Monday, September 25, 2006
The Shibuya Epiphany, key points
Shibuya is a shopping district of west Tokyo, Japan. It is here that the very successful DoCoMO runs its company. This companies use of G3 technology is what has made it so successful. G3 technology is the technology that mobile phones use for text messaging, and internet capabilities like e-mail.
The companies of other countries that paid to secure the rights of G3 technology were not nearly as successful as DoCoMo.
DoCoMo allowed a person that was relatively computer illiterate to help design the i-mode device and its services. The result of this was an easy to use phone and service that had vast capabilities. This approach of making it easy for people who are not familiar with the technology was similar to the approach of AOL. Some of the capabilities of i-mode included; banking, buying tickets, getting directions using GPS, getting stock quotes, and hotel/restaurant reservations.
Within two years of the release of i-mode, had twenty eight million users. This number of users took AOL over a decade to achieve.
Finland has the largest amount of cell phone users and internet connections in the world. They have been using the mobile phone the longest, and therefore their culture is most the transformed by its presence. The Nokia company managed to put a cell phone in the hands of 60% of the Finland population by 2002. Their word for cell phone translates into English as, an extension of the hand.
The expression “swarming” in Finland refers to the public grouping of kids as a result of text messaging. Text messaging became such a large part of their society that texting became like a counter culture, with different types of groups.
America is behind in the “Generation text”. This is due to the American phone companies adopting text messaging, but making it more expensive than making a phone call. This results in a lack of enthusiasm, and usage amongst mobile phone customers.
Mass texting has large influence on the culture of its country. The youth is particularly influenced, because they are the group that has adopted the technology the fastest. The difference in socialization can be seen in things like; kids asking for dates, joining texting interest groups (groups with a common interest such as; music or entertainment), and keeping in touch with their boy/girl friends, and family more frequently.
The companies of other countries that paid to secure the rights of G3 technology were not nearly as successful as DoCoMo.
DoCoMo allowed a person that was relatively computer illiterate to help design the i-mode device and its services. The result of this was an easy to use phone and service that had vast capabilities. This approach of making it easy for people who are not familiar with the technology was similar to the approach of AOL. Some of the capabilities of i-mode included; banking, buying tickets, getting directions using GPS, getting stock quotes, and hotel/restaurant reservations.
Within two years of the release of i-mode, had twenty eight million users. This number of users took AOL over a decade to achieve.
Finland has the largest amount of cell phone users and internet connections in the world. They have been using the mobile phone the longest, and therefore their culture is most the transformed by its presence. The Nokia company managed to put a cell phone in the hands of 60% of the Finland population by 2002. Their word for cell phone translates into English as, an extension of the hand.
The expression “swarming” in Finland refers to the public grouping of kids as a result of text messaging. Text messaging became such a large part of their society that texting became like a counter culture, with different types of groups.
America is behind in the “Generation text”. This is due to the American phone companies adopting text messaging, but making it more expensive than making a phone call. This results in a lack of enthusiasm, and usage amongst mobile phone customers.
Mass texting has large influence on the culture of its country. The youth is particularly influenced, because they are the group that has adopted the technology the fastest. The difference in socialization can be seen in things like; kids asking for dates, joining texting interest groups (groups with a common interest such as; music or entertainment), and keeping in touch with their boy/girl friends, and family more frequently.
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A good, substantial post.
What are the consequences if the U.S. is lagging behind as far as "Generation text" is concerned? Does it make a difference? economically? politically? Is this just about the choices that are being made by telecom giants or are their cultural differences that set Finland and Japan apart as well?
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What are the consequences if the U.S. is lagging behind as far as "Generation text" is concerned? Does it make a difference? economically? politically? Is this just about the choices that are being made by telecom giants or are their cultural differences that set Finland and Japan apart as well?
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