"Unplugging"

I have realized through this blog that it is damn near impossible to completely unplug from technology nowadays.  Everytime I told myself I was going to unplug, I had another reason to use some form of technology.  I didn't realize how much I am on my phone. I use that thing for EVERYTHING!  Its definitely not just my phone.  For one, my phone is the first thing I touch in the morning because it is my alarm clock.  Once I get my family ready for the day, I sit and read the news and facebook as part of my morning routine.  I use it when traveling to check traffic ahead, find something to eat, and to find the cheapest gas.  I use my phone to check my grades for school and to check email.  I take pictures of my child and immediately send the pictures to Florida and Tennessee to her great grandparents.  I did try, but I really was not successful at unplugging.  I discovered that when I do set my phone down I grab my tablet.  I can do everything on my tablet that I can with my phone, only I have many more options than my phone.  I can fully complete everything for school just using my tablet and it is so convenient.  If we leave the house I can toss it in my purse, just like my phone.  I have noticed that ever since I realized how much technology is in my life I have backed off a bit.  I actually watched a movie with my phone and tablet in a separate room and that is huge for me.  I have read more books (the ones you actually turn the page) with my daughter and spent more time with my  technology in the other room.  I hope I can continue the progress of not being so dependent on technology.
As far as the class goes I have found myself more interested in technology articles I find on my news apps.  I really enjoy the topic and find it fascinating to actually see some of the theories we have talked about in my lifetime like the displacement theory (with cassette tapes to cds, now to digital)  Technology is inevitably going to be in our futures so you might as well learn about it and grow with it.  Just today I saw on the news that in the near future Amazon is wanting to use quad-coptors (drones) to deliver packages.  How crazy is that!?!  This class is definitely the one I have talked about the most with my husband because he loves learning about technology as much as I do.  I am excited to continue learning about communication technologies and what the future may hold for it as well.

*This is the article about the Amazon drone delivery service.
http://whas.mlnwap.com/article.html#!/64868/917be01adedf13974aa96f0bccefdec9

A blog about blogging

Blogging is not something I consider enjoyable.  I didn't even have a blog until I took this class.  I do, however, enjoy reading blogs depending on the topic.  My favorite blogs are the how to blogs and usually pertain to something I already enjoy like throwing parties or making crafts.  One reason I enjoy Pinterest is because it gives a simple picture that you click on, if you want, which then usually takes you to the blog that is talking about that picture.  It makes it easy to find blogs I may never have came across otherwise.  I do believe blogging has an impact on our society and I believe it could be a negative or positive impact.  Just like the article said, rumors can spread rapidly.  False information may get into the wrong hands and could end very badly for an innocent person or even group.   People who are cruel will find any way to be cruel including blogs.  Blogging can also act as a way of communication through a troubling time.  My friend created a blog when she was diagnosed with cancer as a way to inform everyone that is interested in what is going on with her without having to repeat herself.  In that way I think it makes a positive impact, at least for the person who is writing the blog and the people closest to that blogger because it allows the person to feel like their story is being told and heard.  The positive feedback they may get could result in a more optimistic attitude.  I do think blogging will increase as time goes by.  Even though there are a ton of blogs on the Internet, people are still new to this idea of sharing.  So many people feel they have the right to be heard and will turn to blogging to do just that.  I don't think giving the power to publish to everyone is necessarily a bad thing.  People will just need to understand that credibility can be an issue with blogging and they may need to do some research themselves to determine whether the information was true or not.  Blogging should not create problems although it has and probably will again.  Some just take things way too seriously or are too lazy to check and see if the blog is factual.  I do not think blogs should be a credible source for reporters to use and they should stick with the two extra sources before posting a story. 

I am adding the link to my friend's blog that is currently learning more about her cancer.  She just found out a couple weeks ago so she could use any positive feedback anyone is willing to give.

girlmomma.blogspot.com and her blog is called Ain't Nobody Got Time For This

Privacy

Privacy is something that I don't worry much about.  I understand that my online activity is being tracked, but I don't mind since I am doing nothing wrong.  I feel the same way about cell phone companies selling my information.  The article even said it is not information to identify us, only to target advertising to customers.  I am always ok with something making my life easier, especially when it comes to shopping.  I do take extra steps when it comes to my social media sites.  On facebook I check the privacy settings once a week to make sure nothing has changed.  I make sure everything is set to either friends only or friends of friends, depending what the content is.  I make sure I never post if I am going out of town for any reason and I turn my GPS off when traveling and posting to facebook since it displays your location.  As far as apps are concerned, I am very picky about what I will download to my phone or tablet.  I make sure to read the information about what they are allowed and not allowed to do.  I do not like when it says that it can take my contacts information or mess with the content on my external memory card.  As far as whether or not we should be concerned about our privacy, I do not think so as long as you are using it properly.  I feel the government is involved to help monitor and keep things safe so I do not mind them prying a little. 

Video Games

This blog is something that I don't have much interest in.  I can't watch them being played because it makes me sick, and video games are something I never got the pleasure of growing up with.  I had a computer in the summers that I could play a couple games on, but that was all my parents would allow.  It wasn't until my brother's doctor told them a game system may help him learn to focus on the task at hand that we ever owned any game system, and that was just a handheld Nintendo.  As far as the function or role I think video games play in society today I feel that they are just a way to escape for the majority of the people who play them.  It is primarily entertainment and something to talk about with your friends.  For my nephew, who is stationed in Germany, video games are his way of spending time with his dad.  They schedule to play football with each other through XBox Live and even post scores to Facebook to gloat about victories.  It is another means for communication for them and it is something they would be doing if Bruce was at home so it helps his parents cope with him being so far away.  There are people out there who take video games way too seriously.  I read a news article about a 13 year old boy who stole his parents car and took it for a joyride, hitting about 70 cars in the process.  When caught he claimed he was acting out Grand Theft Auto because it wasn't as exciting to him anymore.  In this case, the first thing I find wrong is that a 13 year old was playing Grand Theft Auto.   I do feel that parents should watch the video games their kids are playing, or even watch what video games are played around kids.  My husband has a rule that he is not allowed to play his video games unless our daughter is asleep because of the language and violence in it.  That is definitely not something a 4 year old needs to hear or repeat.  However, I'm not sure I would blame video games for the way the American society is today.  I place my blame on the parents that buy the games geared toward adults for their children and don't monitor their use of the video game.  As far as effects video games have had on my life, there really isn't any.  I exercise a little more since I have the XBox Kinect because it was a must have with the dance games and Zumba exercise video games.  I used them for displacement theory against the gym because I hate working out in the public.  Also it helps me get our 4 year old active on rainy days because they have games for the Kinect geared for her age.  I feel that social media has helped the uprising of online video games.  Being able to connect to someone and play video games with them no matter where they are is really amazing to me.  I know that Candy Crush spread like a wildfire because of the social information processing theory.  Being able to ask for help with lives on something like facebook allows a player to continue playing even when they are out of lives and have to wait to get more.  I think some of the online video games can become addicting, especially Candy Crush.  I know many of my family members can't put their gaming devices down because of certain games.  I have never really gotten into games like that though.  I would rather spend my time with my family outdoors.  I feel that if I have time for video games then I should be playing with Emily instead.  Maybe I'm just old fashioned.

Computers and the Internet

When I think back of the first thing I remember doing on a computer I would have to say it would the playing a Winter Olympics game that came on a huge floppy disk.  My mother received the computer from the school she worked at as a librarian.  It was one of the computers that you almost had to know a code to do anything on.  I knew how to spell run just so I could play this game.  Once that computer was done for my mother would bring home new models of Mac computers so she could learn how to use them proficiently.  She would have me play on them and figure them out so I was able to teach her what to do.  She still relies on me to explain the computer to her.  My earliest memory of the Internet in my home is kind of funny looking back.  I lived in a very rural area.  Almost everywhere was long distance to call and I wasn't allowed to call long distance because it was expensive.  I had a friend that came to stay the night with me and brought her laptop with her.  We were able to use my phone line to hook up to her dial-up internet, which was long distance.  We were online all night talking on AOL chat.  We had so much fun.  We also never thought about the fact that Stephanie's house was long distance so the entire time we were on there it charged my parents home phone line.  Boy were they upset when they got a $400 phone bill the next month.  Luckily, the telephone company took it off the bill since I was barely 11 years old.  I guess you could consider that being my first computer mistake I made because I was grounded for a while after that one.  I think these experiences stuck in my mind because at the time they were completely new to everyone so it made everything more exciting.  It wasn't like I was learning something that is almost a daily activity from birth, the beginning of my life these things were unheard of.  Also I think the fact that both are still here and have stuck around really helps keep memories in my mind.  I'll have stories to tell my grandchildren about the last generation to not have computers and the Internet in every household.  Now I feel that having both is a vital necessity to almost everyone.  It is a great learning tool that I utilize everyday, especially in school.  Most of my textbooks for school and the majority of my schoolwork is done online or on a computer or tablet.  I know life existed before computers and Internet, they just really make everything more conveniently done.  It is almost displacement theory to the library because I very seldom go to the library to do research.  I have all the research I need in the palm of my hand.  I can learn about anything I have ever wanted to.  It has definitely made things a lot easier.  As far as what else I use it for the most would be maps.  I can pull up a map no matter where I am and even get spoken directions on my phone.  I feel my phone doubles as a mini computer because there really isn't much I can't do on it that I can on the computer.  I also check facebook and connect with my family and friends out of state.  I can only think on positive way the computer and Internet have impacted me.  They give me the ability to be informed about anything I want to do and be in touch with people that matter most.

Afraid of growing old?

I agree with the majority of the article that we had to read for this blog.  As I get older I am finding it harder to keep up with all the technology coming out. When it comes to Apple products I am beyond lost.  I also find it difficult to keep up with all the social media sites out there and how to use them.  I am still trying to figure out Twitter.  I think I have it pretty well figured out, but like in the article I am confused at what it is supposed to do.  I don't know if I would agree with technology being harder because of being afraid of growing old.  My husband's grandmother is 84 years old and she is more in tuned with technology than I am.  She carries her iPad everywhere, uses youtube to show us videos, and even hooked up a new computer and web camera up by herself.  I think it all has to do with the attitude you have towards new technology.  My father has never enjoyed technology much.  He was a teacher for many years and was upset when the school moved to computers for their communication to each other throughout the day.  It meant my dad would have to learn how to power on the computer.  When he retired he kind of knew how to email, but if you asked him now he would have no clue how to do it.  He has no desire to be at one with technology.  I am happy to say that I don't get that from my daddy.  I do enjoy technology.  Facebook, to me, is one of the best things out there because of how easy it is to keep in contact with my friends even though they are states or even countries away.  Technology is something I want to keep up with because I love the freedom of it.  The one thing I agree with most is the last sentence of the article, "I'm just getting old, dammit."  That part is inevitable, you just have to be optimistic about it in order to keep up with everything going on.

Home Video Technology

Home video technology is something I find very important.  For as long as I can remember there was some type of home video recorder close by.  My sisters and I grew up dancing so our mother was constantly recording us.  She also recorded every moment she could of us growing up.  It is something I didn't enjoy growing up, but having videos of my childhood are priceless.  Now that I am a mother I find myself recording my daughter constantly.  I went and bought an HD Sony Handycam when I was pregnant so I wouldn't miss any moment and yet I use my phone to record the majority of things.  I love the convenience of it.  Properly making a video is something I personally know nothing about and I am sure the general public is the same way.  That is the best part of small video recorders and smartphone recorders, they are not rocket science.  You really don't have to know anything about making  videos because of how easy they are to use.  I would say that with today's technology home videos are a new literacy.  Many of my friends and family are out of state so we communicate through videos posted online quite a bit.  We also share big moments on social media sites like Facebook.  I think it would be a good idea to have communication majors at least take a basic video class that concentrates shooting and editing videos.  I feel that because of the convenience and accessibility of home videos they will become a more important medium in the communication field.

Displacement Theory and Television

As I am sitting here trying to figure out how to start this blog, in the background my television is tuned to the news.  I know this is a guaranteed way of getting any information about my city I may need or want to know.  That is why I feel the displacement theory is not completely relevant to the topic of television.  The locality that television allows is enough to keep television around even though technology is changing constantly.   While I understand there are new and exciting ways to get information nowadays, I just feel television is too important in too many American households for it to ever be replaced completely.  Many families use television as an educational tool, an way to relax after a long day, or as a way of spending quality time together.  I personally have my television on while I am awake just to have some background noise when I am alone or my daughter is sleeping.  Its comforting to me because I don't necessarily feel like I am alone and it allows my mind to relax.  I also understand that even though we can access television programs through almost any electronic device using apps like Netflix and Hulu, nothing compares to the convenience of television.  One of the biggest conveniences television offers is the screen size accommodating large groups comfortably.  Have you ever tried to watch a movie with someone on a tablet? It doesn't happen too easily and almost not worth the hassle and discomfort.  My husband and I have parties on game days which gives us a great reason to spend time with people we enjoy and all watch the same game on the same screen.  Also many televisions are smart televisions that allow you to do more than just watch tv.  The main place I use Pandora is on my television because it is just a couple clicks away.  I don't have to drag out my laptop or chance getting charged data through my phone.  I watch youtube, check my email and facebook, and can even video chat using my television so I feel that its ability to adapt to the many technological changes is why television will not be replaced anytime soon.

Technology in my education

For this blog I am going to talk about how communication technology has played a role in my education and whether or not it has helped my education.  I'm going to start off by saying I have no clue how I would have made it this far in my education without communication technology.  I am one that loves most online classes.  If fact, this is the first semester I haven't taken an online course since I went back to school.  I love the flexibility that comes with it and studying when it is best for me instead of at a set time.  I was able to stay in school through pregnancy and having a baby because I was enrolled in online classes.  I even took an exam while I was in labor because I had the time to kill.  While I love online classes, it does have its downfalls too.  You have to be real good at time management or you could easily fall behind.  You also have to be adamant on checking your class to make sure you don't miss anything.  It is also more expensive to take online classes so that is a big downfall.  I don't blame the schools since they have to make money in order to function. 
There are other ways I use communication technologies in my education.  Just tonight while studying for an exam, I had my powerpoints on my laptop, my book on my tablet, and was emailing and texting classmates about the exam at the same time since we couldn't meet for a study group.  It really helps with multitasking if you have the right devices and enough of them.  One of my favorite things are my e-books.  Imagine my excitement when I found out I could rent my textbooks as e-books for next to nothing.  My books on campus this semester would have cost me well over $800 but thanks to renting e-books I didn't pay more than $200 total for ALL my school supplies, not just my books.  It is an awesome way students can pinch on some money.   I have only had one teacher since 2008 say anything about my e-book and that was only because she hadn't taught in over 20 years.  She said she didn't realize how advanced technology had gotten and ended up liking the e-book option.  When accessing my e-books I can instantly look up words I may not know with the push of one button which allows material to be read quickly and smoothly.  I can also take notes right on the page of the book, highlight, and print anything I may need.  I just purchased the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and it was by far the best thing I have ever purchased for school.  It is amazing how much it has helped me.  I can fill in powerpoints by writing on my tablet and then print it out when I come home.  In one of my classes we have to watch a bunch of movies on our own time so I am able to rent it on my tablet cheaply and watch it anywhere even without wifi.  When I have to do research all I have to do is take out my phone and the whole world is at my fingertips.  I can do everything I want and need to do on just my phone.  Amazing!  I have had many teachers use different websites for classes.  My favorite was a music history class that used youtube to show videos of the music we were learning about.  I do feel that technology has improved the quality of my education, I also feel it has somewhat hurt it too.  It is very easy to get distracted while you are trying to study.  You can open as many internet browsers you want and have any social networks and chats open to keep you off track.  It can make you lazy in your studies.  I can access many libraries and other research tools from my house and while this may sound convenient, it may not help the information stick in your mind as well as actually going to the library, looking up what you need to find,  and writing it out on paper.  Another thing I don't enjoy about communication technology is how it is constant.  When you take classes on campus your mind can rest when you leave the classroom.  I can access all my school material on the go which means it is constantly on my mind.  I am the worse about checking my blackboard every 20 minutes even though I get notifications when something is posted.  I feel like I always have my nose in some form of technology. 
I had never heard of Massive Open Online Courses, but have a good feeling I'll be checking some out.  Anything to possibly better my education and my future I will try, especially if it is free.  I think it would be a great to test whether or not you like a particular area of study without having to pay for it or waste a full semester of your time.  I'm going to see what kind of business classes I can find on it next summer.

Music

Music surrounds my everyday life.   It calms me down, motivates me, and even acts as my escape.  The devices I use to listen to music depend on where I am located and what I am doing.  In my car, I usually have on just the simple radio.  When I travel I tend to listen to more cds because I don't have time to switch channels every time the station gets fuzzy.  In my home, I usually listen to music through my play station 3 if I am in the kitchen or on my smart television when I am in the living room.  On my television I have my options on how I listen.  I either start up my Pandora or listen to the radio through the surround sound system.  I also enjoy the music stations my cable provides.  Occasionally I will listen to the music on my phone, but not very often.  I also have an mp3 player that I use when I am working out. 
I listen to all sorts of genres depending on my mood.  My favorite is country music because it reminds me of where I am from.  Anytime I start to get homesick or lose track of my values, it reminds me of who I am.  I use music to cope with my feelings a lot.  I use it most when I am anxious/overwhelmed because it helps me focus and allows me to clear my head.  When I am mad I use rock music as a release and usually listen to it extremely loud. I listen to happy music I can dance to in order to boost my motivation, especially when it comes to cleaning. Music when I am studying is needed because it helps me focus and I enjoy it in the background.  My husband and I enjoy listening to music together even though we don't always agree on what style.  Music has brought us closer as a family and is something we enjoy sharing with our daughter.  I don't typically enjoy talk shows on radio.  I listen to the short news clips and traffic updates, but that is all I can handle.  I do hear a lot of advertisements on the radio and pay closer attention to restaurants advertising deals. Music is something that will always be incorporated in my every day life no matter how I will have to listen to it.  I enjoy the options I do have when it comes to listening to music and am excited to see how it continues to change.

4 beds ready to treat Internet addicts

4 beds ready to treat Internet addicts: 4 beds ready to treat Internet addicts

This is an article I found interesting about communication technology.

Introduction and Radio

My name is Jacklyn Mantooth and I am studying communications at the University of Louisville.  If I am not at school I am spending time with my daughter, Emily.  This blog is a class assignment for Communication Technologies. This is also my first class that has assigned a blog so I'm not quite sure how to feel about blogging.  I am older than most of the people in my class so I am sure my feelings and attitudes toward this subject are going to be different.  For example, however convenient technology may be it is not necessary. l am not one to run out and buy a new phone just because its the latest technology, but I do enjoy technology and use it daily. Technology fascinates me, how it grows and changes constantly. When I was growing up, computers were unheard of and cell phones were only in movies so to be able to watch a movie, email someone, and answer a phone call as I ride in a car or sit at a park is absolutely amazing.
My first blog is about the radio and what I feel the future holds for radio. Radio is one of the only things I can think of that hasn't changed since I was a kid. l mean yes, it has become more accessible with apps and internet access, but the radio itself hasn't changed and I think its going to stay that way for quite a while longer.They still hold weekly shows, national countdowns for music, and quite a bit of advertising, locally and nationally. With radio being a free service and having the ability to reach many people at the same time it is still a great source for relaying information to the general public. ln a dire emergency when  the internet and cell phone towers are out you will still be able to pick up radio stations to find out information and what needs to be done. I do feel that the accessibility of radio is one of the only reasons radio is still around today and what gives it the staying power for the future.