Using social networks is becoming an everyday activity that we do not typically think twice about. In lecture we discussed how influential we are to others in our social network, and how influenced we are by others. It was said, who you know affects what you know. I can think of a specific instance with this because I am exposed to various websites and numerous people through the people that I know.
My friend Katie sent me a request to add a webpage to my Facebook and by doing so she exposed me to the information on the website along with the other Facebook users that visit the same website. Anything that I contribute to that website others see and now have the knowledge that I have shared. The people that I communicate with or at minimum are just exposed to, affect what I know because they can talk about a certain topic on the website, and then I am informed about that topic.
Information, attitudes, and behaviors are also transferred through a social networking technology. Anyone can express information, and through that you might be able to see their attitude towards a topic, and also if they take action; We are influenced by it all.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Use technology and collaborate YOUR knowledge!
The Internet has allowed us the ability to expand our knowledge by working together, sharing information, and producing new knowledge. I believe we all take for granted the ability to obtain information at any time, quickly, and at the click of a button. The beauty of the Internet is that one individual can be in Japan while working with another individual that is in Indiana and they are able to collaborate their ideas and share knowledge with one another. Another aspect about technology and collaboration is that it has become a way of life.
We send emails, instant messages, host a video conference, along with many of forms of communication and it has become a way of life, not just using technology. When you send an email to your co-worker to see what time the meeting is, you are subconsciously working together to make sure that you get to the meeting at the right time and your co-worker is working with you to make sure you know what time to arrive at the meeting. Highly intelligent technology is usually only available to a few individuals that can afford it, but now the way that businesses and people communicate is becoming mainstream and like I said before, a way of life.
With the power of the Internet it makes it possible for more people to have access to more knowledge and also allows more individuals to work collaboratively on various projects. Sunstein claims that this is known as Infotopia; obtaining collective knowledge via collaboration. There are many aspects of collaboration that we participate in without even realizing it. For example, when you are video conferencing with another individual you are able to brainstorm, and pick out the strong ideas while throwing out the weak ones in order to come to a solution; you are producing knowledge. Deliberation, also known as talking as a group, can occur through an email, an instant message, a memo, among many other forms of technology. Often enough we are more concerned with the knowledge being shared than the technology that is allowing us to share that knowledge. Technology makes it possible for us to collaborate and come up with the best ideas in the most efficient manner. I wonder, if technology was not as advanced as what it is today, would we be limited to the knowledge that we have, and the knowledge that we could share? Next time you use technology to collaborate your knowledge, take a second to think how you would communicate without technology.
We send emails, instant messages, host a video conference, along with many of forms of communication and it has become a way of life, not just using technology. When you send an email to your co-worker to see what time the meeting is, you are subconsciously working together to make sure that you get to the meeting at the right time and your co-worker is working with you to make sure you know what time to arrive at the meeting. Highly intelligent technology is usually only available to a few individuals that can afford it, but now the way that businesses and people communicate is becoming mainstream and like I said before, a way of life.
With the power of the Internet it makes it possible for more people to have access to more knowledge and also allows more individuals to work collaboratively on various projects. Sunstein claims that this is known as Infotopia; obtaining collective knowledge via collaboration. There are many aspects of collaboration that we participate in without even realizing it. For example, when you are video conferencing with another individual you are able to brainstorm, and pick out the strong ideas while throwing out the weak ones in order to come to a solution; you are producing knowledge. Deliberation, also known as talking as a group, can occur through an email, an instant message, a memo, among many other forms of technology. Often enough we are more concerned with the knowledge being shared than the technology that is allowing us to share that knowledge. Technology makes it possible for us to collaborate and come up with the best ideas in the most efficient manner. I wonder, if technology was not as advanced as what it is today, would we be limited to the knowledge that we have, and the knowledge that we could share? Next time you use technology to collaborate your knowledge, take a second to think how you would communicate without technology.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Is Complete Convergence Possible?
After discussing convergence in class it really made me question the possibility of it. In class we talked about how convergence is an ongoing never ending process. I honestly think that at the rate that our technology is progressing I could see it being possible that almost everything could be accessed by one device. Think about it, as of now the iphone has multiple applications for banking, music, entertainment, games, pictures, and basically anything else you could possibly want. Of course you will still have people that will use desk top computers and read the actual physical newspaper, but then there will be those technology hungry individuals that crave the new convergence.
Again I want to verify that I am not saying that there will one day be one piece of technology that dominates over all of the other forms of technology. I am saying that I think it is possible that you will be able to access anything from one device, whether that be a phone or another piece of technology. There will be people out there that will pounce on this device as soon as it is available because everyone wants an easier, user-friendly, fun, small, portable device where they can take care of anything that they need. It is only a matter of time, as mentioned in lecture before technology is every where. Some countries will access it slower than others, but eventually it will reach all parts of the earth, and when that happens the demand will be even greater. The reason being is that usually once individuals have access once to a highly intelligent piece of technology, they will want it.
Everyone knows that the use of social media is addicting and I believe we can tribute some of that to convergence among our technologies. With creators of these technologies getting more and more innovative and coming up with easier, fun, and interactive ways for people to communicate the trend for social media and highly intelligent technological devices will continue to grow. Is convergence who we thank for this? Or have we allowed ourselves to accept the proposed idea of technology being a necessity?
Again I want to verify that I am not saying that there will one day be one piece of technology that dominates over all of the other forms of technology. I am saying that I think it is possible that you will be able to access anything from one device, whether that be a phone or another piece of technology. There will be people out there that will pounce on this device as soon as it is available because everyone wants an easier, user-friendly, fun, small, portable device where they can take care of anything that they need. It is only a matter of time, as mentioned in lecture before technology is every where. Some countries will access it slower than others, but eventually it will reach all parts of the earth, and when that happens the demand will be even greater. The reason being is that usually once individuals have access once to a highly intelligent piece of technology, they will want it.
Everyone knows that the use of social media is addicting and I believe we can tribute some of that to convergence among our technologies. With creators of these technologies getting more and more innovative and coming up with easier, fun, and interactive ways for people to communicate the trend for social media and highly intelligent technological devices will continue to grow. Is convergence who we thank for this? Or have we allowed ourselves to accept the proposed idea of technology being a necessity?
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Twisted Insight to Weblog Story
After reading the NY Times story entitled, "A Beautiful Life, an Early Death, a Fraud Exposed" I feel that I have come into a twisted world where no one knows the difference between real and fiction. Countless individuals read about a girl named Kaycee that was battling leukemia and fighting to stay alive. Based on what her readers thought, she was a friendly, strong, independent girl that just wanted to share her story with the world and express her experiences with battling leukemia. Little did they know that this was a complete hoax. A mother invented Kaycee as a fictional character and claimed to not have any intentions to hurt anyone in the process, it was pure entertainment.
This story has made me question just what is true, and what is not. The followers of Kaycee's weblog felt for her, sent her care packages, and offered to even pay her a visit. How can people feel so connected with someone through the internet that they feel the need to send them a care package? It is difficult to wrap my head around, but after reading an article from Judith Donath it began to make sense.
The woman who made Kaycee up may have just wanted companionship and so she created a character that she knew people would fall in love with and would want to follow. In a sense I believe that this woman may have been searching for her own identity and by creating Kaycee so that she felt that she was part of a community. As Judith said if readers know about a writer's motivation it will greatly affect how they view what is being said. Although in this case, the readers did not know of the woman's motivation of pure entertainment, and in return she caused heartache to readers around the world.
It is interesting that such a connection can be made between strangers and that social media is the culprit. Because we have the ability to connect with complete strangers, we also have the ability to affect their lives on an intimate level. The idea of what is true and what is not should definately be questioned when communicating with people miles away that are hiding behind screen names.
This story has made me question just what is true, and what is not. The followers of Kaycee's weblog felt for her, sent her care packages, and offered to even pay her a visit. How can people feel so connected with someone through the internet that they feel the need to send them a care package? It is difficult to wrap my head around, but after reading an article from Judith Donath it began to make sense.
The woman who made Kaycee up may have just wanted companionship and so she created a character that she knew people would fall in love with and would want to follow. In a sense I believe that this woman may have been searching for her own identity and by creating Kaycee so that she felt that she was part of a community. As Judith said if readers know about a writer's motivation it will greatly affect how they view what is being said. Although in this case, the readers did not know of the woman's motivation of pure entertainment, and in return she caused heartache to readers around the world.
It is interesting that such a connection can be made between strangers and that social media is the culprit. Because we have the ability to connect with complete strangers, we also have the ability to affect their lives on an intimate level. The idea of what is true and what is not should definately be questioned when communicating with people miles away that are hiding behind screen names.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
