According to the results of the technology quiz I took, the user type that best describes me is a digital collaborator. Digital collaborators consist of 8% of the general population. I do not feel this is an accurate title for me. While I do have all of the assets listed on page 26 of Horrigan’s manuscript, I am not a member of the 39% who is “motivated by mobility”, (p. 6). Aside from using the internet to complete on-line courses, I never share creations with others. Additionally, neither the remaining “what you need to know about them” nor the “key demographic facts” on the chart on page 6 would accurately describe my user type or me.
Even though my family and I have a lot of technology in our home, we do not use every last part of it on a daily basis. In fact, it may be weeks or even months between usages of one or more forms of technology. While digital collaborators do not require any assistance with technology, I need assistance setting up new technology. A user type that would describe me more accurately would most likely be a drifting surfer. Like them, I scan the internet for recreational purposes, but could give it up easily.
I think it is valuable to discuss the different types of technology users. For example, with Horrigan’s notation about the increasing cell phone use for making digital photos, it would likely be unwise for me to open a traditional camera shop. Likewise, Horrigan’s discussion of the increased reliance on e-mails would correlate to the financial woes of the U.S. Post Office. It is a valuable concept to understand how other people value and/or use technology, as this has a large bearing upon interpersonal relationships, the economy, and media influence.
I believe that you’re a lot like me. You have qualities that would fit into more than one category. I agree with your valuable concept because it does play a part on our relationships.
Hello Jay,
Based on my quiz results I am a Desktop Veterant, but I am like you I think that I can fit in the Drifting Surfer type of technologly user. I do not think that there is nothing wrong in NOT using tech. to communicate if you do not need it. But the problem is that ,today, even if you do not like to use it you would find it difficult to communicate with the others. When I started going to school few years ago I had only my PC and was happy with it. Then my sister who lives in Canada told me about the Facebook. In the beginning I was not interested in posting comments and pictures to share it with all my family pictures, but now I feel happier having back my old freinds and all my family members who they live thousands of miles away from me back into my life. It takes time to get used to anything new, but to go with the flow you have to update yourself and use the latest Tech.
Jay, it seems like quite a few of us have resulted in being Digital Collaborators – myself included. I don’t know about you, but I was a little surprised to find out that Digital Collaborators only make up 8% of the population. However, since you do not feel like the results were accurate in calling you a DC, it makes me wonder how accurate this tech-savvy quiz really is. I do agree that you seem more of a Drifting Surfer since you mentioned there may be weeks or months that some technology goes untouched in your house. Well-written post!
Hmm, I’ve seen a couple of classmates now who, like myself, were classified as Digital Collaborators but do not see themselves that way. I was even more surprised to see those who were classified as Motivated by Mobility see themselves as static users that can do without CMC.
Jay – What did you say you did for a living again? Just curious to see how much CMC impacts your industry. As a comm specialist, I have to have a Blackberry and laptop at all times to communicate with my co-workers and my boss. With travel, I also have to participate in webinars on a regular basis. Even if I wanted to escape CMC in my personal life, I don’t think it’s an option at work unless I change careers.
I think it’s very interesting that a lot of people were classified as Digital Collaborators, but feel like they are in another category. Think about for them moment – you are all taking an online class. And right now, in this blog, you are all sharing content (even though it is assigned) with others online. So perhaps there is something to he classification after all? We don’t see any Information Encumbereds or Tech Indifferents in this class – do you think people in those groups would be likely to take an online class?
That is a very good point that you made, Professor. I, myself, was classified as a Digital Collaborator, even though I consider myself a drifting surfer. Perhaps I do use technology much more than I thought. Like you stated, I doubt anyone who was considered Tech Indifferent or Information Encumbered would be taking an online class. They would probably be too suspicious of it.
I think it’s pretty normal for us to feel like we would better fit in types that weren’t assigned to us. As our technology needs change, our type will chance. The world of technology evolves so quickly and we cling to whatever is beneficial to us at that moment. I do agree that technology is heavily influencing our relationships, the economy, and media. The world is becoming so reliant on technology and it is definitely important to know how to reach people since we all use technology differently.
As a supposed Digital Collaborator myself, I feel this might be a category deserving of some subcategories. There’s something to be said for contributing anything whatsoever, as Dr. Markman pointed out above. However, it seems like it would make sense to create other subcategories of Digital Collaborators to reflect varying degrees of online collaboration.