From personal experience, teleconferencing can actually be used with the customer. My sophomore year in college, I took an online foreign language class. Given a good portion of foreign language is speaking proficiency, and being able to communicate, the professor thought it would be a good idea to teleconference with each other, ask each other questions and make sure everyone was staying up-to-date on their assignments. We did this several times throughout the semester using an online phone/chat service. It worked okay, with a few minor glitches, but we, the students, still benefited from the technology at hand, and were able to learn in a way that would not have been practical with an online class years ago. In this case, the consumer benefits as well- I was able to benefit from what I payed for, and what the institution was offering.

Phones have definitely had an impact on each and every one of us. It would be next to impossible to stay up-to-date with out-of-town relatives without all the technology improvements over the years. Simple things like making dinner plans, or arranging a trip through a travel agency, making calls to check on your children, would not be able to be completed without the advent of telephone. Obviously, and especially with the creation of the cell phone, many things such as this get taken for granted, but when you sit back and realize how easy phones have made our lives, they mean a lot more.

My first experience with VoIP came in 2006, when I moved into the new dorms on campus my freshman year. The phones are very fancy, and have lots of cool options- different ringers, backgrounds, and the such. Overall, I didn’t really use the phone for anything more than a phone, but it was still cool. The University has since come up with a university-wide system, that allows them to send digital messages to each phone, giving the students and staff updates on campus situations, emergencies, closures, and whatnot. These are added benefits that can improve safety down the road. For me, that is a big thing, and I think it is great to show that initiative from the University.

On the downside, the only problem I noticed, was you lose your phone when the internet/power goes out. It is a disappointment compared to a standard land-line, which generally stays in service if the power is out, but I guess you have to weigh the ups and downs for yourself. All in all, it’s a great new technology with lots of potential…

Regarding video production, that is also a thing that has developed under our generation. I think it has become more and more common for students to be familiar with video editing and whatnot. From high school and on into college, computer programs have simplified the video editing process and we are able make our own home videos, semi-professional, or all-out professional quality videos. I do think it is important, especially for those majoring in a communication-based degree, to be able to use video and know how to edit it and such.

I think technology continues to “go” towards video, being all the more reason why we should become more acquainted with video editing. Video has become part of all kinds of communication- from video-conferencing for business, video-chatting for socialization, and just personal videos for entertainment, all of these forms show how video has evolved yet continues to play a part into communication today.

What exactly is this virtual reality? Well, from the military perspective, it can be flight simulators, tank simulators, or a virtual reality environment that can mimmick what the soldiers may actually see in combat. When dealing with law enforcement, many police departments have begun using a FATS simulator (Firearms Training System), which immerses the police recruits in real-life scenarios that force them to use the discretion they’ve been trained to use.

Is this a good thing? Absolutely. This is not harmful at all. And relating to communication, this use of virtual reality helps verify that the tactics the individuals have been taught were effectively communicated and learned. Furthermore, this use helps ensure public safety and is not a use with many, if any, downfalls. I think that the increases in technology has come a long way, which also helps these training departments in military and law enforcement fields. Due to the recent and continuing success of virtual reality’s use in the training field, I think it’s safe to say virtual reality is here to stay…

Growing up, I did play some video games, but those days are gone as more important things have come my way and I rarely find the time to play games. With that said, I don’t think video games are bad. Are some inappropriate for children? Of course, but I blame the parents for allowing their kids to play such games. I don’t think it’s fair to for games to have negative connotation just because they influence some people in a much more negative way than others.  On the positive side, I’ve read articles that say because of the hand/eye coordination involved with gaming, that skill is much stronger in younger generations, and can translate into technical fields, specifically the military.

All in all, video games have continued to evolve over the years, and continue to have a huge impact on society. But games influence every individual to respond in different ways, making it impossible for me to say that video games are either good or bad. I do, however, think it’s important for the parents to use more and more discretion with the growing amount of violence found in games. With that said, they can be both good and bad…

Other than that, I remember our first real PC, with the massive floppy disks and everything. I remember that you could type a paper on that PC, and we had a few “old school” video games on the floppy disks that were ridiculous. It carries on to elementary school, using the computers for the first time in the computer lab, using Windows, and having NO idea what I was doing at all- funny how things change in 15 years.

Overall, I really don’t remember have that many “problems” with PCs as they began to become more and more prevalent in our society. So, I guess I would cite my “major experience” just as the first time I actually used a computer- just for the simple fact that they are so powerful now, and have become such a part of our lives, especially at work. I work at UPS, and computers have become extremely vital in our workplace. Things have changed a lot over the years, and now almost everything is done by computer-based machinery. When I scan a box’s label inside the Louisville UPS hub, it goes to the computer system and whatnot, so when the individual checks their tracking number online, they can see exactly where there package is, and when it should be delivered to them. It’s truly amazing how big of a role computers play in making sure packages get where they need to on time.