The Next New Media

A type of new media that doesn't exist (or at least I'm not aware of or it may not be that popular) would be a website or an app that would search for deals on specific products you enter in the search bar.  The site would be like an expedia.com for products.  You would search for a specific product, let's say the iPod Nano 7th generation, and the results would return the top sellers or websites with the best deals.  You can then share these deals on social networks should you choose to.  Also, it would be beneficial to the buyer, if this site was linked to ebates.com, a website that pays you to shop by receiving a percentage of the purchase price as a rebate on your purchases each quarter.

Our Class Wiki So Far...

Unfortunately, to date, I have not contributed to our class wiki page.   Visiting the wiki page and reviewing the instructions appear overwhelming and intimidating, however I am optimistic that once I begin to work my way through the wiki page, it'll be a breeze. (let's hope!).  

 

As I have a passion for all things beauty, I thought I would take this opportunity and create and/or contribute to a fashion/beauty page that will show the impacts new media has had in this industry and how many people have become reliant on social media for updates, swatches, trends and the like on beauty and fashion.  Additionally, I'd like to take a look at  how companies have taken to these social media platforms to market and promote their brand and products.  I have been collecting information on the relationship of new media on fashion and beauty with the goal to provide clear and concise information from both the company and user point of view.

P2P File Sharing

Have you ever heard of Dropbox or GoogleDocs?  Well if you're like me and in college, there's no such thing as "I'll email you that file" but rather "I'll share that file" with you.  Dropbox and GoogleDocs have created web-based platforms for users to store and share files via cloud storage.   These "cloud" spaces not only provide space for you to store photos, music, and documents, but  allow users to share and give access to others - hence the term file sharing.  File sharing is the practice of distributing and/or providing access to stored information through a computer program, network, or Internet.  

 

A more sophisticated and advanced version of this technique is known as Peer to Peer (P2P) file sharing.  P2P file sharing allows users to access media files using a specialized P2P software program that searches for other connected computers on a P2P network and locates the desired content.  An excellent example of P2P file sharing is Napster.  As many of you may recall, Napster was originally the pioneer of P2P file sharing of music.  Unfortunately, the company ran into legal issues over copyright infringement and was shut down.  Today, Napster has merged with Rhapsody where you can listen to music for free and if interested in keeping the song on your device, you must pay a fee.

 

P2P file sharing is not just for the music, books, and photo industry, it has made its way to the financial world as seen in an article entitled Peers Find Less Pressure Borrowing From Each Other by Wendy Kaufman.  The article describes Lending Club, a peer to peer lending company that provides a direct funding process between the investors and the borrowers, and provides a prime example of a woman with excellent credit who wanted to consolidate her credit card debt for a reasonable rate.  Guess where she turned to?  Lending Club! While this peer to peer lending is steadily growing it will take a long time for consumers to change their behavior when it comes to banking - conventional banks won't be out of business in my lifetime!

 

 

Privacy and Confidentiality

As new media increases and becomes a staple in our personal and work environments, concerns over privacy and confidentiality rise.  One obvious correlation can be seen in social networking sites where users post and expose all sorts of pictures and commentary assuming they are protected by their privacy settings.  Additionally, some people go further and carelessly reveal personal information such as phone numbers, work/home addresses, email addresses, and the like.  Exposing such information can lead to harassment, stalking, and potential identity theft. 

 

I believe what's lacking in new media is privacy and confidentiality awareness.  Too many users rely on privacy settings without realizing that once information is available on the web, it is available for all to see regardless of your privacy setting.   Also, some site privacy settings are so complex that they are difficult to monitor and ensure its effectiveness.  Truthfully, if you don't want something out there on the web for all to see, then don't post it anywhere! This way your information and/or pictures remain secured and confidential, and privacy is kept safe.

New Media Advice to Baruch College

If I were hired by Baruch College to use new media to improve the College, some of the suggestions I would make is the integration on establishing an online presence in class with the use of Twitter, Blogs and web conferencing tools. I believe this integration can be possible if more hybrid classes were created. 

 

A hybrid class is when a class meets both in person and online, with time usually split in an equal ratio, 50/50.  I participated in a hybrid class on the topic of virtual teams last Fall and truly enjoyed the structure.  The class met twice a week, once in class, and the other online, usually synchronously.  In order to do so, we used a combination of Blackboard Collaborate and Google Hangout - web conferencing platforms. This allowed students to still see and hear one another while collaborating on a project through screen sharing or use of the whiteboard.

 

Another idea that would encourage students to participate in a class structure that promotes and establishes an online presence, would be to incentivize utilization through competition especially in groups.  An example would be for groups to compete with one another on most creative blog design and blog post content.

 

The ideas around the usage of new media in the classroom are endless.  What's important is the effectiveness and take away a student receives after class is over.  The College, including Professors, must be innovative and creative when structuring a class around new media.

Creativity and New Media

I mentioned in an earlier post that Instagram is one of my favorite social networking sites as I have a passion for all things beauty.  No, I am no beauty guru, but I enjoy staying updated on the latest beauty trends and products and find that Instagram satisfies this love of mine.  What I didn't mention was that I enjoy sharing my techniques and products with the beauty community in return. 

 

Instagram is well known for sharing collage photos and most recently short videos.  Downloading applications that are compatible with Instagram allow users endless opportunities to become creative in their posts.   My favorite apps are  InstaCollage, InstaFrame, moreBeaute2 and CameraBag.  I do have to admit, Instagram is best viewable through it's app rather than its website. 

 

Lastly, I find that being a part of the Instagram community has challenged me to become more creative in my makeup application and posts.   Check out some of my creative Instagram posts below and feel free to follow me if you like what you see and want to see more!

 

 

 

 

 

Creativity

What is new media?  Rather than defining it with some sort of Webster's dictionary jargon or Google search, I'd rather tell you new media is social networking, blogs, wiki's, twitter and the like.  New media provides an avenue for communication, collaboration, community, creativity and convergence.  I believe the  most striking aspect of new media is the creativity it fosters within people.

 

In an article entitled "Pop Music 1+1+1=1 The New Math of Mashups" by Sasha Frere-Jones, the author interviews Mark Vilder, aka Go Home Productions, on the subject of mashups and digital technology.  Mark explains that one of the benefits of digital technology is that “you don’t need a distributor, because your distribution is the Internet. You don’t need a record label, because it’s your bedroom, and you don’t need a recording studio, because that’s your computer. You do it all yourself.”  Isn't this so accurate in today's technological world?  Technology has allowed the flexibility to be innovative in your own time and place.

 

From YouTubers just sharing their hobbies becoming well known beauty gurus or rappers and singers with contracts and touring the nation to bloggers being sponsored and even creating their own fashion or beauty lines.  With new media at your fingertips, your creativity is solely limited by your imagination.  Have you been creative lately?

Social Networking Sites

Nowadays the social networking site options are endless.  From Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter to LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest, just to name a few of the most popular sites. At one point in your life, especially those from the iGeneration, I'm pretty sure you've visited or even signed up for at least three of these sites mentioned, if not all.  I, for one, was a former Myspace and Facebook user and am currently an Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest user. Today, I'll be discussing my first impressions of Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, and Instagram.

Facebook

As mentioned previously, I was a former user and deactivated my account because I missed the days when you had to have a college email address in order to sign up and access the site.  This is no longer the case and hasn't been for a very long time.  I use to feel part of an exclusive society but now it's just another social networking site, a site I am no longer intrigued to be a part of.  My initial impressions returning to Facebook for this blog post is - does the site ever stop changing?  I find that Facebook updates it's features too often and that was one of the many reasons I decided to leave the site.  However, I do like how on your home page you get an overview of your profile, upcoming birthdays, pending requests, advertisements and search fields all in one screen.  I find that the settings can be tricky to control but no less manageable.

Myspace

Myspace has received a complete face lift.  Not sure if it'll ever be as popular as it once was in its hay day, but their new look and features has definitely opened the doorway for music lovers alike.  If you're looking to find new music, the new Myspace is very compelling!

Twitter

As mentioned in my previous post, twitter is a form of micro-blogging, similarly to Facebook updates.  You can tweet thoughts, reactions, share links, and the like and follow other users.  I do find twitter to be somewhat overwhelming for a new user - you can easily get lost or confused but no worries, just click here and there, and you'll figure it all out.  Similarly, to Facebook, once logged in, your home screen gives you an overview of tweets from those you are following as well as the latest trending hastag  topics and suggested users to follow.

Instagram

Currently, Instagram is one of my favorite social networking sites as I have a passion for all things beauty.  No I am no beauty guru, but I enjoy staying updated on the lates beauty trends and products and find that Instagrams satisfies this love of mine.  I do have to admit, Instagram is best viewable through it's app rather than its website.  Instagram allows users to share photos and short videos with your own commentary and hastags that will easily share your photo with others viewing that respective hastag.  Additionally, like the other sites above, users can comment on a photo or video.  The main difference with Instagram is that there is no "direct/private message" feature that allows a user to send a private message to another user.  The only form of communication between users is commenting on photos or videos.

Which are your favorite or go-to social networking sites?

If you're bored (or curious), follow me on Twitter and Instagram! :-)

Twitter v Blackboard

Have you given in to “tweeting” your thoughts away yet?  Well, the same way I’m here blogging as a class requirement is the same reason I began tweeting this past summer.  

Twitter has become a staple in social media and networking and has found its way into the classroom, yet I find that it is drastically different from our CUNY Blackboard tool.  Blackboard is a virtual learning environment and course management web based system.  Professors and students communicate and complete course assignments through this tool.  One of the most popular features is the Discussion Board.  Here both Professors and students can create forums or threads to discuss topics of our liking.  Most times a Professor will post a topic and students must comment on the topic as well as respond to other student’s comments.  These comments are not limited with characters as Twitter is.  Twitter is a form of micro-blogging, where the end user is solely posting brief text updates, usually sharing a thought, a joke, a link, etc.  I find the most useful aspect of Twitter is that it is in real time unlike the Discussion Board.  

Social Networking

It’s amazing how the concept of social networking has sky rocketed to the top of everyone’s vocabulary and day-to-day activities.  Social networking has become a huge trend as it seems that today everyone is blogging, tweeting, linking and posting on Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms.  These technologies can be used to share similar interest, opinions, experiences, tips, information, and even to advertise and market.  For instance, at the agency I work for, LinkedIn is used as a recruiting tool and Facebook is used as a communications and marketing forum to enhance the agency’s reputation and to share their impact on the community. 

 

Social networking is extremely interactive and because of this, there can be many downfalls. For starters, society has established a need for "social capital" as described in the article "Is MySpace Good for Society? A Freakonomics Quorum" by Stephen J. Dubner.  Social capital is a concept that describes the benefits individuals receive from their relationships with others.  The need to expand these relationships via social networking has increased exponentially.  What doesn't make sense is why would people want their information exposed and out on the web for the world to see.  Also, because of this need for social capital gain, the obsession over how many followers or friends you have trumps any real connections and in person interaction developed over time.  However, as William Reader states, "whether this is good or bad depends upon what kind of society you value."

Another downfall is the idea of privacy and appropriateness.  There is no real filter for what content can be posted or commented with the exception of certain privacy settings.  These settings can be used to "pre-approve" comments before they are made public or to distinguish who can see your page or photos.  As described in the article "Facebook Privacy Is So Confusing Even the Zuckerberg Family Photo Isn't Private" by Rebecca Greenfield, these privacy settings are not fool proof.  Some settings are so complex that they are difficult to monitor and ensure they are effective.  As the author recommends, "the lessons here is twofold: Facebook privacy settings are too confusing, and if you really don't want intimate photos out there, don't put 'em on Facebook. But also, don't expect to hide something if you do — everything can be shared and re-shared these days."

 

I would have to admit, I'm with William Reader on this, I find that I value a society that appreciates face to face interactions.  Truthfully, my eyes and brain are physically exhausted by the end of the day from staring at a computer, tablet, and smartphone for 12+ hours.  While the benefits of social networking and media may outweigh the risks, life as we know it will only continue to become impersonal, relying solely on these tech-based relationships.  When do I, as a human, turn off? 

Blogs v Wikis

Ever wonder what's the difference between a blog and wiki?  Chances are the answer is "no."  You probably didn't even think about the two in the same sentence - at least I didn't.  Well today's blog post will shed light on the similarities and differences.  To start, let's define blog and wiki. Using my best friend Google to search for definitions, a blog is defined as "a personal website or web page on which an individual records opinions, links to other sites, etc. on a regular basis."  A wiki is defined as "a website that allows collaborative editing of its content and structure by its users."  What does this mean exactly? 

 

Blogs and wikis both provide an avenue of communication, however, their main difference is the type of communication.  Wikis are usually knowledge based sharing while blogs are usually more opinionated which in most cases are the opinions of an individual or the owner of the blog, collaboration is very limited.  Wikis are edited by a team or group and promote collaborative work.  Multiple users can create, modify, and organize the content of a wiki in a collaborative manner.   A good example of how wiki is knowledge based sharing is seen in a NY Times article entitled A Rorschach Cheat Sheet on Wikipedia?  by Noam Cohen.  In short, the article describes the concerns over information being shared via Wikipedia, specifically “The Rorschach Test,” a series of ten inkblot plates that are well regarded in the field of psychology.  The inkblot plates were reproduced and shared on Wikipedia.  For many psychologist, sharing these inkblots undermines the decades of testing and researching performed and recorded over time.  I won’t go into the debate in the article -  feel free to read the article for yourself.  Nonetheless, this article shows how a wiki is a platform to share knowledge.
 

Furthermore, both medias provide a platform of feedback; you can post a comment on a blog and participate in a discussion forum in a wiki – either way you’re voice is heard! (Or at least you hope it is!)  A great example of this collaborative work can be seen in a NY Times article entitled Brooklyn Blog Helps Lead to Drug Raid by Michael Wilson.  The article describes how a Brooklyn blog began to write about local suspicious criminal activity.  Visitors would leave comments replying to the activity noted in the blog post.  For the author(s) of the blog, it finally seemed that blogging lead to actions, although there is no clear connection of the two.  Nonetheless, the blog mentioned in the article united the community and provided an avenue for feedback over community concerns.

Additionally, since both blogs and wikis can link to articles and other blog post (as you've seen in this post), this provides an opportunity to connect and network among different channels.  This is extremely useful in blogging, as through blog-rolling, you are able to link visitors to your favorite bloggers, an informal word of mouth per se.  In today’s networked world, it’s best to give users a chance to cross over to other links and pages that may share similar interest as your blog or wiki.

Finally, what's next? Where are wikis headed?  As I’ve discovered in the course I’m enrolled in, wikis have made their way to the classroom.  In the weeks ahead my class will begin creating and/or editing our wiki page – that should be interesting!  I cannot begin to imagine the future of wikis, maybe they'll become a staple in how businesses function or may replace a business process.  What do you think?

Project Description

As I mentioned in my previous post, the course I am enrolled in is requiring that students maintain a blog - writing and posting about required assignments.  One of the requirements of this course is the submission of a ten page Term Paper near the end of the semester on a topic of our liking (of course with the Professor's approval).  I've decided to select blogging and analyze the positive and negative effects this media channel has on society.  The research behind this analysis would look at how the availability of blogging has changed the way society voices their concerns and thoughts, how dependent some are at reading the views and perspectives of others, and how blogging has become a vital source of information for many.  

 

Blogging is not just about ranting opinions but it is also a forum to share tips and knowledge on products and information to others.  I want to take this opportunity to really understand the use of blogging.  

How many avenues does blogging crossover?  Feedback, suggestions and comments welcome!

Online Learning

It seems that nowadays online learning is the norm with the anywhere, anytime, any pace motto.  From completing entire degrees online to taking one or two online course to ease your already busy life and classroom schedule.  With online leaning having its strengths and weaknesses, of which you can easily search online for a list of pros and cons (Google it!), I find myself conflicted with its effectiveness and take away. 

 

Last year, I began registering for online classes solely to expedite the completion of my undergraduate degree as I physically cannot be in two places at once (I work full time and own a small business with my fiancé).  I register for three to four in-class courses (however many fit my schedule) and have been tacking on a fourth or fifth online class.   I am currently registered for what I hope is my sixth and final online course - the principles of new media.  Of the five completed online courses, I solely took away valuable knowledge from one course. 

 

Truthfully, the online learning environment lacks the commitment (and maybe training) of enthusiasm, innovation and creativity from Professors that appeases my work and learning style.  Yes, I am aware, I am generalizing a large group, however I believe I've taken a fair share of CUNY online courses to come to this conclusion.  Especially after taking a recent online course by Professor and Entrepreneur Joyce Sullivan who's passion and eagerness to teach an online social media course was refreshing and exciting - so much that I had to meet her in person! Can many of you say that about an online course?

 

Now what this blog is really all about is me fulfilling a class requirement for an online course. Due to the content of the online courses I've taken, students have been required to enter the realm of social media and new media, requiring the creation of online profiles and accounts.  Forcing students to publicly tweet, share, post, and blog.  Which brings me to why I'm writing this piece today.  I have officially been pushed into the black hole of blogging.  While I tend to occasionally read blogs, I find that blogging is a new media that has never piqued my interest. 

 

So here goes to my attempt at blogging on the topic of new media!  Stay tuned...