Technology Determinism And Relationships

In class we learned that Technology determinism is the idea behind the theory that technology does things to us as a society or individual. What I want to touch base on is how technology really does a lot of things for our relationships in life. It helps our relationships progress, teach us things about our relationships, and make our relationships healthier.

How does technology make our relationships better?

Technology helps us stay connected with whom we care about. In the article Mediating Intimacy, it refers to how intimiate relationships used to start out with flowers, and love letters, but now the commonplace is the use of technology. If people are away from each other the main way to stay in contact is through internet. This is helpful because people are not limited to waiting for the mail to receive a love letter or a delivery of flowers thanks to technology they can contact their significant other instantly. Matchmaking and online dating is another method that a lot of people seem to be happy about. Being able to just chat online or send text messages through a mobile device hos been a technique that people have used to create dating. Technology is making an impact on our generation because it satisfies as important social and personal need to feel connected.

How does technology teach us things about our relationship?

Technology has mostly helped a lot of people who are involved with long distance relationships. I read a blog called my 5 Things my Online Long Distance Relationship has Taught Me. In this article she list 5 things and explanations about online dating. The 1st was, “If you’re looking for love you will find it where your passion lies.” This means that she had a passion for writing blogs and her boyfriend was her number one fan and they became a couple. The 2nd one was, “The best relationships start as friends.” A lot of people are able to relate to one another and do this by connecting through social media. Some people find it weird to connect with somebody just by talking through blogs or chatting on Facebook but other people love it.  The third one is, “Patience is a virtue.” Online dating requires the most patience. Technology taught this couple that If you can bring yourself to be patient and wait for each other, when the time comes that you are together, it will just be that much better.

How does technology make our relationship healthier?

I read an article called 9 Healthy Habits Open Relationships Can Teach Us. Technology can help with your relationship because you can simply go online and find articles such s this one. A few things I will list from the site are, “1. Hold on to your friendships-if you get involved with somebody stay true to your friends.” “2.  Keep being the individual you were before you got in the relationship-don’t let your significant other change you.” Here is just a glimpse of what technology can offer.

 

http://web.mit.edu/bentley/www/mobile/papers/p471-vetere.pdf

http://kimerskine.wordpress.com/2013/08/04/5-things-my-online-long-distance-relationship-taught-me/

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/9-healthy-habits-open-relationships-can-teach-us.html

 

 

Mobile Broadband & Relationships

Mobile helps patients and healthcare providers

Mobile Broadband has helped tremendously with relationships. One of the relationships that mobile broadband has helped with is patients and health care providers. In the article, Ten Facts about Mobile Broadband it states that health care is everywhere whether its at a dentist office, doctor’s office, pharmacy, insurance companies, etc. To get the best healthcare patients go through a variety of providers. First, let’s discuss the Pharmacy. I currently work at Rite Aid Pharmacy and we have a system where we can notify the patient immediately when their prescription is ready. The process in doing this is very simple. Now that every body uses their cell phone our computers gives us the option to go to the patient’s profile, plug in their cell phone number and click the boxes that give up the option of sending them a txt message, phone call, or email when their prescription is complete. This was a smart way our company has built relationships with our patient’s because 90% of them are happy with this method. The reason their happy is because it eliminates the process of patient’s having to call the pharmacy and keep wondering if their prescription is ready of not.

Doctors offices have built relationships with their patients as well because while the patient is in the office the doctor will explain to them the medications they will be giving them for their treatment. The doctor then sends the prescription to the pharmacy that the patient goes to electronically through the computer. The pharmacy then receives the prescription and we are able to process the prescription and have it ready before the patient arrives. This process helps the doctor’s offices because it then leaves their patients happy. I’m sure anybody is happy with the faster service. This process also eliminates patients having to bring a hardcopy prescription to the pharmacy and then wait a long time for it to be completed.  Because of mobile broadband the pharmacy and doctors offices has gained relationships with their patients by satisfying them.  Mobile broadband should be taken advantage of in any company. I say this because their is so much people can do with their cell phones that would satisfy them as well as their providers. My job also has a website. If you currently get prescriptions at Rite Aid pharmacy their is an pharmacy app that can be downloaded to your phone that can be used at your convenience in managing your prescriptions. One thing the app allows customers to do is refill their prescriptions. If they currently have their prescription number they can just use their mobile device to type in their information and put in whatever medication they need a refill on. The app also access them to a 24 hour pharmacist. After hours it allows our customers to ask questions to a licensed pharmacist anytime they want. Mobile broadband has helped our company build great relationships with our customers and hopefully we can continue to do that.

http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2011/12/08-mobile-broadband-west

HDTV combined with Relationships

Back in the day technology was rarely used. In today’s world it is used all the time. Technology plays a major role in relationships with your mate, friends, and family. With HDTV and IPTV relationships are not just limited to landline phones, or visiting one another’s home. It allows people to see, talk, and capture moments on the go.  In an article I read called, “Internet Networking Benefits Relationships.” The article states that, ” the internet can be used to enhance your life (Daniells).” Using the internet can be beneficial but can also be dangerous and risky. For instance, a lot of people have seen the TV show “Catfish.” In this show the audience can see how people lie about their age, occupation, looks, etc. Basically goes to show how sometimes, finding relationships through the Internet is not so well. HDTV is involved with Catfish because it shows how web pages like face book, myspace, etc. went into a reality TV program. Audiences use and make sense of these changes by indulging more in the activity of trying to find true love online. But for other people its beneficial. A lot of college students search for love and on certain websites it limits you to being able to lie. For instance, if SU were to have a dating source online only students would be permitted because you would have to use you campus email and proof of being a student. This shows how HDTV moves with you between private and public.

The article states, “that the most healthiest relationships results from online and in person (Daniells).” Facts prove that by being connected over the internet that people are able to save time and money as oppose to going out an a physical date. Communicating repeatedly then brings intimacy. Another article I read was, .”How Our Digital Devices Are Affecting Our Personal Relationships.” The article says, “Technology has us so wound up in the digital world and were not present enough in reality.” Because of digital TV creating mobile devices people have complained about being in the same setting as somebody else but yet their face is buried into the screen of their cell phone. In this case it builds trust issues in relationships and lack of empathy is felt from our partners (Adler).”  Our mobile devices affect parents and children as well. “When parents pick up their children from school their so caught up in their mobile device that they don’t even pay any attention to their own children (Adler).” Children are just as bad at dinner tables, or while a parent is trying to talk to them they are soaked up in the internet on their phones or laptops. HDTV has tremendously affect on relationships and is continuously day by day increasing.

http://huntnewsnu.com/2010/11/internet-networking-benefits-relationships/

http://www.wbur.org/2013/01/17/digital-lives-i