Wednesday, 17 November 2010

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing
View more presentations from lizoface.

 Throughout this presentation we explored various aspects of cloud computing ourselves. We discovered Google Docs which provided a much easier way of  doing a group presentation. Since there were four of us in the group, Google Docs allowed us all to access the presentation online at the same time and let us see what the others were writing. The ability to access our presentation on any computer meant we did not have to worry about saving our data to memory sticks and transporting from home to class to library. It saved time and space. We then could bring up our presentation in class to present it once finished. Since then I have used Google Docs for all my essays and presentations needed for my modules. I will never go back to just Word alone!

Resources I used: In this presentation I was responsible for presenting information on Google docs and Social Networking. These are the sites I used: 30/10/10

Pecha Kucha Presentation:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9NZOt6BkhUg

Cloud Computing:
1.{2009} Cloud Computing in Technology Review {WWW} from:
http://technologyreview.coverleaf.com/technologyreview/20090708/?pg=54&pm=2
2. O`Reilly, T. Web 2.0 and Cloud Computing {WWW} from:
Http://radar.oreilly.com/2008/10/web-20-and-cloud-computing.html
3.{2006}``How does Google work?'' From:  Http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2006/09/how-much-data-does-google-store.html
4. Google, 2010
Http://www.google.com/google-d-s/tour3.html
5. McGee, M. {2009} ``Google Dashboard Offers New Privacy Controls'' From:
Http://searchengineland.com/google-.dashboard-offers-new-privacy-controls-29223
6. CommonCraft {2009} From:
Http://www.commoncraft.com/cloud-computing-video
7. Strickland, J. {no given date} From:
Http://www.computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/social-networking/facebook.html
8. Make Use Of: From {WWW}
Http://www.makeuseof.com/facebook-work-nuts-bolts-technology-explained/


Tuesday, 19 October 2010

Eight Traits of the New Media

Notes taken from the readings by Henry Jenkins.

The contemporary media landscape consists of eight different traits according to the writings of Henry Jenkins. Below are those eight triats and a brief description of each.

PARTICIPATORY CULTURE: A culture in which you are active rather than passive. You participate with the technology.

1. Innovative: 
- Technological change of a profound nature. 
- The idea that media is often put into production before it has nesscessarily been thought through. [ Marshall McLuhan]
- ``Burst of technological change followed by a slow period of ajustment''.
- Idea of modernism: In the end of the 19th century modernism dramatically changed and speeded up the production of new technologies until today, increasing the rate of change within society and culture as well.
- McCraken says; `` `plentitude' is emerging because the cultural conditions are ripe for change''.
- Cultural conditions may be ready for new technology however is everyone ready for it? With the release of new media technologies so rapid, is this a bad thing? Can the public get used to all this, this quickly?

2. Convergent:
- Convergance of multiple new media technologies and media conglomerate companies to try and control as much production of new media as possible. This ensures production and content.
- Continuous partial attention. Our attention is spaced out between all sorts of different medias.
-The consumers of these products want the products when they choose, however companies cannot do this and this leads to the reproducing and remixing of products by the consumers. Eg. Illegal downloads etc.

3. Everyday:
- Bruce Sterling suggests that because media has become to common and ``everyday'' to us, does this make it invisable to us as well? We are so surrounded by media but, do we notice how much there is and what it consists of?
- Media technologies can bring family together that are miles away. Eg. With the use of Skype people all over the world can communicate everyday. However, within the same home can seperate members. For most modern families, each members will have individual televisions sets, iPods etc, made for personal and intimate use. This means that people no longer crowd around the family television and radio like twenty years ago! 

4. Appropriative:
- Taking something and re-creating it to make it suitable for you personally.
- ``New media technologies make it easy for people to sample one repurpose and to sample media images''.
- Allows remixing and possible illegal downloading? 
5. Networked:
- Important social and professional skill.
- ``Media technologies are interconnected so that messages flow easily from one to another and from one person to another''.
 6. Global:
- The idea that media has no barriers or boundaries. It can flow  easily from one country to another.
- All countries can access, relitively the same material.
- New media technologies has the power to allow us to express ourselves and our place in the world.
- Digital tools such as subtitles help to spread technology around the globe. 
 7. Generational:
- The idea that historically cultural ideas and traditions were passed from generation to generation. However, now adays the younger generations are developing their own cultural styles and values much different from those previous.
- Recent research has suggested that young people and adults/older generations live in completely different media environments.
- However I believe that parts of this trait are not true because families that are spread apart can access eachother through facebook, Skype etc. Grandparents may be more willing to use and learn new media technologies.
- Learning about technology is far less daunting than it used to be. You can take classes etc. 
8. Unequal:
- People are given the choice whether they want to ``take part'' in this new media revolution.
- However does this suggest different levels of power and wealth?
- Participatory culture is only available to those who have access to it. Think of the all the people that would not be able to afford it or in countries where they may not have access.
- HENRY JENKINS BELIEVES THIS IS THE MOST LIKELY SCENEARIO FOR TODAYS CULTURE.
 
Resources: 
Jenkins, H. {2006} Eights Traits of the New Media Landscape [WWW] From: 
http://www.henryjenkins.org/2006/11/eight_traits_of_the_new_media.html
Me and the Eight Traits of the New Media  

  Jenkins strongly believes in the notion of participatory culture in today's modern world. A culture of which you are always active rather than that of the passive. I agree very strongly with Jenkins work. I myself take part in numerous forms of participatory culture. The use of Blackberry and iPhone allows me to access applications on the internet, such as Google maps and Facebook, this improving my communications with people and places around me. The use of a touch screen allows the user to engage more in the technology, supporting Jenkin's idea of this participatory culture. I am a big Facebook user and log in everyday. I use Facebook for numerous reasons, for both organisational factors as well as the obvious communications aspects as well. Facebook has let me become friends with people all over the world as well as friends and family I have not seen for years. Many applications such as Facebook and Twitter allow you to engage positively in the networking, creating virtual communities.  
 As far as the Eight Traits of the New Media I would have to say the one that effects me most would be Global, the idea that ``media content flows fluidly across national and international borders''. {Jenkins, 2006} The new landscape changes the way in which we communicate with the world and we represent our place in the world. Deminishing borders has allowed me to get in contact with family members and friends in Canada who otherwise I would not see or hear from as often as I do thanks for applications such as Skype and Facebook. Jenkins suggests that social networking sites such as Facebook are generational in the idea that young people have adapted to the new forms of media however old generations have not. I disagree with this entirely. My grandparents both use Facebook to communicate with my family in England as well as in Canada. Some of my older family members use it more than I do and have more friends! I think Jenkins' arguement is lacking the fundamental link between the accessibilty of new media and the teachings of it. Older generations have the access to gain these media forms as well as learn about them from younger generations and educational classes. 
 I think Jenkins makes some obviously brilliant points about modern media intake and public participation however, the avaliability of such forms, like stated in his ``Everday'' argument, is accessible for everyone, and if not now will be very soon. Today's culture is emersed in media forms daily, it is everywhere however without these forms advances in culture would cease to exist.