Emerging Communication Technologies

Emergent

Coming into existence (something that is not there yet completely, but is coming into our lives)

Technology

Something that is built and not part of the natural environment

Upcoming technologies, built for:

1. communicating through

2. communicating with

Levels of technology adoption (Attributes of the adopters)

• Innovators

• Early adopters

• (Chasm: significant gap)

• Early majority

• Late majority

• Laggards

IoT

Internet of Things

Anthropomorpism

The attribution of human traits, emotions, intentions, or behaviors to non-human entities

Diffusion

The social process by which an innovation is communicated through certain
channels over time among members of a social system

Innovation

An idea, practice, or object that is perceived as new by an
individual or other unit of adoption

Channels for Diffusion of Innovations

Two distinct ways (1) Mass Media and (2) Interpersonal
Communication

Social system

Group of interrelated agents (work, family, etc)

Adoption can mean two things:

1. Substitution of previous technology with new technology (e.g. journalists
and WWW, morse code v telephone (19th century))
2. New technology, without substitution of previous technology

Three general variables that affect diffusion

1. Attributes of the innovation: Pros & cons
2. Attributes of the adopters: social influences
3. Attributes of the broader context: social & political influences

Attributes of the innovation

1. Costs: how many resources should I invest to use it? (money, time)
2. Effectiveness: is it better than what it replaces?
3. Simplicity: how easy is it to use?
4. Compatibility: does it fit with what I already do?
5. Observability: can I ‘experience’ the outcomes of using it?
6. Trialability: can I go back to the previous technology?

The Innovation-Decision Process

Knowledge —> Persuasion —> Decision —> Implementation —> Confirmation

Knowledge: When an individual becomes aware that the innovation exists & starts to understand how it works

Persuasion: When an individual develops a positive opinion towards the innovation

Decision: When aware & with a positive opinion, an individual will - at some point - try out the innovation

Implementation: Application of the innovation in one’s daily life, with increasing levels of usability and easy-of-use

Confirmation: Continued levels of innovation use + Confirmation-biased information seeking

Technology Acceptance Model: how people make that decision

Four key variables
• Perceived usefulness of that technology
• Perceived ease-of-use of that technology
• Attitude towards that technology
• Intention to adopt technology

Affordances

What does the (social media) environment offer me and/or what can I do with
that?

Association affordance

Connection with each other in a network, but also with the network
itself

Network connections lead to:

• Access to relevant information (concerts, job opportunities etc)
• Exchange of personal information (disclosure)
• Social connectedness (what are others doing, what is my relation to others)