Difference between semantic web and web 3.0?

I think that the semantic web and web 3.0 are quite similar. They are both about improving the internet for the users, and both conclude of using 'database' like systems to do so.

I think that for the Web 3.0 to happen, it would have to conclude of the semantic web.

However, the semantic web is just an extension of the current web, where as web 3.0 is meant to be a complete new type/style of web all together!

I'd say the overall difference is that the web 3.0 plans to improve lots of things to do with the internet, such as speed, graphics etc, where as the semantic web seems to be focusing on just improving the generation of data.

What is the semantic web?

This ones a hard one to grasp!

Semantic web was thought up by Tim Berners-Lee, who was also the inventor of the WWW, URLs, HTTP, and HTML (http://infomesh.net/2001/swintro/)

Semantic web explains things in the way that computer applications can understand, more so than in ways people can understand. It allows the computer to find what the consumer wants instead of using a traditional ‘search engine’.

So basically it uses language that a computer understands, for example Y, X, Z which is used by programmes to search, and pick out information that they think is most relevant to the person using the internet. It means they would be able to provide the user with all the information they need, instead of the user having to trawl through loads of useless URL's.

As I said, it was hard to grasp what the semantic web was, so if I have it wrong, do tell me.

How might Wenger's notions on CofP relate to Prensky's on education?

Wegners model of Cofp may relate to Prensky’s on education in terms of that it is learning something in a way that is enjoyable for those who are learning it.

In Cofp you are learning something that you want to learn, in a way you enjoy.
You could link this with Prensky’s theory on education as he wants digital immigrants to start teaching digital natives through technology because he thinks that they spend a lot of time using technology so they will learn better through it, potentially because they enjoy using it.

I think you could also link both theories’ together in the way that they potentially could run the liability that they would only suit certain individuals.

A certain Cofp might suit me, but it might not suit you!

I think this would be the same if Prensky got his way by making all schools go “technologically mad” (my own quote!), as not all students would learn better through technology than they would through the ‘old’ traditional methods.
You could also link the two together because in both theories you will always be learning off each other, within Prensky’s the tutors will have to learn from the children how to do things on computers, whilst the children learn from the tutors what it is they have to look for on the computer! And in Cofps you are always learning from each other also.

Part 2 - What difference to all this might the digital divide make?

The digital divide would make a big difference within Prensky’s theory as it might mean that some students have access to computers outside of school so can do much more work than those who do not etc.

With the way that it is now – using a basic pen and paper, means that everyone can go home and do the same, or however much they want too at least. This is because if they don’t have a pen and paper, they can take it from school, but if things did change - they wouldn’t be able to take a computer!

This might not just effect school work, it might effect the child in other ways too, they might be embarrassed by the fact that they can’t go home and do work and that their family does not have the economic status to invest in a computer. There’s also the problem that they might not even be able to work computers, which would be a big problem for them.

Also what would happen if the network the computers work on fails? Do they just not do work all day when they’re in school? I think computers should be available, but for independent studies more so than all studies.

Is there a potential problem being stored up for people if 'education' is tailored to fit into their cultural and personal preferences?

I think that there is a potential problem being stored up for people if education is tailored to fit into their cultural and personal preferences, as I think that people will become too accustomed to everything being suitable for themselves, and will resultantly stop pushing themselves to work harder.

If you spend all your time out of school on computers playing games, and you go into school and do the same because your education has been tailored to suit you, I don’t think you would learn? I think that people would end up getting bored of the technology because it was involved in every aspect of their life, it would also make them harder to distinguish their entertainment/education time, inevitably mixing it all up so that the education side lacks behind?

I’m a strong believer that entertainment should be kept separate from educational aspects of life; you don’t go to a lecture and get to watch TV at the same time do you? But why? Because according to Prensky, as some of us watch TV out of University whilst doing work – this is how we now learn! So Universities should involve TV programmes within our lecture? (Obviously Prensky has not said this, but God knows what’s going to be suggested in the next few years!)

I think that people would become lazy if everything was suited to their needs. I also think it would cause mayhem in institutions if everyone was learning different things in different ways! Undoubtedly resulting in a lack of support from the ‘traditional’ tutors?

The youngest digital immigrant I know.

The youngest digital immigrant I know would be my cousin, she is 11. She never uses computers, or any form of technology other than the TV set! I dont think this effects her just yet though as she is so young. Surely Prensky cant expcect children of that age to be always 'in' with the latest technology?

Another digital immigrant I know whom I think should be more technology inclined is my Sister, at 23 she rarely goes on the computer. The newest bit of technology she has got was about a year ago, an Ipod, which she hasnt touched because she doesnt know how to work it! However, she does invovle herself with the mobile phone phenomnen and texts quite a lot, so I suppose she is not a complete digital immigrant!

A person who threatens the notion of digital native/immigrant and The oldest digital native I know!

The person I know who would threaten the notion of digital native/immigrant is my Dad.

He is supposedly meant to be a digital immigrant according to Prensky, however I can safely say that he knows a lot more about computers, and technology in general than I do, and Prensky would consider me a digital native who knows more than my Dad just because of my age!

I've only had 20 years of experience in regards to computers, technology, etc, where as my Dad has had many more! He always has the newest gadgets, Wii's, newest x box, etc. He builds computers, buys everything online, and spends a lot of time on the computer in general or playing computer games etc. If there is anything I need to know about the internet, it is him I turn too, most definately not the other way round!

I'd also say that my Dad fits the role of the oldest digital native I know too, for the reasons I've already stated!

Describe the daily frustrations of a fictional neo-luddite at university now in the UK

Jack is starting his first day at University today. He's still tired from his flight over from Spain where he lives. He turned up 7 hours early for a delayed flight because he didnt check the delay times through the computer/TV.

Jack doesnt really know where he is meant to be going today, as he isnt that good at English yet. He has a translator all sorted to help him with this! However, it means he wont know where he is going till he turns up because the letters he has recieved are in English and he refuses to input them into computer.

When Jack's translator turns up and directs him to his first seminar, they are all sat around computers and are activating their University accounts. Jack's never touched a computer before and automatically becomes panicked and emmbarassed when he doesnt know how to switch it on. Great he thinks, these people are never going to befriend me now!

Once everyone's got over their initial shock that Jack doesnt do technology, people start to swap mobile numbers etc so they can all arrange a night out through the week. Jack doesnt have a mobile number, or any other way to find out about the night out other than meeting up with someone so they can tell him direct the plans, no-one offers to do this and he doesnt want to be rude and ask.

Feeling left out he goes home and then makes a 20 minute trek to the nearest phone box to ring his parents to make himself feel better, mid-conversation the phone goes dead and he hasnt got anymore money on him to put in the slot.

Week 9 - Should education stretch a person?

I think that education should stretch a person, but only in terms of ‘stretching’ them to learn more academic things, i.e. information, not stretch them to learn how to use computers all the time etc. I think that if people prefer to learn using pen and paper instead of computers, then that is their choice.

I do think that students should be taught (at a younger age to ourselves) an hour or so of I.T. lessons a week, like most schools do, so that you do have the ability to use computers when you wish too, but I don’t think you should be pushed into using technology to learn as it might not be what works for you.

I think that you need to stretch yourself so that you can learn various amounts of information for different topics, and you should undoubtedly be stretched because if you just learn without being pushed further and further, you’re never going to get very far. You should be stretched to learn the basic’s of everything which can help you seek more knowledge, but if you want to learn anymore, people can teach themselves or seek further guidance.

You should always push yourself and be stretched to learn more and more. You should be stretched to reach a certain standard of learning, but the rest is usually left for you to do yourself, and I think that sometimes this can be when you learn the most - i.e. frantic revision for exams etc!

Article References

Not all are articles, but they're the best nearlly academic sources I could find on the topic.

Article 2: Lievrouw, A. & Livingstone. S. (2002) The handbook of new media. Google book search. http://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Ed9peCDCakcC&oi=fnd&pg=PA77&dq=convergence+of+media+and+young+people&ots=PQPIJlm-fZ&sig=gjXsWYl9EA6VLZLBFhFj1j5XLsQ#PPA78,M1 [26/03/08]

Article 3: Ito, M. (2003) "Mobiles and the appropriation of place". Reciever#08 mobile enviornment. http://academic.evergreen.edu/curricular/evs/readings/itoShort.pdf [28/03/08]

Article 4: Bhuiyan, S. (2006) “Impact of new media technology on society”. Asia Media, Media News Daily. http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=52164 [29/03/08]

Article 5: Prensky, M. (2004) “The emerging online life of the digital native: what they do differently because of technology and how they do it”. Marc Prensky. http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky-The_Emerging_Online_Life_of_the_Digital_Native-03.pdf [28/03/08]

Abstract for Article 2

I looked at the pages from 77-79 within this book.

The pages look at the positive and negative aspects of computers and the internet for children in terms of education as well as entertainment. It states that the internet has postivie aspects as it allows ‘escapism’ for children and allows them to create their own culture and communities. It includes scholar’s quotes saying that children can now finally escape the social boundaries of adults through the internet! It also looks at the negative aspects, i.e. school massacres in America which people believed where influenced by violent computer games.

It states towards the end of the pages I looked at that, the computer has become seen as a sort of ‘bad’ thing, just like TV has been! (I.e. created many a moral panics!) and that because it has become seen as a bad thing which people blame for things, i.e. American school shootings, it means that children can be restricted and blocked by people who fear the worst.

The pages I looked at give a brief, but accurate view on the positive/negative aspects of computers and the internet. It demonstrates just what is available for children which was not for older generations.

Abstract for article 3

I think that this article demonstrates how the younger generation has adapted to converged media more so than perhaps the usual generalized older generation. “The older generation is often baffled by the sight of teens gathered at a fast-food
restaurant, gazing at their mobile phones rather than their friends.”
However it also demonstrates why it is a success that the older generations do not understand, “Teens use mobile phones to bring in the presence of other friends who were not able to make it to the physical gathering, or of accessing information that is relevant to that particular time and place. The boundaries of a particular physical gathering, or flesh meet, are becoming extended through the use of mobile technologies, before, during, and after the actual encounter.”

The article talks about how people arrange meetings through phones, and have aftermath conversations such as “thanks for the lift” etc, through phones (not necessarily phone calls or text messages, it talks about e-mails from mobiles too – definitely a sample of converged media!)

Abstract for Article 4

The article explains firstly what is meant by converged media, “The idea of digital convergence specifically referees to the movement of telecommunications, print, broadcast and computing into new domains for the purpose of creating products that tie together all of these elements to bring about new forms of communication and information storage”.

The article talks about how the consumers call the shots in the new world of converged media, i.e. we decide what music we listen to on our ipods by producing play lists etc, “No longer a captive, mass media audience; today's media consumer is unique, demanding, and engaged.” It talks about how blogs have already converged into the likes of Vlogs, etc.

This quote from the article demonstrates the involvement of young people within converged media, “The Pew Internet & American Life Project found that 57% of American teenagers create content for the internet -- from text to pictures, music and video. In this new-media culture, people no longer passively consume media”. This demonstrates how media has converged as before they would just consume the website, now they can have input within it and become a produser.

Abstract for Article 5

This article deals with the notion of young people’s facility with the new world of converged media as it talks about and demonstrates all of the ‘new’ ways that young people use it. “On the Internet you can play games, you can check your mail, you can talk to your friends, you can buy things, and you can look up things that you really like.” This quote demonstrates just how much young people have become accustomed to the new types of converged media.

It gives examples of ways that young people have transformed previous methods of how you do things, into new forms to make things easier. i.e. instead of standard face to face conversation we now send text messages with abbreviations.

The article discusses the likes of blogging being a phenomenon, “where once kids kept their feelings locked up in a book, today they (or at least many of them) prefer to post them online for all to see and share” and the fact that now camera phone photo’s are what young people use to transfer photos between them, “Cell phone cameras are now the primary means of sharing images among young people in many places, either sending the pictures, or even often, passing the cell phone around, as I often see school girls doing on the subway. Photo albums appear to be a thing of the past.”

This article gave many more examples, and is a very interesting read. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to see clearly (it’s an easy read) just how much new technology has helped converge media forms.

The 5 Websites on Digital Immigration

The 5 websites I looked at which I posted about in week 8 where:

1.http://blogs.computerworld.com/digital_natives_digital_immigrants_what_about_digital_pilgrims

2. http://www.ascd.org/authors/ed_lead/el200512_prensky.html

3.http://www.henryjenkins.org/2007/12/reconsidering_digital_immigran.html

4. http://digitalnativesct.blogspot.com/

5.http://connectivism.ca/blog/2007/10/digital_natives_and_immigrants.html

What is digital immigration?

Digital Immigration is a term that was defined by Marc Prensky. Marc Prensky defined two terms, Digital Immigration and Digital Natives. These terms oppose each other.
To be a Digital Native, Marc Prensky would define you as a student whom has been “surrounded by digital media to such an extent that their very brain structures may be different from those of previous generations” (http://www.wisc.edu/depd/html/TSarticles/Digital%20Natives.htm.)

When he says “those of previous generations”, he is referring to digital immigrants.
Digital Natives are used to receiving information really fast, when they need to know something, the first place they look is on the internet. However, Digital Immigrants are different from Digital Natives as the last place they would look to find out information is online.

The two terms basically is explaining the difference between two types of generations, one of which whereby people have been born into a technology mad world and have been bought up with technology at their fingertips, to those of the digital immigrants who still use the older methods.

Prensky’s main argument with the whole digital native/digital immigration is that teachers can no longer educate their students to their best ability as the students do not learn in the way that the teachers are teaching them, i.e. older methods rather than computer games! “According to Prensky, Digital Immigrants are attempting to teach the Digital Natives with methods that are no longer valid”. (http://www.wisc.edu/depd/html/TSarticles/Digital%20Natives.htm.)

Prensky believed that students should be taught through computer games, even for serious topics that they where being taught. He had strong opinions to the fact that teachers where not using these new methods to teach their students, “just dumb (and lazy) of educators—not to mention ineffective—to presume that (despite their traditions) the Digital Immigrant way is the only way to teach, and that the Digital Natives' "language" is not as capable as their own of encompassing any and every idea”. (http://www.wisc.edu/depd/html/TSarticles/Digital%20Natives.htm)

Article 2, DISAGREEMENT

The article states that young people learn through using computers, because it “somehow releases their natural creativity and desire to learn, which are blocked and frustrated by old-fashioned methods”.

I disagree with this, as I know younger children (i.e. my cousins) who still don’t use computers to learn, so surely it only applies to children when they reach a certain age, i.e. junior school? Also – I don’t know about anyone else’s town/city, but where I live, you only do your work on computers when your in sixth form, or if your in lower years – when you’re in an I.T. lesson – so you learn everything else by “old-fashioned methods” – which apparently don’t work? (p.77)

Article 3, DISAGREEMENT (or not more to the point!)

I didn’t really disagree with this article, as I found everything quite relevant to my own lifestyle. If I am making an arrangement to meet someone etc, then it’s always done through my phone instead of the old traditional methods, i.e. planning times, place etc weeks before! I agree with everything the article says as I often text last minute to find out the plans – because I can, and because I am aware and use to the converged media that is available for me to use.

Article 4, DISAGREEMENT

The article was quite descriptive of the converged media’s out there now, so there was not really a great deal to disagree with!

The only things I could disagree with is that it seemed to generalise people a lot, say for example that for people who didnt like the concept of converged media, it was because it would effect business's? But surely that is not the case for everyone who doesnt like the concept of converged media.

It also made a comment about how enabling consumers to become apart of the production, i.e. produsers, is the best thing ever sort of thing - but thats not how everyones going to feel? People who dont care about technology/media are not going to be interested or think its particularly great that they can contribute or spend all day online etc - they're going to think the most "powerful force of our time" is something else!

Article 5, DISAGREEMENT

I disagree with the quote I have used in the abstract RE photo albums being a thing of the past. I think that although young people have become more used to newer forms of photos, i.e. sending them through mobiles etc, photo albums will always be around! Although I have many a photo in many different ‘new technology’ places, I still like to get them printed off for safe keep if they mean a lot too me, and I think this is the case for younger people too, even baby’s as their parents might put together photo albums of their life for them.
I think that although media is changing for people, the old traditions will always remain, just like these traditions we are creating now will remain too, I think everything will develop on top of each other, but some people might prefer the ‘old’ way, even if they did not live in that time, etc.

Week 8, 5 Websites dealing with Digital Immigration, WEBSITE NO 1

This webpage has a very short article on it regarding digital immigration. I found it interesting and decided to use it because it is critical of the term digital immigration! The author explains how there is the people who created internet in the first place etc, and how it’s impossible to call them a digital immigrant in comparison to someone who is younger just because they use Facebook and the like!

I thought this website was good because it summarized a counter argument in a paragraph or two, and was really easy to read, anyone could understand it! I thought it was also good because it had a picture of the author, whom is not a ‘teenager’ or young, so therefore probably classed as a digital immigrant, and she is online making a webpage etc – clearly going against the digital immigrant age range, actually the majority of the websites I have looked at are all by people of older age who would be classed as a digital immigrant by X.

Week 8, 5 Websites dealing with Digital Immigration, WEBSITE NO 2

This webpage article is by the person who defined the term digital immigration and its counterpart. It was produced in 2005! The article is good for seeing what X meant by his definitions and what actions he wanted to be undertook, it also explains ways this can happen.

It starts with commenting on how teachers are still teaching students in the way they always have, without recognizing the need for change. He explains how digital immigrants will always keep their ‘accent’ because it is how they where bought into the world, so they will do things such as checking manuals before doing something, where as digital immigrants counterparts do not do this.

They make conclusions such as “Students could learn algebra far more quickly and effectively if instruction were available in game format.” This overall demonstrates the whole article, as the article is arguing for the understanding that institutions need to change to fit in with digital immigrations counterpart. “More and more of our students lack the true prerequisites for learning—engagement and motivation—at least in terms of what we offer them in our schools. Our kids do know what engagement is: Outside school, they are fully engaged by their 21st century digital lives.”

I suppose it is left to the reader to decide wether they think the definitions in place are true to life or not, Should people think that just because technology is so popular know that it is the only way people learn? I don't think I'd like learning everything through computer games etc, although I like technology - I dont use computer games etc.

Week 8, 5 Websites dealing with Digital Immigation, WEBSITE NO 3

This website page was posted on December 5th 2007, so is relatively up-to-date.

The author starts with commenting on how when the term of digital immigration and its counterpart came out in 2001, he seen it as “a powerful new way of thinking about generational differences about media literacy education”.

He outlines the definitions that where originally outlined for the term digital immigration by X. His article covers the concept which is something that came to my mind, that by referring to all young people as digital immigrant’s counterpart, it does not take into account the fact that not all young people have access to technology or are experienced with it.

The website article has been produced by a professional, whom also writes books. There is a few references, but not that many. There is room for people to leave their comments on his article and develop debates/opinions with others.

Week 8, 5 Websites on Digital Immigration, WEBSITE NO 4

I found this website quite interesting! So thought I’d use it as an example so that when URL’s go up, we can all see examples of why the term digital native was invented! Although it doesn’t explain that, it gives lots of posts (it’s a blog) which demonstrate and link to other areas, which illustrate education through new ways. (Way’s you wouldn’t of even thought of! The likes of Facebook for example!)

However, The content it concludes of (the stuff I looked at anyway) doesn’t seem to be very ‘educational’ – more so ‘socially’ educational perhaps. The writer is unsure as to whether educational institutions will be able to run on the methods they are currently for much longer (i.e. without teaching via technology.) “The question that remains for me is whether education can evolve on its own...or whether it will be transformed and revolutionized by outside forces”.

The website I am talking about here is a blog, it’s posts that I looked at varied from Janruary 2008 to June 23rd 2007. I am not sure who the actual produser is, however I found it quite interesting in terms of demonstrating how we learn through technology. Hopefully you will too!

Week 8, 5 Websites dealing with Digital Immigration, WEBSITE NO 5

This page within the website was posted in October 2007, so it is relatively up to date. The page argues with the concept of digital Immigration and its counterpart. The writer of the article thinks that the term digital immigration is a mere buzz word which has not succeeded in the reason why it was introduced.

The writer agrees with the main arguments of digital immigration that students now think “differently” to how they used too and that teaching institutions need to change. However he does not agree with the reasons for this as set out by X when he defined his definition of Digital Immigration and its counterpart. He instead believes that teaching institutions need to change because of their “increasing complexity of society and globalization”. He believed that students needed to learn how to function in the “world that is unfolding”. So his argument was that people need to know how to be technologically advanced for the future world, but they didn’t need too be taught via technology – “education plays a role in society that goes beyond reacting to emerging trends”.

To be critical towards the writer’s argument, I’d have to say that surely by accepting that students need to be educated so that they are prepared for the world that is unfolding, shows just how much the world has changed, i.e. it is now a lot more technologically dependant than before? However, I guess this doesn’t necessarily mean that technology is the only way students can learn. Or that they need to learn through technology just because of all the technology that is now available. “The school system is in need of overhaul, the overhaul is needed because society has changed, not because learners have iPods.”

Which leads me to think about ‘websites’ that are criticizing the terms of digital immigration and its counterpart when they are using the internet to ‘educate’ us on their opposing argument to digital immigration. Particularly when digital immigrations counterpart usually always check the internet first for information – so really this article is ‘educating’ them on something online, not by other methods… which surely demonstrates the whole concept that generations have changed and there is a divide in terms of how they learn through technology compared to how they used too learn a while back? So surely when the writer says that institutions don’t need to fit in with emerging trends – he, himself is fitting in with the ‘trend’ as he calls it, by educating people of his own opinions online.

This website is difficuilt to read in areas, I had to go over it a few times, but has some interesting points within it. It has a few references, which I think are good ones! It comes from a website which I think is potentially quite academic. It also allows room for people to leave comments.

Zambia & New media cultures unit

The University of Zambia carries out internal and external tutoring for degree's. A lot of the lecturers of the University found the distance learning (external) very time consuming compared to the internal tutoring. This was because "It requires that more assignments be set to make up for the lack of regular contact with students and this creates a very heavy marking load".

I found that this went quite well with our own new media cultures unit, alot of people think the unit is very time consuming, and although I agree it is more time consuming than others, we have to remember that it is only so time consuming because the tutors need to see that we are learning what we are meant to be, therfor set work for us. I think that the communication and persuasion unit is potentially nearlly as time consuming, as you have to do a lot of reading/notes on it each week, however because it isnt online - and isnt something that we are not used too, do you think that is why we havent picked up on that being more time consuming than a unit has been before?

I think that what Clark et al stated is quite true "that enjoyment of distance teaching/learning was related to effort and reflected the reward structure". I think that if you are doing well with the distance learning, i.e. you are doing what is expected of you each week etc, then you will actually enjoy it. I think that doing little bits each week is much better than doing TWO assignments at the end each worth 100%!

Week 7, China - TV University!

http://www1.worldbank.org/disted/Technology/broadcast/tv-02.html

Well I'd never of thought that such a thing as Television University's would exsist! I had NEVER heard of this before! Learning you're degree through a TV programme? Sounds absolutely crazy, but at the same time I can see it working! It's just like Deakin with their video streaming of lectures isnt it really! I guess it's just like attending lectures, but in the comfort of your own home!

A radio programme that teaches you you're degree! Could you imagine it!

When it said how "the enrolment rate in China's higher education was less than 2 per cent" sort of show's why they did do it this way, I mean where people not attending because University's where so far and few between?

I was absolutely amazed that "The enrolment of these radio and television universities over the last eight years has totalled 1,291,833, and 590,941 students have graduated." - Probably so shocked because I never knew such University's exsisted!

The fact there is all these different stages that you could attend at, made me think that maybe, depending on what level you did, depended on how 'good' your degree was. I did think before I got to this part of the text, that I wondered if they where to come here, that their degree would be considered the same as all of ours?

Although I suppose technically they're doing as much work etc, but how do they get the access to all the academic books they'd need etc? Or because they cant gain access too it, does it mean their work doesnt have to be as academic? Or do they still go through an actual University, but they just do everything through TV/Radio - like Deakin University, they still attended an actual Uni, but just did some stuff online.

I did wonder aswell, why they invented such a thing? I mean, there is university's in China - so why didnt they just expect their students to come too them, why did they create this way for them to learn? You'd think that by the lack of people attending the Uni's as mentioned above, they'd just leave it?

I think that this way of doing it, is good, as they do still offer the face to face teaching too. So I suppose it is just like going to University, you know that if you need contact with a tutor face to face then you can have it, so technically they are just viewing the same lectures that they would if they attended a University.

Week 7, Deakin University

http://www.deakin.edu.au/online-offcampus/#skipTo

I found it really interesting that Deakin University did 'virtual streaming' of lectures! I think that's really good, but then I do think - if they did that here, would anyone ever go to the lecture in person? I'm not sure they would! So although the face to face option is still available, is it used that much?

I think that I'd probably have been shocked by the fact students 'had' to do at least one online unit, but since this unit, I don't think it would shock me. I'd have probably thought, how do they learn online! I bet it's difficuilt, but I know that it isnt that much different from doing it all face to face - however, I say that - but we still get the lectures, its just seminars we dont, so I suppose thinking of it like that, if you took the lectures away, then I'd probaly find this unit a lot harder, so do think it might be hard for them too.

Week 6, Task 4. New Media Cultures unit as a Cofp!

I would say that you could relate the theory of a CofP to the new media culture unit that we are currently doing. At first I debated relating it to a CofP as I thought a CofP is when you dont have to report back to someone, but with this unit I think that perhaps we are reporting back to someone? As the tutors do want to know we are doing the work etc? (Reporting back by posting blogs so they know we are doing it I mean)

HOWEVER, I then thought actually, we did decide to come to University, therfor we decided to come to learn more about something - which is something that is important for a CofP and also we arent really 'reporting' back to the tutors, they are more so helping us to expand our learning by checking our blogs, and also, the tutors arent really coming across as having a really higher up status than us, they're just more playing the role of contributors to our learning. So baring that in mind,

I would say our joint enterprise is to learn about new media. Our goal's are all the same, to reach a certain standard via blogging each week, by sharing 'learning' thoughts on each others blogs and help expand each others learning.

I think that the experts are obviously firstly the tutors, but I dont think it is just them. I think there is the people who have done all the readings reccomended and all the tasks would be considered as an expert against those who havent done any readings and havent hardly done any blogging.

I guess newcomers could perhaps be classed as those students who havent posted anything than are suddenly starting to 'splurge' as Dave put it in todays lecture! They wouldnt really know our way of communicating through the blogs etc, so might not know what language to use (an example being they might come on and post a really big-worded blog, where as most of us now have established that the enjoyment of the blogging is the fact that it isnt really big worded, also they might post really lengthy posts - which again, we have learnt is best not to do!)

Week 6, Task 3 - Cofp online!

When asked to think about 'community's' online, I thought of just the general forum. But then I remembered reading how I should be talking about a community that has a joint enterprise, i.e. an overall goal in mind, so I did a little researching, and have found a website galled 'Learn Gospel music' at http://www.learngospelmusic.com/

At this website, members are able to be apart of community of practice as they are learning and helping others to learn about how to produce gospel music! Although there might be a heirachal structure, it will not be as strong as what you would find in an organisational unit. There might be people who perhaps know more about how to play gospel music so can therfore reccommend more advice to other people, but in return these people might be able to offer a lot of advice back about something else which is still relevant, so inevitbly they are all learning off each other.

People who use this website can go on and learn what they want, help others learn what they can, then they can go offline, they dont have to do it all then go and tell someone else - like a boss. (Like they would have too in an organisational structure)

If you go through to the forums on the website, their is forums options such as 'organ room' where you can 'learn' how to play riffs, runs and chords on the Hammond B3 organ. I think this alone could demonstrate that this particular website could constitute as a CofP as it demonstrates that people are learning through this website, without they're really being someone to report too etc.

The website could be applied to Wegners model in that its joint enterprise is to learn how to play gospel music, it's function is that people go on this website to help others and learn themselves - without willing participants to do this, the website 'might' only be able to teach people the basics. And finally it definately follows the shared repertoire as they all use the same forum to switch and swap ideas, and they all use the same vocabularly to do with the music - which we might not understand as we are not apart of the CofP, they will also have a certain style to writing the music notes online too so fellow CofP members can understand it.

Week 6, Task 2, Organisational Units/CofP

My taking on what Wegner means by an organisational unit, is something like perhaps (again use of my own example) a company, whereby you have heirachy structure, like I use to work in a finance department and there would be the supervisor who told me what to do, and I'd do it - I didnt do it or involve myself with the organisation because I wanted too! It was purely because it was my job and I had too.

I think that an organisational unit is more where heirachies can be specifically applied, where as in CofP they might be harder to apply because although there might be someone higher up telling somebody what to do, they wont be doing it in the same way as what they would be if it was an organisational unit, as at the end of the day, everyone is there out of choice not because they have to be. They are there to enjoy the learning process and all learn off each other, where as perhaps in an organisational unit they are not neccessairly their to learn anything they want to learn about etc, and also a boss might not take likely to 'learning' from someone who is in a lower job than themself!

Week 6, Task 1, My CofP

The CofP which I have belonged to in the past, which I am going to talk about within this post, is a Theatre class which involved Dancing, Singing and Acting.

I think that the theatre class which I attended fits in with Wenger's model of Cofp as, "communities of practice develop around things that matter to people" (http://www.ewenger.com/pub/pub_systems_thinker_wrd.doc p.2) and I believe that everyone who was apart of this theatre class, was people who where interested in the subjects that the class raised i.e. acting, singing and dancing, and not just apart of it because they had to be - as it took place on a Saturday morning so was not like part of school or anything!

The whole concept of the theatre class (which was referred to as several different things, such as, theatre school, drama class etc - just incase your wondering why I keep calling it different things!) was to learn how to act, sing and dance. Inevitbley we ended up learning from each other, particularly with the dancing if people couldnt get the moves etc.

Unlike organisational units, there is not really a boss as such, instead there was three tutors who I guess more supervised, and helped direct us in the right direction with our learning whilst also helping it improve, they also learnt from us too though - we all learnt from each other. There was not any other clear heirachal structure other than the main tutors, however obviously some participants where better at things than others so we all sort of helped each other where others lacked behind.

The learning was also expanded when some of us voluntarily took part in extra classes so that we could each do an official acting exam, we helped each other in these extra classes learn about the texts that we had chosen to recite for our exam.

Going back to general jist of this all beign part of a Cofp, I think this quote is very apparant to my experience at the drama class, "A community of practice is different from a team in that the shared learning and interest of its members are what keep it together". (p.4) This is relevant as if nobody turned up and nobody was interested in learning how to act, sing or dance, then the community would no longer exsist as it wouldnt be able to without participants who wanted to share the learning experience.

We had her own techniques for things, as we had our own excercise routines we did before dance, and our own set of vocal chord practice before a singing session etc. This demonstrates the groups shared repertoire of communial resources. Obviously someone who hadnt been before would not be able to pick these up straight away, so it was something that was developed the more time they spent becoming part of the CofP.

Website Analysis! #1

General Overview of Website

The website that I have chosen to analyse is http://www.handbag.com/. From the title of the website – ‘Handbag’, you would probably straight away guess that this website is directed at women, as the word Handbag is associated with women more so than men.

For those of you who have never come across this website, Handbag is a website which offers the audience content evolved around the topics of Fashion, Beauty, Sex & General Life, Celebrity Gossip and Entertainment.

The content within the website, I think fits a stereotypical role of ‘women’ and what they are interested in. Although a majority of women are interested in putting on make up, looking good, and hearing the latest celebrity gossip, this is not what all women are interested in.

So although the website is trying to appeal to a large democratic scale of women – it is causing a digital divide by the fact that it only really appeals to women, and only to those who are interested in the topics the website covers.

It also causes further digital divide, as I would personally say that it has an appeal to a certain age range due to the ‘Sex’ aspect of the site. I think that this website would appeal to 17+ year olds, but not any younger than this.

Website Analysis! #3

Hypertext on the homepage

The homepage features loads of pictures which feature hypertext on them. The user is able to interact with the website and move through the website using these, and using plain simple hypertext links too.

Content available is things such as ‘update reviews from the catwalk’, http://www.handbag.com/fashion/Paris-Fashion-Week-Designer-autumn-winter-08/special, articles on issues such as ‘living together VS marriage’ - http://www.handbag.com/love-&-sex/Relationships-cohabiting-versus-marriage/v1, and fashion news about ‘Kate donating her clothes’! http://www.handbag.com/fashion/fashion-news-and-gossip-28-february-2008/v1

The homepage also includes a section under the title ‘Daily Gossip’ – which is about Michael Jackson possibly loosing his home! http://www.handbag.com/celebrity-gossip/Jacko-may-lose-Neverland/v1 The ‘daily’ gossip again illustrates how the website is constantly updated. All of the content emphasises what the whole website is about, they are all fashion, celebrity etc related, whilst also covering aspects of life which are stereotypically important to women – such as relationships and the issues that come with them!

Website Analysis! #2

General overview of the Homepage Design

The homepage is very busy looking! But not overly as the website has used the whole concept of what we where taught in our website making unit last year. How you should have the scroll bar reach a certain stage on your homepage, so your showing the top half of the website, but it cuts off the bottom (so it only shows a marginal section of it, not half of it, or most of it, just a little bit). This makes the website not appear to ‘confusing’ and ‘in your face’ and it also makes it appear more professional I think.

The homepage is (today) plain orange, I think it's good that they keep the background plain as too much pictures etc can be a bit in your face and confusing for the user! Although I think it would work better being pink as this is a much more girly colour! However, handbag constantly changes the colour of the website - Yesterday the homepage was purple, not only this, but when the colour changes, so does all of the content on the homepage! This demonstrates how quickly and efficiently the homepage is always being updated. I think this is great because it shows the user how the website is constantly being updated with more things for them to interact with.

The website always keep the same layout (same size boxes etc), it just changes the content within. I think this is good because it means that when someone comes to the webpage they will recognise that it is the correct website, and know where everything is. I have found from my own experience, that when WebPages change design, it becomes very hard to find sections which you usually visit, resulting in you just moving to another website.


There is also a negative aspect to them never really changing the web design, as although they change the colour, this might not be enough to let users know that the content has changed. I’ve never really took much notice of the homepage until it came to this website analysis, and I never noticed before how often it is actually updated, because all though it changes colour, it never seemed to change shape so I never really thought ‘There’s loads of new content here’.

Website Analysis! #4

There is also ‘tabs’ of hypertext links above all the picture hypertext link section. When you put your cursor over these ‘tabs’, a pop section appears over the homepage which tells you what you can expect to find in the hyperlink area. I think this is great because it helps users decide what interactive route to take that they will enjoy. All of these hypertext links present information and pathways to further information which is not available from the homepage.

Hypertext also allows users to select what they wish to view from all of the options available, allowing them to narrow things down to their true interests, in which each user will create their own unique experience. The non-linear form that handbags structure takes encourages the users to move from one page to another without having to go through them in a particular sequence.

The homepage features hyperlinks for adverts in the form of ‘world vision’. http://www.handbag.com/specials/73763/special However, instead of the hyperlink directing you to a completely different website like usual adverts do online, it takes you to another page on Handbag, where it briefly explains a few things before giving you the choice of going onto the world vision website. I think this is a good way to have adverts as I guess the website would possibly loose users via adverts whom go on the advert, realise its not very interesting, but forget to come back to the website sort of thing!

Articles users can view on Handbag

One of the articles on the homepage is ‘our favourite red carpet moments’. http://www.handbag.com/beauty/red-carpet-celebrity-beauty-keira-knightley/gallery This article is posted by the people who work for the website, however it allows users of the website to become interactive with the text as it gives them the opportunity to respond to the article and give their feedback in some way, letting them play the role of ‘produser’.

Website Analysis! #5

The users have the option of ‘logging in’ (using the username in which they use when they are participating in the discussion boards which are a huge part of this website, I will talk about this aspect of the site shortly) If they log in, they can post their comments using their username, or alternatively they can post a comment anonymously without logging in.

I think that by using the anonymous option, if this was available everywhere on the website, it would be hard to build a sense of virtual community and it would also be equally as hard to trust those who where having an input – as sometimes you get people posting abusive, random, silly comments – because they can, they don’t have to deal with the consequences because no-body knows who they are or even a made up identity they have got, people purely just know them as ‘somebody’ and that’s it.

Back to the article, it’s very small in forms of how much text there is. The fact the article is so small, I feel demonstrates that the articles are not the main appeal of the website; I know this is the case as I have used this website before. The forums are the main section of the website.

Next to this article are more picture hyperlinks, which are related to the topic of the article! You can go from this page onto more pages about beauty at special events, such as Oscar’s hair and beauty 2008, http://www.handbag.com/beauty/oscars-red-carpet-beauty-hairstyle-Marion-Cotillard/gallery. I think this helps keep the users on an extractive interactive path of something that they are interested in - after all they must have been semi-interested in the topic to have clicked on the first hyperlink? It also shows that the website has lots to offer the user.

Website Analysis! #6

Forums on Handbag!

So finally moving onto the forums. The forum allows the users to become produsers and access user-generated content, whereby all of the content is produced by the users! Forums demonstrate how “the public sphere as face to face talk is clearly over”. (Lister, P.178) I

think that the forum is the section which has the biggest appeal of this website. These forums can be accessed from any page that you are on within the handbag website. As by the top by the handbag logo, in small writing, is a hyperlink for ‘forums’. One click of a button and you’re here - http://www.handbag.com/forums/ looking at the large choice of forums in which you can explore! There are lots of options of forums to interact with, which will appeal to a wide demographic audience! Some of the forum options consist of – entertainment, which is then broken down into even more options so that you can make a more select choice - http://www.handbag.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=10, diet and fitness – again broken down (they all are pretty much!) - http://www.handbag.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=135, relationships which offers users advice and guidance on their love life issues - http://www.handbag.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=26 , and many, many more!

The forum options seem to differ from what you would expect of the website from the homepage, it seems to expand from just being focused upon ‘beauty’ and the important things in life such as relationships, to being about family, green issues, and even having forums where people can offer advice/seek advice on technology issues. Basically, the forums offer the audience everything they could need? I mean there’s even a forum on motoring! http://www.handbag.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=47 .

Website Analysis! #7

John Perry Barlow suggests, although you are given the impression websites are diverse, i.e. – lot’s of options of forums for everyone to interact in! They are not actually that diverse as you as a user can select what topic you go into and ultimately who you engage with (i.e. you pick to engage with people who share that interest etc.) These forums allow you to seek a sense of Individualism; you are able to seek others who are like yourself.

In order to post to the forum you also need to have registered. You can ‘lurk’ without being a member, but contribution is aimed towards registered members. By handbag using a registration scheme, it means that users have to input personal details to the website. This potentially could be used for their marketing database.

However, the positives of having to do this means that when you are speaking to someone on the forum you know their ‘identity’ (whether it be real or not!) rather than having to speak to an ‘anonymous’ user and never knowing if you speak to the same person more than once etc.

When you register you get to select a ‘usernames’. These usernames are often not based around the person’s real name. Usernames such as ‘bibbitybob’ demonstrate this I think! Somebody once had a username that was something like ‘Kitten_Kat’ and she got called Kat even though her name was something completely different.

By choosing a nickname it means that people can present themselves how they wish as they are not tied down by their RL identity which they have had to inform the website about, they can play around with their identity if they wish too, obviously people can do this to an extent IRL, but not to the extent that they can online. In posts such as this http://www.handbag.com/forums/showthread.php?t=456354&highlight=meet they could really post anything! And people would probably believe that they are actually learning about this user’s true identity.

Website Analysis! #8

Turkle believes that the internet allows users to become authors, not only of the text they are producing but also of themselves. They are able to construct new selves through the social interaction that they part-take in online.

I think that the forum aspect of handbag is great because it allows people to forget about things which would divide them from others in society. They can go online and speak to any of the members they want, where as In society you cannot go up to a random person you do not really know and start speaking to them about something without being branded as ‘weird!’.

I also think its great in terms of what Wilbur refers to ‘the emancipatory discourse of cyberspace’ – the sense that being online can be a liberation from the offline world and the roles and identities it requires of us. I think this can be seen in the handbag forums, where people can talk about the insecurities in their lives - http://www.handbag.com/forums/showthread.php?t=464888 , where as in Society they might be seen as weak etc to share these insecurities with people. “We can tak risks or express aspects of our self that we find impossible to live out in day-to-day meatspace”. (Lister, p. 167)

One of the successes of the handbag forum is that it allows social baggage to be forgotten, people aren’t judged anymore on their class, race, gender or nationality, as people might not even know any of these details about each other on this forum. For example on handbag, students mix with the likes of lawyers!

Website Analysis! #9

Not only this, but forums also offer the concept of ‘gift economy’ referred to by Kollock. Handbags forums, in some cases, such as Fashion, Relationships etc, offer the attitude of “Get help for free!” Users can ask for advice from other users, whom in response will do just that, offer help and it is free. An example of this may be found at - http://www.handbag.com/forums/showthread.php?t=464938

One problem that can be found on forums however, is the problem of interpretation – how things are taken online. Someone on the forum might write something thinking it sounds nice, but someone else might take it as abusive etc. “This emphasises the idea that the meaning of any given text is not securely encoded for all of the audience to decode in the same way”.(Lister, p.22)

Virtual communities on Handbag

I think a sense of virtual community has most definitely been built up in certain forums available via handbag. I think this because they are constantly interacting with each other, with advice and information which will help each other. They are like how a group of friends would communicate on the likes of facebook, it’s as if nothing is between them (like the distance, computer screen etc that actually is between them!) I also have come to the conclusion that handbag features a virtual community as I feel that it fulfills the key points that Blanchard used to define a virtual community.

‘Virtual’ “is frequently cited as a feature of post-modern cultures in which it is argued so many aspects of everyday experience are technologically simulated” (Lister, p.34). I think this is apparent within handbag as users are able to take place in conversations which they could also have IRL; therefore these conversations are just becoming technologically simulated.

Website Analysis! #10

I think that it’s great that handbag can enforce “new kinds of association and communities which are not dependant upon spatial location and can transcend geographical, social and political boundaries & divisions”. (Lister, p.36) There are people who are ‘friends’ from all over the world on handbag and of all different status’s. All of which have come together to create a 'community'.

Here are some of the reasons why I think handbag has a community. I think this because there is a selection of ‘regular’ posters who are well recognised by other members, so much so that when they aren’t online for a while etc, people start to wonder where they are - http://www.handbag.com/forums/showthread.php?t=463537&highlight=meet .

In some cases people might try to communicate with them in other forms to see how they are. “Interactions formed in ‘virtual’ communities have ‘real world’ consequences. (Lister, p.170) I think that a forum post which illustrates just how much this virtual community has real world consequences can be demonstrated on this post - http://www.handbag.com/forums/showthread.php?t=464200&highlight=meet as you wouldn’t normally go online and give out your telephone number would you? Unless you felt VERY safe with those around you!

Shaun Wilbur notes “An increasing number of people are finding their lives touched by collectivities which have nothing to do with physical proximity”. This is shown by the fact that when handbag users cannot get access to handbag etc, they text other members and ask them to post messages etc on their behalf to say how they are doing (as mentioned before) – not only does this demonstrate Shaun Wilbur’s point, but I also think it demonstrates the ‘sense’ of community that has been constructed.

I also think its worth pointing out how users love to share their ‘good’ news with fellow members, again emphasising the community aspect I feel - http://www.handbag.com/forums/showthread.php?t=454716&highlight=meet .

Website Analysis! #11

They also do ‘show us your face’ threads http://www.handbag.com/forums/showthread.php?t=459222&highlight=meet whereby users post pictures of themselves! I think this itself would represent your identity if you did choose to post, and I think that by knowing everyone’s identity you would feel like no-one was not who they said they where and you’d trust them more etc, however the users could be posting pictures of anyone? But on this community people don’t seem to question the pictures – why would you – unless it was an obvious ‘model’ photo or something!

Lister states (p.35) that one meaning of virtual reality/space/community is where the users feel themselves to be. I think if you asked any of the handbag users if they felt comfortable, welcome, and ‘to be’ within the forum community, they would probably say yes!

Handbag goes against Howard Rheingold on his theory of virtual community. “Are relationships and communities as we know them even possible in a place where Identities are fluid? We reduce and encode our identities as words on a screen”. From my experience of this website, the members do ‘meets’ every now and then where some of the members all meet up and spend the day together. This means that their identity is not just words on a screen anymore. Members who have met them can then speak to them on Handbag and know who they are from real life as well as online. These meets are usually arranged by more well known users, as ones who are not very well known are perhaps not trusted yet? This post demonstrates how newer users can’t really arrange these meets, as no-one responds - http://www.handbag.com/forums/showthread.php?t=455517&highlight=meet. Perhaps demonstrates also the whole issue of how you have to be a regular contributor to be apart of the virtual community?

Website Analysis! #12

When meets do take place though, It gives other users the impression that no-ones really lying about their identity (of those who have been to the meets) as someone would have said something if somebody turned up to a meet when they where not who they had made themselves out to be on the website.

The users are weary of the dangerous aspects of meeting up, and tend to keep the ‘place/time etc’ under wraps through personal messages so that ‘lurkers’ whom consist of an identity which may not be approved of cannot get hold of this information, but they do welcome ‘new’ members to join their meets (just not arrange them!) – As they are considered part of the community if they post regularly/offer advice etc.

Although I referred to ‘lurkers’ above, there seems to be two kinds of these on handbag. One is acceptable, and one is possibly not. The one that is acceptable is somebody who does post every now and then, but sometimes comes on and doesn’t contribute – but when they do eventually contribute, they are still apart of the community.

Then there is the lurkers who do not ever contribute, these are not as accepted within the community, however – the actual lurker themselves may feel like apart of the community because they are still interacting with all the on-goings of the forum, they are just not helping to produce it. The whole concept of Lurkers still being involved in the community, is backed up by here -(http://blog.lib.umn.edu/blogosphere/blogs_as_virtual.html)

Website Analysis! #13

Unfortunately handbag is victim to what Peter Kollock would call ‘junks and jerks!’ – Lot’s of users are flamed within handbag on the odd occasion (by people who have ‘never’ been seen before – or have they, but under another identity?).

Most of the users whom are flamed are the more community based users, i.e. those who are recognized by al members and are regular posters and are welcomed by all members. I think you can see the effects of this flaming rather well on this post http://www.handbag.com/forums/showthread.php?t=455879&highlight=meet.

The forum is also victim to ‘spam’ where people who make up accounts come on and post about websites the users should go and visit because they’re good for this etc, but they’re pretending to be a fellow member rather than a marketing person.

Freedom available on the Handbag Forum

Poster believes that the internet allows you to act freely, simply because of its basic forms, regardless of what you can actually do on it. The freedom to be able to post/view what you want makes the user feel like they have a sense of freedom, but really what they are viewing is controlled by other users and what they wish to post, alternatively it is controlled by the website and what they wish to post articles on, and finally it is controlled by the websites rules and regulations of what users can say and do.

Website Analysis! #14

How does Handbag fit in with today's culture?

I think that handbag fits in well with today’s culture. Today’s culture has become use to the interactive aspect of the online world, so handbag fits in well with this. It also reacts well to the need for constant updating and breaking ‘gossip’ needing to be known!

I also think it is good in terms of fitting in with the culture of being able to be involved within a virtual community as well as a real life community, whilst offering users a generally friendly environment to be involved within.

I also feel that the website fits in well with ‘women’s culture’ of today and the ‘new women’. Before, it was not acceptable within culture that women should want to know sex tips etc - http://www.handbag.com/love-&-sex/Sex--Love-Relationship-Sex-Tips/special , but now it is accepted and this is apparent within the handbag website under the sex section.

The website has moulded to fulfil the culture of today. I think this is definitely what appeals to users, why would they want to go on a website which did not fulfil the needs RE needing information on things which are involved in their culture today? I think that the website focuses on main issues which are apparent to women at 17+ and really focuses well on what most of their interests would evolve around.

What makes it a 'Virtual Community' ?

Whilst doing the reading for week 4 - http://blog.lib.umn.edu/blogosphere/blogs_as_virtual.html

It got me thinking about what exactly makes a website a 'virtual community?' - As in what do we think makes it this?

I think that forums can become virtual community's but I have to admit when I think of the term virtual community, this is the only form of virtual community I think of! Perhaps this is just because it is the only one I have experienced myself?

I think that virtual community's can be created with some forums, but not all, also, I think they are created by people becoming use to each other on there, so say for example when X hasnt posted for a few days, people start to wonder where they are. I also think virtual community means when people offer support, guidance etc in many ways (even if it's guiding them towards whats going to happen in Eastenders tomorrow! etc). I also think that (like the Lister book states!) that online community's are built when in some cases relationships are not just online anymore, they become offline too. Like the members of forums speak not just on this virtual community they met on, but also in other places, like MSN, or on the phone, perhaps even meeting up etc.

I found it interesting how the concept of 'Lurkers' was approched within this text (Not the lister text, the text that was linked at the beginning of the post!), I'd never really thought of 'lurkers' feeling like part of the community, but now I can see it. I often go on forums and dont post, but I still feel like I am part of the community in ways - but like the text said, I dont feel as much of a part of the community as regular contributors.

Whats everyone elses thoughts on this? What do you think makes a virtual community? Do you think their is a place for lurkers within this space?

Grooming on the internet discussion

I think that most people hear about people grooming children on the internet through other Media outlets, such as the news etc. If a child goes missing, then you pretty much always then hear on the news how they are checking the child's computer - I personally assume this to mean that they are checking who she has been speaking to online incase she has been groomed by a peadophile. However they could also be looking for anyone she has spoken to online/sites they have been on that will help them find the child.

I think that it's more known for peadophiles to find children online than it is IRL, but there is no proof to say this is true? Well if there is, I havent come across it myself.

I think the internet gives them easy access to children who may be vunerable, but this doesnt mean that they dont also use other methods - because surely by using the internet they are clearlly leaving a trail behind them of what they are doing?

Although it's known to be 'common' that peadophiles groom children on the internet - how often is it actually on the news that this has happened? Not that often really. Is that because they just speak to children and dont lure them into meeting up, or is it because it is not actually as common as one would think it is?

Your thoughts?

Week 5, Task 1 - Blogs

From doing some research online I found that the blog apparantly developed from the website http://www.opendiary.com/ where people kept a diary of their lives for others to view. The sucess of this website expanded the online diary to the likes of blogging, which where made again on peoples lives, or where made on specific topics that where of interest to other people with the same interests.

A person called Justin Hall is apparantly known as one of the youngest bloggers, he began blogging in 1994 for 11 years! 1994 is not that long ago really, it just shows how quickly a phenomnen such as blogging can esculate!

Now there's loads of websites where you can blog, http://www.livejournal.com/, here! and many more.

I think that blogging is good for any form of expression personally, I think that the author is able to go on there and express whatever they wish too! However, I did find it interesting when researching about the consequences of blogging, the fears of 'confidential' information being leeked etc, people can get in trouble for what they write online just as much as they could for writing it IRL. Doesnt this demonstrate the two lifes - real and online intertwining?

I also researched somewhere about how now even politicians are using blogging to get to a larger audience, I personally havent seen any blogs like this - but found it quite interesting. Politicians etc arent the only people who try to reach larger audiences, celebrities such as Jodie Marsh also have blogs online and share their whole life with their fans/audience!

There's also people who have become almost 'famous' because of their blog! The other week on 'This Morning' there was a lady who was on there talking about her blog. She was telling the audience how she couldnt really find herself a partner because they all knew what she did - blogging, and that in a weeks time all their inner details would be broadcasted to the rest of the world! What do we think too this? I personally think perhaps some people use it as a way to become an 'author' when they cant have the sucess of being an actual book writing author? I also think perhaps they prefer being an author online because it allows them to post all of this life detail, and not all of it has to be interesting etc, where as with books - I'd imagine it all has to be approved that its entertaining/relevant before it reaches shelves? Also perhaps they like the fact they can be really truthful in blogs - but they might have to tone it down for a book?

Week 4, Task 2 -Music Sharing Online

When I was younger, I remember always going out and buying CD's/Singles from my pocket money on a weekly basis! Now I can barley remember the last time I bought a CD/Single CD. I think that quite a lot of people would be able to relate too this? Now filesharing is available, it is a lot cheaper/easier to just type in what song you want and hit download. Why would you pay the money for it when you can get it for free?

If I cant find the song to download, then I might use Myspace to search for the song under their music section and listen too it their. I think Myspace is great for their music page because when I go on other peoples profiles - (pretty much everyone has a song!) I hear songs that I've not heard before which I then hear and like myself - Great for the artist if I was actually going to buy the CD instead of downloading it!

Lilly Allen made herself on Myspace, and a lot of artists now are doing the same - I think this demonstrates intself the cultural shift caused by the sucess of networking sites which involve music. Loads of people are on networking sites, they where not before, it's like the whole Goebell on Radio - Why was it not being used to persuade aswell as entertain before? If it was a huge part of peoples lifes, this soon changed and it was used for both. Why would industries not use something which is a massive part in society to advertise their band? Obviously because of the whole money thing, but forgetting that - Networking sites provides them with a larger audience to advertise too I think.

Bands can make it through networking sites by sending people messages etc and asking them to listen to their stuff, etc, I dont actually know how else they make it from networking sites - other than people just generally coming across their music. I do personally find it annoying though when bands add me on Myspace, as I'm not really interested in listening to their Music - But thats me, what about everyone else?

I'm not sure what's going to happen in the future in regards to it - changing popular music and whether we will still need media companies if we can produce and distribute the content ourselves, but I already do not need media companies (I do still use them for films though, even though I could download these online - doesnt this say something about the fact that perhaps people in society will always need media companies, even if it is in a smaller way than it was years ago?)

Week 4, Task 1 - Social networking sites!

The chosen social networking site I'm going to be talking about within this post is Facebook, which can be found at http://www.facebook.com

I personally use facebook, and I am also a member on another networking site called Myspace (www.myspace.com). I find that Facebook is good for letting me speak to my friends at University. I think that this website mostly attracts those who are at University so they can be part of that network, I also think it attracts an older audience from this. Back home none of my friends are on facebook? They all still use Myspace! This is why I am under the impression it mainly attracts University students - Which is odd. I suppose it is because Facebook has become apart of student society almsot! If you're on a night out and someone takes a photo - you know it will be on Facebook! Where as back home, you don't see the photo again. This is my personal experience of it all anyway.


I've never really considered witholding identity on Facebook until now. I've always thought it would be quite hard to do, as I only add people who I know IRL and would never accept someone that I did not know - But thats me, Maybe other people don't do this and do accept people they dont know? People who can then go on to pretend to be something they are not?

I think Facebook is great for allowing you to upload all of your photos, personally I like this aspect because it allows me somewhere to store all my photos without blocking up storage on my computer!

I do worry that people might become too addicted to these types of websites and that they might perhaps start to take over other aspects of communication, if my friends at home where on Facebook I'd probably just speak to them on there instead of texting etc.

I also think it can be quite bad in terms of that everyone knows what your doing and who your speaking too and what your speaking about! You have no control over this, on the likes of Myspace you can at least accept/decline comments before they are posted so that you know what everyones going to see, on Facebook you can log on and their can be photos/wall posts that tell all the people you know a lot that you didnt want them to know - sort of thing!

Week 3, Task 2 - Observing 'The Sun' Discussion boards!

When looking at forums to see how people come across online I looked at the newspaper 'The Sun' and their 'News' discussion board.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/discussions/forums/show/News-2.page

The first post I looked at was titled 'Dont give Heather Mills a penny!'

http://www.thesun.co.uk/discussions/posts/list/DON~39~T_GIVE_HEATHER_MILLS_A_PENNY-55376.page

The users expressed themselves in a very open way, they clearlly dont feel they need to hold back their feelings. (Obviously aslong as it is not worded in obscene language!) Most of the people share the same opinion, that Heather deserves no money from her to be divorced Husband, however - the people that do disagree are not afraid to say - although I did notice their way of putting across their opinion did not come across as strong and as passionate as those who went with the majority vote of saying she doesnt deserve a penny. For example - 'I'm not taking sides here'... it's like calming the audience before they disagree with them. Although am sure that the discussion board has seen people disagreeing with each other without the politeness of it all!

People generally speak in proper language, some sounding more intelligent than others by the way they have worded things as if they have experience at trying to put across their argument in the best form. There is a lack of short term text such as 'hwz u' etc and I think that this could be frowned upon if used as personally I'd think they where not very intelligent or mature if they used that type of language when no-oned else was, but if thats what they normally use online, then would that be considered as them witholding some of their values? I guess so! They'd have to transform themselves to use the language everyone else was just so they fitted in.

You dont really get much of an idea of what type of person they are, like I said you could probably guess who is intelligent from the way they have wrote/expressed their opinion, and you would probably think that someone who wrote something along the lines of "He should hire a hitman for her" are going to fill the stereotype of a thug... although they might actually be something of a high class and of high status!

I think they probably would discuss issues in the same way offline, but whilst they are online they are sharing their opinions on matters with people who also share opinions, so it is an interesting 'discussion' for them, if they spoke about it IRL then the people they talked too might not have an opinion on the matter and the conversation might not be very demanding, where as online there is other peoples opinions in which might question yours, or they can question other peoples opinions where as IRL they might feel like they should just nod and agree with everyones opinions. They might also choose a more 'intelligent' and appropriate language online, and not be as 'nice' about things IRL!

Peoples screennames on this particular discussion board are very random, such as 'mad as fish' etc - they give nothing away about the identity that is underneath them. This could be perhaps because they dont want to be flamed and victimized in a personal way by allowing other users to flame them using their name etc, where as if someone is just attacking 'mad as fish' then it might make them feel like it isnt actually them who is being attacked.

Week 3, Task 1, Question 4 - How I change my identity online

If I am participating in online social interaction then now I dont think I would need to shape my identity or expressions to fit into the group, I only interact now with friends - who know my identity and my expressions so would know if I was putting them on!

When I was younger though I'd go in chatrooms and pretend to be older than I was so I could fit in with the people I was speaking too. Also, now - If I did go on a forum it would probably be a shopping one where people post new tops etc that they have found and are considering buying, which I might reply to and say Yes I think you should - or - No dont do it, sort of thing! However, because I am replying they might think I have the authority to do so, so they might think I know everything about fashion - which I definately don't! So I might be unknowingly creating an identity that others will percieve me to be.

Week 3, Task 1, Question 3 - Risks involved with online self expression & discussion on online relationships

I think that their is risks involved with online self-expression, but it depends on what is thought of when self-expression is referred too. Personally I can be quite opinionated, and I do tend to express this quite a lot! I use to use a forum and if I disagreed with what somebody had said on a general life matter then I would say so - obviously in a nice way, but it would still occassionaly get flamed. Obviously I am not the only one prone to that, lots of online community users can be flamed if other members dont agree with their opinion on something. I think opinions is the base for self-expression, because you're self-expression is based upon your own values which I believe come from your opinion on X and X issues etc.

I have witnessed online relationships taking place, on the forum I used to use, people would appear to be really good friends with each other - even though they had never met! Such good friends that in some cases they even met up in big groups everynow and then with several of the forum members attending so they could all socialise! I personally dont think I would ever participate in such an event, but I can see why some poeple do, although I think in society it could be frowned upon, as people might think along the lines of do they not have any 'real life' friends? But I guess too them, these people are they're real life friends, as well as their other friends who they havent met through the internet.

I think the internet can be good RE helping relationships bond, I have friends who have got to know their now boyfriends better through the likes of MSN - general chit chat which develops. I think that quite a lot of people would be able to relate to that? Knowing someone who had done that I mean, possibly people a little younger than us now perhaps... (I still think I'm 17 at times!)

Internet is also good for prolonging relationships, I use facebook to get in touch with friends from Uni or send messages/photos to people from back home, people I've met on holidays etc, without this the contact would perhaps be a little less and our relationships would perhaps deteriate a little more than what it has.

I think that its great if people can build relationships, even if it is online - with people who have similar interests etc. It's also good that their is an alternative for people to meet someone they 'love' through online dating, as Dave stated in todays lecture - It is possible that now more people meet their partners through the internet than IRL!

Week 3, Task 1, Question 2 - Expressing yourself

I guess that the internet has a huge audience with people who use the internet to access all different types of communication available online where they can speak to people who are similar to themselves, whether this be RE interests or if they have the same disability, ethnicity, sexuality, etc.

It's good for them to know that there is people out there who shame the same values/experiences as themselves, specially if they live in a society which does not have people who share the same things in common with them within it.

For example if there was someone in society who had a fascination with flowers, they could go onto a forum and talk to other fellow flower lovers! They might not find someone who loves flowers as much as them within society, but online they might do as there is the option of them connecting with someone who is on the other side of the world - regardless of where they are, they still love flowers! They can talk to them about the latest flowers, the best way to keep them, and loads of other stuff. They can open up and really express just how much they love flowers with these people and not fear the threat of being frowned upon!

Obviously that was the most random example ever, but the internet plays a huge role in letting people express themselves differently - there's no way I'd of sat in a real seminar and gave an example about a flower lover! But online it is OK for me to use stupid examples as it's not as threatening and I can express the real weird way of explaining things me, without holding back.

Week 3, Task 1, Question 1 - Withholding Identity online

, TIn response to one of the questions from Task 1 - 'Is withholding one’s identity ethically wrong? Should we always use our full name?'.

I think that it is perfectly acceptable for someone to be a member of an online forum/community and not share their personal details such as their real full name. I would most definately say that this is not ethically wrong. I can understand why people might suggest that this is ethically wrong, but I would have to disagree with them. I think people might feel it is wrong because they will be under the impression that everyone should always know who they are talking too, but I think that everyone should also be able to protect themselves from being flamed, fraudery, etc.

I think that sometimes people join forums etc to live the life they want to live, or to forget about things that perhaps other people in society know them for, etc, they want to be themselves/or someone else, but they probably dont want someone else who is perhaps from next door who is online doing the same thing recognizing them.

Of course I understand that my argument could be argued with in reference to peadeophiles and the like, but they are creating a whole different identity! Obviously I do not agree with identitys that are produced in order to carry out crimes. I also dont agree with identitys that are created and result in hurting other people, i.e a married person pretending they are single and a fellow online person falls in love with them then finds out or something like that!

Personally on a forum I'd never give my real name or my full name as I wouldnt want to be recognised, or have people know my details. I also dont put in my home address to things if they ask for it unless I am buying things online!

Start of week 3 work!

All of the above will be work I have done in week 3!

Week 2, Task 2, My blog as a form of communication.

I think that my blog is useful in communicating my own opinions on things that I am learning for this unit. If I find anything that is interesting, or something that I think is hard to explain but I had made a way of understanding it in my own head, then I think it's a good way of keeping note of it all so that myself and others can benefit from it.

It's not really a direct communication provider though because although whoever is reading it is directly recieving my thoughts, I might have posted it days ago, same if they have something to say back to me through a comment that will help me - I might not see it till days later.

I think that blogging encourages us to communicate with other students on the course, as we are reading/commenting on peoples blogs who we probably dont speak to in real life, it would then be rude not to say hello or something if we then seen them in person if it was a regular occurance that we spoke to them via blogs.

My audience is fellow students and my tutor who is marking me! I tend to write non-short hand anyway so havent changed my writing form, I think that this suits blogs as for some people short 'text' language is really annoying/hard too read.

Hopefully the forums will pick up soon and we will be developing some seminar like discussions on there some time soon!

Week 2, Task 1 - My views on online blogging

What do I think of the difference between online seminars/real life seminars?

I think that doing it online provides a bit more work/thought on my own opinion than what I'd probably be doing if these seminars where done how they usually are. I also think that in seminars I can be quite quiet and not always have an opinion, and then later think of my own thoughts on what was raised and wished I'd voice them, with online seminars I can reflect on my thoughts and do this! I also think that in real seminars the tutors spur on a lot of thoughts/conversations, but in this istance it is the students spurring each other on or their own thoughts. It's letting us develop our own opinion on certain subjects, in which may be left at that, or may be questionned by fellow students.

I think that it's good being online as well because YOU decide when YOU want to do the work and how much - depending on how well you want to do, etc. So instead of HAVING to prepare stuff for say Monday morning, you can be in charge of your time schedule with this unit and decide when is suitable for you to do the work on a weekly basis. Whether this be two hours a day, or ten in one.

I think the language used in blogs, in normal cases is easy to understand, but some I have viewed on here have been very academic and big word-ed! Personally this puts me off reading it all because I'd rather read something that was easy to quickly scroll through and that I'd understand in a new way because hopefully they'd be putting forward their thoughts in their own way etc.

Week 2, Task 2 from Learning Journal - Hypertext

I never really thought of hypertext enabling us to shape our own experiences of the internet. Listers reading made me think about things that I had not before. Although I knew we overall decided what we read and what we didnt, I never really put much thought into the fact that by doing that I was creating my own 'unique' experience. Unique to the extent that it would be very odd if someone else was going through the exact same websites as me, in the same order, same time etc.

I think the internet would be hard to use without hypertext! It would be so hard to find anything, so it definately really shapes our experiences, it makes it a lot less stressful than what it would be if it didnt exsist.

Where the internet came from...

The concept of the internet came from the early sixties when researchers came up with the idea of linking microcomputers together across distances using telephones lines.

This is where the internet was developed from!

Thought that was quite interesting as had never really put much thought, nor heard much, about where the internet derived from.W

Going back, but Week 1's lecture notes

After reading the lecture notes for week 1 (A little late!) I found the concept of the whole living in just 'orality' quite interesting. I think we take for granted how we can store and retrieve information for years and years, and think little of the time when only orality exsisted. I found the notes interesting in terms of imagining a little society that depended only on learning how to live their lifes from what other people in that society said, and how it all changed when print forms came along and people in these societys where exposed to all these other peoples ways of living their lifes, opinions etc, which undoubtedly then changed their own expeirences of life.

Also they could have had their own theory's of such and such event from the past - even if it not correct, which would then have possibly put down on paper and been passed to our generation and believed to be accurate.

Week 2, Task 1 from Learning Journal

Quotes I took from the lister reading which I found interesting RE interactivity are the following...

"New media is understood as one of the key 'value added' characteristics of new media. Where 'old' media offered passive consumption, new media offers interactivity".


"The term stands for a more powerful sense of user engagement with media texts".
(Both quotes from = Lister et all, 2003: 20)


The first website I thought of that allows the audience to interact is http://www.facebook.com/ !
The website invites users to create their own 'page' within their website. They can send 'comments' to people from all over the world and interact with all types of different people. The same goes with any forum/bullentin boards etc, you are able to interact with lots of different people and add your own text to the text. The nature of the roles on these interactive websites are to interact with other people, whether this be sharing comments, opinions, advice or photos.

I found Listers reading hard to grasp, as he spoke about different types of 'interactivity'. Firstly he spoke of registrational interactivity, I eventually took this to mean:

Any website where you have to add too it. So for example if you join http://www.halifax.com/, you have to add your bank details! This is a form of registrational interactivity as you have to put in all of your details - which adds to the 'text'. Also bullentin boards, as the users 'input' their own comments on things that are being discussed.

Basically I am taking it as it's anything when you 'write' something - so even facebook would be under this type of interactivity. XXXXX (Blog wouldnt seperate these paragraphs!)

'Interactive communication' = He said basically that chat rooms where more interactive than bullentin boards! I have took this term then to mean that basically the more 'life-like' interaction taking place, the more 'interactive communication' it is!

However I also remember him mentioning somewhere about something to do with interactivity whereby people recieve an e-mail/text etc and then change it before passing it onto its next reciepent? Perhaps a bit like http://www.youtube.com/ I thought, as people recieve the 'text' then may change it before putting it online for more people to view.

The start of week 2 work!

Just making it clear that all the posts above this comment are work done for 'week 2'!

Week 1, Task 3 - Technological determinism.

Technological deternism means (in a very brief description) - Where technology is believed to be the force which shapes society. However society does not shape technology!

Theorists (i.e Marshall Mchluhan - 1962) believe that technology has taught us how to feel, act, etc. They believe that from mediums we have learnt essential skills that have helped us live, and our lifes change and develop from these. For example - radio, we learn to listen and our hearing supposedly improves from this, from TV - we learn to listen and watch TV, engaging both our visual and hearing senses together. These senes that we use to engage with technology we then start to put into our own life everyday, for using technology and for other aspects of our life.

People who believe in technological deternism believe strongly that technology will put together our future! Do you agree with this? I think it's a bit extreme but I think that technology if it continues to improve will undoubtedly shape our lifes. For example if they make robots that can speak for us! etc etc.

I had never heard of this term before so had to do a bit of research, these websites I found useful in conducting my own definition of the term that I understand...

http://www.regent.edu/acad/schcom/rojc/mdic/define.html

http://www.nae.edu/nae/techlithome.nsf/weblinks/KGRG-55ZQYK?OpenDocument

http://www.uky.edu/~drlane/capstone/mass/determinism.htm

Hopefully they can help some of you too.

That's if I have even got what it stands for right! Anyone find any other definitions/ways of explaining the term?