Blog #2: IMHO (aka In My Humble Opinion)

1.   Technology is a part of everyday life in today’s world.

a)    Think about your relationship with technology, the role it plays in your life & how you feel about it.  Find/upload a Google image that represents this, describe why you chose it and why you feel this way?

Here is an image of my iPhone.  The role it plays in my life is that it helps keep me organized.  I feel that it is a great help and it has essentially replaced a written calendar / day planner that I used to carry around.  I chose it because it is a great organizational tool. 

b)   Go through your home & take pictures of 2 of the “newer” technologies you use in your life (outside of your phone).  For each, explain: 1) why you bought this brand/product, 2) what you love about what it does for you, & 3) the role it plays in your life in human terms: “It’s like my _____ because it _____.”

TV Set
1, I bought this brand / product because it is reliable and I enjoy watching a large screen TV.  I got Samsung because it has a good reliable reputation.  I love the fact that I can see all my favorite TV shows on it.  The role it plays in my life is to provide an escape from the world and a form of relaxation.

Mac Book lap top.
1, I bought this brand / product because it is reliable and my laptop helps me conduct personal and professional business.  I like having a physical key board. I got Apple because it has a good reliable reputation.  I love the fact that I can see all my soft copy files of my important documents using my laptop.  The role it plays in my life is to help keep me organized.

c)    Do you love all tech or are there examples of technology that you steer clear of?  If so, provide an example and explain why it’s not for you? 

I steer clear of gaming since this form of technology is addicting and not the best use of time since it can make you become disconnected from people.

d)   Where do you generally learn about new tech?  Are there any blogs, magazines or other information sources that you use regularly?

Through work of mouth from friend and coworkers. Also, from TV shows like “Today” on NBC. Lastly from websites like CNN and CNBC in their tech sections.

2.   Many brands strive to make their products or a task more approachable, simple & easy to do/use.

a)    Think of 2 brands/products that are designed to make something more approachable, simple or easy.  For each, upload a pic (from the Internet or one that you take) and explain: 1) what you find appealing about it, and 2) how the user benefits from its specific design.

Apple iPhone – each design version incorporates user feedback and provides more useful feature and function.

MS Office 365. This is a great technology since it allows you to have all your email for both work and personal on one device.

b)   How important is an approachable, simple, easy-to-use design in technology products?   Explain why and provide an example or two. 

Yes, it is important. If it is not simple I am not interested in using it.  An example is the use of Google blog. This is not intuitive for a first time user like me and it does not work perfectly. It is actually frustrating. 

Another example is the “Goode” Application for getting work email on your personal device. You have to log into a separate application and the screen layouts are different that the typical Gmail account.

3.   The word value means different things to different people. 

a)    Describe how you define value in your own words, why & provide an example.
Value is getting something that is above the standard offer in the market and you do not have to pay much extra for it.  An example is exta free apps loaded on your iPhone

b)   Are there certain categories where it’s more important to pay extra to get the best?   What are some examples & why?

It is important to pay extra for things that affect / help your health and safety.  Examples are organic food.

c)    Does “value” play a role when making technology purchases, or do you have different priorities?   Are there trade-offs between “value” and getting “the best”?   Provide an example of a tech purchase you made and how you weighed your priorities.

Yes.  You want to keep costs down for both your business and personal life in order to be competitive with your products and not to overpay for your personal items.  An example of a tech purchase I made was my macbook. It was worth the extra money vs. windows based laptops since the embedded Apple operating systems work better vs. MS windows.

4.   One final topic area for today’s assignment: DIY (aka “do-it-yourself”).

a)    Some people love DIY projects; others, not so much.  Upload a Google Image depicting how you feel about DIY projects, and explain why.

I like DIY projects. The best example is yard work and making the outside of your house look good.  Sometimes you can do something better than what the result would be if you paid someone to do it.  Other times you must pay someone else to do the work if you do not have time to do it your self.

b)   As you walk around your home, think broadly about the things you might consider “do-it-yourself” and share what comes to mind.
Yard work. House cleaning. These are things I can easily do myself since they do not required specialize skills.

c)    What are DIY examples that you enjoy or feel comfortable doing?
Yard work

What are DIY examples you do not enjoy or would not choose to take on- why? 
Painting and electrical work. Reason is that you need specialized skills to do it correctly and to hav