Do you ever wake up to notice that you're doing things that you were not supposed to do? How many tabs you usually use when at your laptop? Do you think multitaskers are todays heros? Neither do I but everyday I find myself in the middle of these sinful situations. The entertainment side of web and social medias are my favorite substitutes when preparing to an exam or not getting creative grasp on work etc.
Past Friday's workshop of culture made me to analyze the culture of media consumption. During the past year I have come across studies that forewarn the dangers of media multitasking. They say that media multitaskers pay a mental price: bad memory, stress, unability to concentrate. Do I need to continue? The press is also starting to publish these little news of new research. For example, Naomi Baron in her book Always on states that online and mobile technologies (instant messaging, cell phones, multitasking, social networking site as Facebook and blogs) profoundly influence the way we read, write, listen and speak.
New technology makes possible to fulfill even the short moments with music, images, news, messages and entertainment in general. Baron argues that our ability concentrate is on stake as we loose the capability to bury ourselves into something. We procastinate.
Many everyday routines require multi-tasking, take driving a car for example. While listening to radio we coordinate our limbs, observe traffic and other drivers. I guess multi-tasking depends on the level of routine we have gained, to become the ultimate driver you need a license and heaps of experience. Online media is not as approachable and manageable to all. Especially for the latter it is why online literacy and media education should be provided already in primary school.
Baron states that new technologies haven't influenced the language as much as our relationships. Baron poses a question: what kind of people do we become as individuals and as family members or friends, if the relationships we form must increasingly compete for our attention with digital media? Are we really present for our friends when hanging around in Facebook while doing our work? Is it the medium that allures me or the need to chat with a friend?
It's obvious that the pace of technological change compared to cultural evolution is power to ten. But blaming online media is No Go as these new technologies only boost the features inside us.
Balancing between mediation and meditation is a tough job even for new savvy leaders.
Hi Saara,
ReplyDeleteI like the research you are doing. I think its crucial to first have an indepth understanding of media consumption practices and consumer cultures. That insight can then form the basis for your brainstorming and business.
I recognize many threats and concerns that people have with social media from your text. Are we competing for attention? Is the quality fof cobntacts and communication decreasing? etc.
How about the business side? Already now when you are researching trends you need to develop a business ideas. When you read something interesting, think of how you could incorporate that into a new business - come up with a new and novel twist.
You mentioned one servcie you like, was it Interloop or somehting? If you research the idea, developing your idea, what do you think makes the consumption of that media service social. How does the audience participate in the creation and consumption of the content?
Also, how is it viral? How do they get people to become their advocates?
Or, how could that media services make money? What is the revenue and business model?
Based on that you can start failing fast. If you like an idea and you know you want to work on a some topic, then what kind of relevant, fun, and interesting information could you provide the intented target audience already today? That would test the viability of your idea. Does it resonate with the audience? Do people comment, share the link, return to your site? How can you get proof of concept and start gathering a following with minimun investement and risk?
Thanks for your points, Erik! Actually I encountered Intoloop just after one of our group brainstorming sessions where we came up with the social media mag. My interest on it was the need to document own life, building virtual archives of what you do and what you have experienced. So I found Intoloop which is about to publish a social online baby diary later this year. Some think it's very risky opening, but on the other hand there is need for it: already now young parents are posting baby folders and such in Facebook, but the visual side and sharing of it is not that good. Moreover, the social side must be captured in the service as it will be valuable to the person when s/he gets older - memories and meanings that you can't really remember.
ReplyDeleteTheir service is still in closed alpha phase so I haven't had a chance to try it. But I will continue to develop the idea of managing media and documenting life online from the point of view of identity and sharing.