INTRODUCTION
The website I have chosen to analyse is http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/. For those people who don’t know what this website consists of its an online woman’s magazine containing all the things the printed monthly cosmopolitan magazine does that you would buy off the shelf only instead of buying the magazine you can access it online.. It doesn’t cost anything to read and you can access it whenever you want to find the latest updates and gossip of what’s happening today instantly.
The reason I have chosen this website is because I often used to buy the magazine and if I didn’t then I browse through the website and read the sections I am interested in. So I am quite familiar with it.
Friday, 29 February 2008
Web Analysis week 6 (Part 2 layout and structure )
LAYOUT AND STRUCTURE
The homepage consists of a header at the top of the page which is kind of like the contents page that appears at the beginning of the magazine. It tells the viewer what sections are available on the website and gives you the opportunity to look at different topics as and when you want to unlike reading a magazine which you would tend to read from the front to the back. It is very clear when viewing this page that it is a woman’s online magazine as the topics that are covered are Sex and relationships, Fashion, Beauty, Life Coach, Cosmo Body, In the know/Celebrity gossip, Chat/Blogs, Confessions, Galleries, Centrefold. All these topics are woman related topics and as soon as you log on this becomes clear as the colours used for the website are very feminine colours like Pinks, purples, turquoises. You wouldn’t really find a male logging onto this website as the sex tips, quizzes and fashions are all directed at the female sex. This gives a kind of digital divide as the topics are for woman only and those who are interested in these kind of ‘girly‘ aspects of life. This shows a very stereotypical role of woman and what they are interested in as it presumes that all woman are into making themselves look good and hearing the latest celebrity gossip when many maybe aren’t so interested in this kind of thing.
You could also say there was a digital divide with the age range as the magazine relates to topics like sex and relationships you wouldn’t really say it was for younger teenage girls more like the older teenage girl and young adults like 16/17 +
The homepage is very busy and loaded with examples of hypertexts, user generated content and forms of new media which I will be discussing later on .I would say it was easy to use as you can easily access other areas on the site from this page and it isn’t confusing to look at as you don’t have to scroll down far to reach the end of the page so it doesn’t come across so confusing.
The layout on the homepage is always kept the same the content just changes each month which I think is a good aspect as it is easily recognisable and regular viewers will always know where everything is and can visit the sections they want to look at instantly without having to take time to find them. I sometimes when i visit websites i get confused finding what I’m looking for if they are forever changing there layout and structure.
There are many slide shows containing snippets of what is available for example quizzes you can take and products that you can win. The website uses words and sentence like ‘Today’s highlights’ and ‘Out Now’ with images and the start of the sentence underneath them for example ‘see who wore what at the ......’ this makes people want to click on them and look at each section of the website because they are intrigued into what comes next or what the story or the tips are.
There is also many adverts down the side of the page advertising woman’s makeup and perfume like ‘Kylie Minogue Showtime Perfume‘. These slide shows and flashing/moving adverts are used as they draw attention to your eye as soon as you log onto the homepage as they aren’t something you would really look at first they are trying to persuade you to buy the product. There are different boxes spread around the homepage which create more functions for people to look at keeping them entertained for longer.
The homepage consists of a header at the top of the page which is kind of like the contents page that appears at the beginning of the magazine. It tells the viewer what sections are available on the website and gives you the opportunity to look at different topics as and when you want to unlike reading a magazine which you would tend to read from the front to the back. It is very clear when viewing this page that it is a woman’s online magazine as the topics that are covered are Sex and relationships, Fashion, Beauty, Life Coach, Cosmo Body, In the know/Celebrity gossip, Chat/Blogs, Confessions, Galleries, Centrefold. All these topics are woman related topics and as soon as you log on this becomes clear as the colours used for the website are very feminine colours like Pinks, purples, turquoises. You wouldn’t really find a male logging onto this website as the sex tips, quizzes and fashions are all directed at the female sex. This gives a kind of digital divide as the topics are for woman only and those who are interested in these kind of ‘girly‘ aspects of life. This shows a very stereotypical role of woman and what they are interested in as it presumes that all woman are into making themselves look good and hearing the latest celebrity gossip when many maybe aren’t so interested in this kind of thing.
You could also say there was a digital divide with the age range as the magazine relates to topics like sex and relationships you wouldn’t really say it was for younger teenage girls more like the older teenage girl and young adults like 16/17 +
The homepage is very busy and loaded with examples of hypertexts, user generated content and forms of new media which I will be discussing later on .I would say it was easy to use as you can easily access other areas on the site from this page and it isn’t confusing to look at as you don’t have to scroll down far to reach the end of the page so it doesn’t come across so confusing.
The layout on the homepage is always kept the same the content just changes each month which I think is a good aspect as it is easily recognisable and regular viewers will always know where everything is and can visit the sections they want to look at instantly without having to take time to find them. I sometimes when i visit websites i get confused finding what I’m looking for if they are forever changing there layout and structure.
There are many slide shows containing snippets of what is available for example quizzes you can take and products that you can win. The website uses words and sentence like ‘Today’s highlights’ and ‘Out Now’ with images and the start of the sentence underneath them for example ‘see who wore what at the ......’ this makes people want to click on them and look at each section of the website because they are intrigued into what comes next or what the story or the tips are.
There is also many adverts down the side of the page advertising woman’s makeup and perfume like ‘Kylie Minogue Showtime Perfume‘. These slide shows and flashing/moving adverts are used as they draw attention to your eye as soon as you log onto the homepage as they aren’t something you would really look at first they are trying to persuade you to buy the product. There are different boxes spread around the homepage which create more functions for people to look at keeping them entertained for longer.
Web Analysis week 6 (Part 3 hypertexts )
Use of Hypertexts
The homepage consists of many images with hypertexts on them. This lets you as a viewer have more informed choices about what interactive routes can be taken online. As Lister quotes ‘Hypertext links allow the reader to follow his or her own path through a body of information or narrative’ (Lister 2007:387)
The user can move navigate their way around the website easily and in any way and order you want to by clicking on these hypertexts. Some examples of the content of the website accessed via hypertexts are: articles on sex and relationships ‘shortcuts to relationship success’
http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/index.php/v1/Love_and_Relationships_success_advice/9093
Fashion tips ‘update your wardrobe for winter’
http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/index.php/base/editorialgallery/?pic=1&aid=59196
Celeb gossip ‘was Britney drugged’
http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/index.php/v1/Celebrity_Gossip_Britney_Spears_Drugged/77322
I Think hyper links are good as you are allowed to select what you want to view from options that are available. You can narrow your search down by choosing your own route and creating your own unique experience. It gives a sense of instant interactivity as you can easily flip through the different pages and always get back to the homepage if you want to as its easily accessible.
When you have clicked on a hypertext on a particular section for example from the Beauty section down the left hand side of the page their is a list of all the topics that are covered in the beauty section so once you have looked at one particular page from that bit you can just click on the list to view something else. That way you don’t miss anything and rather than going back you can just click on another page from the list.
M, Lister et al (2007) New Media: A Critical Introduction, London: Routledge
The homepage consists of many images with hypertexts on them. This lets you as a viewer have more informed choices about what interactive routes can be taken online. As Lister quotes ‘Hypertext links allow the reader to follow his or her own path through a body of information or narrative’ (Lister 2007:387)
The user can move navigate their way around the website easily and in any way and order you want to by clicking on these hypertexts. Some examples of the content of the website accessed via hypertexts are: articles on sex and relationships ‘shortcuts to relationship success’
http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/index.php/v1/Love_and_Relationships_success_advice/9093
Fashion tips ‘update your wardrobe for winter’
http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/index.php/base/editorialgallery/?pic=1&aid=59196
Celeb gossip ‘was Britney drugged’
http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/index.php/v1/Celebrity_Gossip_Britney_Spears_Drugged/77322
I Think hyper links are good as you are allowed to select what you want to view from options that are available. You can narrow your search down by choosing your own route and creating your own unique experience. It gives a sense of instant interactivity as you can easily flip through the different pages and always get back to the homepage if you want to as its easily accessible.
When you have clicked on a hypertext on a particular section for example from the Beauty section down the left hand side of the page their is a list of all the topics that are covered in the beauty section so once you have looked at one particular page from that bit you can just click on the list to view something else. That way you don’t miss anything and rather than going back you can just click on another page from the list.
M, Lister et al (2007) New Media: A Critical Introduction, London: Routledge
Web Analysis week 6 (Part 4 Chatrooms and blogs )
Chatrooms and Blogs
http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/index.php/chatroom/topic/32759
One of the main attractions of this website is the ‘Chat’ section where there is use of Chatrooms, blogs and forums these allow user generated content whereby all the content is produced by the users. It gives the chance for woman to have their input and opinions or voice any issues they may have and what to discuss with people without having to do it face to face. It is an open space where you can post anything you like and even ask questions for people to answer and give their advice as many people do reply to people which starts off conversations. This relates to Meikle’s idea of ‘Conversational interactivity’ where readers can interact as well as contribute creating two way communication. Which is essential for interactivity.
It is almost like starting up a virtual community as young woman are often wanting to discuss similar issues and are all interested in discussing similar things as they are all readers of the magazine.
However in order to write on these blogs or chatrooms you have to be a member and log in on the homepage which is on the left hand side of the page. People have the option of ‘logging in’ with their username and password. This allows you to be a member so you can access certain parts of the website which other people can’t like writing on blogs and forums. This can in fact encourage more people to become members. People may not be happy giving away some of their personal details to a company when signing up to be a member even though its free you are kind of loosing a sense of control we don’t actually no how safe our details our which can put people off. I know i wouldn’t be happy signing up to an online magazine for this reason.
http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/index.php/chatroom/topic/32759
One of the main attractions of this website is the ‘Chat’ section where there is use of Chatrooms, blogs and forums these allow user generated content whereby all the content is produced by the users. It gives the chance for woman to have their input and opinions or voice any issues they may have and what to discuss with people without having to do it face to face. It is an open space where you can post anything you like and even ask questions for people to answer and give their advice as many people do reply to people which starts off conversations. This relates to Meikle’s idea of ‘Conversational interactivity’ where readers can interact as well as contribute creating two way communication. Which is essential for interactivity.
It is almost like starting up a virtual community as young woman are often wanting to discuss similar issues and are all interested in discussing similar things as they are all readers of the magazine.
However in order to write on these blogs or chatrooms you have to be a member and log in on the homepage which is on the left hand side of the page. People have the option of ‘logging in’ with their username and password. This allows you to be a member so you can access certain parts of the website which other people can’t like writing on blogs and forums. This can in fact encourage more people to become members. People may not be happy giving away some of their personal details to a company when signing up to be a member even though its free you are kind of loosing a sense of control we don’t actually no how safe our details our which can put people off. I know i wouldn’t be happy signing up to an online magazine for this reason.
Web Analysis week 6 (Part 5 Culture)
Culture
Looking at the website on a cultural basis I think that it shows a good representation of woman today where by they are often obsessed with how they look that they can’t get enough information and advise on how to look good. In today’s society its all about ‘image’ and looking right. There is clear evidence of this seen through the Cosmopolitan website as all the subjects in headings and hypertexts are all areas on how to improve woman like fitness, the latest fashions and what celebrity’s are wearing
http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/index.php/landing/9072
http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/index.php/landing/9070
http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/index.php/cat/The_sexiest_in_film
In today’s female culture woman feel that they have to keep up with the latest trends and looks in order to fit in and be accepted by certain individuals around them which is why the Cosmo website like this provides this kind of information. Woman aspire to be like these celebrity’s and will do anything to make themselves look like them with the help of tips from these online magazine websites like the Cosmopolitan one I am an analysing.
The fact that the online magazine has a ‘Chat’ section where people can discuss topics says a lot about our culture today in that sometimes we often feel more comfortable in discussing certain subjects with people we don’t know and feel the internet is a suitable place for this as we can hide our identity and it doesn’t matter what we discuss because people will never no who we are. As we use names like ‘silverbunni’ and ‘portia92’ that really don’t mean anything to anybody who doesn’t no them.
Looking at the website on a cultural basis I think that it shows a good representation of woman today where by they are often obsessed with how they look that they can’t get enough information and advise on how to look good. In today’s society its all about ‘image’ and looking right. There is clear evidence of this seen through the Cosmopolitan website as all the subjects in headings and hypertexts are all areas on how to improve woman like fitness, the latest fashions and what celebrity’s are wearing
http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/index.php/landing/9072
http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/index.php/landing/9070
http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/index.php/cat/The_sexiest_in_film
In today’s female culture woman feel that they have to keep up with the latest trends and looks in order to fit in and be accepted by certain individuals around them which is why the Cosmo website like this provides this kind of information. Woman aspire to be like these celebrity’s and will do anything to make themselves look like them with the help of tips from these online magazine websites like the Cosmopolitan one I am an analysing.
The fact that the online magazine has a ‘Chat’ section where people can discuss topics says a lot about our culture today in that sometimes we often feel more comfortable in discussing certain subjects with people we don’t know and feel the internet is a suitable place for this as we can hide our identity and it doesn’t matter what we discuss because people will never no who we are. As we use names like ‘silverbunni’ and ‘portia92’ that really don’t mean anything to anybody who doesn’t no them.
Sunday, 24 February 2008
Week 4 Task 2
Music Sharing online
The way we listen and purchase music today is very different to how we would have several years ago. Technology has changed and more and more upgraded and new gadgets are hitting the markets changing our behaviours and consumer choices. for instance i used to go into a music shop and buy cd's to play on a cd player whereas i now just download my music from the internet or get other people to send me music that they have downloaded from the internet and then once it is on my computer on itunes i can transfer it onto my ipod which i take everywhere with me. People today won't go into shops and by music as they can download it for free off the internet and share the music files with their friends.
Bands often try and make it big through networking sites by sending people messages asking them to listen to their music. Some people are obiously more interested in listening than others. I know i personally have never been particularly bothered in listening.
Music sharing can be successful for unkown artists/bands who want there music to be listened to and noticed as it can become more popular by it been spread across a large scale of people. Take Lilly Alan as an example she became well known through people listening to her music online and the Artic Monkeys were helped to become a big hit through the sending of URL's to myspace pages. People could just listen to them by the click of a button.
By online music sharing people can often listen to more varities of music rather than just the stuff that is in the charts thats been played on the radio all the time. You can just look up an artists name or the song and listen to it on the internet if you have heard about it through friends and you havnt heard it as its not normally your type of music rather than having to go out and buy it. People obviously wouldn'ty do this as if they havnt heard it before they may not like it so it would be a waste of money however with the internet you have the choise to listen and downlaod it and if you don't like it it can be deleted.
I think the face of popular music has been changed as more types of muic are been addressed and becoming more popular as they are been played on the radio more. I think musc can go through different phases of been popular. For example indie music once wasnt really played then all of sudden it became more popular probly due to people listening to bands of this type of music online.
The way we listen and purchase music today is very different to how we would have several years ago. Technology has changed and more and more upgraded and new gadgets are hitting the markets changing our behaviours and consumer choices. for instance i used to go into a music shop and buy cd's to play on a cd player whereas i now just download my music from the internet or get other people to send me music that they have downloaded from the internet and then once it is on my computer on itunes i can transfer it onto my ipod which i take everywhere with me. People today won't go into shops and by music as they can download it for free off the internet and share the music files with their friends.
Bands often try and make it big through networking sites by sending people messages asking them to listen to their music. Some people are obiously more interested in listening than others. I know i personally have never been particularly bothered in listening.
Music sharing can be successful for unkown artists/bands who want there music to be listened to and noticed as it can become more popular by it been spread across a large scale of people. Take Lilly Alan as an example she became well known through people listening to her music online and the Artic Monkeys were helped to become a big hit through the sending of URL's to myspace pages. People could just listen to them by the click of a button.
By online music sharing people can often listen to more varities of music rather than just the stuff that is in the charts thats been played on the radio all the time. You can just look up an artists name or the song and listen to it on the internet if you have heard about it through friends and you havnt heard it as its not normally your type of music rather than having to go out and buy it. People obviously wouldn'ty do this as if they havnt heard it before they may not like it so it would be a waste of money however with the internet you have the choise to listen and downlaod it and if you don't like it it can be deleted.
I think the face of popular music has been changed as more types of muic are been addressed and becoming more popular as they are been played on the radio more. I think musc can go through different phases of been popular. For example indie music once wasnt really played then all of sudden it became more popular probly due to people listening to bands of this type of music online.
Week 4 Task one
Social Networking sites
Social networking sites such as facebook,myspace and bebo have become very popular around the world they are free to join, with members having their own home page with some basic personal information like your age, gender and birthdate etc. There is a section where you can write about yourselfs and your interests. Memebrs can register with each other as friends, a status which allows them certain means of communication and gives access to more private content (e.g pictures) on each others site. You can all communicate with your friends by writing public messages on the wall of their profile.
http://newsletter.alt.ac.uk/e_article000993849.cfm
Facebook i would say is more popular amongts university and college students and mysapce has more users overall i know the main networking site that i use regularly is facebook (http://www.facebook.com/) .I started using this when i first came to university and didnt really no what it was untill then whereas now i am on it everyday and find it hard to even go on a computer without browsing on facebook. I do have an acount with myspace but never really go on it.
What i like about facebook is the fact that you can get back in conatct with friends who you havnt spoke to or seen for a long time by either searching for them on the friend finder or through a friend who is also friends with them. I have got back in touch with people i went to primary school with and can message them whenver i want even though we are at opposite ends of the country. As i am at university and i go out a lot there are many pictures been takin by me and my friends and facebook allows us to share them with everyone as you can tag people on them so the pictures will also come up on their profile aswell. I think the security setting is imporatnt on facebook as you can have the option of blocking people from seeing certain things on your profile that you dont want them to see and can also stop people who arnt friends with you from been able to access you profile. My profile is set so only my friends can see it as i dont want people i dont no been able to look at my profile and find things out about me that are personal.
I dont think these networking sites are dangerous for young people like chatrooms as you always no exactly who you are talking to as you have added them as friends. You cant really meet people you don't no and think they are somebody they arnt as you wouldn't add people who you dont know. I have had people who have sent me a friend request and i dont no who they are as they havnt had a picture of themselves and i didnt recognise the name there for i havnt added them.
I know people may not like the fact that with facebook and many of the other sites people can always know what you are doing by looking at your photographs and reading your status and conversations that you have had with people on each others walls. For this reason if i want to send a message and have a converstaion with somebody i will write it so it appears in their inbox so only they can see it as other people do not have access to this. People can find out who you are and arn't friends with and as soon as people log on things will come up on their news feed informing you of peoples latest updates. There seems to be no privacy for anybody on these sites as all your friends can see things before you do if they have looked on your profile a while before you have and something new has been posted they can read it.
Social networking sites such as facebook,myspace and bebo have become very popular around the world they are free to join, with members having their own home page with some basic personal information like your age, gender and birthdate etc. There is a section where you can write about yourselfs and your interests. Memebrs can register with each other as friends, a status which allows them certain means of communication and gives access to more private content (e.g pictures) on each others site. You can all communicate with your friends by writing public messages on the wall of their profile.
http://newsletter.alt.ac.uk/e_article000993849.cfm
Facebook i would say is more popular amongts university and college students and mysapce has more users overall i know the main networking site that i use regularly is facebook (http://www.facebook.com/) .I started using this when i first came to university and didnt really no what it was untill then whereas now i am on it everyday and find it hard to even go on a computer without browsing on facebook. I do have an acount with myspace but never really go on it.
What i like about facebook is the fact that you can get back in conatct with friends who you havnt spoke to or seen for a long time by either searching for them on the friend finder or through a friend who is also friends with them. I have got back in touch with people i went to primary school with and can message them whenver i want even though we are at opposite ends of the country. As i am at university and i go out a lot there are many pictures been takin by me and my friends and facebook allows us to share them with everyone as you can tag people on them so the pictures will also come up on their profile aswell. I think the security setting is imporatnt on facebook as you can have the option of blocking people from seeing certain things on your profile that you dont want them to see and can also stop people who arnt friends with you from been able to access you profile. My profile is set so only my friends can see it as i dont want people i dont no been able to look at my profile and find things out about me that are personal.
I dont think these networking sites are dangerous for young people like chatrooms as you always no exactly who you are talking to as you have added them as friends. You cant really meet people you don't no and think they are somebody they arnt as you wouldn't add people who you dont know. I have had people who have sent me a friend request and i dont no who they are as they havnt had a picture of themselves and i didnt recognise the name there for i havnt added them.
I know people may not like the fact that with facebook and many of the other sites people can always know what you are doing by looking at your photographs and reading your status and conversations that you have had with people on each others walls. For this reason if i want to send a message and have a converstaion with somebody i will write it so it appears in their inbox so only they can see it as other people do not have access to this. People can find out who you are and arn't friends with and as soon as people log on things will come up on their news feed informing you of peoples latest updates. There seems to be no privacy for anybody on these sites as all your friends can see things before you do if they have looked on your profile a while before you have and something new has been posted they can read it.
Saturday, 23 February 2008
Week 3 task 2
Public message boards- The Daily mail discussion board on the topic of 'lady claiming benefits for under 18 children'
http://chat.dailymail.co.uk/dailymail/threadnonInd.jsp?forum=376&thread=9876610&message=14734735
This message board discusses the issues about woman claiming benefits for so many children. The main focus been on a woman who had claimed benefits for all 18 children she had. Many people who wrote on the discussion board thought this was wrong and wondered how it was done. The government was addressed in a negative way by people as they were claiming that they didnt focus enough on engllish citizens as the woman who was claiming benefits for her 18 children is said to have a swedish nationality. ' The amazing thing is, she's not even British...She has ,i believe Swedish Nationality,but born in Africa.How did someone,NOT British citizen,Get these benefits?' The person who is making this claim wouldn't probably have the guts to go up to somebody in the real world who wasn't english and say that they didnt have the rights to claim benefits for all their children especially if they were friends or new a particular person that wasn't english. People feel like they can say what they want and not hold back and not get in trouble for it when they are writing on these messages boards online as nobody knows who they are as they don't give there real names they use nick names or fake names like 'xkeys' and 'madbess'. By using these names they know it is safe and they are free to express themselves in whatever way they want an probly in ways that they wouldn't if they were speaking in public. Pehaps they use these fake names because they don't want to be flamed in anyway by other users using their real name in responce to what they have said. Fake names don't give anybodys identity away.
The kind of people that are writing on this board in response to the topic are middle class people and all share the same feelings and agree that the working class woman who is claiming these benefits like many others arn't going out to work to earn a living they are just sitting at home not attempting to go out and get a job instead they rely on benefits.
Those people from middle classes (the people writing negative respones on the boards) are going out and working hard and paying tax which in effect the tax money they are paying is the money that is been given to the working class people who don't work and need the money for raising there children. Their opinions are strong and they believe that if some people can do this then why can't everybody.
When asked where people come from when they are discussing online they never say whereabouts they have come from so they can't be tracked down in anyway they always say just Enlgland or London places that are very big.
http://chat.dailymail.co.uk/dailymail/threadnonInd.jsp?forum=376&thread=9876610&message=14734735
This message board discusses the issues about woman claiming benefits for so many children. The main focus been on a woman who had claimed benefits for all 18 children she had. Many people who wrote on the discussion board thought this was wrong and wondered how it was done. The government was addressed in a negative way by people as they were claiming that they didnt focus enough on engllish citizens as the woman who was claiming benefits for her 18 children is said to have a swedish nationality. ' The amazing thing is, she's not even British...She has ,i believe Swedish Nationality,but born in Africa.How did someone,NOT British citizen,Get these benefits?' The person who is making this claim wouldn't probably have the guts to go up to somebody in the real world who wasn't english and say that they didnt have the rights to claim benefits for all their children especially if they were friends or new a particular person that wasn't english. People feel like they can say what they want and not hold back and not get in trouble for it when they are writing on these messages boards online as nobody knows who they are as they don't give there real names they use nick names or fake names like 'xkeys' and 'madbess'. By using these names they know it is safe and they are free to express themselves in whatever way they want an probly in ways that they wouldn't if they were speaking in public. Pehaps they use these fake names because they don't want to be flamed in anyway by other users using their real name in responce to what they have said. Fake names don't give anybodys identity away.
The kind of people that are writing on this board in response to the topic are middle class people and all share the same feelings and agree that the working class woman who is claiming these benefits like many others arn't going out to work to earn a living they are just sitting at home not attempting to go out and get a job instead they rely on benefits.
Those people from middle classes (the people writing negative respones on the boards) are going out and working hard and paying tax which in effect the tax money they are paying is the money that is been given to the working class people who don't work and need the money for raising there children. Their opinions are strong and they believe that if some people can do this then why can't everybody.
When asked where people come from when they are discussing online they never say whereabouts they have come from so they can't be tracked down in anyway they always say just Enlgland or London places that are very big.
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
Week 3 Task 1
IDENTITY & RELATIONSHIPS
I wouldn't say that withholding one's identity is ethically wrong if you are just giving out your nickname or not telling somebody your full name as this is just protecting your own safety.
However withholding and changing your identity can be dangerous. For instance an older man who is pretending to be a young teenager boy in chatrooms as they are making other people believe they are something that they are not. Children and young teenagers should really no who they are talking to when they are talking on chatrooms and forums as they may start to develop a friendship or relationship with somebody who isn't really who they are claiming to be in order to be accepted by somebody who is of similar age and has similar interests.
People tend to get addicted to online networking and chatroom sites as they like the fact that they can withhold their identity and not reveal their true selves as people find it a good way of escaping who they really are because they are unhappy with themselves so they believe that by forming a new identity and reinventing themselves will help them gain new friends or relationships. People they are talking to have no way of knowing the truth and will never see what they look like anyway. In a way its like they shut themselves away from the real world and create a new world for themselves where they have control. Like saying you look a certain way when u don't.
People go on these online forums where groups of people share the same beliefs as it gives you the chance to express yourself freely as you may not feel comfortable in sharing those thought with your friends and family that are around you so they give false identity because they dont want to be recognised.
People can be often persuaded into online interaction and be influenced by others into believing things so they will often change and shape their identity to fit in with these people so they can become part of their online community.
I wouldn't say that withholding one's identity is ethically wrong if you are just giving out your nickname or not telling somebody your full name as this is just protecting your own safety.
However withholding and changing your identity can be dangerous. For instance an older man who is pretending to be a young teenager boy in chatrooms as they are making other people believe they are something that they are not. Children and young teenagers should really no who they are talking to when they are talking on chatrooms and forums as they may start to develop a friendship or relationship with somebody who isn't really who they are claiming to be in order to be accepted by somebody who is of similar age and has similar interests.
People tend to get addicted to online networking and chatroom sites as they like the fact that they can withhold their identity and not reveal their true selves as people find it a good way of escaping who they really are because they are unhappy with themselves so they believe that by forming a new identity and reinventing themselves will help them gain new friends or relationships. People they are talking to have no way of knowing the truth and will never see what they look like anyway. In a way its like they shut themselves away from the real world and create a new world for themselves where they have control. Like saying you look a certain way when u don't.
People go on these online forums where groups of people share the same beliefs as it gives you the chance to express yourself freely as you may not feel comfortable in sharing those thought with your friends and family that are around you so they give false identity because they dont want to be recognised.
People can be often persuaded into online interaction and be influenced by others into believing things so they will often change and shape their identity to fit in with these people so they can become part of their online community.
Week 2 Learning Journal Task 2
Hypertect can allow us to shape our own experience of the internet as rather than remaining static like a text where by we read it from beginning to end without going off in different directions.. The hypertexts on the internet allow us to be able to create our own experience and organisation of information through different links and connections. We choose ourselves the directions that we want to take that other peolple may not want to take. Hypertext allows us to connect to different sites quicker and easier and links us to pages that we perhaps wouldnt find or look at normally allowing us to surf and investigate the net more widely.
The only time i tend to click on hyperlinks is when i am searching on the internet for information on a particular subject for uni and i am trying to collect lots of information and clicking on the hyperlinks will lead me to more websites that may be useful to me. Normally though when i use the internet everyday i tend to just stick to the usual wesites that are familiar to me.
The only time i tend to click on hyperlinks is when i am searching on the internet for information on a particular subject for uni and i am trying to collect lots of information and clicking on the hyperlinks will lead me to more websites that may be useful to me. Normally though when i use the internet everyday i tend to just stick to the usual wesites that are familiar to me.
Week 2 Learning Journal Task 1
Many interactive websites that i use are social networking sites like Facebook many of my friends also use these sites and they are very popular among young people especially university students. They are very inteteractive as people can have constent contact with their friends and they are constantly updating things on their profile like photos, staus (what the person is doing or thinking) writing on peoples walls, sending people gifts etc. It keeps peolple updated on other peoples lives and is very popular as people spend so much time on them as it is an easy way of communicating. Functions on the websites are available for people to use to their own advantage and everything that appears on your wall is there because you have choosen it to be. You can change and update things as and when you want to. Users choose what people can see and can stop certain people from seeing certain functions on there profile for example if they dont want people to see their pictures then they can hide them this is an attractive appeal as because it is such an interactive website where many people are on it everyday looking at peoples profiles you can have the choice and control of what things they see on your profile and if they can even look at it at all. I Think its a very good example of an interactive website as peolple are always interacting with one another even just through tagging photos each time you log on you are interacting with new people as you have many freind requests and new messages on your wall.
Tuesday, 12 February 2008
Week Two Task 2
Blogging as a form of communication
Blogging is a good form of communication and gives you the chance to communicate with people you may never normally do in a seminar. You can express your opions and beliefs openly and in a way that is easy for people to read and understand better than if you would be talking to them. It does take some getting used to and is a form of communicating which i have never used and been familiar with before.Its not the quickest way of communicating as people mat not comment on your blogging untill days after by which point you may have moved onto talking about another topic by then. It does encourage people to interact with one another and share their thoughts as part of the criteria is to comment on peoples blogs.
The audience that i am interacting with is the people off my course and my tutor these are all people who are familiar with the topic i am am studying and so if i wanted to use some technical jargon i would be able to as it would most likely be understood by my audience. I do tend to stick to a writing style that is similar to the way i would speak in a seminar (although not exactly the same as my ideas are better on here as i have more thinking time and plan what i am going to say). I dont write in slang like I would in a text message to a friend but then i dont write as formally and as structured as i would in an assignment. I try to keep my language simple so it can be understand and my audience don't get bored reading it. I do know the people that i am posting to on the blog as i have had face to face conversations with them and many of them are my good freinds so it is difficult to change your selgf image as people know who you are anyway so i try to stick to the self image that i would have in the seminars. I write so people can tell its me and they can imagin me saying it as if i was talking to them face to face and its not writen as if somebody else has been writing it.
I can see how people can create an image of themselves that isn't real when they are writing on blogs that are on the web as unlike our blogs which have been ceated for our media course so we know everybody they probly have never met and never will meet the people on the recieving end of the conversation.
I feel like i am part of a media comms blogger community as we all are familar with the same topic. We are interested in what other people say and use their thoughts and opinions to help us understand more and look at things from different aspects. We alse know that the information we are writing people will be interested in and take time out to read it.
Offline genres that i think could be seen as similar is text messaging or sending letters as with both of these forms of communication neither of them are face to face and they can take time for somebody to reply.
Blogging is a good form of communication and gives you the chance to communicate with people you may never normally do in a seminar. You can express your opions and beliefs openly and in a way that is easy for people to read and understand better than if you would be talking to them. It does take some getting used to and is a form of communicating which i have never used and been familiar with before.Its not the quickest way of communicating as people mat not comment on your blogging untill days after by which point you may have moved onto talking about another topic by then. It does encourage people to interact with one another and share their thoughts as part of the criteria is to comment on peoples blogs.
The audience that i am interacting with is the people off my course and my tutor these are all people who are familiar with the topic i am am studying and so if i wanted to use some technical jargon i would be able to as it would most likely be understood by my audience. I do tend to stick to a writing style that is similar to the way i would speak in a seminar (although not exactly the same as my ideas are better on here as i have more thinking time and plan what i am going to say). I dont write in slang like I would in a text message to a friend but then i dont write as formally and as structured as i would in an assignment. I try to keep my language simple so it can be understand and my audience don't get bored reading it. I do know the people that i am posting to on the blog as i have had face to face conversations with them and many of them are my good freinds so it is difficult to change your selgf image as people know who you are anyway so i try to stick to the self image that i would have in the seminars. I write so people can tell its me and they can imagin me saying it as if i was talking to them face to face and its not writen as if somebody else has been writing it.
I can see how people can create an image of themselves that isn't real when they are writing on blogs that are on the web as unlike our blogs which have been ceated for our media course so we know everybody they probly have never met and never will meet the people on the recieving end of the conversation.
I feel like i am part of a media comms blogger community as we all are familar with the same topic. We are interested in what other people say and use their thoughts and opinions to help us understand more and look at things from different aspects. We alse know that the information we are writing people will be interested in and take time out to read it.
Offline genres that i think could be seen as similar is text messaging or sending letters as with both of these forms of communication neither of them are face to face and they can take time for somebody to reply.
Week Two Task 1
The Difference between online seminars and classroom seminars.
Personally i think there are advantages and disadvantages to using the online blogging rather than the classroom seminars.
We are in control of when we do the work and making sure its kept up to date. We have the responsability of putting the time into doing our work and how many hours we put in a day and if we find it easier to do it all in one day or spread it out over the week. I know i like to spread my work load out and often do a few hours a day then leave it untill the following day when i have fresh ideas in my mind.
In classroom seminars however we often can't do this as if we think of issues that we would like to raise about the topic we are studing and only remember them after the hour seminar then its a bit late. With the online blogging we can go to it whenever we have new ideas and people can voice their opinion on them. I would say that i put more work in with the online blogging as its written work rather than talking and having a conversation with people in a seminar. I also have more time to think so come up with more information therefor put more hours in.
With the online blogging people have the choice to say what they want as in classroom seminars peolple can sometimes be intimidated by other people and dont like speaking infront of many peolple so keep their opinions to themselves. They find it hard to talk to people face to face so blogging is the perfect oportunity to share thoughts and opinions with people without been put under pressure. I do like talking to people face to face as sometimes i find it hard to write down in words what i am thinking.
The online blogging is a new way of learning as it hasn't been done before and takes some getting used to as normally we have the tutor in charge of the seminar leading the conversation however with the blogging the students are having to lead the debates and raise issues that need to be raised. We are all equal with blogging so i don't think there is a sense of authority like there is in the classroom with the tutor. We are having to ask each other questions a lot more rather than the tutor thinking of the questions for us.
Interaction with people is slower as when you are having a conversation with somebody in a seminar you get an instant responce as it is in real time .Whereas with the internet blogging you write your opinions and dont always get a quick responce as people arn't always logged on their computer so you may not get a commont untill the day after as people choose to do their work at different times. There is still the aspect of taking turns and having a converstaion as we can respond to each others opinions. However is doesn't happen as often as people won't always comment on what you have written whereas people will always respond to you if you are speaking to them face to face.
When in a seminar and somebody is speaking you will listen to them as it would be rude not to and if u don't understand what has been said you say. However with the blogging everybody is writing their opinions each week and often can write a lot in the language they wish to. People may not always understand what they are saying and give up and not read the rest. I like to read things that are easy to understand as if the language is quite technical and i dont understand then i give up.
In seminars when somebody says something sometimes we feel the need to just say anything to stop the silence and say it for the sake of saying something. With the blog we can go away and think about what someone has said then come back to it later and comment. That way they get a more thought about and helpful responce.
The blogs make everybody put work and effort in as sometimes in a seminar you get just one person putting all the work in and talking all the time.
Personally i think there are advantages and disadvantages to using the online blogging rather than the classroom seminars.
We are in control of when we do the work and making sure its kept up to date. We have the responsability of putting the time into doing our work and how many hours we put in a day and if we find it easier to do it all in one day or spread it out over the week. I know i like to spread my work load out and often do a few hours a day then leave it untill the following day when i have fresh ideas in my mind.
In classroom seminars however we often can't do this as if we think of issues that we would like to raise about the topic we are studing and only remember them after the hour seminar then its a bit late. With the online blogging we can go to it whenever we have new ideas and people can voice their opinion on them. I would say that i put more work in with the online blogging as its written work rather than talking and having a conversation with people in a seminar. I also have more time to think so come up with more information therefor put more hours in.
With the online blogging people have the choice to say what they want as in classroom seminars peolple can sometimes be intimidated by other people and dont like speaking infront of many peolple so keep their opinions to themselves. They find it hard to talk to people face to face so blogging is the perfect oportunity to share thoughts and opinions with people without been put under pressure. I do like talking to people face to face as sometimes i find it hard to write down in words what i am thinking.
The online blogging is a new way of learning as it hasn't been done before and takes some getting used to as normally we have the tutor in charge of the seminar leading the conversation however with the blogging the students are having to lead the debates and raise issues that need to be raised. We are all equal with blogging so i don't think there is a sense of authority like there is in the classroom with the tutor. We are having to ask each other questions a lot more rather than the tutor thinking of the questions for us.
Interaction with people is slower as when you are having a conversation with somebody in a seminar you get an instant responce as it is in real time .Whereas with the internet blogging you write your opinions and dont always get a quick responce as people arn't always logged on their computer so you may not get a commont untill the day after as people choose to do their work at different times. There is still the aspect of taking turns and having a converstaion as we can respond to each others opinions. However is doesn't happen as often as people won't always comment on what you have written whereas people will always respond to you if you are speaking to them face to face.
When in a seminar and somebody is speaking you will listen to them as it would be rude not to and if u don't understand what has been said you say. However with the blogging everybody is writing their opinions each week and often can write a lot in the language they wish to. People may not always understand what they are saying and give up and not read the rest. I like to read things that are easy to understand as if the language is quite technical and i dont understand then i give up.
In seminars when somebody says something sometimes we feel the need to just say anything to stop the silence and say it for the sake of saying something. With the blog we can go away and think about what someone has said then come back to it later and comment. That way they get a more thought about and helpful responce.
The blogs make everybody put work and effort in as sometimes in a seminar you get just one person putting all the work in and talking all the time.
Sunday, 3 February 2008
Week One Task 3 Technological Determinism
Technological determinism is often described as the most important influence upon society. The theory relates to the studies conducted by Marshall Mcluhan who states that we are living in a 'new age of technology that has never been experienced before' Mcluhan believes that the new electronic media is changing the way people, think, act and feel. The current technological enviroment when looked back upon will be seen as a major turning point in the history of communication.
http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~kh380597/TD.htm
Technology has a dramatic, direct one-way effect on out lives. Technology affects society, but society does not affect technology.
Technology such as writing, print, television or computers have changed society. In its most extreme form, the entire form of society is seen as been determind by technology. It transforms society at every level including institutions, social interaction and individuals.
I believe that technology will always improve and make our lives easier as it keeps advancing. If technology like emails, mobile , digital television etc had not been developed then we wouldn't be able to work as effeciently and as quickly as we do now. We adapt and use it to suit and help the particular lifestyle we lead i dont believe it will take over and control our lives.
http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~kh380597/TD.htm
Technology has a dramatic, direct one-way effect on out lives. Technology affects society, but society does not affect technology.
Technology such as writing, print, television or computers have changed society. In its most extreme form, the entire form of society is seen as been determind by technology. It transforms society at every level including institutions, social interaction and individuals.
I believe that technology will always improve and make our lives easier as it keeps advancing. If technology like emails, mobile , digital television etc had not been developed then we wouldn't be able to work as effeciently and as quickly as we do now. We adapt and use it to suit and help the particular lifestyle we lead i dont believe it will take over and control our lives.
Week one Task 2 part b) Different views on the internet
The internet has had a large impact on us as a society like many other forms of 'new' media it has its posatives and negatives. It has influenced people in many different ways numerous people rely on it alot whilst others rarely ever use it.
One of the posatives is the fact that its a quick and easy way to communicate with friends and family no matter where they are in the world you can keep in touch with them as often as you like by either email, chatrooms, msn messenger or networking sites like facebook and myspace. It is less costly and you can still have a conversation with them for aslong as you want like you would face to face or over the phone. You can also contact somebody on the other side of the world by sending and email or a message and then they can look at it when ever they want. We don't have to becareful what time we send it like we would if we were ringing somebody up on the other side of the world. I have family and friends in austrailia and a friend who has just gone on her travels and i keep in touch with them a lot my leaving messages on facebook or sending them an emai. Its good for work purposes wether you are at university or college or in a job. I do a lot of my research on the internet into topics i need to learn about and i use emailing for keeping in touch with tutors. Many business people send important information to the employees or colleges by emailing one another.
The internet is usefull for booking events or transport etc in advance you can book holidays, day trips and also search for the best deals by just sitting in at home rather than going to search around.My dad has booked most of our holidays on line rather than going out to a travel agent. People often do there shopping online and then get it delivered to their home this is useful for people who say can't get out the house for certain reasons like older people, or disabled people by shopping on the interenet they can still have the choice to look around and choice which goods they want to consume but do it by the click of a button rather than taking it off the shelves.
However inspite the fact that there are a lot of posatives to having the internet there is the downsides aswell. There is the problem of security and fraud as financial information can be often stolen this has lead to the fact that now we often have to type in many passwords to keep our information more secure. Many people have online banking and give their personal details and credit card details out which peolple can get access to and can start creating things in your name. People often worry about this so would prefer just to go into their local bank or shop.
Viruses can also occur on your computers which can delete a lot of information and files so people get worried that their computers will be ruined if they visit certain websites and click on certain thinks that flash up on your desktop.
Another moral panic is consumerism as there is a decline in shopping on the high street as people arn't browsing around the shops anymore they are just doing their shopping on line and staying in the comfort of their own home especially in winter when the weather is bad they can get everything they need from ording online. Many small shops have closed down as they arnt busy enough. Travel agents don't have very good business as people just book their holidays on the internet. I know many of my friends order their food shopping online from tescos rather than looking round the shops as they find it easier with the busy lifestyles they lead. They can order online at night after work whilst watching the television. Does anybody else shop online or do they prefer going out to the shops?
Childrens safety can be a major issue due to paedophiles as young teenagers are always logging onto these chatrooms and talking to people who are strangers. Often children will be talking to adults for instance who create a fake identity and claim to somebody they say they arnt. They use the internet to get close to children and get to know them then ask to meet up with them face to face this can be dangerous as many children are naive and will go along with it. Parents should be aware of this and stop their children from entering these sites.
As these chatrooms are now available for individuals to meet new peoeple and get to know them they are lacking in real life communication and feel that they dont need to go out and socialise as they can sit at their computer and do so they are dependant on their online friendships. This could be a problem for young people later on in life when they start work and have to communicate with people in person rather than over a computer.
What are other peples thoughts on the internet?
One of the posatives is the fact that its a quick and easy way to communicate with friends and family no matter where they are in the world you can keep in touch with them as often as you like by either email, chatrooms, msn messenger or networking sites like facebook and myspace. It is less costly and you can still have a conversation with them for aslong as you want like you would face to face or over the phone. You can also contact somebody on the other side of the world by sending and email or a message and then they can look at it when ever they want. We don't have to becareful what time we send it like we would if we were ringing somebody up on the other side of the world. I have family and friends in austrailia and a friend who has just gone on her travels and i keep in touch with them a lot my leaving messages on facebook or sending them an emai. Its good for work purposes wether you are at university or college or in a job. I do a lot of my research on the internet into topics i need to learn about and i use emailing for keeping in touch with tutors. Many business people send important information to the employees or colleges by emailing one another.
The internet is usefull for booking events or transport etc in advance you can book holidays, day trips and also search for the best deals by just sitting in at home rather than going to search around.My dad has booked most of our holidays on line rather than going out to a travel agent. People often do there shopping online and then get it delivered to their home this is useful for people who say can't get out the house for certain reasons like older people, or disabled people by shopping on the interenet they can still have the choice to look around and choice which goods they want to consume but do it by the click of a button rather than taking it off the shelves.
However inspite the fact that there are a lot of posatives to having the internet there is the downsides aswell. There is the problem of security and fraud as financial information can be often stolen this has lead to the fact that now we often have to type in many passwords to keep our information more secure. Many people have online banking and give their personal details and credit card details out which peolple can get access to and can start creating things in your name. People often worry about this so would prefer just to go into their local bank or shop.
Viruses can also occur on your computers which can delete a lot of information and files so people get worried that their computers will be ruined if they visit certain websites and click on certain thinks that flash up on your desktop.
Another moral panic is consumerism as there is a decline in shopping on the high street as people arn't browsing around the shops anymore they are just doing their shopping on line and staying in the comfort of their own home especially in winter when the weather is bad they can get everything they need from ording online. Many small shops have closed down as they arnt busy enough. Travel agents don't have very good business as people just book their holidays on the internet. I know many of my friends order their food shopping online from tescos rather than looking round the shops as they find it easier with the busy lifestyles they lead. They can order online at night after work whilst watching the television. Does anybody else shop online or do they prefer going out to the shops?
Childrens safety can be a major issue due to paedophiles as young teenagers are always logging onto these chatrooms and talking to people who are strangers. Often children will be talking to adults for instance who create a fake identity and claim to somebody they say they arnt. They use the internet to get close to children and get to know them then ask to meet up with them face to face this can be dangerous as many children are naive and will go along with it. Parents should be aware of this and stop their children from entering these sites.
As these chatrooms are now available for individuals to meet new peoeple and get to know them they are lacking in real life communication and feel that they dont need to go out and socialise as they can sit at their computer and do so they are dependant on their online friendships. This could be a problem for young people later on in life when they start work and have to communicate with people in person rather than over a computer.
What are other peples thoughts on the internet?
Saturday, 2 February 2008
Week one Task 2 part a) Geobbel's view on Radio
Geobbel believed that the most successful way of communicating to people was through radio as it was away of taking peoples minds off everday life 'distracting the masses from the difficulties of our national and social life through games and entertainment'. He also mentioned that radio had to bring in aspects of everyday life to make it as popular as it is and had the duty of meeting the needs and demands of the day. A radio station that didnt really do this didnt deserve to influence the broard masses. Talking about immediate events of the day like the news and what is going on in the world is very important.
Goebbel believed that using the radio to talk about political views would help influence a large audience into agreeing with what was been said.
I think that people in todays society would agree with what Geobel is saying as radio is a good way of communicating with a large scale of people as people can listen to it where ever they are and whilst doing other things. For example driving or walking to work.
There is now more ways of accessing the radio as you can tune in from mobile phones and the internet.
I Think it is good for entertainment purposes as its always good to listen to people who are lively and enthusiastic and cracking the odd joke as when you arnt having the best day it can cheer you up.
Would anybody else agree with this or do they like it for other reasons?
Goebbel believed that using the radio to talk about political views would help influence a large audience into agreeing with what was been said.
I think that people in todays society would agree with what Geobel is saying as radio is a good way of communicating with a large scale of people as people can listen to it where ever they are and whilst doing other things. For example driving or walking to work.
There is now more ways of accessing the radio as you can tune in from mobile phones and the internet.
I Think it is good for entertainment purposes as its always good to listen to people who are lively and enthusiastic and cracking the odd joke as when you arnt having the best day it can cheer you up.
Would anybody else agree with this or do they like it for other reasons?
Week one Task 2 part a) Views on New Media
We wouldnt be able to appreciate 'new' media today without experiencing forms of media that were used in the past. Throughout the past years we have seen a rapid transformation in media technology and now we rely on it so much that its hard to think how we go througfh life without it. We primarily relied upon print, and analog broadcast models such as those of television and radio. Whereas in todays society we are predicted upon the use of digital computers, such as the internet and computer games, digital television and accessing the internet through mobile phones.
Even traditional media forms such as the printing press have been transformed through the application of technologies such as image manipulation software like Adobe photoshop and desktop publishing tools.
Are attitudes and expectations have changed towards media as we are always waiting for the next advanced thing to come out especially those of the younger generation as they are not familiar with the ways of living that was before all this advanced technology came about. We cant miss anything that we never had (if that makes any sence) if this new technology was to never have come around then we wouldn't miss it because we never had the experience of using it. Does anybody agree?
Mobile phones are a good example i know that i couldnt live without one now as ways of communicating with one another would be hard especially now i am at university and when i am out and about or abroard i can still keep in contact with people when i need to. We have adapted to a lifestyle with them so cant imagin them been taken away from us and if they were we would miss them.
However those of an older generation dont really feel the need to own a mobile phone because they never had one when they were younger so cant really understand the value of them and how they have coped in life without one. I know my granparents dont have mobile phones and if they did they wouldn't know how to use it they just relied on house phones, public phone boxes and writing letters to those far away and are happy to stick with doing this now. This can reflect the ideoligies and values of the society they grew up in as they have different beliefs and expectations to what we have.
Some people don't want to familiarise themselves with 'new' media as they know they can cope without it. Whereas others think why not its there i may aswell use it. My dad for instance never used the internet but now is on it all the time for work purposes like sending emails etc and knows its a better and more efficient way to communicate with his employees.
The internet is a big part of my life aswell as i am on it everyday using it for either work purpose or personal uses and interacting with friends and family. It has made communication easier and sometimes cheaper as talking over the internet for hours on end can be cheaper than talking on the phone.
Even traditional media forms such as the printing press have been transformed through the application of technologies such as image manipulation software like Adobe photoshop and desktop publishing tools.
Are attitudes and expectations have changed towards media as we are always waiting for the next advanced thing to come out especially those of the younger generation as they are not familiar with the ways of living that was before all this advanced technology came about. We cant miss anything that we never had (if that makes any sence) if this new technology was to never have come around then we wouldn't miss it because we never had the experience of using it. Does anybody agree?
Mobile phones are a good example i know that i couldnt live without one now as ways of communicating with one another would be hard especially now i am at university and when i am out and about or abroard i can still keep in contact with people when i need to. We have adapted to a lifestyle with them so cant imagin them been taken away from us and if they were we would miss them.
However those of an older generation dont really feel the need to own a mobile phone because they never had one when they were younger so cant really understand the value of them and how they have coped in life without one. I know my granparents dont have mobile phones and if they did they wouldn't know how to use it they just relied on house phones, public phone boxes and writing letters to those far away and are happy to stick with doing this now. This can reflect the ideoligies and values of the society they grew up in as they have different beliefs and expectations to what we have.
Some people don't want to familiarise themselves with 'new' media as they know they can cope without it. Whereas others think why not its there i may aswell use it. My dad for instance never used the internet but now is on it all the time for work purposes like sending emails etc and knows its a better and more efficient way to communicate with his employees.
The internet is a big part of my life aswell as i am on it everyday using it for either work purpose or personal uses and interacting with friends and family. It has made communication easier and sometimes cheaper as talking over the internet for hours on end can be cheaper than talking on the phone.
Week One Task 1 MUDs and MOOs
MUDs
A MUD (Multi-user dungeon, domain or dimension) is a computer program which users can log into and explore. Its a multi player game that combines elements of role playing games,hack and slash style computer games and social chatrooms. The game is usually text driven, where players read descriptions of rooms,objects, events, other characters and computer controllesd creatures or non-player characters in a virtual world. Players interact with each other by typing commands that resemble a natural language usually english.
Traditional MUDs implement a fantasy world, with players been able to take on any number of classes, in order to gain specific skills or power. The object of this sort of game is to slay mosters, go on an adventure and create a story by roleplaying. The series of games 'Dungeons and dragons' was popular with many MUDs.
This website helped me understand what a MUD was:
http://www.lysator.liu.se/mud/faq/faq1.html
MOOs
A MOO is a text based online virtual reality system to which multiple players are connected to at the same. Users can perform object orientated programming with the server, expanding and changing how the server behaves to everyone. For example creating new rooms and generic objects for others to use and changing the way the MOO interface operaters.
It can be used to refer to many MUDs that use object orientated techniques to organise its database of objects.
I had to quite a lot of research for this as i didnt really have a clue what they were and have never really had an interest. Did anybody else no what they were? or know anything more about them?
A MUD (Multi-user dungeon, domain or dimension) is a computer program which users can log into and explore. Its a multi player game that combines elements of role playing games,hack and slash style computer games and social chatrooms. The game is usually text driven, where players read descriptions of rooms,objects, events, other characters and computer controllesd creatures or non-player characters in a virtual world. Players interact with each other by typing commands that resemble a natural language usually english.
Traditional MUDs implement a fantasy world, with players been able to take on any number of classes, in order to gain specific skills or power. The object of this sort of game is to slay mosters, go on an adventure and create a story by roleplaying. The series of games 'Dungeons and dragons' was popular with many MUDs.
This website helped me understand what a MUD was:
http://www.lysator.liu.se/mud/faq/faq1.html
MOOs
A MOO is a text based online virtual reality system to which multiple players are connected to at the same. Users can perform object orientated programming with the server, expanding and changing how the server behaves to everyone. For example creating new rooms and generic objects for others to use and changing the way the MOO interface operaters.
It can be used to refer to many MUDs that use object orientated techniques to organise its database of objects.
I had to quite a lot of research for this as i didnt really have a clue what they were and have never really had an interest. Did anybody else no what they were? or know anything more about them?
Friday, 1 February 2008
Week one Task 1 - Websites
A website is a collection of webpages, images, videos or other digital assets that is hosted on one or several web servers, usually accessible via the internet or mobile phones so if you arn't near a computer you can still access the internet any time you like if your phone allows you to.
A web page is a document, typically written in HTML, that is almost always accessible via HTTP, a protocol that transfers information from the web server to display in the user's web browser. The pages of websites can usually be accessed from a common root URL called the homepage, and usually reside on the same physical server.
Many people use websites for different reasons, it maybe for personal and communication reasons like the networking sites like Facebook, myspace and bebo which are very popular amongst young people i know i use them all the time but i tend to just to stick with facebook this is the main one that i check all the time. Thay are used for business reasons to promote businesses. People use websites for online shopping rather than going out to the shops to look they browse on the websites and order. My friend often orders her clothes and food shopping off websites like Tesco. Many websites are used a s a way of advertising and promoting products to help sell them.
I dont to tend to browse the web much i just stick with the websites i always look on like facebook, and clothes shop websites the only time i do tend to browse on websites is for work purposes when i am looking for information on a particular topic i will use google and time in what i am searching for then look at all the different websites it brings up.
A web page is a document, typically written in HTML, that is almost always accessible via HTTP, a protocol that transfers information from the web server to display in the user's web browser. The pages of websites can usually be accessed from a common root URL called the homepage, and usually reside on the same physical server.
Many people use websites for different reasons, it maybe for personal and communication reasons like the networking sites like Facebook, myspace and bebo which are very popular amongst young people i know i use them all the time but i tend to just to stick with facebook this is the main one that i check all the time. Thay are used for business reasons to promote businesses. People use websites for online shopping rather than going out to the shops to look they browse on the websites and order. My friend often orders her clothes and food shopping off websites like Tesco. Many websites are used a s a way of advertising and promoting products to help sell them.
I dont to tend to browse the web much i just stick with the websites i always look on like facebook, and clothes shop websites the only time i do tend to browse on websites is for work purposes when i am looking for information on a particular topic i will use google and time in what i am searching for then look at all the different websites it brings up.
Week one Task 1 -Bulletin board systems and Usenet
Bulletin Boards
Bulletin board is a computer system which allows users to dial into a system over a phone line and perform functions such as downloading software and data, reading news, uploading data, and exchanging messagers with other users.
They were a highly social phenomenon and used for meeting people and having discusions in messages boards as well as publishing articles and playing games. As the use of the internet has become more widespread bulletin boards have slowly faded in popularity.
Usernet
Usernet is a worldwide distributed discussion system. It consists of a set of newsgroups with names that are classified hierarchically by subject. Messagers or articles are sent to these newsgroups by people on computers with the appropriate software. The articles atre then braodcast to other interconnected computer systems via a wide variety of networks.Most modern usernet traffic is transported over the internet or UUCP.
I researshed usenet by looking on this website:
http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5910094881397318090
I dont use bulletin boards or usenet so i dont have much experience on them and would rather communicate with people through email, msn messenger or facebook.
Bulletin board is a computer system which allows users to dial into a system over a phone line and perform functions such as downloading software and data, reading news, uploading data, and exchanging messagers with other users.
They were a highly social phenomenon and used for meeting people and having discusions in messages boards as well as publishing articles and playing games. As the use of the internet has become more widespread bulletin boards have slowly faded in popularity.
Usernet
Usernet is a worldwide distributed discussion system. It consists of a set of newsgroups with names that are classified hierarchically by subject. Messagers or articles are sent to these newsgroups by people on computers with the appropriate software. The articles atre then braodcast to other interconnected computer systems via a wide variety of networks.Most modern usernet traffic is transported over the internet or UUCP.
I researshed usenet by looking on this website:
http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5910094881397318090
I dont use bulletin boards or usenet so i dont have much experience on them and would rather communicate with people through email, msn messenger or facebook.
Week one Task 1 Email and Email list.
Email is a system for sending and recieving messages electronically over a computer network. They are a quick and easy way to communicate with people as they usually only take a few seconds or minutes to arrive at their destination. Unlike a handwriiten letter which provides physical production. It takes the effort of writing or typing it out, putting it in an envelope, buying a stamp to put on it and then posting it which takes a few days to arrive.
'The email process, though not instantaneous, is extremely fast compared to the physical transportation of a letter' (Lister 2003)
One of the posative aspects is the fact that we can communicate with people all over the world by email and it will reach them instantly. You dont have to think about what time you are sending it like you would if you were ringing someone on the other side of the world as they can read it whenever they choose buy looking at their email acounts from any computer any time they want.
Emails are an effective way to communicate with a group of people as users can distribute a message or document to lists of people as well as a single recipiant. This is useful as it allows work companies to send important messages to employees and colleges.
However they can have their negative points as you can recieve a lot of junk mail which takes up space and so you have to keep deleting them.
Now i am at university i use email a lot especially for work purposes as when i have any problems with uni work they are a way of communicating with my tutors and for them to inform me of anything i need to know about. I dont always check my emails as often as i should as sometimes if anything important has been sent to me that i need to know about that day like change in time of seminar then i may not look at it untill the next day.
I dont often communicate with my friends over email i speak to them over msn messenger or facebook i think they are less formal than emails.
I rarely use email lists as i often just need to send emails out to individuals.
'The email process, though not instantaneous, is extremely fast compared to the physical transportation of a letter' (Lister 2003)
One of the posative aspects is the fact that we can communicate with people all over the world by email and it will reach them instantly. You dont have to think about what time you are sending it like you would if you were ringing someone on the other side of the world as they can read it whenever they choose buy looking at their email acounts from any computer any time they want.
Emails are an effective way to communicate with a group of people as users can distribute a message or document to lists of people as well as a single recipiant. This is useful as it allows work companies to send important messages to employees and colleges.
However they can have their negative points as you can recieve a lot of junk mail which takes up space and so you have to keep deleting them.
Now i am at university i use email a lot especially for work purposes as when i have any problems with uni work they are a way of communicating with my tutors and for them to inform me of anything i need to know about. I dont always check my emails as often as i should as sometimes if anything important has been sent to me that i need to know about that day like change in time of seminar then i may not look at it untill the next day.
I dont often communicate with my friends over email i speak to them over msn messenger or facebook i think they are less formal than emails.
I rarely use email lists as i often just need to send emails out to individuals.
WEEK ONE TASK 1 IRL's chat rooms, messenger services
Chatrooms are one of the easiest ways to communicate and meet new people by sending text messages to people in the same chatroom in real time. It allows individuals to choose how they present themselves by selecting the characteristics they wish to expose.
Increased use of e-mail, chatrooms, MSN Messenger and the Internet has led many to use technology as a form of recreation.
Chatrooms allow interaction with those who have similar interests. They make it easy for any participant to communicate with a broad range of individuals without leaving the comfort of their own home. However this can have a negative effect as people turn to there computers to communicate with people rather than socialising with the outside world.
New technology has enabled the use of file sharing and webcams to be included in some programs and almost all internet chatrooms allow users to send or display photos of each other.
There are many dangers behind chatrooms as they can be an avenue for pedophiles to initiate contact with potential victims. Adults can pose as children themselves and attempt to lure children into a face to face meeting. So i think it should be parents responasability to stop children from entering these chatrooms.
Personally i have never used chatrooms before and they have never interested me i dont like the fact that their is so many people who change their identity they arn't who they really say they are. They can also get really over crowded and so many people are having lots of different conversations it acn get confusing. Does anybody else agree? or does anybody use chatrooms?
I prefer MSN Messenger as you know the person you are talking to as you have to have their email address and add them as a contact to be able to have a conversation so its more personal and safe. I use msn a lot as its like having a face to face conversation or talking to somebody on the phone you can get an instant reply. Everytime i log onto a computer i sign into msn as it keeps me in touch with my friends and family wether they are in the same house as me or on the otherside of the world. Another posative aspect is the fact that it doesnt cost you money so its easier so in a way its better to have a along conversation over msn rather than on the phone. what are other peoples thoughts?
Increased use of e-mail, chatrooms, MSN Messenger and the Internet has led many to use technology as a form of recreation.
Chatrooms allow interaction with those who have similar interests. They make it easy for any participant to communicate with a broad range of individuals without leaving the comfort of their own home. However this can have a negative effect as people turn to there computers to communicate with people rather than socialising with the outside world.
New technology has enabled the use of file sharing and webcams to be included in some programs and almost all internet chatrooms allow users to send or display photos of each other.
There are many dangers behind chatrooms as they can be an avenue for pedophiles to initiate contact with potential victims. Adults can pose as children themselves and attempt to lure children into a face to face meeting. So i think it should be parents responasability to stop children from entering these chatrooms.
Personally i have never used chatrooms before and they have never interested me i dont like the fact that their is so many people who change their identity they arn't who they really say they are. They can also get really over crowded and so many people are having lots of different conversations it acn get confusing. Does anybody else agree? or does anybody use chatrooms?
I prefer MSN Messenger as you know the person you are talking to as you have to have their email address and add them as a contact to be able to have a conversation so its more personal and safe. I use msn a lot as its like having a face to face conversation or talking to somebody on the phone you can get an instant reply. Everytime i log onto a computer i sign into msn as it keeps me in touch with my friends and family wether they are in the same house as me or on the otherside of the world. Another posative aspect is the fact that it doesnt cost you money so its easier so in a way its better to have a along conversation over msn rather than on the phone. what are other peoples thoughts?
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