technology | antropologi.info

TIF – a new tech-savvy woman has emerged

Published on December 9, 2004 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, corporate & business anthropology, gender, technology

Buisiness Wire / Intel

A new, tech-savvy woman has emerged and Intel calls her “Tif,” short for Technology Involved Female. Tif is closing the technology gender gap, with women at the youngest end of the spectrum actually surpassing men in their intent to purchase a laptop. The survey reveals that women are using computing technology in their daily lives now more than ever.

“Women are a driving force in technology adoption, and it is important for us to understand how women use technology so we can meet their needs, too,” said Dr. Genevieve Bell, a cultural anthropologist with Intel, who observes how people around the world use technology in daily life. >> continue

Anthropologists at Intel (TheStarOnline Malaysia)

Buisiness Wire / Intel

A new, tech-savvy woman has emerged and Intel calls her "Tif," short for Technology Involved Female. Tif is closing the technology gender gap, with women at the youngest end of the spectrum actually surpassing men in their…

maxmod :: online among the gamemodders – a research-project in cyberanthropology

Published on December 2, 2004 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, cyberanthropology, internet, technology

Alexander Knorr, xirdal.lmu.de (University of Munich, Germany)

‘Maxmod’ is an open-research-project in sociocultural anthropology. At its core stands long-lasting ‘thick participation’ in an online-community. The chosen community condensates around the shared interest in, and practice of modifying commercial computergame-software, particularly the game “Max Payne”.

The project’s first goal is to describe and understand the community’s social structure, the gamemodders’ cultural actions and artefacts, and most importantly, their explicit and tacit cultural knowledge. The virulent importance and meaning that transnational technoludic online-communities of practice have for globalization and related issues will become clear.

Thirdly the project aims to substantially contribute to a systematic basis for the advancement of sociocultural anthropology. The discipline has a lot to contribute to the understanding of the relation between human beings and cybernetic systems, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in particular. >> continue

(via mosaikum.org)

Alexander Knorr, xirdal.lmu.de (University of Munich, Germany)

'Maxmod' is an open-research-project in sociocultural anthropology. At its core stands long-lasting 'thick participation' in an online-community. The chosen community condensates around the shared interest in, and practice of modifying commercial computergame-software, particularly the…

“Prosumers”: Consumer Anthropologist Uncovers Proof of New Species of Consumer

Published on November 20, 2004 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, corporate & business anthropology, technology

RedNova News

Twenty-five years after Alvin Toffler coined the term “Prosumer” in his book The Third Wave, Consumer Anthropologist Robbie Blinkoff says the Prosumer is officially here to stay and that this holiday season is their coming of age. “It is now the producers — companies, manufacturers, marketers and retailers, who need to adapt,” said Blinkoff.

A Prosumer is part producer part consumer. Prosumers are engaged in a creative process of producing a product and service portfolio with guidance from trusted friends – the companies they’ve trusted for years and the new ones they’ve come to love.

“9/11 unleashed a full scale remapping of the cultural landscape. People were and are re-establishing their identities,” said Blinkoff. Prosumer trends include scrapbooking, book clubs and the re-emergence of knitting. In each case, people engage in a activity that connects the actors to membership in larger social circles. Blinkoff points to the I-Pod. It starts with those white headphones, he says, the outward sign that you belong to the I-Pod tribe. >> continue

RedNova News

Twenty-five years after Alvin Toffler coined the term "Prosumer" in his book The Third Wave, Consumer Anthropologist Robbie Blinkoff says the Prosumer is officially here to stay and that this holiday season is their coming of age. "It is…

Modern technology revives traditional languages

Published on November 14, 2004 by lorenz Posted in Africa, anthropology in the news, culture traditions, indigenous people / minorities, inuit, language, technology

Two articles that both have been published some days ago:

ETHIOPIA: Old alphabet adapted for modern use in technology

ADDIS ABABA, 11 Nov 2004 (IRIN) – One of the world’s oldest living alphabets could make its debut soon on mobile phones, Ethiopian scientists said on Thursday. In groundbreaking research, the ancient script of Ethiopic, which dates back to the fourth century, has been adapted so it can be used for SMS text messaging.

The scientists believe it will open up the digital age to millions of people in Ethiopia who cannot speak or write English, but use their own centuries-old alphabet. >> continue

Inuit language finds home on net

(BBC News) Browser settings on normal computers have not supported the language to date, but attavik.net has changed that. It provides a content management system that allows native speakers to write, manage documents and offer online payments in the Inuit language.

It could prove a vital tool to keep the language alive in one of the most remote communities on earth. >> continue

Two articles that both have been published some days ago:

ETHIOPIA: Old alphabet adapted for modern use in technology

ADDIS ABABA, 11 Nov 2004 (IRIN) - One of the world’s oldest living alphabets could make its debut soon on mobile phones, Ethiopian…

Anthropologist explores the history of the flush toilet – an “icon of modernity”

Published on November 14, 2004 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, culture traditions, history, technology, websites

Francesca Bray, UCSB Department of Anthropology

We live in a “technological age”. But which technologies have played the most important roles in producing our modern civilization? Which have most radically transformed our lives? Industrial engineering, the space research program, computers and communications technology? Of course, yet certain unobtrusive everyday technologies have been just as fundamental in producing the modern self: try to imagine your life without the toilet.

The flush toilet (WC) is recognized globally as an icon of modernity. Sometimes aspiring families in poor countries will install a porcelain pedestal in their house as a demonstration of their modern mindset, even if there is as yet no piped water connected to make it work.

Americans believe that American toilets are the best, and that American toilet practices are top of the evolutionary or civilizational scale. This display explores some of the social, cultural and environmental dimensions of American toilet practices >> continue

(Link via Ideas Bazaar)

Francesca Bray, UCSB Department of Anthropology

We live in a "technological age". But which technologies have played the most important roles in producing our modern civilization? Which have most radically transformed our lives? Industrial engineering, the space research program, computers and…