"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.

Question :: should an industrial designer focus on increasing the consumption of products?

The primary focus of the industrial designer (ID) ideally considers the purpose, (re)use, material + structural form, and more recently an emotional element within product designs. These are fundamental elements of design, which help to establish a product's value and marketability. The question posed here suggests mass consumerism and disposable products with a short life cycle. I think that what an ID would consider today is designing a more durable product, with a minimal consumable component. And so, of equal importance is considering an environmental responsibility, and using a 'well-informed' process. By the latter, I mean to say that historical and statistical data can be used to make informed decisions in design that reinforce the product's life cycle and usability. Both locally and globally. Thus enhancing quality.

That said, I would like to share a rare example of how an ID responsibly focused on increasing consumption. Magnhild Disington's Project :: Furry Object combines the material of fur with a portable electronic device. Although a controversial topic, the fur Dissington uses is otherwise discarded by manufacturers. Additionally, she believes that the material adds an element of value and emotional appeal to the product, making it more of a keepsake, and for some a wearable accessory. An object which also adds historical reference to the "rabbit fur" keychain, made popular back in the 1980's. Thus she has preserved a precious material, otherwise wasted, and extended the life cycle of the electronic device.

bookmarks

Here are a few bookmarks I've added to My Delicious account, related to web 2.0 topics of our social science course. 

Google Fast Flip
As described by Google :: (experimental) web application that lets users discover and share news articles. It combines qualities of print and the Web, with the ability to "flip" through pages online as quickly as flipping through a magazine. It also enables users to follow friends and topics, discover new content and create their own custom magazines around searches.


What is Web 3.0?  Web 3.0 Concepts Explained
A clear overview + slideshow presentations to explain Web1.0, Web2.0 and Web3.0

Ideas + Initiatives within a Web 2.0 world
Razorfish helps companies build great brands by creating engaging digital experiences for consumers.
Read their Reports + Papers on the digital media environment, user experience, marketing + experience design and more.

RSS screen capture :: SOCS300

Shirky :: Sharing Anchors Community

Web 2.0 :: SOCS300

Shirky's wisdom is well informed and thought through.  He illustrates the dynamics that exist between people in social media groups, effectively through his example of the "birthday paradox", where "instead of counting people, you need to count the links between people" (26).

There is a push and pull effect between readers and writers, their constant edits, responses, changes and updates.  Not necessarily comprehensive, but rather founded on potential.  The value, as with content, likely differs for each participant :: effecting a spontaneous experience for each individual.

So what is the purpose of it all?  Why do we share and create such varied collaborations?


How do we simplify it, to understand the overall value?  Where and what is the value?  Does each user perceive value differently?  Is the value within the tool that allows us an outlet to share, think, give and take?  Is value created by the human element?  Collaborative efforts, mass behaviour and collective intelligence evolving into various mashups.  


My questions still focus on the matter of quality :: is it becoming purely subjective? Is it still relevant in such media platforms? Is it about strength in branding, drawing attention and luring an audience?  Is it created through viral marketing?  Is it contagious? ..hypnotic? Is there a cure? Or does it incubate for weeks, surface with a full blown fever, then fade just as quickly?


Or is this merely the heartbeat of the net, with participants breathing life into its various elements.?  

Wikipedia contributors share their insight on the topic of "collective intelligence" ::  
In the words of Henry Jenkins "collective intelligence is not merely a quantitative contribution of information from all cultures, it is also qualitative."


George Por, described as a "CI pioneer", is quoted to define this phenomenon as "The capacity of human communities to evolve towards higher order complexity and harmony, through such innovation mechanisms as differentiation and integration, competition and collaboration".  

In watching Shirky's lecture on Institutions versus Collaboration , I agree that the cooperative framework he refers to in social media, certainly removes the need for institutional structure, however there is still the power law graph, which illustrates the 80/20 factor.  In this case, 80 percent of the content is contributed by 20 percent of the group.  Looking at the model of flickr, and photos tagged, the majority of the photos were shared by the same user.. perhaps this leadership not only shows amounts contributed, but simultaneously indicates interest level.

So here I am, getting acquainted with the web 2.0, learning how to get better organized with it.  The days fly by as I surf, search, browse, post, share, read and write.. I sometimes get caught in a maze of pathways, where I click and am constantly referred by hyperlinks to other pages on the web.


The resources are endless, and I click away in an incessant effort to filter quality over quantity.

From an artist's perspective, the existing value today is in: 

* sharing ideas :: source inspiration, develop creative projects, discuss ideas + opinions; 

* communication :: voice, video, email;

* organize :: events, calendars, groups;

* sales :: online promotions, auctions, sales transactions, shipping, delivery;

* exposure :: conveying ideas, visual thinking, displaying portfolios, blogs, tweets;

* research :: concepts, images, videos, podcasts, publications, regulations, trends, calls, jobs, projects etc.; 

* study :: learning from articles, online tutorials; 

* stay current :: tracking news, art sales, collections, exhibitions.. 

These are all things which we can take back to our own drawing board :: develop creative projects, improve elements within an art practice, source specific pieces + collections, 

To take it a step further, the next level includes:

* revealing our process ::  expression of visual thinking, concept development, virtual sketches;

* social media marketing :: strategic branding, effective avatar, viral advertising;
* analyzing future trends :: a digital media blog outlines 2010 Youth Trends report  

* scholarship incentives :: a unique myartspace.com offer inviting participants to join a group, get involved, build hype :: a website established in 2006 as a social networking site for artists and collectors.
* incorporate/strengthen personalized quality of contributions

Secret London is a good example of a collaboration project, to develop a website :: inviting participants to share specific info, useful to all.  Sharing the hidden 'treasures' (hot spots) in London, by Londoners.

The 365 Project is an interesting creative project phenomenon, which is makes extremely effective use of social media tools, including weblogs and Flickr.  

* MakeShift blog is an art and research project by Natalie Purschwitz, clothing designer and owner of Hunt & Gather, who for one year will only wear clothes she has made herself.

* Flickr breeds hundreds of such projects, which is popularly shared under the Project 365 group .

In contemplating the internet, and its developments in web 2.0, it will be interesting to see where the internet takes us next.

Web Trends

Web 2.0 :: SOCS300


What is the future of the web?

Looking back to its early beginnings in the mid-1960s, and in observing a variety of web-based tools and applications today, can we predict what will fade or survive versus what will evolve?

The internet has been highly under regulated, however is this changing? Will intellectual property become more relevant on the web, and international stage? Will internet censorship + restrictions expand beyond North Korea, China and Iran? Will cost/prices rise or fall?

Who decides?

Can anyone define where we are headed next? It is a growing bubble which expands and closes in different areas at different times, within its space that is the universe. Is it destined to be in a state of constant change?

What is in store for the future..

Tool? Trend? Business? Community? Culture? Connection? Robotics? Virtual Reality? Rise and fall?

What is your relationship to the internet?

Web 2.0 :: SOCS300


In the early years of the internet boom, around the turn of the century, I admit some doubt and frustrations.

There was a crash of internet company stocks, aka the dot-com companies, at the time the event was dubbed "dot-bomb". It was a lot to take in.. there were huge financial losses, in addition to a suddenly overwhelming amount of information at our fingertips, and the birth of spam e-mails.  It seriously felt out of control for a while.  The icing on the cake came with the issue of the "Y2K bug".. software programmers did not look beyond the 20th century when configuring dates, according to public reports.

The world overcame it. Programmers and tech support staff evolved into a strong industry, upon which businesses relied on heavily.. and I believe still do to this day.

But how much should we rely on the information found on the internet? How accurate is it? What is the source? Who is the originator? How do we authenticate content? This issue still causes me concern, and keeps me skeptical. No doubt there are things which we can generally rely on, such as a satellite image of a map (even though it's not a "live" image). But when it comes to research and resources, such a wikipedia, it is merely a starting point for me :: I dig deeper :: I tend to begin with the internet, because it is fast, quickly accessed and prompts thinking and direction. I interview people, from diverse backgrounds, ranks and fields. I sift through books, magazines, newspapers, national statistics and so on. Then there are always industry associations, focus groups and social/interest groups.

Today I use it daily to communicate. I keep in touch with friends overseas via video calls. Stay in the loop with email notifications. Organize plans with a group.. and more. Music, movies, videos are readily available, 24/7. And an unexpected but powerful benefit to the internet is its elaborate capacity for visual language + communication. Research of images, identifying faces, YouTube hits, finding certain charts and diagrams etc. I absolutely enjoy this aspect of the internet, and look forward to experimenting more with web 2.0 tools.

*to approach it with an open mind is key*

Copenhagen Fashionista on Wheels

Copenhagen Fashionista on Wheels
Originally uploaded by [Zakka / Mikael]

In the photographer's words:

" This shot sums up everything that is casual and chic and effortless about Copenhagen bike culture. Style over speed. Elegance over exertion.

I just love this pic, and what it represents :: so simple . practical . fashionable. This is how they do it.

Jan Gehl, an urban quality consultant and founder of "Gehl Architects", has set this movement in motion and made it his mission to "Copenhagenize" other cities around the world. His work has transformed such cities as Melbourne, Sydney, Amsterdam, Stockholm, London and NYC to name a few. It is worldwide, spanning cities within Europe, North America, Australia, Japan, Singapore and Saudi Arabia.

I had the pleasure of meeting Jan Gehl last summer, at the Design Exchange (formerly the TSE building) www.dx.org . . where he presented samples of his work and shared his methodology. This NYC publication describes it well: http://www.pps.org/info/placemakingtools/placemakers/jgehl

Design Culture (1)

My interest in the area of design has really grown over the last decade or so. It was initially inspired by friends and family who are involved in design, mostly in furniture and interior design. Also a few friends who are studying abroad, in industrial and textile design. The more I learn about it, the more I can see how it impacts our lives daily, and have experienced this over the years coming from Denmark, a country which has always had an interest and focus in the design industry.

My background involves a career in logistics and international trade, especially as a customs specialist. This has provided me with a lot of insight into a wide variety of products which are imported and exported from various countries. The customs perspective of product descriptions forces you to review and define the material composition of products, their origin and their value. It really helps in understanding the "who, what, when, where" + the "why and how" of a product's use and existence.

I was pleased to see a reference to Frog Design, in the Intro PDF, which appears to be a strong and diverse company with international presence. I read an article recently, which provided a copy of a chapter from a book by the founder of Frog Design, an interesting read. The strategy of Apple with their product design, has shown consistency over the years, and its interesting to read about Frog Design's involvement, and their approach of "strategic creativity + sustainable success". Business priorities are typically perceived to be about profits and relationships, however I really admire the approach of Frog Design's founder Hartmut Esslinger, his style and thoughtful processes. Here's a link, which gives a preview into his book entitled "a fine line". This chapter focuses on design-driven business strategy: very forward-thinking and pro-environment.

http://www.afinelinebook.com/media/A%20Fine%20Line%20-%20Chapter%201.pdf

He writes:

"Strategies based on creativity, insight, and cultural awareness are more environmentally responsible and sustainable than the age-old approach of winning through maximizing your use of resources, money, and people."

Also interesting to note that Esslinger founded frog design in his native Germany (note: [F]ederal [R]epublic [o]f [G]ermany), around the guiding principle “form follows emotion".