Well, 'US Democratic candidate Barack Obama is set to turn the iPhone into a political recruiting tool with an application aimed at getting the vote out [especially from young voters]', said BBC News (2008). 'A note about the software on Mr Obama's blog said: "This tool is designated to help you become more directly involved in our campaign to change the country"'.
I personally think Obama has a very good idea as groups of young people are harder to reach in encouraging them to vote and every single votes matters in pledge to change the government. As they are technologically savvy, voting through phones are convenient, thus achieving votes are much simpler and in volume!
'There would be an application function called 'Call Friends' in the iPhone personal phonebook as to alert the owner's contacts to cast their votes. One of Obama's online campaign team members believed that, a familiar contact to persuade votings would be more valued compared to a request made by any random caller' (Telegraph.co.uk 2008).
This is how the voting page looks like in the iPhone:
(Source: iPhoneDevCamp 2008)One can interact in this application through Obama's online blog and donations could be made to local Democrat rallies. This genre of application is designed to suit the targeted audience, purpose and context in the society. As said by Schirato and Yell (1996, p. 113), 'genre is a meaning associated with a social purpose and a social function'.
'In order to understand which genres are appropriate to any sicual occasions, one must first be literate within that particular culture' (Schirato & Yell 1996, p. 113). In this case, creating this portable-device voting system is accurate pertaining to its target audiences.
I do hope in Malaysia, there would be such voting system coming up soon so that more citizens could participate without hesitation and votings becomes interesting rather than a burden amongst young voters. As surveyed, approximately 'an addition of 6 million young opinionated, internet savvy voters which include; eligible voters who will turn 21 years of age and those who were late to register are to participate in the next general election in year 2013' (Bakar 2009).
For now, according to The Malaysian Insider (2009), 'UMNO information chief Ahmad Maslan said the party is aware of the important role of the new media in molding the political minds of the young and will use cyberspace to attract voters'.
References:
Bakar, ZA 2009, Analysis: up to Khairy to tap the power of youth, The New Straights Times, viewed 12 June 2009, http://www.nst.com.my/Friday/Columns/2533432/Article/index_html
Barack obama brings election campaign to Apple iphone 2008, Telegraph.co.uk, viewed 12 June 2009, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/3358721/Barack-obama-brings-election-campaign-to-Apple-iphone.html
Schirato,T & Yell, S 1996, 'Chapter 5: Framing context', in Communication and cultural literacy: an introduction, Allen & Unwin, St. Leonards, NSW, pp. 109 - 127.
Shiels, M 2008, Obama uses iPhone to win support, BBC News, viewed 12 June 2009, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7649753.stm
Umno to use cyberspace to woo young voters 2009, The Malaysian Insider, viewed 12 June 2009, http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/24540-umno-to-use-cyberspace-to-woo-young-voters
'In order to understand which genres are appropriate to any sicual occasions, one must first be literate within that particular culture' (Schirato & Yell 1996, p. 113). In this case, creating this portable-device voting system is accurate pertaining to its target audiences.
I do hope in Malaysia, there would be such voting system coming up soon so that more citizens could participate without hesitation and votings becomes interesting rather than a burden amongst young voters. As surveyed, approximately 'an addition of 6 million young opinionated, internet savvy voters which include; eligible voters who will turn 21 years of age and those who were late to register are to participate in the next general election in year 2013' (Bakar 2009).
For now, according to The Malaysian Insider (2009), 'UMNO information chief Ahmad Maslan said the party is aware of the important role of the new media in molding the political minds of the young and will use cyberspace to attract voters'.
References:
Bakar, ZA 2009, Analysis: up to Khairy to tap the power of youth, The New Straights Times, viewed 12 June 2009, http://www.nst.com.my/Friday/Columns/2533432/Article/index_html
Barack obama brings election campaign to Apple iphone 2008, Telegraph.co.uk, viewed 12 June 2009, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/3358721/Barack-obama-brings-election-campaign-to-Apple-iphone.html
Schirato,T & Yell, S 1996, 'Chapter 5: Framing context', in Communication and cultural literacy: an introduction, Allen & Unwin, St. Leonards, NSW, pp. 109 - 127.
Shiels, M 2008, Obama uses iPhone to win support, BBC News, viewed 12 June 2009, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7649753.stm
Umno to use cyberspace to woo young voters 2009, The Malaysian Insider, viewed 12 June 2009, http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/24540-umno-to-use-cyberspace-to-woo-young-voters
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