Modeling Reality With Virtual Worlds

Virtual Worlds in my opinion are beneficial in many aspects of human life. Like the article that we read about the woman who gain such a social joy in second life because she was able to do in the virtual world what she wasn't able to do in real life. It gives them a sense of hope and allows them to do what in real life they can't. Also the kid with autism used second life for social interaction, it helps them develop friendships, since its so hard for them to speak and open up to other people. This technologies can be use as therapeutic methods, it's a stress release and a get away from it all, its a different experience.
Business that advertise places or for tourist who wants to visit a city and will like to know how the city looks like before going there can use virtual worlds just like VLES that shows how Lower East Side from NYC looks like. This can help out a lof of business to advertise and sell more eventually.
Addiction is a dark side, many people can get hooked on it and not leave their homes. Kids may not even excercise or not do their homework and get in the habbit of just sit infront of the computer all day. I think virtal worlds will evolve and will be the "hot thing" in more years to come. I think video games companies will take more advantage of this techonology to make more realistic and better games.

My New Media Class

Technologies that are part of new media are: online publications such as blogs and wikis, digital television, Adobe photoshop, the online newspapers, magazines, books, chats, social networking sites. I think the Internet is the most important feature of new media, new media is nothing without the internet. New media without the Internet is just Media. The Internet has enabled the new media to be born and to grow endlessly. New media is not replacing but enhancing old media, in the way that is reachable to more people. It gives control to the consumer and incorporates people into the manipulation of this technology, it actually give us the right to participate. It helps us to be connected with each other more easily and faster. It allows the public to interact with each other regarding of the geographical locations. One example is second world and VLES, where you dont necessarily need to be in New York to see what New York looks like or to speak and meet someone from here. It gives you in a sense more freedom to travel without leaving the comfort of your home.

Social Networking

Well, last summer when I was working at an Air Freight Shipping Company, it was required of all the employees to have an account with a messenger specially with hotmail. We needed to network and socialize with the agents of airlines, ocean lines, vendors, etc. We needed to establish a friendly relationship with them so we can get customers and discounts. Everything was done through the computer, (email and chat) so that was our way of communicating. Also, with the staff in the office, instead of calling each other's extension we would just chat. The benefits of this technology is that it makes communication so much accessible and convenient. I think it saves us time, and if it saves time it saves money. The dark side is that since everything is on the web we are at a higher risk of any virus, and at a higher risk of exposure especially when we are dealing with confidential information. A way that technology may evolve is that we may have a computer that completes more tasks that what is already accomplishing. Maybe we wont need a notebook with a pen, because we might be able to write directly to the screen, one example is signatures. Maybe we can just photocopy the check and sign it right on the screen. This is like the topic we covered in class with convergence.

BLOGS vs. WIKIS

Blogs and Wikis are both beneficial for the spreading and updating of information. What I consider the biggest difference between them is that the Wikis is more like a collaboration between people in keeping a site full of information. Its a nonending process, we keep on adding new things and any one has access to it. Is a work of all, it belongs to anyone who wants to collaborate. With Blogs instead is more like a response to comments or questions. It helps us be on top of every topic out there.

Checking out some social networking sites

While checking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Friendster I found many similarities and differences between these sites. They share the common purpose of social networking and getting people to know each other a little bit more. Facebook targets students, it gives them an opportunity to meet people in their colleges and see who has the same interest as you such as major, career etc. I think Facebook goes a little too far with tracking your actions. It gives too much information to other users who you have in your friend network. For example, if you become friends with someone else, your friends can see what you recently did and at what time. With Myspace I believe you have more to work with, you can design your own page and insert more things like music, backgrounds, slides etc. Facebook I will consider more serious. With Friendster I found it very similar to MySpace, you can also use creativy in your page and this reflects somewhat of who you are. You can also browse people by names, location, emails and the site will pop up different pages. These sites allows people to be in constant interaction and updated with friends and community, is such a great outcome when is used for networking purposes.