Generative Research

Deciding what I can't live without and what I care about took a lot of thought. Initially I thought this was literally asking "what I couldn't live without." The first thoughts that came to mind were food, water, a first aid kit... basically what I would take to a desert island to survive mother nature. Then I realized it was asking for something deeper. I had to reflect inward to discover what I really valued. This task was by far the most difficult and took the most time to complete.

What I can't live without...

I found that these items were things I used every day of  my life and served a deeper purpose than they were designed for. For instance, a cell phone is designed for communication. For me, a cell phone is a connection to those I love and care about. Without it, relationships would fade.

What I care about...

After listing what I cared about, I realized that nearly all of these held some sort of sentimental value. They carried memories with them. I could live without these items, but I would rather not.

Digital Ecosystem

Unlike my parents, I don't actively seek out news updates by flipping on the news. I don't normally turn on the news unless nothing else is on. I guess you can say that I don't want to waste my time with "irrelevant" news. This is why social media sites are my top news sources. They filter out the most important and talked about issues. 

Typical Weekday

Right now my focus is on school. I usually hear about the "big" local, state, and national news when I'm on campus. Unsurprisingly, when I am at home, I learn about news that is relevant and interesting to me. Because I am not distracted by completing multiple tasks, I receive most of my information when I am relaxing. This is the time that I am actively scrolling through my twitter feed and reading the short blurbs posted by the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. If something sounds interesting, I'll read the entire article. I don't actively seek out the news, but I still stay informed.