JTC 413

Amber Warhurst
Colorado State University
JTC413 – New Communication Technologies and Society

Research Topic

Internet and Cellular Phone Service in the Air

My research topic, involving internet and cellular use on airplanes, will review user surveys, a snapshot of how people are responding in blogs, rules and regulations, a timeline and a projection for the future. I will discuss what airlines are currently carrying service and what types of services are offered. I will include a review of the current available coverage areas and the costs involved with this luxury.

Since there is much to cover under this subject, I will break the discussion into several main topics and sub topics. I envision my outline, which is flexible at this point, to resemble to the following:

1. Aviation technology companies
2. Cooperating airline partners
3. FAA guidelines
a. International flights
4. User demands
5. Involved costs (financial, emotional, customer loyalty)
6. Where are we (a look at what flights were and what flights are)
7. Come fly the friendly skies? (a look at blog posts and articles, what are the consumers saying?)
8. Safety
9. What’s next?

I hope to provide a comprehensive view on the topic and present both arguments for and against the use of cell phones and internets on commercial flights. I plan to review the current literature available and also make suggestions in regards to where I think more research needs to be done. I plan to share a well rounded view of where we have come from and what flying used to represent and where we are at today. I have no doubt that through the research I will find people being concerned about safety, how to control a service with so few boundaries (I mean that’s the point at least right? To not be bound to the ground to use internet and cell phones?

So I lied...but I picked a book

I started my blog out with the notion that I would hold a competition between books I was interested in and see which one caught my interest first. I almost feel sad for Honky and The Education of Hyman Kaplan...they apparently had no chance.

It has been quite some time since I found my head actually dipping continuously in agreement. I can't say that my familiarity extends beyond a "gen ed requirement" when it comes to Philosophy of any sort.

I can say however that within the first few pages I think I may have said "uhhhhh yeah" out loud on the train to work more than once.

Soooo without furhter adeau... My book of choice is The Tao of Teaching.

I plan on taking each chapter, like the author does, and relate it to a real life scenario which is relative to me and my life currently.

I would love for anyone who feels compelled to follow along!!!