Week 3 - Web 2.0 and Podcasting where is this heading?

The advancement with Web 2.0 has lead to easier podcasting. User interfaces such as My Space, Facebook and flickr allow for easier communication for the users. For My Space I can add music, photos and videos that I like. These days Facebook has become the new My Space because people are constantly either adding new plug-ins or creating new plug-ins for users to download. With the advancement of web 2.0, open interfaces such as Wikipedia has made the Internet used for more educational means. Having an online information database such as Wikipedia allows users to upload information and link to relevant resources. However, because it is opened to everyone’s contribution, the information on it should be taken lightly.

Online file sharing and conversing has been very helpful to educational establishment. Websites such as WebCT and Blackboard allow the instructors to post readings, handouts and allow for discussion posting with each classmate. You can also post videos or comments on ongoing discussion. Therefore, advancements made with web 2.0 and podcasting have lead to saving trees, faster response from instructors or friends, and more shared information.

Advancements such as these are good for means of entertainment and education. Individuals can download, watch live streaming and upload media. However, the idea of doing everything online is replacing face-to-face conversing. Don’t get me wrong. Video streaming and programs such as Skype have made it much easier to communicate with those who are far away but I fear that society is relying too much on online communication and digital media. The future in communication involves less movement and is taking away physical face-to-face communication with virtual programs such as webcams and video postings.

I think web 2.0 and podcasting are leading towards ‘binary society’, where people just have to turn on the computer and easily access anything in the world. For example online shopping could lead to having online sales person speaking to you so basically it is taking away having to go outside to talk to someone about putting on outfit together. Therefore online shopping could go as far as to having communication through voice interaction.

Web 2.0 and all its gadgets has broadened the Internet date base in a positive way but also made it less trustworthy. Hopefully the future won’t take us completely away from analog communication.

Week 3 - Videocasting

Week 2 - Review of a blog site

Chosen blog: http://www.karencheng.com.au/ (Personal blogs)

This particular blog is interesting and easy to read. We can view the author's personal and useful information through this blog. First of all, the layout of the blog is well organized which makes it easy to find variety of stories for the readers. Despite the fact that this is a personal blog, it contains much diverse information and advices such as fashion, food, health, parenting, pregnancy, etc. Most of the posts are based on personal experiences, so there isn't much knowledgeable information or facts. Instead, the author of the blog shares her personal experiences and information that she acquired after/during her experiences. The format and the tone of the writing is easy to understand for all readers without complex and difficult word choices like political or science blogs. The blog, “Snippets of Life” by Karen Cheng seeks to address life-smart advices and tips to inspire and motivate people’s lives. Personally, I believe that the content in this blog is very valuable because it is personal experiences through real people that make it more reliable and trustworthy information to share among women. For example, in the Food & Health section of the blog, she shares her valuable nutritious vegetarian recipe that is favorable by children.

Week 1 - What is the biggest issue facing blogging, citizenship and the future of media?

Now days, many internet users post their profiles, pictures and other personal information on their blogs or websites to communicate with others on a more personal level. Therefore, I think the biggest issue facing blogging, citizenship and the future of media would be invasion of privacy exposed online. For example, many young adults use Facebook to communicate with their friends and to meet new people online. However, the exposure of profile is not limited just to friends and almost any random person in any country is able to view and access these personal information. This is a violation to citizenship and personal rights and information. In extreme cases, this viewing of other people's personal information can even stretch out to acts of stalking and in some other cases the personal information can get into the wrong hands and can be used to commit fraud such as hacking of personal banking password, credit card numbers, and even social identification number. The future of our media can develop into either positive or negative ways. In the positive ways, through the wider use of internet blogging and personal websites we can globally interconnect with people all around the world and we can share many useful and diversified information with great ease. However, in negative ways, as this blogging network grows, there will be a much greater tendency for these Internet fraud, crimes, and wrong doings.