Assignment 1 Net102 - Q & A's

I mentioned in an earlier post, that when I'm gearing up for an assessment I search the internet for examples of previous work. I use these to get a feel for what has been submitted, often the questions are different to the ones I need to answer, but for me, I think it has helped me find my own style of writing.

So, here is my assignment 1, unedited. Three questions & my responses.  I received 7.5/10.  Please please do not copy my work, it is plagiarism to do so.


cheers
Sarah



How has the move from an analogue to digital medium changed the distribution and consumption of music?

From transistor radio to the iPod and other MP3 players, the music industry is again at a turning point. The move to the digital format is now supported by a plethora of easy to access web applications. Music of all genres, ages and languages can be tested, purchased and allocated to a personal 'mix tape' in minutes. Legal music download sites allow consumers to purchase single songs in an instant. Beer (2006) says a significant change in music culture has been the increase of music downloading. ITunes alone reached 10 billion downloads in February 2010 (apple.com), showing the shift in consumer behavior away from wanting to purchase a physical album.

Music is more portable than ever before. As access to the Internet has become more accessible, people are using the portability of music players to create a private space in public. Laughey (2007, p175) states ‘music can enable a feeling of occupancy and control in ‘public’ spaces’. From analogue to digital, the most significant change to the music industry is that speed and portability are now the keys to music distribution and consumption.



References

Apple iTunes (2010) “Tunes Store Tops 10 Billion Songs Sold”, February 25, http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/02/25iTunes-Store-Tops-10-Billion-Songs-Sold.html

Beer, David (2006). The Pop-Pickers Have Picked Decentralised Media: the Fall of Top of the Pops and the Rise of the Second Media Age. Social Research Online. http://www.socresonline.org.uk/11/3/beer.html

Laughey, D. (2007). Music Media in Young People's Everyday Lives. In Music, Sound and Multimedia: From the Live to the Virtual Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 172-187




Pascoe describes the use of technology by young adults as part of their romantic lives in a way that is integrated into their everyday lives. Do you think the use of online dating sites can also be considered a normal part of everyday life? Why/why not?

Young adults 'perform' their relationships via the online world, providing them a wider audience through more access to their existing ‘ties’ and opportunities to re-enforce ‘latent-ties’ (Haythornwaithe, 2005). People in the age group that learned to perform relationships prior to the emergence of the Internet ‘Digital Immigrants’ (Prensky, 2001) tend to think of these intimacy practices as private. In comparison, teen-dating behavior is often public and collaborative (Pascoe, 2009). Social Network Sites, instant messaging and mobile phone use further facilitates this public behavior.

For many, online dating is part of their everyday life formed through the opportunities presented by the convergence between globalization, the Internet and the emotional being. (Henry-Waring & Barraket) In the busy digital world of today, finding love and intimacy online is often the rational way. Through an online dating site’s profile page, one can enable filters that are not easily accessible in an offline setting, leading to a more streamlined approach to finding love. Henry-Waring & Barraket maintain that emotional online interactions are part of the real world, not separate from it (Stanley 2001). Therefore the intimacies formed and played out online are a real part of normal everyday life.



References

Haythornwaithe, C. (2002) Strong, Weak, and Latent Ties and the Impact of New Media The Information Society: An International Journal 18(5), 385-388

Pascoe, C.J. (2009) Intimacy in Mizuko, I et. al. Hanging Out, Messing Around, Geeking Out: Living and Learning with New Media. Massachusetts: The MIT Press, 117-148

Prensky, M. (2001) Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants From On the Horizon London: MCB University Press 9(5), 2-4

Henry-Waring, M., & Barraket, J. (2008) Dating & Intimacy in the 21st Century: The Use of Online Dating Sites in Australia International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Society 6(1), 14-3


How, if at all, has the relationship between Doctor and patient been affected by the rise in the use of the Internet, in relationship to peoples health, in everyday life?

The rise of the concept of Medicine 2.0 has empowered people to be more involved in their own healthcare. Doctor’s fees are increasingly expensive and time is always of the essence within a consultation and many people are reading up on their symptoms proactively. (Anderson, Rainey, and Eysenbach) This enables the system to cater to as many people as possible within a short time frame. One major problem with self-diagnosis is potential for misdiagnosis, which can lead to unnecessary stress on the patient or even inappropriate self-medicating.  The Internet has not replaced the need for a physical consultation with a medical professional; however, there is scope for more health services to take place online.

“The Internet has been a tool for users and citizens to get more involved and empowered” (Eysenbach 2008) aiding the shift over time from a patients one-way relationship with their doctor to more of a collaborative model. The availability of information online enables a patient to question their doctor, discuss possible alternative treatments and make informed choices. Support groups provide emotional and factual support online, point patients in the direction of alternative treatments and enable a person to be in control of their health, identifying them as an expert in the experience of their own health (Eysenbach 2008).



References

Anderson, J. G., Rainey M.R., & Eysenbach G. (2003) The Impact of CyberHealthcare on the Physician-Patient Relationship. Journal of Medical Systems 27(1) 67-84
Eysenbach, G. (2008). Medicine 2.0: Social Networking, Collaboration, Participation, Apomediation, and Openness. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 10(3).