Politics

When the world turns to digital media as a leading source for their news and information, it’s really no wonder that the strategy for political campaigning in recent years has changed to incorporate the use of technology. Research by the Pew Research Centre found that during the 2010 54% of US adults turned to online sources for information on the United States mid-term elections. This trend is likely to be influenced by the successes of social networking sites and the fact that by that time politicians are were beginning to invest more and more into their online campaigns on Facebook and Twitter for example. In a world of flexi-hours, over time and busy, fast paced lives it can be difficult for people to find the time to sit down and watch the evening news. Through the use of social media politicians can advertise their campaigns in a way in which they are engage their audience. Through method of campaigning politicians give the online community an opportunity to share new ideas, and support for a political campaign can be very visible online, even in the sense that it can motivate voters to interact with one and other. Rheingold’s theory of online communities has never been more relevant to the campaigners. Online, it’s possible for people to group together, this sense of empowerment of the people can benefit politicians in better understanding what is relevant to the community. Not only will candidates have to look good but they will need to be able to appeal to their target audience. President Obama’s 2012 presidential election campaign is a perfect example of this. Not only did Obama spend 10 times more on digital campaigning than his opponent Mitt Romney, he gave himself an ‘uber-cool’ image with an artsy, almost hipster touch his campaign imagery. As a result, 25% of those who did vote for Obama announced who they would be voting for via social media, as opposed to the 20% of Romney voters who did so. While it’s shown that the digital aspect of a political campaign can sway voters in favour for a politician, if care is not taken social media can destroy campaigns. In the case of US Senator George Allen, we can see how negative video footage of a politician putting down an opponent can very quickly spread on the internet and lose would-be voters. To be successful at the current time, campaigners must adapt to appeal to voters of all age demographics, especially the younger generations who are most comfortable with digital media. I believe in the future we will see far more politicians investing more into social media. I think if they are smart, campaigners will make more of an effort to poll internet followers on the changes they’d like to see happen and to measure their successes. In a time when a great many of us have smart phones, why wouldn’t politicians do more to produce apps that both promote their campaign and give people an opportunity to have their say?



http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/media/july-dec12/download_11-16.htmlhttp://www.charleneli.com/2012/10/obama-vs-romney-in-social-media-whos-using-it-best/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r90z0PMnKwIhttp://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/The-Internet-and-Campaign-2010.aspx

Twitter

Who'd have thought that by 2012, 140 million people would take time out of their day to follow famous personalities from around the globe, or for that matter, would we feel the need to publicly express their every moment in 140 characters or less? When so many people have previously invested so much in keeping up to date with the lives their favourite celebrities, Twitter enables us to go one step further and communicate directly with those who inspire us. It puts users at the forefront of world news and current affairs.
When once upon a time people would gossip amongst friends about trivial matters they've read in a tabloid, they can now communicate their feelings to the world and maybe even make a few friends at the same time. Its human nature to want to express ourselves; so when a social networking site such as Facebook has experienced so much success as a place to share and communicate with friends, its hardly surprising that Twitter which enables us to communicate with the world has been so phenomenally popular also.
I think Howard Rheingold's theory of an emergence of virtual communities is crucial to the concept of Twitter. By searching for trending topics on Twitter we can get behind the things that matter most to this global online community, by adding a hashtag to the end of our tweet we can engage in communication with people whom we would otherwise have never come into contact with.
This is an online community that empowers the people. With Twitter, not only is it is evident to see what is important to the masses, it gives the average user a voice. This is why so many businesses are now using Twitter, not only is it free advertising but it offers customers a forum to rant or rave about what they like about the business. This gives companies an insight into their customer base from which they can use to build and improve on their business practices. In many ways Twitter has revolutionised communication in breaking down the barrier between the public and the heads of the worlds major corporations, heads of political parties and of course celebrities. Even news programs ask viewers to text in their opinions on their top stories, with hosts often reading out tweets in real time on the show; 'The Project' is a perfect example of this practice in the industry. For the sole reason that Twitter is giving the people a voice to the world, I don't believe that Twitter will be going away any time in the near future. As long as it can keep up, stay fresh and adapt with the needs of consumers in our ever changing virtual lives I think it will hold its place as a social networking standard for many of us.    




http://mashable.com/2012/03/21/history-of-twitter-timeline/#4712116-Japanese-Earthquake-and-Tsunami
http://mashable.com/2012/06/05/twitter-for-beginners/http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/howard_rheingold_on_collaboration.html

Mobile Devices

I think my generation is living through some of the most rapid technological changes the world has ever seen; particularly in regard to the emergence and amalgamation of computer technology and mobile communication. We either keep up pace with the digital world or we are very much left in the dark. In thinking of a smart phone as another appendage is no longer a laughing matter, a great number of people work and sleep with their mobile phone at arm’s length. By 2011, 54.9% of mobile users in the United States were smartphone owners. I must admit, since jumping on the bandwagon in upgrading to a Samsung Galaxy SII in 2011, I cannot see myself going back to a simpler device.
It’s not to say that I cannot be without my smartphone, it’s just so addictively convenient to have internet access, the capacity to write emails, a music collection, a photo album and so much more in the palm of my hand. It really is a life organiser all in one if used to its greatest affect. My uncle who works as an electrician was recently telling me that he is going to make the move to a smart phone so that he can access emails about new jobs without having leave the job he’s at to access his personal computer. This is just one example of how mobile devices are benefiting our daily lives. However, when this makes it so much harder to switch off and it is increasingly more difficult to have time apart from our jobs or our social life, for many digital communication leads to a self-destructive addiction. Julia C. Gluesing, a communication research professor, raised a valid point in that the boundaries between or work lives and our family lives are fast eroding. When we are now immediately answerable to friends and co-workers emails, text messages or Facebook contact then how can we really have any true time to ourselves? I felt comforted by much of what Sherry Turkle had to say in her convincing speech elaborating on the social implications of digital age communication. While it’s never been easier to keep in contact with others, striking up a real life conversation or even a phone conversation has become something of a rarity for so many of us. When there are so many efficient ways to interact with others such as email, text messaging and social networking sites, do we really need to have real time conversations? I feel we are not using these social devices to aid our social lives, these digital interactions do not really bring us any closer to one and other; subconsciously we are becoming increasingly lonely trying to fill the void of real relationships. I believe in the future we will increasingly reliant on mobile devices. We might use phones to make all monetary transactions or they may help to break down language barriers with other with the aid of an ‘app’. As I am ever more conscious of relationship with my smart phone, I don’t believe I’ll be without a mobile phone but I’ll certainly take into account the need to have time apart from my digital life.


http://www.inc.com/john-brandon/smartphone-of-the-future-6-predictions.html

http://www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together.html

http://reader.eblib.com.au.ezproxy.lib.swin.edu.au/(S(i5qhqauraxmi5epiqyy5csr3))/Reader.aspx?p=428280&o=132&u=8ieBBVHqDnVxF4ip0KLAOw%3d%3d&t=1354356289&h=73710168FEE0EF8242822FB9991BBCB96936425A&s=7266428&ut=405&pg=71&r=img&c=-1&pat=n

http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.lib.swin.edu.au/ehost/detail?sid=bee491c3-d541-4e80-9748-63be174a02de%40sessionmgr11&vid=1&hid=8&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=f5h&AN=23303035

http://www.email-marketing-reports.com/wireless-mobile/smartphone-statistics.htm