The effect of text messaging on 9‐ and 10‐year‐old children's reading,spelling and phonological processing skills

This paper reports on an intervention study that considered the impact of text messaging on 9‐ to 10‐year‐old children's literacy skills. One hundred and fourteen children who had never owned a mobile phone before were recruited and randomly allocated to either the intervention or control conditions. All children were pre‐ and post‐tested on a range of reading, spelling and phonological awareness measures. Children in the intervention group were given access to a mobile phone (enabled for text messaging only) for weekends and during half‐term break for a 10‐week period. It was found that there were no significant differences between the two groups of children in terms of their literacy attainment during that period. However, within the mobile phone group, there was evidence that use of text abbreviations was positively related to gains in literacy skills. Moreover, after controlling for individual differences in IQ, and the children's performance at pre‐test, textism usage was able to account for a significant amount of variance in post‐test spelling scores. These results show that text messaging does not adversely affect the development of literacy skills within this age group, and that the children's use of textisms when text messaging is positively related to improvement in literacy skills, especially spelling.     

The Gift of the Gab?: A Design Oriented Sociology of Young People's Use of Mobiles

This paper reports ethnographically informedobservations of the use of mobile phones andtext messaging services amongst young people.It offers a sociological explanation for thepopularity of text messaging and for thesharing of mobile phones between co-proximatepersons. Specifically, it reveals that youngpeople use mobile phone content and the phonesthemselves to participate in the practices ofgift exchange. By viewing mobile phone use inthis way, the paper suggests a number ofpossibilities for future phone-basedapplications and supporting hardware.     

How do skilled and less‐skilled spellers write text messages? A longitudinal study

The link between students' spelling level and their text‐messaging practice gives rise to numerous questions from teachers, parents and the media. A corpus of 4524 text messages produced in daily‐life situations by students in sixth and seventh grade (n = 19, 11–12 years of age) was compiled. None of the participants had ever owned or used a mobile phone before the start of the study; their text messages were collected monthly over the course of a year. The comparison between the group with mobile phones and the control group without mobile phones (n = 30) showed no difference between the level of traditional writing at the beginning of the text‐message collection and during the collection. The results showed that the correlation between the level of traditional spelling and the density of textisms was dependent upon the type of textisms (consistent/breaking with traditional code), the type of spelling (usage‐based/rule‐based), the grades in French class and the duration of text‐messaging practice. On the whole, students who were skilled or less skilled in traditional writing at the beginning of the text‐message collection remained respectively skilled or less skilled throughout the year, despite their text‐messaging use (density and type of textisms). The discussion of this study's academic implications tends towards a complementarity between traditional writing and text messaging.     

基于短信猫的短信自动收、发程序调试与开发应用

在科技引领时代的大潮流下,人们对各种电子产品的依赖性越来越高,对各类软件的实用性越来越看重,此次设计主要是将短信猫与普通手机中的短信功能进行对比,让使用者充分了解到我们产品的独特优势。短信猫的资费与我们平常所使用的手机是一样的,但短信猫更加专注于短信的收发应用,相对于手机而言,短信猫具有收发短信速度更快、可靠性更高、实时发送等优点。标准短信猫是短信猫硬件和软件的有机结合,其鲜明的优势在众多同类型软件中独领风骚,目前在企业短信中已经得到了广泛应用。     

Avoidance or boredom: Negative mental health outcomes associated with use of Information and Communication Technologies depend on users’ motivations

Previous research shows that high Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use is associated with higher levels of anxiety, depression, and overall psychological distress; however, there are few relevant studies on this topic. The current study was conducted to explore the relationship between Internet and mobile phone use and mental health. In Study 1, participants were given questionnaires to assess their manner of mobile phone and Internet use and their levels of depression and anxiety. There were strong positive relationships between lower mental health and problematic ICT use, especially when people turned to ICTs to avoid negative experiences or feelings. However, when participants used ICTs merely to escape boredom, no link was found between ICT use and mental health problems. Study 2 was completed to observe how students utilize their mobile phones to cope or escape from feelings related to an anxiety-inducing situation. Results indicated that the mobile phone may offer a small “security blanket” effect, lowering the initial negative reaction to stress, although the pattern of stress over the course of the experiment was the same for participants in all groups. Our findings suggest that long term utilization of ICTs as an emotional coping strategy may have a negative influence on mental health and/or exacerbate mental health predispositions.     

The effect of mobile messaging during a conversation on impression formation and interaction quality

This paper presents two experimental studies investigating the impact of mobile messaging during an offline conversation on relational outcomes. A first study examined the impact on impression formation. A 3 × 1 experiment revealed that phone users were perceived as significantly less polite and attentive, and that self-initiated messaging behavior led to more negative impression formation than messaging behavior in response to a notification. A second study examined the impact on perceived conversation quality and social attraction. A 2 × 2 experiment revealed that perceived conversation quality was negatively affected by co-present mobile messaging behavior, while social attraction was not. Whether persons were acquainted or not with the phone user did not moderate this relationship.     

When fingers do the talking: a study of text messaging

SMS or text messaging is an area of growth in the communications field. The studies described below consisted of a questionnaire and a diary study. The questionnaire was designed to examine texting activities in 565 users of the mobile phone. The diary study was carried out by 24 subjects over a period of 2 weeks. The findings suggest that text messaging is being used by a wide range of people for all kinds of activities and that for some people it is the preferred means of communication. These studies should prove interesting for those examining the use and impact of SMS.     

Children's text messaging: abbreviations,input methods and links with literacy

This study investigated the effects of mobile phone text‐messaging method (predictive and multi‐press) and experience (in texters and non‐texters) on children's textism use and understanding. It also examined popular claims that the use of text‐message abbreviations, or textese spelling, is associated with poor literacy skills. A sample of 86 children aged 10 to 12 years read and wrote text messages in conventional English and in textese, and completed tests of spelling, reading and non‐word reading. Children took significantly longer and made more errors when reading messages written in textese than in conventional English. Further, they were no faster at writing messages in textese than in conventional English, regardless of texting method or experience. Predictive texters were faster at reading and writing messages than multi‐press texters, and texting experience increased writing, but not reading, speed. General spelling and reading scores did not differ significantly with usual texting method. However, better literacy skills were associated with greater textese reading speed and accuracy. These findings add to the growing evidence for a positive relationship between texting proficiency and traditional literacy skills.     

Personality and self reported mobile phone use

As the mobile phone supports interpersonal interaction, mobile phone use might be a function of personality. This study sought to predict amounts and types of mobile phone use from extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and self-esteem. One hundred and twelve mobile phone owners reported on their use of their mobile phones, and completed the NEO-FFI and the Coopersmith self-esteem inventory. Extraverts reported spending more time calling, and changing ring tone and wallpaper, implying the use of the mobile phone as a means of stimulation. Extraverts and perhaps disagreeable individuals were less likely to value incoming calls. Disagreeable extraverts also reported using the mobile phone more, and spent more time adjusting ringtone/wallpaper. The neurotic, disagreeable, unconscientious and extroverted spent more time messaging using SMS. This study concludes that psychological theory can explain patterns of mobile phone use.     

Young adults’ use of communication technology within their romantic relationships and associations with attachment style

In an online survey with two cohorts (2009 and 2011) of undergraduates in dating relationships, we examined how attachment was related to communication technology use within romantic relationships. Participants reported on their attachment style and frequency of in-person communication as well as phone, text messaging, social network site (SNS), and electronic mail usage with partners. Texting and SNS communication were more frequent in 2011 than 2009. Attachment avoidance was related to less frequent phone use and texting, and greater email usage. Electronic communication channels (phone and texting) were related to positive relationship qualities, however, once accounting for attachment, only moderated effects were found. Interactions indicated texting was linked to more positive relationships for highly avoidant (but not less avoidant) participants. Additionally, email use was linked to more conflict for highly avoidant (but not less avoidant) participants. Finally, greater use of a SNS was positively associated with intimacy/support for those higher (but not lower) on attachment anxiety. This study illustrates how attachment can help to explain why the use of specific technology-based communication channels within romantic relationships may mean different things to different people, and that certain channels may be especially relevant in meeting insecurely attached individuals’ needs.     

Personality factors as predictors of sexting

“Sexting” refers to sending and receiving sexually suggestive images, videos, or texts on cell phones. Nowadays, technology is embedded in communication between current and prospective romantic partners and understanding what may fuel sexting behavior warrants attention. 304 undergraduate participants (males = 126 and females = 178) completed an online questionnaire about their personality traits, sensation seeking, and problematic cell phone use and their engagement in sexting behaviors. Results suggest that men and those in romantic relationships are more likely to sext, particularly through text messaging. Those in relationships and women indicate requiring greater commitment in a relationship in order to engage in sexting. Extraversion predicted sexting with text messaging, and neuroticism and low agreeableness predicted sexting—sending a sexually suggestive photo, a photo in underwear or lingerie, and a nude photo. Problematic cell phone use also predicted engagement in sexting with text messages. Certain aspects of sexting may appeal as a risky behavior for those individuals with personality traits towards high-risk activities.     

浅谈手机短信在系统运行监控管理中的应用

本文介绍了手机短信在计算机系统管理中的应用，研究了利用手机短信进行系统管理的可行性、可操作性，同时给出了如何搭建方便实用的短信系统来管理自己的系统平台的具体方法。     

Gender differences in mediated communication: Women connect more than do men

Past research in gender differences in the overall Internet use has been contradictory. Some asserted men used it more than women, while others asserted there were no gender difference. Both camps concluded that men and women differed in their motivation and utilization of time spent online. The purpose of the present research was to take a contemporary look at these gender differences. Using an online survey, we asked participants about their experiences with multiple forms of mediated communication: social networking sites, e-mail, video calls, instant messaging, texting, and phone calls. Our results indicated that women, compared to men, are generally more frequent mediated communication users. Compared to men, women prefer and more frequently use text messaging, social media, and online video calls. These results suggest that the nature of mediated social interaction is changing.     

Are you awake? Mobile phone use after lights out

Night-time mobile phone use has the potential to detract from sleep quality and continuity, resulting in tiredness and impaired psychological function. An on-line survey of the mobile phone habits of 397 adults (M age = 34.45, SD = 13.29) revealed that 75% used a mobile phone after lights out at least once a month, with 12.8% making calls at any time of night. More than 50% of participants reported being woken by the phone use of other people sharing their sleeping space. Using the phone after lights out and a general unwillingness to turn the phone off made a small but significant contribution to the level of tiredness. Tiredness made a significant contribution to DASS scores, with higher levels of tiredness being associated with more depression, anxiety and stress. Objective measures of sleep fragmentation and phone use along with diary recordings of participants’ evaluations of the affective value of each call or text, would be valuable in the exploration of the impact of night time phone use on tiredness and psychological function.     

Group-Based Mobile Messaging in Support of the Social Side of Leisure

Communication on mobile devices plays an important role in people’s use of technology for leisure, but to date this communication has largely been one-to-one. Mobile internet connectivity can support a variety of group-based messaging and media sharing scenarios. Switching to group-based messaging should enhance the social and leisure aspects of the communication, but in what ways and to what extent? An experimental system for text and photo messaging on mobile devices was tested in a research deployment to four groups of 6–8 participants who used both a group-based and one-to-one version of the system. Results highlight a significant increase in message sending, in mobile device “fun”, and in the social qualities of mobile communication when messaging group-wide, along with a few minor costs. Qualitative feedback provides further explanation of the social benefits.     

Attitude Toward Mobile Text Messaging: An Expectancy‐Based Perspective

Mobile text messaging is one of the world’s most popular asynchronous communication tools, but few empirical studies have examined users’ abilities and attitudes toward such technologies. The study employs 2 distinct, yet complementary, expectancy‐based constructs (i.e., self‐efficacy and locus of control) to predict anxiety and attitude valence toward mobile text messaging. Survey data collected from text messaging users show that the attitude toward text messaging behaviors can be examined through their beliefs in their competence and sense of control. Results indicate that enhancing users’ ability and their sense of personal control can further the use of future mobile text‐based applications and services. These findings suggest that future research should consider incorporating these variables into existing information technology adoption frameworks.     

Usage and user experience of communication before and during rendezvous

This paper reports a field evaluation of the mobile phone as a 'package' of device and services. The evaluation compares 44 university students' usage and user experience of communication before and during rendezvous. During a rendezvous (en route), students rated many aspects of the experience of phone use less favourably than before a rendezvous (prior to departure). This impairment of experience is attributed to the cumulative effect of various adverse factors that occur more often during rendezvous—incomplete network coverage, environmental noise, multiple task performance, time pressure, conflict with social norms, and conflict with preferred life-paths. Also, during a rendezvous, students were more likely to use the telephone, less likely to use e-mail, but equally likely to use text messaging, compared to before a rendezvous. This change in usage is attributed to the need to exchange and ground information almost instantly during a rendezvous. Implications for the design of 3G phones are discussed.     

手机短信在医院应用及实现

利用手机短信构建了医院短信平台。采用移动公司的OpenMAS系统,通过程序开发、数据库编程等手段进行二次开发。实现了检验危急值通知、院内短信群发、预约挂号短信通知、后台任务运行状况通知,以及事务跟踪系统应用和工资、奖金发放情况通知等方面的短信平台应用。由于采用了成熟的短信中间件,简化了短信应用开发难度,加快了开发速度,有效提高了医院管理水平。     

Libraries Begin to Engage Their Menacing Mobile Phone Hordes Without Shhhhh!

ABSTRACT

Few libraries are experimenting with using mobile phones to engage their patrons to improve their service experience rather than focusing exclusively on managing phone use behavior: library code of conduct policies, policy enforcement, signage, quiet library space zoning, and strategies for staff and patron buy-in. Over the past 18 months signs of hope have appeared. Libraries are beginning to engage their users via mobile phones in four ways: audio tours, text message reference service, text message alerts, and mobile library collection search engines. They are not waiting for a better mobile phone service development environment. Library staffs are redefining the possible ways to engage their communities.     

Using theoretical models to examine the acceptance behavior of mobile phone messaging to enhance parent–teacher interactions

Student academic performance and social competence are influenced positively by parent involvement; effective parent–teacher communication not builds parent reliance on a school, it enhances parent knowledge of raising children. As information technology develops rapidly, it is already a trend that e-communication is replacing traditional paper communication. Mobile phone messages could be a convenience tool to issue notices to parents and reduce conflicts due to negligence such as missing phone calls, forgotten alerts, etc. Therefore, this study investigates teacher behavior of adopting mobile phone messages as a parent–teacher communication medium by applying the TAM, C-TAM-TPB, and UTAUT models. The result posits that attitude should be treated as a mediator between perceived usefulness and behavior intention, even if the user perceives the new device is useful but does not hold a positive attitude toward the device. On the other hand, to most subjects, opinions from family and friends and expectations from superiors are important considerations when making decisions; those thoughts affect directly the intention to use the new system. The results also suggest that infrastructure maturity for mobile phone messaging improves intention to use, but actual use behavior relates to school policies, not teacher intention. To implement a messaging system successfully, authorities should provide inducements that not only attract teachers to use the system, but that foster positive attitudes toward the messaging system to further increase use intention.