Blog: Next New

A new media that does not exist is virtual reality social networking. I believe this will be very possible within the next five years. How I imagine it is that use of virtual reality gear such as the Oculus Rift to have a virtual face to face conversation with someone. We will have the option to select a background and music to chat in.  A gear will be used to scan your face and body to display a completely realistic replica. I can visualize this new type of media being either an add-on to Facebook/Skype, or a completely new company. Since we have both the technology to create virtual images of ourselves and the technology to connect with a virtual reality gear, this type of media will be the next new thing.

Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds

There are both useful and dangerous uses of virtual worlds. Sometime around 2008-2011, virtual worlds were very popular. Games like Second Life, Sims, and even Grand Theft Auto were the most played and best sold games. People used these games as an expansion to their imagination; to do whatever they wanted to do. It was the trend back then. Virtual worlds served as a stimulation to our creativity by playing as, essentially, 'god'. Players have the option to control a character. In Sims, players can build houses with a few button clicks. This accelerated gameplay is what attracts users to continue playing. However, some may view virtual worlds as an escape path from reality. Some users may be impacted negatively in real life by using virtual worlds to avoid their problems.

I believe that virtual worlds have gotten less popular over the recent years. Advanced technology have developed an even more intricate version the virtual worlds, The Virtual Reality. Instead of playing as a character behind a screen, users are able to experience games in first person point of view. This upgrade allows a more submerged and realistic gameplay, making virtual worlds a thing of the past. I believe that the future of the virtual modeling concept will have users fully dive into a simulation, almost like having a completely lucid dream. It will be a very scary yet exciting experience.

Source:

"Virtual world may impact real-world behaviour." Health24. N.p., 10 Feb. 2014. Web. 16 May 2017.

Mehta, Diane. "After Second Life, Can Virtual Worlds Get a Reboot?" Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 01 May 2013. Web. 17 May 2017.

Blog Social networking

Social networking has a lot of benefits. It is a platform that allows anyone to connect with each other. Companies can use this technology to advertise their brand, directly exposing them to more potential customers and clients. Sometimes companies can even pay social networking platform to allow them for brand placement.

Social networks allow a more connected world. Facebook aims to do exactly that. However, there are ups and downs to a more connected world. Something good that Facebook has added is their updated search function. The function lets the users tailor their searches. This allows finding people a lot easier and can help users connect with lost connections.

A dark reality to Facebook is that this social platform is so widely used that it replaces some people's social life. Hilary Stout of the New York Times calls this antisocial networking. Teenagers often spend so much time chatting online that they have completely translated their social life onto the webs. In the future, I believe that platforms like Facebook have so much potential to grow that they will have complete control over our private lives. They may even add a live location search for every user, completely wiping out our privacy.

Source:

"Facebook search." Tribunedigital-chicagotribune. N.p., 15 Jan. 2013. Web. 16 May 2017.

Stout, Hilary. "Antisocial Networking?" The New York Times. The New York Times, 01 May 2010. Web. 16 May 2017.

Blog: Wiki So Far

I have not edited the Wiki as of right now. However, I do plan on adding a fitness section into the Wiki. Over these past few years, there has been a massive growth in the fitness industry, especially in bodybuilding and powerlifting. The industry has grown so big thanks to the use of new media. There are tons of excellent fitness Youtube channels out there that provide quality fitness resources for those who want to begin. I think it is necessary to spread useful information to promote this healthy community into the public.

Blog: P2P

What is file sharing?

File sharing is the sharing of data across two or more platforms. The data that is transferred can be any type of information. File sharing can uses a medium, such as a website or a platform to get the file across. Usually it would require the file to be uploaded first, then downloaded afterwards.

What is P2P file sharing?

P2P file sharing is the transfer of data from using a large network. In a sense, it is a more direct way of transferring data. It allows users to access information by connecting with other computers who have this content. It is a collaborative network that requires many users to function.

What are some examples of P2P file sharing?

Some examples of P2P file sharing include torrents, Skype, and Bitcoins.

Blog: Privacy

Nowadays, privacy and confidentiality are pretty much non-existent in new media. We are all aware that our data can be compromised and sold to third parties. We still use new media knowingly. This is because we have lowered our sensitivity towards keeping our information safe and private. Facebook Privacy is a big oxymoron because the platform is basically a book that illustrates who we are. Of course, it depends on the frequency of your uploads, but any small activity on Facebook can reflect who you are as a person.

Blog: Advice

Since Baruch is considered to have the most on-campus activities out of all the other CUNYs, we can use that to our advantages. We can use new media to advertise and market our clubs, organizations, and events to the public. Also, we should implement a visitor section for students from other CUNYs to enter the college. We can use new media to welcome CUNY students to participate in our clubs and events.

Creativity and New Media

Memes are still very popular in today's Internet society. I often create memes of my friends in an attempt to embarrass them. Since I always made memes on other people, I thought of maybe making a meme of myself.

HW Creativity

Over the years, media has slowly shaped itself towards the culture of the generation. Content on media is often a reflection of who and what the culture is, especially in the United States. As far back as I can remember, the Internet was simply a tool to access useful information and current news. The expansion of the Internet allowed new media to increase their capabilities. Besides information, there is a vast majority of people who use the Internet for entertainment. Now, Internet entertainment is revolving around parodies, memes, and viral videos. For example, Disney allowed content creators to turn their famous characters like Mickey mouse and Winnie the Pooh into rap stars. Disney is aware of the current pop culture and probably allowed it for more publicity as well. The Internet has gotten a lot more creative because of the sheer amount of media tools made available to them.

Blog about Twitter

Twitter is a very fast paced and versatile platform. It may be served as a class discussion board, but that is not its main usage. It is not ideal to have a class discussion with Twitter. Although Twitter is really simple to use, when too many people join into a discussion using hashtags, it can get extremely confusing. A discussion board is the most ideal place to, well, have a discussion. Although the discussion board does not have as many functions as Twitter, it serves the one purpose we need, a organized discussion fitted for large groups. Personally, I would use Twitter for updates and one on one discussions, but never a large group. Of course, an in-class discussion beats the above two because not only is it in real life, but it is in an extremely organized setting that promotes a thoughtful discussion. By that, I mean there is an instructor that guides every single topic of the discussion and will most likely come out more fruitful than anything online.

Blog: Social networking sites

I have visited four social media sites and made several conclusions about each. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Reddit are all very popular social media sites, but they do not share the same purpose. On the surface, they might look like four platforms to share personal information, but that is false. Facebook has turned into a site of endless video sharing and content sharing. I can say for most people, there are more videos and pictures posted by entertainment pages than actual friends on the newsfeed. Twitter is a very fast pace platform with a limit on word count. It is very simple to use and is very versatile. Instagram serves very different purposes based on the user. Most people share their pictures with their friends on Instagram, but there are other uses too. Entertainment pages can use the platform as a marketing strategy. Celebrities can use it to connect with their fans. Reddit, however, is a information based platform. Users upload links and pictures to the public. It is more like a forum than a personal platform. Personally, I use Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Reddit the most. These are my four staples of social media, not so much Twitter.

Blog v Wiki

Blogs and Wikis are both types of content sharing for internet users. Wikis and Blogs serve different and similar purposes. Before comparing and contrasting these two platforms, it is important to understand what they are. A Wiki is a platform used for groups of people to contribute their information. In other words, it is a collaborating platform. On the other hand, blogs are more of a personalized platform because each blog belongs to a different person. Blogs are used for different purposes, but they all pertain to the sharing of an individual's ideas and thoughts; think a private and creative version of a Wiki.

While creating a Wiki, there are common mistake patterns that users tend to follow. An unclear purpose can instantly ruin a Wiki because it would essential ruin the main purpose, to spread information. Ignoring feedback is also one of the mistakes a Wiki creator can make. Feedback provides an important critical lens to the Wiki and can help with a page's improvement.  A new way to use a wiki is a professional wiki where only professionals with the correct licensing can post and edit, providing a web of rich and credible content.

A blog can be used for many different purposes. One blog in Brooklyn was used to help in a drug raid. This is an example of how blogs can be used for collaboration. This shows the limitless possibilities of a blog. Since a blog is so personalized, the owner has the freedom to post whatever he and she wants without following any rules, which is one of the pros of having a blog.

When we talk about the convergence of the networked world, blogs and wikis have their importance. Both of these platforms are mainly used to connect people to their interests. It causes a smoother flow of information and thoughts because each blog and wiki feeds information catered towards their audience.

Source:

Wiki While You Work; The technology popularized by Wikipedia can help companies gather and manage their own collective knowledge. Here's how to get started by Margaret Locher. CIO, May 1, 2008. Vol. 21, Iss. 14.

Wilson, Michael. "Brooklyn Blog Helps Lead to Drug Raid." The New York Times. The New York Times, 25 June 2008. Web. 25 Feb. 2017.

Internet Viralism

The Internet quickly became our main medium to get ideas across. People have access to massive amounts of information with a click of a button. Occasionally, an idea, opinion, criticism, or even verbal abuse can catch the eyes of many. The information then spreads across the Internet like wildfire. Something really small on the Internet can become viral in one day. It only requires users to click a button to share it on social media. The butterfly effect is a theory which states that an extremely small disturbance can lead to a large occurrence or change. This effect is analogous to the behavior of the Internet and its users. The web that the Internet created has somewhat linked all of us together, but have turned us into narcissistic beings in the process. Viral information feeds off of people’s need for attention.