What would my name be?
Friday, April 16, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Wiki So Far
The topic I have chosen for class Wiki is 'How Business is Using Social Networking'. I work full time and have some familiarity with the corporate world and culture (nothing to brag about here...). Although my company has blocked all social networking sites, I have active profiles on LinkedIn and Facebook. I have also heard about companies taking part in social networking within the company. All these topics make an interesting subject to research.
So, when I first saw the Wiki page, I was a bit shocked by the content that was already there. Poor grammar, poor format and sometimes incorrect choice of words. I will have a hard time editing that content. But I do not want to lose the issues that have been raised by previous authors. So, while keeping the ideas, I need to format it all to have a flow of information.
To achieve this purpose, when we were first assigned to choose a topic, I printed out the entire article thinking I would try to edit it and then type it online. But due to various flying topics and bumpy grammar, the task kind of went to the backseat after other important topics like the term paper. I moved a section up on the page and I plan to introduce the topic of basic social networking to start the article and then edit it into the business related material that is present on the Wiki.
The article can be found here.
So, when I first saw the Wiki page, I was a bit shocked by the content that was already there. Poor grammar, poor format and sometimes incorrect choice of words. I will have a hard time editing that content. But I do not want to lose the issues that have been raised by previous authors. So, while keeping the ideas, I need to format it all to have a flow of information.
To achieve this purpose, when we were first assigned to choose a topic, I printed out the entire article thinking I would try to edit it and then type it online. But due to various flying topics and bumpy grammar, the task kind of went to the backseat after other important topics like the term paper. I moved a section up on the page and I plan to introduce the topic of basic social networking to start the article and then edit it into the business related material that is present on the Wiki.
The article can be found here.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Next New Thing
Everything I can think of is probably already done and implemented, if not used in the main stream. But I haven't seen or heard anything about using holographic images.
Today, we can receive a call from a friend and make his/her picture appear on our phone screen or even associate a specific ring tone. How about associating a holographic image of that person so that one feels like they are talking in person? I wonder if the conversation would be more interesting or just too spooky. We use hands-free devices right now in our day to day life and can combine it with holographic images to make it more real. Additionally, if emotions were also to be programmed in, it would be funny to have a fight with your significant other over the phone!!!
If nurses come together to train on Second Life, maybe moving holographic images technology can help bring people together also and possibly take business meetings to a different...err...holographic level. Say, an informal family conference can be had this way or a business meeting can be conducted with everybody present...virtually. A simple phone conversation would have a lot more meaning than just a conversation when the users are in a geographically distant area, as with my parents and relatives. A moving image, even though just a hologram, of loved ones can lift your spirits beyond any measure.
Today, we can receive a call from a friend and make his/her picture appear on our phone screen or even associate a specific ring tone. How about associating a holographic image of that person so that one feels like they are talking in person? I wonder if the conversation would be more interesting or just too spooky. We use hands-free devices right now in our day to day life and can combine it with holographic images to make it more real. Additionally, if emotions were also to be programmed in, it would be funny to have a fight with your significant other over the phone!!!
If nurses come together to train on Second Life, maybe moving holographic images technology can help bring people together also and possibly take business meetings to a different...err...holographic level. Say, an informal family conference can be had this way or a business meeting can be conducted with everybody present...virtually. A simple phone conversation would have a lot more meaning than just a conversation when the users are in a geographically distant area, as with my parents and relatives. A moving image, even though just a hologram, of loved ones can lift your spirits beyond any measure.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
About my research project
Initially my focus was on a website Meetup.com and the impact of new media on the hiking community around in the NY metro area by the use of this website. I chose this topic because it is my favorite past-time. And in recent months, if not years, technology has helped get many previous non-hikers indulge in hiking. Part of the reason is social networking. Also, for many regular hikers, new media, social networking and technology has changed the way a hiker participates or organizes an event. I know this from the view point of a regular hiker and as an organizer. So i thought this might be a good topic to write about.
But as I went on to explore the research (scholarly, academic, commercial etc) in regards to new media and hiking, I turned up with nothing. It seems nobody has ever thought of this as an important topic or transformation. However, my focus shifted a little bit on all the new technology that Meetup.com had introduced in recent months. I also realized how Meetup.com is not just for hiking, but used for a variety of groups more focused on local geography than a global one as compared to Facebook or MySpace. The most important thing that jumped out to me was the emphasis on 'face-to-face' group meetings. Again, no real research is available in this area since Meetup.com itself is a pretty new company. Hence, I am combining Facebook related research (plenty of that available), introducing new media features of Meetup and comparing various features and usage.
For this purpose, I have used Google Scholar search, accessed Science Daily from Ebsco host databases available through Baruch library website and explored features of Meetup.com. I also did a couple of interviews with organizers of groups on Meetup.com.
But as I went on to explore the research (scholarly, academic, commercial etc) in regards to new media and hiking, I turned up with nothing. It seems nobody has ever thought of this as an important topic or transformation. However, my focus shifted a little bit on all the new technology that Meetup.com had introduced in recent months. I also realized how Meetup.com is not just for hiking, but used for a variety of groups more focused on local geography than a global one as compared to Facebook or MySpace. The most important thing that jumped out to me was the emphasis on 'face-to-face' group meetings. Again, no real research is available in this area since Meetup.com itself is a pretty new company. Hence, I am combining Facebook related research (plenty of that available), introducing new media features of Meetup and comparing various features and usage.
For this purpose, I have used Google Scholar search, accessed Science Daily from Ebsco host databases available through Baruch library website and explored features of Meetup.com. I also did a couple of interviews with organizers of groups on Meetup.com.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Advice to Baruch
Baruch is a commuter college. So apart from various family & job responsibilities, students do their best with the responsibility of getting good grades. They also struggle to fit in their required subject in whatever schedule allows them to do so before or after business hours. New Media is one class that is offered online and a great relief to people like me who work and take 3 subjects at college. Baruch should offer more classes online. The college already has an awareness of technology and the students are well prepared generally to adept in new technologies. These technologies are embraced with zeal and creativity. So why not foster a learning environment by keeping in terms with the current trends?
Platforms like Blackboard and especially Discussion Board can be greatly updated. I have noticed - during this New Media class and one past class - how students have opened up their views & ideas on these electronic discussions. For those other students who have trouble learning the subject matter, discussion board has helped widen their thinking and ask questions to fellow students without any shame. I say this from personal experience.
Many students have benefited from video tutorials - especially Calculus class. Although the tutorial was not professionally made, it helped tremendously. If only like Youtube, students were able to discuss some more about the topics covered in a particular video or about a particular problem in the chapter exercise. These tools will also facilitate networking and we all know there is no better tool than networking when hunting for a job!
Platforms like Blackboard and especially Discussion Board can be greatly updated. I have noticed - during this New Media class and one past class - how students have opened up their views & ideas on these electronic discussions. For those other students who have trouble learning the subject matter, discussion board has helped widen their thinking and ask questions to fellow students without any shame. I say this from personal experience.
Many students have benefited from video tutorials - especially Calculus class. Although the tutorial was not professionally made, it helped tremendously. If only like Youtube, students were able to discuss some more about the topics covered in a particular video or about a particular problem in the chapter exercise. These tools will also facilitate networking and we all know there is no better tool than networking when hunting for a job!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Privacy
At every step of the way in life today, we sign off our privacy on those 'fine print' legal stuff without thinking or even glancing at the headings. Who reads that stuff anyway? Quite a few new media creations are like that too - Facebook, Yahoo etc which require you to go through the gazillion words and click on 'I Agree' before you open an account.
We could be anyone on the net and express ourselves like we have never before. But so is true for the other people who do not have honest intentions all the time. We have come to know & use the technology too fast, without fully realizing the consequences - good and bad. While Facebook, chats or twitters (on internet) can be great for communicating with friends and relatives around the world, the medium of internet is an organic open road, prone to any hitchhiker. New media and its relative components are a great advancement in technology, communication & lifestyle, but like every other invention in the past, it has to be approached with proper information literacy education to the users.
There are apparent dangers in publishing our information online. A recruiter can search by your name and find out your activities, affiliations & comments from Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, blogs etc. A stalker can put together pieces of information and find out where & what you are in real world. Many a times, people invite trouble just by putting all personal info for everyone to see (I know at least one person who does that). While in today's age, much of our activities including paying bills & communicating happens online, we need to be extra careful in understanding what is it that we are signing off on those papers & be always skeptical in putting our personal information online.
We could be anyone on the net and express ourselves like we have never before. But so is true for the other people who do not have honest intentions all the time. We have come to know & use the technology too fast, without fully realizing the consequences - good and bad. While Facebook, chats or twitters (on internet) can be great for communicating with friends and relatives around the world, the medium of internet is an organic open road, prone to any hitchhiker. New media and its relative components are a great advancement in technology, communication & lifestyle, but like every other invention in the past, it has to be approached with proper information literacy education to the users.
There are apparent dangers in publishing our information online. A recruiter can search by your name and find out your activities, affiliations & comments from Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, blogs etc. A stalker can put together pieces of information and find out where & what you are in real world. Many a times, people invite trouble just by putting all personal info for everyone to see (I know at least one person who does that). While in today's age, much of our activities including paying bills & communicating happens online, we need to be extra careful in understanding what is it that we are signing off on those papers & be always skeptical in putting our personal information online.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
My Twitter Experience
03/17/10: I put in a question about the usefulness of job search on twitter
03/17/10: I answered to someone on a tweet about "pointless babble".
I posted and I replied. But things got complicated as more and more people started to tweet. There were a bunch of topics flying around, someone advertising a product, someone mentioning about politics, etc. It simply was a chaos for me without ever saying anything meaningful or getting anything meaningful out of it.
Class discussions or even blogs are my preferred way to discuss something. I think blogs are best to really pour down your thoughts at your own pace. The writer and the reader can submerge themselves into the topic. Not so in the ocean of messages on Twitter. I guess I am an old fashioned kind of guy who needs to take a deep breath, write and listen. I appreciate the 'instant' aspect of twitter, but honestly I do not care if you sell cheap jewelery, or if there is a great new product in the market.
Ah, and not to forget the Tweet lingo! What is up with all the '#' and '@' and all other 'b4' (read 'before') kind of language. English, English people! Isn't life 'Tweet'?
03/17/10: I answered to someone on a tweet about "pointless babble".
I posted and I replied. But things got complicated as more and more people started to tweet. There were a bunch of topics flying around, someone advertising a product, someone mentioning about politics, etc. It simply was a chaos for me without ever saying anything meaningful or getting anything meaningful out of it.
Class discussions or even blogs are my preferred way to discuss something. I think blogs are best to really pour down your thoughts at your own pace. The writer and the reader can submerge themselves into the topic. Not so in the ocean of messages on Twitter. I guess I am an old fashioned kind of guy who needs to take a deep breath, write and listen. I appreciate the 'instant' aspect of twitter, but honestly I do not care if you sell cheap jewelery, or if there is a great new product in the market.
Ah, and not to forget the Tweet lingo! What is up with all the '#' and '@' and all other 'b4' (read 'before') kind of language. English, English people! Isn't life 'Tweet'?
Monday, March 15, 2010
Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds
What are different ways these virtual worlds can be used?
As Nicole Saidi explains in her article, virtual worlds can be used to treat people suffering from autism, social disorder etc. Although no scientific proof is yet established, scientists like Dr. Volkmer have expressed confidence by getting further studies done on the subject.
One very interesting concept put in by Mark Tutton at CNN.com is the use of virtual worlds by businesses on their own networks. With IBM as a beta user, if successful, this can revolutionize how global business is done. I am sure airlines will be banging their heads against a cement wall when company executives start deciding to have a virtual meetings instead of flying to London or Monaco! A combination of various tools like file or project sharing can make a virtual meeting into a very fruitful meeting.
Another important thing to note: With this technology, a virtual simulations of war (land, air & sea) can be created to train soldiers in real life combat.
What are the pros and cons?
Pros:
- While we gather knowledge and technology about the creation of virtual worlds, as I mentioned above, there can be therapeutic advantages for people with disabilities. Something that cannot be done in real life, can be accomplished in a virtual world.
- As Alice Krueger's experience suggests (see Youtube video here), there can be virtual help rooms or discussions or groups about people's problems, where people can join in and gain knowledge without any social stigma attached.
- Another advantage (and great potential) I see is the ability to create virtual meetings.
- Entertainment is a big advantage of virtual worlds. Entertainment means involvement and business.
Cons:
- Dave Itzkoff does not like the overcrowding and the smell of stale beer at the Cake Shop. But watching that band on a computer screen is no 'rosy feet' either! Life is what it is - good, bad and ugly. Comes in various shapes, sizes and smells. You cannot avoid life!
- Humans are wired to be social with other humans. I believe too much virtuality can disrupt that wiring and create small worlds in our computers rather than in our lives leading to more isolation (Kahai Surinder in 'Going to the Virtual Office in Second Life').
- I cannot begin to describe the lack of physical activity due to this involvement in computers. The problem of obesity is well known in this country. If one is able to balance their real life & virtual life, there is no problem, but once the balance shifts in favor of the virtual world it definitely becomes dangerous.
How do virtual worlds foster creativity?
It depends on what we call creativity. Some people think cooking soup out of left-over veggies is creative, while some people think manufacturing a robot that does the cooking for you is creative. Creativity in a virtual world is confined to your mind and what you can do with click and drag & drop. But there is a definite mind set required to be able to create a virtual world or anything in it. I personally do not think myself as creative so I had a hard time navigating in Second Life. But then again, I respect that lady who learned additional skills in Second Life and got a job in real life (see Youtube video here). Now that is quite creative and brilliant! I think I would like to learn how to repair a car!
What do you think the future of virtual worlds will look like?
I am in a very confused state of mind when answering this. For a person just beginning to see and understand this virtual world, it certainly seems quite mind blowing. For argument sake, let us say everyone has a virtual world. Everyone will be more busy socializing in that world than being away from their chair. Would that overwhelm their real world? Would it become like Matrix where we - or what we think we are - is just an element of a program? But again, with the rapid changes happening today in technology and social thinking, it might just become a reality. Because of the ease of being able to get into a virtual world and behaving the way we want to, I believe people will start to blur that boundary between real and virtual (Kahai Surinder) .
As Nicole Saidi explains in her article, virtual worlds can be used to treat people suffering from autism, social disorder etc. Although no scientific proof is yet established, scientists like Dr. Volkmer have expressed confidence by getting further studies done on the subject.
One very interesting concept put in by Mark Tutton at CNN.com is the use of virtual worlds by businesses on their own networks. With IBM as a beta user, if successful, this can revolutionize how global business is done. I am sure airlines will be banging their heads against a cement wall when company executives start deciding to have a virtual meetings instead of flying to London or Monaco! A combination of various tools like file or project sharing can make a virtual meeting into a very fruitful meeting.
Another important thing to note: With this technology, a virtual simulations of war (land, air & sea) can be created to train soldiers in real life combat.
What are the pros and cons?
Pros:
- While we gather knowledge and technology about the creation of virtual worlds, as I mentioned above, there can be therapeutic advantages for people with disabilities. Something that cannot be done in real life, can be accomplished in a virtual world.
- As Alice Krueger's experience suggests (see Youtube video here), there can be virtual help rooms or discussions or groups about people's problems, where people can join in and gain knowledge without any social stigma attached.
- Another advantage (and great potential) I see is the ability to create virtual meetings.
- Entertainment is a big advantage of virtual worlds. Entertainment means involvement and business.
Cons:
- Dave Itzkoff does not like the overcrowding and the smell of stale beer at the Cake Shop. But watching that band on a computer screen is no 'rosy feet' either! Life is what it is - good, bad and ugly. Comes in various shapes, sizes and smells. You cannot avoid life!
- Humans are wired to be social with other humans. I believe too much virtuality can disrupt that wiring and create small worlds in our computers rather than in our lives leading to more isolation (Kahai Surinder in 'Going to the Virtual Office in Second Life').
- I cannot begin to describe the lack of physical activity due to this involvement in computers. The problem of obesity is well known in this country. If one is able to balance their real life & virtual life, there is no problem, but once the balance shifts in favor of the virtual world it definitely becomes dangerous.
How do virtual worlds foster creativity?
It depends on what we call creativity. Some people think cooking soup out of left-over veggies is creative, while some people think manufacturing a robot that does the cooking for you is creative. Creativity in a virtual world is confined to your mind and what you can do with click and drag & drop. But there is a definite mind set required to be able to create a virtual world or anything in it. I personally do not think myself as creative so I had a hard time navigating in Second Life. But then again, I respect that lady who learned additional skills in Second Life and got a job in real life (see Youtube video here). Now that is quite creative and brilliant! I think I would like to learn how to repair a car!
What do you think the future of virtual worlds will look like?
I am in a very confused state of mind when answering this. For a person just beginning to see and understand this virtual world, it certainly seems quite mind blowing. For argument sake, let us say everyone has a virtual world. Everyone will be more busy socializing in that world than being away from their chair. Would that overwhelm their real world? Would it become like Matrix where we - or what we think we are - is just an element of a program? But again, with the rapid changes happening today in technology and social thinking, it might just become a reality. Because of the ease of being able to get into a virtual world and behaving the way we want to, I believe people will start to blur that boundary between real and virtual (Kahai Surinder) .
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Social Networking
How can social networking technologies be used?
I am in absolute agreement with Frank Langfitt that "professional recruiters have started hunting for job candidates using social networking technologies". An initial step in the right direction for both the recruits and the recruiter, this method of searching is gaining popularity and acceptance. I believe this way of looking for potential job candidates is very modern, innovative & informed way. Not only you get the brightest people, you get people with a wide presence and recognition in the circle, industry and society. At least that is a good start instead of browsing through paper resumes! The same benefits go for the person with this LinkedIn profile.
I have always been a proponent of rotating employees in a company (on a temporary basis) so that they understand the very basis of other people's jobs and learn about the pillars of the institution they work for. Reading about Nissan's initiative to create N-Square is parallel to my thoughts(Hall, Kenji). Creating N-Square is a very thoughtful idea. Imagine knowing about your colleagues beyond the vicinity of your cubicle, the problems they face, the solutions they look for, the knowledge we can share. A company can benefit greatly from this hidden knowledge well and tap into new ways to boost morale, productivity and overall results.
Benefits to the society
There can be several examples of this kind of innovative thinking. But the bottom line is the advent of Web 2.0 and these various tools with which social networking is possible on a personal basis and now even on a professional basis. Find a friend you always thought of, or maybe never thought of, from Facebook or Batchmates.com. Recommend a past or present colleague on LinkedIn. And get recommended. Update your resume without applying to any job and still get searched by potential employers. Social networking is not only to update your status or poke someone, it is the real world where jobs change, thinking change, people change and eventually a change in society happens. It happened drastically during the wars and industrial revolution, but today we are peacefully and gradually changing through technology and networking.
News travel fast - the cousin in New Zealand had a baby, or a friend in Nigeria just informed about riots breaking out in Abuja. Information travels fast and reaches the desired audience fast.
"Dark side"
Like all things in life, there has to be a 'dark side' of this. Although I am no authority on technology, I fear that people rely on these networks too much to forget the actual human element of life. The hosts of these networks can manage to know all your private information (Vogelstein, Fred) and use it in ways the end users would never realize. What if this data is lost or stolen? I know Facebook has repeatedly been in trouble with various authorities around the world regarding privacy issues (Zee news). I still find it hard to trust any of these websites.
As for the professional side, due to the fact that even the president can see N-Square at Nissan, I believe the employees might be more than reluctant to put in their true thoughts and problems. On the contrary if the company culture encourages it, there might be open discussions also. But rarely that is encouraged by the upper management. Can the opinions you express on N-Square be used against your promotion?
I am in absolute agreement with Frank Langfitt that "professional recruiters have started hunting for job candidates using social networking technologies". An initial step in the right direction for both the recruits and the recruiter, this method of searching is gaining popularity and acceptance. I believe this way of looking for potential job candidates is very modern, innovative & informed way. Not only you get the brightest people, you get people with a wide presence and recognition in the circle, industry and society. At least that is a good start instead of browsing through paper resumes! The same benefits go for the person with this LinkedIn profile.
I have always been a proponent of rotating employees in a company (on a temporary basis) so that they understand the very basis of other people's jobs and learn about the pillars of the institution they work for. Reading about Nissan's initiative to create N-Square is parallel to my thoughts(Hall, Kenji). Creating N-Square is a very thoughtful idea. Imagine knowing about your colleagues beyond the vicinity of your cubicle, the problems they face, the solutions they look for, the knowledge we can share. A company can benefit greatly from this hidden knowledge well and tap into new ways to boost morale, productivity and overall results.
Benefits to the society
There can be several examples of this kind of innovative thinking. But the bottom line is the advent of Web 2.0 and these various tools with which social networking is possible on a personal basis and now even on a professional basis. Find a friend you always thought of, or maybe never thought of, from Facebook or Batchmates.com. Recommend a past or present colleague on LinkedIn. And get recommended. Update your resume without applying to any job and still get searched by potential employers. Social networking is not only to update your status or poke someone, it is the real world where jobs change, thinking change, people change and eventually a change in society happens. It happened drastically during the wars and industrial revolution, but today we are peacefully and gradually changing through technology and networking.
News travel fast - the cousin in New Zealand had a baby, or a friend in Nigeria just informed about riots breaking out in Abuja. Information travels fast and reaches the desired audience fast.
"Dark side"
Like all things in life, there has to be a 'dark side' of this. Although I am no authority on technology, I fear that people rely on these networks too much to forget the actual human element of life. The hosts of these networks can manage to know all your private information (Vogelstein, Fred) and use it in ways the end users would never realize. What if this data is lost or stolen? I know Facebook has repeatedly been in trouble with various authorities around the world regarding privacy issues (Zee news). I still find it hard to trust any of these websites.
As for the professional side, due to the fact that even the president can see N-Square at Nissan, I believe the employees might be more than reluctant to put in their true thoughts and problems. On the contrary if the company culture encourages it, there might be open discussions also. But rarely that is encouraged by the upper management. Can the opinions you express on N-Square be used against your promotion?
Monday, March 8, 2010
Check Out Social Networking Sites
All social networking sites are my worst dream come true - in terms of navigation and content! But I will still try to convey my feelings in the best possible way here. I have accounts with MySpace, Facebook & LinkedIn. I had stopped using MySpace a long time ago (too many junk friends requests) and had a hard time resetting my password to get info for this article.
Navigation:
It is a nightmare for me to navigate on either one of these sites with all the apps lurking around in the sentences/posts. So many people are into so many things - reading the wall posts makes me dizzy. Browsing through the information posted on the wall (some times about 50 of them), I come across maybe one item that will catch my eye - an old photo of the school cricket team. I guess that is time well spent dodging the bullets of people's rants and raves. This happens more on Facebook than MySpace. Not many people I know are on MySpace so it is quite alien to me (and everyone else). But I believe same things can be done there too.
Information:
I realize there is so much information on one page that it is quite cumbersome to decide what to do or get a good idea of the application until you spend some time on it. I compared the 'Events' pages of MySpace and Facebook. Facebook has quite a good layout of the events and seems to be more popular than MySpace. Event listing on both sites were more commercial in nature than an actual group event set up by an actual person, although Facebook seemed to have more of a personal touch to it.
One thing missing from both sites was the ability to find local events. I believe that means you can RSVP in an event happening on the other side of the world, but cannot get any clue as to what is happening locally.
Ad or App?:
I sometimes cannot tell if a certain thing is an ad or an app. I usually realize after clicking it and when 3 other windows open or I lose sight of the main page. My life is not that complicated and hence, all these apps or ads on one page make things more cumbersome than necessary. But it seems many of my friends/acquaintances are actively involved in these Apps. For example, I get requests for becoming a neighbor on 'Farmville' (an app that creates virtual farms). With some apps I had to sign up for something using my phone number. Then I got a $9.99 charge on my bill next month for some service - not by Facebook. I wonder if these ads or apps just present their catch phrases in a way that appears to have been send by your friend! Whatever maybe the case, I stopped clicking and signing any of them from that point on. I had a hard time getting that $9.99 removed from my bill.
Contents:
Without going too deep, my first impression of MySpace was that it seems to gear more towards dating and that sort of thing. Facebook however focuses on connecting and that seems to work more for a social network rather than a dating network. I have received more junk friend requests on MySpace than Facebook - be it when I actually online or offline by email. I understand you can set your preferences but then what is the point of social network if you are going to keep the door closed. I know it does not work that way, but I would rather be friends with a stranger I have met than a stranger on Facebook or MySpace. I believe in eye-contact more than wall-posts.
What do I like?
I like something professional and something that can create value. I do like the fact that many companies have their Facebook page. That is a great way to keep a following, inform the followers of the most current news or promotions, and more importantly gain feedback on a personalized basis. I like LinkedIn for my professional side. But I do feel some restraint when 'connecting' to the superiors on LinkedIn. If I am unable to connect in real life, I might not be able to connect online. Call me old school, but that is how it works for me! From personal experience, I have gained more knowledge from connections on LinkedIn than MySpace and Facebook combined.
Navigation:
It is a nightmare for me to navigate on either one of these sites with all the apps lurking around in the sentences/posts. So many people are into so many things - reading the wall posts makes me dizzy. Browsing through the information posted on the wall (some times about 50 of them), I come across maybe one item that will catch my eye - an old photo of the school cricket team. I guess that is time well spent dodging the bullets of people's rants and raves. This happens more on Facebook than MySpace. Not many people I know are on MySpace so it is quite alien to me (and everyone else). But I believe same things can be done there too.
Information:
I realize there is so much information on one page that it is quite cumbersome to decide what to do or get a good idea of the application until you spend some time on it. I compared the 'Events' pages of MySpace and Facebook. Facebook has quite a good layout of the events and seems to be more popular than MySpace. Event listing on both sites were more commercial in nature than an actual group event set up by an actual person, although Facebook seemed to have more of a personal touch to it.
One thing missing from both sites was the ability to find local events. I believe that means you can RSVP in an event happening on the other side of the world, but cannot get any clue as to what is happening locally.
Ad or App?:
I sometimes cannot tell if a certain thing is an ad or an app. I usually realize after clicking it and when 3 other windows open or I lose sight of the main page. My life is not that complicated and hence, all these apps or ads on one page make things more cumbersome than necessary. But it seems many of my friends/acquaintances are actively involved in these Apps. For example, I get requests for becoming a neighbor on 'Farmville' (an app that creates virtual farms). With some apps I had to sign up for something using my phone number. Then I got a $9.99 charge on my bill next month for some service - not by Facebook. I wonder if these ads or apps just present their catch phrases in a way that appears to have been send by your friend! Whatever maybe the case, I stopped clicking and signing any of them from that point on. I had a hard time getting that $9.99 removed from my bill.
Contents:
Without going too deep, my first impression of MySpace was that it seems to gear more towards dating and that sort of thing. Facebook however focuses on connecting and that seems to work more for a social network rather than a dating network. I have received more junk friend requests on MySpace than Facebook - be it when I actually online or offline by email. I understand you can set your preferences but then what is the point of social network if you are going to keep the door closed. I know it does not work that way, but I would rather be friends with a stranger I have met than a stranger on Facebook or MySpace. I believe in eye-contact more than wall-posts.
What do I like?
I like something professional and something that can create value. I do like the fact that many companies have their Facebook page. That is a great way to keep a following, inform the followers of the most current news or promotions, and more importantly gain feedback on a personalized basis. I like LinkedIn for my professional side. But I do feel some restraint when 'connecting' to the superiors on LinkedIn. If I am unable to connect in real life, I might not be able to connect online. Call me old school, but that is how it works for me! From personal experience, I have gained more knowledge from connections on LinkedIn than MySpace and Facebook combined.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Blogs vs. Wikis
Creation / Ownership:
Blogs are generally created by one or selected people to publish or post an online journal in a chronological form. The control of the contents remain in the hands of a few creators. Wikis are generally created by a group of users to publish or post as a website in no specific form. In fact, Wikis present a decentralized control in a community setting (class reading).
Collaboration / Editing:
Editing a post in a blog is usually reserved by the post's creator. Other owners of the blog are able to comment on the article or publish a completely a new topic for others to comment. Wikis, on the other hand, are a free form medium and the entries can be edited by anyone in the user group in any form.
Creativity / Content:
Blogs are usually about a personal opinion or observation or a topic of discussion. The contents are therefore more individualistic (YouTube Video: Blogs in Plain English). Wikis are about creating a shared knowledge database i.e. highly public content (YouTube Video: Wikis in Plain English).
Communication:
Blogs are a means to communicate one opinion, disclosure or event at a time. Hence the process of communication is concise, slow and rigid. However, Wikis allow collaboration and communication from all sources making the flow of information detailed, fast and flexible.
Purpose:
Blogs are considered an alternate to webpages which require knowledge of special codes and design sense (Communication and Collaboration on the Internet: Blogs, Wikis, ...). It is also a fast and easy way to communicate from an individual view point. For example, the birth of a child in the family or the home team winning the local school championship etc.
Wiki on the other hand is a website that brings in streams of information on a single topic to form a pool of information which can be enhanced by anyone in the community. For example, information on the Moon can be started and updated by anyone on a single page.
Blogs are generally created by one or selected people to publish or post an online journal in a chronological form. The control of the contents remain in the hands of a few creators. Wikis are generally created by a group of users to publish or post as a website in no specific form. In fact, Wikis present a decentralized control in a community setting (class reading).
Collaboration / Editing:
Editing a post in a blog is usually reserved by the post's creator. Other owners of the blog are able to comment on the article or publish a completely a new topic for others to comment. Wikis, on the other hand, are a free form medium and the entries can be edited by anyone in the user group in any form.
Creativity / Content:
Blogs are usually about a personal opinion or observation or a topic of discussion. The contents are therefore more individualistic (YouTube Video: Blogs in Plain English). Wikis are about creating a shared knowledge database i.e. highly public content (YouTube Video: Wikis in Plain English).
Communication:
Blogs are a means to communicate one opinion, disclosure or event at a time. Hence the process of communication is concise, slow and rigid. However, Wikis allow collaboration and communication from all sources making the flow of information detailed, fast and flexible.
Purpose:
Blogs are considered an alternate to webpages which require knowledge of special codes and design sense (Communication and Collaboration on the Internet: Blogs, Wikis, ...). It is also a fast and easy way to communicate from an individual view point. For example, the birth of a child in the family or the home team winning the local school championship etc.
Wiki on the other hand is a website that brings in streams of information on a single topic to form a pool of information which can be enhanced by anyone in the community. For example, information on the Moon can be started and updated by anyone on a single page.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Old Media vs. New Media
As I mentioned in my earlier blog, old media is being replaced by new media at a brisk pace. Just take a scroll down this historical event page! The 19th and 20th century advances in technology have drastically changed the way humans live today. It does not mean that we are done inventing new stuff. It merely means we are at a turning point in a circle of change - a constant change - more rapid than ever in the past 20000 years. Imagine this - pigeons, horsemen & postman used to deliver messages for thousands of years. Then in 1876 Alexander Graham Bell invents telephone and suddenly there were a 100 million lines in less than 100 years of innovation. Goodbye messengers! According to CIA World Fact Book, there are more than 2 billion lines in the world now. Hello internet!
Today's new media means yesterday's media is old. However, today's new media also means that tomorrow this will be old. Let us take an example of VHS tapes. With the popularity of VHS tapes from 70s onwards, it was widely thought the cinema industry will take a huge hit because nobody will want to go to a theater to watch movies anymore. But it has not happened that way. Instead, VHS has been replaced by DVD and Blu-ray discs and the cinema industry is still going strong. To learn from this example, VHS was a form of new media at one point of time, but it became old when DVDs came in. Same can be said for paper books being replaced by ebooks, which are gaining popularity today (Savikas Andrew). Although not as obsolete as VHS, paper books are still not out of fashion. But we are in the middle of a change - a transition between the old and the new. Take a look around in the NYC subway and you can see this change first hand. Someone reading a paperback while the next person is browsing a collection on Kindle!
Music records and album CDs are on a constant decline. Whereas sales of single songs have been rising (Hanson Joyce). The reason is mobility and the hectic pace of life. Again, look in the subway. Many people have their headphones on listening to the music or watching their favorite shows - creating their own little world - in the chaos of NYC morning rush hour. It shows that people's likings and preferences have changed over time along with social structures and how people interact with other humans.
A recent Wall Street Journal article 'Dolce & Gabbana Go Live' by Christina Brinkley focuses on media changes in fashion shows. Dolce & Gabbana are beginning to livestream their Milan fashion shows on iPhone. Contrary to traditional thinking that fashion show is considered a feast for eyes, this will change the market, not only at the venue of the fashion show, but around the world where people can see it - live.
New media is constantly being developed and our lifestyles are constantly changing because of that.
Today's new media means yesterday's media is old. However, today's new media also means that tomorrow this will be old. Let us take an example of VHS tapes. With the popularity of VHS tapes from 70s onwards, it was widely thought the cinema industry will take a huge hit because nobody will want to go to a theater to watch movies anymore. But it has not happened that way. Instead, VHS has been replaced by DVD and Blu-ray discs and the cinema industry is still going strong. To learn from this example, VHS was a form of new media at one point of time, but it became old when DVDs came in. Same can be said for paper books being replaced by ebooks, which are gaining popularity today (Savikas Andrew). Although not as obsolete as VHS, paper books are still not out of fashion. But we are in the middle of a change - a transition between the old and the new. Take a look around in the NYC subway and you can see this change first hand. Someone reading a paperback while the next person is browsing a collection on Kindle!
Music records and album CDs are on a constant decline. Whereas sales of single songs have been rising (Hanson Joyce). The reason is mobility and the hectic pace of life. Again, look in the subway. Many people have their headphones on listening to the music or watching their favorite shows - creating their own little world - in the chaos of NYC morning rush hour. It shows that people's likings and preferences have changed over time along with social structures and how people interact with other humans.
A recent Wall Street Journal article 'Dolce & Gabbana Go Live' by Christina Brinkley focuses on media changes in fashion shows. Dolce & Gabbana are beginning to livestream their Milan fashion shows on iPhone. Contrary to traditional thinking that fashion show is considered a feast for eyes, this will change the market, not only at the venue of the fashion show, but around the world where people can see it - live.
New media is constantly being developed and our lifestyles are constantly changing because of that.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
New Media Research Project
Topic of Research: Effects of New Media on social recreation - specifically the hiking community
Description: Traditional thinking about technology is a desk, a chair, a computer and an internet connection - in other words a sedentary life. I wish to explore beyond the thinking of the medium of internet as an armchair or "geeky" activity. I am interested in showing how one can become active by using this medium and engage with other humans, i.e., actually meet in person and interact (not dating) as opposed to being active online by twittering or the like. In order to do this, I will focus my research on the hiking community in the Northeast region of the US. I wish to do an analysis on the past and present of the hiking community by contacting leaders of various groups and study a website called Meetup.com through which this community has been greatly impacted in recent years. Finally I will give an explanation on the various features of this website and how they facilitate this changed active social phenomenon.
Description: Traditional thinking about technology is a desk, a chair, a computer and an internet connection - in other words a sedentary life. I wish to explore beyond the thinking of the medium of internet as an armchair or "geeky" activity. I am interested in showing how one can become active by using this medium and engage with other humans, i.e., actually meet in person and interact (not dating) as opposed to being active online by twittering or the like. In order to do this, I will focus my research on the hiking community in the Northeast region of the US. I wish to do an analysis on the past and present of the hiking community by contacting leaders of various groups and study a website called Meetup.com through which this community has been greatly impacted in recent years. Finally I will give an explanation on the various features of this website and how they facilitate this changed active social phenomenon.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
New Media - What is it?
Is it surfing the web and browsing all the information? Or is it just another Facebook or Twitter to keep ourselves socially busy? Is it some kind of geeky language or AI away from mainstream life? Does NM even help us anywhere? To understand New Media (NM), it is important to understand what NM does.
What are the tools of NM?
An answer to this will clarify a bundle of questions.
Some examples of NM are:
- Cell phone
- Interactive TV
- Computer
- Software, databases
- eBook readers from Amazon Kindle or Barnes & Nobles' nook
What are the tools of Old Media? Some examples are:
- Rotary phone
- Radio
- Books and magazines
- Calculator
How are the old tools enhanced by NM?
To give some examples from class readings on Old Media vs. New Media, and as is common knowledge now, books are being replaced by eBooks that can be carried around on Kindle or nook. One eBook reader can carry hundreds of books in a digital format. Traditional paper journalism is being replaced (although not entirely) by blogs like this one where anyone can express and publish without any restraint (Claire Cain Miller). Land line phones are being taken over by VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) making it dirt cheap to talk to your friends or family in any part of the world. Printed photographs are on the verge of extinction and being replaced by online albums on Flickr or Picasa for sharing and commenting. This is actually making photography a lot more affordable for ordinary people compared to just 10 years ago. A calculator was also a NM at one point of time. Same with the invention of radio. But today's NM consists of interactive devices, a TV where we can send our responses to a poll originated in a TV studio or digital radio where song information and lyrics are relayed along with the song and if you like that song you can mark it for future download from the radio station's website. Or better yet, use a Podcast service to bring it directly to your listening device (Daniel Terdiman).
How has Internet helped fuel the development of NM?
However, NM is not just a tool, not just a device, not just an idea or phenomenon. NM is a collective concept of all the above that changes the way we communicate, gain knowledge, interact and inform others by using the latest innovations and technologies. Speedy transfer of information/interaction plays a very important role. An invaluable tool/medium is the Internet. You will not be able to read this if it were not for Internet web sites or browsing. As if watching TV on a computer is not enough, today even an air-conditioner or oven or DVR or TiVo in your home can be turned on or off by a few clicks from your office miles away - made possible by networking and Internet (Holson Laura). Almost all of the tools of NM are dependent on the Internet. Take for example the song marking action. This would not even exist were it not for Internet. And nor would Facebook where people grow vegetables and cultivate crops on cyber farms to satisfy their need for creativity and increase their social connections (online).
In today's world, we can safely say that NM tools and techniques facilitated by the Internet are revolutionizing the way we humans live.
What are the tools of NM?
An answer to this will clarify a bundle of questions.
Some examples of NM are:
- Cell phone
- Interactive TV
- Computer
- Software, databases
- eBook readers from Amazon Kindle or Barnes & Nobles' nook
What are the tools of Old Media? Some examples are:
- Rotary phone
- Radio
- Books and magazines
- Calculator
How are the old tools enhanced by NM?
To give some examples from class readings on Old Media vs. New Media, and as is common knowledge now, books are being replaced by eBooks that can be carried around on Kindle or nook. One eBook reader can carry hundreds of books in a digital format. Traditional paper journalism is being replaced (although not entirely) by blogs like this one where anyone can express and publish without any restraint (Claire Cain Miller). Land line phones are being taken over by VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) making it dirt cheap to talk to your friends or family in any part of the world. Printed photographs are on the verge of extinction and being replaced by online albums on Flickr or Picasa for sharing and commenting. This is actually making photography a lot more affordable for ordinary people compared to just 10 years ago. A calculator was also a NM at one point of time. Same with the invention of radio. But today's NM consists of interactive devices, a TV where we can send our responses to a poll originated in a TV studio or digital radio where song information and lyrics are relayed along with the song and if you like that song you can mark it for future download from the radio station's website. Or better yet, use a Podcast service to bring it directly to your listening device (Daniel Terdiman).
How has Internet helped fuel the development of NM?
However, NM is not just a tool, not just a device, not just an idea or phenomenon. NM is a collective concept of all the above that changes the way we communicate, gain knowledge, interact and inform others by using the latest innovations and technologies. Speedy transfer of information/interaction plays a very important role. An invaluable tool/medium is the Internet. You will not be able to read this if it were not for Internet web sites or browsing. As if watching TV on a computer is not enough, today even an air-conditioner or oven or DVR or TiVo in your home can be turned on or off by a few clicks from your office miles away - made possible by networking and Internet (Holson Laura). Almost all of the tools of NM are dependent on the Internet. Take for example the song marking action. This would not even exist were it not for Internet. And nor would Facebook where people grow vegetables and cultivate crops on cyber farms to satisfy their need for creativity and increase their social connections (online).
In today's world, we can safely say that NM tools and techniques facilitated by the Internet are revolutionizing the way we humans live.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Road Closed
I was supposed to go hiking with Catskill 3500 club today. But I messed up! The road leading to the trail head was CLOSED for winter. Duh! But I still hiked the closed road since it was covered in snow. A couple of miles into the hike, the road opened up with cars on it. I was confused. I then realized that only a section of the road was closed and that the road could have been accessed from the other side of the mountain. Duh! again. I was never able to meet the group due to my foolishness. I hiked all the way to the trail head and saw their entry in the register book. I was a bit depressed. I hiked back to my car. Anyway, so after a round trip hike of 5 miles, I can back to the car and drove back home. At least I got to get out there and play with the icicles - not bad for a 25F day!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Scary New Media...
I will be honest here. I took New Media class thinking it would be a breeze to pass through. I have already run into a rock face here in creating a blog. Some might think it is so easy to create a blog. But I do not think so. You require a lot of creative thinking to keep this up and running. Plus you have to be technologically advanced. At present I feel like I am speaking into a camera without a cameraman - not knowing if the camera is rolling or not.
Secretly looking...
I thought how was anyone going to figure out how to publish a blog, let alone create it. But to my utter dismay, it seemed everybody else in the class already had one up and running. Boy am I behind or what. These youngsters never miss a chance to do something on the web. I don't think I am going to catch up with them anytime soon. So I decided to keep my pace, along with my abilities to just keep doing whatever I can do best. It will eventually lead me somewhere.
Suddenly after creating my blog and looking around on the net, I have discovered a completely new world. Is everyone just tweeting? Is everyone just blogging? Is there so much to say and express? I am truly amazed at this.
I think I will go back to working a little. yawn...
Suddenly after creating my blog and looking around on the net, I have discovered a completely new world. Is everyone just tweeting? Is everyone just blogging? Is there so much to say and express? I am truly amazed at this.
I think I will go back to working a little. yawn...
For starters...
Totally confused and utterly dismayed by the blogging world! I have started this blog for the New Media class at Baruch College. Not knowing where to start or go or stop, I am going to keep typing.
I live in the Riverdale area of NYC. This area is known as ‘NYC’s best kept secret’. Yeah right!!! It is truly a beautiful area to live and I love it there. The commute into Manhattan is a pain in the wrong part, however. But the hills and greenery make up for it.
I have lived in NYC for about 6 years now. Not too crazy about the traffic, but definitely attracted to the vibe. In order to escape from the squeezy commute and constant hustle-bustle of the city, I often hike into the Catskill Mountains in upstate NY. I also organize & lead hikes there. This is my group http://www.meetup.com/NortheastHighPeaks/.
By profession, I am an accountant at a Japanese air-conditioner manufacturing company in Midtown Manhattan. I also go to Baruch College part-time to accumulate enough credits for the CPA exam. First the qualifying studies, then the CPA studies. Feels like I am never getting out of school. I am 36 now, gray hair and all!
I live in the Riverdale area of NYC. This area is known as ‘NYC’s best kept secret’. Yeah right!!! It is truly a beautiful area to live and I love it there. The commute into Manhattan is a pain in the wrong part, however. But the hills and greenery make up for it.
I have lived in NYC for about 6 years now. Not too crazy about the traffic, but definitely attracted to the vibe. In order to escape from the squeezy commute and constant hustle-bustle of the city, I often hike into the Catskill Mountains in upstate NY. I also organize & lead hikes there. This is my group http://www.meetup.com/NortheastHighPeaks/.
By profession, I am an accountant at a Japanese air-conditioner manufacturing company in Midtown Manhattan. I also go to Baruch College part-time to accumulate enough credits for the CPA exam. First the qualifying studies, then the CPA studies. Feels like I am never getting out of school. I am 36 now, gray hair and all!
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