The Next New Thing
14 years ago
Friday, April 16, 2010
The Next New Thing
I know this is a long shot but I really think our society would benefit from cellphones which did not generate radiation. Radiation from cellphones cause cancers and tumors. This is a scary thought especially for those who are on frequent, long business calls to those who are just talking with their best friends or girlfriend/boyfriend over the cell phone every night. Lately I've been speaking to my girlfriend on speaker every night since before that I used to spend anywhere from 1 to 3 hours on the cell phone with her every night for the past 3 years. I think if I would have continued at this rate, I would have developed severe illness. So radiation-less cellphones would be a great new thing. (I know there are cellphones that generate very little radiation but it would be nice to have all cellphones which come out to have no radiation)
Our Class Wiki - So Far
The wiki I chose to work on is New Media and Sports because one of my biggest hobbies is sports. My job in the wiki is editor. So far I've messaged contributors in my group to find out what specific task in the wiki they would like to contribute to. This is just to ensure that everyone is on a different topic and understands what they plan to work on.
As editor of the page, I plan to fix corrections of the wiki as it is right now. From my experience of doing research on wikipedia.org, I understand all the references are almost always found at the bottom of the wiki. I plan to make this the format of the New Media and Sports wiki. Also as my team inputs their contributions, I will overlook to see what input I'm able to make and any editing if necessary.
In most wikipedia pages, you will see there is a brief overview of the subject at the very top of the page, which is followed by the table of contents. I was thinking I would like to add a general introduction to what new media is. I will have to discuss this edit with Professor Adler.
As editor of the page, I plan to fix corrections of the wiki as it is right now. From my experience of doing research on wikipedia.org, I understand all the references are almost always found at the bottom of the wiki. I plan to make this the format of the New Media and Sports wiki. Also as my team inputs their contributions, I will overlook to see what input I'm able to make and any editing if necessary.
In most wikipedia pages, you will see there is a brief overview of the subject at the very top of the page, which is followed by the table of contents. I was thinking I would like to add a general introduction to what new media is. I will have to discuss this edit with Professor Adler.
Friday, April 9, 2010
About My Term Research Paper
The title of my term research paper is The Essentials to a Successful Blog. I chose this topic because I felt intrigued with being introduced to blogs from this class. I was even more excited when I found out the way people can make money from blogging. I thought this may be something I may want to further pursue after this semester.
What I learned from my research on this topic are the various ways of generating revenue from your blog. I also learned the do's and dont's of blogging. Also I learned the impact blogging can make in a society. Although I realize a lot hard work and time investment has to be put into a blog, I was still interesting in how you can make money off writing about something you may have a passion about.
What I learned from my research on this topic are the various ways of generating revenue from your blog. I also learned the do's and dont's of blogging. Also I learned the impact blogging can make in a society. Although I realize a lot hard work and time investment has to be put into a blog, I was still interesting in how you can make money off writing about something you may have a passion about.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Privacy
Privacy and confidentiality is one of the biggest concerns with new media. Many people have personal information put onto the internet whether its through social networking sites or when making a purchase through e-commerce. Many people also put pictures of themselves onto the web. For example on facebook almost everyone has a profile picture to go with there home page. Also when people make purchases online its usually through payment of credit card. The concern with this is, when using your credit card online, you have to be aware of credible site and not so credible sites. Identity theft exists and I'm sure it occurs within new media as well.
Advice to Baruch College
My suggestion to Baruch College to improve efficiency using new media is to send out a mass text to all students' cell phones when a class is canceled last minute. If you go to Baruch, you'll know the college does this in cases of emergencies. What they do is, in case there's inclement weather or a natural disaster, the college will notify the students through text so that the student will be notified ASAP and not show up to school.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, this semester, I have a 4 hour gap. This past week I had to wait 4 hours to only later find out my class was canceled by reading a paper on the door of the classroom. I know professors cancel class through mass emails but I think this is only acceptable if done 24 hours prior to the class. If its last minute, it will be more efficient and convenient for the student to get a notifying text because generally all college students have cellphones on them 24/7.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, this semester, I have a 4 hour gap. This past week I had to wait 4 hours to only later find out my class was canceled by reading a paper on the door of the classroom. I know professors cancel class through mass emails but I think this is only acceptable if done 24 hours prior to the class. If its last minute, it will be more efficient and convenient for the student to get a notifying text because generally all college students have cellphones on them 24/7.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Twitter: Discussion
Being a new user to Twitter, my experience of having a twitter discussion was interesting.
Compared to an Blackboard discussion board conversation its almost similar. In Blackboard discussion board, you post threads and people will rely to it. In Twitter, people update their status and people may also reply to it. Although in discussion board, you're not limited to the amount of characters you can use where as in Twitter you're limited to 140 characters so tweets must be straight to the point. In Twitter you have Twitter hashtags which make it easier to find information through a simple search as compared to discussion board where you'd have to look for your topic or information by looking through all the threads.
A Twitter discussion compared to an in-class discussion is much different. An in-class discussion may carry on more quicker and smoothly. But with a Twitter discussion you're able to have more people discuss there thoughts because not everyone in the discussion has to be confined into one classroom.
Compared to an Blackboard discussion board conversation its almost similar. In Blackboard discussion board, you post threads and people will rely to it. In Twitter, people update their status and people may also reply to it. Although in discussion board, you're not limited to the amount of characters you can use where as in Twitter you're limited to 140 characters so tweets must be straight to the point. In Twitter you have Twitter hashtags which make it easier to find information through a simple search as compared to discussion board where you'd have to look for your topic or information by looking through all the threads.
A Twitter discussion compared to an in-class discussion is much different. An in-class discussion may carry on more quicker and smoothly. But with a Twitter discussion you're able to have more people discuss there thoughts because not everyone in the discussion has to be confined into one classroom.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds
In virtual worlds, people are not limited to boundaries just as they are in real life.
For many users, they use the virtual worlds to do the things they can't do in real life. For example, someone with multiple sclerosis who has a mobility disability, may use Second Life (popular virtual world game) to simply feel enjoyment from being able to walk, swim, dance, or fly in the game. Many users also create an avatar in these virtual worlds to pursue the dreams they couldn't achieve in real life. Achieving your dreams and goals in virtual worlds is much easier than it is in reality because there are less budget constraints and you can create your avatar to be ideal for your specific dream. For example if you wanted to be a NBA player, you can make yourself tall and athletic. If you wanted to own a business, it's also much easier because budget is might tighter in real life than in these games. Virtual worlds can also be used for business purposes. According to Mark Tutton of CNN, "Second Life Enterprise is designed to let businesses hold virtual gatherings". Mark also quotes Linden Lab, stating that more than 1400 organizations use Second Life use Second Life to hold meetings, conduct training and prototype new technologies more efficiently. These are ways these virtual worlds foster creativity.
Advantages of virtual worlds are plenty. The main advantage to virtual worlds I would say is its ability to fill our need for achieving esteem. I believe this is the main reason people play and also the most they take away from it. Users play to feel confident, achievement, and respect by others. On a more microscopic scale, in the virtual world you can feel good about how you look (physically) whereas in real life you may be judged based on your appearance. Many times it's not our fault how we look in real life because we were born that way. Or how much money we were inherited into. In real life goes the saying, "play the hand you're dealt". Well in virtual world games, you create the "hand" you want.
With the good comes the bad. Although virtual worlds may be cheaper than real life, you may end up spending more than you had hoped. According to Ruth La Ferla of NY Times
Even though the conversion rate is cheap, people may be addicted to these virtual worlds and may fall into conspicuous consumption. In the NY Times article above, I also read that many users have a wardrobe of up to 40,000 items. On a side note, the virtual world industry has generated $1 billion to $2 billion in revenue. Spending also increased during the recession making it “a recession-tolerant economy”.
One aspect virtual worlds may get into is education. Online classes have been a success so why not have virtual universities where you can obtain a diploma? Another way virtual worlds may enhance in the future is the idea of Surrogates
Cite
Tutton, Mark, "Going To The Virtual Office in Second Life", CNN, November 9, 2009
http://www.cnn.com/2009/BUSINESS/11/05/second.life.virtual.collaboration/index.html
La Ferla, Ruth, "No Budget, No Boundaries: It’s the Real You", NY TIMES, October 21, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/fashion/22Avatar.html?pagewanted=1
For many users, they use the virtual worlds to do the things they can't do in real life. For example, someone with multiple sclerosis who has a mobility disability, may use Second Life (popular virtual world game) to simply feel enjoyment from being able to walk, swim, dance, or fly in the game. Many users also create an avatar in these virtual worlds to pursue the dreams they couldn't achieve in real life. Achieving your dreams and goals in virtual worlds is much easier than it is in reality because there are less budget constraints and you can create your avatar to be ideal for your specific dream. For example if you wanted to be a NBA player, you can make yourself tall and athletic. If you wanted to own a business, it's also much easier because budget is might tighter in real life than in these games. Virtual worlds can also be used for business purposes. According to Mark Tutton of CNN, "Second Life Enterprise is designed to let businesses hold virtual gatherings". Mark also quotes Linden Lab, stating that more than 1400 organizations use Second Life use Second Life to hold meetings, conduct training and prototype new technologies more efficiently. These are ways these virtual worlds foster creativity.
Advantages of virtual worlds are plenty. The main advantage to virtual worlds I would say is its ability to fill our need for achieving esteem. I believe this is the main reason people play and also the most they take away from it. Users play to feel confident, achievement, and respect by others. On a more microscopic scale, in the virtual world you can feel good about how you look (physically) whereas in real life you may be judged based on your appearance. Many times it's not our fault how we look in real life because we were born that way. Or how much money we were inherited into. In real life goes the saying, "play the hand you're dealt". Well in virtual world games, you create the "hand" you want.
With the good comes the bad. Although virtual worlds may be cheaper than real life, you may end up spending more than you had hoped. According to Ruth La Ferla of NY Times
"About 70,000 Therebucks on There.com, or 10,000 Lindens in Second Life, each about $40, can buy a choice of simulated wares, from several pairs of thigh-high boots to a plot of land"
Even though the conversion rate is cheap, people may be addicted to these virtual worlds and may fall into conspicuous consumption. In the NY Times article above, I also read that many users have a wardrobe of up to 40,000 items. On a side note, the virtual world industry has generated $1 billion to $2 billion in revenue. Spending also increased during the recession making it “a recession-tolerant economy”.
One aspect virtual worlds may get into is education. Online classes have been a success so why not have virtual universities where you can obtain a diploma? Another way virtual worlds may enhance in the future is the idea of Surrogates
Cite
Tutton, Mark, "Going To The Virtual Office in Second Life", CNN, November 9, 2009
http://www.cnn.com/2009/BUSINESS/11/05/second.life.virtual.collaboration/index.html
La Ferla, Ruth, "No Budget, No Boundaries: It’s the Real You", NY TIMES, October 21, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/fashion/22Avatar.html?pagewanted=1
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
