Digtal Expansion Fellows Speak to Laura Forlano

Written by Sidra K Wednesday, 15 July 2009 15:53

Last week the Digital Expansion Fellows explored some of the key concepts in an interview we conducted with Laura Forlano. After listening and editing we shortened the interview to a 4 minute piece consisting of the following key points:

The interview starts with Laura discussing how the language of "Anytime, Anywhere" encourages people to communicate through mobile technology. Laura explains how advances in technology allows people to do things in new ways. These new trends have also permitted people to spend more time on the move, and makes it easier to access their friends and family through their mobile phones essentially carrying our friends and family in our pockets.
Studies done by the Pew Internet and American Life Project show that Blacks and Hispanics are more likely to use cell phones rather than have Internet access at home. Ironically, Laura states, that "When all these technologies are created in the research and development laboratories such as Apple, Intel, Motorola and Nokia; typically they think of their target audience as essentially 18-34 year old White men". She goes on to say that many of these mobile companies have to make assumptions based on ethnic groups and peoples income levels.

These assumptions can have an immense influence on human relationships. For example if I carry out a conversation with a close friend on my couch, I am interacting with them face to face. That technique of communication would change if I carried out that same conversation with the same friend through texting on my Blackberry. In a sense I am now creating a relationship between me and my Blackberry, and at the same time I am also building a relationship with AT&T, who is my service provider. Now instead of communicating directly, my close friend and I are communicating through our mobile phones which are being controlled by our service providers (AT&T, T-mobile or Verizon). While managing the services they offer, AT&T is also making certain assumptions based on the content I use on my phone. These assumptions can be seen in marketing techniques and in the ways AT&T to mediates relationships between me and my friends & family.
   
Also, phones are usually designed with their software & hardware before consumers can purchase them.  In order to design these phones manufactures have to make certain assumptions about the people who will be purchasing them. If we as consumers use these phones based on these notions we are using the phone with its given limitations. If we use it a different way, were going against the norm.

From this interview, we walked away with some question. What are these assumptions and how do manufactures convert the perceptions they have into the hardware & softwares of our phones? Do the phone companies market what we like or do we get caught up with these appealing new devices because of all the marketing and advertising of new phones? Do alluring services such as unlimited texting & minutes make us more attached to our devices? Or do they actually benefit customers who are frequent users? We will be looking for answers to these questions as we proceed with our investigation.