Week 4 In Class Activity

1. Tell me about the different ways that you used communication for 24 hours in your journal. Think about the different media that you used, and the purposes for which you used specific media. Were some media better suited to specific purposes? (For example, the media you chose to use for social interaction versus information gathering: Why did you make these choices?)

a. Computer – for social interaction through e-mail and gaming

b. Television – for information gathering and gaming through News and game consoles

c. Radio – for information gathering and relaxation through listening to music and news programs

2. What was the most common communication medium that you used in 24 hours? Why do you think this medium was the most commonly used one?

a. The Computer – it was the most commonly used because it is the most useful when trying to do multiple things (games, music, work, video)

3. What was the most common purpose for the communication media you used?

a. Computer – checking e-mail

b. Radio – relaxing while listening to music

c. Television – gaming

4. What do you think you learned most about the role of communication media in your everyday life by keeping this journal? Please explain your answer.

a. That communication media is everywhere in my life. The only time that I was not using some kind of communication media was when I was in class or asleep.

5. What was the most surprising thing that you learned from keeping this journal? Why is this surprising? Please explain.

a. The pervasiveness of communication media in my life. This is surprising because I didn’t think that I used as much technology to communicate that I actually do. Throughout the day, I was only not using some kind of communication media for about 9 hours, about 8 of those I was sleeping or in class and 1 while I was eating.

6. What are some of the positive implications about having communication media in your life? Name 2 or 3 possible implications, and explain them.

a. Positive

i. Constantly within reach of friends and family, e-mail and phones

ii. Being up-to-date with current events, news

iii. Ability to relax during the day, music and videos

7. What are some of the negative implications about having communication media in your life? Name 2 or 3 possible implications, and explain them.

a. Negative

i. Constantly within reach of friends and family, can’t avoid or ignore people

ii. Inability to trust all sources of information due to overload of information

iii. Procrastination, all the distractions of personal communication media

8. How do you think your life would be if you did not have access to communication media. Please talk about both the positive and the negative things that might happen.

a. I feel that our lives would be very boring in that all the media that we take for granted (T.V., radio, computers, news paper) would not be there. The News would not exist and any information would slow down because all information would have to be heard through word of mouth. There would be a positive effect to the loss of media. The distractions of personal media tools such as cell phones and portable gaming platforms would also not exist.

9. If you had to choose one communication media to take on a desert island, which one would you choose and why?

a. The Computer

i. Offers all things that phones, televisions, radios and newspapers have in one object.

ii. Can connect with people though e-mail.

iii. Can watch live or pre-recorded shows and listen to the radio using the internet.

iv. Can keep up-to-date using the internet to read or watch current news.

Communication Media Journal

Name:    Stephen Lim                    Section:D-102
Date    Time/Duration    Media    Purpose
Feb. 2, 2009    12:00 am (1 hr)    Radio    Listening to radio
Feb. 2, 2009    6:35 am (1 hr)    Radio    Alarm / Listening to radio
Feb. 2, 2009    6:45 am (1 min)    Cell Phone    Alarm / Check Time
Feb. 2, 2009    7:50 (15 min)    Computer    Check e-mail
Feb. 2, 2009    8:00 (10 min)    Television    Watch Morning News
Feb. 2, 2009    8:15 (30 min)    Computer    Play games
Feb. 2, 2009    8:40 (20 min)    Radio    Listening to radio in car
Feb. 2, 2009    9:10 (15 min)    Computer    Check e-mail
Feb. 2, 2009    11:00 (1 hr)    Computer    School work
Feb. 2, 2009    12:00 (20 min)    Radio    Listening to radio in car
Feb. 2, 2009    12:30 (2 hr)    Television    Play games
Feb. 2, 2009    2:30 (1 hr)    Television    Watch movie
Feb. 2, 2009    3:45 (20 min)    Computer    Check e-mail
Feb. 2, 2009    4:30 (1.5 hr)    Television    Play games
Feb. 2, 2009    8:30 (2 hr)    Television    Watch hockey game
Feb. 2, 2009    10:30 (15 min)    Computer    Communication Media Journal
Feb. 2, 2009    10:45 (20 min)    Computer    Check e-mail / Play games
Feb. 2, 2009    11:15 (45 min)     Radio    Listening to radio

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