Com 300 Course Reflection

I am thoroughly happy with the result of taking this class. I feel that the knowledge I gained from Concepts New Media is the kind of knowledge that I can go utilize everyday I leave this classroom, and I think that for college students that is the kind of knowledge that sticks for a lifetime. I think the most important thing I learned in this class is that the internet and new media is constantly changing around us and that new technology is being made FOR us, BY us. We as consumers are creators, and we define who we are and what we want out of new media. It is an amazing to grow up during this new media boom, and sometimes the results can be overwhelming. I think what also helped in this class was to learn about new websites, especially news and political sharing sites, that I had no clue even existed previously. I just learned what YouTube was this summer and although time wise that seems not that long ago in relevance to my life I can’t believe I ever lived without! I wish we had more time to just study and be informed about new sites that we have never used or even heard of before. Just today I learned about 3 or 4 (epinions.com, digg.com, innocentive.com) that I knew nothing about! I know that searching and presenting websites could probably be a class on its own, just studying up and coming websites and their relevance to our lives, so I’m glad that I got to learn about the ones that I did. I think learning more about the resources that most of us have right at our fingertips everyday is incredibly important for not only our current lives but our later careers and lives as participating citizens of this world. The more we know how and where to locate our resources the better of we all are in utilizing them properly. Although I am aware it is important to learn the basics of how the internet works that was the least interesting topic for me, mostly because I STILL didn’t understand what was really going on, but I do have a better idea now! Thanks for teaching such a great class and I hope I have the opportunity of taking more of your classes in the future!

P.S. I HAD to add a PS to this post because I just finished my podcast (linked it to my Com300 site and esubmitted my annotated bibliography and script) and I just have to say that it turned out to be quite the learning experience! At times the process of learning out to edit and place everything together was hair rippingly irritating, but in the end I am so proud of what I have accomplished and learned along the way! Thanks for making us stretch our minds and previous capabilities to learn new ways of doing things!

Vonage vs. Speakeasy.net

After exploring both websites I have found the following conclusions from both services. At Vonage I can keep my original number which makes it easier for communicating with friends and for paying bills so I don’t have to inform other about a new number. The service is avaliable where I am currently located in Seattle (most likely because it is a large city), however I’m not sure how the billing would work out since I live in a sorority and all my phone, internet, and cable bills are payed within my quarterly housebill. It might actually cost less since more people would be using the service in one location, but you would need to purchase more equipment. The service says it is $24.99, plus the cost of installation I’m sure and taxes. There is an instant rebate on the equipment which was about $50, so you would get your money back from that purchase.

At speakeasy.net the service is also avaliable where I am currently located in Seattle and I can get the following services: dedicated line broadband, shared line broadband, business class broadband, or T1 and/or Bonded T1. The shared line broadband and dedicated line broadband are an excellent option since I do live in a sorority because I could get it just for myself (not sure how I could legistically work that out) or the whole house could get the shared plan for everyone, however our housebill would most likely be raised. Home VoIP would cost around $83.90/month (at a min not including installation, equipment or taxes or the amount of lines included). This would be for digital voice and broadband connection and I would have to get a new phone number.

Doing this exersize was interesting but also annoying on the websites because I wanted to get more information and more specifics on prices and equipment offered without having to give them all my information, so naturally, I gave them some fake information and some real. I think its important to know what different services are offered so that you can get the best value for your dollar, especially in regards to phone lines, internet, cable and broadband since there are so many different options avaliable. I think what would intice me to purchase any of these services is if they were included in my house bill already and the service really provided me with an additional asset that I don’t previously have in my life. As of now I can’t see that happening, but if I was given a trial option I might be able to locate how the service could help my life.

Week 9 Reading Reflection

After doing this week’s reading on VoIP I was immediately drawn make to a memory of fall quarter. When all the new freshman were moving into my house I began to notice that all their laptops had cameras and microphones built into them! It made me really excited, jealous (naturally) and amazed at the fact that the format of the laptop had changed so much in almost less than a years time since I had purchased mine. I was excited, for one thing, to see how this new technology would impact our everyday lives…and sure enough I found out the hard way. One night my roommate was talking, and I just assumed she was talking on the phone…little did I know she was actually talking to her computer screen and there on the screen was the face of her friend at college in New York! I was actually stunned into silence and she started turning her laptop around the room showing her room to her friend…and of course there I was stunned, half changing clothes might I add, in the middle of our room! So, as I said I learned about this fabulous new technology the hard way…but it was still a good experience. I’m not sure if the technology she was using on her Apple is VoIP, but I’m sure its a similar idea.

Looking into the future I really cannot see how VoIP will impact cable and telephone networks, both being regulated infrastructure industries today, but I’m sure it will be a nasty battle of lawsuits, government regulations, and some healthy democracy-driven competition. While reading about the drawbacks to VoIP I think the fact that it is over your internet connection and the reliability of internet connection isn’t always the best will most likely impact the outcome of a possible battle between cable and telephone networks and this new force in communication technology. I really can’t see VoIP catching on to mainstream America at this time because the majority of the population is still so attached to their cellphones and even the reliability of their landlines to fully commit themselves to a new form of communication via their internet connection, no matter how much faster, “high tech”, and/or “new age” it seems to be initially. Once this technology has been smoothed out and possibly become more mainstream (like it seems to be being implemented into laptop computers, etc.) then I think that cable and telephone networks will have to revap and remarket what products and services they provide to make themselves a necessity once again to their current customers and the world.

Discussion Questions:

How many people in the class have actually used or possibly own this technolog? Do you like it? Is it reliable?

Do you think that this technology actually has the mass ability to impact cable and telephone networks that extensively (either economically or geographically)? Will they pull from telephone networks current customer base or will they draw an entirely new crowd of individuals?

Discussion Leader Reflection (Digital Divide)

I just finished my job as discussion leader approximately 10 minutes ago so the experience is still fresh in my mind. I think that this was a positive experience for both myself and the rest of my group because it especially helped to study one of the subjects we are studying in class more indepth so that we really become more of an “expert” on this specific area. It was really great because during the lecture today before we did the discussion leader portion I found pieces that were relevant to my own power point on the digital divide of generations (the internet accessibility and the elderly). While I was presenting my slide show I went back and referenced the idea of “public spaces” where the elderly could access the internet and the difficulty of navigating through sites for our newspaper project and how this is even more difficult for those with disabilities (especially in the elderly population). It was amazing to me how many different forms of digital divide and accessiblity there are to research; everything from age, economics, race and geography. Overall I think that this was a positive experience to research the digital divide in more depth, share new ideas and topics with my peers (in which we could all relate), and of course re-learn how to do powerpoints (since I hadn’t created one since sophomore year of high school!) I think that the groups I presented to really understood what I was talking about, and although I wish I could have made the experience more fun, in the time I was given I think that the point was given clearly and effectively in a manner that everyone could relate, discuss and respond too easily.

Discussion Leader Article Summary- Digital Divide of the Ages

The article that I chose to lead my discussion and create my powerpoint around speaks on a subject I’m sure that we are all very aware of but often times forget to notice within the digital divide of new and old technology, our elderly population. Everytime I go to my grandparents house either my Dad,  Mom, sister or I have to help my grandparents figure out something new with their computer, printer, internet or god knows what else and don’t get me wrong I am happy to help, but it brings up a completely new problem within the quick-paced, internet based society we are currently experiencing. The digital divide is not just an economical or geographical problem, but it is also a divide between generations and age groups. We, as the youth of America, are lucky to have grown up around this new technology and therefore have a better grasp of not only the technology but the terminology we sometimes forget we even know and use daily. This article discusses why the elderly have such an issue getting on board with new technology (economically, geographically, etc.) and how we can help implement technology and termnology into their daily lives to make it relevant and important to their lifestyle. The attached link from YouTube helps explain better the issues at hand between the elderly and youth and the technology that gets mixed up inbetween. It is important to show our elderly how to use this technology within their everday lives (as a way of contacting and staying in touch with friends and family, sending and sharing pictures, and searching and shopping on the internet, for example) so that they will not be scared to implement this technology into their homes and lives.

YouTube URL- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHUYmavvDzw  (also on my powerpoint)

Link to Powerpoint on UW Site- http://students.washington.edu/lpowers/com300/digitaldividepowerpoint.ppt

Article Citation: 

Richards, S. (2006, Dec). Ensuring Fair Access to the Internet for All: Working with Older People.
Brighton, 10:4, Retrieved Feb 15, 2007, from http://proquest.umi.com.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/pqdweb?did=1186430051&sid=1&Fmt=3&clientId=8991&RQT=309&VName=PQD 

Newspaper/Blog Inventory Reflection

I was very interested to see, while compiling the information about the newspapers online and their blogs, how many online blogs there really were! One of my newspapers The Contra Costa Times had 16 blogs on its own! I guess technology has completed passed me by in my lack of interest in blogging and online news. I have recently become interested in online news while looking up reviews from my show and researching the recent trend in political campaigns for 2008. I am amazed to see the amount of RSS feeds and online blogs that you can subscribe to, or begin writing yourself, in both reflection to online articles and free opinion posts too.  I’m still not completely won over by the idea of blogs in corrdination with newspapers, magazines, politics and basic civilian gossip…but its growing on me.

Week 8 Reading Reflection

I am not going to lie here, but my eyes started to glaze over as my brain began to fog up about half way through reading this riveting paper on the internet standards, new ideas and accessibility. I’m not really sure where to begin in discussing cyberspace as a public space and accessiblity standards so I think the best place to start is to look at how are internet started and what is has become now. I am scared to think that the future of the internet and entrepreanuers, who while expanding this technology with their innovative ideas, seem to also control specific aspects of it, to naturally make money. I think it is interesting to see that the internet started as a resource for the government and our military services to better communicate with one another. It just so happened that this technology fit with mainstream America, and the world for that matter, and its desire to communicate more easily with one another as well. From then on the internet was a public space where we as a world started to become dependent on this new technology and its ability to bring us closer together while giving us access to mass amounts of information we had never dreamed of attaining prior to this phenomenon.

When we look at the accessibility of the internet in its original context of becoming a “public space” where anyone can go explore, obtain information or network themselves more efficiently, it really should remain this “public space” with limited amounts of trouble in accessibility. But where do we end in trying to help this “accessibility” reach more and more people?  I mean how important, besides filling the pockets of intelligent and go-getting business people, is the internet to the rural people of India? Where they surviving without this phenomenon before we “showed them the light”, most likely, just as we had before the first laptop and wi-fi reached our fingertips. Yet, how would we survive without them now? I think what it comes down to is being able to provide all countries with a resonable plan that fits their per capitia and basic economic structure as well as the structure of their daily lives. Is it important for a rural farmer to access YouTube to watch the “Daily Show’s” latest spoof? I don’t think so. But, it could possibly help him network his farming business by synching his products up with other local farmers and stores to help out his business. The accessibilty of our internet is a dangerous topic of concern at this time. While we may think that its presence within our lives is as necessary as the air we breathe and the water we drink, is it really? While we want to help make the internet as convienient to obtain as possible, I think we need to prioritize what trends we really need to advertise and expand upon first and what other countries around us really need for their overall well being.

Discussion Questions:

Who really understood everything written in this reading? Haha…j/k!

What is the accessibility of the internet to you? How important is it that you can obtain the internet where ever you go, whenever you go?

How important do you think the internet accessibility is to rural countries? Do the costs outweigh the benefits?  

Blog Update

For my blog I am continuing to research the subject thatI reported on previously; that being consumers are also creators and the impact of the internet and musical theatre outreach to mainstream society. I have decided to expand the topic a bit more relating to how musical theatre has more reached the general public, or how it is easier for it to reach the general public via websites such as ibdb.com (internet broadway database), YouTube and of course the iTunes music store and the masses of illegal music download programs avaliable today. I think that what is most important is that these sites and programs are what also allows us to be consumers and creators. People all over this country, and the world, can research their favorite show and then go record the hit song themselves, create a bootleg copy of a scene from the show or make a documentary of the show and post it to their myspace, YouTube or a general website to both provide and create more information about musical theatre. What is most important to recognize and be weary of though is the illegal matter that surrounds this new form of outreach and information provided by the internet, and be careful that the information you are obtaining is both credible and legal, if you even care that is.

Week 7 Reading Reflection

After doing this weeks reading I have decided that the influence of technology on the political scene of our society has come leaps and bounds over the past decade alone. Internet technology and its influence on politics has happened so quickly I feel that we as citizens cannot even recognize at times the changes we have come so accustomed to. It is amazing to think of running a campaign without the use of the internet as a networking, fundraising and over all political campaigning tool. When I was reading about Joe Trippi I was astounded to see the strides he individually made to the political technological world. Where would we be politically or socially without the ability to attrack so much attention with so little effort. I think the part that described Joe as a salt-n-pepper haired, unattractive, overweight computer nerd just clicking away at his desk was priceless. While actual candiates are still required to make public appearences, their campagin mangers are making it easier and easier to bring people to them, instead of the other way around. Even with the idea of lemonade stand’s Kennedy’s race was a little bit like the internet and its networking capabilities. Bringing in more bodies with less costs (cost/body theory). With blogs, online groups, emailing, listserves and so on campaigners are capable of reaching masses of people at the touch of button. Organizing a rally or a speech? No matter what area of the US it is in, you can reach that grouping of people by just sending a quick announcement via group emailings or the candidates personal blog or website. You can see it on a smaller level just with the usage of facebook and advertising for individual parties and gatherings. When my current show “Sound of Music” opened this past weekend I sent out an announcement on facebook weeks in advance inviting people and providing them with links to newspaper reviews, maps on how to get there and the theatre’s website. People could ignore it or read it, either way…they knew it was happening and that information is the necessity of political advertising. Making people aware, whether they want it or not.

I think on the flipside of this idea you can also see how internet technology can impact the voters positively as well. It is so simple to go online and read about, study campaign ideas, volunteer, donate money, attend a rally or speech, etc by just logging onto the internet and surfing away! In regards to Kerry and Bush’s websites from the 2004 campaigns I think that this can provide the basic links and information that we lack as voters. Seeing what they’re doing, what they believe in, where their followers are, and where you can get involved. It is important to look at the impact of the visual layout of these websites and blogs as well. As Kathy analyzed in the article, based on the visual layouts and overall performance of these political websites, it is paramount of a candidate to have well-organized, easily navigated and visually appealing site. If it hard to navigate and a visual overload, its immediately not worth my time. While campaigners look at cost per body of voters, I believe voters, just like any human being looks at time management. If this site is too hard to get around they will be naturally inclined to go to a site with more easily accessible information and if that happens to be a more biased or opposing site then, too bad for that canidate. I think that the internet technology has impacted politics more than we as voters have even realized in the past decade, and in race coming up we can already see the new impacts it is having. Canidates announcing their entering the presidential race via their websites before TV and print media can even get the news is absolutely a jump in an even newer technological direction.

Discussion Questions:

What does the class think will be the next wave of internet or technological influence on campaining within our society? Will it benefit us as voters or only those running?

Has the internet had a more positive or negative effect on the political scene in our society? Has it made everything more superficial and hard to read? Has the information overload been to much to handle as of lately? Where will it go next?

New York Times Article “Sharp Bites”- Food and Blogging

http://proquest.umi.com.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/pqdweb?did=1210232341&sid=1&Fmt=3&clientId=8991&RQT=309&VName=PQD

The above URL is a link to a NY Times article that I found the other morning at breakfast on blogging and food critics! I thought it totally applied to what we are learning right now so check it out if you can!