#1 - Introduction

Welcome to my blog space! Thank you for taking the time to view my blog regarding the subject of New Communication Technologies, where I will provide weekly updates of my thoughts, knowledge and learnings regarding the ever-so-rapidly expanding and advancing field of technology and communication.

My name is Mira Gietzel, (pronounced like mirror on the wall), and I am a second year student attending Griffith University based on the Gold Coast, studying a double bachelor of Business and Public Relations and Communications. I am currently undergoing a major in Marketing and Journalism, with career goals of working as a social media manager for businesses, and one-day running my own marketing firm.

I am highly passionate about travelling and take every opportunity to escape and explore a new corner of the world. I hope to never settle in one place too long and follow a career path that embraces a travelling lifestyle. When I'm not abroad or drowning in university study and essays, I take solace in writing my own personal blog that covers topics of lifestyle, travel and fashion; called Mirror Mira. Therefore, this blogging assessment piece excites me extremely and I look forward to continually sharing my ideas online.

Within a small class excersise within the first workshop of New Communication Technologies, we were asked to get to know a few class members as an ice-breaker activity and I learnt wonderful, interesting things about my peers. One, I discovered was a mutual friend of one of my close friends and we bonded through her, another I learnt has a twin sister and she shared the stories of that peculiarity, and many others were familiar faces I had previously crossed paths with in other subjects of my university course. We are all connected and collective by our mutual interests and study within the field of communications.

During the 2 hour period in our class without a mobile phone to distract me, I felt a wavering sense of relief by avoiding the addictive temptations of refreshing social media like an autonomous robot. But checking my notifications just two hours later, the immediate anxiety set back in after 20+ notifications were waiting for my attention on my iPhone 6 display screen. Shown was; a Facebook message organising a group assignment, three texts from my partner awaiting my delayed reply, numerous Instagram likes, four spam email notifications, two snapchats, and an email requesting my confirmation for this blog account I had just set up. This small task was a great reminder to switch off every now and again, for some peace of mind and a reminder that life goes on without your device.

I believe this class will personally be of great advantage and interest to myself as it relates to my desired career in social media marketing, where extensive knowledge and understanding of technology is required to reach target markets through digital communication models.

With no previous knowledge on this topic, and an uncertain yet open mind regarding where this course is leading, I believe we will focus on the revolution and transition from old to new communication models through technology as its medium. I am most excited to discuss the potential progression of communication and technology we can expect in the near future, and whether we should fear, reject, avoid or embrace its power.

This illustration retrieved from the Daily Times reflects my current understanding of our technological timeline from vintage to modern.

(Daily Times, 2017).