There are many websites out there that help keep us involved in the world today. Whether it is staying connected with friends or reading the latest gossip and news, the technology out there today allows us to access tons of information about anything and everything. Facebook is one of the most popular social networking sites out there. Facebook is a great way to stay in touch with long lost friends and people you just met. Some people on Facebook do portray themselves as someone completely different then who they really are. It’s as if they live a double life.
There are some reasons I can think of that would make an individual want to lead a double life. Some feel pressured by peers, some are shy, and some have difficulties socializing and making friends. They feel the need to live this life behind a computer screen, because they are too afraid to live the life in reality. They live a virtual life through the computer and social networking websites.
I do feel Facebook allows us to extend and expand our identities to a certain extent. On Facebook you are able to post pictures of yourself, create a status of what you are currently doing, and even post on your friends walls. In a way you are exposing personal information about yourself, but it is all done by choice. You create your own Facebook page it is your choice to make a profile, and expose your information to the World Wide Web. So is it loss of personal space? In a way yes it is, but then again it is by choice. People are able to look at your pictures and even see who you are talking to, and what you are doing from day to day. It is a scary thing how simple it is to access this information about people’s personal lives right in the palm of our hands.
Digital Nation was an interesting movie. It helped me see how advanced technology has gotten. Little did I know, virtual worlds have been created and many are involved and make these virtual worlds a part of their lives. In my opinion these virtual worlds are not a positive invention. Especially for younger children, who are just developing, and learning how to communicate, and socialize. Growing up is the essential part of a young child’s life. What you learn at a young age carries on with you for the rest of your life. Learning to sit behind a computer screen and life a life that isn’t real can only do a child harm rather than good. Communication is a major part of one’s life. You learn how to make friends, go to school, learn and interact. Taking that away from a developing child can ruin their future, and job opportunities in life. If one hides behind these fake worlds, they will never learn how to interact with real people, with “reality.”
Bubbie was an elderly lady who created a cooking show with her grandson. They posted their videos online, and had many different recipes. They took advantage of the Internet and used it for an interesting concept. Were they exposing personal information? I do not think so. They simply prepared a meal together and posted their video for the world to see, to help people learn how to cook and create quick and easy dinner. The Internet can be used for fun and exciting things such as Bubbie’s cooking lessons. Some people actually are intimidated by the computer and Internet and shy away from using it, especially people in older generations who did not grow up using the computer. They feel it is difficult to used and have no patience trying to learn. I give Bubbie a lot of credit for taking on a difficult task, and succeeding in it.
People claim technology has separated us, example going to the movies together, to watching movies in the living room, to watching movies on our ipods/ipads. Now technology is turning around and people claim it is bringing us back together. Virtual worlds are not the way to bring our society back together. Virtual worlds in most situations will do more harm then good to communication in society.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Social Media and Web Questions
1. I feel amateur user-generated content will continue to grow. Our generation has grown up among technology, apposed to our parents who grew up with very early technology and grandparents who grew up with no technology. Media and technology has grown tremendously over the years, and it only continues to grow more and more. Young children are constantly using technology in their every days lives, whether it be using the computer for information or communication, and even playing video games which children today are addicted to. When I was younger video games were not as popular as they are today, I played computer games more than sitting in front of the TV playing play station. New devices such as cell phones, computers, hand held tablets (iPad), video games, and even cars are improving more frequently then the public can keep up with. Amateur user-generated content will just continue to get better over time, because we are already experience the high tech content and products that come out each and every year. It will only continue to get better over time, not decline.
2. I personally do not use Facebook anymore, I used to have one and then I deleted it. I find Facebook to be a constant distraction to my every day life. Being able to view gossip and peoples information so easily is a scary thing. Society today thrives on gossip, and Facebook only helps them achieve what they are looking for. Even though I do not have a Facebook I do feel it is much more successful than MySpace. I remember when MySpace and Facebook first came out. I was in middle school maybe 13 years old and everyone started to make a page on MySpace, it was the new cool thing to do, it lasted for about two years and my freshmen year of high school Facebook had evolved, but not many people my age had a Facebook page yet, it was considered to only be used by college students. Shortly after, everyone in high school had Facebook. At first it was limited to very few functions, but very quickly blew away MySpace. Facebook seemed easier to use, and had much less viruses. Many people felt it was safer to use because you had to join a network (high school or college) to make a Facebook page. I feel a lot more and dedication work was put in to making Facebook. Facebook has already proven to be much more successful than MySpace, and has already been around longer then MySpace. Facebook is here to stay for a while. Twitter is one of the newest forms of social networking, but much different than Facebook in many ways and the concept of Twitter is different as well. Twitter is more to stay in touch with the world, latest news, and updates. Is not as much staying in touch with friends, family or coworkers, such as Facebook is used for.
3. Transparency seems to be an important more in the social media world. People I feel choose to hide behind transparency such as disguising themselves as someone different on Facebook or a dating website. It is important to portray your true self and feeling no matter if it is in the media world or in the offline world. When interviewing with a new company or setting out to look for new jobs it is very important to be yourself, because it is the most natural thing to do. Becoming another person or someone you who your pretending to be can result in difficulties and consequences. In general transparency is used much more within the media world, more directly pointing to social networking websites, but it is more IMPORTANT in the offline world. The offline world is your REAL life, where the Internet can be someone’s pretend or fantasy/fake life they are portraying themselves in. The offline world is where you made friends, go on job interviews and attend school; these things can be very hard to be a pretend person in. Where the online world, people can become whom ever they want.
2. I personally do not use Facebook anymore, I used to have one and then I deleted it. I find Facebook to be a constant distraction to my every day life. Being able to view gossip and peoples information so easily is a scary thing. Society today thrives on gossip, and Facebook only helps them achieve what they are looking for. Even though I do not have a Facebook I do feel it is much more successful than MySpace. I remember when MySpace and Facebook first came out. I was in middle school maybe 13 years old and everyone started to make a page on MySpace, it was the new cool thing to do, it lasted for about two years and my freshmen year of high school Facebook had evolved, but not many people my age had a Facebook page yet, it was considered to only be used by college students. Shortly after, everyone in high school had Facebook. At first it was limited to very few functions, but very quickly blew away MySpace. Facebook seemed easier to use, and had much less viruses. Many people felt it was safer to use because you had to join a network (high school or college) to make a Facebook page. I feel a lot more and dedication work was put in to making Facebook. Facebook has already proven to be much more successful than MySpace, and has already been around longer then MySpace. Facebook is here to stay for a while. Twitter is one of the newest forms of social networking, but much different than Facebook in many ways and the concept of Twitter is different as well. Twitter is more to stay in touch with the world, latest news, and updates. Is not as much staying in touch with friends, family or coworkers, such as Facebook is used for.
3. Transparency seems to be an important more in the social media world. People I feel choose to hide behind transparency such as disguising themselves as someone different on Facebook or a dating website. It is important to portray your true self and feeling no matter if it is in the media world or in the offline world. When interviewing with a new company or setting out to look for new jobs it is very important to be yourself, because it is the most natural thing to do. Becoming another person or someone you who your pretending to be can result in difficulties and consequences. In general transparency is used much more within the media world, more directly pointing to social networking websites, but it is more IMPORTANT in the offline world. The offline world is your REAL life, where the Internet can be someone’s pretend or fantasy/fake life they are portraying themselves in. The offline world is where you made friends, go on job interviews and attend school; these things can be very hard to be a pretend person in. Where the online world, people can become whom ever they want.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
McLuhan Photoshop Final Post
My Medium i chose was the Apple iPad. This new technology has endless capability right in the palm of your hand. My image above shows, the old and new technology that was come about over the years. The world holds all the technology ever created throughout our lifetime. Through my years of living through technology, their has been phone jack connection to the internet, which later turned into wireless connectivity. The phone jack was where you had to wait a few minutes to connect to the internet. Example when connecting to AOL, their was a dial up connection of three steps. The connection has now evolved into wireless connection. You are able to bring your laptop, anywhere you desire and connect to a wireless connection (wifi). More and more cafes, restaurants, colleges, libraries, and public transportation have the availability to connect to wifi.
The ipad is one of the newest forms of wireless connection and technology. The iPad is a wireless device with a touch screen. Another advanced concept, which is the touch screen replaced the keyboard. Phones are even available in touch tone instead of a keyboard. For a fixed payment a month your iPad will be able to connect anywhere, making it easy to access your email, internet, weather, gps/maps, books, and even download new apps or music. The iPad is much smaller than a laptop, which is great to use when traveling. The iPad is small enough to fit in a bag and use at your convenience.
Monday, February 7, 2011
New Mediums
Content- applications, text, books, audio, internet, html links, digital video, digital pictures, symbols, communication, language.
Message- The apple iPad is one of the newest products of technology. The apple iPad allows consumers to access many applications, for endless information right at the touch of their hands. Wireless internet connection is available, for a fixed price a month and allows the user to connect anywhere they desire. The applications consist of games, news, videos, books, etc. You name it, apple has an app for it. The advanced technology on this extremely advanced device is outrageous. The iPad allows quick access to internet, this product has killed off many products on the market today. After apple came out with this product: Samsung galaxy tab, Blackberry play book, Dell streak, Asus ePad, and Sony dash also developed their own form of a handheld touch screen pad.
Medium- Blackberry/BBM
Content- text, written language, messages, quick access,
symbols, pictures.
Message- The blackberry device boomed in the last two years, this phone was strictly used for business, and mostly only business professionals owned one. Now the device is used by many more people. EVERYONE has a blackberry now, when a few years ago some people never even heard of blackberry. Blackberry has come out with more advanced technology for their phones, and it can be more personalized and user friendly. The BBM (Blackberry Messenger) application, is only available on the blackberry phone. This application, is used like an Instant Message sort of like AIM but only messages can be sent blackberry to blackberry. This application, is fasted than a regular SMS message, and can be used in other countries at NO charge. When a SMS is sent in another country from an US phone one is charged a fee. Only BBM has a no fee to send messages, when in another country, from one blackberry device to another. How convenient right?
Medium-TiVo
Content- digital picture, digital video, audio
Message- New advanced technology for the TV. TiVo allows you to fast forward live TV from just a simple handheld remote. Your are able to record your favorite shows all at the same time. You can access them from a list where all your recordings are saved. You even are able to record while you are watching tv and fast forward commercials. It is a convenient way to watch your favorite shows, when you miss them on TV and just sit back and relax while you zip through those annoying commercials in the middle.
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