My New Media Class - So far

Theres a myriad of technologies used for new media. Mainly pertaining to the use of the internet, these technologies use new software to produce applications and websites that can be called New Media. Youtube for example, is a site where people can view vidoes uploaded by anyone. This creates a comuunity of video watchers and makers, who communicate through video medium. Another site like Twitter, uses applications for micro-blogging. Twitter allows for dispertion of information, a lot of it useless, about one's life. It can be used for news too. Here we see how Old Media like Television news broadcasters can use Twitter(New Media) to deliver news to everyone with access to the internet,as well as land you a job.(http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/21/fashion/21whiz.html)
New Media is improving on Old media, making it possible for social networking, efficient sharing of information, and communication. Blogs allow for anyone to be a journalist sort to speak. Wikis allow people to work on projects easier, by allowing access to editing and formating to users.

Virtual Worlds

Since I'm a gamer, and have played mmorpgs I found the topic of virtual worlds interesting. However I have never made a Second Life account, and will most likely never make one

So theres softwares out there that create a world where one has the freedom to be anyone, do anything, and just have fun. Most prominent is Second Life. It's a huge virtual world and it provides a space for "living" out your desires. Since its software that can be updated and changed, it therefore allows for changes in use for these virtual worlds. While you can dance, be a DJ, play sports , and fly in Second Life, you can also use The virtual world to treat various social issues of the user. Since its not real physical interaction between humans, a person with antisocial behaviors or fear of interaction can learn and adapt to it easier. Also people who aren't able to live life to its max because of illness or physical handicaps can live in the virtual world without problems(http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/03/28/sl.autism.irpt/index.html#cnnSTCText)

Companies can also use virtual world to train workers. It might be able to reduce cost, and produce better learning results. There's plenty of potential for virtual worlds in businesses and education.(http://www.workforce.com/section/00/article/24/61/08.html)

Twitter

OK so I started a Twitter account. Not impressed with it, but it serves its function well. It lets you chronicle you life in little bits, and allows news to spread instantly and to everyone. Using Twitter to have an in-class discussion, I found it easy to respond to others tweets and my only issues is perhaps the limit on characters. However I can't blame the creators as no one likes to read a wall of text, would make twitter no a micro blogging kind of site,but a regular old Blogging site.

If you are really interested in keeping up with certain people, without really wanting to spend time looking deep into their lives, Twitter is good for you. I felt its better than BB discussion board, although I don't honestly remember using BB discussion board. BB is not reliable anyways, but its not as instant and doesn't have the presentation Twitter has. So overall I'm still not loving Twitter because I find it dumb to let people know the little things occurring throughout the day.

Social Networking

Social Networking has evolved from meeting people at public places, to meeting people on the World Wide Web. These days New Media sites like Facebook and Twitter has made it easier for people who would never have made contact in their everyday life to socialize and share information. You can post pics of yourself and others, share videos of yourself and others, post what you are currently doing, start interest groups, and so onn and so forth. Online Social Networking is creating a change in the way we behave in our lives, expanding our horizons by being able to communicate faster and easier.

Social Networking has many uses. Twitter which lets you post snippets of your life( also called microblogging) can be used by companies to find out what their customers think about their products. Companies like Dell, Microsoft, Apple, Starbucks etc. get feedback from Twitter users and can address issues in an attempt to improve quality(http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/14/technology/internet/14twitter.html). Twitter has a search function, making this easier. A negative is the sheer volume of tweets which can hamper companies who are really trying to find customers take on products and services.

As Twitter user, it can work in reverse. What I mean by that is if you have a complaint about Apple for example, you can use Twitter or some other social networking tools like blogs and Facebook to get your message out there. It may feel like no one is listening, but they are. Customer Service Issues? Tweet about it, put it on your status update and just get that complaint across to as many people as possible. This may end in a good thing for you.

Other ways this social networking tool can work for you is for news. If you are in a worse case scenario, Tweeting about it can be the first line news about it. You can get the news out there before other news media do; news media have used Twitter to get breaking news before. During the Iranian Elections, Twitter was used tell the world of the situation there. Twitter can also help in the operating room(http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/09/tweeting-from-the-operating-room/). Doctors can keep patients family updated on the surgery.

Facebook has helped people organize social gatherings. Some people have met significant others with Social networking sites. Overall, it has done good. The Darkside of the these social networking are the volume of irrelevant stuff on Twitter. Also there is dangers of harrasment online, cyber stalkers and what not. Sharing your information online means other people can see it, and can compromise your job and personal relationships.

Good or bad the effects of Social Networking as it pertains to New Media are great.

Social Networking Sites

Facebook is the first SN site I visited , having an account there already. I enjoy using facebook. It's a simple,easy, and clean application. I loved having my old and new friends on there. Nowadays in this fast paced world it can be hard to keep up with the people you have met over the years. Facebook makes its easier, because searching for people under their real name, and the popularity of facebook insures that you have a good chance of find that person.
Myspace is more personal. You can make it your own unqiue site , contoured to your personality. While facebook has its own layout, myspace offers the chance to make it up with html coding. I dont really like Myspace. Although it's chnaged a lot since i stopped using it, its basically biting off facebook. Also I still find some aspects of myspace annoying, like random strangers adding you, a sense of unfamiliarity with old online pals, and commenting is annoying.
I can't say much about friendster. It looks kind of outdated, but people keep using it. No idea why.