Technology Consumption and Cultural Dysfunction

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO|SHERIDAN COLLEGE| WEB CULTURE AND DESIGN | CCT260H5S Winter 2015

Technology ConsumpJon & Cultural DysfuncJon

GUEST SPEAKER: Corinne Schmid, MBA, ECMM

Founder & President Propellerhead MarkeJng

corinne@propellerheadmarke/ng.com 26 March 2015

Warning: this presenta/on contains images and content that some viewers may find disturbing. The subject maEer is intended for educa/onal and instruc/onal purposes per the curriculum and course mandate. Sources for images, data and graphics are cited as accessed online 17-‐25th March 2015. Neither Corinne Schmid, Propellerhead Marke/ng, University of Toronto, Sheridan College nor any of its employees, students and staff is claiming authorship, ownership or copyright – nor intends for this to be perceived as such.

3 reasons why this session will change your thinking:

1.  You will be introduced to the dark side of technology. 2.  You will compare your technology consumpJon with this dark side 3.  You will evaluate if your usage is fueling a cultural dysfuncJon

What is the impact of technology consumpJon and the ongoing technology-‐driven cultural dysfuncJon?

WEB DESIGN First, let’s talk about

Tradi/onal web design. Meh.

Reality: web design is

expected to be cross-‐plaVorm and device agnos/c.

The Next Killer App No really, this will – literally -‐ kill your app

Reality: you may program on a super awesome, high performing, Intel 5th Genera/on, 32GB RAM, 7,200-‐rpm hard drive, 32 GB flash cache… that’s great for you. Meanwhile, your user runs Windows 2008 which means your killer design just killed your app because no one could use it– or at least, gave up a_er 10 seconds of wai/ng for the applica/on to launch. #Fail.

What about web culture?

Can ‘culture’ have mass impact?

Let’s take a closer look

Technology ConsumpJon | Cultural DysfuncJon

AGENDA ü Presenta/on overview ü Corinne’s biography puzzle ü Basic web design standards q Let’s talk about web culture – is this a thing? q Technology consump/on q The poten/al for cultural dysfunc/on q Where do you go from here?

First: what does ‘culture’ mean to you?

Google search returned 434,000,000 results for the word CULTURE

First: what does ‘culture’ mean to you?

…are the 434m results more or less than if you googled Kardashian? Speaking of culture:

Culture/humanity is saved: Kardashian only had 221,000,000 search results.

Source: December 8, 2011, accessed 20 March 2015: hEp://thefix.ninemsn.com.au/2014/12/09/05/31/make-‐it-‐stop-‐up-‐to-‐four-‐more-‐kardashian-‐tv-‐shows-‐in-‐the-‐pipeline

But wait, from le_ to right, Who can name each Kardashian?




BONUS POINTS: Which Kardashian sibling is missing from this picture?

You can name all the Kardashians, can you name all your classmates?



CLASS RESULTS: 1.  Both classes could name each Kardashian– in less than 30 seconds. 2.  Both classes iden/fied the ‘missing’ Kardashian -‐ within 5 seconds. 3.  No one, in either class, could name all fellow classmates –

approximately 30 people -‐ despite being in the same program and sharing the same class room for over 3 months.

The reality (no pun intended): You know (more) names of a reality TV show family – the Kardashians – than the names of your ~30, ‘real world’, classmates whom you’ve been sinng with, in the same classroom, for over three months. Lesson Point: Humans are social creatures and yet we are increasingly dependent on technology -‐ hardware devices and so7ware programs-‐ to communicate and socialize with others.

Is that a cultural dysfunc9on?

WEB CULTURE IS A THING Virtual World | YouTubers | e-‐LebriJes | Vloggers

The obligatory social sites

Web culture has a new language: what do the following numbers mean?

•  121 •  143 •  1432 •  182 •  4 •  411 •  404 •  420

•  459 •  511 •  555 •  831 •  86 •  88 •  9

Web culture has its own language:

•  121 – one to one •  143 – I love you •  1432 – I love you too •  182 – I hate you •  4 – ‘for’ in SMS •  411 -‐ Informa/on •  404 – I don’t know •  420 -‐ marijuana

•  459 – I love you •  511 -‐ TMI •  555 – sobbing , crying •  831 – I love you •  86 -‐ Over •  88 – bye-‐bye •  88 Hugs and kisses •  9 – Parents is watching

The new e-‐lebri;es: Coming to a dorm room near you.

•  PewDiePie -‐ Swedish vlogger, notable for being a video game commentator

•  Tyler Oakley -‐ American vlogger, advocates for LGBT youth

•  Grace Helbig -‐ American vlogger, set to star in a upcoming E! comedy series

•  Miranda Sings -‐ Internet character, created by YouTube vlogger Colleen Ballinger

•  Fleur DeForce -‐ American beauty guru, specialises in beauty-‐related tutorials

•  Joey Graceffa -‐ American vlogger, starred in The Amazing Race 22

•  Elle Flower -‐ American beauty guru, specialises in beauty-‐related tutorials

•  Sawyer Hartman -‐ American vlogger, directs indie films backed by Ron Howard

•  Kandee Johnson -‐ American beauty guru, works as a celebrity makeup ar/st

•  MichellePhan -‐ American beauty guru, launched a

L'Oreal line called EM •  Jenna Marbles -‐ American vlogger, launched dog toys

called Kermie Worm & Mr. Marbles •  EssiebuEon -‐ American beauty guru, specialises in

beauty-‐related videos •  Zoella -‐ Bri/sh beauty vlogger, launched a makeup

line called Zoella Beauty •  Thatcher Joe -‐ Bri/sh vlogger, the brother of YouTube

vlogger Zoella •  Pointless Blog -‐ Bri/sh vlogger, also dates YouTube

vlogger Zoella •  Tanya Burr -‐ Bri/sh beauty vlogger, launched a

makeup line called Tanya Burr Cosme/cs •  Jim Chapman -‐ Bri/sh vlogger, also dates YouTube

vlogger Tanya Burr •  Caspar Lee -‐ English-‐born South African vlogger,

starred in the comedy film Spud 3 •  Marcus Butler -‐ Bri/sh vlogger, also part of Comic

Relief's "YouTube Boyband”

Sampling: how many to you know?

Are they real celebri/es? How many views do they have….?

Many YouTuber have more views than so-‐called ‘real world’ celebs like Lady Gaga, Taylor Swi_ and Jus/n Bieber: •  PewDiePie – 6.65 billion total views •  Smosh – 6.18 billion •  DisneyCollectorBR – 3.69 billion views •  RayWilliamJohnson – 2.76 billion views •  Michelle Phan – first woman to reach over 1 billion views on

YouTube – over Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Madonna, et al…. This is definitely a thing. To the point that Ray William Johnson announce his reJrement from e-‐lebrity because it had become unfulfilling…..at more views that some prime/me TV shows.


ü Presenta/on overview ü Corinne’s biography puzzle ü Basic web design standards ü Let’s talk about web culture – is this a thing? q Technology consump/on q The poten/al for cultural dysfunc/on q Where do you go from here?

TECHNOLOGY CONSUMPTION Let’s get personal: you will assess your own

Get out a pen and paper so you can take inventory of your true technology consump/on

T E C H N O L O G Y I N V E N T O R Y Check all the devices / electronics that you use daily or are exposed to each evening.

q  Telephone q  Mobile / Smartphone

q  Cordless / Home or Landline

q  Music player (MP3, iPod) q  Wireless speakers

q  Tablet / iPad q  Electronic Book Reader

(examples: Kindle / Kobo)

q  Gaming (ie: PS3, WII) q  Standalone console (DS3)

q  Wearables: q  Fitbit or other fitness device (usually worn on

wrist)

q  Samsung Galaxy, Apple or other watch

q  Television / Projector q  SmartTV (connects to internet)

q  Digital TV box (ie Netbox from Rogers)

q  TV in bedroom

q  Computer q  PC / Mac Computer – at HOME q  PC / Mac Computer – in BEDROOM

q  Dual monitors for home/personal use computer (ie: in bedroom)

q  Wireless keyboard q  TV or Monitor in your bedroom

q  External storage or hardware back-‐up q  Printer – wireless or connected

q  Router / modem

q  Other electronic device(s), specify: ____________________________

____________________________

Here’s an example of a technology inventory: Phone: ü  Mobile: smartphone -‐ with wifi and bluetooth – always on me, never out of reach. ü  Home: cordless phone, land line access – cordless handset in my room. Computer: ü  Home computer – my parents have a desktop in the living room. ü  Notebook computer – I have my own computer in my room with an external

monitor on my desk. I use a wireless keyboard and mouse. ü  Tablet (iPad) – my dad has an iPad and I use it for a couple hours a_er dinner. ü  The printer is next to the home computer in the living room, next to the router. Fun ü  Music Player – I use an iPod because it’s easier than my phone at the gym. ü  At home, I some/mes wear my Beats by Dre wireless headphones or connect to

my Jambox speaker. . ü  Gaming – we play GTA5 on the PS3; we also have a WII. Both are connected to a

Samsung Smart TV. ü  Wearables – can’t afford the Samsung or Apple watch, but I wear the FitBit to

track my ac/vity and monitor my sleep.

You’ve taken inventory of WHAT you have

Now evaluate your USAGE and EXPOSURE

FIRST let’s define USAGE: Any electronic device that you interact with, examples: •  Tex/ng from your mobile phone •  Using a remote control to change the channel on TV •  Watching a YouTube video on your iPad •  Doing homework on a computer – desktop or notebook. •  Watching videos on either your phone, tablet, smart TV, or computer. SECOND, let’s define EXPOSURE – simply: the distance between you and the device, examples: •  Tex/ng from your mobile phone – the device is in your hands: very close exposure to your body. •  The TV remote is in your hands and you’re in the same room as the TV: moderate exposure if TV is

6-‐8 feet away from you. Increased exposure if less than 6 feet. •  Watching a video on your iPad -‐ you’re holding the device or within a few feet of it: close proximity. •  Using the family computer – you are close proximity to the keyboard, mouse and looking at a

monitor. •  Doing homework on a computer, while watching TV and occasionally returning text messages on

your mobile phone: mul/-‐device usage and mul/-‐device exposure.

Technology Consump/on: assess your usage from 6pm – midnight, Monday to Friday.

1.  How much computer / tablet / monitor screen /me do you have each night? __less than 2 hours ___ between 2-‐4 hours ___5-‐6 hours __ >6

2.  How much television / gaming screen /me do you have each night? This includes if the TV is on while you’re doing homework on another device, ie: computer. __ less than 2 hours ___ between 2-‐4 hours __ 5-‐6 hours __ >6 hours.

3.  On average, how much talk Jme (on a mobile phone or landline) do you have each night? ___less than 2 hours ___ 2-‐4 hours ___ 5-‐6 hours __ >6 hours.

4.  On average, how much /me do you spend TEXTING / MESSAGING each night? __less than 2 hours ___ between 2-‐4 hours ___5-‐6 hours __ >6 hours.

Technology consump/on: assess your usage from 6pm – midnight, Monday to Friday.

5. Do you have a wearable aEached to your wrist, clothing or body in the evening? ____YES ____NO.

6. Is your mobile phone also your alarm clock? ____YES ____NO.

7. Do you turn off your ringer when you go to bed? ____YES ____NO.

8. If you have a computer or a TV in your room, do you turn it off when you go to bed at night? ____YES ____NO.

9. Do you have a technology curfew? ____YES ____NO

The reality: Technology and electronics are pervasive in our daily lives. From waking up to the alarm on our smartphone, to carrying that same device in a pocket all day and then interac/ng with other electronics such as computers, tablets, printers, modems, televisions, game consoles, etc. Both CCT classes indicated being exposed to and using mul/ple technology devices in the hours a_er school. No one indicated having a ‘media curfew’ or spending an hour offline before going to bed. Lesson Point: Which came first: the chicken or the egg. Likewise, which came first: our dependence on technology, or our insa;able techonlogy consump;on. With all the ;me spent online – how much ;me are you spending offline? Where is your balance in the real-‐world?

Is that a cultural dysfunc9on?


ü Presenta/on overview ü Corinne’s biography puzzle ü Basic web design standards ü Let’s talk about web culture – is this a thing? ü Technology consump/on q The poten/al for cultural dysfunc/on q Where do you go from here?

Children have thinner skulls and absorb up to 60% more radia/on than an adult.

And so it begins: the dark side of technology:

Did you know…. ?

You can reduce 75% of the electromagne/c radia/on by moving your phone 5 cms (approximately 2 inches)

away from your head.

Reference: R. B. Herberman, MD, University of PiEsburgh Cancer Ins/tute (2008)

Ewwww, there’s fecal maEer on 1-‐in-‐6 mobile phones

Upwards of 75% of Americans take their phones into the washroom. Close to 17% of them come out of the

washroom with feces on their phone. Gross.

Fecal maEer has been known to spread E. coli bacteria, which can cause serious illnesses like urinary tract infec/ons and kidney failure.

Smaller isn’t always bejer.

70% of adults squint and strain their eyes looking at their phone or tablet screen. This may cause computer vision syndrome, condi/on in which you have dry eyes, difficulty focusing, and some/mes, even double vision.

Source: Vision Council

Text neck is the outcome of constantly staring down at your phone screen – as one usually does when tex/ng or messaging.

Did you know…. ?

Child behavior specialists are seeing a genera/on that is not par/cipa/ng in ac/ve engagement with others,

but rather is staring at a screen.

KathyH, HubPages (2013)

Technology consump/on driving dysfunc/on

You go to bed and con/nue to chat, text, message and socialize on your mobile phone. This leads to later

sleep /mes that result in a shorter sleep dura/on that could give you social jetlag.

Did you know…. ?

1 hour before bed,

AVOID use of light-‐emikng screens. This specific light interferes with sleep pajerns and quality of sleep.

CULTURAL DYSFUNCTION Technology consump/on and poten/al

Online for over three hours, school night and 11,300 likes

Holding cash and making explicit gestures to the camera. She’s 13 years old.

She was really sleepy. Note that names and social media alias are listed.

Ms Viktoria.Secret is under 17 years old and has a 2 year old with her. At 1am.

Four hours live streaming on a ‘school night’ to 4am

She claimed to be 19, had over 340 viewers watching her.

That’s how this tragic story began….

Summary

How will you establish your cultural legacy that supports ‘technology for good’; rather than

feeding into to mass consump/on that triggers greater technology dysfunc/on?







Ques/ons?







Thank you