Shirky Chapters 8-10

Chapter eight from Shirky starts out pretty interesting but then half ways through the chapter I just seem to get lost in what he is trying to explain. As chapter eight starts by introducing you to a Prisoners’ Dilemma as they call it, this is thought to be a scientific experiment which helps analyze how and why people make some certain decisions. Robert Axelrod, a sociologist at the University of Michigan who was studying the iterated version extensively which is simply the dismal Nash equilibrium meaning that when we are in a situation you and I cannot communicate with each other which only gives us one best option and that is the Nash equilibrium. Robert staged tournaments for different types of software that well have the ability to emulate the prisoners. These strategies were called Tit-for-Tat, were the outcomes were measured by adding and deduction points depending on all the various outcomes throughout all the different tournaments that were ran. Calming that these programs are highly simplified or a pretty close version to how people come to a decision in real life. But of course Clay Shirky, is not actually clamming that social tools can help us solve dilemmas. Instead he offers a number of way where social tools can strengthen our abilities to address them and be more aware of how they work. Shirky continues with some same variation of explanations for different types of social dilemmas through the next two chapters nine and ten. In chapter nine Shirky explores the six Degrees of Separation. This helped clues on homophily (which is the grouping of like with like), developing heavy and sparse connections throughout the same time and how bonding capital tends to be more exclusive and bridging capital more inclusive.  This chapter it was very interesting being able to understand the core elements of the small networks and larger networks ability to be held together making this chapter much more enjoyable for me since it was an easier read compared to some of the other chapters.  Rather than reading chapters where he tries to define and explain new phenomenon’s which just gets me really confused. 

New Media and Politics Group

The New media and politics group had us use this very cool website to answer question they asked use about certain issues as we texted a number they provided us with our answers. This was used to prove how technology would be much more useful and effective. In 1920 when the radio started to be used more often and also emerge as a news media for politics it was one of the main mediums used. Then later on during 1965-1973 the television started to storm though out the world and started to be used as well for candidates’ campaigns to gain support. Now a couple of years later in the 20^th century this has completely changed. Politics and news use all sorts of medium’s to get information out to the people or if they are trying to reach out to a certain group.  For example, 50% of people do online/ emails to get news around or be able to reach a group of people at the same time and there is 10% who use apps and texting for the same purpose. One great example of these mediums being used are during campaigns if the politics when they are trying to raise money, by using the internet, apps, emails and television to reach out to people it is more likely more people will be willing to donate digitally rather than mailing this or going to a campaign held by the politics. This comes to show that media has a great effect to the people depending on how the information that is being shared could influence the views of each politician. The number of forging bureaus reduced by 50% by news corporations, because covering un-important news such as Justin Bieber got arrested last week is much cheaper than having bureaus anywhere in the world. In 2008 Barak Obama was the first president to use a great amount of social media to win the campaign and now currently Donald Trump is the top dog of social medias as he becomes talked about all over the news with all the ignorant remarks he has to say he is well all over Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. This  group had a great presentation but at the end i feel like lots of the information was repeated by the other group members just in different forms, but the overall presentation was great except some of the slide shows were kept up for a couple seconds making it hard to get all the information.   

Social Media Group

Today there was another expert group presenting during our class time on the topic about social media. This topic can sometimes be confusing as well as overwhelming for many people. Being one of the very first internets activates to trend worldwide. Out of 7.2 billion people: there are just over 3 billion active internet users (45%).  There are many reasons why people use social media and the abilities are still growing. Some very obvious examples of why social Medias are so popular are the fact that we are allowed to share information and communicate at faster rates than other available ways that we have had in the past. For example, some of earlier history methods of communication that would be used to communicate are writing letters to each other, using the telegraph which was created in 1792, the telephone, radio, and then comes along the computer which revolutionized social media itself. Some of the first recognizable social medias that were around first were six degrees as it moved to more of a blogging page then eventually turned into a social media. Some of the most popular social medias of today are Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Tumbler, Instagram, Yik Yak, etc. all these different social medias are used to every ones advantages. For instance, it could be used as a psychology of humans because we as humans like talking about ourselves in social media such as twitter and Facebook allow us present ourselves as we wish. Humans also desire community as having so much different ty types of social Medias it allows us to also feel connected. But such social media could also be used in a variety of ways, 64% of employers and companies use two or more social networks to help job-seekers find work. Could also help law enforcement catch prosecuted criminal as they us images on social media to catch criminals, and like twitter and Facebook both have tracking unite on criminals who brag about their crimes they have committed, help businesses promote their news gadget or update their customers with information. Not only does social media have lots of advantages and helping us get communicated and get on the trend with the hottest or coolest things going on around you there is also some negatives that arise. Cyberbullying, predators, and also decreasing the productivity in the workplace, according to some of the studies that have been done it has been proven that employees get on Facebook at least two or more hours  which is and could be too much while being at work.    

Ubiquitous Computing: Group Presentation

Today was an expert group presentation, ubiquitous computing and I was also part of this group presentation. So what is ubiquitous computing? Well easy, this is simply one of the most fast growing trend toward embedding microprocessors in everyday objects. This allows communication and information to be transferred and shared with the use of the internet at faster rates. The main goal for ubiquitous computing is to be able to create an environment where the devices connectivity are able to connect in such a way that the device is always a step ahead of you, kind of like if it was thinking for you before you even knew what you wanted to do. This is due to all the analysis and information ubiquitous devices and the internet has recorded throughout time from individuals using all sorts of software, applications, and websites such as Facebook, Twitter snap-chat, Instagram and so many other ways. As this continues to happen all the information and analysis done about you the internet can start catching patters of your favorite things to do, foods, entertainment, etc. and start working like an extra brain as it detects familiar things around your area that you might enjoy doing or even reach out to you in ways were it reminds you very specific things that might still need to get done to even take it a step further in ways that are unimaginable. Some very useful ubiquitous devices that are right around the corner to be available for the general public are Home technologies, Commercial technologies, Health technologies , Automobile, and Wearable technologies.  But don’t get these confused with virtual reality as many people do. There is a big difference form ubiquitous computing devices to virtual reality, as virtual reality puts people inside a computer generated world. The only difference is that the computer interface is erased from the picture and for ubiquitous computing forces the computer to interact with our everyday physical world. This pretty much having a microchip and everyday devices allowing such devices to reach out to you. This presentation went quite well for me and the rest of my group members, we were able to have the class participate in a class dissection as well as gave them brain storm a few more ubiquitous devices that might have already be out for the general public and we don’t pay much attention to such devises and the way they help better individuals lives. 

Group One and Two 10/22/2015

    Today's first group presented for their book panel and brought some interesting ideas about their book. For example, Journalism as a peer network this is having the concerns from information management. How are you supposed to get the right information to the right person at the right time. Some other useful networking is 311 hot line in New York, this was a hotline for New Yorkers to call and report any broken street lights in the city or other similar things. Conscious Capitalism, this is when peer-progressive values are applied to corporate structures. The Federal Government tried to apply a top-down structure to the internet with the stop online privacy act. The two main legend starts are the government and Mass Media outlets able to control the internet but as for Orwellian this was a nightmare. This is the idea that peer-progressive ideas in life are similar to networking. At the end of the presentation there was three questing that we had to discuss in a group. This little discussion that took place after their presentation helped me a little more with connecting everything else in their presentation. Peer-networking is something that could be very helpful and useful to humans as it also helps us get connected with other people if you are trying to get your name out there.   

Second group presenting, the digital divide. The digital divide simply defines the haves or have not's. This has some effect on us, the book addressees the digital divide and how each year being digitally connected becomes different in their own way. A very good example of this segregation in the classrooms. Because in today's society the latest trend is what keeps everyone from being cool if you have the coolest new technology you are considered normal as to everyone around. But if you are growing up in a country where having these types of technologies are a little harder to get a hold of makes it harder for some students’ academic performance. When these linguistics behaviors from home clash with the ones expected of students at school, students tend to do worse academically. One of the biggest impact is racial and cultural differences, this can cause a rift in literariness.  

Virtual reality group

Virtual reality group presented today as they introduced us to what virtual reality was and how it has been developing since 1950, and also giving the class some examples of how this could be either very useful in the future or it could become very dangerous. Virtual reality is a computer generated simulation of three-dimensional images or environment, this is by rendering a real world images or environment onto a special electronic that is equipped with high technology allowing to render high definition renders of each environment. With doing so allows the interaction with the virtual reality to become more realistic and the experience to become more real. Such equipment used for this are manly some type of goggles with screens inside of them and at times gloves that come with sensors inside them to allow interaction within the virtual just world. A most recent and good example of this is something google has just recently realized for public use, google glasses. Google glasses is a type of uses head-mount display (OHDM) something very similar to virtual reality. The only difference is that google glasses only allows you to have instant notifications for your email, text and other similar uses. Even though there are lots of advances out there for virtual reality we cannot forget the founding father when it comes to virtual reality. Morton Heiligs was one of the fathers, he applied his cinematographer experience and with the help of his partner they both developed the Sensorama over the course of several years. This was a work in progress from 1957 – 1962 he always had great vision and was always ahead of his time. The Sensorama machine gave you the ability to have all five sense with smell, sound, vibrations of the seat, and wind in the hair to create a more realistic illusion.  Similar things to this was built shorty after and is still used to this day, the flight simulator. This was created with the same concept but instead this has some real uses to it other than entertainment. This flight simulator was made so pilots would be able to train in a much safer way. Virtual reality group brought some very interesting ideas as well as an actually virtual reality simulator. 

Convergence group

Today’s lecture there was a group who presented during class, their presentation was something very different than some of the other groups have done. This group was focused in presenting how convergence has been evolving all around us. Some great examples that the convergence group   brought up during class is how sports broadcasting can have many different way of evolving and we have no clue this is even going on. But in general convergence is when there are two or more distinct entities or phenomena.  Convergence is increasingly prevalent in the IT world; in this context the term refers to the combination of two or more different technologies in a single device. Some of the technologies that are most common and used in today’s society are the ones that we use in a daily bases. For example, convergent in cars is quickly growing. There are cars now that come built in with utilities that we never thought would be available in or car like having a built in touch screen that comes with many useful apps such as having a calendar that allows you to keep reminders as well as having news updates, weather, and many more apps. Not only this but most cars come with built in 4g LTE Wi-Fi allowing the capabilities of the car to expand quite largely. Convergence may influence consumers to accept new technologies. According to some studies, people who aren't computer literate are more likely to embrace the Internet, video-on-demand at least instantly if they can. Even though some or most of these technologies that are allowing us to innovate and come more in handy. Convergent technologies can also become some very serious distractions that has been changing how society is shaped when given so much distractions.  Although these convergence are only being used to our advantage because we live in a world with a do it now attitude as most and all information is on the palm of our hands. Our phone is a great example as well as it has many features integrated such as a camera, calendar, access to the internet and many more things that will allows us to take action right away if there is something that needs to be done.