Creativity and New Media

I did some research and found a website called avachara.com, where someone creates their own avatar however they would like. This website has many sections where you can interact with others who have an avatar on this website. There are chatrooms, games, music, entertainment and even business available on this website. You can talk to others on this website who share the same likes as you do. You also have your own page and can “tweet” whatever you’d like. I signed up and decided to create my own avatar. Everything from which hair style and color, to size of nose, color and shape of eyes and adding any pets if you’d like. I tried making it as realistic as possible to myself and here is a picture of it below!

Creativity

New Media Fosters creativity in many ways. It creates a huge amount of imagination, especially with all the information that is given to us through the use of technology. There are many inspirations that we see through the internet that helps others create their own creativity. In the article “Disney Tolerates a Rap Parody of Its Critters. Buy Why” discusses how there was a (mash-up) with the characters from Walt Disney and a song called “Crank that” by Soulja Boy. A “mash-up” is basically a mixture and people created videos of certain disney characters seeming to be singing this song, but really parts of the animated movie and TV shows were edited into making it seem as they are really singing. 

Reference:

1. Disney Tolerates a Rap Parody of Its Critters. But Why? The New York Times, September 24, 2007; available at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/24/business/media/24crank.html

Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds

Virtual worlds can be used in a variety of different ways. Mainly interacting with others, sharing the same likes as you. People with disabilities for example are able to experience life through this since they cannot in real life. It gives a chance for others to experience things that would be nearly impossible in real life. In the article “No Budget, No Boundaries: It’s the Real You” for example, there are avatars that are created and are able to go shopping and spend thousands, if not billions of dollars on things they would like. “Everything fits” things don’t wear out.” Is stated in the article and unlike in real life people often struggle financially to buy their expensive luxuries, but in second life there are no worries about this. Another pro of these virtual worlds is that health care facilities are noticing that people who are interacting through virtual worlds are receiving major benefits in real life, as stated in the article “Avatar II: The Hospital.” This may actually be useful for training purposes for those in the medical field. An important con of virtual world would be that many people who are connected to this, may become seriously addicted living the virtual world, and will then neglect the responsibilities they have in real life. Virtual worlds can in fact foster creativity if you can imagine something or basically anything, you will be able to create that because of technology. 

References:

1. No Budget, No Boundaries: It’s the Real You by RUTH LA FERLA, the New York Times, Oct 22, 2009 p. E1. Available at:http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/fashion/22Avatar.html 
2. "Avatar II: The Hospital" by Stephanie Simon, The Wall Street Journal, April 13, 2010http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703909804575124470868041204.html?KEYWORDS=avatar+ii+the+hospital 

Social Networking Sites

Social networking sites including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat all have the ability for individuals to connect with others and share photos and personal messages to others. Like every social media, there can be negative effects having these which include, drama, cyberbullying, identity theft just to list a couple.

Facebook connects people all around the world, as long as you are "friends" with them on Facebook, pictures, comments, check-ins and messages can be shared unless your page is not private it can be viewed by others who are not your "friends." I believe this social media is great because it helps people stay connected, for example, friends and relatives who live far away can keep in contact with you through here. There is also messages that can be sent private to an individual you wish to chose which is called "Messenger."

Twitter can also be used to connect with others who you are following and who are following you. If you follow an individual you can see the posts they made and vice versa, like Facebook, unless your page is not private anyone can see, reply, or favorite the tweets you post. "Tweeting" is the term used when you post a maximum of 140 characters message. People tweet about anything they like, can be used for self-promotion or just pointless babble. You can even upload pictures through tweeting.

Instagram is mainly about posting pictures and videos, following individuals and other following you as well. When you follow someone or someone follows you just like Twitter, you are able to see their posts. Unless their page is not private any user will be able to see the pictures you have posted, they can like and also comment on them. I personally use Instagram the most, I enjoy following my favorite brands, (shoes, clothing, etc). I enjoy posting photos with friends, family and scenery pictures. There is also a private inbox where others are now able to send messages or pictures privately to an individual they would like.

Snapchat is another social media that is now becoming more used. It is a little difficult to get used the hang of using it, because it is slightly different from the other social medias listed above. It is also used to upload pictures and videos to your "story". When you upload these to your story, only your friends who are added to your snapchat will be able to see it. Your posts stay for 24 hours, and you can change the amount of seconds you would  like to leave it. You can also send pictures and videos to individuals you chose to send to privately and you can again, choose the amount of seconds they can view it. Once the person opens and views the picture or video you sent they will not be able to see it again. People can also send them messages privately through "chat" if they wish to.

Social Networking

Social networking can be used in many ways which have both positive and also negative effects to it. There are benefits it has to society which include the connection we get worldwide. For example, meeting new people, whether if it is for a new job, finding romance, getting access to the news, locating and getting information just to list a couple. There also is negative effects to social networking which include cyberbullying, invasion of privacy, identity theft, getting back lashed and more. In the article “Dictionary word of the year: ‘Unfriend” explains how the word "unfriend" causes drama throughout social networks. When someone removes another person as a friend through their facebook for example, they may get offended and that is when the drama comes in. Another negative effect social networking is the lack of communication between one another. In the article “Antisocial Networking” it explains how kids today will send messages to one another whether its through text, facebook or myspace and are often missing out of what once was actually talking to friends face to face. Playing outside with friends or simply hanging out after school seems to be vanishing because of the use of technology. The dark side of social networking also includes cyber-bullying as I mentioned or texting messages that are explicitly sexual. On the other side it can also help people make friends if they are shy like Andy Wilson, who is mentioned in the article. As you can see there are many benefits of social networking but then again also have negative effects to it.

References:

1.      Dictionary word of the year: 'Unfriend' By Doug Gross, CNN Tech, November 17, 2009 . Available at: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/11/17/unfriend.word/index.html

2.      Antisocial Networking? by Hilary Stout, New York Times, May 2, 2010, p. ST1. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/02/fashion/02BEST.html

Blogs VS Wikis

A blog would be described as a webpage where people usually update or add written material on whatever subject it may be. It can be described as an online journal for example. An individual can express themselves freely based on their thoughts.  While wiki  on the other hand is also a webpage but is slightly different. This is a group of interlinked pages where other individuals can edit the page. Other entries can be edited despite whoever created it. 

The similarity between both a blog and wiki is that they offer the right to express information from people around the world through a webpage by publishing their thoughts and ideas. Whether it is personal, for business and so on. It is simple to set up and both can also comment on others posts. An example for this that would fit in would be in the article “Brooklyn Blog Helps Lead to Drug Raid” where a group of people who did not know one another came together through blogging and helped authorities with traded information they had on the drug problem that was occurring in their neighborhood. 

In todays networked world, it is very important that we have access to both blogs and wikis for many reasons. Wikis are great when it comes to business. Its great for communicating, discussions and collaborations with others whether its for a group project for example. As the article “How to Use Wikis For Business” states, it solves the problems people face with document management. For example, important e-mails getting sent but not getting received, someone who has notes and storing them in their own hard drive then going away for vacation, word documents may get passed around but nobody for sure knows who has the most recent version of it. This complicates things and that is why wiki is what people view as a “problem solver.” Everyone can go directly onto the wiki, edit and gather information right onto it instead of getting everything disorganized through emails, etc. 

References :

1. Brooklyn Blog Helps Lead to Drug Raid By MICHAEL WILSON The New York Times June 26, 2008 available at:http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/26/nyregion/26bayridge.html  Brooklyn Blog Helps Lead to Drug Raid.pdf

1. 2. "How to Use Wikis for Business," by Ezra Goodnoe, Information Week, August 8, 2005, http://www.informationweek.com/news/management/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=167600331  

Positive and Negative Effects on Social Networking

There are many positive and negative effects on different types of social networking. Some of these social networks include Facebook, YouTube, Tinder and Match.com. Social networking can act as a platform to explore and connect with people all around the world. From the comfort of you're home for example using what we have today, technology. Whether it is using a computer or a mobile device.