"user generated content"

(SOCS300)  modules 5-6

..a mass of personal content, casual vocabulary, unedited, uninhibited.. it is truly like an open dialect, totally informal, and somewhat a standard way of sharing and storytelling, especially with younger generations.  Privacy is not of the same concern as with gen-X-er's.  Shirky's describes this type of "user-generated content (as) a group phenomenom" (83) accurately, because it is typically written directly for a smaller social group.  However, it also reaches a much wider audience, a larger group dynamic.  We see this with videos posted on youtube that can go "viral" and can catch on very quickly within similar groups interested in the same content.  Users are easily connected in this dynamic through tags and social groups established on a common interest.  It can also be seen in the re-definition of a "friend" within this virtual platform, where followers are added as friends in networks such as MySpace and Facebook.

There is also an important distinction to be made between "broadcast media" and "communications media", where the first is intended for a broader audience via television, radio newspapers etc, and the latter written for a much more narrow audience, more on a social level in a "one-to-one" pattern of conversation.  Shirky also describes these as media tools as "one-to-many" and "one-to-one"  (86).  And so a lot of the content we find in blogs is intended for a smaller audience, yet when there is consistency in quality writing, cross linking, and a connection of common interests, this can quickly growing a subscription of a blog and it's popularity. 

Interestingly, the gap between broadcast and communications media is merging, or at least we can say that there is a profound gray area that exists.  I came across an online magazine publication recently, that is well positioned in this gray area.  It shows a very specific narrow interest in content, although based in Toronto, articles on travel highlight experience or tales of select destinations. While it's photography and writing quality is strong and effective:   dead sexy magazine

They have also established tv broadcasting through their youtube channel deadsexytv .   Youtube enables anyone virtually, to establish their own tv channel.  Podcasts allow for the same in the capacity of radio broadcasting. 

ubroadcast.com is another platform where users can broadcast their own radio and television content. This site offering uncensored content (as internet broadcasting is not FCC regulated.. yet)

summer boating

summer boating by Christina Fisker is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 Canada License.

free creativity

(SOCS300)

In his chapter on Individual Freedom: Autonomy, Information and Law, Benkler writes: 

"We are seeing the emergence of the user as a new category of relationship to information production and exchange. Users are individuals who are sometimes consumers and sometimes producers. . . the networked information economy promises to enrich individual autonomy substantively by creating an environment built less around control and more around facilitating action." (138-9)

Web 2.0 offers an interactive and creative space on the internet, where content and experience is essentially user defined.  Users are self-motivated to use web tools, through blogs, social networks, wikis and so on, in order to express their views, opinions and comments.  Blogging is still somewhat new to me, but in having a blogspot, I have an 'outlet' in which to write, and self-publish on select topics of interest.  I also really appreciate the convenience of sharing research ideas for a recent group project on wikispaces.  The flexibility of the content, easy access and updating capabilities make it extremely useful for project collaborations.  Above all, it is paperless.  And so these tools allow us as users to shed the commercial boundaries of pre-defined focus, content, organizational procedures and rules, permissions, and the like.  It's empowering for the individual to determine the type and extent of their content, the tools and applications used in creating an interesting and fulfilling production, that is personally motivated.  The access to information and the opportunities to interact with other users on the same topic & interests enhances the freedom factor.  The tone and target audience of the work is also completely up to the individual.  On the flip side, the user who is reading/viewing the online content takes on the consumer role.  The fact that the online, self publishing is free (for the most part), enables the user to express creative freedom in their practice.  There are no (obvious) boundaries, as their are limitless amounts of tools and applications available to both 'consumers and producers'. 

the promise of facebook

(SOCS300)

"Facebook helps you connect and share with the people in your life" (facebook.com homepage)

It is amazing to see the rapid growth of such a site, the tools it offers, the ability to reconnect with friends worldwide.  Shirky's model of promise, tool and bargain is well demonstrated with facebook.  It's truly become a popular platform for sharing and keeping up in a number of social circles, friends, family and colleagues within the workplace and study.  The promise it makes to connect with others is profoundly effective.  Ultimately it's success lies in the fact that it is super user-friendly, is used world wide, is regulated and controllable in terms of privacy settings, and appeals to all ages.  Constant references are made to this site, within the news and daily conversations.  The content of a user profile is individually chosen/postd, and evolves over time with experience.  It is a live experience that is constantly changing.  This is where facebook as a tool is also strong.  Connections are made, email messages are exchanged and a communication platform is enabled, not only person to person, but also to the wider audience, as far reaching as the internet when setting content to public access.  Sharing of photos, news, links, contact information (even with real time capabilities through mobile devices) creates a social media platform that realizes capabilities otherwise divided through a variety of tools.  Each profile, group, fan page, event that is posted establishes a centralized place to communicate and connect.  Through its applications development and targeted advertising opportunities, the bargaining factor is quite simple.. "it's free and anyone can join". 

it's a wiki world out there

(SOCS300)


In my first experience of online collaboration, we formed groups for a project in a social studies class, through points of common interest.  Our topic focuses on web trends, and in looking at potential developments and directions that will evolve on the internet.  In this sense, we see the internet at a web 2.0 stage, with definitions arising into web 3.0.  What our group is looking to explore is the potential for applications, user experience and interest, and potential in general of the web beyond current uses.  We created a wiki for arts4point0 to collect ideas and narrow in on our topic and key areas of focus for content and research. 


This was very useful for the beginnings of our project and in information sharing.  We also created a delicious account, for bookmarking related info and sites online.


Now it has developed into an arts4point0 blog hosted by Emily Carr University.  Check it out!  We'd love to hear your thoughts and learn about your experience with the web, its applications, and nifty trends out there.

Bridging Broadcast + Communications Media

(SOCS300)

"user generated content" 

..a mass of personal content, casual vocabulary, unedited, uninhibited.. it is truly like an open dialect, totally informal, and somewhat a standard way of sharing and storytelling, especially with younger generations.  Privacy is not of the same concern as with gen-X-er's.  Shirky's describes this type of "user-generated content (as) a group phenomenom" (83) accurately, because it is typically written directly for a smaller social group.  However, it also reaches a much wider audience, a larger group dynamic.  We see this with videos posted on youtube that can go "viral" and can catch on very quickly within similar groups interested in the same content.  Users are easily connected in this dynamic through tags and social groups established on a common interest.  It can also be seen in the re-definition of a "friend" within this virtual platform, where followers are added as friends in networks such as MySpace and Facebook.

There is also an important distinction to be made between "broadcast media" and "communications media", where the first is intended for a broader audience via television, radio newspapers etc, and the latter written for a much more narrow audience, more on a social level in a "one-to-one" pattern of conversation.  Shirky also describes these as media tools as "one-to-many" and "one-to-one"  (86).  And so a lot of the content we find in blogs is intended for a smaller audience, yet when there is consistency in quality writing, cross linking, and a connection of common interests, this can quickly growing a subscription of a blog and it's popularity. 

Interestingly, the gap between broadcast and communications media is merging, or at least we can say that there is a profound gray area that exists.  I came across an online magazine publication recently, that is well positioned in this gray area.  It shows a very specific narrow interest in content, although based in Toronto, articles on travel highlight experience or tales of select destinations. While it's photography and writing quality is strong and effective:   dead sexy magazine

They have also established tv broadcasting through their youtube channel deadsexytv .   Youtube enables anyone virtually, to establish their own tv channel.  Podcasts allow for the same in the capacity of radio broadcasting. 

ubroadcast.com is another platform where users can broadcast their own radio and television content. This site offering uncensored content (as internet broadcasting is not FCC regulated.. yet)

"Everybody is a media outlet"

(SOCS300)

I've been reading Clay Shirky's book:  Here Comes Everybody, in learning more about the internet, social media and it's capacities.  Shirky has some amazing, enlightening ideas about the internet, the communities it builds, as well as the work and content it creates.  It varies and is in a state of constant change.  It is an environment where "everybody is a media outlet." (Shirky, 55).  He asserts: 

"Our social tools remove older obstacles to public expression, and thus remove the bottlenecks that characterized mass media.  The result is the mass amateurization of efforts previously reserved for media professionals." (Shirky, 55)

I think that these "radical changes in the overall ecosystem of information (Shirky, 56), really speaks to the power of technology, and that with time its changes become exponentially faster.  In moving from print media, to radio, t.v., video and evolving into various forms of self publishing on the internet.  Keeping up with constant changes in technology and the market share of its various products is key to challenge and to stay competitive.  In the past, the mass media was able to build up hype or criticisms of products as a way of competing, whereas now it is the general public who collaborate, and share their "collective intelligence" to make decisions and share opinions, information and ideas and what works and what doesn't.  Effectively web 2.0 has empowered us, the general public and self-forming communities, with the individual voice.  At least to those who are willing to listen, and more importantly, to those with a shared interest.

As our media choices continue to develop and diversify, we look more into the content and purpose for using the media - whether it's reading the newspaper, watching the news, or following specialized topics and interests in blogs.  

Copyrights is an issue that's often debated, even overlooked (by its impracticality).  The issue with copyrighting is that the content is much more open and available for users to borrow, view and utilize.  Also there isn't much basis for a claim, if an author "borrows" an image in a personal, end-use or educational context - relevant claims only arise when the image or content copied is used for profit.  It's importance lies mainly in protecting claim to original ideas, and used as a legal tool for maintaining fair competition (as suggested by Cory Doctorow's article).  The other issue with copyright is that applying intellectual property rights takes time.. time to process the request, to have it approved, and for a claim to be made if valid.  Ultimately is seems most effective at the corporate, multinational level, especially with commercial patents.  Looking at the issue on a deeper level, technology moves so much faster than regulation.  While learning applications and tools we can all take advantage of and use, the experience can often be short lived, as we move on quickly to advanced or alternative versions.  And so, how long will such content effectively exist, or potentially cause harm, and to what extent?

Within the realm of creative works/projects, the key lies in being selective of the work you choose to 'expose' or share online, especially with the timing of making your work public.  For example, it would be most advantageous to share work once it is fully developed, rather than sharing ideas throughout the process.  Certainly it is a matter of choice.

On the other hand, in terms of mass amateurization, a whole new world has opened up enabling individual users to be more creative, and in essence practice freedom of speech.  The web allows us to self-publish photos, information, blogs, articles and other forms of content on an wide platform that reaches the globe.  The author's quality, network, content and subscribers of this content, would seemingly impact the success of it.. does the work reach a wide audience, is it followed by many users, is it readable, popular, how long will it last and so forth.  Within this capacity of mass amateurization, what measures success and how important is it?  I say it's up to the individual.