Screen Time and Sleep Time

Light contains a spectrum of colors. 

Blue light suppresses melatonin. Melatonin regulates the body's circadian rhythms.  

Having a regular circadian rhythm allows for proper restfulness and thus promotes overall health.  

Digital electronics' screens typically have LED or Fluorescent light which use back-lighting technology.  This technology exposes us to more blue light at times (after sunset) when humans previously did not receive exposure.  

The Harvard Medical school has been researching the effects of increased screen time (particularly during normal resting hours) and its impact on human health.  The preliminary findings are showing a connection to many of the health issues (cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and depression) that have been plaguing developed nations in the last few decades.

Teens Technology Survey

I surveyed an 11 year old girl and 16 year old boy to submit a brief self report of their relationship to technology.  Unfortunately I wasn't able to interview them in-person to clarify or adjust any questions. 

The most interesting aspect of the experience was that the 16 year old was very troubled that it required him to write and not click.  (Perhaps I should have used Survey Monkey!  I did give the option to call, email, or record responses.)  In the end he opted to print, hand-write, and scan me his answers.   For reporting high proficiency with technology, I was surprised at his use of this "old fashion" method!

What technology do you use? (which devices? Apps? programs?)

 16: iphone, macbook, ps4, instagram, imessage, snapchat, facebook

11: phone, ipad, laptop, games, social media, google classroom, khan academy, etc

How long have you used these?  Are they your own?

 16: 4 years (since I was 12), all of the devices are my own

11: I have had a phone for a long time, but I just got a new one last Easter.  I have also had my ipad for a long time.  My laptop was from last year. Yes, they are my own.

How many hours per day do you use technology (iphone, tv, computer, game console, etc)? 

16: 4-6 hours

11: 4-5 hours (I think)

How many hours per week? (If you use one day more than others.  Which day(s) do you use the most?)

 16: 20 hours

11: 24 hours (I think)  I usually use it on the weekends to play games or do homework.

Estimate the average percent of your usage time for:

Homework:             16: 30%           11: 50%

Communication: 16: 50%           11: 25%

Fun:                     16: 20%           11:25%

Should there be limits on teens access to technology?

 16: No, because we use it for every aspect of our lives

11: Yes or else we would only focus on our electronics rather than what's actually happening

What would be a fair policy?

 16: Let us decide what is fair.

11: I think a fair policy would be if you finish all your work, you can play on your electronics.

Do your parents or school have a usage policy?

16: Yes, no screens after 11pm

11: yeah.  My mom makes sure I balance my time and do other stuff.  I am not allowed to use my phone in school.

Compared to your friends, are you ahead, behind, or average in ability to use technology.

16: Ahead

11: average/ahead

Do you act/type differently online than you do in person? 

 16: NO

11: nope

Do you communicate online with friends that you regularly see in-person or global friends (that you may not have met)?

16: I talk to my friends, but not people from around the world.

11: both, depending on what I am doing

Do you have any concerns about the use of technology?

16: Not really

11: Sometimes people send too much time on their electronics and don't socialize with the people in real life sitting next to them.  Also, there's cyber bullying

Deconstruction Of A Video Ad Reflection

I chose to deconstruct the video advertisement of Old Spice's body wash:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hteeecX1oQ

A few items that were striking was the lack of product in the advertisement, the feeling of amateur production, and the use of humor.

The ad is one of many, demonstrating men in relatively bizarre, but manly scenarios.  Rather than convincing the viewer of the effectiveness of the product, it is my impression that the videos are not intended to be viewed once, but to be shared via social media because of the humor element.  The limited product images, allow the advertisement to be understood as an entertaining clip and less as brainwashing advertisement.  These qualities allow it to reach a wider audience exposure rather than convincing the viewer of its benefits and hoping the product will further be discussed organically.

As discussed in Networked Publics, the culture around this advertisement was created to be a parody of manly men and uses a juxtapose filming technique giving the video a amateur/real feel that users are comfortable with in everyday life.

The advertisement itself had very little written text, but used visuals and sounds created the images of  manliness (playing tennis/baseball on a whale blindfolded), cleanliness (ocean splash), and intelligence/thoughtfulness (speaking in a profound tone).

Varnelis, K., & Annenberg Center for Communication (University of Southern California). (2008). Networked publics. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press.

Rote Knowledge vs Critical Questioning

Marshall McLuhan used the concept of an acoustic world to describe the change from processing text to electronic media (of the 1970s).  My impression is that he was using the term acoustic to mean accepting multiple inputs rather than a single visual text.  McLuhan's covered privacy, communication theory, journalism, politics, the work methods, secrecy, schooling, and ecology.  Underlining each of these topics seemed to be a feeling of fear for this shift.  I think his intention was to give an unbiased operational report on the changing technologies, however his main purpose came across as a cultural warning.

I was struck by Ivan Illich's suggestion that schools were obsolete now with the easy access to information.  A thought like this, I can see being proposed now with the heavy reliance on computers, however I am shocked he was feeling this in the 1970s!  In response,McLuhan said, "I'm suggesting that the answer is not that, but to put the questions in the classroom and start a real dialogue there."
From this statement, teachers are responsible for teaching critical literacy-and not necessarily anything else as the students can already access anything they want.  They need to be taught to ask critical and leading questions to begin their journey of knowledge.  Perhaps without blindly feeding information to children we will eliminate the "knowledge creates ignorance" idea.  If children learn to question  fixed concepts and accepted theories will we have a more innovative critically literate society?




Marshall McLuhan Speaks Special Collection: Living in an Acoustic World. http://www.marshallmcluhanspeaks.com/lecture/1970-living-in-an-acoustic-world/