Tuesday, November 29, 2016
The Next New Thing
The next new media I am thinking about is not "new" in the sense that virtual reality hardware already exists. However, I think the next new application of VR should be interactions between users in an environment where each person has an avatar. Currently the software VR products can run are limited to single-player games, and applications like galleries, movies / tv shows, or documentaries. There is no connection between multiple users that can see each other, or at least a representation of each other. I think VR companies should partner up with social media companies (much like how Facebook acquired Oculus Rift) and work to create a world where VR gear can support business meetings, or allow strangers to enter a virtual reality (in first person view), move around, talk, or play games together. It will be a whole new level of socializing where people from all over the world can "exist" in a reality in the same place. A lot further down the road, they can improve on this technology by linking the virtual reality gear to our nervous system to show our brain images, rather than a picture on a screen. We will perceive the environment to be more real than just having a 3D image close to our eyes.
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Our Class Wiki - So Far
So far, I have been learning more about the Twitch.tv platform for streaming games. I wanted to focus on this and similar platforms like Azubu because gaming has been one of my hobbies since I was in grade school. A service that promotes something that I love to do is something I can definitely get behind. The scene in e-sports is growing rapidly and these sites are creative ways for streamers to do what they love, and get paid for it. Twitch is also a good way for video game publishers to advertise their new releases because everyone always streams new games (WoW, Pokemon, FIFA, E3 conference). In certain channels, the regular viewers have built communities to laugh, discuss, and watch people play games. I see that we have a small section on streaming services, but I want to expand that because Twitch has added more features recently, as well as introduce other platforms. I have been around for all of the updates and know of many notable sponsored charity events that Twitch participates in.
If possible, I would like to add to sections about gaming as well. We have a lot of sections about games, most of which I have played or know about.
If possible, I would like to add to sections about gaming as well. We have a lot of sections about games, most of which I have played or know about.
P2P File Sharing
File sharing is the copying of digital files and distributing them to other people. For example, I can send documents to a classmate, or send a media file to a friend. I can upload the files to a server where other users can download it, or I can send it directly from my device to theirs.
The direct sharing of files between users without a server in the middle is P2P (peer to peer) file sharing. Files shared through P2P can have multiple peers sending and receiving at the same time as well in the form of torrents. Other forms on P2P file sharing include NFC (Near Field Communication) in smartphones, or any decentralized network with equal users (peers).
One of the biggest uses of P2P file sharing is torrents, whether they are legal or illegal. Many users upload movies on torrent sites and violate the copyright laws of intellectual property. The act of uploading copyrighted material has been dubbed as "piracy." This is because people are in essence stealing the work of movie production companies, and their profits. Even if the "pirate" doesn't directly take the profits, they are preventing the companies from earning it. A large portion of the customer base will opt-out of purchasing $13 movie tickets or buying the DVD to watch a movie if they can just download it for free. According to Stelter and Stone, "In 2008, DVD sales, a huge source of revenue for film studios, dropped to their lowest levels in five years" (Stelter and Stone). Piracy became popular because it was easy and everyone was doing it, so it didn't seem wrong. In order to combat piracy, companies are beginning to offer on-demand service on platforms that customers want to watch it on. They want to offer convenience and affordability for people who don't have time to go to the theater, or don't want to spend too much on movie tickets and snacks.
Works Cited:
Stelter, Brian, and Brad Stone. "Digital Pirates Winning Battle With Studios." The New York Times. The New York Times, 04 Feb. 2009. Web. 23 Nov. 2016.
The direct sharing of files between users without a server in the middle is P2P (peer to peer) file sharing. Files shared through P2P can have multiple peers sending and receiving at the same time as well in the form of torrents. Other forms on P2P file sharing include NFC (Near Field Communication) in smartphones, or any decentralized network with equal users (peers).
One of the biggest uses of P2P file sharing is torrents, whether they are legal or illegal. Many users upload movies on torrent sites and violate the copyright laws of intellectual property. The act of uploading copyrighted material has been dubbed as "piracy." This is because people are in essence stealing the work of movie production companies, and their profits. Even if the "pirate" doesn't directly take the profits, they are preventing the companies from earning it. A large portion of the customer base will opt-out of purchasing $13 movie tickets or buying the DVD to watch a movie if they can just download it for free. According to Stelter and Stone, "In 2008, DVD sales, a huge source of revenue for film studios, dropped to their lowest levels in five years" (Stelter and Stone). Piracy became popular because it was easy and everyone was doing it, so it didn't seem wrong. In order to combat piracy, companies are beginning to offer on-demand service on platforms that customers want to watch it on. They want to offer convenience and affordability for people who don't have time to go to the theater, or don't want to spend too much on movie tickets and snacks.
Works Cited:
Stelter, Brian, and Brad Stone. "Digital Pirates Winning Battle With Studios." The New York Times. The New York Times, 04 Feb. 2009. Web. 23 Nov. 2016.
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Privacy
New media brings forth a lot of privacy issues that deal with the confidentiality of user data. Information that is collected on our social media sites, online retailers, and other browser-related uses is data mined by companies and some are sold by information collection companies. Sometimes we wonder how these telemarketers have our numbers, and it's probably because some website we entered it in sold our information. There is also information stored in databases like our social security numbers, credit card information, bank information and our personal details to match those records. Every now and then we hear about cases of hackers stealing this information from banks or private companies. A few years ago I had a friend who was notified by Citi Bank that there was such a hacking incident and he had to make changes to his bank account. This is a big concern because it will be so easy to have our identity stolen (as well as money or our credit scores ruined) by individuals that specialize in identity theft. I did my term paper on the pros and cons of new media (most specifically social media), and privacy is definitely one of the top concerns and something that will always be at risk. Studies showed that with just a full name and address, your identity can be stolen. This kind of information is easily obtained on people's Facebook profiles and social media accounts. Many users give their personal information out either without knowing or caring about their privacy. This includes signing up for freebies when they ask for your phone number, email, and name. Once the companies get our information, we have no control over who has access to it anymore.
Advice
One way to use new media in Baruch that I don't think we have (or at least I'm not aware of) is a social media where Baruch members can post things and chat. One example is a forum with categories for clubs, questions about subjects (homework), hobbies, sports, etc. I feel like there isn't a big social media presence right now, if you can even count Blackboard as a tool for communicating. People don't really get the opportunity to connect with others students outside their circle of friends or classmates. A forum dedicated to Baruch students and faculty (if allowed) to chat, hang out, and help each other will create a pretty awesome community. Clubs can post interest meetings and events on the forum instead of the bulletin boards across campus, which people rarely stop to read. There should also be a help section when students have a problem, so other students who have been in similar situations can suggest solutions. I have better experiences asking for information from my classmates and professors than asking the administrative offices (Financial Aid, Bursars, Registrar) because they are very busy with problems that only they can solve (changing majors, payments, etc). Baruch usually sends out emails for public speakers on certain industries, but with the removal of the mail forwarding feature, I don't know how often people actually check their Baruch email and read the events. A thread on the forum for these events can reach more potential attendees because if they like the forum, they will visit every day to check what's new.
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Creativity and New Media
I recently learned about this site called "rabb.it" where you, and friends, or even strangers, can watch a show on the same screen. My friends and I watch movies, television shows, or anime just to have fun. There is a chat system, as well as voice chat so that we can discuss as we are watching. Sometimes it's hard to have everyone gather in one room to watch, especially if it's a short episode that airs once a week. But watching something with friends is always more enjoyable.
I also have a Twitch channel where I stream the games that I play. I haven't done it in a long time, but the games I play the most are: League of Legends, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, and Overwatch. I have some friends who stream digital art, and I follow a streamer that does drum covers of songs requested by subscribers/donations/followers.
I also have a Twitch channel where I stream the games that I play. I haven't done it in a long time, but the games I play the most are: League of Legends, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, and Overwatch. I have some friends who stream digital art, and I follow a streamer that does drum covers of songs requested by subscribers/donations/followers.
Creativity
New media allows people to share content in any way that they can imagine.They can create an all new idea of their own (painting, story, YouTube video, etc) or sample an existing work. Common methods are remixes to songs, covers, or parodies. In the article "Disney Tolerates a Rap Parody of Its Critters. But Why?" by Brooks Barnes of the New York Times, Barnes talks about the use of Disney characters in parody videos on YouTube. Disney is supposedly very strict in its copyrights, and will remove any use of their characters. Nickelodeon, on the other hand, welcomes people to create mash-ups using their characters. Dan Martinsen, a Nickelodeon spokesperson, says "Our audiences can creatively mash video from our content as much and as often as they like" (Barnes). People can use their imagination to frame the content in amusing ways and get it viral. This creates buzz for the original work, almost like advertising. There have been many times I've listened to a song in a user-made video, and wondered where the song came from and if the artist has other songs that I might like. The introduction of YouTube allows users to make videos about anything they want. Creativity is the key to standing out. Some people make video logs, cooking channels, make up tutorials, or gaming reviews. New media encourages the creativity of individuals by letting individuals share their work to millions, as long as they have internet access.
Works Cited:
Barnes, Brooks. "Disney Tolerates a Rap Parody of Its Critters. But Why?" NY Times. The New York Times, 24 Sept. 2007. Web. 1 Nov. 2016.
Works Cited:
Barnes, Brooks. "Disney Tolerates a Rap Parody of Its Critters. But Why?" NY Times. The New York Times, 24 Sept. 2007. Web. 1 Nov. 2016.
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Modeling Reality With Virtual Worlds
One of my favorite uses of virtual world technology is the use of it in video games. It is a new method still in the early stages that is undergoing improvements to make it more interactive with multiple players. There are also virtual worlds (sites) where people can create avatars that represent themselves to communicate with each other or to express their creativity. A more practical use of a programmed virtual world is realistic simulators. For example flight simulators, driving simulators, and even zero-gravity machines can train individuals without the risks of operating dangerous vehicles.
The pros of these simulations is the ability to prepare for real-life use of airplanes, space shuttles, trains, and cars in a completely safe environment. Not having experience before flying an airplane or space shuttle is definitely a bad idea because once you are in the air, you must be able to land the plane safely. In order to fly safely, you need experience, but to have experience, you need to fly. Virtual simulations were created to solve this paradox, to allow pilots to practice in a virtual world with no risk.
The pros of a virtual world made to foster communication and community is to allow users to customize their avatars as much as their creativity takes them, without the limits of the real-world. In Second Life, "Ms. Rayna, an avatar on Second Life, and her free-spending cohort can quaff Champagne, teleport to private islands and splurge on luxury brands that are the cyber equivalent of Prada waders or a Rolex watch" (Ferla). Despite not being a millionaire in the real world, Ms. Cocke can use her avatar to live a different life without worrying about the big 2008 recession, paying for rent, or all the designer clothing she wants. She can dress her avatar however she wants to express herself.
The cons of simulations is very simple. The program is never going to be exactly the same as a real-life operation. As in all cases, you can practice and study as much as you can, but the real deal can sometimes be slightly different. It can be hard to create the same atmosphere and pressure of a real flight, where real people are depending on you. Programs can have a lag between inputs and situations may not be able to include an infinite of real-life factors. A simulation may not respond the same way as in real life. There are always unpredictable factors like a sudden storm, instrument malfunction, or human error. Still, it is the best way to gain practical knowledge without putting others at risk.
The cons of the virtual communities is the accurate depiction of real-life. The virtual worlds are not real-time representations of places, but give a general environment for everybody with a computer to visit. According to Jennifer Lyon, a nightspot owner, "Normally MTV is all Spring Break-y and blah blah blah. At 3 o’clock in the morning we do not look like they do on ‘T.R.L.’ It’s not cute" (Itzkoff). Another possible con is people may be tempted to stay home more to visit the virtual world, instead of going to the actual club. However, at the end, for non-locals, it is a great opportunity to see the sights of another city from their home.
I think the future of virtual worlds will be worlds where we can interact as more than avatars clicking and typing. With the introduction of VR technologies, we will be interacting as if we were walking around in the real world, and speaking through microphones instead of typing.
Works Cited:
La Ferla, Ruth. "No Budget, No Boundaries: It’s the Real You." NY Times. The New York Times, 21 Oct. 2009. Web. 25 Oct. 2016.
Itzkoff, Dave. "I’ve Been in That Club, Just Not in Real Life." NY Times. The New York Times, 6 Jan. 2008. Web. 25 Oct. 2016.
The pros of these simulations is the ability to prepare for real-life use of airplanes, space shuttles, trains, and cars in a completely safe environment. Not having experience before flying an airplane or space shuttle is definitely a bad idea because once you are in the air, you must be able to land the plane safely. In order to fly safely, you need experience, but to have experience, you need to fly. Virtual simulations were created to solve this paradox, to allow pilots to practice in a virtual world with no risk.
The pros of a virtual world made to foster communication and community is to allow users to customize their avatars as much as their creativity takes them, without the limits of the real-world. In Second Life, "Ms. Rayna, an avatar on Second Life, and her free-spending cohort can quaff Champagne, teleport to private islands and splurge on luxury brands that are the cyber equivalent of Prada waders or a Rolex watch" (Ferla). Despite not being a millionaire in the real world, Ms. Cocke can use her avatar to live a different life without worrying about the big 2008 recession, paying for rent, or all the designer clothing she wants. She can dress her avatar however she wants to express herself.
The cons of simulations is very simple. The program is never going to be exactly the same as a real-life operation. As in all cases, you can practice and study as much as you can, but the real deal can sometimes be slightly different. It can be hard to create the same atmosphere and pressure of a real flight, where real people are depending on you. Programs can have a lag between inputs and situations may not be able to include an infinite of real-life factors. A simulation may not respond the same way as in real life. There are always unpredictable factors like a sudden storm, instrument malfunction, or human error. Still, it is the best way to gain practical knowledge without putting others at risk.
The cons of the virtual communities is the accurate depiction of real-life. The virtual worlds are not real-time representations of places, but give a general environment for everybody with a computer to visit. According to Jennifer Lyon, a nightspot owner, "Normally MTV is all Spring Break-y and blah blah blah. At 3 o’clock in the morning we do not look like they do on ‘T.R.L.’ It’s not cute" (Itzkoff). Another possible con is people may be tempted to stay home more to visit the virtual world, instead of going to the actual club. However, at the end, for non-locals, it is a great opportunity to see the sights of another city from their home.
I think the future of virtual worlds will be worlds where we can interact as more than avatars clicking and typing. With the introduction of VR technologies, we will be interacting as if we were walking around in the real world, and speaking through microphones instead of typing.
Works Cited:
La Ferla, Ruth. "No Budget, No Boundaries: It’s the Real You." NY Times. The New York Times, 21 Oct. 2009. Web. 25 Oct. 2016.
Itzkoff, Dave. "I’ve Been in That Club, Just Not in Real Life." NY Times. The New York Times, 6 Jan. 2008. Web. 25 Oct. 2016.
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Blog About Twitter
A Twitter discussion is more similar to Blackboard than an in-class discussion because we have the option to take as long as we like to reply to a tweet. I feel more comfortable replying to online discussion because it's more clear what others are trying to say. Usually they include a #(subject) and some context. I can edit my reply as I type to make it clearer before posting, something a lot harder to do in person. However, it is annoying sometimes discussing on Twitter because of the 140 character limit. There are times I want to reply with a lot more words to explain my opinion on the matter.
Even though BB and Twitter are online, a Twitter discussion is much more easier to share than a Blackboard discussion. I can not share a Blackboard discussion with someone that isn't a student. Twitter is accessed by many more users, anyone, anywhere there is internet. You can tag people and subjects, so anyone interested in the tag can see the tweet, not just classmates. And a BB discussion is less interactive than tweeting. There is no app on my phone to access BB, and someone has to start a thread for people to reply in that thread. Twitter collects all the recent activity on the user's page for everyone to reply to. Twitter is a lot more fast-paced, due to instant alerts. A popular tweet can have thousands replying and re-tweeting, so it can get quite chaotic. You will not be able to respond to them all before more people voice their own opinions.
Even though BB and Twitter are online, a Twitter discussion is much more easier to share than a Blackboard discussion. I can not share a Blackboard discussion with someone that isn't a student. Twitter is accessed by many more users, anyone, anywhere there is internet. You can tag people and subjects, so anyone interested in the tag can see the tweet, not just classmates. And a BB discussion is less interactive than tweeting. There is no app on my phone to access BB, and someone has to start a thread for people to reply in that thread. Twitter collects all the recent activity on the user's page for everyone to reply to. Twitter is a lot more fast-paced, due to instant alerts. A popular tweet can have thousands replying and re-tweeting, so it can get quite chaotic. You will not be able to respond to them all before more people voice their own opinions.
Social Networking Sites
Twitter is comprised of many short tweets about anything and everything. It reminds me of my news feed on Facebook, where I can see friends' status updates and content they "liked." The limit to the characters (140) feels like a limit on a deep understanding between users. I could post the same short messages on Facebook, or do long ones as well. I don't really understand the buzz about Twitter. According to an article that did a study in 2009, tweets are mostly nonsensical babble or a conversation between people. My impression is that this 80% of tweets are people looking for attention. I would prefer to have a conversation with people in private because replying to thousands of people at the same time will be chaotic.
Facebook is like an all-in-one package. There's browser games, trending news, updates from friends, video sharing, more personal details that I can enter in my profile. I also feel Facebook is much easier to navigate and to share/like posts. The first time I used Twitter, it was difficult to re-tweet, or see other users' replies. The new sponsored ads is definitely a negative aspect right now. It was implemented recently I believe. It takes information from my browsing history or something because it recommends products I have literally searched 5 minutes ago on online retailer sites (amazon, walmart, etc).
I also visit Reddit frequently for news sharing. I think Reddit is one of the easiest places to spend a lot of time reading random posts. There are sub-reddits for almost any topic you can imagine, and if there isn't, I think you can start one! You can find users that share interests in a movie, game, trending topic, hobby, and the list goes on forever. There are super fun posts like TIL (today I learned) where you hear some interesting stories and facts you never knew. For example, "witch windows" are diagonal windows that exist almost exclusively in Vermont, and the name comes from the belief that witches can't fly through slanted windows on their brooms.
YouTube is also a form of social media and one of the most popular sites. YouTube is good for looking for videos, it's not that great of a 2-way conversation. You can only comment on videos, which sometimes don't get responses for a while. Even viral videos that get millions of views sometimes start at Reddit, where a user will post the link and it gets shared instantly to millions of people. But people can make any kind of video they want, so it encourages a lot of creativity. You can listen to music, watch how-to videos, learn academics, or upload your own videos - all for free!
In conclusion, the usefulness of a social networking site depends on how the people use it. They can do amazing things like change the world through petitions, charitable causes, and spread awareness of those less fortunate. But people can also post about eating a bagel with cream cheese this morning, which may be interesting to their friends, but is a waste of time in my opinion.
Facebook is like an all-in-one package. There's browser games, trending news, updates from friends, video sharing, more personal details that I can enter in my profile. I also feel Facebook is much easier to navigate and to share/like posts. The first time I used Twitter, it was difficult to re-tweet, or see other users' replies. The new sponsored ads is definitely a negative aspect right now. It was implemented recently I believe. It takes information from my browsing history or something because it recommends products I have literally searched 5 minutes ago on online retailer sites (amazon, walmart, etc).
I also visit Reddit frequently for news sharing. I think Reddit is one of the easiest places to spend a lot of time reading random posts. There are sub-reddits for almost any topic you can imagine, and if there isn't, I think you can start one! You can find users that share interests in a movie, game, trending topic, hobby, and the list goes on forever. There are super fun posts like TIL (today I learned) where you hear some interesting stories and facts you never knew. For example, "witch windows" are diagonal windows that exist almost exclusively in Vermont, and the name comes from the belief that witches can't fly through slanted windows on their brooms.
YouTube is also a form of social media and one of the most popular sites. YouTube is good for looking for videos, it's not that great of a 2-way conversation. You can only comment on videos, which sometimes don't get responses for a while. Even viral videos that get millions of views sometimes start at Reddit, where a user will post the link and it gets shared instantly to millions of people. But people can make any kind of video they want, so it encourages a lot of creativity. You can listen to music, watch how-to videos, learn academics, or upload your own videos - all for free!
In conclusion, the usefulness of a social networking site depends on how the people use it. They can do amazing things like change the world through petitions, charitable causes, and spread awareness of those less fortunate. But people can also post about eating a bagel with cream cheese this morning, which may be interesting to their friends, but is a waste of time in my opinion.
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Social Networking
A very common way of using social media nowadays is job recruiting! As students and future fresh graduates, sometimes it is difficult to get yourself noticed by employers. Companies have started to use sites like LinkedIn to connect with millions of potential employees. It is a more expansive network than manual advertisements and meeting every employee in person. It would be impossible to meet with millions of employees efficiently, but with LinkedIn, Steckerl, a recruiter of talent for Microsoft, can exponentially reach out to thousands. According to Steckerl in Langfitt's article, "I don't need to go to Bob directly to find out who Bob's friends are. Or Bob's friends' friends. So, effectively, I have a thousand contacts that could potentially lead me to 100,000, now I have 8,500 contacts that could potentially lead me to 4.5 million" (Langfitt). Being able to contact colleagues of colleagues multiplies the candidates, making the recruiter's job to find the best fit employee much easier and more likely. However, once they have passed the preliminary screenings, it is still necessary to get a feel for them in a personal interview. This process makes finding employment much more efficient and I expect it to continue to be the dominant method for a long time.
Social media is not always used appropriately, or efficiently. Some users harass others while remaining anonymous on the internet. There are some that fall in the middle, using legitimate services, but are subjective in their experiences. In the article "Can You Trust Crowd Wisdom?" researched discovered that most reviews for products were voted by the same people because other users didn't bother voting. This can skew the data, says Vassilis Kostakos, a university professor in Portugal, in Grifantini's article. Kostakos says, "they can paint a distorted picture of a product if a small number of users do most of the voting" (Grifantini). Every individual has their own preferences and experiences with products and services. If it is only a small percentage of users writing reviews for all the products we see, we may be biased toward how they think. Consumers may be persuaded to not purchase something that otherwise was a perfect fit for them. Even with reviews from our peers, we should always take their testimonies with a grain of salt.
Langfitt, Frank. "Social Networking Technology Boosts Job Recruiting." NPR. NPR, 22 Nov. 2006.
Web. 04 Oct. 2016.
Social media is not always used appropriately, or efficiently. Some users harass others while remaining anonymous on the internet. There are some that fall in the middle, using legitimate services, but are subjective in their experiences. In the article "Can You Trust Crowd Wisdom?" researched discovered that most reviews for products were voted by the same people because other users didn't bother voting. This can skew the data, says Vassilis Kostakos, a university professor in Portugal, in Grifantini's article. Kostakos says, "they can paint a distorted picture of a product if a small number of users do most of the voting" (Grifantini). Every individual has their own preferences and experiences with products and services. If it is only a small percentage of users writing reviews for all the products we see, we may be biased toward how they think. Consumers may be persuaded to not purchase something that otherwise was a perfect fit for them. Even with reviews from our peers, we should always take their testimonies with a grain of salt.
Works Cited
Grifantini, Kristina. "Can You Trust Crowd Wisdom?" MIT Technology Review. MIT Technology
Review, 16 Sept. 2009. Web. 04 Oct. 2016.
Web. 04 Oct. 2016.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Blogs vs Wikis
A blog can be managed by any individual, not just giant media companies, who can edit, post, and share content to others that read the blog. According to Kathy Gill, “most blog authors are amateurs with a passion; many are subject matter experts. A few are professional writers who use their blogs to further other pursuits” (Gill). The posts can be subjective, from the perspective of the blogger, and written to persuade their readers on certain issues. They can also be informative, educating readers with an analysis on particular a subject. They can even have content that is completely arbitrary, and reaches as far as the creativity of the blogger. A blog is different from a wiki in that one blogger is posting content on the page. Comments may need to be approved before posted on one’s blog. Other users can only respond through the comments, they cannot edit the original post. Blogs are still collaborated works because blogs can be connect through the blogroll, where one’s favorite blogs can be displayed on the side bars or headers. This can link all the relevant information and perspectives about a topic. For example, an economist would most likely follow other blogs that discuss economics to share opinions and debate. Even though each blogger controls their own blog, a reader can access as many other similar pages as there are users.
A wiki is more collaborated than a blog because any user, with permission, can edit the works on the wiki page. With approval from moderators, every individual that visits the wiki can edit information and create their own pages. This can get messy if multiple people are trying to edit the same page, they disagree on the facts, or even internet “trolls” that will write bogus information. Because of these problems, Wikipedia will implement “flagged revisions, which will require an experienced volunteer editor to sign off on any change made by the public before it can go live” (Cohen). Editors must make sure the information is accurate to the best of knowledge available because millions of users all contributing at once is chaotic without some form of filtering. Wiki pages generally include a references section on the bottom, showing readers the sources for the information posted. This is an attempt to show legitimacy, or the accuracy, of the content. The main difference between a wiki and a blog is who has access to controlling the content. In a blog, it is the owner of that domain; in a wiki, it is a collective work of every one, with moderators reviewing the work. Up until this class, I didn’t realize schools actually created wikis for certain classes. This is a really interesting way to work on a project as a class.
There are already many wikis for a multitude of things, so it is difficult to come up with one. One cool way I can think of that wikis are not yet used for (to the best of my knowledge) is a page specializing in professions. For example, a wiki designated to accounting would include principles, formulas, government regulations, license requirements. This would apply to other subjects as well: computer science, liberal arts, etc. It would function like a textbook but in a simpler format. I have looked for help online by googling tutorials, but they were so complex, it didn’t help me at all. When I wanted a basic formula to derive something, they give me a wall of text trying to explain it as if I were a professor already. In this wiki, peers and professionals can both add to the key topics of a field: formulas, tips, and real-life examples described in layman’s terms. It is like a textbook we can write as a group.
Gill, Kathy E. "How Can We Measure the Influence of the Blogosphere?" Workshop on the Weblogging Ecosystem. University of Washington, May 2004. Web. 27 Sept. 2016.
A wiki is more collaborated than a blog because any user, with permission, can edit the works on the wiki page. With approval from moderators, every individual that visits the wiki can edit information and create their own pages. This can get messy if multiple people are trying to edit the same page, they disagree on the facts, or even internet “trolls” that will write bogus information. Because of these problems, Wikipedia will implement “flagged revisions, which will require an experienced volunteer editor to sign off on any change made by the public before it can go live” (Cohen). Editors must make sure the information is accurate to the best of knowledge available because millions of users all contributing at once is chaotic without some form of filtering. Wiki pages generally include a references section on the bottom, showing readers the sources for the information posted. This is an attempt to show legitimacy, or the accuracy, of the content. The main difference between a wiki and a blog is who has access to controlling the content. In a blog, it is the owner of that domain; in a wiki, it is a collective work of every one, with moderators reviewing the work. Up until this class, I didn’t realize schools actually created wikis for certain classes. This is a really interesting way to work on a project as a class.
There are already many wikis for a multitude of things, so it is difficult to come up with one. One cool way I can think of that wikis are not yet used for (to the best of my knowledge) is a page specializing in professions. For example, a wiki designated to accounting would include principles, formulas, government regulations, license requirements. This would apply to other subjects as well: computer science, liberal arts, etc. It would function like a textbook but in a simpler format. I have looked for help online by googling tutorials, but they were so complex, it didn’t help me at all. When I wanted a basic formula to derive something, they give me a wall of text trying to explain it as if I were a professor already. In this wiki, peers and professionals can both add to the key topics of a field: formulas, tips, and real-life examples described in layman’s terms. It is like a textbook we can write as a group.
Works Cited:
Cohen, Noam. "Wikipedia to Limit Changes to Articles on People." The New York Times. The New York Times, 24 Aug. 2009. Web. 27 Sept. 2016.Gill, Kathy E. "How Can We Measure the Influence of the Blogosphere?" Workshop on the Weblogging Ecosystem. University of Washington, May 2004. Web. 27 Sept. 2016.
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Project proposal: analysis on positive and negative effects of new media!
For this project for our new media course, I have decided to provide an analysis on a new media technology that will examine the positive and negative effects that said technology has on our society. I have chosen social networking as my focus because it is so prevalent in all our lives. It is what connects peers, friends, coworkers, businesses, and public figures. Some of the positive impacts I will look into is the ease of communicating with others at any time, and the access of information. The negative impacts will be the opposite, such as the difficulty of finding privacy, and if the predominant method of communication being online changes our behavior toward each other in a society. I will keep thinking of new aspects to consider as I research more into it, and I expect to find a lot more, since social networking is expanding so rapidly.
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