Confinement and ICT

Well that’s about it, isn’t it: STOP!

In ‘one fell swoop’ the world changed.

In November 2019 no-one had heard of CoVid 19 and as I write this (15/4), 5 month’s later we have:

2,000,000+ cases of infections

125,000+ deaths  and 51,000+ critical cases

In France we have been in confinement since March and will be until at least mid May (with  some places and people with pre-existing health issues set to be released from confinement considerably later).. ..  Our daily routines have changed and as the physical geographical scope of our lives has shrunk largely to the four walls of our houses and appartments,  we have extended our lives through these walls to ‘go to’ work and to ‘go shopping’ by internet and have become attached to our PCs and phones for the very latest CoVid information and regulations.

Well, what does that mean as far as your speciality is concerned: the use of new technologies and digital publication?

Perhaps even more interestingly, what will it mean for the future of your speciality? 

Will this ‘discontinuity’ perhaps be seen (with hindsight) as a watershed in which new communication technologies will be taken up to a far greater degree in our future personal, professional and political lives?

Will we come to appreciate the extent to which all of our lives are dependent upon these technologies?  What might have happened in the CoVid crisis had the technlogical systems and networks not been there to help us?

To what extent might the design and place of work of ‘work’ change as a result of this experience?

Your Final Assignment.

INSTRUCTION.  In pairs (or on an individual basis if you prefer), consider the above issues in red from the basis of what you see around you currently.  Then, using evidence to support your assertions, state why & how you believe the experience of and reliance upon new digital communication technologies during confinement may change the face of work and life in general in the future.

FORMAT.  With your expertise in the use of new technologies, I would like you to address the above in the form of a video or audio recording where you speak, in your very best English and  follow the instruction given.  I would imagine that this should be a recording of about 10/12 minutes, but if it comes to a little more I won’t ‘shoot you‘ as they say.

NOTES:

• I will need to be able to open your file with the standard university PC with Windows Media.
• Do think about file size – some are too big to send/receive – they might need to be ‘hosted’ somewhere and you might need to send me a link.
• If you are working in pairs – please make it clear who is who – so I know how to attribute marks!

DUE DATE.  8th May.

BACKGROUND.  Here is a video from me to set things up.

If this link doesn’t work, try this:    https://youtu.be/RtSBaKSv_FQ