Old Technology Interview

Interview: Old Technology

In this Assignment, you will be conducting an interview of a person who uses old technology and compiling your findings in the form of a formal essay. You will format your written component in APA manuscript style and use proper citation. Be sure to review the Assignment rubric in the Syllabus before you start your paper.

There are many types of old technology still used in today’s society including printing presses, looms, rotary phones, and even first-generation computers. For this project, you will locate someone in your community using some type of old technology and interview him or her and write an essay about your findings.

There are three parts to this project:

Part 1: Research and Selection

Follow these steps to begin your Assignment.

1. Research what kinds of old technology are being used in your community.
2. Select one of your choices.
3. Email your instructor with the name of the person you have chosen for approval.
4. Do a preliminary research on this technology via the internet.
5. Contact the office to schedule a time when you can visit the office and interview the person.

Part 2: The Interview

Follow these steps to conduct the interview. Prior to the interview, decide how you will transcribe or document the interviewee’s responses. You may want to bring a recording device, a video camera, or a notebook and a pen.

1. Arrive on time dressed in a professional manner.
2. Introduce yourself stating who you are, what school you are attending, and the purpose of the interview.
3. Obtain the interviewee’s credentials – name, title, contact information, and email address if available.
4. Prepare your questions ahead of time. Here are some suggested questions:
   1. What type of technology do you use? Why?
   2. How long has the technology been in existence?
   3. When did you begin to use the technology?
   4. Do you have any future plans for technology use?

You are certainly not limited to these questions, but this will get you started.

Part 3: Write your paper

For this Assignment you are writing a formal essay. Formal writing is writing that generally does not use slang, personal references (I, you, or me, except in some instances like employment cover letters), or shorthand (texting language, abbreviations, or contractions). It is writing that is addressed to a professional audience for a professional purpose. It is written in Standard American English, which means it adheres to conventions that are deemed to be common and proper in professional correspondence or documentation. Often, formal writing will employ language that is specific to a particular field of study or a certain profession or discipline, such as business, science, or information technology.

Before you begin writing your paper, organize your interview. If you videotaped it or used audio, transcribe your answers. Writing them down will help you organize your findings.

1. State the name of the person you interviewed and what type of technology he or she uses.
2. Why did you choose this person?
3. Based upon your interview address the following:
   1. What type of technology does this person use? Why?
   2. How long has the technology been in existence?
   3. When did he or she begin to use the technology?
   4. What are his or her plans for future technology use?
   5. Conclusion – What have learned from this project? Has this project given you a “fresh” new outlook? Are you considering trying to use an old technology?

Your project should be 750-1000 words in length and adhere to the following standards: