Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Interpersonal communication – Technological innovations – Social aspects'

The widely used mobile phone, as well as its related technologies had opened opportunities for a complete change on how people interact and build relationship across geographic and time considerations. The convenience of instant communication by mobile phones that broke the barrier of space and time is evidently the key motivational point on why such technologies so important in people's life and daily activities. Mobile phones have become the most popular communication tools. Mobile phone technology is apparently changing our relationship to each other in our work and lives. The impact of new technologies on people's lives in social spaces gives us the chance to rethink the possibilities of technologies in social interaction. Accordingly, mobile phones are basically changing social relations in ways that are intricate to measure with any precision. In this dissertation I propose a socioscope model for social network, relationship and human behavior analysis based on mobile phone call detail records. Because of the diversities and complexities of human social behavior, one technique cannot detect different features of human social behaviors. Therefore I use multiple probability and statistical methods for quantifying social groups, relationships and communication patterns, for predicting social tie strengths and for detecting human behavior changes and unusual consumption events. I propose a new reciprocity index to measure the level of reciprocity between users and their communication partners. The experimental results show that this approach is effective. Among other applications, this work is useful for homeland security, detection of unwanted calls (e.g., spam), telecommunication presence, and marketing. In my future work I plan to analyze and study the social network dynamics and evolution.

This dissertation examines the meanings that young adults give to their mobile phones in the township of Hooggenoeg in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape. The research was predominantly conducted through individual interviews with nine young adults as well as two small gender-based focus groups. Participant observation as well as a close reading of the popular mobile website Outoilet also contributed to the study. Drawing on Silverstone, Hirsch and Morley’s (1992) work into the meanings attributed to the mobile phone through the domestication processes of appropriation, objectification, incorporation and conversion, the study argues for the heterogeneous roles defined for mobile phones as they are integrated into different cultural contexts. The term ‘raw phones’ in the thesis title refers to a particular cultural understanding of respectability in mainly working-class ‘coloured’¹ communities in South Africa, as described by Salo (2007) and Ross (2010), in which race, class and gender converge in the construction of the respectable person’s opposite – a lascivious, almost certainly female, dependent, black and primitive ‘raw’ Other. The study argues that in Hooggenoeg, the mobile phone becomes part of semantic processes that define both respectability and ‘rawness’ , thus helping to reproduce social relations in this community along lines of race, class and gender. A major focus of the study is the instant messaging application MXit, and how it assists in the social production of space, by helping to constitute both private and dispersed network spaces of virtual communication, in a setting where social life is otherwise very public, and social networks outside of cyberspace are densely contiguous and localised. In contrast, gossip mobile website Outoilet seems to intensify this contiguous experience of space. My findings contest generalised claims, predominantly from the developed world, which assert that the mobile phone promotes mobility and an individualised society, and show that in particular contexts it may in fact promote immobility and create a collective sociability.

The use of cellphones has increased all over the world. That invites many academics to conduct research on the usage of these devices, especially by young people, since young people join Social Network Sites (Facebook, Mxit, 2go, Whatsapp) and use a shorthand language. Most studies are related to the use of English and other languages that are recognised by computer software. There are few studies, if any, that have been done in relation to the use of African Languages on these sites. This research therefore aims to seek to explore the use of African Languages, especially isiXhosa, in assessing how technology might help in language development through the usage of SNSs that learners already use to equip them with educational material in their mother tongue. This study was conducted in two high schools, Nogemane Senior Secondary School in a disadvantaged and remote rural community with limited access to additional educational material such as magazines, newspapers, and television. The school also lacks basic study materials such as textbooks from the Education Department and they have no access to a library and laboratory. They also only have very few subjects to choose from. Nombulelo Senior Secondary School is in Grahamstown. This school has good infrastructure and learners have access to different technological devices and they can access libraries. What is common between learners in both schools is that they are all doing isiXhosa as a first language and are using SNSs to interact with each other. This study has found that learners enjoy using SNSs rather than reading the printed books. Furthermore, they enjoy and prefer interacting in isiXhosa in their conversations. Learners also use the web to post and show their creative writing, regardless of the shorthand form writing they use on the SNSs. This study has found that learners are not well equipped with basic isiXhosa skills when reaching the FET phase. They lack the understanding of standard isiXhosa idioms and proverbs. That clearly means that they are equipped in the more modern forms of literature rather than the traditional oral forms. IsiXhosa teachers also see SNSs as the better platform to engage with learners and they suggest that there must be a section in the subjects at school that teaches about cyber bullying and being safe online. This thesis also presents examples of new and contemporary forms of SNS-speak that are used by learners in both the rural and urban schools. This study is more concerned with SNSs for literacy development and to assess whether the shorthand writing has negative or positive effects in writing isiXhosa. This is done against the backdrop of a literature review which explores new literacies, computer mediated communication, social identity models as well as language policy and planning.

Thesis (MTech (Marketing))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2015.
The rapid growth of social media has resulted in digital information and communications technology (ICT) channels for individuals to connect with each other and the rest of their world. Consequently, social network sites (SNS) and other mobile applications have become an integral part of life, as well as a daily destination for billions of individuals, offering them novel and an instant means of communication in this interactive ICT space. Internet, social media and smartphone usage are also expanding prolifically in developing countries such as South Africa (SA). This incremental expansion of social media usage is directly related to the progression of Internet usage across the globe, primarily as a result of the irrevocable dissemination of smartphones. The use of social media has become the most common activity among modern adolescents and young adults (referred to as Generation Y or Millennials). SNS such as Facebook, Mxit, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and numerous others have grown exponentially in recent years, enabling Generation Y with a portal for entertainment and communication. The increase of social media adoption has captured the attention of marketers and consumers alike on a global scale, and with the quickly changing communication environments, marketers now confront new challenges in terms of understanding consumer behaviour, attitudinal responses and consumption patterns in the new millennium. Social media brings with it powerful opportunities for brands to engage with young consumers; create real time conversations; and provide immediate feedback via interactive marketing communications at a fraction of the cost compared to traditional media advertising. Internet and social media usage, as well as access, grown has prolifically in SA, while minimal research has been conducted regarding attitudes towards social network advertising (SNA). Millennials are sophisticated and technology savvy, therefore, social media is important to them to maintain contact with their friends, and to continually interact in the digital environment. Hence, it is important for organisations to strategically market their brands in a way that would appeal to this market, which is notoriously difficult to reach. Furthermore, Generation Y consumers have huge buying power and also exert a major influence on their household purchase behaviour, so their social media usage and attitudes towards various ICT platforms media are important to marketers. A complete knowledge base of this generation will enable brands to increase their marketing communication effectiveness when targeting this cohort. Yet, many organisations have used SNA without truly discerning the real attitudinal effect that it has on their young consumers

The study outlines general trends evident in Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC), participants’ perceptions and the promotion of CMC across the curriculum in a South African Secondary School. This case study focuses on the Global Teenager Project (GTP), which started as a bi-national pilot project in April 1999 between secondary schools in South Africa and the Netherlands. The study sets out to investigate how well the GTP can be incorporated into the existing school curriculum through the teacherresearcher’s direct involvement in facilitating the project at a school where she is a fulltime teacher. The main purpose of the study is to review existing literature to establish how collaborative learning could be achieved through a CMC environment between teenagers from various countries based on the research done at an international level and link the practice at this school to the existing international trends. It was found that the GTP has great potential in enhancing collaborative learning within various learning areas at Nathaniel Nyaluza Secondary School (NNSS). Despite the usefulness of the GTP and the overwhelming enthusiasm learners displayed, its success at NNSS depended on the motivation of teachers and how easily the activities of the GTP could be incorporated within day-to-day teachers’ activities.
Hodgkinson, Cheryl

Thesis (MTech( Business Information))-- Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2011
Women, being important stakeholders of the community, are lagging behind in terms of economic empowerment. Their opportunity to participate actively in business in the past was hindered by various discriminatory policies that were in place. ICTs have the forte to empower and increase the knowledge base of the women in SMEs through information dissemination. The argument is that women in South Africa and indeed in many other developing countries have not embraced technology in their everyday businesses as much as their male counterparts. This study therefore explores how women in SMEs in the Cape Metropolitan, Western Cape are utilising ICTs to empower themselves to overcome the economic discrimination they have suffered in the past.In order to collect relevant data and obtain deep insights about the utilisation of ICTs by women in SMEs, a qualitative research method was applied enabling respondents to articulate their experiences concerning the use of ICTs in their businesses. Women of all races were selected using the snowball sampling method and were interviewed. The population involved women in SMEs from the five suburbs of Claremont, Rondebosch, Gardens, Pinelands and Mowbray.The findings of the study are that women in SMEs in the Cape Metropole are utilising various ICTs to empower themselves in their businesses. They are exchanging business documentation with other business resulting in marketing of their entities. Women in SMEs are taking advantage of the fast growing social and business networking technologies such Facebook, LinkedIn, Flickr, Twitter, Skype and blogs to promote marketing of their various products and services, gaining mileage in publicity and also managing their expenditures.ICTs enable women to work anytime, anywhere affording them the opportunity to take care of their families which they could not do while they were employed in the corporate world. Some of the women in SMEs reported that they can now independently negotiate business deals due to increase in their self-esteem and also have access to available information in their areas of expertise.

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The ideas generated in any locality soon accede the virtual space. They spread and are concretized in different places, be it a business room, a factory floor, a schoolyard, a family house or even in streets and public spaces. At the turn of the century, several large-scale protest demonstrations took the streets of urban centers around the world and an unprecedented element could be perceived among its agents: the intensive association of protesters with communication networks, which have as main characteristic the abundance and high-speed circulation of information. However,in the midst of so many transformations and novelties, digital information and communication technologies remain, to some extent, surrounded by unknowns about their potentialities, properties and functions in the context of contemporary democracy, as well as the cultural consequences of their application, reason which expresses the urgency to reflect on its nature and form of participation in collective dynamics, political mobilizations and social movements. This research analyzes the role played by digital communication networks in protests occurred in the city of São Paulo in June 2013, in order to delineate, analyze and understand some of the characteristics of its successful way to disseminate information and its power to persuade and engage citizens that were not previously linked to cultural-political groups or social movements. In sum, it is proposed to investigate how and why the ICTs used in digital communication networks have assumed a preponderant role in June’s disputes and to raise interpretations about their nature and the issues ofcommunicationin contemporary society. The methodology of the work assumes hybrid formulation between bibliographic research, documentary analysis and, consequently, conceptual articulation, from which the analyzes were carried out
As ideias geradas em qualquer localidade logo acedem ao espaço virtual. Disseminam-se e se concretizam em diferentes lugares, seja uma sala de empresa, um chão de fábrica, um pátio de escola, um cômodo da casa ou, ainda, as ruas e espaços públicos das cidades. Na virada do século, diversas manifestações reivindicatórias de grandes proporções tomaram as ruas de centros urbanos em todo o mundo e um elemento inédito pode ser percebido entre seus agentes: a associação intensiva das redes de comunicação, cuja marca característica versa sobre a abundância e aceleração da circulação de informações. Em meio a tantas transformações e novidades, entretanto, as tecnologias de informação e comunicação digitais permanecem, em certa medida, cercadas por incógnitas a respeito de suas potencialidades, propriedades e funções no contexto da democracia contemporânea; além das consequências culturais de sua aplicação, motivo pelo qual se expressa a urgência da necessidade de refletir sobre sua natureza e forma de participação nas dinâmicas coletivas, mobilizações políticas e movimentos sociais. Esta pesquisa analisa o papel desempenhado pelas redes de comunicação digitais nas manifestações ocorridas na cidade de São Paulo, em junho de 2013, a fim de delinear, analisar e compreender algumas das características desse modelo exitoso na difusão de informações, convencimento e engajamento de manifestantes não vinculados diretamente a coletivos político-culturais ou membros dos movimentos sociais. Em suma, propõe-se investigar como e porque as TICs utilizadas em redes digitais de comunicação assumiram papel preponderante nas disputas de junho e levantar interpretações acerca de sua natureza e de questões comunicacionais da sociedade contemporânea. A metodologia do trabalho assume formulação híbrida entre pesquisa bibliográfica, análise documental e, consequentemente, articulação conceitual, a partir das quais foram realizadas as análises

The advances in communication technologies have resulted in a significant shift in the workplace culture. Mobile computing devices are increasingly becoming an integral part of workplace culture. Mobility has several advantages to the organisation, one such example is the “always online” workforce resulting in increased productivity hours. As a result, organisations are increasingly providing mobile computing devices to the workforce to enable remote productivity at the organisations cost. A challenge associated with mobility is that these devices are likely to connect to a variety of networks, some which may insecure, and because of their smaller form factor and perceived value, are vulnerable to loss and theft amongst other information security challenges. Increased mobility has far reaching benefits for remote and rural communities, particularly in the healthcare domain where health workers are able to provide services to previously inaccessible populations. The adverse economic and infrastructure environment means institution provided devices make up the bulk of the mobile computing devices, and taking away the ownership, the usage patterns and the susceptibility of information to adversity are similar. It is for this reason that this study focuses on information security on institution provided devices in a rural healthcare setting. This study falls into the design science paradigm and is guided by the principles of design science proposed by Hevner et al. The research process incorporates literature reviews focusing on health information systems security and identifying theoretical constructs that support the low-resource based secure deployment of health information technologies. Thereafter, the artifact is developed and evaluated through an implementation case study and expert reviews. The outcomes from the feedback are integrated into the framework.

Three decades of mobile phone diffusion, thousands of mobile-phone-based health projects worldwide ("mHealth"), and tens of thousands of health applications in Apple's iTunes store, but fundamental questions about the effect of phone diffusion on people's healthcare behaviour remain unanswered. Empirical, theoretical, and methodological gaps in the study of mobile phones and health reinforce each other and lead to simplifying assumptions that mobile phones are a ubiquitous and neutral platform for interventions to improve health and healthcare. This contradicts what we know from the technology adoption literature. This thesis explores the theoretical link between mobile phone diffusion and healthcare access; develops and tests a new multidimensional indicator of mobile phone adoption; and analyses the effects of phone use on people's healthcare-seeking behaviour. My mixed methods research design - implemented in rural Rajasthan (India) and Gansu (China) - involves qualitative research with 231 participants and primary survey data from 800 persons. My research yields a qualitatively grounded framework that describes the accessibility and suitability of mobile phones in healthcare-seeking processes, the heterogeneous outcomes of phone use and non-use on healthcare access, and the uneven equity consequences in this process. Quantitative analysis based on the framework finds that mobile phone use in rural India and China increases access to healthcare, but it also invites more complex and delayed health behaviours and the over-use of scarce healthcare resources. Moreover, increasing phone-aided health action threatens to marginalise socio-economically disadvantaged groups further. I present here the first quantitative evidence on how mobile phone adoption influences healthcare-seeking behaviour. This challenges the common view that mHealth interventions operate on a neutral platform and draws attention to potential targeting, user acceptance, and sustainability problems. The framework and tools developed in this thesis can support policy considerations for health systems to evaluate and address the healthcare implications of mobile phone diffusion.

O objetivo geral desta dissertação é o de investigar as percepções de professoras e professores sobre o uso das TICs no cotidiano da sala de aula. Essa discussão considerou na análise dos dados uma perspectiva de gênero, compreendida a partir das relações sociais que se desenvolveram entre estas/es profissionais no âmbito dos espaços público, da escola, e privado, do lar. A opção metodológica pautou-se por uma pesquisa qualitativa de natureza interpretativa, permitindo a análise dos depoimentos das/os entrevistadas/os. A investigação contou com a participação de dezenove docentes, mulheres e homens, que responderam a um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturada com questões abertas. Verificou-se que a maioria das/os docentes não teve em sua formação acadêmica inicial e na pós-graduação uma disciplina que abrangesse uma discussão teórica/prática sobre a utilização das tecnologias. Verificou-se, também, a falta de cursos de formação continuada e de oficinas pedagógicas com uma abordagem ao uso das TICs em sala de aula. Ficou evidenciado que existem dificuldades no manuseio dessas tecnologias no cotidiano da sala de aula, e analisadas sob a perspectiva de gênero, revelou que apesar da maioria dos professores em seu discurso afirmarem que homens e mulheres são iguais diante dessas tecnologias, ele é contraditório. A maioria das professoras assume ter dificuldades com o uso das TICs, já os professores negam tê-las, evidenciando o discurso patriarcal de que as mulheres não são iguais aos homens para a manipulação das TICs. A pesquisa revelou ainda uma extensa carga horária de aulas, distribuídas em diferentes estabelecimentos de ensino e, também, a existência da dupla jornada de trabalho para todas/os elas/es. Entretanto, ficou evidenciado que essa dupla jornada é marcada pela diferença entre atividades para essas/es profissionais. Nela, a maioria dessas mulheres assumem atividades especificamente na esfera doméstica limpando a casa, lavando e passando roupas, lavando louça, cozinhando e cuidando dos filhos, sem remuneração, por estas, serem desenvolvidas em seus lares. Apesar dos homens admitirem dividir as tarefas domésticas com suas companheiras, seus discursos retratam uma divisão com o sentido de “ajuda”, reforçando o discurso patriarcal de que as mulheres são responsáveis pelas tarefas domésticas. Essas diferenças estão associadas à divisão sexual do trabalho nos espaços público e privado e se mantém, sobretudo, por representações de gênero que associam a mulher ao espaço privado, ao cuidado e à delicadeza e, os homens, ao espaço público, ao provimento da família e ao trabalho pesado. Evidenciou-se, portanto, que as relações sociais entre estas/es professoras/es, na vida profissional e no âmbito do lar, são relações permeadas por poder, e que, apesar dessas mulheres experienciarem situações de igualdade em alguns espaços no âmbito do colégio e do lar, de certa forma, ainda estão subordinadas ao discurso patriarcal capitalista, que ainda hoje reproduz desigualdades de gênero, e condiciona essas mulheres a uma posição de subordinação e desvalorização.
The main objective of this dissertation is to investigate the perceptions of teachers on the use of ICTs in the classroom. The discussion considers a gender perspective in data analysis, understood from social relationships developed between those professionals, in relation to a public space, the school, and private space, the home. The methodological option is based on a qualitative research with interpretative nature, which permits the analysis of interviews. The investigation counts with the participation od ninetenn teachers, male and women, who answered an semi- estructured interview script with open questions. It was verified that in most cases the teachers didn´t have a discipline which covered the technologies utilization in their initial academic formation or post-graduation. Also, It was verified the lack of initial and continuing courses and pedagogical workshops towards the use of ICT´s in the classroom. It was evidenced the difficulties in the handling of technologies in daily classes, and under the gender perspective, although teacher´s discourse affirm the equality between men and women towards those difficulties, the discourse remains contradictory. Most of the female teacher´s assume difficulties in handling ICT´s, but male teacher´s deny it; which evidenced the patriarchal discourse that states that women are different from men at handling ICT´s. The research reveals that most of the teachers work extensive hours of classes, in different schools, even the double working day. However, it´s evidenced the differences between those double working day: most of women assume domestic activities like cleaning houses, washing and ironing clothes, doing the dishes, cooking and caring for their children, without remuneration because they are developed in their houses. Even though men assume that they are dividing domestic tasks, their discourse shows that they “help”, which reinforces the patriarchal discourse that states that only women are responsible for domestic tasks. These differences are associated to sexual division of work in public and private spaces, which maintain itself because of the gender representations which associates women to private space, to caring, to sensitivity; and man to public space, to family provision and to hard work. It was evident, therefore, that the social relationships between those teacher´s in professional and family life are permeated by power, and, spite those women experiences equality in some spaces at school and home, they are still subordinated to the capitalist patriarchal discourse, which still today reproduces gender inequalities, conditioning these women to a position of subordination and devaluation.

We live in the era in which the internet is now available on the majority of mobile phones at a very cheaper rate. This advancement in technology has created a boom in the use of mobile phone social networking as a primary communication tool - not only for individuals but also commonly used by professionals in most fields. The trends and growing usage of social networking via mobile phone indicate a potentially effective new platform for increasing production especially in agricultural sectors. In this age of information technology, farming communities can be empowered with the latest information and knowledge through mobile phone social networking to enhance agricultural development. The study investigates the use of mobile phone social networking as an extension tool in small-scale (emerging) farmers in selected farming communities in the Cacadu District Municipality of the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Specifically, the study investigates the use of available mobile phone social networks; what they are used for; and the importance and benefits of social networking both generally and to the farming communities. The study further identifies problems inhibiting the use of mobile phone social networking. Other channels through which the small-scale (emerging) farmers acquire agricultural information, aside from via mobile phone, and the type of agricultural information these farmers acquire, are also investigated. This study focuses on the use - and not the testing or adoption of - mobile phone social networking in small-scale (emerging) agriculture. In the exercise to investigate the use of social networking apps via mobile phone, data was collected from 40 small-scale (emerging) farmers using a purposive sampling method. This study used a survey design, exploratory and descriptive research methodologies. Data was captured by administering a questionnaire through personal face-to-face interviews. Descriptive statistics such as simple frequency tables, percentages and bar graphs were used. From the Chi-square testing, it was found that agricultural knowledge levels, internet access and size of production farm land influence the use of social networking by the small-scale (emerging) farmers. However, the result of this study showed that gender, age, other income and educational level of the small-scale (emerging) farmers are not statistically significant determinants of social networking use. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was found to be 0.95. To establish the strength of associations of the variables, Cramer’s V ranging between 0.04 and 0.9 (signifying relationships from negligible to very strong association) was used. The findings showed that different social networks are used by the farming communities, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Blackberry messenger, MXit, Twitter and YouTube. The various uses of these social networks by the farmers are discussed. The benefits and problems inhibiting their use are also outlined. Other sources of acquiring agricultural information by the farmers aside from social networking via mobile phone are examined. The result of the study shows that [agricultural extension officers, other farmers, farmers’ discussion groups, friends and family,] are major sources of agricultural information to the small-scale (emerging) farmers while other sources are television, radio, print media and result demonstrations. The study suggests that to enhance mobile phone social networking to ensure that timely and effective agricultural information is readily accessible to the small-scale (emerging) farmers. These include agricultural extension officers making optimal use of social networking via mobile phone, due to the strong interaction and trust between them and the farmers. This interaction can be instrumental in the effective use of this technology as a resourceful medium for accessing agricultural information to enhance productivity. Proper awareness and understanding of the potential and benefits of mobile social networking by the farmers will motivate the small-scale (emerging) farmers to use the technology for effective agricultural purposes. Also, ensuring the availability of agricultural information to small-scale (emerging) farmers by setting up on-line pages or websites to discuss matters of interest and educate and update farmers on agricultural issues should be encouraged. This may attract the younger generation and the youth to participate fully in agricultural activities - thereby enhancing agricultural development.

Este trabalho investiga elementos da narrativa jornalística contemporânea presentes na programação televisiva e discute o caráter híbrido das tecnologias da comunicação. A partir da análise de programas que retratam a tragédia acontecida na cidade de Santa Maria em janeiro de 2013,são utilizadas bases semióticas e analíticas no intuito de compreender referenciais comuns pelos quais esse tipo de comunicação opera na transmissão de suas mensagens e pontos de vista acerca do real. Traz como resultado a comprovação dos usos dessas estratégias de representação desses dentro do recorte analisado, o que serve como evidência da constante reafirmação de discursos generalistas a respeito dos fenômenos sociais, reeditados em novas bases tecnológicas.
This work investigates elements of contemporary journalistic narrative present in television programming and discusses the hybrid character of communication technologies . From the analysis of programs that depict the tragedy that took place in the city of Santa Maria in January 2013,semiotic and analytical bases are used in order to include common reference by which this type of communication operates in the transmission of messages on reality . It brings as a result the evidences of representation strategies within the analyzed cut. The conclusion serves as evidence of the constant reaffirmation of general discourse about social phenomena, reissued in new technological basis.

In this thesis I explore the relationship between the mobile phone and its user and argue that this relationship is crucial in merging the contexts of public and private, the physical and virtual, imagined and real, past and present, author and audience. I view this relationship as crucial to understanding the shift in the role of the audience from passive receivers of content to active producers ('Mobile Produsers'). Further, I argue that the diverse contexts of mobile content production and the definition of the content itself have become the central means by which mobile phone practices are emerging. I draw on anthropology, social science and media studies in order to explore the impact of mobile contexts, content, and use on identity. I propose that this approach allows for a new understanding of mobile practices as a form of spectacle, especially what I refer to as the spectacle of the self. Produsership theory informs an understanding of mobile practices, content production and performance, and the Bahktinian concept of carnival becomes a useful term in analysing the mobile as both performance and spectacle. Through an analysis of mobile content within cinematic culture, social interaction, and mixed media environments I consider the ways in which the mobile functions not only as a tool for positioning the individual, but also as performing an integral part in a multi-user process of mobile content production. In this sense, mobile content can be understood as a map, and the mobile as a compass used by the produser to navigate the mobile?s diverse contexts. Furthermore, I demonstrate that mobile content is collectively constructed while being individually absorbed. It is reflective of both the context and its user and open to constant questioning and interpretation, which is then shared with others. Finally, this thesis explores the notion of being t/here as mode of participating with the mobile in time and space, where one's identity is distributed across virtual and physical spaces, simultaneously locating the user as both here and there (t/here).

Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements or the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Library and Information Science) at the University of Zululand, 2007.
The purpose of this study was to investigate and identify ICTs that provide access to information/ enhance quality of life, and improve the economic standards of rural women by conceptualizing a model for the development, management, exploitation and use of ICTs in an African rural environment. In order to obtain data from the respondents, two research methods were utilized, namely the case study and survey research. In the former, data was collected from key informants in organizations that work with ICTs and rural women. Using frame lists from both South Africa and Kenya, a total of four organizations were purposefully selected, i.e. Womensnet and the National Community Radio Forum (NCRF) in South Africa, and AfriAfya and the Arid Lands Information Network (ALJN-EA) in Kenya. The survey research method was used to interview women aged between 16 and 60 years. 400 respondents formed the sampling size, randomly selected from census household data. Survey data in Kenya was obtained from the sub¬divisions of the Kaplamai Division in Trans-Nzoia district, namely: Kimoson, Sinyerere, Sitatunga and Makutano. The sample frame included: small-scale traders (68; 34%); housewives (29; 14.5%); educators/teachers (27; 13.5); farmers (26; 13.0); students (11; 5.5%); domestic workers (10; 5.0%); preachers (10; 5.0%); farm workers (6; 3.0%); large-scale entrepreneurs (5; 2.5%); nurses (4; 2.0%); clerical workers (2; 1.0%); and community development workers (2; 1.0%). In South Africa, a similar sample frame included: small-scale traders (58; 29.0%); housewives/homemakers (48; 24.0%); farm employees (25; 12.5%); domestic workers (18; 9.0%); educators/teachers (16; 8.0%); students (15; 7.5%); entrepreneurs managing large-scale enterprises (3; 1.5%); clerical workers (9; 4.5%); community development workers (6; 3.0%); and two preachers (2; 1.0%). Sampling data was obtained from census household data belonging to the magisterial districts of Umlalazi, i.e. Eshowe, Amatikulu, Gigindlovu and Mtunzini. By using the snowball sampling technique, female respondents directly and indirectly connected to one another were identified and consequently interviewed. A few major recommendations stemming from the study include the need for: women to be involved in deciding which ICTs would directly and immediately benefit their lives; sensitization and training in the use of ICTS before project implementation; resource centers with skilled human resources and technological capacities to train communities about ICTs; more enhanced collaboration with rural women by being flexible and aware of their needs and requirements; collaborative efforts with other stakeholders at community level; the establishment of intermediary working committees at community level for enhanced communication processes; and a feasibility study that assesses the physical infrastructure and needs assessment survey before project implementation. The study concluded that there is a strong co-relation between the levels of education of a community, types of ICTs used, information seeking behavior, and the socio-economic landscape/environment. It was also established that the enactment of a National Policy on ICT development does not guarantee the efficient and effective use of ICTs, especially by marginalized rural communities. Special efforts must be made to involve rural communities. These efforts would require policies that: encourage competition between various stakeholders in the telecommunications industry, govern the costs of ICTs, and govern connectivity in areas that are not commercially viable. As women form the majority of most rural households, special efforts need to be made in order to involve women in development initiatives such as skills enhancement initiatives, participatory mechanisms and follow-up programs.

This dissertation explores Mobile Media Technologies (MMT’s) namely, cellphones, laptops and MP3 players, and their prevalence in public space as well as how they are being used within the space. Much of my research analyses the impact of MMT’s on social behaviour and the extent to which they can be seen as the harbingers of a new “postmodern” form of social organisation. My research is predominantly an observational study which is conducted within the postmodern space of the shopping mall. Through my research I discuss the multiple spaces within the shopping mall environment and I explore how humans behave, interact and construct their identities within this space; these ideas are evaluated in terms of the “modern” and the “postmodern” paradigms. “Postmodernity” and “modernity” are not mutually exclusive and as a result there are ambivalences in terms of how individuals relate to how MMT’s are being used in public space.
Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the events that occurred throughout the Egyptian Revolution from January 2010 to February 2010 through pragmatic humanism. Tweets will be looked at from the book Tweets from Tahrir to show how the process unfolded. Building on the previous research, the tweets will be looked at through the lens of pragmatic humanism. The study will show how individuals can better the world they live in by experimenting with different methods and adapting to any failures they may encounter. The study will also show how the reach of the individual has become faster and further than previously possible. The elements of pragmatic humanism will be broken down into five main tenets. The study will take a thematic approach in analyzing the tweets through the perspective of the particular tenet. The study will also show the power of individual desires when they are able to combine with the social context of the time. The advent of Twitter has allowed individuals to test and experiment with hypotheses much quicker than before and allows them to make monumental changes to their reality in a much shorter period of time.
Graduation date: 2013

This study explored how social media are setting the agenda of the traditional media and re-defining the role of the journalists. Content analysis was done to analyse the coverage of Jacob Zuma stories in newspapers and on Facebook, from the 1st of February until the 30th of June 2018.The sample for the study was drawn from three local newspapers, the Citizen, the Sowetan, the NewAge (AfroVoice), as well as the Facebook page called #Zumamustfall. This was done to determine if newspapers which are traditional media were being influenced by social media in what stories to report on. Results from the study showed that social media are influential in building an agenda for the traditional media and in particular, with the Zuma story. In the same vein, it emerged that traditional and social media set the agenda for each other. Based on these findings the research recommends that other social media sites including Twitter be used in similar research to determine their effects on agenda setting of traditional media (newspapers).
Communication Science
M.A. (Communication Science)

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Es obvio que nuestro mundo ha cambiado mucho en las últimas tres décadas. Los métodos antiguos de enseñanza servían su función en las aulas y en el sistema educativo de aquella época los alumnos iban a la escuela, se sentaban delante del maestro y lo escuchaban para aprender el contenido; con estos cambios algunos maestros todavía esperan que sus estudiantes aprendan de la misma manera que en años anteriores. Todavía existe la mentalidad de que los estudiantes entran en un aula, se sientan y escuchan a su maestro. Este trabajo propone una forma de desarrollar proyectos desde la perspectiva de la teoría de actividad. Para entender mejor la teoría de actividad y su uso en el aprendizaje basado en los proyectos, empezaremos con una revisión de la historia de la teoría, una explicación de sus principios y luego presentaremos un ejemplo en un aula donde un maestro inculca confianza en los estudiantes y les da la oportunidad de hacer actividades para mostrar sus habilidades, todo guiado por la teoría de actividad.

Abstracts in English, Zulu and Afrikaans
This Grounded Theory study focused on understanding how South Africa’s two numerically-dominant political parties, the African National Congress (ANC) and Democratic Alliance (DA), used micro-blogging site, Twitter, as part of their electioneering arsenal in the 2016 municipal elections to promote party-political digital issue ownership within an urban context. Using each party’s 2016 election manifesto and corpus of tweets, this three-phased study found that while both the ANC and DA used Twitter as a digital political communication platform to communicate their election campaigns, the DA notably leveraged the social networking site for intense ‘focused’ messaging of its negative campaign against the ANC while simultaneously promoting positive electoral messages around its own ‘core’ issues and metro mayoral candidates. ‘Battleground’ metros were identified by the DA in Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay, leading to an emphasised urban campaign here to either activate the party’s own support base and/ or to suppress the ANC’s turnout in these highly-contested areas. Additionally, it was found that both the ANC and DA used Twitter for explicit and implicit partypolitical issue ownership claiming in the 2016 municipal elections. Lastly, this study also culminated in the proposal of three but interconnected different elements of a conceptual framework for digital political communication that political parties could use to promote digital party-political issue ownership within a pronounced urban electioneering setting. These elements – ‘coordinating and managing how an election is tweeted’, 'focus' messaging the election’ and ‘audience-segmenting as a message-tailoring strategy’ – when used in unison can help political parties communicate better and ultimately more effectively in a highly mediatised technological media landscape
Hierdie Gegronde Teorie Studie fokus op die verduideliking hoe Suid-Afrika se twee numeriese dominante politieke partye, die African National Congress (ANC) en Demokratiese Alliansie (DA), van die mikro-blog platform, Twitter, gebruik gemaak het tydens hulle verkiessingsstrategie in die 2016 munisipale verkiessings om die party politieke digitale kwessie rondom eienaarskap binne ‘n stedelike verband te bevorder. Deur elke party se 2016 verkiessings manifesto en arsenaal van twiets te gebruik, het hierdie drie-fase studie bevind dat beide die ANC en DA, Twitter gebruik het as ‘n digitale politieke kommunikasie platform. Die DA het egter die sosiale media netwerk kenmerkend gebruik vir ‘n intense gefokusde negatiewe veldtog teen die ANC terwyl hulle terselfdertyd ‘n positiewe verkiessings boodskap rondom die party se eie kernkwessies en metro burgermeesters kandidate gesentreer het. ‘Oorlogsgebied’ metros is deur die DA in Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, Tshwane en Nelson Mandela Bay geidentifiseer wat ‘n defnitiewe stedelike veldtog tot gevolg gehad het om die party se eie ondersteuningsbasis te bevorder en/of die ANC se ondersteuning in hierdie hoogs betwiste areas te onderdruk. Daar was ook bevind dat beide die ANC en DA van Twitter gebruik gemaak het vir eksplisiete en implisiete party politieke kwessies rondom eiernaarskap tydens die 2016 munisipale verkiessings. Hierdie studie kan saamgevat word in drie onderskeie maar verwante elemente om ‘n raamwerk te vorm van die digitale politieke kommunikasie wat politieke partye kan gebruik om digitale party politieke kwessies binne ‘n stedelike verkiessings omgewing te bevorder. Wanneer hierdie elemente – ‘koordinering en bestuur van hoe twiets tydens ‘n verkiesing gebruik word’, ‘’die focus van die boodksap tydens die verkiessing’ and ‘die gehoorsegmentasie can ‘n boodskap strategie’ – in ‘n eenheid gebruik word kan dit politieke partye help om beter en meer effektief te kommunikeer binne ‘n baie kompiterende en tegnologiese medialandskap.
Inkcazo-bungcali yesisifundo ibigxile ekuqondeni ukuba uMzantsi Africa lo unamaqela amakhulu amabini ezopolitiko, ukutsho, iAfrican National Congress (ANC) kunye ne Democratic Alliance (DA), la maqela asebenzise iwebhusayithi encinane uTwitter, njengenxalenye yezixhobo zonxibelelwano kunyulo loo masipala ngo-2016. Bekwenza oku ngelikhuthaza amaqela ezopolitiko nebango lawo kwimiba yezinto abathi bazithethe kwisithuba sedijithali,kumxholo wendawo zase dolophini. Esi sifundo sisebenzisa imanifesto kunye nothotho lwe tweets zeqela ngalinye, nesenziwe ngokwezigaba ezithathu, sifumanise ukuba nangona iANC kunye ne DA zisebenzise uTwitter njenge qonga lonxibelelwano lwezopolitiko zedijithali (ngokolwimi lwasemzini) ukunxibelelana namaphulo onyulo, iDA izibonakalise amandla kwindawo yokuncokola kwiqonga uTwitter,ngokuthi imiyalezo yayo igxile kwaye itsole. Miyalezo leyo ithe yagxila ngokungafanelekanga kumkhankaso weANC. Ngaxeshanye, imiyalezo yayo yona iDA ibeyeyakhayo, kwaye incedisana nephulo layo kwimiba ephambili kunye nabagqatswa bosodolophu bo masipala abambaxa. Oomasipala abambaxa abathi babenongquzulwano bachongwe yiDA Ekurhuleni, eRhawutini, eTshwane nase Bhayi. Lonto ibangele ukuba bagxininise ekukhokeleni iphulo ledolophu ukuze bavuselele inkxaso ye DA apho okanye bacinezele ukuvela kwe-ANC kwezi ndawo kuphikiswana kakhulu ngazo. Ukongeza, kufumaniseke ukuba iANC kunye neDA zisebenzise uTwitter ngokwendlela ecacileyo nengathanga ngqo kwimeko yobunini bemicimbi yepolitiki ukuze bafumane ibango kunyulo loomasipala lwango 2016. Okokugqibela, esisifundo sigqibele kwisindululo sezinto ezintathu azahlukeneyo kodwa ezidityaniswe yinkqubosikhokelo eqingqiweyo kunxibelelwano lwezopolitiko zedijithali. Ezi zinto zizinto ezisenakho ukusetyenziswa ngamaqela ezopolitiko ukukhuthaza ubunini bemicimbi yezopolitiko ngaphakathi kulungiselelo lonyulo lwedolophu olubhengeziweyo. Ezi zinto- 'ukulungelelanisa nokulawula indlela unyulo luthunyelwe ngayo kusetyeziswa uTwitter', 'kugxilwe' kwimiyalezo yonyulo kunye nokuhlukaniswa kwabaphulaphuli okanye ababukeli njengecebo lokulungisa umyalezo '- xa zisetyenziswa ngazwinye zinokuwanceda amaqela ezopolitiko anxibelelane ngcono kwaye ekugqibeleni ngokuyimpumelelo kakhulu kuxhamlo olunamandla kakhulu kubume beendaba kumhlaba wetekhnoloji (ngokolwimi lwesiNgesi).
Communication Science
D. Litt. et Phil. (Communication)