The late 20th and early 21st centuries have seen the creation of new forms of subjectivities that represent the integration of digital and information technologies into construction of the self and bodies. I argue that to this point there has not been a satisfactory theoretical framework for the experience of bodies in virtual environments that does not default to problematic binaries of physical and virtual, real and unreal, and meaningful and meaningless. These dualistic constructions render experiences of bodies within virtual settings meaningless. In order to examine how this power differential between physical and virtual came to be, I engage with Katherine Hayles' evaluation of information as a disembodied entity. I argue that Hayles' humanist principles prevents her from fully understanding the experience of bodies within virtual spaces as meaningful and important. I then deconstruct the materialist basis of representation in order to demonstrate how information can be reconceived as an embodied force. I further analyze digital media art installations, specifically dance performances, to examine how digital bodies are currently experienced in relationship to corporeal forms. I finally offer two new theories of <reality> and the networked body in order to dismantle the binary between physical and virtual and to make a space for all embodied experiences to be valued. / Master of Arts

This phenomenological study researches Pakistani immigrant parents’ perspectives and attitudes on how their children use new media technologies. Parental attitudes are directly linked to student achievement (Hampton, Mumford & Bond, 1998) and parents are the gatekeepers of technology use in the home, where, during unstructured time, children can experiment and develop skills in using new technologies (Ito et al, 2010). Therefore, this study looks at how parents, through their actions and attitudes, encourage or discourage their children from developing competencies in using new media technologies By examining the pedagogical histories of parents and their concerns and rules about technology use, this study adds to the literature on parental attitudes towards the use of technology as a pedagogical tool. Further, this study examines the issue from an immigrant perspective, focusing on 10 Pakistani immigrant parents who live in the Greater Toronto Area and whose children attend pubic school.

This phenomenological study researches Pakistani immigrant parents’ perspectives and attitudes on how their children use new media technologies. Parental attitudes are directly linked to student achievement (Hampton, Mumford & Bond, 1998) and parents are the gatekeepers of technology use in the home, where, during unstructured time, children can experiment and develop skills in using new technologies (Ito et al, 2010). Therefore, this study looks at how parents, through their actions and attitudes, encourage or discourage their children from developing competencies in using new media technologies By examining the pedagogical histories of parents and their concerns and rules about technology use, this study adds to the literature on parental attitudes towards the use of technology as a pedagogical tool. Further, this study examines the issue from an immigrant perspective, focusing on 10 Pakistani immigrant parents who live in the Greater Toronto Area and whose children attend pubic school.

Higher education administrators need data on student perceptions to support their decision making regarding mobile learning (m-learning) applications. There is a lack of research addressing students' perceptions of mobile applications for course management systems (CMS). The findings of this study may help administrators understand students' perceptions of a CMS m-learning application, Blackboard Mobile Learn (BML). This m-learning application is available on mobile devices, such as the iPad, iPod Touch, iPhone, Android, and Blackberry smartphones. The purpose of this quantitative survey study was to explore the linear relationship between the independent variables of students' perceptions of usefulness and students' perceptions of ease of use with the dependent variable of the students' intent to use BML. The technology acceptance model (TAM) provided the theoretical framework. The study was a survey-based cross-sectional design in which 98 students from 2 community colleges were polled. The results of multiple regression analyses indicated that students' perceptions of usefulness and students' perceptions of ease of use were both significantly and positively related to students' intent to use BML. The results of t tests for population means where the variances are unknown confirmed the students' intent to use many of the specific functions of BML: Announcements, Information, Contacts, and My Grades. The findings were inconclusive for Discussions, Assignments, and Course Documents. This study is significant in that it provides college administrators and faculty with supportive data, giving students a new educational platform: mobile learning. The key positive social change provided is a CMS m-learning solution for students to be lifelong learners.

As new media grow, so do the users who navigate the virtual world. People and organizations are forced to adapt in order to stay relevant in a technologically driven marketplace. The sports world has been changed drastically because of new media. Athletes no longer communicate with the general public solely through traditional media outlets such as newspapers. Social networking sites such as Twitterallow athletes to directly communicate with mass audiences. This direct communication raises several questions with regard to dynamics of communication and uses of Internet portals. A content analysis examined professional athletes' "Twitter" posts to help answer these questions. While some of the hypotheses were not supported, results were telling. Topics among the sample of posts included direct communication with Twittermembers or links to videos and pictures, as well as "tweets" about each player's job. Findings suggested that professional athletes are mainly neutral overall when posting messages regarding their sport, team, peers, or fans. Limitations of the study and implications for future research are addressed.

The thesis named Relationship between using TV and new media in the habits of secondary school teenagers is trying to identify ways of using common TV broadcasting and TV contents reachable with a help of new media by czech secondary school teenagers. It also examines their relationship towards above mentioned delivery technologies and contents. In the theoretical part the attention is paid not only to the specific category of adolescent viewers and video content users, but to technological and social aspects that can influence ways and motives for using TV contents as well. This thesis also touches current issue of television studies, which has arrised together with new digital technologies arrival . Practical part is with a help of quantitative and qualitative research trying to reach empirically-based data, supporting and developing findings described in the theoretical part. Performed questionaire research results in statistically not yet recorded information about equipment (such as TV and PC with internet access) installed in teenagers' apartments. It is especially easy access to above stated technologies, what has the biggest impact on the way and intensity of using these technologies. Subsequent qualitative interviews, focus on motives and reasons leading to changes of teenaged viewers'...

Syfte – Syftet med studien var att studera skillnader i marknadsföring av hudvårdsprodukter riktat till kvinnor respektive män på Instagram. Genom att titta på helhetskonceptet av företagens instagramkonton utreds vilka könsstereotyper som används för att inspirera kvinnor och män till att följa dem på Instagram. Metod – För att uppfylla syftet har sex olika instagramkonton inom hudvård riktade till kvinnor respektive män studerats. Först gjordes en små-N-studie i form av en semiotisk bildanalys. Genom att studera denotation och konnotation av bilderna genomfördes en analys där vi även använde teorier från Teoretisk Bakgrund. Därefter genomfördes gruppintervjuer för att stärka konnotationen med hjälp av andra personers erfarenheter och åsikter. För att ge struktur åt analysen och se till att liknande delar av kontona granskades delades kontona upp i kategorierna Översikt, produktbilder, inspirations-/livsstilsbilder och citat i både den egna analysen och gruppintervjun. Resultat – Resultatet av gruppintervjuerna var att många grupper nämnde gemensamma beskrivningar och känslor av de olika kontona. Deras uppfattningar gick generellt i linje med vad vi kommit fram till i den egna denotationen och konnotationen, även om den var mer utförlig. Utifrån insamlade teorier och insamlad empiri från semiotisk bildanalys och gruppintervjuer identifierades könsstereotyper på de olika instagramkontona, vilket syntes genom färgval, uttryck av livsstil, fritidsintressen och rekvisita i produktbilder. Detta visade tydligt på kvarlevandet av gamla könsstereotyper om vad det innebär att vara man och kvinna. Implikationer – Implikationen för studien, alltså vad undersökningen pekar mot och verkar leda till, att könsstereotyper fortsätter att finnas och frodas, även på New Media. Detta leder till fler könsroller, fler begränsningar för kvinnor och män och fortsatt ojämställdhet. Att fenomenet även finns på New Media innebär att könsstereotyperna har större påverkan på människor, och att de också når ut till ännu fler människor. Begränsningar – Det som påverkar arbetets omfång och resultat är bland annat den begränsade tiden på vilken studien genomfördes, vilket begränsade antalet deltagande vid gruppintervjun, antal metoder och även djupet i den teoretiska bakgrunden. Hade studien utförts vid en längre tidsperiod hade studien kunnat vara mer omfattande vilket skulle ha stärkt studiens resultat. / Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the differences in marketing of skincare products on Instagram against a female or male target audience. By studying the companies concepts on Instagram we examine which gender stereotypes is being used to inspire women and men. Method – To fulfill the purpose, the authors have studied six different Instagram accounts within skincare marketed against women and men. A small-N-studie was done through a semiotic picture analysis. By studying the denotation and connotation of the pictures we did an analysis where we used theories from the Theoretical Background. Thenceforth we did group interviews to strengthen our connotations with the support from other peoples opinions with different experiences and backgrounds. To regulate the analysis we used headlines as overview, product-pictures, inspiration/lifestyle pictures and quotes both in the own analysis and in the group interview. Findings – The result of the group interviews was that many of the groups mentioned common descriptions and associations to the pictures on the Instagram accounts. Their perceptions was generally in the line of what we discovered through our own denotations and connotations even though ours was more detailed. From the theories and the discovered findings from the semiotic picture analysis and the group interviews we could identify gender stereotypes in the different Instagram accounts. This was shown through the colour-palettes, the life style that was promoted, the hobbies and the props in the product pictures. These findings clearly showed the signs of old gender stereotypes regarding what it means to be a man or a woman. Implications – The implications of the study is that the gender stereotypes will continue to exist and develop even on New Media. This leads to more limitations for women and men and continued inequality. The fact that this phenomenon is also on New Media means that the gender stereotypes has an even bigger impact on people, as it reaches to a larger group of people. Limitations – What influenced the size of the study was, among other things, the time limitations of the study. This limited the amount of participants in the group interview, the number of methods and even the extent of the theoretical background. If the study had been done during a longer period of time the study could have been more extensive which would have strengthened the findings of the study.

The aim of this diploma thesis is Bioart, new media art discipline, which is represented by a narrow group of authors. Bioart is often referred to by variety of names and the term itself is not uniformly defined. The work offers a comprehensive definition of the term as an art area that creates space for social reflection of scientific knowledge through its reflection of modern science. The thesis also describes respective artistic, philosophical and historical context of the term. At the same time, the thesis examines aspects of contemporary bioart from the perspective of the artists working in this field of art by interviewing them. The thesis is divided into three main chapters. The first chapter deals with Bioart as a term on theoretical level and introduces the interviewed artists. The second chapter summarizes the historical background of Bioart. The third chapter introduces the overlap of Bioart on ethics, safety and engagement of artists and the public in science. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

In this thesis, I present modular and database cinema characterized by nonlinear story and complex structure. I give examples of modular and database cinema, provide different approaches regarding movies with nonlinear narrative and mention basic principles of classical cinema to show the difference. I am taking a closer look at these films and doing a comparison. Modular cinema needs an audience which actively participates in giving a meaning to the particular film. This active audience can be equated to the new media user which can be characterized not only as a recipient of new media products but also as a creator, co-author and explorer. That is why I am focusing on new media from the point of their users, showing the changes in this media-user relation and summarizing what is new about new media. Database cinema reflects a database form which became a necessary part of new media as well as of our daily lives. When analyzing characteristics of new media and complex structure cinema I suggest a potential relation between new media and modular and database cinema from the point of their users.

The rapid rise of technology, which has become embedded in all facets of 21st century society during the past decade, has fostered a corresponding rise in its misuse. Digital citizenship abuse, a relatively new phenomenon of this electronic age, is a rapidly growing global problem. Parents, schools, and society play roles in supporting appropriate online behavior. Schools must take the lead role to assess and address digital citizenship issues. This ex post facto study investigated the online actions of students in a medium-sized K-12 school district and explored possible causal relationships between online misbehavior and student grade and gender based on data collected from state and district surveys. Kohlberg's theory of moral development, Perkins and Berkowitz's social norms theory, and Bandura's social cognitive theory provided the study's theoretical base. Hypotheses were tested using independent-measures t values, a single-factor, independent-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the chi-square test for independence. With respect to the four components of online student behavior---personal safety, digital citizenship, parental involvement, and cyberbullying---analyses determined that there are significant differences between grade level and gender. As the grade level increased, personal safety risks, digital citizenship abuse, and cyberbullying increased, while parental involvement decreased. Males had significantly more personal safety and digital citizenship issues than females but no significant gender difference for parental involvement. Implications for positive social change include raising awareness of local digital citizenship issues with parents, staff, and students, and ultimately mitigating and preventing student online risky behavior.