The Next New Thing

There are many possible directions New Media could go, but one I think is a real possibility is the shift towards even more integration of user generated news into mainstream news programming. For instance, CNN does a good job with iReport, a portal where average Joes can upload picture and video as well as text reporting to the main page of CNN's website. There are a couple advantages to this, and I will describe a few. Firstly, people tend to be reluctant to believe anything mainstream news sources like CNN, FOX news, etc has to say. Many are under the assumption they're controlled by a higher power, puppeteering what is said or not said--the whole picture may not be seen. By having individuals report, this may become less of an issue. The second, and perhaps more practical use of iReport is to save money. If the quality of these individual reports is at a high enough level, it's perfectly reasonable to assume that the company itself can do less work. On top of that, it's much quicker to let people already close to the action report on something instead of sending a news truck to the location--many times it's too late at that point. The last point I want to make is the fact that one can't really replace the other, it needs to be integrated as I said. CNN News does a good job of showcasing iReport on their website and as a result is very popular. I wouldn't be surprised to see other news sources follow suit in the coming future.

Advice to Baruch College

There are many areas in which Baruch could afford to improve on, mainly the ways we ascend the Vertical campus, but I digress. An area that could also benefit from improvement is Baruch's embracing of New Media. The particular areas I'd improve on are further integration of the school and classes with social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. As it stands, we're forced to use an antiquated Blackboard system with limited communication options. In a world where we're almost forced to be connected with each other, it would be smart to embrace that notion and somehow tie blackboard into social networking. Furthermore, another way in which Baruch could advance its new media platform is to integrate local businesses with the school via an internet medium such as the aforementioned Facebook and Twitter.

Creativity and New Media

Don't have the slightest clue where I am, and evidently the most "normal" looking avatar turns out to be a vampire although I was able to manage to upgrade to a nice pair of jeans before I became impatient with the appearance editor. I was quickly saddened to see this jersey-shoreite sharing space with me.

Creativity

While some argue that there are more detriments than benefits to this idea of new media, one of the premiere examples of a benefit is the creativity that has spawned from it. We find creativity embedded in nearly all facets of new media, but the one I want to focus on is in the music industry. In an English class I had taken a few semesters ago, we discussed in great detail the drawbacks of mashup music created by anyone at a computer. That I won't elaborate on, but instead discuss why new media allows for this free flowing creativity.
     
Some say music is "dying", and some say it's getting worse. Personally, I don't think it's changed one bit. Similarly to the transition from old media to new media, one in which the shift is simply a natural progression, this idea of mashup music created at home is simply the next phase in a logical process. The internet has wildly broadened the spectrum of what's possible. No longer do we need to know how to sing or play an instrument to make great (debatable) music. With a full featured personal computer, we can mix and match songs that we enjoy and instantly make them available to thousands of people. In the article "The New Math of Mashups", the author makes an extraordinarily accurate point (in my opinion): "Armed with free time and the right software, people are rifling through the lesser songs of pop music and, in frustration, choosing to make some of them as good as the great ones.". Basically the author is saying that through the eyes (and ears) of the world's music listeners, we can sort of alter the music into a form that's potentially appealing to everyone . 


Another component of creativity generated by new media is the idea of feedback. "Twitter Serves Up Ideas From Its Followers", we gain insight as to how Twitter actually got to the point where it is today. While many people think that companies and their executives come up with all of the innovative ideas, it's actually quite the opposite. The article mentions that it's actually the consumer or end-user who suggests most of the ideas. For instance, the @ function and the # function on twitter were user generated, and consequently two of Twitters' iconic trademarks.


The main idea is that while new media could possible have it's own drawbacks, this idea of creativity that has spawned from the embracing of new media far outweighs the detriments in my opinion.  

Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds

As if there isn't enough going on in the world these days, we now have an "escape" via virtual worlds. A virtual world is a platform in which users can communicate via avatars in either realistically modeled environments such as Virtual Lower East Side (vles.com) or fantasy worlds like Warcraft. Although these virtual worlds come in many different flavors, they all serve the same general purpose. Sometimes these virtual worlds are used for entertainment purposes and sometimes they're used by companies to train their employees. In the article "I've Been in That Club, Just Not in Real Life", the author describes a virtual world used for entertainment purposes in which users create avatars to socialize at clubs and bars modeled after their real-life counterparts in the lower east side of Manhattan. While in theory this may be a good idea, native residents to the area complain that this mimicking of their beloved nook strips the allure of the neighborhood. By the same token, companies use virtual reality to allow its employees to collaborate outside of the office. As discussed in "Going to the Virtual Office in Second Life", during turbulent economic times companies are always looking to cut costs. Travel expenses are higher for some than for others and companies with high travel costs are generally the ones taking advantage of virtual reality to get things done.

Virtual worlds foster creativity through the idea that one can really be whoever he/she wants to be...an idea not available in real life. Whether this is good or bad is truly subjective. Personally, I think it's a way for people to pretend to be something they're not, which I've never been much a fan of. In other ways though, such as in the business environment, I see virtual reality as an immensely useful asset. 

The future of virtual reality, if I were to guess, would be generally geared towards enterprise use. With more and more resources available online to companies, organizations are able to cut costs more efficiently than ever before. If the current trend continues, I expect virtual reality to be a mainstay. 

Blog About Twitter

Twitter vs. Blackboard, well that's easy. As one of the most disliked platforms amongst students, blackboard is quickly taking a backseat when pitted against the likes of twitter for discussions. As students, we're often crunched for time and just want to get things done. With a complicated portal like blackboard that either doesn't ever load or takes forever, Twitter is a welcomed change. If we can get our point across in 140 characters, we're more than happy. Where I think Twitter comes up short, is vs. an in class discussion. Fewer theaters offer the same kind of connection that a classroom does. A classroom fosters an environment for learning and constantly challenges it's occupants. Twitter, although represented by those same students is somewhat limiting in that it's responses are so short and can often be cluttered when conversing with many students. Classroom discussions have a sort of set of rules that allow a respectful experience while maximizing input.

Social Networking Sites

Many of us have go-to websites where we get our social networking fixes. For some it's Facebook and for some it's Google +. But what about each different social networking sites makes it appealing to someone? In my opinion, user base is the most influential factor. How many people do you know that use Google +? Probably less than that of Facebook. Human connection is one of the fundamental human needs and despite the fact there isn't a physical connection on Facebook, it's somehow comforting to know that 700 million other people are using it.

Facebook, once a closed social networking site for college students has quickly turned into a free-for-all. Boasting the largest install base, users can connect with almost anyone. One can share pictures and memories as well as connect with old friends. Myspace, the once pinnacle of social networking has sunk into oblivion. But what makes it still relevant in a way? I say music. Myspace is the only social networking site to really place emphasis on music. Band pages can be littered with original music to be played at the discretion of anyone. Additionally, tour dates and news are also on these pages. Twitter is, in my opinion, the fastest rising social networking platform. Conversely, I also feel it will die out quickly. Twitter is a way for people to send/get information to it's followers via 140 character messages. Extremely safe and efficient, Twitter does away with the elaborate UI of Facebook. No built-in photo storage allows Twitter to maintain relatively free server space. But what about it makes it so appealing? It's quick, mostly accurate and free. By the same token, all sorts of technology need to innovate to stay relevant and that's where I feel Twitter will fail. How much more can they really do? Finally Google + (G+). The newest entrant into the social networking world is a promising one. Offered by the advertising giant, Google, Google + offers a similar experience to Facebook with far more security. On G+, users organize their friends, family and coworkers into circles and share only specific information within those circles. The nice thing about G+ is it's connectivity to the rest of the web. There are these things called +1's which in essence recommend a website, story or picture with anyone whom you want. It's only natural that we share new experiences in our lives, and Google + takes advantage of that.