DIG_REV 2008 Consumption Audit

Here are some notes about the Consumption Audit:

1 I read a print newspaper infrequently these days. Partly through time constraints, but usually because I can’t afford to buy a newspaper every day.

2 I try to read the Advertiser every Saturday. I used to read the Australian on Tuesdays for it’s computer and technology section. Once in a while I might read the Age or the Sydney Morning Herald.

3 I read my news online – especially as the news headlines are displayed whenever one of the computers turns on and logs automatically into Windows and Yahoo7 Messenger. There is also a compensating effect as I read less paper-based media. I have been reading Mashable – The Social Networking Blog on a daily basis for many months now. It has been a prime source of news and resources for me. A recent survey in America noted that more Americans were reading their news online:

A Zogby Interactive-We Media poll taken online recently tells us that some 67% of Americans consider “traditional journalism” out of touch, and nearly half of respondents are said to be “turning to the Internet to get their news,” Reuters has reported.

Source: http://mashable.com/2008/03/01/zogby-poll/

4 I have RSS news feed sent to and from several of my web pages so they can be read them on a pc, (but I don’t have RSS feeds sent directly to it). I would have an RSS feed to my mobile if it were more internet capable, and prices were cheaper. (This will happen.) RSS is a Really Simple Syndication of data using XML or other ‘wrappers’ to encode a stream of information. This can be in the form of data, text, graphics (photos), music and music playlists or video.

5 I watch TV less and less these days. Sometimes it is on and just in the background. Other times it doesn’t get turned on for days and days. There isn’t much on anyway. The news gets boring after the third or fourth iteration and unless there is a good documentary I rarely pay attention.

6 If I only had access to three TV channels, I’d choose the ABC, SBS and if I could afford it, Pay TV – the guy next door has Fox-TV on his mobile phone.

7 My all-time favourite TV program is . . . I don’t think I really have one. Star Trek, maybe; but that isn’t on at the moment.

8 I listen to these radio stations – but only when I’m out in the car – : ABC National, ABC FM (yes I do) and sometimes Fresh-FM. I often go to see a live radio program, at 3DDD, where my daughter occasionally performs with lots of other good musicians.

9 I spend about 12 hours a day on the internet. I have the internet on all day unless I have my daughter for the weekend and then she will use it for a few hours. I am constantly writing and updating web pages – and learning how to write and update them.

10 When I’m on the internet I am: looking for information; doing business – (trying to sell products online); I am never gaming; I maintain several disorganised blogs; I watch videos but I spend more time uploading videos; listening to music, particularly my own and my friends on MySpace; my email is the centre and driving force of a great deal of my interaction with other ‘people’; I have used Skype once.

11 I have an ADSL connection – but watching video is often jerky. So on a scale of 1 to 5 I would rate it at 2 (for poor). In my opinion it is just a step above dial-up. My computers are old, but I think my broadband speed is still far too low. (This is still Liberal Broadband – Where is the Labor Broadband?)

12 I own most of the devices listed: mobile phone with still and video camera, two little web cams, I don’t have a working printer or scanner, I don’t have an ipod but I do have several mp3 players. I have an old pc, and old imac and an old notebook pc. It is not wireless. I don’t have a plasma TV. I do have a CD and DVD burner. I have a range of keyboards, MIDI devices and recording equipment.

13 Next I’d like to own a computer with a proper processor (or two, or four). Internet-TV will happen this year. I want my ITV now.

14 I rarely go to the cinema. In fact, I haven’t been for years. The last film I saw was The Matrix.

15 Have you left anything out? Yes, I think lots of things but that would take another fourteen questions.