Brian's New Media Blog

  What are some ways (corporate and otherwise) that these technologies can be used? What are the benefits of these technologies to society? Be specific. Is there a "dark side"? Make sure to include your opinion of the way these technologies might evolve in the future.      As Clive Thompson wrote, "I know people who use Skype for virtual closeness, leaving a video channel to their spouses open all day long while they work." Technology is improving our quality of life by allowing us to perform "magic." In Thompson's scenario, the spouses are each given a crystal ball which lets them see each other from miles away.      And it's not just Skype. YouTube allows everyone to create content with their personal style, Twitter and Facebook allows its users to connect with each other virtually, and streaming services allow people to broadcast live. Technology is shrinking the world because what used to take months for a letter to reach another country, now t...

Compare and contrast blogs and wikis. Comment on the importance of convergence in today's networked world. How can blogs be used for collaboration? Can you think of a new use for a wiki that has not been done yet? Blogs and wikis are in interesting positions because they both rely on user submissions as their primary source of content.  However, the information that the two provide may differ. Since wikis are a source of information, they're much more objective and only provide facts. Someone may create a blog entry talking about their day, so the information is much more subjective and emotional. Today's networked world converges phenomenally well. Businesses use multiple social media platforms to increase their reach. These platforms intertwine to the point where they are crucial to the each other. A video on YouTube, for example, will not go viral unless it is given Twitter's blessing.  I have definitely seen blogs that has been used for collaboration. For example, m...

 I would like to explore the impact of YouTube on the global economy. First, many people see YouTube as a lucrative opportunity, quitting their jobs in order to pursue a full-time career as a YouTuber. The potential gains must be incredibly attractive, since many essentially gamble their livelihoods for a chance at "making it" with YouTube. Second, YouTube shrinks the world. Since the advent of internet, the world has been mixing culturally as everything could be reached from any corner of the world. I believe that YouTube, being the massive platform that it is, contributes to this phenomenon much more than any other forms of new media since it captures a wide variety of users. I would love to expand upon these ideas in my project.