It's Kamilah's World

My final project is an Xtranormal video that details the important aspects associated with web 2.0  Here’s the link for video, it was uploaded via YouTube. 

 http://youtu.be/iOUFujeBpj0

I spent the majority of my spring break moving in my new apartment. I took the week off from work and gave myself more time to get settled in.  I was so infatuated with the fact that I was moving into my dream apartment that I hardly turned on my TV or opened my laptop. The only form of media that I relied on for entertainment was the radio.  It was comforting to listen to music while I cleaned, unpacked, and put furniture together. 

Listening to the radio was entertaining in regards to music, but I was out of the loop with current events all week.  The radio is sort of an old school method for listening to music nowadays. Everyone listens to their own playlists on their personal devices, but it was nice to relieve myself from the duty of choosing the kind of music and songs to play.  My focus was elsewhere so it was good for me to not have to put time into being my own DJ.

Although, having control over the media is a great perk for web 2.0, it’s also a pleasant feeling to be able to put your focus on something else while the form media you are interested in is already prepared for you

In John R. Mac Arthur: Internet Con Men Ravage Publishing; MacArthur sounds like a disgruntled employee who is upset with their company for a hiring younger fresher mind who will bring a new kind of enthusiasm to the workplace. In this case, MacArthur is a writer who is not willing to adapt to the way writing is viewed or valued via the internet.   The aspects of web 2.0 like blogs and availability of free readings is exactly what MacArthur is in not in favor of.  I don’t think that putting the blame of the writing career’s financial issues on the internet is the solution to this conflict between paper and the web.  Consumer’s are interested in the enjoyable and interactive aspect of reading via the web.  I prefer to read online because hyperlinks to other sites I may be interested in are helpful to me. 

There are people who still choose to purchase newspapers and magazines, in addition to those who choose to go to the web for a free reading. The idea of a pay wall  sounds ridiculous to me.  We go to the internet with the expectation of a free reading, if I had to pay I wouldn’t view it.  MacArthur needs to understand that people don’t like to be told what to do. We like the option to choose.

New media is interactive and that gives us the opportunity to take things into our own hands.  We have the ability and knowledge to manage the media.  We have control of our own websites, blogs, and posts.  This allows us to express ourselves in a variety of interesting ways that may also appeal to others browsing the internet.  People are able to take their ideas, interests, likes or dislikes and turn them into blogs. 

In my opinion blogs are similar to magazines.  The definition of a magazine, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is a periodical containing miscellaneous pieces.  Blogs and magazines have the same purpose. We have the chance to be our own editors and have fun while we do it.  In oppose to paying for a monthly subscription to a fashion magazine, I can visit someone else’s fashion blog that has pieces I might be interested in. I like to visit brooklynblonde.com when I’m looking for the latest fashions. The writer for this blog posts different pictures of her daily outfits with comments advising where she purchased the each item of clothing.  She also gives suggestive purchase ideas for the upcoming seasons.  She is very detailed with all of her clothing, accessories, handbags, and shoes.  Its trendy and its free!

As we familiarize ourselves with the logistics of creating our own media we are becoming more expressive.  I agree with Rosen’s idea of the shift in power. I am more likely to take recommendations from someone I have something in common with, instead of the professional “media people”. Bloggers are taking over with their ability to share common interests in an interactive setting.

My experience creating a meme was harder than I thought it would be. Being creative is not as easy as it sounds, it took me about 30 minutes to figure out which one I wanted to use. I actually enjoyed this, it is something I may consider doing again.

In Shirky’s book,  Cognitive Surplus: How Technology Makes Consumers into Collaborators, he describes the way new media has become our source of information regarding current events.  People or the audience will react; interact, provide updates, and give opinions about various world issues all while using the media.  I remember the times when watching the news or listening to the radio was the best way to receive important information about what is going on in the world. 

During my freshman year in high school year one of my teachers would listen to the radio for news updates before class started and we were settled down at our desks.  The morning of 09/11 she was listening to her radio and when we all settled in the classroom she told us that a plane crashed into the one of towers.  She had no other details except for exactly what she told us.  She assumed it was a small private plan and that it wasn’t anything serious.  At that point, the rest of my classmates and I didn’t think that the news was something to worry about.  My teacher was so nonchalant about it and she went on with the lesson, why would we think that the country was under attack by terrorists.  It wasn’t until about 1pm; when my family came to pick me up early from school, that I knew how serious and severe the situation was.  I was so frightened and couldn’t believe that the information we received was lacking a significant amount of details.

All of this took place before cell phones were allowed in classrooms.

I can only imagine how much information would have been flooding through Twitter and the blogs if we were as consumed with the media back than like we are now.

I decided to alter the Wikipedia article of the popular television show The Real Housewives of New York City(RHONY).  I went into the edit tab and changed the status from airing to cancelled.  I also changed the last air date from present to 08/01/11.  I chose 08/01/11 because that was the date of the season finale from the last season.  The RHONY is a television program that is showed on Bravo TV, almost everyone who watches television is aware of this series or one of the spin off shows. They take place in different cities; NYC, Atlanta, Orange County, New Jersey, Beverly Hills and Miami.   I figured that if I changed something about a popular television program, that has many followers and fans, there would be some kind of interesting result.

The modifications were done on Sunday afternoon, there were no corrections made as of Monday morning.  It was interesting to see that my false modifications were not revised.  Maybe if I chose a program that had episodes running at this time, there would be a different outcome.  It goes to show that if something isn’t happening at the moment, there is a high chance that no one paying attention to it.

In The Language of New Media Manovich advises that Automation is one of the principles of new media. Automation is the technique of operating systems with automatic feeds. In my opinion, it simply excludes human interaction. Manovich breaks automation down into two levels; low level and high level.  Low level automation pertains to programs allowing the computer user to modify or create something original using templates or algorithms.  These low level automations are very significant to our everyday computer use.  Manovich uses Photoshop as an example of a program that is used to automatically correct and alter photos to improve their image. 

High level automation is more relevant to artificial intelligence (AI).  Manovich states that this level of automation requires the computer to understand the meanings embedded in the generated objects. It is almost as though the computer is required to act like a human. AI engines use various approaches to simulate or imitate human intellect. Characters created are designed to have an expertise in their field.  They are able to proficiently perform, while displaying skill and intelligence.

Living in the world of new media I feel as though we tend to be threatened more by high level automation than low level.  Low level automation is taken for granted. These automations are very significant to our everyday computer use.  Students and employees use programs like word processors, PowerPoint, and Excel to execute tasks efficiently and accurately.  The help of the automatic programs decreases the focus on detail and allows us to work well without the worry of too many about errors.  AI imitates the human mind.  It is human nature to be threatened by any being or program that carries all or most of your characteristics.  It is especially threatening when it performs at a more enhanced level than you.

When I first heard about Facebook I was in my freshman year and it was only open to college students.  I opened up an account because it was seemed really cool and I never heard of anything like it before. My account was only open for about a year before I deleted it.  It was fun while it lasted but I got kind of bored with it. Little did I know it would make a come back and nearly consume my life.

Fast forward to 2010 and I’m back on FB.  My sisters, father, grandfather, cousins, aunts, uncles, friends going back to Elemenary school, coworkers, new friends; and potential friends all have accounts.  How could I not have an account if the whole world is on FB?  I would have been left out of the loop.

I have my new account and I’m now obsessed with FB.  I would find myself checking updates on my cell all day, on my lunch break at work; and in class. I didn’t want to miss an embarrassing pic, funny post,  or facebook spat.  It was entertaining and at the same time I connected with people I would never have been able to find in the world out side of FB.

Long story short, I realized that I was letting it consume me more than it was supposed to.  I made a New Years resolution last year to cut back and I ended up completely phasing it out.  I officially deleted my facebook account last month and I don’t feel like I am missing out on anything.

My name is Kamilah and I was a Facebook addict.

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