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.
Principles of New Media - Summer Course
Monday, July 6, 2015
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.
Sunday, June 28, 2015
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.
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.
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)*
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)*
Sunday, June 21, 2015
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).
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