Overview
DESCRIPTION: This two-part assignment asks you to conduct a small study of your activities with your MOBILE PHONE (cell phone or smart phone). The first part involves keeping a log of your mobile phone activities over the course of five (5) consecutive days: you must use the format of the chart provided. The second part consists of writing a report that analyzes your findings. Both parts must be submitted as a single file. LENGTH: 1200-1500 words for the written report itself. The log data in the table is not to be part of the word count. PURPOSE: The purpose of the assignment is to notice and think self-reflexively about what you do with your mobile phone, and to consider its prevalence and significance in your life (work, family, friends, personal etc). The assignment logs your activity and use with the mobile phone - both online and offline. The assignment also asks that you think about the patterns of your mobile phone use and how these can be broadly framed around three key things: information seeking, communication & interaction, and content creation. If you do not own or use a mobile phone, contact your TA to discuss. Log of Mobile Phone (cellular or smart phones) Activities • Start as soon as possible. The earlier you start, the more time you will have to reflect on the data. Waiting too late to start your log is a major cause of poorly done assignments. • You are graded on the thoroughness of your mobile phone log: the more detailed the log is, the better. Example entries have been provided to you. • The log will provide a clear sense of what you do on your mobile phone (on/offline) each day over the course of five consecutive days. The log includes offline and online activities, which means that some students might have very full logs if they do a lot of different things with the phone (ie camera, GPS, music player, video camera, voice recorder, clock, compass - and so on) - while others might do much less with their phone (especially if it isn't smart!). Whatever your experience and relationship is with your phone, your data will show you the significance and role of your phone/mobile device in your day to day life. • If the log is poorly done, and this is usually reflected in your grade. • Log ALL of your activities. The goal is that your log is detailed. Your log should NOT consist of just a few long items: the point is to break down and record your mobile phone activities systematically with timestamps, and this requires many distinct items to be present. • Please do not log, detail, or describe any intimate or sexual activities. It is not appropriate for this assignment. 2 Your Analysis Before you write your paper, you should ask yourself some questions so that you can begin to see any interesting patterns of use and integration. Here are some questions to guide you as you are examining your log/data (that doesn't mean that you'll discuss every question here in your submission). • How much time do I spend using my phone overall in a day? Are these five days typical? • How much time is spent using online apps on the phone? Which apps do I use the most? • How much time do I spend using my phone 'offline' (ie like a camera, music player, notepad)? • Where do my use my phone the most? in one place, a few places, or in constant motion? • How much do I use my phone for information seeking? For communication & social interaction? For leisure & hobbies? For work? For health? and so forth • How much time do I spend 'creating content'? (Posting, sharing, liking, loving, up/down voting, commenting, rating/reviewing etc). Look for anything interesting, any patterns, and perhaps anything that surprised you. Next, consider the following questions: What role does your mobile phone play in: information seeking, communication, and content creation? Why is it (or why is it not) significant in your day-to-day living? Your response to these two questions will help you formulate your report.