Focus Group

Today I recorded my focus group on one of those recorders from media support, I have just typed it all up and the results are very useful for my project. I also found some good journals in the library that would be relevant to my topic.

Reference Problems!

I found this really useful website that would be perfect for me to use for my paper but I can't find an author. It has a date and everything else; can I still use it? it just says created by Admin.

http://technologicalconvergence.com/technological-convergence/

Introduction

As this is the first proper piece of work I've done since college after my gap year, I'm struggling a bit to get back into the swing of things... hope my introduction is O.K! Don't know if it's long enough? Ah well. It'll all come back to me soon!

Introduction

The 21^st century has been deemed the age of technology and information, with billions of technological devices bringing together different media types to try and make our lives more convenient and easy. In the past few years convergence in gadgets has really increased, what with iPods, iPads, electronic readers, and online games consoles etc. companies just keep bringing out new ways of getting on the internet or watching TV. You really are spoiled for choice. It’s even got to the stage where we don’t need to own a television; you can watch television on your laptop and now even on your mobile phones.  

 This report is going to investigate the pros and cons of technological convergence. It will explore the many different ways in which media types come together on technological devices. It will show the research carried out to argue whether or not convergence on technological devices makes our lives easier or makes daily tasks more complicated.

‘Technological convergence is bettering our technological needs’

This hypothesis is the basis of this paper and this is what will be explored into. With this in mind, the aims of this paper are to discover what the public think about the topic. This will be found by using different research methods; both qualitative and quantitative. The researcher will use questionnaires to gain quick and to the point results. Focus groups will also be used to gather more in-depth answers. A range of different audiences will be explored into to see if background or area of the audiences affects the results of the study. The aim of this paper is to discover whether people use, and are excited about technological convergence or if they are dubious, and don’t like the idea; is it a waste of time? Another objective is to see whether public think that it is too soon for such fast advancements and whether people are bothered by this. These are the questions that need to be answered:

• Is there to much technological convergence in devices?
• Are there too many new technological gadgets entering the market?
• Does technological convergence make our lives easier or more complicated?

Beginning of my academic paper

I have come up with the topic of technological convergence for my academic paper, I came up with this idea as I feel there are lots of different ideas and concepts to think about and discuss and I feel it will give me enough material to write a really good paper.

VARK Questionnaire

My VARK questionnaire showed that I am a kinesthetic learner. 

I knew this already because I learn best when I am doing, rather to listening to someone telling me something, or watching someone doing it. I also had a good few visual anwers, I'm usually easily distracted by colours and things and tend to impulse buy things that look 'pretty'. 

My least favourite learning style is aural, I am really not very good at taking things in and remembering by ear. When I'm in class a have to write down everything as listening to someone just does not stick in my head, even if I want it too, if i'm sat in class listening to the lecturer, I get distracted by the tiniest of things, like, for instance, the pattern of the wallpaper or the person second from the front's hair style.

To improve on this I need to learn to concentrate harder in these situations to get the most out of the information I am being given.

My Learning Line and SWOT analysis

Learning Line

. Primary school
. Moved to Wales
. Secondary school
. Work experience (Design and print office)
. Waitress part time job
. Moved out of home
. College
. Work experience (Admin and personel department at ASDA)
. Part time job in retail
. Full time job in retail
. Driving lessons
. University

SWOT Analysis

Strengths:

. Can work well alone or as a team
. Understand the university system and my part in it
. Understand my pathway rules
. Writing
. Organised

Weaknesses:

. Note taking
. Analysing myself and my work
. Referencing

Opportunities:

. Good education
. Meet new people
. Amazing experience
. New experiences e.g. volunteering
. Heading towards a career

Threats:

. Fees may go up
. Balancing university life and gome life
. Travel fares increasing
. Difficulty keeping up with university work

Hi :)

Hey!

My Name is Eva Newton, I'm 19 years old and I am currently studying multimedia, animation and the web (first year) at Anglia Ruskin University. I live in Colchester with my partner and for the past year have worked full time in retail, I now do that part time.

I chose this particular course becasue I have always had an interest in the media and how it has different elements, the effects it has on people and how much of peoples lives revolve around it. I really enjoyed studying it at school and college and this course combines some of my favorite aspects of the media, web design and animation. I am also very interested in the news and advertising aspects of the subject. After I graduate I would really like to pursue a career in advertising.

In my spare time you'll most likely find me with friends, having a good time and generally enjoying life :)