Its week 7 into the multimedia course and the pressure is on; we have so much work to do but yet so little time. I have finally started reading Howard Rheingold’s book on virtual community, and yes it is very good book. Through reading this book I think I have finally changed my pessimistic opinion on virtual communities. Before I really didn’t see the point in why people enjoyed spending time in online socialising, I just found it very dull and boring, but I think I have finally seen the light. I have realised that many people find comfort in these groups for example many join illness support groups, where they are able to communicate with people who have suffered from similar illnesses and be able to share their stories with one another. I can see why many people find it stimulating in engaging in topical conversations online, because of the simple fact that we are not geographically limited, which enables us to share our interests with people from all over the world, rather than a location.
Quote of the week:
Virtual communities do just about everything people do in real life, but we leave our bodies behind.
RHEINGOLD Howard (2000) The Virtual Community: Homesteading on the Electronic Frontier, London: MIT Press
Monday, 25 February 2008
Monday, 18 February 2008
Utopia or Dystopia
Today’s society many will argue that we have entered a new age governed by a new concept where society and its economic relations are no longer primarily organised on the foundation of material goods. Instead they are now controlled on the basis of information and knowledge, which is referred to as the arrival of a global information society. The information society is best represented by the internet which has changed everything that we witness in today’s society, for many it is seen as the remaking of a new world with better opportunities and resources that would be installed to advance society. for many it prompts celebration of an approaching utopia, but some do say that these developments also mean progression towards a dystopia.
Many have argued that changes in (ICTs) have transformed the way in how we see the world. This suggestion was made by Marshall Mcluhan, who had popularised the term ‘global village’, the ‘age of information’ and ‘the medium is the message’. He argues that new technologies have extended our capabilities and has enhanced certain aspects of practise which previously had been limited, however at the same time new technologies can implement these advances and make them seem as part of everyday life. Individuals have the ability to restructure their society by remaking their communication networks, which confine the structure of identity. Sherry Turkle argues that one key transformation that has come out of the information society is the ability recreate your own identity which is due to the high rate of secrecy of online communication, the internet gives one the opputunnity to become more than one person, presenting different ‘selves’ which is freeing one from social control.
(C. May, 2002, Pg: 9&11
Many have argued that changes in (ICTs) have transformed the way in how we see the world. This suggestion was made by Marshall Mcluhan, who had popularised the term ‘global village’, the ‘age of information’ and ‘the medium is the message’. He argues that new technologies have extended our capabilities and has enhanced certain aspects of practise which previously had been limited, however at the same time new technologies can implement these advances and make them seem as part of everyday life. Individuals have the ability to restructure their society by remaking their communication networks, which confine the structure of identity. Sherry Turkle argues that one key transformation that has come out of the information society is the ability recreate your own identity which is due to the high rate of secrecy of online communication, the internet gives one the opputunnity to become more than one person, presenting different ‘selves’ which is freeing one from social control.
(C. May, 2002, Pg: 9&11
Week 6: 192.com
Today’s session was quite an eye-opener, I don’t think I realise that we are under surveillance. All I did was click a few buttons and within seconds my all of my family information was displayed on the big wide web, and if I signed up for membership I would be able to access my full address. I think I have been quite oblivious towards this issue and not realising that it is a very serious matter. Only today it occurred to me how easy it is to access our intimate data on the web. I also realised how much of Foucault’s theory has been taken into effect in today’s society. I can see how his ideas and abstract terms have become part of our ways of thinking and understanding the world. One the best examples of his work would be Bentham’s theory based on the Panopticon, which is a method for a single guard to see every prisoner, but for no prisoner to see anything else, witch intern will make the prisoner act as if they were under surveillance at all times. But what Foucault claimed was that the machinery of the web forms as a kind of camouflaged panopticon. Cables that bring information into our homes today are technically capables that are bringing information out of our homes instantly, and then transmitted to others. Which then makes me wonder how much of our private information is actually being abused.
RHEINGOLD. Howard (2000) The Virtual Community: Homesteading on the Electronic Frontier, London: MIT Press
Tuesday, 12 February 2008
week 5: New Turn
Its week 5 into the multimedia course, and our group project has taken a new turn. The original idea was to look at the effects of a virtual community, for example, identity deception, online relationships etc. so we then decided that rather than looking at the negative aspects of the internet, (with a bit of inspiration from Nigel), why not look at the significant contribution that the internet had made to today’s society.
We had a brainstorm of a few ideas that we could look at, but our main focus was “things you can’t do face to face, but you can online”. I must say it was quite difficult coming up with few ideas, but we got their in the end. The two key ideas that we have come up with so far is how people are now marketing themselves online, and even showcasing their talents on social networking sites like my-space. We will also be looking at the globalisation of the information society and its effects, meaning that even though we are not geographically limited, yet there are parts of the world like Asia and Africa who don’t have access to ICT’S.
We had a brainstorm of a few ideas that we could look at, but our main focus was “things you can’t do face to face, but you can online”. I must say it was quite difficult coming up with few ideas, but we got their in the end. The two key ideas that we have come up with so far is how people are now marketing themselves online, and even showcasing their talents on social networking sites like my-space. We will also be looking at the globalisation of the information society and its effects, meaning that even though we are not geographically limited, yet there are parts of the world like Asia and Africa who don’t have access to ICT’S.
Sunday, 10 February 2008
week 4: Continued
A few days ago I put a question forward to find out whether, the internet was the only means of a virtual community, or can one speak on the phone or send a text be the same?Well it took me some time to think about this particular issue, but I think I have come up with a conclusion. I think there are various interpretations, one being that we need to realise that a virtual community is a meeting place, but in a non-physical environment. New need to also take into account that a non-physical environment doesn’t only mean the internet, by just tuning into the radio instantly puts you in a virtual community. The big difference between the real and the virtual is that the virtual community is not geographically limited.
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
Week 4: The Hype
I think i'm quite sick of hearing about facebook people seem to have an obsession with it, they are constantly updating their profiles and adding new friends while on the go, which I can't seem to understand. I will be honest and say that I do have a facebook account, because I had to find out what the big hype was all about. But once I signed up I found it incredibly boring because all I seem to do was look at pictures of people which made me feel like a stalker.
So my next question is, Is the internet the only means of a virtual community, or would sending a text or having a conversation with one be the same?
So my next question is, Is the internet the only means of a virtual community, or would sending a text or having a conversation with one be the same?
Friday, 1 February 2008
Good versus Bad
So what is a good website? well for me it has to be accessable, easy on the eye, bold, bright, etc. And an essential trait for a good website is that you find yourself staying on the site for awhile. I also think a good website should be updated regularly and well-edited just like a magazine or a newspaper, but most inportantly it's users should find it easy to read. I find the the Topshop website very easy to navigate beacuse its straightforward and simple and makes online shopping very easy. 
I now will swiftly move onto BAD WEBSITES, so what do they consist of? Mainly an overload of information, slow load time which is one the biggest problems I find with a lot of sites, oh yes, flshing graphics and scrolling text which ends up making you feel just a bit dizzy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)