This post is sponsored by the Zero Distance community and T-Systems
As consumers increase their use of remote servers, cloud computing psychology—the acceptance or rejection of using technology changes.
You could call this psychological distance—how we perceive temporal (time), spatial (physical space) and social (interpersonal) events in our lives.
Interestingly, researchers discovered this when asking people about cloud computing.
Social interactions, in particular on Facebook, Twitter, and mobile phones, refer to the “physical bubble” around each of us causing discomfort when others get too close to us.
Wiki.Answers.com calls this disruptive situation “physical presence.” Wikipedia refers to it as “physical distance.”
This mental and physical “distance” is a major factor affecting communication effectiveness. Speaking and listening clearly makes us feel more secure, thereby lowering psychological distance. Likewise, nervousness and poor communication rises as psychological distance rises.
Cloud Computing Psychology Reveals Technology Gap
A striking 50% of all Americans don’t know they’re using the “cloud” when using computers, smartphones, and tablets, according to a recent Christian Science Monitor article. But as consumers better understand cloud computing, new applications becomes more acceptable. For example, Mobile banking in developed countries is becoming a norm.
When I conducted telephone communication workshops, I asked participants at the beginning of the workshop: “if you’re in San Francisco talking on the phone with someone in New York, what is the “distance” between you. Usually, people wondered about the trick answer, although I assured everyone wasn’t a right or wrong answer.
After prodding participants, some of them responded. A few people mentioned physical distance. “If someone’s in San Francisco talking with another person in New York, the distance is 3,000 miles.” Others said, “it depends on whether you know the person.” In other words, people have lower psychological distance when interacting with friends.
As psychological distance drops, therefore, acceptance of cloud computing and other technologies rises
This post is sponsored by the Zero Distance community and T-Systems