Tuesday, February 28, 2017

BLOGS VS. WIKIS

In the past, individuals would have to acquire materials in order to read and comprehend the information. However, in today's networked world, individuals are able to share their personal thoughts, opinions, and ideas with others globally. This allows for endless amounts of information to be at our fingertips to increase our knowledge.
There are two types of portals to extract information, blogs and wikis. A blog is an abbreviated version of "weblog," this term is used to describe a website that serves almost as a personal journal for one individual, intended for the public eye. This is an ongoing thread of information that appears in reverse chronological order. On the other hand, there is a wiki which is a website that allows for collaborative: adding, editing, and organization of its content and structure upon multiple users.
This pair has several distinctive features that can make them easily identifiable from each other. Blogs are used to broadcast opinion-based context. This type of information-sharing builds up slowly over time, in which the posts age and no longer become relevant. In this discussions take place in the comment section of the post, which the blogger must approve of before it is actually posted. This established a one-to-many content, in which one user is in ample control of their posts. There are scenarios in which blogs can be used for collaboration. According to a New York Times article, “Brooklyn Blog Helps Lead to Drug Raid,” it elaborates upon how a group of bloggers started sharing what they heard around their block. A thread was created among a group of three bloggers in which they discussed what they noticed going on in one certain house on the block. This house was then brought to the 68th Precinct Station’s attention to start a narcotics investigation. “But peering turned to blogging, and blogging turned to action, as neighbors started filing complaints,” (Wilson, 5).
Whereas, wikis are primarily used to share fact-based information which then can grow rapidly, through the 24 hours of the day. This means that the discussion can take place on pages or in the discussion forum, in which the articles can also be changed constantly. This establishes a many-to-many connection, that allows for multiple users to act as an "admin". Wikis can be vital to a company’s success as well. Not only are most the tools free but it is also very easy to search and navigate. In a business setting, a team can collaboratively work and contribute to update information on an upcoming project. This allows all users to be up to speed with the project and have everyone on the team on the same page. This can allow for better decisions to be made, and time to be used effectively (Locher). Wikis can be applied to several different fields to aid its success. Wikis could be used for party planning for any kind of event. Multiple users can have access to the wiki and can add vast amounts of data about different areas such as catering, venue, decorations, etc. This can be a safe spot to share details that are crucial.


Citation:

Brooklyn Blog Helps Lead to Drug Raid By MICHAEL WILSON The New York Times June 26, 2008 


Wiki While You Work; The technology popularized by Wikipedia can help companies gather and manage their own collective knowledge. Here's how to get started by Margaret Locher. CIO, May 1, 2008. Vol. 21, Iss. 14. 

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Social Networking: A Purposeful Loss of Privacy


In recent years, social networking has become one of the most important and influential aspects of internet world. Why do we as a society do this? Do we do this to be connected with others? With a touch of a few buttons, you can become “friends” with a fellow peer back from elementary school. Do we try to show off our accomplishments and achievements among our peers? In doing so, what could we possibly lose? In this day and age, our privacy does not measure to the same standards of privacy, its more public. What we don’t realize in doing this is what potential employers will see on our profile. “77 percent of companies use social media to identify candidates for positions.” Surprisingly, there are numerous people who post important confidential information; increasing the risk of kidnapping, identity theft, and many other crimes.