Smart Mobs

Smart Mobs Key: AWL to Study, Low-frequency Vocabulary

What is a Smart Mob?

The Smart Mob Movement • Smart Mobs evolved as a consequence of modern communication technologies.  SMS (short message service) or texting

• Raves  the first Smart Mobs

Can you list a few examples of modern communication technologies?

SMS Technology • Young people in Tokyo and Helsinki sent the first text messages to give the location of the next big dance event.  A single message can be sent to an address book.  SMS technology allows large groups to form quickly.

Do you like to send text messages? Why or why not?

Younger Generation Led the Way • Smart Mobs  large groups empowered by Internet-enhanced communication devices  turning up everywhere to accomplish diverse goals

What types of goals do you think a Smart Mob can achieve?

Political Goals • A massive demonstration against a corrupt Filipino leader was organized through the use of SMS.

What is a corrupt political leader?

Other Demonstrations • Anti–Miss World and WTO demonstrations were also mobilized through the use of SMS.

Have you ever witnessed or taken part in a demonstration? Explain.

Virginia Tech Incident • An English major shot and killed 32 people at Virginia Tech High School.  Texting, webcam, and cellphone video were used to let victims know how to avoid danger.

Have you ever used a webcam or cellphone video?

Environmental Goals • Critical-mass bike rides are an international phenomenon.  Rides are organized via web postings and mobile phone trees.

• Goal  to demonstrate that cycling is a practical alternative to driving.

Do you support the goal of this movement?

Mating Rituals • Dating services are part of some cellphone packages.  Fill in a personality profile.  Find out when a potential match is in close range.

• Tracking device powered by Bluetooth technology  short-range radio frequency operates within 10-meter radius

What is your opinion of dating using Bluetooth technology?

Dating and Technology • Dating via texting and Bluetooth technology is taking off in a big way. • India, Saudi Arabia, and UAE  Dating prior to marriage is not accepted by the majority.  Without parents’ knowledge, young people are meeting and getting to know potential mates.

How do your parents feel about your texting habits?

Peer-to-Peer Software • Large groups pirate music, video, and software. • The peer-to-peer paradigm connects individual computers to transfer specific files.  This process is illegal.  Creative software makes it almost impossible to track users.

Have you ever used peer-to-peer software?

Distributed Computing • Makes use of the unused power of individual computers  Users download screensavers.  Combined computer power assists in treatment of diseases, weather prediction for global warming, and searching for extra-terrestrial intelligence.

• The shared power of millions:  another Smart Mob?

Would you donate your computer’s unused power to serve a good cause? Explain.