THE FUTURE OFCOMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

Jessica Bollinger

COMM 303-50

Final Project

THE FUTURE OF COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

What will the communication technology landscape look like in 2024 A.D.?

Contents Interactive Television Electronic Text Books Interactive Homes

INTERACTIVE TELEVISION

What is Interactive Television?

In the year 2024 A.D., Interactive television will be the most regularly used form of television. Interactive television turns the once one-way medium, into a more two-way, user controlled system. Viewers will have more control than ever over what they are watching, and how they are able to react. Viewers will have the ability to tailor their programs to personally benefit their own likes and needs when it comes to news, entertainment and advertisements. I- TV will connect people in ways in which we have never seen in the past. Users will have the ability to share, watch, and discuss newsfeed, personal videos and more through their I-TV network. I-TV will ultimately be controlled at our fingertips through tablet like remotes, that provide customers with a user-friendly experience.

Theory of Influence

The Uses and Gratification Theory focuses on the way people use technology, and how technology is used to meet specific needs within the user. This theory applies to the growth and development of Interactive Television, as researchers used this theory to explore a viewers wants and needs when it came to television. They used this data to develop a product that would serve as a solution to customers needs.

ELECTRONIC TEXTBOOKS

What is an Electronic Textbook?

In the year 2024 A.D., Electronic textbooks will be the exclusive provider of scholarly information for students. What will be commonly know as "e-textbooks," will serve as a digitized alternative to the traditional textbooks student were mandated to use in the past. E-textbooks will be delivered similar to a PDF document form, but offer a new level of student interaction. Students will have access to a variety of features that greatly differ from the traditional textbook. The user will be able to transfer selected text to "note boxes", will have the ability to have text read aloud, will have the benefit of pop up topic quizzes, and much more. This interactive type textbook will greatly benefit users by reinforcing the subject through user friendly features.

Theory of InfluenceRoger's Diffusion of Innovation Theory focuses on how an innovation and new technology is communicated and adopted over time. There are several aspects that go into analyzing this process, as well as the different categories of people that adopt a new technology within a specific time. Rogers Diffusion of Innovation Theory applies to Electronic Textbooks because it tracks the usage of the technology. For example, there were early adopters of the original e-textbook model several years prior to it gaining popularity. As the years went on, and the e-textbook was reinvented and becoming more widely accepted, it began to gain new users.

INTERACTIVE HOMES

What is an Interactive Home?

In the year 2024 A.D., Interactive Homes will be an up-and-coming technology available to the public. An Interactive Home will basically be the ability for homeowners to customize an array of offered smart appliances throughout their home to fit their own wants and needs. These smart appliances will be incorporated into several aspects of the home that can include, interactive wallpaper, GPS mail tracking, voice recognition commands, digital calendars, and so much more. Overall, this technology will be for the benefit of the user, and offer features that are compatible with the homeowners lifestyle.

Theory of InfluenceThe Principle of Relative Constancy Theory has to do with the adoption of new technology vs. the usage of old technology. The theory suggests that if a new innovation is appealing enough to a consumer, they will consider dropping an older product in order to benefit from the new one. This theory relates to interactive homes, based on the countless number of new innovations that come with this service vs.. products home owners may already be using. The features of the interactive home must be presented in a way that is appealing enough for the consumer to want to make the switch.

Sources:

Allen, N. (n.d.). The Future of Digital Textbooks. Retrieved August 4, 2014, from http://www.aascu.org/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=6308

Grant, A., & Meadows, J. (2012). Understanding Communication Technologies. In Communication Technology Update and Fundamentals (Revised/Expanded ed., Vol. 13, p. 319). Waltham: Focal Press.

Lai, E. (2006, September 29). Microsoft: Future homes to use smart appliances, interactive wallpaper. Retrieved August 4, 2014, from http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9003752/Microsoft_Future_homes_to_use_smart_appliances_interactive_wallpaper

Smart, J. (2010, January 1). Tomorrow's Interactive Television. Retrieved August 4, 2014, from http://www.wfs.org/content/tomorrows-interactive-television