Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds

To begin, virtual worlds merge two spheres together, creativity and community. These virtual worlds literally model reality, providing an alternate reality to the users. In this world, users can create their own identity. Another chance at life, whether they want to be exactly the same or completely different. There are numerous advantages that come with virtual worlds. This realistic environment allows users to emerge themselves to effectively and efficiently learn without the detrimental consequences. Virtual reality is used in many areas of healthcare. This can range from diagnosis, treatment, methods of rehab. It also can be used to teach incoming students in the medical field. "Immersive technologies provide alternative environments for situated learning, because an almost endless variety of virtual contexts are available, or can be created, that give users a sense of "being there," ... and thus, the ability to apply learning in a plausible, unique context," (Situated Learning in Virtual Worlds and Immersive Simulations". However, there are disadvantages in which it is very time consuming. According to "Virtual World May Impact Real-world Behaviour," users of the virtual world may implement their characters persona onto their owns. Whether the user decides to play as a hero or a villain will dictate if they reward or punish strangers. These virtual worlds foster creativity by allowing the user endless capabilities of creating their own realm, expressing their feelings, and sharing information with others. The future of technology can never be properly guessed, as it improves by the minute. However, I believe with how virtual worlds work now that the VRs could probably improve even more. One way it could improve is with the focus. The human eye is designed to focus especially at different distances and the VR is not capable of doing so yet. 

Citations:

Dawley, Lisa, and Chris Dede. "Situated Learning in Virtual Worlds and Immersive Simulations." N.p., n.d. Web.

"Virtual World May Impact Real-world Behaviour." Health24. N.p., 10 Feb. 2014. Web. 20 Mar. 2017.

Blog: Social Networking Sites

In today's day and age, society seems to have an account with at least one of the major social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. In fact, I have an account of all the mentioned social networking sites because it allows me to stay updated with my family, my friends, the latest trends, and the news. Each of these platforms have a different purpose to give to the user, which can also be different to each user. For me, I use Facebook as a way to connect with my friends and family from all around. I can easily see the photos they shared of their vacations, growing family, and their passions. I primarily use twitter to keep up to date with trends but also to scroll through funny memes. Twitter has so many funny tweets or images to share especially with how short and concise of a message one could share with their followers. I use Pinterest whenever I need new creative ideas for certain events. For an example, I was in charge of my sister's bridal shower last summer. All I had in mind was what theme I wanted to try out but didn't know how to properly execute that idea. Therefore, I made a Pinterest account and looked up Bridal Shower and automatically had numerous hits on very helpful ideas. This was the sole reason why the bridal shower I threw was a success! Anytime you need to come up with creative ideas and you can't think of any, just log into Pinterest! Lastly, I use Instagram to share photos and see the photos that my friends post! This is probably the account that I am most active on because I can also ideas from this social networking site as well! If I want ideas on a specific topic, I could use a hashtag that can best describe this and look it up! Instantly can get hits off of that! Overall, each of these social networking sites have been proven to be beneficial in my day to day lifestyle. 

Blog about Twitter

There are many different ways to have a discussion, whether it may be Twitter, BlackBoard, or an In-Class discussion. To begin, Twitter is a very diverse, quick-paced platform to have a discussion on. From a vary of minutes, you can have people from all over the world discussing a single issue, sharing their thoughts and ideas. Educating others on what they think of it. However, it differs with the formality of it. Twitter is a very informal platform as you can only share one thought at a time using only 140 characters in each tweet. This may shorten thoughts to very concise measures with the usage of slang. A blackboard discussion takes more time to develop thoughts and also has a difference with the formality. In this, blackboard discussions tend to be lengthy and extremely formal. Elaborating several details to convey one message to the audience. As in this there is no rush to share your ideas. Lastly, in-class discussion have an entirely different feel to it. With this you can visually see and hear what the person has to share with others. This can give it a more comfortable feel to openly discuss your thoughts and say whatever you have on your mind. Each of these different methods of discussions have their own appeal to it, and can be used for different topics.

Blog Social Networking

Social Networking is the backbone of society's form of communication among one another. There are numerous networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. These sites allow for people to communicate through the usage of posting biography, commenting, messaging, and simply sharing information with others. This is used by individuals, businesses, and corporations. These technologies could be used in productive, efficient ways. For an example, LinkedIn is a business-focused social networking site. The main purpose of this site is to help people network professionally; to find other clients and colleagues whom you already know. This quickens the process for users. According to “Social Networking Technology Boosts Job Recruiting,” recruiters could scout a group of job candidates in merely a half hour. Another way this technology could be used is to advertise products or services a company has to offer to potential cliental. Facebook allows for the greatest platform to display items that potential cliental may want to purchase.

Not only are there productive ways to use these networking sites but also are a special benefit to society. According to New York Times article, “In India, Using Facebook to Catch Scofflaw Drivers,” traffic police started a Facebook page as a weapon against dangerous driving. The page automatically had residents post photos of drivers violating traffic laws. Thus, because traffic officers can’t be at the everywhere at the same time, users of the site are making it easier for them to do their job. As always, a violation is a violation. Networking sites allow for more than just connections in this case, it forces drivers to drive safer if they want to avoid a violation.

Although, social networking sites have proved to be very influential in our daily lives; there is also a dark side to this. The boundaries of privacy seem to disappear when it comes to social networking. Users share loads of information to their friends, but seize to realize this information can go to the wrong hands. In “Facebook Privacy is So Confusing Even the Zuckerberg Family Photo isn’t Private,” Mark Zuckerberg’s sister, Randi, shared a photo of her family celebrating the holidays, in which one of her subscribers got a hold of the photo and shared it via twitter. In this case we can see that Randi wanted only her friends to see the photos that she has posted, but somehow a complete stranger in her eyes shared this photo. This proves for Facebooks settings to be a bit confusing and slightly infringing upon rights.

These technologies have already evolved so much in the span of a decade, there is only room for improvement. I believe that companies and marketers will think of new ways to use social networking to promote their products to their target audience. With so much technology use, advertisers will have to think of much more creative ways to attract users. Overall, social networking has both its advantages and disadvantages to society.

Citations:                                                                                 

Facebook Privacy Is So Confusing Even the Zuckerberg Family Photo Isn't Private,” The Atlantic Wire, Greenfield, R. December 26, 2012

"In India, Using Facebook to Catch Scofflaw Drivers" By Heather Timmons, NY Times, August 1, 2010

Social Networking Technology Boosts Job Recruiting by Frank Langfitt, NPR, March 16, 2008. 

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 68^th 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. 

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.