Topic 1i, week 2, Ideal Interactivity

I am not sure whether we will ever be able to answer if there is an 'ideal interactivity', this being because everyone individually has there own view on what they think is ideal interaction. For example Meikle gave four forms of interactivity; transmissional, registrational, consultational and conversation. Registrational could be seen as the ideal as it is 'surveillance that may allow producers to influence user behaviour in future' however on the other hand whenever personal details are given out the opportunity is there for them to be used on another database sometimes for commercial value. This is a scary thing for me, every time i write something on the Internet i wonder where it is being used, who has seen it; once it is up on the screen it can be cut and pasted anywhere and your details can remain in the virtual world 'forever'. Although this is a bad thing for me sometimes it can be seen as ideal because some like to have their information shown to build up a profile of themselves, perhaps so they are part of the commercial side and things can be sold to them. Therefore already just from 'one form' of Meikle's interactivity there are examples of the ‘ideal interactivity’ for some, but not for others. I think it will be a long time before, if ever, the ‘ideal interactivity’ for every user is found.

Meikle, G. (2002) Future Active, chapter 2.

Topic 1H, week 2, Cultural Production

New Media allows more people to be involved in cultural production as it is more accessible to everyone and views can be expressed online without being vetted and changed, unlike newspapers in which only certain things are allowed to be written and by certain people.
The new voices of the public are saying, simply, exactly what they think or want to. Like said stories/views in newspapers are proof read for sometimes names to protect identity and abusive, crude language. The same being for the radio even though nothing is 'proofed' before aired there are unspoken rules whereby you can not swear on the radio and appear to be offensive, for example Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross were punished for making prank calls and abusing someone from the public. Online in new media people can say what they think and can use real names but is the freedom to express a good thing?
From looking at blogs/forums and personal experience i find that in the 'click-to-send' environment people often express parts of their private lives which they would not face to face. Sometimes they share secrets or personal details of even their sex lives with strangers. This appears to me a very strange thing to do, however it allows discussion of personal things perhaps without the embarrassment of face to face interaction. I think the world of new media blogs and forums are very complex and the way in which people act in them is very interesting and can maybe show a lot.

Topic 3, week 2, Blogs

I think the blogs have a simple enough structure to get around and post thoughts and opinions however as for it standing as a form of conversation i do not think it succeeds in this. It appears more of a conversation than perhaps the forums as for the blogs you can feel 'obliged' to respond and converse with others on their thoughts. Once again though i feel it lacks so much with a face to face conversation/seminar does (i.e utterances, facial emotion, body language, immediate response) that i feel it can not be classed as a conversation.
When 'blogging' i think most are conscious that others will be reading their thoughts therefore do write and express themselves in perhaps a more formal essay like style but maybe not with the same paragraphing/grammar care that would be paid a lot more attention to in an essay.
I think you are in charge f your own blog and have the authority as you can write what you like, swear if you wanted etc however most people do not swear and abuse the will to write what they want as they are aware it is being reading by fellow students and tutors therefore the authority does to some extent still lie with the tutor.

Topic 2, Week 2, Forums

The forums are an online conversation in that a post is made and a response is expected from the person/people you are aiming it at. However i do not feel it can properly be classed as an online conversation as there are not always responses and if there are they can be after days; unlike MSN messenger in which if you are talking to someone online the responses most of the time happen there and then, and do take the form of a conversation. Furthermore on the forums some can be conscious of what they are writing therefore may write more formally or with more structure but on MSN the language is more informal and nuances of face to face communication take place, such as, smiling faces 'umms' and 'ahhs' allowing the feelings of the other to be understood better.
The interaction compared to that in face to face seminars is very different. In seminars the interaction can be more instant and perhaps less formal as the relationship builds between tutor and student, which can be harder to build online. However on the other hand the forums do allow those who do not like contributing their thoughts out loud to have their opinion as well. The nature of the seminars is the same, but the response and structure is very different to face to face. The instant thoughts that would sometimes be aired by students face to face which could spark further discussion and debate can't happen as online everything is more thought out.
The authority is more equal than in a face to face seminar, however i think it is still with the tutor as although the student can post what they like, i think most students will still be conscious that the tutor is reading their thoughts. I believe i am a user as i am managing to post and respond but do not feel i know enough or have the time to be an advanced user.

Week 2, Lecture discussion

In the lecture Hyperlinking was talked about quite a bit and in reference to it the comment 'reading isn't reading' was made. This meaning that reading something online is very different to reading a book. When reading a book you can only read what is on the pages, however online on many websites there are often several hyperlinks catching the attention of the users to move to read other pages. I think that the comment of 'reading isn't reading' is fair to make as personally i find it very hard to only read the part of the website that i want and not drift onto something else.
It was also suggested that New Media can facilitate change. I do believe that New Media has the power to and has done this. New Media such as the Internet has changed the way lessons are taught in school, as now there are Internet based classes, or topics in which Internet surfing is encouraged. Furthermore there has been change in offices, with new technology and mobile broadband and wireless networking changing how many businesses are run.
I believe New Media is changing the world as we speak, allowing communication - instant or asynchronous, communication mostly free after the initial purchase and even playing a role in the structure of education and businesses.

Task 2c, wk1, Internets Impact on Society

There has been a a lot of hype about the Internet, on one side reflecting its success and praise for the amount of things it can help people do and communicate. However there has also been criticism as well. The Internet because it allows access to almost anything unfortunately means that porn, gambling and even websites discussing how to harm oneself or commit suicide ca be accessed. It can be argued that it is down to the person themselves to whether they want to enter these websites or not, therefore their own responsiblity. However, it can be questioned to whether if these websites were not even available in the first place then would people be as interested. It has also been noted that the Internet is a bad influence on children, for the reason above and because it can encourage children to stay in and play games online, enjoy the social networking sites instead of taking part in outdoor activities which involve more exercise.
Despite all this criticism the Internet can be a blessing for some. People with disabilities find it harder to do some activities such as shopping, socialising and help with education. Some supermarkets offer shopping online with delivery, you can buy and sell on eBay, rent DVDs and socialise from the home online.
The Internet can be criticised however it is not the only medium which allows gambling, pornography and has games. It does so many other things which are key to society today.

Topic 2b, wk 1, Radio and Today

Goebbel’s views today might be hard to understand by the current Nation. Radio has so many stations nowadays and is perhaps just seen as a form of entertainment and distraction whilst being in the home or travelling somewhere. Therefore if the radio has been used for this purpose by a lot of people then there might be question to whether people want the Radio to perform any other tasks. His views might affect some and evoke thoughts of what more could the radio do for the nation, however today in a proposed time of hectic lives and jobs will people ignore his views and simply want the radio as a form of escapism?
I think the radio is good for reaching a mass amount of people on there preferred level. It has the ability to perform many functions of entertaining, distraction, delivering news on lives events and politics and can be chose to be listened to when the person wants and for however long they want. Goebbel's views have made me think if the radio could be doing more for me though than just entertaining because of the power it manage to reach for him.

Topic 2a, wk1, Joseph Goebbel and the Radio

Goebbel believed the Radio to have great power in bringing the government and nation closer together and to deliver the information on political events which would hopefully influence masses and give current events a place in the future. He identified that the radio had the potential to communicate to the nation through entertainment and games as well. However it was it this distraction that perhaps lead to the November Regime not understanding the Radio's true significance and power on influencing a lot of minds.
He notes a period of 6months in which a transformation of power took place which would have been impossible without the radio. A statement which makes you question the tedious uses we have for it today, and think about the actual power it had and could have in the future.
He also identifies that the medium should have duty to communicate the happenings of the day and if it does not then it should not be allowed to deliver influence to the masses, therefore entertaining, but with relation to the day and politics. Is this too much to ask?

The Internet and Communication

The internet can be used by many different people in many different ways. It has the potential to provide entertainment, the ability to communicate, provide business and education. As it is often used on a daily basis and so freely, its power of communication online is sometimes underestimated. Social networking and email sites provide communication with friends, family and even colleagues/tutors. This communication can be there to provide relationships and entertainment but also is used as a means for tutors and students to discuss issues without having to take the time out to meet. Both email and social networking sites have functions by which attachments such as videos, photos, education documents can be sent between many people to.

I find social networking sites such as Facebook a brilliant way to communicate with friends and old friends which perhaps I wouldn’t if the site wasn’t available. I have also used it before to arrange meetings for group work at university and keep in touch with members. Email is another way of online communication which I use a lot, mainly for academic purposes and to attach files as it is easy to use and enables problems in work to be solves without a formal meeting. The internet and the means it provides to communicate I find are quick, easy and eliminates some of the nerves or formalness which might occur in face to face communication.

Setting up the first blog

I have set up my first blog! It was an interesting experience.
However, i am still very confused to what i am actually supposed to be doing.

HELP!!
Hopefully it will all become clear soon!