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Assignment Four: Research Paper

Title: The Benefits of Technology in Our Everyday Lives

Theme: The Everyday

 Technology has revolutionized the world of today. Since its existence, our everyday lives have been transformed in different ways through machinery that automates interactions that were once found to be challenging or impossible. It affects the way we live on a daily basis in many situations in life; at home, work, or school. Domestic technology and information technology are two different forms of new technology that have become particularly accepted and used by society. Domestic technologies have become so common in homes, they now exist as ‘part of the furniture’, in the sense that they have “become contextualized as ordinary, everyday elements of the home, to be replaced or upgraded only when broken” (Hughes et al., 1998). This idea of domestic technology being an ‘ordinary’ component in our homes establishes its constant involvement in our lives on a daily basis. Other forms of technology such as information technology (IT), affect us in a similar sense, as they have changed the way we interact with both computers and one another, as well as how we gather information. This essay will examine the development of new technology, specifically its existence within design, in order to illustratethe way it affects the everyday lives of users. It will be argued that design, with the integration of new technology, benefits the way we function, as well as benefiting the routines in our everyday lives. It also affects also our methods of interaction: working, learning, communication etc. (Benefits of Technology, 2010), in such a way that provides convenience among other enhancements in accomplishing our everyday tasks.

Domestic technologies have revolutionized the way that we accomplish tasks in our homes. They “modify the range and duration of events to be accommodated during the course of a daily schedule” (Shove, 2003). In other words, we are able to get things done more quickly and frequently in our everyday lives. Contemporary machines such as the clothes dryer are good examples to illustrate this, as clothes generally dry faster in clothes dryers than on a washing line, and unlike washing lines, clothes dryers are unaffected by weather conditions, which allow for less interference in the schedule of events during the day. In addition, kitchen tasks such as whipping cream can be achieved more quickly with a food mixer as opposed to doing it by hand with a utensil. Again, this is an example of new technology that allows users to accomplish tasks more quickly and efficiently, saving time and effort that can be put to use to accomplish other tasks. The invention of the computer has also played a significant role in the functioning of many people’s lives. Its design was originally intended to service the world of work (Habib, 2000). It alleviated the amount of work that was required to solve large and complex mathematical calculations. As the capabilities of computers increased and the computer hardware costs decreased, a larger number of workers began to use computers. In the 1980’s, Apple Macintosh and Windows-based computers contributed to the rise of personal computers. Concerns regarding the ease of human interactions with computers had also emerged during this time, and once this human-computer interaction issue was addressed, the computer became increasingly popular in homes. New entertainment-oriented capabilities (i.e. video games) as well as utility applications added to its appeal to users. As more features were installed into the computer it became more of a ‘general purpose machine’ (Habib, 2000). Applications and programs that computers now provide open up the possibilities through their broad range of operation capabilities. Users can now better organize their lives due to software that can either be downloaded or is even freely provided by computer manufacturers. For example, digital calendars, media storage applications, and address books found on computers can be used for organizational purposes. These are all examples of applications that can have a hard-copy equivalent outside of the computer, however the benefit of having them all in one place is that it saves on the time and effort typically required for people to seek them out in their homes. Thus, the computer is a source for many functions that we do in our homes/work on a daily basis. It enables users to manage and perform tasks that would be impossible or require more time to achieve without the help of machinery.

  Information technology (IT) is termed as a “vast array of information in digital form” (Atkinson and Castro, 2008). It has enabled many key innovations and improvements in our lives/society – from education and health care to a better environment and securer communities. Since its notable rise in the mid 1990’s, it has transformed us into an information-rich society, which in effect, has significantly changed the operations in our everyday lives at school, work, and home. For instance, the emergence of online applications/tools have opened up the possibilities for schools and changed the education system in such a way that has improved learning outcomes, expanded access to education, and changed learning styles. Parents are able to access and follow information online regarding their child’s academic progress, and students are able to take online classes that were unavailable prior to the existence of the Internet. In addition, throughout most of the 20th century, information was received through the radio, television, and newspaper/magazines. This meant that people had to search through the frequencies of local radio stations, television channels and bookshelves or drive to the local library to seek out the required information. Because of the information technology available on the Internet, users now have access to information simply by making a few keystrokes on a keyboard. With search engines such as Google and Wikipedia, users are able to learn about destinations they wish to travel to, restaurant reviews, online shopping - all at their fingertips. These examples share the common characteristic of flexibility and increased availability; the potential and expansion of operations that have become available through technology effectively benefit us in the way that we can now perform a wider variety of tasks. Additionally, having access to information updates in real time is a prominent feature of information technology, since the value of information can often be associated with how quickly it is available to the user (Atkinson and Castro, 2008). A recent example of this is the rise of Twitter, which is essentially a social networking site where users can post status updates on their own lives and also on news stories from all over the world. In this way, Twitter has the ability to function as a news service, as users – often those closest to the scene - diffuse information to many users at once. There are situations in life where having this updated information can determine the outcome of the situation. Such as avoiding traffic through road traffic updates, preparing for floods through water level updates, airplane flight updates in real time etc. Presenting information in real time not only provides convenience, it also allows users to make the right decision at the right time, which can save them the money, time or effort, if this information was not available.

  While new technology can be seen as beneficial to our lives, it is also worth considering the flaws that arise when new technology is introduced. With the constant growth and societal acceptance of new technology, users must adapt to the challenges and opportunities that new technology provides. In some cases, this can be an unpleasant or unfamiliar feeling, as it may be out of the ordinary and something that users have no previous experience with nor have encountered in their everyday lives. A learning curve is associated with new technology where the steepness of the curve depends on how familiar or unfamiliar users are with new technology (Hamill, 2000). The innovation of color T.V’s is a good example of successfully avoiding this unfamiliarity, since users already know how to use a black and white T.V and can readily identify the benefits of having a color T.V. This familiarity level is a factor that can make the user either willing or unwilling to engage with new technology. For example, Davis, Bagozzi and Warshaw (1989) proposed a theoretical model during the time period when computers were becoming increasingly popular. It was named the ‘Technology Acceptance Model’ (TAM), which posited that ‘perceived usefulness’ and ‘perceived ease of use’ strongly relate to computer acceptance behaviors. In other words, if the user can predict and anticipate what the new technology will offer and how easy it will be to use, there is a higher chance that the user will begin using it. This suggests that new technology that is similar to previously used technology will be more easily accepted and used than technology that does not have the benefit of having a familiar technology as its precursor.

Conversely, it is also important to consider that, in recent times, technology is designed with much concern and consideration towards the user - the developments and advancements of user friendly interfaces are often embedded in technology today (Habib, 2000). These work to avoid and eliminate the feeling of unfamiliarity experienced by the user. For example, as previously mentioned, Apple Macintosh and Windows have worked to design the interface of their computers to be more user friendly in order to increase their appeal to a wider range of users. Thus, by creating interfaces that are easily understood or relatable to users, there is a reduction in the negative ‘unfamiliar’ aspect of new technology, where technology is deemed too complicated and so is unaccepted by the user.

  As evidenced, bothdomestic technology and information technology are two primary forms of new technology that have a significant influence on what occurs in our everyday lives. The examples and evidence given have demonstrated that these two technologies are in fact beneficial. They can potentially save us time, money, and effort, while also opening up a broader range of functions and possibilities that have implications for how we experience everyday life. However, we also see that when these forms of new technology emerge, users may experience a ‘technical barrier’, in which the functionality does not make sense to them, therefore feelings of discomfort arise as well as feelings of hesitation and unwillingness to take further action in using the technology. This may suggest to designers that it would be logical to seek ways of analyzing and evaluating the acceptability of these systems in the early stages of the design process.  Due to this, designers may look to new technology in order to provide beneficial user interactions that save time and ease the effort required to accomplish tasks, allowing for more/other tasks to be accomplished. In a sense, today’s society can now be more productive with the aid of technology.

  In effect, the contributions of domestic appliances and information technology have improved our quality of living through the aforementioned qualities of flexibility, speed, convenience, efficiency, and a broad range of possibilities. These qualities all play a part in demonstrating that new technology offers some positive factors that can effectively improve your everyday functioning. All of these discussed ideas and examples relate back to the main argument and purpose of the essay, as they deal with the routines and events that occur in our everyday lives, and they are examples that demonstrate improvement and benefit to these routines. Although for some users, technology can appear confusing or intimidating. In this case they should consider the ways in which overcoming this feeling and getting to know technology can help them in the long run with the benefits it provides.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Atkinson, R., & Castro, D. (2008). Digital Quality of Life: Understanding the

Personal & Social Benefits of the Information Technology Revolution. Social Science Electronic Publishing.

Davis, F., Bagozzi, R., & Warshaw, P. (1989). Management Science. User

Acceptance Of Computer Technology: A Comparison Of Two Theoretical Models. 35(8), 982-1003.

Habib, L. (2000). Computers and the Family: A Study of Technology in the    Domestic

Sphere. London, U.K: London School of Economics and Political Sciences.

Hamill, L. (2000). Personal Technologies. The Introduction of New Technology into

the Household. 4,1-16.

Hughes, J., O’Brien, J., & Rodden, T. (1998). Understanding Technology in Domestic

            Environments: Lessons for Cooperative Buildings. Lancaster, U.K.

Shove, E., Watson, M., Hand, M., & Ingram, J. (2007). The Design of Everyday Life.

Oxford, U.K: Berg.

Shove, E. (2003). Comfort, Cleanliness, and Convenience: The Social Organization

of Normality. Oxford, U.K: Berg.

Venkatesh, V. (2000). Information Systems Research. Determinants of Perceived

Ease of Use: Integrating Control, Intrinsic Motivation and Emotion into the Technology Acceptance Model. 11(4), 342-365.

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Assignment Three: Substantiating Claims

Theme: The Everyday

This research project examines the influence that design, with the integration of new technology, has on our everyday lives. Innovations such as domestic appliances and new forms of media have revolutionized and re-shaped the routines involved in our everyday lives, which provide the ease and convenience of a better quality of living. I will discuss these examples in greater detail in order to illustrate my argument that new technology benefits our everyday lives.

Domestic technologies “modify the range and duration of events to be accommodated during the course of a daily schedule” (Shove, 2003). In other words, we are able to get things done more quickly and frequently to suit our daily lives. Contemporary machines such as the clothes dryer are good examples to illustrate this, as clothes generally dry faster in clothes dryers than on a washing line, and unlike washing lines, clothes dryers are unaffected by weather conditions, which can mean it does not interfere with the schedule of events during the day. In addition, kitchen tasks such as whipping cream can be achieved more quickly with a food mixer as opposed to doing it by hand with a utensil. Again, this is an example of new technology that allows users to accomplish tasks more quickly and efficiently, saving time and effort that can be put to use to accomplish other tasks.

Information technology (IT) is termed as a “vast array of information in digital form” (Atkinson and Castro, 2008). Since its notable rise in the mid 1990’s, it has transformed us into an information-rich society, which in effect has significantly changed the operations in our everyday lives at school, work, and home. For example, the emergence of online applications/tools have opened up the possibilities for schools and changed the education system in such a way that has improved learning outcomes, expanded access to education, and changed learning styles. Parents are able to access and follow information of their child’s academic progress online and students are able to take online classes that were unavailable before the Internet. These examples share the common characteristic of flexibility and increased availability; the potential and expansion of operations that have become available through technology effectively benefit us in the way that we can now perform a wider variety of tasks.

In summary, the contributions of domestic appliances and information technology have improved our quality of living through the mentioned qualities of flexibility, speed, convenience, efficiency. These qualities all play a part in demonstrating that new technology offers some positive factors that can effectively improve your everyday functioning. Due to this, designers may look to new technology in order to provide beneficial user interactions that save time and ease the effort required to accomplish tasks, allowing for more/other tasks to be accomplished. In a sense, today’s society can now be more productive with the aid of technology. All of these discussed ideas and examples relate back to the main argument of the essay, as they deal with the routines and events that occur in our everyday lives, and they are examples that suggest improvement and benefit to these routines. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Atkinson, R., & Castro, D. (2008). Digital Quality of Life: Understanding the Personal & Social Benefits of the Information Technology Revolution. Social Science Electronic Publishing

Benefits Of Technology in Everyday Lives. (2010). Retrieved from

http://www.yotawimax.info/benefits-of-technology-in-everyday-live

Shove, E., Watson, M., Hand, M., & Ingram, J. (2007). The Design of Everyday Life. Oxford, U.K: Berg.

Shove, E. (2003). Comfort, Cleanliness, and Convenience: The Social Organization of Normality. Oxford, U.K: Berg.

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Assignment Two: Abstract + Argument

Theme: The Everyday

With the constant growth of new technology, users must adapt to the challenges and opportunities that new technology provides. In some cases, this can be an unpleasant or unfamiliar feeling, as it may be out of the ordinary and something they have no previous experience of nor encountered in their everyday lives. While this can be the case, however, it is also important to consider the potential benefits that new technology offers to users.

These aspects relate to my chosen research theme of ‘the everyday’, as technology and its advancements is a phenomenon that is embedded in modern society’s everyday culture.

With this project, I will explore the development of new technology, specifically its existence within design, in order to illustratethe way it affects the everyday lives of users.

I will argue that design, with the integration of new technology, benefits the way we function as well as the routines in our everyday lives. It affects also our methods of interaction-working, learning, communication etc. (Benefits of Technology, 2010) - in such a way that provides convenience and other enhancements in accomplishing our everyday tasks.

As a starting point, Atkinson and Castro’s Digital Quality of Life discusses the innovation of Information Technology (IT) and how it has improved our quality of living through ways such as access to real time information, better security in homes/businesses and improving convenience and saving time (e.g. allowing consumers to order products online) (Atkinson and Castro, 2008).  This will provide useful points and examples that are relevant in supporting my argument.

Additionally, Elizabeth Stove’s reading The Design of Everyday Life will provide this project with further information regarding the influence that new technology has on the routines of users. The examples they mention, such as the way in which kitchen appliances have revolutionized the way we function in the kitchen, will become useful for further elaboration on points that support my argument.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Atkinson, R., & Castro, D. (2008). Digital Quality of Life: Understanding the Personal & Social Benefits of the Information Technology Revolution. Social Science Electronic Publishing

Benefits Of Technology in Everyday Lives. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.yotawimax.info/benefits-of-technology-in-everyday-lives

Shove, E., Watson, M., Hand, M., & Ingram, J. (2007). The Design of Everyday Life. Oxford, U.K: Berg.

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Assignment One

Theme: 'The Everyday'

Source: "The Design of Everyday Life" (p.1-10)

The general idea of this piece of reading revolves around user interactions with objects as well as material culture. It initially draws attention to the influence that new technology has on the routines of humans, e.g. the microwave, dishwasher and fridge, which are all objects that have revolutionized our routine and the way we function in the kitchen. These revolutionary objects often become invisible in the sense that we, as users, tend to overlook the relationship between the everyday and the objects of the everyday. It is a factor in the design process that designers of the everyday must be conscious of. 

Many aspects mentioned in this reading are relevant to the theme of ‘the everyday’. The reading expresses the essence of ‘the everyday’ by consistently discussing the human interaction and functioning with objects. For example, Shove, Watson, Hand, & Ingram (2007) state that “material objects are routinely studied as traces of social relations and macro-social trends in technology, economics or political structure” (Shove, Watson, Hand, & Ingram, 2007, p. 6) - this relates back to the notion of material culture and how objects are reflective of who we are, how we live and how we function. They also mention that objects have a certain quality that embodies and reveals aspects of family life. Again, this ties into the idea that everyday objects can represent the user and in a sense creates an identity for them.

The intention of this reading is to inform us of the idea that everyday objects play an important role in determining the design/details of everyday life. This is emphasized this by stressing the importance of the existence of human patterns, interactions, and technological progression as being qualities that are integrated into the design of our everyday objects. In order to illustrate this, the reading offers a broad range of ideas, arguments and perspectives that are used as examples. These are presented in such a way that suggests the factors to consider when designing for the everyday.

In addition to sparking my interest, I felt that this reading offered some great examples that presented a good variety of perspectives from different cultures and time periods. In effect, it extended my knowledge on ‘the everyday’, giving me a much more refined understanding of the this, in relation to objects and the way we interact with them. It opened my mind up to new ideas. Overall, I feel the authors have presented their information in such a way that successfully achieve their primary intentions and offered content that has the potential to benefit future designers.

Biblography

Shove, E., Watson, M., Hand, M., & Ingram, J. (2007). The Design of Everyday Life. Oxford, U.K: Berg.

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