Communication infrastructure

Choudrie and Middleton (2013) claim that the development of communication infrastructure is a significant contribution to economic expansion. Since the broadband technologies dramatically involved in the new century, it is easy for people to communicate and interact with each other via accessing the internet. Not only transform the relationships through networking, but also pave the way to gain the productivity across global industries. Further, it is helpful for people to critically consider business transactions by exploring broadband connectivity and Internet access. Therefore, there is a consensus that it brings beneficial effects on human and society.

NBN, building and operating wholesale broadband access network in Australia, try to strengthen the high-speed, reliable system of a possible cost for taxpayers. Even though NBN pays endeavour to fulfil their goal which wants to change the Australian life for the better, there are still some limitations need to be ameliorated. Wilken et al. (2014) demonstrate that there are requirements to improve the networks for the residents in a rural suburb. The intermittent performance of satellite connections to high-speed broadband obstructs them from working effectively during the daytime. Without any option, they need to alter their working time to the late night or early morning which is a challenge and inconvenient for them.

Moreover, there are divisive perspectives based on political debates including the questions about spending too much money on it. (Kennedy 2013). I think communication infrastructure cannot compare with how much it costs but to value the variously substantial assistance it brings to us. Westbury (2013) states that his life is changing thanks to NBN, for instance. It has dramatically enhanced the efficiency and ability to move seamlessly between home and office. Before going to the office, he clicks download or save a file and afterwards takes a few minute walks to the office as well as buys a cup of coffee. After he arrived at the office and then sit down, the file is on the desktop for him to continue to work.

Reference:

Choudrie, J & Middleton, C 2013, Management of Broadband Technology and Innovation: Policy, Deployment, and Use, Routledge, London.

Kennedy, J 2013, The NBN Debate, B & T Weekly, viewed on 22 August 2018, < http://www.bandt.com.au/uncategorised/The-NBN-Debate>.

Westbury, M 2013, ‘How the #NBN had actually changed my life’, 13th May, viewed on 22 August 2018, <http://www.marcuswestbury.net/2013/05/13/how-the-nbn-has-actually-changed-my-life/>.

Wilken,R, Nansen, B, Kennedy, J Gibbis, M & Arnold M 2014, ‘NBN benefits regional centres, but rural Australia is still left wanting’, The Conversation, viewed on 22 August 2018, <https://theconversation.com/nbn-benefits-regional-centres-but-rural-australia-is-still-left-wanting-34532>.

Connection and Disconnection

Since the improvement and development of technologies and infrastructure, it significantly drives us to connect faster and without borders. On the other hand, it generates the issue of “connection” or “disconnection” in our daily life. It is essential for us to not utterly choose each of the sides but profoundly consider that whether it is pragmatic for us to have the social connection or what the consequence will be if we disconnect.

Some Twitter ideologists engaging in this social media platform a lot, for instance, think that more posts about yourself are the method for thinking of other, of paying attention to others, helping them out, making them aware of some issues. They further regard this kind of behaviour as a selfless act (Horning 2016).

According to Dijck (cited in Jia 2017), she claims that connective media is a system which nourishes and in turn is nourished by social and cultural norms which means that simultaneously evoke in the everyday world. In other words, people can connect with others anywhere at almost any time, and it benefits to enhance and maintain our relationships (Jia 2017). “If we could only pull ourselves away from screens and stop trading the real for the simulated, we would reconnect with our deeper truth” (Jurgenson 2013); while Jia does not agree with this statement. She does not consider that digital connectivity is damaging the social life and separating people. Instead, it helps people to connect with the world in a way, which is not possible before the availability of the Internet.

Paul Miller is another example. He elects to take a break from Internet life and after he comes back to report that his online selves are more real and fulfilling in fact. Without getting wiser and healthier, he even does not want to meet this Paul at the tail end of his yearling journey (Deboer 2014).

However, there are numerous magazine articles, and news programs currently argue that people have severely digital status-posturing, empty interaction, and addictive connection owing to the intervention of the Internet. Besides, the advocates of disconnection promote “digital detox” and encourage people to interact with the real self and other real people (Jurgenson 2013).

Whether we should connect or disconnect? I think there is no correct answer but from which angle you look at it. Like Deboer says “You can take a break, but there is no escape”. Put another way, disconnect, unplug all you want. You will have different experiences and enjoy them, but you will be any more healthy or real.

Reference:

Deboer, F 2014, ‘Digital Greaks, or “Breaks”’, The Dish, 19 August, viewed 2 September 2018, <http://dish.andrewsullivan.com/2014/08/19/digital-breaks-or-breaks/>.

Horning, R 2016, ‘Ambient awareness’, The New Inquiry, 19 January, viewed 2 September 2018, <https://thenewinquiry.com/blog/ambient-awareness/>.

Jia, L 2017, ‘Connection and Disconnection: Is digital detox beneficial?’, Medium, 5 September, viewed 2 September 2018, < https://medium.com/@100002682/connection-and-disconnection-is-digital-detox-beneficial-4f27a5aa5d8>.

Jurgenson, N 2013, ‘The Disconnectionists’, The New Inquiry, 13 November, viewed 2 September 2018, <https://thenewinquiry.com/the-disconnectionists/>.

Digital Health

Technology has improved rapidly which assist us to easily communicate to each other in a long distance, obtain the massive amount of information we need, and enable us to measure various of bodily and mental functions via the self-tracking tools.

According to Broadbent & Papadopoulos (2011), the participant from a CALD background can email, read the international news and use social networking by using the Internet to build the connection to the world. Further, using Google to search the information about health issues, local services and solve the problems of the language barrier through the computers has become an essential and indispensable part of daily life. It also indicated that we could improve the health and well-being like a window open to a brilliant world.

Moreover, Ruckenstein (2015) claims that there are technological devices for self-tracking including scales, pedometers, sleep trackers, mood trackers, emotion trackers and heart-rate variability, which means people can monitor their bodies and lives regularly. Besides, these instruments offer an adequate opportunity for people to understand their own lives assets of numerical phenomena that can be examined and acted upon.

However, the truth is that not all of the people can access to information and communication technology which gains benefits to their life.

In other words, the growing reliance on such platforms to reach information has the potential to exacerbate inequities in health access and support which is going to severe the problem of ‘digital divide’. Among the individual or groups who are limited to access to the resources, they usually have disrupted educational backgrounds or limited English and literacy skills (O’Mara et al. 2010).

To worsen, it will cause the negative influence on finding a job. Being unable to compete with others when participating in training since they do not have computer skills and eliminate in the current employment market. (Broadbent & Papadopoulos 2011).

Reference:

Broadbent, R & Papadopoulos, T 2011, ‘Bridge the digital — an Australian story.’, Behaviour & Information Technology, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 4–13.

O’Mara, B, Babacan, H & Borland, H 2010, Sending the Right Message: ICT Access and Use for Communication Messages of Health & Wellbeing to CALD Communities, Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, viewed 7 September 2018, < https://ilearn.swin.edu.au/bbcswebdav/pid-7503585-dt-content-rid-43369821_2/courses/2018-HS2-MDA80004-232987/OMara%20etal_Sending%20the%20right%20message_ICT%20access%20and%20use_2010.pdf>.

Ruckenstein, M 2015, ‘Uncovering Everyday Rhythms and Patterns: Food Tracking and New Forms of Visibility and Temporality in Health Care’, Techno-Anthropology in Health Informatics, vol. 215, pp. 28–40.