Creativity and New Media

For this assignment, I decided to try out the Sims game on my phone. It is a very popular virtual reality game, similar to second life. I have never played games like this before so I wanted to give it a try. On the Sims, you can design the entire world. I created my character, and was able to create neighbors as well. You can also design the neighborhood, such as building the houses and businesses. Everything is customizable, from the clothing to the furniture. You are even able to give the characters jobs. It is very realistic because you can cook, use the rest room, fight with neighbors, and even sleep.

The game was a lot more realistic than I thither it would be. Even completing tasks were not instant, and you would have to check back after a certain amount of time. Overall, the game was entertaining and gave me a new perspective on having a "virtual life."

Creativity

New media fosters creativity because it allows users to collaborate and bring ideas to life. In the post "Twitter Serves Up Ideas From Its Followers", the author states that Twitter began as a "bare-bones" service that only allowed users to post 140-character messages. As more and more people began to use the site, many ideas were suggested by users that eventually became a core part of Twitter. Hyperlinking users, retweets, and using the hashtag symbol were all suggested by users. I did not know that these were suggested by users; I thought that it was part of Twitter when it first launched. I can't even imagine Twitter without these attributes.

People are able to interact directly with companies through new media, and advocate or ask for certain products or services. Companies use sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram to be able to directly communicate with consumers, and this allows ideas to quickly spread. With all the current tools to create content, people can get as creative as they want.


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/26/technology/internet/26twitter.html

Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds

The uses of the virtual worlds referenced in these articles seem to be limited compared to current technology. In the articles, "I've Been in That Club, Just Not in Real Life" and "No Budget, No Boundaries, It's the Real You" the writers talk about living a virtual life. They claim the simulation is identical to reality, but I think that it is very unrealistic. Even though the locations and concepts are somewhat realistic, I feel that people are wasting their time on these sites. Hiding behind a computer screen and living life through an avatar is no way to "live."
"Certainly her real-world occupation as a nurse affords Ms. Cocke scant opportunity "to rock my new leather Gucci messenger bag or Jimmy Choo sandals," she said. In contrast, "Vixie's style is a better representation of my true self," she said, "as it's hard to be fashionable in hospital scrubs."
If people are able to live life fully this way, power to them. This is definitely a pro in that it brings people happiness. Other pros include teaching through virtual reality with simulated materials that are a fraction of the cost of their tangible counterpart.

Virtual worlds foster creativity in that people can really run wild. There are no limits in terms of what they can do. From flying and teleporting to an endless budget, people can spend countless hours experimenting with different scenarios. "Despite knowing that its real-life inspiratione xists right outside my door, I have spent the last few months making such visits to the Virtual Lower East Side, a three-dimensional, Internet-based social networkd fastidiously modeled on a small but influential swath of Manhattan real estate." This person is able to explore their neighborhood in the comfort of their own home.

Virtual worlds have certainly come a long way since then. We now have virtual reality, where people can actually interact with a computer simulated environment. Even though virtual reality is still in the development stage, it seems to be an upgrade from a virtual world. People can actually interact face to face in a simulated environment. This may mean further enhancements in many fields, from education to medicine.



http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/06/arts/television/06itzk.html


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/fashion/22Avatar.html

Blog about Twitter

A twitter discussion is similar to a blackboard and in-class discussion in that you can respond to what someone else says. However, the amount of text is limited to 140 characters. Twitter discussions are also publicly available to anybody, unlike blackboard or in-class discussions. On blackboard, the posts are only available to the students enrolled in the class. There are specific due dates for these discussions, and after the date has passed, posts can no longer be added or created. I think in-class discussions are still the best way. Online discussions are good when someone is on the go and would like to include their input. However, it does not get any more instantaneous than being face to face with each other. Emotions are conveyed much more effectively than from typing behind a screen.

Social Networking Sites

Facebook seems to be the social network that is most widely used among all age groups. It also has the most options and features. You can spend hours on facebook playing games, reading about events, sharing news, pictures, and videos, and be reminded of pictures from years ago.
Twitter is used for sharing current events, or having live conversations with others. The privacy settings are not as confusing as facebook's.
Instagram is used for picture and video sharing. It may seem very simple, but it has actually created a lot of opportunities for people. From personal training to consulting services, people can make a living with clients from all over the world.
Tumblr is a microblogging site, similar to blogger.com. You can create and share posts, or share other people's posts.
These sites are all similar in that you can create and share content. You can connect with others across the world. On each website, there are probably more features that I have not discovered. I know that on facebook, you can plan events and fundraise as well. You can even request an uber from the messenger app. Something interesting that I noticed across all these platforms were the advertisements. The websites seem to be clogged with ads and more ads. I have not used any of these social networking sites in a very long time, and I plan to keep it that way.

Blog Social Networking

Technology has many implications on our lives. On the corporate level, it can be used for recruiting and scouting talent, connecting with customers, increasing brand awareness, data mining, and more. On the personal level, it can be used to connect with others or make new connections, keep up with news and current events, share personal moments, and even conduct businesses. The first benefit that comes to mind in regards to technology is a wider network. People are able to get in touch with others from around the world, in the blink of an eye. In the article, "Social Networking Technology Boosts Job Recruiting", professional recruiters such as Maureen Crawford-Hentz are able to scout talent from across the world. With an increased network of contacts, finding employers or employees has become significantly easier. There is no need to call someone, inquire if they have any contacts, and then call those contacts.

Other benefits are mentioned in "How Obama Tapped Into Social Networks' Power". The Obama campaign was able to use social media to encourage people to get out and vote. Using a database with millions of names of supporters, they were able to use e-mail to their advantage. Compared to the Bush campaign that used traditional phone banks and direct mail, the Obama campaign was a lot more effective. They were able to directly reach the masses instead of relying on television networks.

A major dark side would be an invasion/loss of privacy. Even though there are many privacy settings that users can adjust, they are often confusing and some people do not understand them at all. "Lance Hoffman, a George Washington University computer science professor who spoke at the Wharton conference, noted that by giving up such information as their name, birth date, and a list of their network of friends, users are revealing far more than they know." Combining this data with data from other sources can be pieced together by identity thieves.

In the future, I think that these technologies would be further used for data mining. Automatic collection and assessment of data is extremely valuable for any business or corporation. Large scale data mining is already being used by facebook, snapchat, and such. When users take a photo of themselves, they do not think much of it, except that they are sending a picture to friends. However, features such as facial recognition, location, and time of use can reveal a lot more information than we think. This is why cyber-security and privacy are currently controversial topics. As technology evolves, policies must also be adapted to account for these changes.



Sources:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6522523&sc=emaf

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/10/business/media/10carr.html

http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/leaving-friendprints-how-online-social-networks-are-redefining-privacy-and-personal-security/