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The smart way of life: an inter-generational study of the use of smart technological devices in modern Irish society
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Date
2022-04-15
Authors
Ansaroglu, Adil Cahit
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University College Cork
Published Version
Abstract
This thesis examines the impact of the usage of smart technological devices (such as smartphones, tablets, computers) in Irish society by comparing older (50-70 years old) and younger generations (18-25 years old). 16 interviewees participated in this qualitative study, eight from each age generation. This study draws on two major disciplines, namely, Digital Humanities and Sociology, while also taking elements from Psychology. It uses an interpretivist methodology to critically explore the main findings.
Relying on the notion of intuitiveness, the findings of the first chapter develop the notion of “What is beautiful is usable” into “What is beautiful and intuitive is usable”. The chapter, through an in-depth discussion on intuitiveness, ease of use and perceived usefulness shows how smart devices respond and adapt to users’ daily activities. Rooted in a discussion on neuroplasticity and the life course, different learning stages of the younger and older generations are compared. The chapter illustrates how each generation learns to use and adapt to smart devices based on their stage of life.
The second chapter explores how the concept of privacy is engaged with smartphone use for both generations. It uncovers how people, through using these smart devices, may be unaware of their activities being tracked across the web by companies for specific purposes such as advertisement targeting. Significantly, this chapter also finds that the participants are more aware about their privacy when it comes to social media activities, but to a lesser extent when it comes to browsing the web.
It is clear from the current study that smartphone usage in both generations also leads to some negative effects for the participants. The time spent on smart devices emerges in chapter three as being a key contributor to what has been called addictive tendencies. Chapter three explores in detail the potential for emotional contagion, the impact of No Mobile Phone Phobia (NoMoPhobia), fear of missing out (FoMo) and the impacts of social media on both the younger and older generations.
The final theme, social class, examines how older and younger people differ when it comes to the consumption of technological devices. The older generation explain how they prefer to have functionality over style or brand. On the other hand, the younger generation explain how the ‘style’ or in Bourdieusian terms ‘taste’ affects the usage of their smartphones and smart devices. These findings are discussed through the lens of Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of ‘Capital’ and Thorstein Veblen’s ‘Conspicuous Consumption’.
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Keywords
Smartphone , Smart devices , Technology , Age group , Inter-generational , Irish society , Digital humanities , Sociology , Psychology
Citation
Ansaroglu, A. C. 2022. The smart way of life: an inter-generational study of the use of smart technological devices in modern Irish society. PhD Thesis, University College Cork.