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.