The Next New Thing

Sometimes Google isn’t enough in answering our questions, especially if we have follow-up questions. An application where you are able to get advice or consulting on whatever topic you need it for (hair, styling, make up, cooking, etc) through chat or face-time, would be great. Along with tips, maybe a map that tracks where nearby consultants are located (like Ubers car map) so you can meet them and get your need fulfilled (make up or hair done), or a way to book them to come in and help you in the future. 

P2P File Sharing

File sharing is distributing or providing all types of data like music, games, and documents through a computer network. P2P file sharing is peer to peer, removing the need for the third-party network. Data is shared directly between people. One popular type of P2P file sharing is BitTorrent, having more than 20 million users. Clive Thompson’s article states that BitTorrent traffic “accounts for more than one-third of all data across the internet”. Surprisingly, far from the intended audience –gamers, TV and movie fans have benefited greatly. With BitTorrent they’re able to download episodes and movies in minutes.

http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/13.01/bittorrent.html - Clive Thompson

Privacy & Confidentiality

New media raises privacy and confidentiality concerns for many reasons. For one, the new platform may not have the same privacy terms as others. Users must be aware of how the creators intends to use the data they gather. For profit creators may exploit their users. Another concern is that scammers/criminals now have another avenue to steal information. The new platform may not have the infrastructure in place yet to protect users. Users themselves may also find themselves vulnerable by oversharing on yet another platform.

Creativity

New media fosters creativity because as a new platform is created, others may be inspired with a new media idea themselves, or with ways to improve it. New media also gives way to user generated content, where users are now able to use the medium for activities they previously engaged in. The new media is host to tons of new content.  In Miller’s article “Professor von Hippel said, “’consumers often come up with ideas for products, and companies wait on the sidelines to see if they have mass appeal’”. Twitter is one example of this. They will introduce two new features because of user-input, lists and retweets. As users continue to use a product they may have suggestions how it can be improved. Social media companies have the added benefit that the product they have is one where users can directly communicate their ideas/opinions/suggestions with others.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/26/technology/internet/26twitter.html

Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds

There are many virtual reality sites that can be used for a variety of purposes. Virtual worlds have a multitude of uses, because of their creative aspect. Users have a great deal of control of the virtual world they choose to enter into and how they will use it. Virtual Worlds are attractive because of the ability to escape from your own life. Want to be fit? Want to be able to shop for designer clothing? Want to watch a live band performing across the country? Do you not have the means for social interactions? Well virtual reality may be your answer. Saidi’s article focuses on how virtual worlds have provided a space for the autistic community to interact. Itzkoff’s article details how one virtual site provides users with a Lower East Side neighborhood experience.

For the two communities these articles focus on their obvious pros and for Itzkoff’s a few subtle, and for Saidi’s may be not so obvious, cons.

One user of “Naughty Auties, a virtual resource center for those with autism” within SecondLife, says "one benefit is that visitors can practice social interaction and find information about the condition”. This real world representation allows those with autism to work on their communication skills and makes them comfortable before actually entering real world situations, if needed. The site also helps autistic users with other social and emotional problems they may have. They may no longer feel alone with their condition, and they may feel more comfortable opening up to those with the same issues. One potential con is that autistics may become overly comfortable, and may not want to actually enter into the real world and interact.

Itzkoff’s article is about the Virtual Lower East Side site. According to him it “feels like a mash-up of Facebook and Grand Theft Auto, with a dash of the indie-rock Web site Pitchfork thrown in for good measure”. There is mention of one pro of virtual realities in this article: “There’s no way that you’re going to go onto a flat Web site or message board and instantly strike up a conversation with somebody who works for MTV or I.B.M. or the president of Harvard”. This site in specific allows bands and clubs a way to promote themselves, users may come across them on the site and decide to actually go and visit them in real life. Their reach to fans also increases, because those who may not be able to physically visit, can still enjoy from the comfort of their homes. One problem that many have with this site is that the site has control over what is presented, while these are actual places who should be able to control it themselves. Another issues some have is, “how can the area retain its mystery if anyone with a computer can experience some fraction of it”? Itzkoff himself has found himself exploring the LES through this site despite living in this neighborhood! Many however do not see this as a con, as they feel any interactions you have on the site are as real as any you have in the real world.

In these worlds you are able to create yourself and the world you are in. You can alter your appearance, your clothes, your wallet is no longer a strict limitation on what you can obtain and where you can go in these worlds. The communication capabilities also you up to thousands of other users and how they potentially will or already do use the site. You can learn of other sites they may be a part of and join yourself if it is of interest. I think virtual worlds may soon be created for all types of situations. Those for the purpose of online dating: may be at a virtual supermarket or a bookstore (where you can actually purchase/read books)? May be a site for professionals or at the workplace. 

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/03/28/sl.autism.irpt/index.html#cnnSTCText - Saidi

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/06/arts/television/06itzk.html - Itzkoff

Creativity and New Media

I joined Second Life, a virtual reality media technology.

 My username is SN090912. I chose an avatar with professional attire. After picking an avatar and creating my account, I was taken here.

I began exploring the features of the software. At the bottom of the screen there are Chat, Speak, Destination, People, Profile, Walk/Run/Fly, Camera Control and How To buttons. By selecting any of these buttons a window opens up. In this screen I have the chat open. Two other avatars are chatting. I also have the walk/run/fly window open (you can also use your arrows keypad to navigate). I used the fly option to reach this location of the original destination I was brought to. I then opened up the Destination window, where a 10 categories are available. I chose International Destinations and then Brazil Rio.

Here I confirm I want to be teleported to this new destination.

In this screen I am now in Brazil Rio.

 Because of my new location I decide to change my outfit.  By using the tabs on the left side of the screen I open up my inventory window and appearance window. I remove the original clothes I was wearing and choose new ones.

 I walked on over to a shopping area of the new location and even have the option to shop for new shoes! *For some reason the clothes I selected still had not updated to my avatar (working on getting that fixed)*

Social Networking Sites

Facebook appears to be more family and close friends oriented than the other sites. You are able to share more about your life through a variety of mediums, through your status updates and  pictures (where you can tag location and who you are with, as well as your mood), sharing links (articles, music, other social networks), liking pages (job place, favorite ice-cream, restaurant, musician, etc.). Facebook also gives greater management to who views your posts than other social networks. You are able to filter posts to where only one person sees it, a school group, only family, or even where everyone but one person sees it. This feature seems to parallel how we interact in our everyday lives, picking and choosing what information we share and with who. When you "friend" someone, you both view each other's posts, like Myspace and unlike Twitter and Snapchat, where you don't have to follow those who follow you. 

Myspace allows more user customization, making it more blog like or website like than the other social networking sites. You can customize your background, the layout of the features on your page, what features appear on your page and even what music you choose to play. Myspace allows you to make all of these changes by editing the coding of your page! You are basically creating your own website. I believe there is not a Myspace app available for mobile viewing.

Twitter focuses on writing status updates. It also limits the user to 140 characters per post. This focus on writing increases the amount of communication that occurs among users since that is what is mostly posted. Sharing of ideas, opinions, one's daily activities and people's reaction to it is probably greater than on other sites. You are also more likely to get follows from people you don't know. This is probably due the RT feature where users re-tweet your tweets and their followers now see what you posted and may follow you as well. 

Snapchat appears to value privacy over everything else. Snapchat automatically deletes pictures and videos and allows you to manage how long any video/picture you post lasts on your “Story” line, and even send to specific users. You can send a video to a specific user and have it automatically delete after 5 seconds, for example. This increases the chances of sending risqué videos and pictures while decreasing fear that it may be saved to ones phone. There are no likes or comments, just video and photo sharing, making it more about the content users post than the communication aspect of social networks (even though there is a chat feature). Snapchat is also only available on phones (no computer viewing capabilities). 

Social Networking

Social networks can be used in a variety of ways in the corporate world. One way is, recruiting. "Social networking technology is absolutely the best thing to happen to recruiting — ever”, says Maureen Crawford-Hentz recruiter for Osram Sylvania in Langfitt’s article. Using Linkedin, for example. has changed her life, she claims. By typing in keywords she is able to find quality candidates in seconds, unlike any other medium. Linkedin also has a few other uses, not just for recruiters, but for those seeking a job/to network. It “also helps job hunters market themselves online by setting up profiles, listing work history and specific skills” and “allows users to share their online Rolodexes”. Companies can also use social networks to market their brands and connect with customers.

One of the benefits of social networks is increased communication. Where previously it may have been difficult and maybe even expensive to communicate with family and loved ones, social networks have provided a way to stay connected with people from all over the world efficiently. Instant messaging, post updates, allow you to keep up to date with those you care for. The same can be said for companies and their customers, as I have mentioned above. Companies can become aware of their customers' needs, wants, advice, dislikes, etc. Another benefit is the sense of community it brings to people’s lives. Whatever your interest, hobbies, career choice, religion, you can find like-minded individuals with these same characteristics. Like never before you can now be a part of, and interact with, hundreds of people online who share commonalities. Those who may have never met someone who likes to for example collect coins, can now reach the community they have been longing for. Companies can now provide a space for all of their customers to connect with each other as well. The police force has also greatly benefited from social networking. Many criminals spill the details to their criminal activity online and police officers have been able to apprehend them because of the evidence they post online (photos included). Many innocent people have also been able to absolve themselves of any wrong doing/criminal activity because they posted online at the time of the crime.

Along with these benefits, social networking has a slew of negatives. One of the main concerns is privacy! “Scammers are tapping into the personal data available through Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn to pose as your friends in fraudulent emails”, according to Emily Patterson’s article. Clicking one of these links can lead to inadvertently downloading malware to your computer. Many users are also divulging tons of personal information online, like there locations, leaving them vulnerable to theft, and other criminal acts. Users disregard for what they post has also lead to many employers firing employees for their online footprint. Pictures of employees smoking marijuana, heavy drinking, racist rants or the like are damaging to the company when the social network user also posts about their workplace. Users are urged to keep information that could potentially be damaging for any reason off of the internet as it will practically be there forever. Other negatives of these social networks include the psychological effects to one’s self esteem (“His/her life is better than mine”), bullies being able to reach you at all times as well as bullying from complete strangers, and the decrease in quality social interactions.

In the future companies may create their own social networks. As an employee or if it'll be geared to customers, they can keep users informed on new job opportunities or products, company events or community events, or maybe other employees or customers in your area. 

Sources:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6522523&sc=emaf – Frank Langfitt

http://www.bbb.org/blog/2013/01/new-wave-of-phishing-scams-uses-facebook-info-for-personalized-spam/ - Emily Patterson

Social Networking Analysis

For my term paper I will be analyzing the affect a new media technology has had on society. I will discuss at least five positive and at least five negatives affects Instagram and Facebook have had, in specific. I will explore opinions of those who are a part, as well as those who choose to distance themselves from social networking. I will also explore scientific research done on the topic. As a psychology minor, the affect social networking has on a person’s brain, emotional state, and social interactions, for better or for worse, is extremely interesting and can help us learn how to best use it to our advantage.