The estimated reading time for this post is 2 minutes
2011 brought massive changes in tech. New gadgets were introduced such as the Kindle Fire, iPad2, Galaxy Nexus, Chrome Netbook, the iPhone 4S and loads of other tablets, phones, ereaders and other tech devices. Millions of people got their first smartphones or tablets and discovered the wide world of apps. Many people began sharing their favorite apps with friends as excitedly as sharing news of a new favorite restaurant.
People got their first ebook readers and learned the thrill of buying an ebook and downloading it to their devices within seconds. Unfettered by weight or availability of books, people were able to bring entire libraries with them wherever they went.
Social media also experienced monumental changes, including the introduction of Google+, major updates to Facebook and Twitter, and the launch of dozens of other social media sites.
Revolutions were conceived and nurtured on Twitter. Flash mobs, some entertaining, some inspiring, some menacing, were formed on social media. Twitter and Facebook allowed groups of strangers with similar goals to align and transform from a lone voice to a force of many.
The impact of social media on society intensified as the Arab Spring and Occupy movements were fostered by Twitter. People learned of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, the death of Osama bin Laden, and Gabrielle Gifford’s shooting from Twitter. Friends shared their impressions of these events and other major worldwide news, such as the Royal Wedding, on Facebook.
Misuse of social media proved to be beyond embarrassing for Anthony Weiner and other politicians and celebrities. Effective use of social media proved fruitful for other politicians and businesses that were able to harness the power of Twitter and Facebook to spread their messages.
Widespread use of smartphones meant that social media sites were accessible from anywhere at anytime, increasing their power.
Has your use of tech changed in the past year? Did you get a new tech gadget in 2011? Are you spending more time on social media than you did a year ago? Are you using new social media that emerged within the past year?
Vote in today’s poll and let us know! (You can vote more than once.)
Are you using your phone in a different way than you did a year ago? Did you join social media that existed before but you hadn’t joined until this year? What new social media are you using now? Let us know in the Comments section below!
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For more Wonder of Tech, check out:
The Naked Truth About Carolyn Nicander Mohr in The Daily Morning Coffee.
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* Google Plus One image by Muhammad Coriaz
*Android image by Morpurgo
Technology is a funny thing, it scares me to no end. I have made my across the social media this year and am trying my best to take it a notch higher. Though I am still not a iPad or Kindle user, I might give in to the craving some time soon 🙂
Hi Carolyn,
I saw your comment on Adrienne Smith’s blog and thought I would come over and say hi. Also, if my memory is correct, you were the recipient of a Sunshine Award from Adrienne. Congratulations!
I love the look of your blog. The ability to change colors is pretty cool! It seems like a lot of blogs try to avoid color. I like color and really enjoy seeing it here.
As to your current post, my tech use did change in 2011 and it will probably change in 2012 as well. I don’t have a smart phone or a tablet, but will probably get one this year. I bet I can find some useful information on these gadgets on your blog, so thanks in advance!
Jamella
Hi Jamella, Welcometo The Wonder of Tech! We are always delighted to have new readers, especially ones from Adrienne’s fantastic blog. Yes, you’re right, I am the proud recipient of The Sunshine Award from Adrienne.
I’m so glad you like the look of The Wonder of Tech. We just got a new theme a couple of weeks ago and it has been well-received. What is your favorite color? I like color too, but for those who don’t, gray is available as a selection.
You will find this site offers articles on gadgets, but also websites, cool tech tips, apps and any other tech-related topic that is fun and interesting to readers.
Thanks for your visit and comment. I look forward to seeing you again here soon, Jamella!
Hi Again!
My favorite color is purple so I chose that color to show on your blog!
I like the purple color too, Jamella. I started with that one as the default. 🙂
Hi Hajra, You’re not the only one who is scared by tech! Many people are easily confused by tech terms and overwhelmed by all the new technology that is being launched these days. But The Wonder of Tech is here to help, so please feel free to ask if you need help understanding tech.
Keep us posted if you get an iPad or Kindle. We will be covering a lot of topics pertaining to each of those devices in 2012! 🙂
As a long time techie and technology writer and speaker I finally broke free from the PC. The iPad 2 and iPhone 4S both allow complete desktop mirroring as well as great slide shows. It’s pretty amazing to walk into a meeting and connect your iPhone or iPad to a projector and start the show.
One other cool thing is to take the iPhone into the audience and transmit the image of someone asking a question through the iPad to the projector and on to the “big screen”. There’s a record button on both devices so you can instantly record the comments as well. I think the number of iPad (and other tablet) presentations will jump pretty dramatically this year. It sure beats lugging a laptop around 🙂
Hi Gary, Very impressive use of the iPad! I can see why you gave up your computer for this tablet. The audiences you speak to must be impressed as well with your knowledge and use of the device.
I look forward to you sharing more with us in 2012. It should be interesting to see what lies ahead for us with tech!
I love your polls, Carolyn! There is more to them than meets the eye.
The present one showed me a positive ratio of time spent on new gadgets and medias to results. And I am ways away from mastering them yet!
Thanks and to much more gadgetry in 2012!
Hi Barbara, I’m very glad you enjoy The Wonder of Tech polls. I think they tell us a lot about both readers and ourselves. I am usually surprised at the results of the polls and today’s results are no exception.
I don’t think anyone has mastered any gadget these days. Smartphones have so many apps that no one can know all of them. Each app provides a device with a new function, making the possible uses of a device endless.
I look forward to learning more about these devices and sharing them with you, Barbara! 🙂
Good morning to you, Carolyn, your lovely and kind reply brought a huge smile to my face 😡 , soul comfort for a technie dork – thanks so much.
Well Carolyn,
You know what new tech device I got in 2011 upon your recommendation. Yep, I am really enjoying my iPod Touch and I’m getting more use to how it all works. I did recently update the system and freaked out when I was shown a different screen. But I just took some deep breaths and it just had me walking through things I needed to approve. All was good after that.
I guess you could say I’m using Twitter more than I did in 2010 because I learned how to appropriately share other’s content so now I’m actually enjoying chatting with people there too. I never did before, I had enjoyed Facebook more for that but am finding I have a special place for Twitter now.
I’m not a news junkie so I was not really up on all the happening through any of the social media avenues. I was too focused on my tasks at hand and still had to learn all of the happenings from my Mom. 🙂 Thank goodness for my Mom.
Great post and I love your polls. Some I have found surprising with the results which is why I guess I enjoy them so much.
Keep the tech news coming Carolyn and as always, thanks for sharing all thing tech!
Have a wonderful day now!
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne, Yes, I’m so glad you like your iPod Touch. You entered the wonderful world of apps this year and discovered many fun ways to use your device. It only gets better from here.
Updating to the new operating system is a bit scary. I was just speaking tonight to a Wonder of Tech reader who is about to upgrade his iPhone 4. I suggest anyone who still needs to update read The Wonder of Tech article, Upgrading Your iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch to iOS 5, https://wonderoftech.com/2011/10/upgrading-your-iphone-ipad-and-ipod-touch-to-ios-5/ .
Twitter is very different from the other social media sites. It’s not ideal for conversations, as the messages are limited to 140 characters. It’s also not ideal for news, as many false news items are reported without a filter. It’s also not ideal for spreading a message, as the life span of a Tweet is very short. Yet somehow Twitter manages to thrive and become a very important part of worldwide culture.
I look forward to keeping the tech news and polls coming in 2012, Adrienne. Thank you for all of your support throughout 2011. I look forward to what you have on the horizon at your blog as well! (*)
Kindle Fire is the killer device of the year. Well, its killer feature is its price ($200), but otherwise is not so much of a killer device as compared to iPad2.
Overall, 2011 has been a great tech year. Quite a bit we have learned from the WonderOfTech blog. Thank you for enriching our lives with Tecknowlodgy! Happy New Year.
Hi iRewardChart, My daughter got a Kindle Fire for Christmas and absolutely loves it. She was my child who was the least enamored with tech, but that seems to be changing because of the Fire.
Yes, you’re right. 2011 was quite the year for tech and I expect big advancements in tech for 2012 as well.
Thank you for your kind words as well as all of your support of The Wonder of Tech. I hope 2012 is a great year for you as well! :-bd
I think Facebook time line was the most innovative; Google + has a way to go for me. I think Twitter could be improved. In fact it was a little. I’m not buying more gadgets yet. I will buy a domain and web space though; I’m into investing not spending money! 🙂
Hi Mike, Facebook’s Timeline feature is indeed innovative. It’s funny because users tend to absolutely abhor overhauls of their social media sites, yet those sites love to overhaul to improve the user experience. Small changes might be more readily welcomed.
I look forward to the launch of your new site, Mike. I hope you are going with the new name you told me about, that’s a good one!
It’s interesting that so far, nobody has indicated that they spend LESS time on social media. Not surprising though; just confirmation that social media is a growing trend. Through launching my blog, my use of technology and social media has exploded. I work more remotely; I’m more dependent on supportive technologies; I’m more engrossed in Facebook and Twitter. So thank goodness I’ve found you Carolyn! You help me to navigate my way!
Hi Ruth, Well by now at least one person has said that he/she spends less time on social media. But no one has said that his or her use of tech is unchanged from the previous year!
You’re right, tech is getting more complicated, because there is a lot more of it these days. I’m glad you found me too, Ruth, and I’m so glad I found your very helpful blog. I look forward to the best for the both of us in 2012!
2011 was the year I started blogging and exploring all the various social networking sites. I am very much into them now, twitter to be the max i can say.
As to gadgets, I was already owning smart phones, and this year I added a tablet to my list. Hope 2012 has even more technological advancements to make our lives easier.
Thanks for linking back to my site.
Hi Praveen, I started blogging in 2011 also, but I have been using Twitter since 2009. It’s amazing how differently I regard Twitter now that I’m blogging. I’m much more actively posting on Twitter, sharing my own posts as well as posts I think my followers will find interesting.
It’s great you’re using Twitter to the max, Praveen. From what I have seen from your Tweets, you are using Twitter very effectively and making great connections there. I wish you much continued success there and on the other social media sites!
I don’t know what’s ahead for 2012, but I’m sure there will be tech advancements that make our lives more fun and easier! 🙂
I started to blog and found out loads about blogging and social media thanks to getting to know a lot of awesome women and men in 2011! I am definitely investing into a smart phone this year too! What a cool idea to make this poll! 🙂
Hi Emilia, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I have a lot of polls on this site, I think you’ll enjoy looking through them. The results are always surprising.
I think you’ll also enjoy getting a smartphone. I predict 2012 will be the year that most of the new cell phones purchased will be smartphones. I hope you visit The Wonder of Tech again soon to find out even more about the fun world of personal technology! 🙂
Hi Carolyn,
I have to say, I do love technology. I use all Apple products, but just bought my husband the Kindle Fire for Christmas which he loves. With the start of my blog, I do use social media much more that ever before. Facebook and twitter are the two sites that I use the most and have signed up for Google+ and linkedin, but don’t find I go there as often. I have an ipad as well as an iphone. My iphone comes in handy as my calendar as well as phone, so always have it close by.
I love reading your site, and have learned so much about apps, sites, etc., that I wouldn’t otherwise know about.
Hi Cathy, Thank you for your kind words. I’m so glad you enjoy The Wonder of Tech. As a tech lover, you can find out more about sites and apps since no one can know all of them. Feel free to share your favorites as well. I love getting tech suggestions from readers!
I agree with you, my use of social media has changed dramatically since starting a blog. I am thoroughly enjoying making new friends through these sites. It sounds as if you are making good use of the sites that are a good fit for you and that you’re using your devices to enhance your life.
Best wishes for much continued success in 2012, Cathy! 🙂
Carolyn, aloha. What more often than not surprises me is the results on the polls. Usually, who is doing what is far less than I think it will be.
Definitely, I am using social media more as I only start using it in the fall of 2010. So, 2011 was a big year for me on social meda.
Using Kindle is about my only new tech thing for 2011. However, as you know, you have opened my mind tremendously to the possibilities of what exists for me with tech.
In terms so social media platforms/networks, Carolyn, I now find myself contracting rather than expanding. My focus will be more on fb and twitter as well as engagement on blogs. While I am EA, I am on it only perhaps 10 minutes a day.
Interestingly enough, one of my readers was telling me that he knows a gentleman who is very successful in network marketing. He is ONLY on MySpace. He says if he ever runs out of people on MS, then he will go to twitter or fb. How’s that for a mind boggling concept? Learning to use one platform effectively is much better than using 5 or 6 poorly.
Best wishes for a terrific week ahead. Aloha. Janet
Hi Janet, Wow, that is very surprising that a successful marketer is only on MySpace. I do believe that if I were to hire someone who told me that he was only on MySpace, I would have to seriously question his level of expertise.
But, as with the results of my poll, reality can be surprising!
I agree with you completely, being actively engaged in a few social media sites is much better than being slightly engaged in many sites.
Because of devices such as smartphones and tablets, it’s now possible to engage on these sites when you’re away from your computer which makes their use all the more compelling. It’s easy to spend way too much time on these sites to the detriment of other areas of life!
I look forward to your leap into the iPhone arena later this year, Janet. I know you’re going to enjoy the fun and functionality of the phone tremendously!
I’m so glad we connected in 2011, Janet, and I look forward to many great things ahead for us in 2012! 🙂
P.S. Did I tell you that I change the color of your blog every week? What a fun option.
Very cool! I was going to change the default color every week, but I have a widget that goes wonky when I change the color (the Become a Wonder of Tech Fan widget), so I’m just going to let readers choose their favorites.
So, what color did you choose for this week? 🙂
This week I am green which does not thrill me even though I like green. The sidebars are fine, however, the top is a bit to screamy for my taste.
Nevertheless, I do enjoy this option.
I have to agree with you about the green. I’m a fan of the color green, but somehow it’s not a good fit for this blog. Changing the color of the blog changes the colors of the links too so you really have to like the colors. Purple and blue are my favorite. I’m glad there is a variety for everyone!
Hi Carolyn,
I didn’t get much new technology in 2011, but I have been using it a lot more. For instance, I have been using my Kindle all the time, and especially while I was on vacation (actually I think I bought the Kindle in early 2011), and I was using it for Twitter and surfing the net while I was in Italy (for free using the 3G).
And I have been using my iPhone a lot more than I used to. I am now using it to take pictures, record video, and a lot of SMS, and social media. And, I bought an Apple TV on the 30th of December. I have tested Air Play and it was awesome 🙂
Hi Jens, I might be wrong, but didn’t you get an iPad in 2011? I’m glad you’re enjoying your AppleTV. I haven’t had a chance to try Airplay with it yet, but I’m really excited to try it out.
It sounds as if you’re making great use of the tech you have, Jens, including your Kindle! Your videos here and on your blog are great uses of tech as well.
I hope 2012 further enriches your use of tech, Jens! 🙂
That’s right, I did get an iPad in 2011. It just feels like I have owned it for a very long time 🙂
It’s amazing how quickly we can become accustomed to new technology! 🙂
Wow. I had several items in your poll that “changed” me this year! I can’t say that I have totally embraced technology, but I think I have taken great strides forward from where I was a year ago. And, I must say, much of this giant leap has been due to the great tech information you provide. keep them coming! I have a lot more to learn!
Hi Carol, That’s one of the greatest aspects of tech – there’s always more to learn! The more you learn, the more you enjoy tech so your tech enjoyment comes full circle.
Can you imagine if someone knew all the tech out there? All of the apps, websites, etc. They would still have to learn more every day. I just try to find the best tech to write about here at The Wonder of Tech.
Thanks very much for your kind words, Carol. I’m glad you find the blog so helpful. Stay tuned for even more great tech ahead! 🙂
Carolyn, This is great topic! I’m one of the people who got more into the technology in 2011 than ever before.
I got an Ipad, new blackberry device, Imac, new blog and opened a G+ account which all happened within 2011.
I don’t know but i think that 2011 was the year of technology to me 😀 thanks to you because i wouldn’t notice that without reading this post LOL^^
Hi Faissal, I’m so glad you liked this post. I didn’t realize how much I upgraded my tech until I took the poll myself. These polls are always interesting to me so I’m thrilled that you enjoyed this one! 🙂
Hi Carolyn,
Killer article here. The truth is that it’s all changing so quickly these days. The internet got up and hopped into our pockets when the modern smartphones emerged and connected it all for us with a sundry array of social media applications on our touchscreens!
And YES, I absolutely use my phone differently than before. I have been a hardcore BlackBerry user for years but recently made the switch to Android for a more fluid experience of the web. It’s amazing what we can get done “on the fly” with these things in our pockets. I have actually done a couple of blog posts right to my self-hosted wordpress blog via my smartphone.
I am also often reading feeds and +1’ing great content to share on facebook, Google+, Twitter, and some of the social bookmarking sites. Basically, if I’m not writing, I’m sharing – that’s how it goes these days! It’s uber-convenient to be able to do that while I’m out and about. I guess it’s safe to say that I’m online a lot! 😉
Cat
Hi Cat, I’m so glad you enjoyed this article. I really enjoy the polls on my blog because the results usually surprise me. The results of this poll are fascinating because everyone’s use of tech has changed, including the people who voted that their use of tech decreased in 2011.
We can’t begin to know what changes await us in the tech world in 2012, but we do know that tech will change this year. We will most likely change our use of tech in 2012 as well.
It’s great you share so much with others. That not only helps those whose work you share but also those who discover new works because of your sharing. You must be online a lot to share on all of those platforms!
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your wonderful comment, Cat! 🙂