Annie Moon-Arkell

New communication technologies have always required new ways of doing research into the use, interaction, and meaning-making in relation to those technologies. The ebullient growth of Internet technology has lead to debate about the way in which the Internet can be understood and analyzed as an emergent means of communication. Web analysis is a relatively new and exciting way of data collection. Whether it is through email interviews, online content analysis, fieldnotes, audio-taping, videotaping, filming, or surveys etc, new technologies are opening fresh and endless ways to tell the stories of our society and demarginalise the voice of its members.

In regards to ethnography, the real question is ‘can traditional research methodologies be applied to online communities?’ Researchers have attempted to create online supplements for many of the basic ethnographic concepts but whether they can appropriately be adapted to technologically mediated interaction is still unknown. For example, if a researcher simply reads some emails or participates in chat rooms, does this represent an ethnography? The key is participation. A researcher could make a facebook and interact in the communities within it but unless they hold the pre-established face-to-face relationships can the researcher still be said to have immersed themselves in the life of the community and to have engaged in the culture as a full-fledged member?

While the potential for research bias may grow when gathered on the web (e.g google automatically manipulates our access to certain cites) this is something that can be considered and used to the advantage of a well rounded and enthusiastic researcher who tackles  analytics with a triangular, multifaceted approach.

Murthy, D 2008, ‘Digital Ethnography: An Examination of the Use of New Technologies for Social Research’, Sociology, Vol 42, Issue 5, pp 837-855.

So here I am thinking about what to write under my new found freedom.

First thing that comes to mind is rubbing in my future holiday.

While everyone else is sitting watching Lost re-runs, Annie Moon-Arkell is going to be flying to the fashion capital of Australia; Melbourne!

Think Melbourne, think shopping, the rest of Australia does. The question isn’t what can you buy but what can’t you buy!

Jealous yet? ahhh its coming!

Since I was a little girl i have been in LOVE with melbourne. Not only is everything beautifully charming, my favourite person in the world lives there, G’ma. Let me hear you sing FREE ACCOMMODATION.

Yep, told you it was coming. Jealousy is a curse you know!

I plan to stroll down the vibrant little streets and  throughout shopping centres such as the Galleria, Australia on Collins and Melbourne Central, to the network of lanes and arcades,  where every turn reveals a new shopping space with its own personality.

So first up? I know what your thinking, or at least what I’m thinking, QUEEN VICTORIA MARKETS!!!!!!! From what I can remember as a little girl with huge eyes, dazzled in the glamour, there are  over 1,000 stalls selling just about everything. The market sells clothing, shoes, baggage, toys, pets, travel goods, jewellery and souvenirs all at bargain prices and all with a fervour and pace I have never experienced anywhere else.

Ladys and gentleman, next up we have, drum roll please! dadum dadum…. The Block Arcade! The name that sends shivers down any true shoppers spine. The big ‘stay away’ arcade for anyone trying to save.

Speaking of saving, oh I mean spending. Next up is Crown Casino. Oohhhhh Crown Casinoooo. I can see the cherry’s lining up now. Seriously though. Ill be coming back first class.

Dinner is always SUCH a relaxing time so I will defiantly be going to get my fair share of being horrified, mortified, terrified, excited and entertained at Dracula’s.

So anyway, I know you are probably sobbing in jealousy at this point to i will leave you with one more heart warming comment..

HAHA I’m going to Melbourne and your not!!!

Response and Awareness of e-waste in regards to youth in Australia.

Method- Case study on the youth and their awareness and response to e-waste.

Next week- we have all done our selected methods or at least begun them. Also we have made an audio recording to contribute to our group audio.

Name- Georgia

Age- 17

Relation- Boyfriends sister

A-Just so you know I am going to write this interview up and put it on my uni blog. Is that okay with you?

G- That’s cool.

A- What is the last piece of new technology you brought or was brought for you by your parents?

G- My laptop.

A-Why did you replace your old laptop?

G- It was too slow, old and shit.

A- But it did still work?

G- Yeah, it was only like 5 years old. Actually, maybe not even that old, maybe 3?

A- How long ago was that?

G-Christmas this year.

A-Would you say you are a frequent buyer of new technologies?

G- Yeah, I guess so.

A- Do you usually buy new technologies because the other stops working completely or just because you feel like an upgrade?

G- More an upgrade. We just moved in here (new house) so we kinda upgraded everything but we didn’t really need too.

A-What did you do with all your old tecnologies?

G- We had a huge skip bin which everything went it. We only kept two TVs that were new plasmas anyway and a couple of laptops. Oh and like all the X-box and stuff.

A- Have you ever recycled old technologies? So, like, found a company who is actually properly recycling waste or pulled the technologies apart yourself?

G- Pfft. No. Is this making me look bad? (laughs)

A- Well it’s not ideal but a lot of households are the same. No one really knows how to recycle or the damages that un-recycled waste cause. If you knew do you think you would try harder to recycle?

G-Yeah of course! I feel guilty just talking about it!

Summary- Georgia comes from a quite wealthy family. They have the funds and ability to upgrade whenever they please. She has no idea about the damages of e-waste but does express concern when informed of them. I think she mirrors many westerners in their ignorance is bliss standing.

In my HSC year I had to do what is called a PIP (personal interest project) this involved making and analysing hundreds of surveys.

As part of my study of media users and E-waste I will use my skills to implement surveys.

I will focus on creating a good  survey questionnaire. It will include both open and closed questions which will shed light on my groups research topic.

I may also do an email questionnaire. I may email a person who has some power in the area of our research question. This will allow for flexible working hours for both me and the subject.

Another option may include a research report. This would involve providing research and background information on the topic. I would formulate it like any other report. With an aim, hypothesis etc..

The question we have decided to go with is ‘Awareness and response to e-waste in Australia.’ This is a combination of everyone’s questions that they have already completed. For example Vanessa did her report on the responses of council and community to E-waste and Daniel did the awareness of E-waste in Australia.

Sections-

Annie- I will be constructing a case study on the benefits of creating awareness and response campaigns.

Hadiman- awareness- Hadiman will be doing a focus group asking questions that establish how much awareness there is in the community.

Naomi- Awareness – Naomi will be doing an online survey though social networking sites such as Facebook.

Vanessa- Response- Vanessa will be doing email interviews regarding community leaders opinions on E-waste.

Daniel- Daniel will be the leader in the groups interviews. We will all help construct and conduct the interviews and I will transcribe them but he will be the analyser and representative of that part of our report.

A- I am conducting an interview into the reasons behind the purchasing of new devices and the keeping of seemingly obsolescent items. Are you aware that this will be transcribed onto my public blog?

H- “I am. Thats fine”

A- When did you purchase your last electronic device?

H- last Christmas, sometime.

A- What was it?

H- Mobile phone

A- What were your reasons behind purchasing this device?

H- Communication,

H- needed a new phone,

A- Oh okay, what did you need a new phone for?

H- Old one was getting a bit worn out.

H- A bit rough around the edges, a little bit gay.

A- How did you dispose of the old product and would you consider that an effective disposal method?

H- Haven’t disposed of it yet, lying in room somewhere. In a draw or something.

Unable to indentify where product is.

A- How long did you use the old device?

H- pretty sure 2 years.

A- How long to you expect to keep the device?

H- No idea. Still has phones lying around and other e-waste. Including old computers.

Self proclaimed horder.

A-Why do you think you hoard these items?

H- ‘Because you never know whaen they might be usefull’

H- mum used old phone when new one broke. Untill she got a new phone.

never truly see’s items as obsolete.

 

Summary-

Hadiman feels that items are not ever really obsolete. He doesn’t like to dispose of things incase they become usefull again in the future. He purchases new things when he feels the old things are getting ‘rough’. In other words when he feels they are too old and everused.

 

Not only can my Grandma read, understand and use ‘text speech’ she can also email, facebook, and skype. She is everywhere.

When I was younger, when we actually used land lines, Grandma and I hardly had any contact. Now we have so many means of communication it is almost impossible not to stay in contact.

It is evident that there is a lot of debate in society on whether new medias are having a huge negative effect on our social relationships but many, like myself believe that the impact of the Internet is likely tobe very different if it supplements communication with already established friends and family or if, instead, it substitutes for more traditional communication and traditional social ties.

Many use the Internet not only to maintain social relationships with distant relatives and friends but also to create new relationships online; some of these friendships become integrated into social circles.

To compare differences in the amount of communication online and offline for different groups in my life I can assume they would look a lot like this.

As you can see when it comes to face-to-face contact with my family and distant friends it is very rare. This is because my family lives far away and acquaintances are usually only bumped into on occasion.

It is my view that social networks supplement, rather than replace, the communication people have with people who are very close to them— as well as those with those not so close. (Rainie, L, Horrigan, J, Wellman, B, Boase, J 2006, pg 3)

Lee Rainie, John Horrigan, Barry Wellman, Jeffrey Boase 2006, The Strength of Internet Ties, The Pew Internet and American Life Project, 8/4/2010, http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2006/PIP_Internet_ties.pdf.pdf

Graph made at http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createAgraph/

In conclusion, it is evident that blocking this subject is not going to solve anything.

Those who seek the information these websites hold will find a way around this filter, it does nothing for P2P networks.

We should have the right to make our own choices. If the government is controlling us on this front what else will they control?

Who has the right to define what is good for someone’s health? Why should they have this much power?

These topics may be horrible but it is not ones right to take away our own will.

It is also evident this filter will block more than just these topics. People will be hitting this filter constantly, hindering research and exploration.

How can people critically discuss these topics and create awareness of their negatives when the whole topic is disregarded?

Just because you can’t see the problem doesn’t mean it is no longer there. This is common sense!

Our counterparts claim that the filter will ‘regulate’ discussion rather than hinder it. If regulating is deleting all critical comparisons then kudos to the government.

They also claim that these topics are too readily accessed by children. The Australian government introduced an optional and free filter that could be easily downloaded years ago. If a parent is that worried why not download that filter rather than fight for a mandatory one?

We fought hard for our right to free speech. Are we really going to go back in time?

How has the introduction of new netbook technology effected amounts of laptop e-waste?

Methodology-

When beginning my search I started  by searching the UOW journals. I started on informaworld and Sage. This was interesting because I found myself expanding and narrowing my research terms in order to get the best results. Firstly I used the key words ‘netbook’ and ‘e-waste’. I got nothing. After changing things around a little bit I got a few results. Some of my key words included laptop, new, recycling, electronic, and waste. I then searched media and communications blogs.

Sources-

Ogg, E 2009, “Time to drop the Netbook label”, Accessed 20/03/2010http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/ptech/08/20/cnet.drop.netbook.label/index.html

This source is a report on what is attractive about netbooks. What it is that draws people to the technology. I will use this to explore the consumer behavior that causes people to choose netbooks. This source is good to compare these changes to communication methods to an increase in e-waste.

Rodriguez, S 2009, Consumer Behavior Report,  accessed 23/03/2010, https://mr.pricegrabber.com/Netbook_Trends_and_SolidState_Technology_January_2009_CBR.pdf

This is a report on the consumer behaviors regarding netbooks. There are many tables and quantitative data regarding the subject within the report. It would help to create an illustrative account of the increase in netbook sales which I could compare to an increase in laptop e-waste. With quotes like this ‘By late 2008, netbooks had begun to take market share away from laptops.’ I will be able to further compare the results.

Vance, A, Richtel, M 2009, Light and Cheap, Netbooks Are Poised to Reshape PC Industry, accessed 23/03/2010, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/technology/02netbooks.html?_r=1

This source is more about the companies who are financially backing the new technology wave. I can use this to analyze what it is that is driving the change so ferociously. The source talks about how ridiculously cheap it is the own a netbook and the deals by companies to promote sales e.g an extra $20 to own a laptop when changing internet servers. Quotes such as this ‘by the end of 2009, netbooks could account for close to 10 percent of the PC market, an astonishing rise in a short span’ will again allow me to compare rise and fall of netbooks and laptops.

Switchedshow 2008,Testing World’s Smallest (and Cheapest) Laptops, accessed 02/03/2010, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0XxBgN8OZA&feature=PlayList&p=2BC116E21F7C3F6A&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=47

This video is a man who is from the computer industry and has a good insight into the mechanics of  netbooks as well as consumer attractions. I can use it for quotes and to gain a direct comparison between the mechanics of laptops and netbooks.

Hendry, A 2007, Australia stuck in e-waste dark ages, accessed 2/03/2010, http://www.cio.com.au/article/198419/australia_stuck_e-waste_dark_ages?pp=2

This source discusses the amount of e-waste there is and whether it is recycled or put in storage. There are percentages and other numerical data that can be used to establish the extent of the e-waste problem.

Joo-Suk Lee ; Seung-Hoon Yoo ;Seung-Jun Kwa, 2006, ‘ Consumers’ preferences for the attributes of post-PC: results of a contingent ranking study’,Applied Economics, Volume 38, Issue 19, Pages 2327 – 2334, accessed 23/03/2010, Informaworld

This source discusses the growth of the internet and the change in consumer demand that is promoting the emergence of netbooks. This source will help me establish what technological changes are contributing to the consumer shift such as demand for portable devices with wireless networking. Which are cheaper than the existing PC and specializing in the specific functions that consumers want.  I can use this information to discuss why some laptops are no longer looked to as the best alternative.

Gibson K, Tierney J. K, ‘Electronic Waste Management and Disposal Issues and Alternatives’ Environmental Claims Journal, Volume 18, Issue 4, Pages 321 – 332, accessed 24/03/2010, Informaworld.

This source gives a good overview of what e-waste is and what damage it can cause. It discusses where e-waste comes from, who regulates it and what the regulations mean and achieve. There are many qualitative discussions as well as quantitative research to back the claims up. I can use this to back my own findings up as well as establish a background for my research question.

Pricegrabber.com 2009, Consumer Behaviour Report 2009, accessed 23/03/2010, https://mr.pricegrabber.com/Netbook_Trends_and_SolidState_Technology_January_2009_CBR.pdf

This source is a gem! It has alot of  information. I can use it to compare the sales of laptops to netbooks and use the information they compile to construct my own research.

girly_girl09 2010, My experience with my laptop to netbook transition, weblog, accessed 23/03/2010, http://hubpages.com/hub/Information-about-Netbooks–Can-a-Netbook-Replace-Your-Laptop-or-PC

This is a blog which has a personal account of a woman swapping from laptop to netbook. It will provide primary data that reflects why a person will choose to transfer and what it will mean to their media patterns. The blog also answers questions such as ‘what is a netbook?’ which will be handy when researching netbooks.

Vernon A 2010, Netbooks: Won’t Replace Laptops, But Will Make ‘Em Cheaper, weblog, accessed 23/03/2010, http://hothardware.com/News/Netbooks-Wont-Replace-Laptops-But-Will-Make-Em-Cheaper/

This is a blog that reflects a contesting argument in the netbook debate. This will provide me with a conflicting argument and idea in which I can compare and analyze to create a contrast in my report. There is quantitative data such as percentages of growth in comparison to laptops which is vital for my argument construction.

Summary-

There is quite a lot of discussion on both the internet and scholarly sites. Society has become aware of changing media patterns with the introduction of new netbook technologies. It is interesting to see the contrasting discussions from different sources. Both communities realise that lowering prices and obsolescence are encouraging more e-waste.