syllabus
calendar
blackboard
student.email resources

last.updated 2.10.09

 

Mobile Technologies

Purpose

Mobile technologies are changing the ways that we conceptualize the digitalization of our culture. Where digital writers were once tied to a specific space to participate in an online cyberculture, mobile technologies have created the capability to engage cyberspace from more locations with smaller, less intrusive technologies. We will examine the implications of this technological evolution on our culture and the ways we communicate with each other.

Activity: Cyberculture's Perspective on Mobile Technologies

In three groups, you will work together for the first thirty minutes of class to examine our cyberculture's artifacts about mobile technologies. As a group, find 1) an advertisement–commercial on YouTube or banner on corporation web site–for a mobile technology, and 2) a news article about mobile technologies. Study the artifacts you and your group have chosen and address the following questions:

  • What arguments are being made about technology? about mobile technologies?
  • How are each of these arguments supported?
  • Which argument, based upon your experiences using these technologies or working with others who use these technologies, resonates with you? why?
  • Based upon their arguments, what do you think the composers of these texts would say to each other? What would you add to this conversation? How would the scholars we have read for this week (as well as other scholars we have looked at) enter this conversation? Be as specific as possible.

Be prepared to share your findings with the class.

Discussion I: Going Mobile

As a class we will discuss the following questions:

  • What questions did you have about the readings?
  • Although Baron's research and arguments are about IM, what aspects of her argument do you see carrying over to SMS or texting?
  • According to Moeller, what is choicing? How does this effect the use of mobile technologies in our cyberculture?
  • How are mobile technologies affecting how we communicate? Do you agree with Johnson-Eilola & Selber's argument about how writing instructors should respond to the effects these technologies are having? why?
  • Does using mobile technologies make us cyborgs?