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.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
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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