Genetic Engineering

Edited by: Tara Wood

Wireless / Wi-fi

There’s an unstoppable increase in technology today. With a topic on wireless/Wi-fi, there is certainly a huge amount of research that is provided out there. But thinking about the availability of wireless technology from a student’s point of view is tremendous. I think that having wireless technology in our surroundings today has given us the opportunity to make use of so many gadgets that adapt to this technology. Having the availability of wireless internet connection at college and even at home is simply AWESOME ! I can’t even ask for more, because the wireless internet connection in my apartment is free as well !  (DON’T ASK ME WHERE I STAY, BECAUSE I’m NOT SHARING THAT CONNECTION!! )

I recall a time when I used to connect to the internet ONLY through a DIAL-UP modem connection. This was back in Kuwait when I was a high school student, away from all the technological advances that were arising in the US and Canada. It was such a surprise to learn about cable internet, broadband, DSL and all the rest of the fast speed internet connections that were available in North America. It was very exciting at the time .

In my research, I focused mainly on cell phones and Laptops. How these two devices give us the capability to connect with anyone, anywhere, anytime. I remember being in the Middle-East as a child and just having access to the biggest cell phone ever – Used only for receiving and making phone calls. Who would have known that with all the crazy high tech availability today… We’d be able to access the internet, check email, text message, have 3- way calling, camera the phone up, and listen to songs on it…. MAN!! I should just say that I wouldn’t be surprised if they could event add TV on those little phones. Have Rogers cable on it and watch ESPN or FOX on your cell phones. I think the technology will certainly take us there in the next 5 years or so. So is the case with laptops. There is so much information that people can learn. 

Technology will help us learn and apply these new skills in the real world, making it exciting and creating so many new jobs for us.

Nelson, B (2004) Wireless security choices. Communications News, (Vol. 41 Issue 6, p32-32). –
This was an interesting article I read about security with wireless networking today. Its funny because 50% of my friends use free wireless networking at home. GO WI-FI !!

http://www.bw.lehigh.edu/story.asp?ID=19964. – This site talked about some etiquette that students lack due to the rise of new technology. It was pretty interesting reading this material from a students view.

 

Decima Research (April 2006) Final Report on Usage of wireless communications in Canada, Prepared for: Canadian Wireless telecommunications association (CWTA), ( p1-52), Retrieved October 1,2006 from www.decima.com/en/pdf/2006_wireless_comm_en.pdf

This source was one of the most important one that provided me with numbers and statistics about the rise in the number of cell phone users and what special features consumers prefer.

SEAN !  

PR RESEARCH

Being a person who has had the opportunity to travel and experience misunderstandings brought about by cultural difference, I cannot over emphasize the need for PR practitioners to incorporate an understanding of cultural diversity into research. To most in developing countries the standardization that comes with globalization means a loss of culture, language and art.

 I remember when I first traveled to Perth, Australia, two things were difficult to come to terms with. Firstly, addressing older people by their first names and then people looking me straight in the eyes with a smile while having a conversation was difficult. This felt okay with fellow men, but coming from a woman implies I like you from a Zambian perspective. I struggled with mixed messages till I finally adjusted and luckily did not act on them. Having said this I can easily understand why there could be misunderstandings of being led on by a woman’s gestures or indeed feel disrespected by cultural liberate Australians who may have encounters with Zambians. 

Of the two fundamental types of research, namely qualitative and quantitative research, qualitative research is preferred as it attaches a real face to an issue. Because of this type of research I would recommend a qualitative approach in PR research, by anticipating problems brought about by culture diversity. People need to be heard and not simply be compiled into statistics, where culture is problematic.

Public relations is about using persuasion and relationship building to form opinions about an organization, individual or cause.  As such, the successful outcome of PR practicioners on a global scale depends on Public relations personnel’s understanding of the different cultures with which they associate. Public relations research incorporated with cultural knowledge will help to anticipate problems by evaluating ongoing programs, assess the effectiveness of policies, and present in detail the weak points and the strong points of issues more effectively.  

 Mumba 

Newsom, D., Turk, J., Kruckeburg (2006) Trends in PR This is PR The Realities of Public Relations 9^th edition (pp. 56-61) Belmont, CA: Holly Allen.A must read chapter for tomorrow’s PR professionals.

O’Connor, N. Falconi, T. (2003) Profiling the regulatory Environment of Public Relations Practice in the U.K, Italy and
South Africa. Retrieved October 14, 2006 from global alliance website: http://www.globalpr.org/knowledge/GA-Regulation-Study.pdf 

This research paper approved by Global Alliance gives a detailed account of recent developments in PR at global level.

Lindenmann, W. (2006). Public Relations Research for Planning and Evaluation.Retrieved October 10, 2006, Institute for Public Relations website:http://ipr.wieck.com/files/uploads/2006_Planning_Eval.pdf

Walter K. Lindenmann, Ph.D. is a specialist in Public relations research and measurement.