Monday, December 5, 2011
New Media, young audiences and discourses of attention: from Seasame Street to ‘snack culture’
In this article Michael Z. Newman gives an analysis of how certain generations attention spans is directly connected to what shows they grew up watching specifically the television program Sesame Street. It is important to think about how media has the power to stunt cognitive functioning in American culture.
The first main point of the article analyzes Sesame Street in depth. Looking at how the program is broken up into segments and how this breaks up the show into pieces. This was so that children watching the show could focus on Sesame Street and not look at the distractions that could come up during the show.
The second main point of this article is to look at media today and how well it holds our attention. Newman looked at programs that targeted the generation of children who grew up with Sesame Street. In conclusion, the article gave a few explanations that explain the ‘short attention span’ and though it may be connected to media, it is just a theory.
The first main point of the article analyzes Sesame Street in depth. Looking at how the program is broken up into segments and how this breaks up the show into pieces. This was so that children watching the show could focus on Sesame Street and not look at the distractions that could come up during the show.
The second main point of this article is to look at media today and how well it holds our attention. Newman looked at programs that targeted the generation of children who grew up with Sesame Street. In conclusion, the article gave a few explanations that explain the ‘short attention span’ and though it may be connected to media, it is just a theory.
Collective behavior in YouTube: a case study of ‘Bus Uncle’ online videos
I found this article interesting because it discusses how one video can become a an important cultural event. Videos posted on YouTube are public domain and with the hundreds of videos posted on YouTube a day it is no wonder it creates a pattern in which we can study and learn from.
YouTube is used for personal and professional reasons and the article points out how YouTube lives off letting its users ‘broadcast yourself’. Viral videos get millions of hits in a short amount of time and have many spinoff videos that people will watch because of the attention they draw.
The article concludes that YouTube as a public space lets people have their lives exhibited shared and commented on. I find it interesting that ‘Bus Uncle’ set up people to respond with more videos it really emphasizes how much time people spend communicating using videos on YouTube. Of course there is also the comment section that people can communicate through too.
YouTube is used for personal and professional reasons and the article points out how YouTube lives off letting its users ‘broadcast yourself’. Viral videos get millions of hits in a short amount of time and have many spinoff videos that people will watch because of the attention they draw.
The article concludes that YouTube as a public space lets people have their lives exhibited shared and commented on. I find it interesting that ‘Bus Uncle’ set up people to respond with more videos it really emphasizes how much time people spend communicating using videos on YouTube. Of course there is also the comment section that people can communicate through too.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Thanksgiving Travel: Done Right
For students traveling this Thanksgiving, here are some tips to make your trip more enjoyable and easier.
Whether you are flying by plane, taking the train or driving to your destination the key is to have something to occupy your mind.
Traveling is always physically draining but mentally it can seem like a drag that lasts far longer than reality.
If traveling by plane I suggest bringing along your favorite book to enjoy reading while waiting in the terminal in case your flight is delayed.
Thanksgiving week is known to be one of the craziest weeks to travel in the United States.
Movies like “Home for the Holidays” depict how difficult traveling on Thanksgiving can be.
Since prices for plane tickets have risen as the cost of fuel has, many have decided to travel alternatively by train this Thanksgiving.
Though not the smoothest means of travel, train rides are quite enjoyable.
On my first train ride I spoke with my neighbor for the majority of the trip which distracted me from how long the train ride lasted.
On the train you can easily start a conversation with fellow riders and you may end up learning a lot about them and yourself as you travel.
In my opinion, time spent riding in a car seems longer than it is.
If you do not have the option of knocking out in the backseat of the car, its probably a good idea to bring enough music to last one and half trips.
Music can keep you awake if you sing along as well as keep your mind occupied.
Its important in car rides to be able to focus on driving (if you are the driver) and keeping the driver awake (if you are the passenger).
Whatever way you travel this Thanksgiving just remember its worth the time and energy you put into planning how to get home.
Whether you are flying by plane, taking the train or driving to your destination the key is to have something to occupy your mind.
Traveling is always physically draining but mentally it can seem like a drag that lasts far longer than reality.
If traveling by plane I suggest bringing along your favorite book to enjoy reading while waiting in the terminal in case your flight is delayed.
Thanksgiving week is known to be one of the craziest weeks to travel in the United States.
Movies like “Home for the Holidays” depict how difficult traveling on Thanksgiving can be.
Since prices for plane tickets have risen as the cost of fuel has, many have decided to travel alternatively by train this Thanksgiving.
Though not the smoothest means of travel, train rides are quite enjoyable.
On my first train ride I spoke with my neighbor for the majority of the trip which distracted me from how long the train ride lasted.
On the train you can easily start a conversation with fellow riders and you may end up learning a lot about them and yourself as you travel.
In my opinion, time spent riding in a car seems longer than it is.
If you do not have the option of knocking out in the backseat of the car, its probably a good idea to bring enough music to last one and half trips.
Music can keep you awake if you sing along as well as keep your mind occupied.
Its important in car rides to be able to focus on driving (if you are the driver) and keeping the driver awake (if you are the passenger).
Whatever way you travel this Thanksgiving just remember its worth the time and energy you put into planning how to get home.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
The World-Wide Web
My favorite quote from the article, “The World-Wide Web”, summed up this article quite well. “The Web does not yet meet its design goal as being a pool of knowledge that is as easy to update as to read.” The article has two main ideas to tell us what a W3 is and to tell us how the web is every growing and adapting.
Before I had never heard of the term W3 but the article defines it as several things including boundless information world where all items have a reference by which they can be retrieved, an address system, a network protocol, a markup language, and a body of data. The article explains these definition more in depth.
The second main point of the article was to discuss the development of W3 that are recent. As well as the future of W3 in technology. It points out how there is developments in technology that influence W3.
Before I had never heard of the term W3 but the article defines it as several things including boundless information world where all items have a reference by which they can be retrieved, an address system, a network protocol, a markup language, and a body of data. The article explains these definition more in depth.
The second main point of the article was to discuss the development of W3 that are recent. As well as the future of W3 in technology. It points out how there is developments in technology that influence W3.
Monday, November 7, 2011
A Virtual Death and a Real Dilemma
The article “A Virtual Death And a Real Dilemma: Identity, Trust, and Community in Cyberspace” discusses online blogging and how one person’s actions can influence a community. As I read the article I did not think that bloggers could form a sense of community online. Their means of communication connects them to one another through what they share on the blogosphere. The deception of Debbie Swenson made many people think about how much they trusted what they read on the Internet. For years I have heard from librarians to always have “dependable and reliable” sources because the Internet can lie.
The article touches base with how identity is shaped in a virtual community and it causes a true dilemma. It was interesting reading the reactions of those who found out that Kaycee Swanson didn’t exist and that her story was a hoax. The reality of her story made the community fall apart because it did not know how to communicate their feelings and the confusion they faced. If I were in the same situation where I felt my trust was betrayed I do not know how I would react.
The article touches base with how identity is shaped in a virtual community and it causes a true dilemma. It was interesting reading the reactions of those who found out that Kaycee Swanson didn’t exist and that her story was a hoax. The reality of her story made the community fall apart because it did not know how to communicate their feelings and the confusion they faced. If I were in the same situation where I felt my trust was betrayed I do not know how I would react.
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