Assignment #2

As of now, I have decided to focus my final project once again on cellular phones, but how the overwhelming dependence of text-messaging in Asia is far different from the United States. I can also look into how there is more potential for profit in text messaging than has yet to be explored in the US.

There are communities and networks which relate to this topic. One such community is the text-messaging community, which is generally used by the younger generation. Within this text-messaging community is another community which was just stated, the community of the younger generations, they are more likely to use this technology, and create a community all in itself. A third community concerns people who own cellular phone, where text-messaging occurs.

5 search queries
§ Communication Abstracts database using “text messaging,” retrieved 4 results
§ Encyclopedia Britannica Online through the journal and magazine search using “text messaging and Asia” retrieved 100 results
§ ABI/INFORM Global using “short messaging service and Asia,” retrieved 28 results
§ Engineering Village 2 using “text messaging and Asia,” retrieved 8 results
§ Social Sciences- Proquest Social Science Journals using “text messaging and Asia,” retrieved 4 results

Taylor, A.S. & Harper, R.(2003). The gift of the gab? A design oriented sociology of young people’s use of mobiles. Abstract Retrieved May 15, 2005, from communications abstract database (CAX0280030000067).

§ This was collected from the communication abstracts database using the search “text messaging.” This article discusses how young people are finding a new form in using text messaging, and focuses specifically on the youth. This can be useful in my final project in focusing on how youth in particular integrated text messaging into their everyday lives.

Coronel, S.S. (2001). The media, the market and democracy: the case of the Philippines.Abstract Retrieved May 15, 2005, from communication abstract database (CAX0250010000121).

§ This was also collected using the communication abstracts database but comes from a different academic journal which is peer-reviewed using the search “text messaging.” The article elaborates on how through the use of text messaging in the Philippines, the youth in that country was able to create a quick political mass demonstration. This can be used in my research how this technology is already being taken advantage over in Asia.

Johnsson, J. (2004). Moto to let fingers do the talking. Crain’s Chicago Business, 27(42). Retrieved May 15, 2005, from Encyclopedia Britannica Online.

§ Using the Encyclopedia Britannica Online’s search , this article explains how even text messaging is being revolutionized, and one such company, Motorola is already going about this, by being able to trace Chinese characters with their fingers on a keypad as another form of text messaging. I can use this for how this technology is still being improved upon currently.

Madden, N. & Qassim, A. (2002). Text messaging ads on fast track in Asia. Advertising Age, 73 (48). Retrieved May 15, 2005, from Encyclopedia Britannica Online.

§ This article, found through the Encyclopedia Britannica Online talks about how companies are starting to target the youth generation by advertising through text messaging, or to what they refer to as SMS, short messaging service. I can use this as viewing Asia as a mark for how things may come to be in the United States as well.

Yan, X. (2003). Mobile Data Communications and China. Communications of the ACM, 46 (12). Retrieved May 15, 2005, from ABI/INFORM Global Database.

§ Using the ABI/INFORM Global Database and searching for only scholarly sources under “short messaging service,” retrieved this document which seemed like a good source of information for my final project, falling right into the topic category. It argues how a simple service like SMS in China can be more lucrative way of making profits than even paying fees to mobile subscribers. This can ground my research to more of an economic aspect.

Shen, J., Sun P., Zhang, J., & Song, S. (2004). iMMS: Interactive multimedia messaging service. IBM Journal of Research and Development, 48 (5/6). Retrieved May 15, 2005, from Proquest Database.

§ This document argues how enhancement of short messaging services will enhance and enrich the users experience by being more of an interactive form of media, adding potential for more profit in this sector. This definitely shows how SMS can be made for profit, and can be capitalized on, which is another portion of my research topic.

In relating to theories and readings from the class, I can relate my final project to this idea of communities, and looking into text messaging. Is it not interactive enough like an actual phone conversation would be? Is this taking away or adding to the community? As when looking at networking sites as friendster and building that kind of community, I can relate my final project to how text messaging my create another sort of community, where there are people who prefer text messaging over phone conversation and vice versa, can this actually segregate the community.

My topic can also be related through the whole concept of human-computer interaction. Will we come to depend on this sort of technology too much? Is this just another way of making things more complex, or are we making things simpler with SMS? People are starting to replace email with SMS, but SMS limits the amount of characters one will use, can this be a way of making things simple, or is the whole idea of SMS just making things more complex? These are all questions I need to pose and address.

In the remaining weeks of the quarter, I plan on doing more research using other words within the search engines I have used. This is because text messaging goes by more than one name, as I stated before, short messaging service as well. I need to look into other possible forms of names text messaging services might come in. Next I will continue on formatting a way in which to break down my research, and begin to organize.