Matthew Yapchaian | MobilePost

Current Information

Inspiration

The following excerpt is from the MobilePost proposal.

Problem

The increasing global self-relocation of American family members for the pursuits of higher education and work disrupt the family model as a socially united geographically centralized network. More and more Americans in their 30s and younger have upset this tradition of family by relocating themselves for individual pursuits which previously remained regional (education, work, family). Time and distance are slowly increasing the social divide between remote family members who are familiar with current communication technologies are those who remain local and are technologically illiterate.

For some individuals, this divide is offset through easily accessible, predominantly desktop-based, communication technologies: Skype, video chat, email, VoIP, and picture/video/text messaging. The successful use of these technologies is contingent on the user’s access to appropriate hardware and software.

Innovators and early adopters of communication technologies are more likely to have a familiarity with the previously listed technologies because their desktop computers are the most prevalent tools used to facilitate daily social, educational, and commercial practices with local and remote communities. Individuals not familiar with or are without access to these technologies can easily be excluded from important contact with friends and family.

Mobile devices are more accessible than desktop PCs for many members of the general American population. Increases in accessibility does not guarantee pinged individuals are available to communicate; the recipient of the call/text/IM may be unavailable, geographically inaccessible, or the user may not want to engage in synchronous communication. How can the availability of mobile devices provide a means for users to participate in a dialog with members of their social networks without becoming a disruption?

Download MobilePost proposal PDF