Our Class Wiki - So Far

Well I have given myself the task of contributer to the wiki page New Media and Privacy issues. I haven't actually posted anything yet because i am still a little confused on how to add content and all that but i have been using the Baruch College databases to collect my information. I find that the databases give an array of credible sources with out having to resort to Google searching. I also like the databases because they help you to site your sources. I have found research on the dangers and the lack of privacy on social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook. Also found research on how peoples information is not safe online. Companies trade and sell peoples personal information, and this is where i am focusing my researching. I am hoping to actually add my contributions over the weekend.

The Next New Thing

Suggest a new type of "new media" that doesn't currently exist. Describe it.

I would suggest a car with internet inside of it. Maybe like new cars with a built in laptop with fully capable internet. That would work only when the car is not in motion, to avoid negligence while driving. I know they already have everything under the sun that can be put in cars but an actual car with computer capabilities would be something very new and very futuristic.

About My Term Research Paper

How you did your research.

I used the Baruch library databases to do my research. I find these databases very helpful because it allows you to cite your sources and it gives you a lot of excellent information.

What you found in your research; what you learned.

I learned so much when i was doing my research. I am a user of social networking sites and i learned how helpful these sites can be when it comes to being safe and private online. I use Facebook almost every day and i learned how this can affect my life now and in the future. I also learned how businesses and corporations use these sites to their advantage. The way the internet has been used is fascinating, and the research indicates that this trend will continue in more creative and provocative ways.

Why you chose your topic

I choose this topic because i thought that it was very interesting and important to my life.

Your major findings / conclusions

i found that these social networking sites are so popular, everybody has them and they need to be used as the tools they are but also with caution and moderation. anything in excess can be bad and like with all things social networking has its pros and cons in general and also in a business sense.

How your paper contributes to the field of "new media"

well, i am discussing and shedding some light social networking sites, the pros the cons, benefits and the dangers. Social networking has become a firm part of new media with in the last couple of years, and it is important to explore these boundaries and see how much they have changed things from the past and how they will continue to change in the future. My paper explores this thus contributing to the information we have about new media.

Advice to Baruch College

Baruch College could use new media to improve the college in many ways. For example using smart board touch technology. I had that technology in my high school and it improved the learning experience so much better than just projectors and computers. To actually be able to have the internet and computer interaction with the board is really neat. You can write on the board as if you were using the computer, and save the lessons or what ever you did during class and post them to blackboard. The school website or student pages could be more interactive. They could make a social networking site geared only to Baruch students, because this is a commuter school it might make meeting friends easier. The expansion of technology is always a good thing and Baruch can incorporate all the different new medias into class time, and make then available for students to use at their leisure to improve learning.

Privacy & confidentiality

I think privacy and confidentiality is a big issue when it comes to new media. The internet is not a very private thing, nothing is ever deleted and if you know what to do you can always crack into files. There are people known as hackers that do just that. Whether it is a website like Facebook that doesn't give for much privacy, unless you manipulate the privacy settings it can be scary. There was a story in the news yesterday about a couple updating their status letting all their Facebook friends know they were leaving to go to a concert..and some took advantage and broke into their house and robed them. It turned out the perps were friends of theirs on Facebook and lived in their neighborhood. Thats why people have to be very careful. Due to the fact that everything can be anonymous and you never know who you are talking to for sure..privacy can be an issue.

Twitter discussion

I liked the twitter discussion because it was in a different setting than the school website. Using twitter to have a discussion didn't make it feel like school work but something i would do anyway on my own free time. The only thing i don't like is the character limits, its hard to get a single thought in about the article without having to cut it short. Other than that i am new to twitter but am liking the experience thus far.

Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds

What are different ways these virtual worlds can be used?

They can be used to creatively express yourself. It can be an escape from real life, and allow you to experience things you maybe cant experience in real life through avatars. Virtual worlds allow you to create a fantasy world and express your desires. For example in the article "In Room 100, It’s Sid and Nancy All Over Again" by Saki Knafo they used second life to keep the spirit of their beloved hotel alive after it underwent massive changes thanks to new management. People had the desire to have the hotel live on and they were able to achieve this through a virtual world. People were able to visit and do all sorts of hotel like activities on the net. Thats what makes this type of technology so appealing becuase people can create a world they want, or keep an old reality alive online.

What are the pros and cons?

Pros: There are many positives about virtual worlds like the freedom to express yourself. You can be anyone you want to be, and create a whole new second life the way you want. Some people are unhappy with their reality and a virtual world can serve as an escape for some people.

Cons: Unfortunately there are some sick people in the world and things that are meant for good clean fun turn into something ugly and dangerous. These virtual worlds are what you make of them, and people can sometimes make them into something horrible. Like for example in the movie Gamer that was recently released, it was all about the virtual world. Some people used these games to hurt others, or express sick fantasies. People use these virtual worlds for different reasons and the reasons are not always positive.

How do virtual worlds foster creativity?

These virtual worlds allow you to pick your own avatar, create the world you want to live in...it allows you to fully express yourself. The world and the character you create is all your own which fosters creativity in and of itself. If you really want to enjoy the virtual world experience you have to be creative to make this world all your own.

What do you think the future of virtual worlds will look like?

I think just like all other types of new media it will continue to grow in popularity and improve. People are always looking for the latest and greatest and if this is a new trend people are going to want the technology to constantly be upgraded. Maybe in the future there will be a way to actually feel what the avatar is feeling or find a way to make the experience more real than just controlling an avatar on the screen. There are already movies about future virtual world technologies, i'm sure safety would be an issue, but i'm sure soon enough virtual worlds will continue to be upgraded and constantly improved.