THE NEXT NEW THING

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

I think one new type of media that will soon evolve will be the way traditional marketing and advertising are delivered to consumers. Traditionally advertising companies and marketers pushed ideas and products to consumers. Now companies are starting to see that consumers often have excellent ideas that drive creation. With advances in programs like photoshop new artistic creations that re more inviting are being created. I think that the world of marketing and advertising will dissolve, and ordinary non workers will become the package designers and advertisers. The bureaucratic model that currently exists will dissolve. With the creation of these programs and new ways to communicate, non- workers are exposed to knowledge that can ultimately allow them to creatively incorporate their ideas to the world. Of course more people have to learn these skills before these companies become irrelevant.

ADVICE TO BARUCH COLLEGE

Dear Baruch College,

Though you have tried to incorporate new forms of technology your attempts have failed. With the right ideas and types of new media applications students could really benefit. They could avoid some of the current pitfalls that are attached to Baruch's offered college experience.

One particular way to help students would be to create a virtual representation of the Baruch Campus. By placing this feature on the college's website, potential students could see different restaurants that are within the area. Students could also learn to navigate their way around New York City. In addition they could see how far away distances really are to be more prepared and on time for classes. Another benefit that would arise because of a virtual college would be to help students navigate within the actual college. Students could explore where different departments, student organizations and resources are located within the college, giving them more control over their college experience.

Another new media that Baruch college could employ is a twitter account. By creating a twitter the school could see what problems and issues students face. They could see how frustrating elevator and escalators are for students and ultimately solve these issues. The college could gain insight and monitor which classes are pushing students to think. The college could then create more classes to reach the student's needs.

The biggest problem Baruch could solve through the use of new media would be to create more communication within various departments. Through the use of technologies like wikis employees in the registrar could communicate more effectively with financial aid. If all the workers were knowledgeable on the proper way to handle different situations students face, more people could graduate on time, remove unpaid debts and even increase study abroad enrollment. The college could, as a whole, function more smoothly, making students and staff's lives easier.

By addressing these issues and incorporating more new media technologies Baruch could become more creatively friendly, and more well known. By using these innovative applications students could see how technology can revolutionize the learning process. I strongly advise Baruch to start catching up with the times!

Yours Truly,
A Concerned Student,
- Sophia

OLD VS. NEW

New media vs old media...is there even a difference?

Old media is classified as traditional ways to communicate. These mediums include newspaper and print, radio and television. In many ways these forms of communication have changed or lost influence as more new technology has developed. In addition these industries have also lost profitability because competitors are able to produce similar effects in cheaper ways.

New media is is a term used to classify and categorize the emergence of new digital technology that allows users to easily manipulate, compress and alter content and communication. New media also includes blogs, wikis and mash ups. In addition new media has grown because of new technologies that have been developed in the last decade.

I think that the difference between old and new media is the way people interact with the messages both produce. Old media is one dimensional with the exception of television. People can see it, but the information is not enhanced. New media uses many different mediums, sound, sight, virtual representations, interactive games and creativity. With so many added features consumers and individuals are more amused and entertained. In addition new media has allowed users to enjoy music, movies and videos in various ways. Users can now control programing through Tivo and iphone applications. New media has given users more power and more flexibility. Traditional time slots controlled by television networks and radio companies have lost their stronghold.

Another difference between the two types of media can be seen by exploring the news industry. With traditional old media it took a lot of time to place ads, and even get recent news. To process papers it was a lengthy process. Now with the advent of the internet and new technology programs like InDesign journalists and newspaper companies can instantly update stories, shift important stories and change ads instantly. The time lag that use to exist has been greatly decreased and in some ways eliminated.

The two types of technologies also work together. As more applications and programs are designed, old media will continue to transform and become part of new media. New media will force traditional forms of communication to speed up. Traditional forms will be upgraded, creating new forms of communication like Skype and texting.

BLOG POST: MODELING REALITY WITH VIRTUAL WORLDS

When I first heard of the term “virtual reality” images of Zelda came to mind. Those little fairies all over the screen urging me to buy a boomerang or drink this potion or that I had just been severely wounded by an enemy. To me virtual and video games are synonymous. Recently this technology is being applied in various other ways.

According to an article by Dave Itzkoff, "I've been in that club, just not in real life," MTV has created a virtual Lower East Side. With technology mimicking real life, and more specifically the nuances that make a city a certain way, the real deal is starting to look more like a sham. The online replica, although it includes, several landmark parts of the lower east side like "the exterior of Katz's Delicatessen, where I could press my digital nost against its salami- stocked windows, though I couldn't go inside to a fully explorable model of the club Max Fish, complete with a framed photograph of Julio Iglesias." As Itzkoff described his online avatar was able to visit all the lovable places he himself visits in the real world. Its' strange to think that so many of the same landmark locations could be replicated. The only problem is that for first time "visitors" to New York, an online replica wouldn't capture the city's unique energy.

These technologies aren't only being used for entertainment purposes. The article "IBM Learning Programs Ger A Second Life," by Ed Frauenheim described how IBM uses virtual reality programs to help train new employees. The training process can be tedious, expensive and inconvenient for workers, but with a virtual program, the process can be more like a video game. it cane be more interactive and meaningful for future workers. As the article explained" video game play adds a dimension to training because people don't perceive it as learning. That makes them more willing gt take risks and be more flexible in their thinking." Virtual Realities are also an excellent way to help people with disabilities interact with and create relationships with other people. In one particular case as described in the article "I Report: Naughty Auties battle autism with virtual interaction,"
David Savill created a place where individuals with autism could interact to overcome the issues they face. Savill himself suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, a disability that prevents him from having the ability to emotionally connect with individuals in social situations. He uses the world of Second Life to connect individuals with autism to those who want to learn about and understand the disorder.

As seen in these articles there are many benefits that include helping those with disabilities overcome their problems, making job- training faster and cheaper and even more fun, exploring cities without the geographic locations and the ability to create friendships by interacting with other virtual avatars. Just like any issue there is also a "dark side" to virtual reality technology. Some people may use the virtual world as an escape. They will never overcome their fears and instead they will become addicted to the virtual world, where life is simpler. Another dark side is the fact that employees using virtual reality technology may become too distracted to actual do their work. Another problem with virtual reality is the fact that people who live in particular ares like the lower east side feel "ripped off." The virtual version doesn't compare to the real thing.

I think these technologies are going to evolve in a whole new way. I think facebook will become a virtual reality. I think that the technology will also include GPS so no matter where you are you will actually be connected. The world will become like a giant battleship board. Our avatars will mimic every action so that our friends and family will know exactly where we are and when. We won't have to update anything because it will already be done. Times are definitely changing.

SOCIAL NETWORKING

There are many different ways for individuals to use social networking sites. Websites like myspace and facebook have allowed millions of people to stay in contact with old friends, and even meet new people. Other social networking sites like LinkedIn are used for professionals and career oriented activities. The site allows users to post resumes and interests to find future jobs. Whether these social networking sites are used for personal or professional activities, both include detailed information that instantly spreads from one persons profile to the next. The sites use photos as well as videos to add even more content.

Recently more companies are finding ways to incorporate these popular social networking sites within the workplace. By creating these networks, companies are trying to establish tighter and closer knit friendships. They want to create an environment where workers can depend on one another for answers. In other words they want workers to be less intimidated by each other. One particular company that is using this concept is Nissan. In the BusinessWeek article, “Why is Nissan Mimicking Myspace?”
Kenji Hall, describes Nissan’s latest creation, N-Square. This social networking site has been created to “connect up to 50,000 of the company’s 180,000 employees worldwide, letting them create online profiles and blogs, and swap data files.” With a program that targets collaboration Nissan is urging coworkers to share ideas and help employees care more about their positions within the company. By creating this site, Nissan will ultimately create a new corporate culture, making workers see each other not just as coworkers, but more specifically as friends. Their work environment will be more fulfilling. As Hall writes the result will be “happier employees who feel more attached to their jobs.” Employing a social network will help Nissan not only cut costs, but also unify their staff. It is an excellent way to bridge global workers.

While helpful, these sites also have several drawbacks. In Stephen J. Dubner’s New York Times article, “Is Myspace Good For Society?” different experts describe the pros and cons associated with social networking websites. As described by Nicole Ellison, an assistant professor of Telecommunications at Michigan State University, she wrote “Undergraduates who used facebook intensively had higher social capital scores than those who didn’t. These students were using facebook to increase the size of their social networks and therefore their access to more information and diverse perspectives.” In this case social networking sites are allowing students to try and make new friendships.
Other professionals like Steve Chazin, the former Apple marketing director, stated how “disconnecting is becoming increasingly hard thanks to social networking sites.” Tools like the blackberry are becoming like electronic leashes, forcing users to constantly feel anxious when they don’t check their emails at least 600 times a day. In cases like this individuals can become addicted to these sites.

With technology moving so face no one can tell what type of new social networking site will be created. In the future I believe that more companies will incorporate networking sites to help workers foster creativity as well as bond. By using these networking sites work may actually become bearable. Interns could be more useful and less bored, and there could also be an appreciation for the different branches that exist within large companies. More sites like Twitter will arise. As described in Clair Cain Miller's article, "Putting Twitter's World To Use," companies like Starbucks and dell are able to see what customers are thinking by reading user's tweets. The world of market research will be transformed. Twitter reports could even become the new replacement for surveys.

MY NEW MEDIA CLASS - SO FAR

Well time seems to be flying this summer. It is really helpful to stop and see where exactly we are, and more importantly what we have discussed.

So what exactly do we mean when we say new media?
Answer: New media consists of various ways technology can be applied to facilitate and make communication more efficient. Some technologies that have recently been formed include, but are not limited to Twitter, Facebook, myspace, and friendster. Other forms of new media include blogs and wikis, which are forms of collaborative software. These types of technologies emphasize interactivity and help create online communities. These examples are all listed in "The New Media Technologies: Overview and Research Framework, " written by Linda Weiser Friedman, a Professor at Baruch College. Some other new technologies were also mentioned and discussed in Clive Thompson's article "How Youtube Changes the Way We Think." This article described the growing trend of television programs and videos that are being created online.

How important is the Internet to the new media?
The internet is extremely important to the new media technologies. Without the internet users would not be able to interact with one another. They would still be separated by geographic boundaries. In addition spreading content would be too costly. Individuals would also face more difficulty when creating mash-ups as well as media files.

Why and how are the new media replacing and / or enhancing the old media?
New media is replacing old media because it is looking at pitfalls and transforming the tools to create more effective software, programs and gadgets. By analyzing technological problems, companies can perfect glitches and create more powerful and effective ways for individuals to stay connected with one another. New media is enhancing old media by also including favorable attributes to various products. For example, through convergence, users are able to have internet on phones as well as Voice activated commands to make their lives easier. GPS systems in cars now also have voice recognition. By pairing and adding similar features to products, users are able to constantly transforming their daily tasks.

BLOG POST: BLOGS vs. WIKIS

Blogs are like a personal internet journal, where users can describe opinions or observations about the world her or she live in.Blogs contain posts, or written content that is dated and listed in reverse chronological order. People can comment on the text that has been written and also include links to other sites that are relevant.

Wikis, as described in the article "How to Use Wikis For Business," by Ezra Goodnoe, are "essentially web pages that anyone can create or edit." Goodnoe also states that Wikis simplify the tedious and confusing natur of emails that follow divergent paths. The wiki is collaboration software that allows non-technological employees to easily adpot a way to stay organized. The software enables users to easily exchange information. Content can also be updated without any real lag time. Users can simply sign on and make a change. Later users can then see the change and either keep it or revert the document back to the original form.

Like a blog dates are used to document the changes that are made. Unlike blogs, Wikis are more collaborative. Users do not need to leave comments or opinions, because they can alter whatever they disagree with. Wikis are also just as cost efficient as blogs. All users need is a computer and the internet. Blogs can also include hundreds of posts. Wikis can similarly hold various corporate documents, making them excellent for businesses. As described in the article, "An Internal Wiki That's Not Classified," by Noam Cohen, Diplopedia, a wiki used by the State Department, is one way workers can collaborate and share information. While blogs allow users to share an opinion or knowledge in a particular subject, they can be biased. Wikis are constantly edited and changed, allowing users to update and add information instantaneously, providing a less biased picture.

With so many new technologies constantly being created, users are demanding that different types of technological tools offer the same capabilities. This phenomenon is called convergence. For example as we use our personal computers we are able to access the internet. We therefore become accustomed to this ability, and expect that other tools like cellphones also have this type of technological ability. The same principle applies for services like GPS in phones, cars and even music devices.

Blogs can be used for collaboration because many times writers include sources from other internet locations. By including this hyperlink readers able to learn more and also search similar sites for relevant content. Readers are also able to leave comments and reactions to the content they read. These comments are then linked to the blog post, allowing even more readers to interact with the posted material. Bloggers also cross link their posts to other blogs that address similar topics. With these tools users can find a plethora of information, and even create large on-line communities.

One new way to use wikis would be to create ongoing projects where students are assigned a topic at the start of a semester. The students can then add and remove information as they follow companies and their research throughout the semester. At the end of the term they can have a wealth of knowledge that has been updated frequently. Their research can then be published alogn with videos and pictures.