The Case for Many Internets

Internet studies research often concentrates on mainstream platforms, practices, and users at the expense of people and technologies at the margin. This article introduces a collection of essays that addresses the gap in research, taking a number of different approaches. Indeed, arguing for a diverse and multi-faceted understanding of digital technologies can take a number of forms, including studying platforms that are incredibly common yet rarely investigated, looking at practices that fall outside the scope of mainstream communication research, and investigating communities that are non-Western, non-urban, and/or non-heteronormative. Research in these areas is crucial in developing a broader understanding of online platforms, and for expanding theoretical frameworks related to technology, media, and communication

Pay or delay: the role of technology when managing a low income

This paper reports on a qualitative study of 38 low-income individuals living in the North East of England. The participants' experiences of money, banking and the role digital technology plays in their financial practices were identified through semi-structured interviews in people's homes and group workshops. A grounded theory analysis of these data characterises how technology both helped and hindered participants to keep close control of their finances. These findings suggest design opportunities for future digital banking technologies that extend the already sophisticated practices of individuals managing a low income, focusing on: delaying, prioritising, planning, watching, and hiding monetary transactions

Examining variations in technology use for K-12 students of different gender and socioeconomic status

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature currently published on how members of different genders and socioeconomic classes use technology to suit their needs in and out of the classroom learning environment. It will focus on the use of digital technologies by students in elementary, middle, and high schools. This was done by examining 30 research-based, peer-reviewed journal articles, books, published papers, documents, and observational analyses. The research indicates there are clear differences in how members of different subpopulations such as gender and socioeconomic groups choose to use technology to suit their communication, collaboration, instructional, and entertainment needs. Suggestions for future research are recommended

Mysterious Influential Users in Political Communication on Twitter: Users' Occupation Information and Its Impact on Retweetability

This study attempts to examine the effect of user’s self-disclosed identification to measure his influence and activity on Twitter. By looking at the most frequently shared top 1076 tweets written by 250 users during the 2012 presidential election campaign South Korea, we particularly examine the relation between user’s occupation information and the measures of his ‘influence’: the number of followers and number of retweets by others. Influential users in South Korean political communication network on Twitter are classified as one group with self-disclosed occupation information and the other group without that information. User’s occupation information clearly shows the impact on the number of followers for both groups. On the other hand, user group without self-disclosed occupation information has a higher level of producing influential political tweets and wide retweetability over the other group, regardless the small number of followers. It suggests that further study needs to identify other variables that may influence particular user or tweet’s retweetability as an indicator of influence.ye

Values in Repair

This paper examines the question of “values in repair” – the distinct forms of meaning and care that may be built into human-technology interactions through individual and collective acts of repair. Our work draws on research in HCI and the social sciences and findings from ethnographic studies in four sites — two amateur “fixers’ collectives” in Brooklyn and Seattle, USA and two mobile phone repair communities in Uganda and Bangladesh — to advance two arguments. First, studies of repair account for new sites and processes of value that differ from those appearing at HCI’s better-studied moments of design and use. Second, repair may embed modes of human interaction with technology and with each other in ways that surface values as contingent and ongoing accomplishments, suggesting ongoing processes of valuation that can never be fully fixed or commoditized. These insights help HCI account for human relationships to technology built into the world through repair

The InclusiveMag Method: A Start Towards More Inclusive Software for Diverse Populations

How can software practitioners assess whether their software supports diverse users? Although there are empirical processes that can be used to find “inclusivity bugs” piecemeal, what is often needed is a systematic inspection method to assess software’s support for diverse populations. To help fill this gap, this thesis introduces InclusiveMag, a generalization of GenderMag that can be used to generate systematic inclusiveness methods for a particular dimension of diversity. We then present 1) a multicase study covering eight diversity dimensions, of eight teams’ experiences applying InclusiveMag to eight under-served populations and their “mainstream” counterparts and 2) the start of the application of InclusiveMag to making software more inclusive to individuals of low socioeconomic status, through means of a systematic mapping study

Transição para o papel de avó no ano 2020 : o impacto da pandemia covid-19

Dissertação de mestrado, Psicologia (Área de Especialização em Psicologia Clínica e da Saúde, Psicologia Clínica Sistémica), Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Psicologia, 2021A transição para a grã-parentalidade é uma importante fase no ciclo vital da família, provocando mudanças na estrutura familiar e na estrutura psíquica dos avós, que adquirem um novo papel. Nas últimas décadas, fenómenos como o aumento da esperança média de vida e maior integração das mulheres no mercado de trabalho, levaram a uma participação mais ativa dos avós na vida dos netos e a um crescente interesse científico em estudar este papel. Porém, o contexto de pandemia Covid-19 e a implementação de medidas preventivas contra o vírus trouxeram mudanças a esta participação. O presente estudo exploratório qualitativo pretendeu perceber qual o impacto da pandemia Covid-19 na transição para a grã-parentalidade. Os dados foram recolhidos através de entrevistas semiestruturadas realizadas a 10 mulheres que tinham sido avós pela primeira vez durante a pandemia Covid-19, em Portugal. Realizou-se uma análise temática dos dados, com suporte do software Nvivo 12, surgindo duas categorias principais: Impacto da Pandemia e Papel de Avó. Os resultados mostraram que a pandemia forçou as avós a conhecerem os seus netos pela primeira vez através das tecnologias e, posteriormente, a manter um contacto presencial irregular com eles, devido à distância geográfica e ao medo sentido por parte dos pais e das avós da possível transmissão do vírus, o que levou a uma vivência e um desempenho incompletos deste papel. O contacto presencial foi substituído pelo contacto através das tecnologias, que permitiu às avós acompanharem o crescimento dos seus netos. Os dados mostraram ainda como o papel de avó influenciou as participantes a adotarem cuidados sanitários contra o vírus no seu dia-a-dia e quando estão com o neto, de forma a manter a família segura. As dificuldades identificadas pelas avós foram sobretudo derivadas da pandemia Covid-19, nomeadamente, uma maior preocupação com a sua saúde e da família, pouco contacto físico com o neto, medo constante de transmissão do vírus e vontade de estar mais presente. As participantes conseguiram identificar também aspetos positivos, como a alegria de ser avó, a possibilidade de nutrir um novo sentimento, a continuidade familiar e uma maior vontade de viver. Contudo, seguido da alegria de ser avó, o sentimento mais mencionado foi um sentimento agridoce, característico de uma perda ambígua, pois estão presentes sentimentos de felicidade, mas também de luto pela perda de momentos com os netos e da experiência de ser avó que tinham idealizado. Serão discutidas as principais conclusões deste estudo, bem como as suas limitações e implicações para a investigação e prática clínica.The transition to grandparenthood is an important phase in the family's life cycle as it brings changes to the family structure and to the grandparents themselves, who acquire a significant new role. In the last few decades, phenomena such as the increase in the average life expectancy and the growing integration of women in the job market have led to a more active participation of grandparents in the lives of their grandchildren and to a growing scientific interest in studying this relationship. However, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the implementation of preventive measures against the virus brought changes to the experience of the grandparent’s role. This qualitative exploratory study aimed to understand the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the transition to grandparenthood. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with 10 women who had been grandmothers for the first time during the Covid-19 pandemic in Portugal. A thematic analysis of the data was carried out using the Nvivo 12 software, resulting in two main categories: The Impact of the Pandemic and The Grandmother's Role. Results showed that the pandemic forced grandparents to meet their grandchildren for the first-time using technologies and, later, to maintain an irregular face-to-face contact due to geographic distance and the fear of a possible transmission of the virus. These conditions led to an experience considered incomplete for this family role. The data also showed how the grandmother’s role influenced the participants to adopt health care habits against the virus in their daily lives and when they were with their grandchildren in order to keep the family safe. The difficulties identified by the grandmothers were mainly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, namely, a greater concern for theirs and their family’s health, little physical contact with their grandchildren, constant fear of transmitting the virus and a desire to be more present. Participants were also able to identify positive aspects, such as the joy of being a grandmother, the possibility of nurturing a new feeling, family continuity and a greater will to live. Nevertheless, there was also the presence of a bittersweet feeling, characteristic of an ambiguous loss, as feelings of happiness were present, but also of mourning for the loss of moments with the grandchildren and of the experience of being a grandmother that they had idealized. The main conclusions of this study will be discussed from the perspective of Family Psychology, as well as its limitations and implications for research and clinical practice

Põlvkondadevaheline suhtlus uue meedia kanalites

Intergenerational communication in new media environments The Internet users of today encompass members from various age-groups. In addition to young people, the increase in older generations using new media environments is notable. More often, in the context of a family we can see different generations using the same new media platforms. Family members using the same virtual environments can be compared to a real life situation, where they all live under the same roof. Similarly to communicating in domestic situations, the use of common online environments among various family members is a rising trend. While sharing these spaces, we can observe similar behavioral patterns: in both cases (domestic vs online) maintaining privacy is the first priority, but they also want to share instructions, confirm their behavioral patterns and communication preferences. When making use of new technology, family members need to learn how to share virtual spaces together and thus also how to shape their behavioral practices so that they would suit the others. The study aimed to find out the reasons and motivations family members from different generations have for making use of new media environments for family communication. The main results are presented in the article ”Who Introduced Granny to Facebook? Exploration of Everyday Family Interactions on Web-Based Communication Environments” written by Virge Tamme ja Andra Siibak (2012). In the article, we focused on the habits of three generations using the new media environments. We also looked at the causes that have directed different generations to use the new media and what the main preferences while choosing the channels in order to stay in contact with family members are. From a broader perspective, we discussed the shared practices of family members and gave an overview of the pressure and changes of behavioral practices caused by family members going online. The research gave an overview of the changes of intergenerational communication and how new technological possibilities have been introduced and rooted inside the family. Although the focus of the study is relatively novel, the small size of the study sample (N=13) does not allow us to make any generalizations about the findings. Nevertheless, the results of the study allow to indicate some main trends in the field of intergenerational communication in the new media environments. Our interviews indicate that the Internet and the new media environments play an enormous role in supporting and partly also re-establishing intergenerational communication. The desire to have an overview of what their loved ones have been up to and to feel the sense of belonging are the main reasons, why different generations have joined the new media environments. Hence, such mechanisms are often used, for instance, by families who live far from each other as the computer and Internet help to reduce the geographical distance and allow family members to communicate verbally, visually and through writing. Maintaining contact and being aware of what the members of younger generations are doing are particularly important for the older family members. The motivation of older generations to join the new environments comes from their grandchildren, who through their own computer use act as role models for their grandparents. Thus, they motivate older generations to practice and study how to use the new environments. Using similar online environments gives family members an opportunity to share their values, attitudes, and strengthen the ties between generations. This study indicates, however, that even family members living under the same roof use the new media, even for talking with loved ones sitting in the next room. Such behavior shows the excessive comfort and negative habits of family members caused by being accustomed to doing all operations on the Internet. Communication between family members in the new media environments refers to a decrease in traditional communication channels. Through that we can be sure that the new environments have a significant impact on the communication patterns inside the family. The results suggest that Skype, MSN and Facebook are the most popular for maintaining contact between family members. Rather than taking the opportunity to communicate face to face, our respondents confessed preferring to use text-based communication channels so they would be able to think while compiling the message. Verbal communication through Skype, for instance, is more popular among married couples who see Skype as an alternative to phone conversation because of work mobility. The main topics of conversation are daily interactions of family members, financial health, planning events and health issues. In addition, the study results showed that younger generations have different opinions about older generations going online. On the one hand, young people accept older generations in the new media environments, but on the other hand, there is resentment and misunderstanding. Due to the fact that older generations have found their way to the same social media channels, young people need to take a critical approach towards their postings. This has prompted them to use social steganography and different privacy settings. Despite that, parents see their own benefits while using the same new media platforms as their children. Through children’s postings, parents are able to understand their children’s thoughts much better. Using the same environments gives parents an opportunity for online mediation. Generational differences in the new media environments will come out mainly through the posting activity and content creation. While younger generations post pictures, thoughts, links and music, parents mainly post pictures and links. For example, for the grandparent generation it is uncomfortable to be active in new media, because the Internet is not the technology of their generation and therefore they have no courage to use it. Postings and content creation by younger generations often upset both parent and grandparent generations, since the spelling and phrases are incorrect. Despite intergenerational differences, all three generations see the huge potential that the new media environments have. We can say that using the new media inside the family is a positive trend, but thanks to the grandparent generations sense of mission to use and maintain a high presence of traditional communication, we can consider the new media environments to be alternative, but not the main communication channels, at least not for older generations.http://tartu.ester.ee/record=b2612113~S1*es