The Next New Thing

With the speed and scope of the Internet, it is sometimes difficult to figure out how many “new media” devices are available and there is a good chance that many new are being worked on now in the background.  I am not sure if my idea already exists somewhere on the web, but I think the next new thing should involve using the internet to create “virtual classrooms,” which would allow all kinds of students from any location to learn from a professor relaying information from his or her computer.  So many students today have access to the a computer, webcam, and the internet and tapping into the speed and efficiency of this network can help reduce utility costs of schools, transportation costs, and help time management for all students and teachers.  While the security and privacy of online communities may be concerns for new users, advancement in technology and integration will help people learn about things they are interested in, contribute their knowledge on all kinds of topics and learn from the comfort of home.  Having “virtual classrooms” could involve an online “conference” where the professor lectures from a webcam in a chat room and only his lecture is broadcasted in a video feed.  Those in the “class” would be listed in side panel (much like a buddy list), which would take “attendance,” and if a student wants to ask a question or make a comment, the teacher may allow the person to type/video chat the question.  There are days when going to school would make sense and other days where a person could be more productive if they were given their own time to finish projects or assignments.  As new media becomes more sophisticated and people have more busy schedules, I feel that using new media to make schools (especially colleges) more efficient is the next big thing for new media and society.

Our Class Wiki – So Far

Our Class Wiki is a collection of articles researching the effects of New Media is many aspects of society.  I am working under “New Media and Entertainment” and will try to focus on how New Media has changed the way some people spend their free time.  My major concentration will be in the field of gaming because the industry has grown by a lot in the recent years and the ways I play my games have become more streamline, which integrates the internet with my gaming consoles and PC and creates a strong online community.  Some games/platforms that demonstrates the benefits of New Media include the Playstation 3 game, “Little Big Planet,” and the digital distribution platform, “Steam”.  Most of my research will come from my experience with these games and articles online that support my conclusions.  Currently, I am still looking over where I should add my information because there is no separate “New Media and Gaming” section or if I should add my parts along with the information already under the “Entertainment” section.  The new content will  be added on the Class wiki as soon as I finish writing up the information and maybe after I create a new page.

Summary: Social Networking Sites: Building Communities or Cubicles

The purpose of my topic is to look into the influence of social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace on the overall growth and prosperity of society.  During my research I found that most of the benefits that social networking offers are steps toward building a “global network” for shared expertise and diverse, insightful conversations.  Even though there is a lot of bad press concerning the negative aspects of social networking (privacy concerns, online distractions, oversharing of personal information, the value of ‘friends’, and emphasizing revenues rather the exchange of information), the cases of Twitter being actively involved in the 2009 Iranian elections, gathering support for victims of the earthquake in Haiti, and provide an access point for all types of information in the face censorship all outweighs the miscalculations of certain users.  I feel that using social networking sites are keys to having more efficient information exchange and will really bring global support for issues that large implications.  However a person might use Facebook or Twitter now will contribute to the overall field of “New Media” because their opinions are there for others to add to or disagree with.  It is important for people to examine their online habits in relationship with what they contribute on social networking sites and understand which part of their digital life will improve their real-life counterpart.

Some interesting facts I found during my research are:

According to a survey conducted in 2006, “every second a user online in the US is visiting one of the top 15 social networking sites”

The US State Department actually asked Twitter to delay its scheduled maintenance to allow for Iranian voters to provide information to the world.

‘Unfriend’  became the word of the year according the New Oxford American Dictionary (even though I hear defriending more)

Most of my research came from reviewing the links provided in the Spring 2010 Dynamic Course Outline and I googled certain topics in my paper when I needed more outside information.  I also skimmed some of the books on reserve at the college library and was lucky enough to find an online version of one of the textbook on Google Books.  Searching for key phrases in Google Scholar also provided useful information.

Overall, it was very interesting research that took some time to put on paper and it really introduced many relevant facts on current issues involving social media and people having grand lives from a keyboard and computer screen.

New Media: Privacy and Confidentiality

The internet is a mysterious place if the user goes into it without proper understanding of the scope of the environment.  When a person uses the internet, he or she is free to look up almost any information that they are interested in, but in the same regard, they are exposed to all kinds of threats, predators, and viruses.  The internet is one of the key components of new media and together they have definitely improved global communication in the past decade.  However as new media becomes more apart of society, the amount of private information being put online is exponential.  From examples of people losing their jobs because of information they put on Facebook to news articles of online predators, identity theft, and viruses, many people are wondering how safe it is to go online.  New media has its pros and cons and every user wants the freedom to use the technology, but know that they are not at risk.  People want to know that they can put information on a site safely and know who is able to see that information.  Sites like Facebook have had privacy concerns with its users because few people realized just how many people could see their profiles and the stuff they post on it.

Privacy and confidentiality is one of the major issues with new media because the technology offers so many benefits and everyone knows that there must be some negatives.  These concerns are what could prevent new media from being a tool for the spread of information rather than just fun things to do online.  Once people understand what kind of information they should be sharing online and as online security increases, new media can foster creativity and communication to help improve the lives of everyone in the world.  As more generations grow up with the internet, they must learn the risks and power of such a simple tool.  More people are tech-savy and not using the internet for work, research, and entertainment because of privacy issues is not an option.

Advice to Baruch College

One of the many benefits of New Media is its ability to improve communication.  Using social networking sites to create an online community for students can help address important issue involving student life.  Using fan pages or blogs to create an online forum for people to pose questions or show support for a cause can eliminate a barrier between students and administration.  It would also be very useful if certain lectures were recorded and posted online for students to use if for some reason their other obligations prevented them from going to class.  In order to get the best results from using new media to improve Baruch College, all sides (students and administration) must adopt the new technology and incorporate it as best they can into their college activities.

In addition, the use of a school wiki can add to the overall knowledge of Baruch if professors were able to post their knowledge of their concentration/research in one convenient location.  Professors could (a) explain their views about the subjects they teach, (b) provide important concepts and tips for students to succeed in their class, and (c) give useful links with background information to help students pick the right teachers for their classes.

Twitter Discussion

Our Twitter discussion is similar to the Blackboard Discussion Board because each person’s twitter is like a thread, which any follower can respond to.  Each person can only comment one at a time and the author of the “tweet” may respond if necessary.  However, it may be a little difficult to follow every response tweet unless you set up a list about the topic.  The benefits of Twitter is that it is constantly updated and users do not have to navigate like in Blackboard to get the newest information.  Anyone can start a conversation on Twitter and Blackboard and the different discussion can be very informative.

The Twitter Discussion is similar to an in-class discussion because every person’s tweet is like a person raising their hand to commenting on the class topic.  Twitter has the benefit of not allowing anyone to interrupt the other person and each user can make their points in short, detailed answers.  There is no teacher on Twitter that controls the discussion so anyone can feel free to say what they want.

Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds

Access to the internet is like a window to another world.  Online, the user searches for any interest and build connections that will bring him or her back to the same site repeatedly.  One of the cool interactions between user and the net is entering and participating in a virtual 3D world.  Some of the uses of virtual worlds mentioned in the articles include virtual replication of famous monuments and locations, offer an escape for those that need one, and bring together like-minded people who would otherwise never have a chance to talk.

One of the major benefits of virtual worlds is that they offer an almost realistic view while eliminating all physical barriers.  As demonstrated in “I’ve Been in that Club, Just Not in Real Life” by Dave Itzkoff in the NY Times, virtual worlds give a person all the benefits of exploring a new place without any of the negatives of weird smells, getting lost, or fighting the crowds.  Any person that signs up for the site can feel like they are enjoying the environment without leaving their computer.  A person no longer has to go through hours of planning and negotiating to have a memorable trip.  There is another pro mentioned in the article,” iReport: ‘Naughty Auties’ battle autism with virtual interaction” by Nicole Saidi from CNN, which explain how virtual worlds like Second Life allow individuals with social awkwardness to function normally.  People with Asperger’s syndrome are high achieving individuals, but lack proper social interaction and having a virtual world to express themselves freely allows them to act and behave without feeling uncomfortable.  Some scientists express their interest in using virtual interactions to treat Autism and such use of virtual worlds spread autism awareness.

While having physical barriers broken down by virtual worlds means better communication for society, creating another “reality” might discourage people from leaving their houses.  Having the ability to be anywhere from a computer makes all the negatives of physical interactions even more prominent and the lack of judgment can create a dangerous comfort.  A user can create whoever they want to be, encouraging creativity, and let their mind speak without the trying to fight the “social standards.”  An avatar is a representation of how the user acts and feels and wants the world to see them for who they really are.  However, the openness of virtual worlds can be places for predators, false identities, and multiple personalities.

The future of virtual worlds can involve an online virtual classroom where students and teachers video chat to discuss different topics.  This could eliminate latenesses, crowded public transportation, geographical barriers, and many more.  It might even be possible for experts of their fields to teach unlimited number of students through the internet.  Students could eventually end applying to pay for classes with acclaimed professors instead of paying for an “elite” school.  Such a virtual setting where students are given the option to learn from the best in topics that interest them would promote harder dedication to a subject and overall interest in education.

Social Networking

When given the opportunity to find a childhood friend with a simple search, very few people can pass on the chance.  This and many others are the reasons that so many people sign up for the personal communities of social networking sites like Facebook.  The benefits of this technology may seem very personal, but many companies are quickly understanding the advantages of the closeness that the internet creates.  As pointed out in “Social Networking Technology Boosts Job Recruiting” by Frank Langfitt of NPR, many companies use “business” social networking sites, like Linkedin, to search for resumes and postings of qualified candidates.  The vast reach of these networks is also visible through the 2008 presidential campaign as seen by Obama’s mass support by tech savvy individuals who were willing to spread the word of “hope.”  The most common use of social networking sites is staying in contact with friends while constantly trying  to stay up to date on the latest gossip.

As mentioned in the expert panel in the Freakonomics article: “Is MySpace Good for Society? A Freakonomics Quorum” by Stephen J. Dubner, many of the experts agree that some of the benefits that these sites provide include more acceptance of diversity, bringing together large numbers of acquaintances, and lowering the cost of information processing.  The ability for a user to represent themselves on a social network is only limited by his or her imagination, which allows the person to say what they want without fear.  The internet eliminates physical barriers that once prevented friends from staying in touch and having the option to talk to so many people through a site helps improve collaboration of projects and events.  The ease of these networks lower the information processing costs because information is collected in one place and fresh perspectives can come from any friend willing to listen.  The social networks can also help businesses because they are able to target certain ads toward the user without spending too much money and effort on R&D.

The dark side of this “closeness” is the fear of losing one’s privacy.  Having the ability to always know what someone else is thinking/doing may appear fun at first.  However, when a person steps back and realize that this idea also mean that someone is always watching him or her, the whole experience can change.  People can lose their moment of peace because they feel almost obligated to let their friends know everything.  The constant moments of entertainment that social networking sites provide can create a strong attachment that some people might call an addiction.  Every user is given freedom of expression and many end up abusing this power just for shock value.  I feel that social networking sites will bring society closer, but an over reliance on technology may cause some people to live their life through a computer instead of using it as a tool to enhance a person’s every day personal contacts.

Checking out Social Networking Sites

There are many sites on the internet that tries to communicate the benefits of setting up an account and joining an online community with friends.  For the assignment, I decided to look at the sites: Myspace, Facebook, Friendster, and Hi5.  Facebook is the most well-known and in my opinion, the most user-friendly of the four.  Facebook benefits from having a minimalist design, which helps to emphasize the content and constant stream of updates.  The overall layout of the site also makes it easy to navigate because the side panels allow for quick information that might interest the user.  Facebook and Myspace are the only sites that offer easy chatting to online friends with a panel at the bottom right corner of the webpage.

The competitors of Myspace, Friendster, and Hi5 all offer their unique options and each emphasize their own theme.  I am not sure which site came up with adding apps, games, video, and other personal touches to a person’s profile, but it is apparent that each site watches how their competitors are updating their websites.  Myspace seems to emphasize music and is the only site that has a clear “music” tab.  Most of Myspace ads try to promote exclusive music content that offer many entertainment options.  Myspace is also the only site that offers the option to change the page theme to a set of presets.  Friendster tries to emphasize “having fun” and the design and layout of the site appears somewhat childish.  The rest of the site is clean, which makes navigation easy and does not try to distract the user too much.

Another site that tries to emphasize “having fun” is the site Hi5, which has a cluttered layout that offers a lot, but hard to navigate.  Hi5 and Friendster are the only sites that clearly shows a “wallet” that allows the user to purchase coins or chips toward different games on the site.  Hi5 really tries to push the user to be active and play the many games the site has because it  has a game toolbar with easy access at the bottom of the site.  One of the weird things I found on Hi5 was what it calls the “flirt” option, which randomly generates a profile picture of the opposite sex and asks the user if they are “interested.”  I found that creepy and it made me want to distance myself from the site.  Hi5 and Myspace both have large ads that seem out of place on the sites because they do not add to the user experience.  All four sites try to offer many options to the user, but some try to add too much.  The website’s layout design is important because it affects how long the user is willing to stare at the site that is not easy on the eyes.

Blogs vs. Wikis

Two of the simplest and most influential tools that broadcast opinions through the internet are blogs and wikis.  Both tools allow the user to add their voice to certain topics and the ease of posting and editing helps keep the information up to date.  Even though blogs and wikis offer similar features, each has distinctive characteristics.  Blogs are usually more personal than wikis because there is typically one author for each blog and wikis are collective authors working on a similar subject.  As mentioned in “Wiki While You Work” by Margaret Locher of CIO.com, wikis are used by companies to gather work for team projects in one location.  The article also mentions that wikis usually have specific topics that each user add to, but a blog’s topic vary a lot depending on the author’s personal feelings.  One of the articles about blogs talks about the idea of credibility because the blogger is usually an expert of the topic and people reading the blog can find background information if they look on the blog site.  This is different from a wiki contribution because the users are relatively unknown and hard for a person to put a face to who is giving the information rather than a blogger and his posts.  The article also mentions about blogs creating a two-way communication between commenter and blogger, which eliminates geographic barriers that used to prevent reporters from giving an “on-the-scene” account of the event (“How do We Measure the Influence of the Blogosphere?” by Kathy E. Gill from Workshop on the Weblogging Ecosystem).

The two-way communication is an example of the collaboration of blogs because all kinds of experts can offer their opinion on the blog’s topic and help make the overall details of the blog more valuable.  Blogs also accompany major publications to offer extra insights to how the reporter feels about their article and the commenting allow for a collaboration of participatory journalism.  Such ideas help create convergence, which is important to the networked world because technology allows people to contribute their ideas from almost any place and at anytime.  This ability to access to the topic from multiple channels creates a constant flow of information, which keeps everyone updated and encompasses the greatest possible scope of related opinions.  A new possible way for using wikis can be a class discussion forum, which allows each student to talk about weekly topics for review if someone has questions.  The wiki sites can also be single place for students to download documents if they miss class or lost their copy.