-
Naming and Web/Email Addresses. A lot of money goes into the names that businesses
splash across advertisements, commercials, billboards, and product packages. Companies
and organizations want an unmistakable Internet presence (take a look at the work
Hormel has done to squash various "Spam" pages for one example). They want the public
to look at the addresses and think of the company and its products.
Take a newspaper or magazine and collect every email address and web page address
that is included--check the advertisements and the text of the articles, and keep
track of where you find the addresses. Once you've gathered all the addresses, write a
paper that analyzes the naming conventions that the addresses (or more properly, the
companies that chose those names) have used. What is the domain (see below)? Does the
company use specific names in the address beyond the domain? In your paper, create a
system of classification that outlines the ways that companies name their Internet
resources, or write a paper that describes the features that seem important in naming
Internet resources (a sort-of how-to guide for someone setting up a site).
*** A domain is the part of a web page address that comes first--after the
http:// and before any additional slashes or words. In the address
http://www.yahoo.com/Education/K_12/Teaching/, the domain is "www.yahoo.com." In an
email address, the domain is the part that comes after the @ sign. In the email
address president@whitehouse.gov, the domain is whitehouse.gov.
You might discuss the Internet naming conventions that govern certain parts of
domain addresses. Be sure students understand the differences between .com, .edu,
.mil, .gov as well as country and state designations.
-
Naming and Software. Consider the naming conventions that apply to software.
Consider the thought that went into names like Windows, Microsoft Word, Excel,
PC Anywhere, PartitionMagic, and PhotoShop. What difference would it make if Windows
had been named Doors? What suffixes and prefixes are used frequently? Are there words
that are never used in titles (words that would make sense for the products)? What do
the companies that named this software hope that the potential customer will think
about these products? Does the kind of name that is used relate to the things that the
product does? For instance, do you notice that word processing software uses one kind
of typical naming convention while graphics software uses another? In your paper,
create a system of classification for software product names or choose a specific
category of software and explore the kinds of names that are used (and those that
aren't used) for the products.
-
Naming and Hardware. Consider the names that companies choose for computers,
monitors, and printers--names such as iMac, OptiPlex, CyberTron, Zip Drive, and so
forth. Or consider the names of the parts that compose a piece of hardware--for
example, motherboards, daughterboards, SCSI drives, IDE, USB and Pentium chips. Why
these names? Why the abbreviations? Are there prefixes and suffixes that are used
repeatedly? What are the companies going for? Are they trying to sound cutting edge?
Are they being purposefully unclear--or do they perhaps imagine that the general
public won't need to worry about what jargon like SCSI means? In your paper, create a
system of classification for hardware or choose a specific category of hardware (hard
drives, for instance) and explore the kinds of names that are used (and those that
aren't used) for the products.
-
Take a close look at an advertisement for a software product or the cover of a
software box. What is pictured? What is the relationship between the pictures in the
advertisement or on the box and what the product actually does? Are there seemingly
irrelevant things pictured? Are there relevant capabilities that aren't included in
the advertisement or on the box cover? Why have certain things been included and
others excluded? What does the manufacturer want potential customers to think about
the product? How close is the information that is included in the advertisement or on
the box to the realities of the product and what it can do?
Write an analytical paper that explains how the advertisement or product cover
works. What group of potential customers is the software company attempting to
attract? What are these customers interested in based on the advertisement of box
cover? What issues are important to them? What conclusions can you draw about the
things that are NOT pictured? What groups of customers does the company seem to be
missing?
-
Consider references to computer technology in non-computer products--how are
businesses using the language of computer technology to attract customers? Think about
television commercials featuring a new car's on-board computer. The commercials
suggest that the computer can track even the most minor malfunction in a car, and in
expensive cars, these computers are tied to satellites that can help a harried couple
get to the hospital before their baby is born. Why are these companies focusing on the
computer technology? Why draw potential customers' attention to the computer rather
than to the cabin space, the anti-lock brakes, or the warranty?
Find at least three advertisements that highlight computer technology as part of
their appeal to potential customers. Remember you're looking for advertisements or
commercials for non-computer products. Gather details on the things that the three
advertisements have in common. How do they discuss computer technology? What details
do they include? What features do they ignore as they focus on computer technology?
Who do they show using the products? What kind of customers are they targeting? How do
they imagine the discussion of computer technology will interest these potential
customers? Write an analytical paper that explains your conclusions about the ways
that the advertisers use information about computer technology in your three
advertisements.
-
Take a look at a television or print advertisement for an Internet Service Provider
(or ISP). Frequently advertised ISPs include AOL, CompuServe, and AT&T WorldNet. What
is shown in the advertisements? Who is shown using these Internet access tools? What
are these computer users doing? What kinds of computer users are left out? What can
you tell about the way that the company describes itself and portrays its customers?
Write a paper that compares the Internet as the ISP defines it to what Internet users
are really like.
NOTE: You'll need to begin by doing some analysis of Internet users to compare to
the ISP commercials.
-
What one word best applies to computers and information technology at your school?
What kind of machines and software are available? Where are computers found? Who can
use them? Who actually uses them? When are they available? How are the computers used?
Once you've captured a sense of the state of computer technology on your campus, write
a paper that explains the one word that you've chosen and the reasons that you've
chosen it. As you explain your word, be sure to include details on computers and
information technology at your school that support your choice.
NOTE: if your school has no computers, you can think about computers where you work
or computers available for local access at the library or elsewhere.
-
Take a look at commercials for computer products like the iMac and Gateway's
Your:)Ware or software products like QuickBooks Pro. If you believe the commercials,
what are the steps in using a computer? How do you go about getting online? writing
out an invoice? paying your bills? sending an email message? Write a paper that
compares the fairy-tale world of the commercials to the experiences that you or your
friends and family have had with computers. Why are computers and software portrayed
the way that they are in these commercials? Are the commercials believable?
-
Assume that you work in the Research and Development division of a business that
produces computers, software, or computer training programs. For this paper, pitch a
new product or service to your manager that provides better access to a wider variety
of people than its competitors. Your paper needs to describe the product or service
and explain why it's needed. Describe the customers who will use the product. As you
describe your product, pay attention to issues of equal access--What makes your
product or service available to as many people as possible? How does it provide better
access than competitors in the market? Your paper will be a persuasive proposal.
Include a section on the background and need, description of the product or service,
its advantages and disadvantages, and conclusions or recommendations.
-
Your school is trying to increase access to computers on campus. To gather ideas on
ways that access can be improved, the school has invited students to submit proposals
that explain things that the school can do to help more people get to computers or to
help more people learn how to use computers in educational ways. Look around your
campus at the computer technology now available. What kind of machines and software
are available? Where are computers found? Who can use them? Who actually uses them?
When are they available? How are the computers used--what do people use them for? In
your paper, include the following information:
- Outline the need for the kind of access you're proposal focuses
on.
- Describe the things which are necessary to provide access (hardware?
furniture? software? training classes? etc.).
- Explain why your proposal is the best alternative.
- Recommend a timetable or course of action necessary to implement your
proposal.
Note: Some or all of the links on this page may no longer be functioning. We are leaving the
links as they are for the sake of historical interest.
