Electronic Communication: Themes From A Case Study Of The Deaf Community

We present a qualitative, exploratory study to examine the space of electronic communication (e.g. instant messaging, short message service, email) by Deaf teenagers in the greater Atlanta metro area. We discuss differences and similarities between deaf and hearing teen's usage of electronic communication mediums. Five common themes: Identity, Connection, Control, Tension, and Convenience were identified from the analysis of the data collected. These themes allow us to explore electronic communication from the "use-centric" view of teenagers who are indifferent to the underlying technology supporting this communication.