Following on from the work in 2003, the Customers of the
future program for 2004 was based on studying and identifying
opportunities for convergence of information and communication
technology (ICT) devices. The scope involved developing
and running a second empirical pilot study with a set
of young people investigating convergence of ICTs and
the relationship between convergence and identity.
The work was framed by a successful Australian Research
Council (ARC) grant for an Australian government funded
linkage project entitled 'Humanising the Convergence of
ICTs'.
The objective of the program in this year was to employ
a longitudinal contextual study of an existing group of
young people, aged between 20 and 36 all of whom are post
graduate students across two Australian universities,
to observe and analyse their uses of ICTs in relation
to convergence and defining and maintaining their identities. This included
gathering data on how ICTs are appropriated and used. The findings were used
to develop and publish research in this area to various
forums.
 
Detailed Description
Methodology
An initial meeting was held with the participants in each
university to gather demographic and sociometric information
through interview and survey, and a focused discussion
on participants' uses of technology. Data was collected
through audio and video recording and written notes. Over
the following university semester, researchers met the
participants individually and in small working groups
at the university in their study areas, and observed them
using technology to support their study and general lives.
These planned and spontaneous observations within the
study and social context of the participants resulted
in rich data based their various interactions using ICTs.
Key Findings
Not only are ICT's, (mobile and home phones, desktop and
laptop computers, MP3 players, USB key, PDAs and digital
cameras), integral to the identity of these young people
but there are also interesting behaviours in relation
to both convergence an divergence behaviour. The data
was analysed against various frameworks based on
identity, semiotic data and convergence-design-use dimensions.
Over six hours of audio and visual data was collected
and analysed from the various techniques. Papers and presentations
on identity and convergence have been produced. These
have been presented in various national and international
forums. Information regarding these are in the
publications section of this web site. An empirical study
with a similar focus and techniques against a group of
people engaged in full time work was then planned for
2005. This is intended to provide data to support findings across three
sequential age groups.
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