes I walk to and from, that ends up being about forty minutes of music play each day just with my iPhone alone. The next thing I did, often while listening to music on the way to class, is checking my email. After adding up each time that I checked my email throughout the day, it added up to be about twelve to fifteen minutes. That is way more than I spend checking my email on my actual computer. Texting played a smaller role of my day than I thought it would; I found myself only sending and receiving about 10 messages that day, which added up to about ten minutes of use. I think my low use of texting is due to the Critical Mass theory (Fox, 2011). I think that since practically everyone is on Facebook and also have a smart phone, I have a lower need to text because Facebook has become so mobile and immediate. The amount of people using Facebook has increased the value of Facebook and lowered the value of texting for me.

        The next thing I kept track of is my Facebook account. Throughout the day, I check Facebook via my iPhone at around fifteen times a day depending on what type of things are going on such as making plans with friends or the amount of comments I received on any given status I’ve posted. Also, when I get home from class, I find myself checking Facebook on my computer at least another five times. My total time spent on Facebook each day is sadly around forty-five minutes to an hour and fifteen minutes. Another piece of technology I used was my TV. I used it, although most of the time I just turn it on for background noise while doing something else, for a total of two hours a day.

        I think my use of technology was fairly well spent although I probably could have been spending more time studying or being productive than checking my Facebook the amount I did. I think smart phones can be very useful because they are always on and with us, however, with the amount of tasking and social connectivity, they are becoming more and more distracting than a lot of other forms of technology. In the end, I am not afraid, as I’m sure many others aren’t either, to admit that I am a true Troglodyte.

Photo Source: 

Technology. (n.d.). AARP global network. Retrieved November 10, 2011, from              https://www.aarpglobalnetwork.org/netzine/Industry%20News/TechnologyforSeniors%20News/Pages/default.aspx

Fox, Jesse. "Basic design principles." COMM 450. School of Communication. The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. 10 Oct. 2011. Lecture.