1. Why do the Democratic leaders embrace blogging as a potential political communication considering the traditional media landscape in politics?
- Blogging is a cheaper, faster, and interactive media platform used by Democrats to get their political campaign underway. Anyone, even the younger demographics are reached by using this approach. Democrats have realized that this is a way to receive donations, participate in live chats, have citizen involvement, and many more. Democrats want to get everybody on board with their campaign by utilizing blog sites.
2. Blogging encourages a participatory culture. In what way does the participatory culture in blogging expand digital media convergence?
- Participatory culture is encouraged by blogging because everybody has access to make comments and posts regarding what they see and hear in the media. This expands digital media convergence because anyone can post comments, videos, and graphics reflecting their beliefs.
3. In the article, the author says: "The ability of the Internet to erase geographical distances can become a structural weakness in elections where district lines and eligibility are key." How can blogging counter this weakness in the process of turning the netroots to grassroots?
4. The author spends the second half of the article discussing the lack of diversity in current blogosphere dominated by elite bloggers. Please use the concept of digital convergence to explain how blogs can become the real bearer of freedom, democracy, egalitarianism, and participation in the new media communication?
Friday, February 28, 2014
Thursday, February 20, 2014
"Virtual Revolution," Reaction Questions
1.
The web is celebrated as the revolutionary
technology that is great leveling of humanity creating equal opportunity, equal
access, and equal potential. However, there are only a quarter of people on the
earth who can use it. How do you explain the controversial argument here?
- A vast majority of the world does have access to the internet, but a lot of poorer countries don't due to less technologic capabilities. Countries like Africa are starting to finally gain access to the internet with the onset of new technology, eventually Africa will reach limits close to our country.
2. How is Wikipedia the best example to implement the leveling ideas of the Web rooted in the cultural revolution of 1960s, namely the Libertarianism in the counter culture? How does it explain some of the digital convergences?
- Libertarianism focuses on individual freedoms. Wikipedia reflects the Libertarianism in the counter culture because it allows for people to be active participants online. Wikipedia allows for anyone to edit and add information on its website. People who post on Wikipedia are not censored, because it was created as a site for people's interactivity.
- A vast majority of the world does have access to the internet, but a lot of poorer countries don't due to less technologic capabilities. Countries like Africa are starting to finally gain access to the internet with the onset of new technology, eventually Africa will reach limits close to our country.
2. How is Wikipedia the best example to implement the leveling ideas of the Web rooted in the cultural revolution of 1960s, namely the Libertarianism in the counter culture? How does it explain some of the digital convergences?
- Libertarianism focuses on individual freedoms. Wikipedia reflects the Libertarianism in the counter culture because it allows for people to be active participants online. Wikipedia allows for anyone to edit and add information on its website. People who post on Wikipedia are not censored, because it was created as a site for people's interactivity.
3. How does the Web make it possible for different kinds of digital convergence?
- The web makes it possible for different kinds of digital convergence due to people's abilities to express their opinions and make comments anywhere online. People are able to blog, post pictures, write on social media sites, and so much more. All of these interactive technologies are accessible from the computer to our very own mobile devices.
4.
How can the Internet become a challenge for
traditional authority? Use the political landscape changes in some counties to
illustrate your answer.
- The Internet's interactive component is a challenge to traditional authority. Ushahidi, a website created in Kenya as a result of government elections allowed people to post about violent rebellions or acts that were taken place in the country. As a result of people's postings, the Kenyan government was put under pressure and forced to take action to stem the violence.
- The Internet's interactive component is a challenge to traditional authority. Ushahidi, a website created in Kenya as a result of government elections allowed people to post about violent rebellions or acts that were taken place in the country. As a result of people's postings, the Kenyan government was put under pressure and forced to take action to stem the violence.
5.
Do you believe that getting information free can
set us free eventually? Why or Why not? Do you see any concerns of the complete
freedom or self-expression without limit on the Internet? Why or why not?
- There is definitely a lot of exceptions to how much information people should be able to freely access online. General information inquiries and postings on sites are harmless forms of information for people to seek out or act in. It becomes troublesome when people begin to access or post information that can potentially create a problem. For example, people who post information about the government and possibly include hate speech or make offensive comments could start a problem with other people viewing the material. Physical or mental violence could be a problem faced with too much freedom of content distribution on the internet.
- There is definitely a lot of exceptions to how much information people should be able to freely access online. General information inquiries and postings on sites are harmless forms of information for people to seek out or act in. It becomes troublesome when people begin to access or post information that can potentially create a problem. For example, people who post information about the government and possibly include hate speech or make offensive comments could start a problem with other people viewing the material. Physical or mental violence could be a problem faced with too much freedom of content distribution on the internet.
6.
In traditional media communication, it has the
“vertical” authority. In the Web communication, it becomes “horizontal?” How do
you explain the change? How does this create the possibility for digital media convergence?
- There will be no change because people will still be able to have unlimited access to freely express their opinions and share ideas on a wide range of sites. This creates the possibility for digital convergence because people will be able to continue to share ideas and express opinions through media.
- There will be no change because people will still be able to have unlimited access to freely express their opinions and share ideas on a wide range of sites. This creates the possibility for digital convergence because people will be able to continue to share ideas and express opinions through media.
7.
Why is that the Web is free critical for the
success of the Web itself? How does that clash with the corporate business ideology?
How does that pose challenges for copyright issues at the same time? What will
happen if the Web is not free?
- The fact that the Web is free will promote people's active use of it. Most people would not pay for the Web. The potential clash with web freedom and corporate business ideology is that people will be able to freely access content on the web. This poses challenges for copyright issues because instead of buying certain media like music, people will be able to access such media on pirating websites free of charge. In addition, plagiarism has become more accessible because students can receive information from anywhere on the web. By using the web people are able to cheat corporate businesses. If the Web was not free, I believe that it would have a smaller pool of users, unwilling to charge for access.
- The fact that the Web is free will promote people's active use of it. Most people would not pay for the Web. The potential clash with web freedom and corporate business ideology is that people will be able to freely access content on the web. This poses challenges for copyright issues because instead of buying certain media like music, people will be able to access such media on pirating websites free of charge. In addition, plagiarism has become more accessible because students can receive information from anywhere on the web. By using the web people are able to cheat corporate businesses. If the Web was not free, I believe that it would have a smaller pool of users, unwilling to charge for access.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
"Historical Development of the Internet, and World Wide Web," Reaction Questions
1. Why is broadband service the key for the success of online communication? What are the social effects of broadband service? How does the broadband service make digital convergence possible?
Broadband service is the key for the success of online communication because it enhances and actually allows for it to be considered the full-powered mass medium, Internet. The social effects of broadband, or high-speed, are due to the audio and video element that are added. Broadband service makes digital convergence feasible because of the combination of audio, graphics, and other features included on the Internet. For example, with broadband Internet connection, one can view a video created in distant places, and learn about global issues. In this way broadband provides that "connection," or ability for people to identify commonality of opinions on issues, joys, and fears. Broadband also allows for the ability to send out and receive large amounts of information to wide ranges of people.
2. Why does the use of World Wide Web open the door of the Internet communication to a much wider audience? In what way does the Web with graphical web browsers move the online communication to "acoustic world" discussed in the previous class?
The World Wide Web opens the doors for Internet communication because it allows for anyone to access it and share opinions, moments, and to discuss social issues. The Web with graphical web browsers moves online communication to the "acoustic world" because of the freedom people have while using it. People are allowed to post whatever they wish to the public and hold discussions with anyone in the world, despite distance. This opens the doors of communication even wider because of the abilities of people to have a say and love the ability to interact with lands afar.
3. How might telecommunication change if the government supported the development of broadband Internet for everyone?
Telecommunication would change the way government supported the development of broadband Internet for everyone because cable and telecommunications provide a wide range of data for their users. This would just increase the data flow amongst consumers.
4. News organizations were changed by the telegraph, and the whole new business of news, that of the wire services, were created because of the telegraph. Discuss other industries that could benefit from rapid dissemination of information and how and why they would benefit from it.
I think any company reliant on needing to send information out to a mass audience or needing to receive audience's opinions would benefit from rapid dissemination of information. I think marketing and advertising firms would benefit from the rapid dissemination of information. Perhaps they could track their social media and other mediums for what people are thinking of their products, or sales approaches. Finding out how people are reacting to their products will allow them to adjust and better their customer service.
5. Choose one of the common methods of online communication and think of how it could be improved in terms of facilitating communication between people, ensuring quality communication, and enabling the greatest number of users to distribute information.
Perhaps enhancing the functions of Twitter as a social networking tool and make it more geared towards businesses. Allowing for group chats to be formed, and allow the sharing of software (microsoft documents, other papers, etc) amongst company officials and allow commenting. My idea is to converge the communication of Twitter software with the scheduling software of Doodle, and to add more of a conversational, interactive element to it.
Broadband service is the key for the success of online communication because it enhances and actually allows for it to be considered the full-powered mass medium, Internet. The social effects of broadband, or high-speed, are due to the audio and video element that are added. Broadband service makes digital convergence feasible because of the combination of audio, graphics, and other features included on the Internet. For example, with broadband Internet connection, one can view a video created in distant places, and learn about global issues. In this way broadband provides that "connection," or ability for people to identify commonality of opinions on issues, joys, and fears. Broadband also allows for the ability to send out and receive large amounts of information to wide ranges of people.
2. Why does the use of World Wide Web open the door of the Internet communication to a much wider audience? In what way does the Web with graphical web browsers move the online communication to "acoustic world" discussed in the previous class?
The World Wide Web opens the doors for Internet communication because it allows for anyone to access it and share opinions, moments, and to discuss social issues. The Web with graphical web browsers moves online communication to the "acoustic world" because of the freedom people have while using it. People are allowed to post whatever they wish to the public and hold discussions with anyone in the world, despite distance. This opens the doors of communication even wider because of the abilities of people to have a say and love the ability to interact with lands afar.
3. How might telecommunication change if the government supported the development of broadband Internet for everyone?
Telecommunication would change the way government supported the development of broadband Internet for everyone because cable and telecommunications provide a wide range of data for their users. This would just increase the data flow amongst consumers.
4. News organizations were changed by the telegraph, and the whole new business of news, that of the wire services, were created because of the telegraph. Discuss other industries that could benefit from rapid dissemination of information and how and why they would benefit from it.
I think any company reliant on needing to send information out to a mass audience or needing to receive audience's opinions would benefit from rapid dissemination of information. I think marketing and advertising firms would benefit from the rapid dissemination of information. Perhaps they could track their social media and other mediums for what people are thinking of their products, or sales approaches. Finding out how people are reacting to their products will allow them to adjust and better their customer service.
5. Choose one of the common methods of online communication and think of how it could be improved in terms of facilitating communication between people, ensuring quality communication, and enabling the greatest number of users to distribute information.
Perhaps enhancing the functions of Twitter as a social networking tool and make it more geared towards businesses. Allowing for group chats to be formed, and allow the sharing of software (microsoft documents, other papers, etc) amongst company officials and allow commenting. My idea is to converge the communication of Twitter software with the scheduling software of Doodle, and to add more of a conversational, interactive element to it.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
"Digital McLuhan," Reaction Questions
1. What are the differences between the pre-literate acoustic world and the alphabetical visual world? How does the media of television become a part of the acoustic world?
The pre-literate acoustic world pre-dates the alphabet. The world of the pre-literate acoustic is one of no boundaries, in which information emerges in various places. In the article, the pre-literate world inhabits myth, music, and total immersion. Television carrying these similar characteristics is a resident of the acoustic world. Additionally, the alphabetical visual world is different from the pre-literate world because it wasn't accessible to everyone. Only select people had the luxury of being able to read and interpret texts. This difference glorified the acoustic world because it involved interpretation based on what the person was hearing or seeing, not based on what was written.
2. Why does the alphabet have the segregating tendencies? How exactly does the printing press reverse the segregating tendencies?
The alphabet has segregating tendencies because when it was originally created it was only designed for those who were able to read it. The privileged few capable of reading were then able to spread its meaning to others. The printing press reverses these segregating tendencies because it allows for the mass production of news which can be circulated to more people than before.
3. How does the alphabetic communication in online communication make cyberspace acoustic? How is the online acoustic world different from the television, radio, or print acoustic world?
The alphabetic communication in online communication makes cyberspace acoustic because we created the alphabet as a way to communicate amongst each other. The online acoustic world is different from the television, radio, or print acoustic world because it is closed and we are able to make changes based upon our preferences. For example, using Pandora online radio, the user is capable of manipulating what they listen to based upon their preferences, as opposed to traditional radio.The main difference between online and television is that you can interact with people via chatting and posting. Television does not allow for interactivity between the viewer and television producer.
4. Not only do we invent media and media technologies but also we select their uses in different contexts. What are the two selection criteria? According to the selection criteria, please discuss what will happen to our online communication in 20 years.
The two selection criteria are:
1. "We want media to extend our communications beyond the biological boundaries of naked seeing and hearing."
2. "We want media to recapture elements of that biological communication which early artificial extensions may have lost." - Color television replaced black and white television, because we want to see the natural, realistic world. Additionally, the telephone replacing the telegraph, because the telegraph lacked the human voice element.
In 20 years our online communication will be much more advanced. As humans we will always have the need for more and will never settle for less. Keeping that trend continuing, media will be constantly changing to more advanced technology to quench our thirst for the latest technological release.
The pre-literate acoustic world pre-dates the alphabet. The world of the pre-literate acoustic is one of no boundaries, in which information emerges in various places. In the article, the pre-literate world inhabits myth, music, and total immersion. Television carrying these similar characteristics is a resident of the acoustic world. Additionally, the alphabetical visual world is different from the pre-literate world because it wasn't accessible to everyone. Only select people had the luxury of being able to read and interpret texts. This difference glorified the acoustic world because it involved interpretation based on what the person was hearing or seeing, not based on what was written.
2. Why does the alphabet have the segregating tendencies? How exactly does the printing press reverse the segregating tendencies?
The alphabet has segregating tendencies because when it was originally created it was only designed for those who were able to read it. The privileged few capable of reading were then able to spread its meaning to others. The printing press reverses these segregating tendencies because it allows for the mass production of news which can be circulated to more people than before.
3. How does the alphabetic communication in online communication make cyberspace acoustic? How is the online acoustic world different from the television, radio, or print acoustic world?
The alphabetic communication in online communication makes cyberspace acoustic because we created the alphabet as a way to communicate amongst each other. The online acoustic world is different from the television, radio, or print acoustic world because it is closed and we are able to make changes based upon our preferences. For example, using Pandora online radio, the user is capable of manipulating what they listen to based upon their preferences, as opposed to traditional radio.The main difference between online and television is that you can interact with people via chatting and posting. Television does not allow for interactivity between the viewer and television producer.
4. Not only do we invent media and media technologies but also we select their uses in different contexts. What are the two selection criteria? According to the selection criteria, please discuss what will happen to our online communication in 20 years.
The two selection criteria are:
1. "We want media to extend our communications beyond the biological boundaries of naked seeing and hearing."
2. "We want media to recapture elements of that biological communication which early artificial extensions may have lost." - Color television replaced black and white television, because we want to see the natural, realistic world. Additionally, the telephone replacing the telegraph, because the telegraph lacked the human voice element.
In 20 years our online communication will be much more advanced. As humans we will always have the need for more and will never settle for less. Keeping that trend continuing, media will be constantly changing to more advanced technology to quench our thirst for the latest technological release.
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