Question: In a well-publicized news story, a man was caught “on camera” exiting a "gentleman's club" when Google photographed him for their StreetView project. He later sued Google because the revelation was unhappy news to his wife. Do you think Google is in the clear when they photograph the view from streets in your neighborhood?
Chapter two tells the story of privacy, how we have made it easy and convenient for us to lose our privacy through technology - some of them familiar technologies, and some a bit more mysterious - but all of it is exposed in the big question: What does privacy mean in the digitally exploded world? There are the obvious tracking technologies such as GPS (Global Positioning Systems) which help us all when we are lost in the boonies. RFID tags (Radio Frequency Identification Tags) that can be read from a distance of a few feet and is usally placed on products for tracking and inventory purposes. Another technology that has helped save lives and trace where people have been are black boxes found in airplanes. While these are only a few technologies that can track people, places, and objects at any point in time it is a reminder that there are many other ways that are less obvious that can track a person's history. In the situation stated above concerning a man caught on camera leaving a gentleman's club when Google photographed him for their StreetView Project, I belive that Google is in the clear. Like, Abelson said, "we give up data about ourselves because we don't have the time, patience, or single-mindedness about privacy that would be required to live our daily lives in another way." Although, it is unfortunate that this man was caught in a moment he is not proud of, he should not have been attending the gentleman's club in the first place if he had a wife. Technology and the internet has been a blessing and curse, it has created so many opportunities to communicate with people of like interests but it has also allowed anyone and everyone the ability to track you. It's a scary place.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Community of Practice
Question: Consider the concept of a “community of practice.” How can such a community offer opportunities for learning?
The concept of "community of practice" can offer opportunities for learning through chat rooms and the ability to leave comments on others pictures, blogs, MySpaces. Shirky uses the example of Flickr as a way to illustrate this concept. He states that each webpage is a community and each page has the opportunity to collect attention from people interested in its contents, and then those people might be interested in conversing with others. For example, the comments section on Flickr allow these people who want to activate the community can by asking a basic question such as "How did you do that?" This may seem like a simple request, but when this takes place out in the public web, it also forms a community of communication. In addition, this offers an opportunity for learning because a member of the community can respond and walk the person through in a step by step tutrial. Other examples may include youtube and facebook. You can search "how to..." whatever in youtube and someone out in cyber space has created a video tutorial on how to do that particular task.
The concept of "community of practice" can offer opportunities for learning through chat rooms and the ability to leave comments on others pictures, blogs, MySpaces. Shirky uses the example of Flickr as a way to illustrate this concept. He states that each webpage is a community and each page has the opportunity to collect attention from people interested in its contents, and then those people might be interested in conversing with others. For example, the comments section on Flickr allow these people who want to activate the community can by asking a basic question such as "How did you do that?" This may seem like a simple request, but when this takes place out in the public web, it also forms a community of communication. In addition, this offers an opportunity for learning because a member of the community can respond and walk the person through in a step by step tutrial. Other examples may include youtube and facebook. You can search "how to..." whatever in youtube and someone out in cyber space has created a video tutorial on how to do that particular task.
"Invisible"
If Shirky is right, and we’re headed to a period where social media tools like YouTube, Flickr, and social networks like Facebook become “invisible,” what’s the impact on things you spend money on as consumers? Books? Movies? Music?
When Shirky refers to social media networks becoming "invisible" he is refering that to the day that these will become standards in the way in which we communicate just like the telephone and the fax have become invisible. In the book, Skirky, asks which came first, the fax or the web? Someone who is 35years and older would not have a problem answering this question, but someone from my generation has had both technologies since we were born. This is what makes a technology invisible. As to what the impact is on things we spend money on as consumers such as books, movies, and music I'm not really sure. Everything has become more and more available at the click of a button on the internet. You can watch movies on hulu.com, read books, and listen to music at pandora.com. Does this mean we will stop interacting face-to-face in the future because everything that is of interest will be avilable on the web? I hope not, but like Shirky said, "we have lost the clean distinctions between communications media and broadcast media. As social media like MySpace now scale efforlessly between a community of a few and an audience of a few million, the old habit of treating communications tools like the phone differently from broadvast tools like television no longer make sense."
When Shirky refers to social media networks becoming "invisible" he is refering that to the day that these will become standards in the way in which we communicate just like the telephone and the fax have become invisible. In the book, Skirky, asks which came first, the fax or the web? Someone who is 35years and older would not have a problem answering this question, but someone from my generation has had both technologies since we were born. This is what makes a technology invisible. As to what the impact is on things we spend money on as consumers such as books, movies, and music I'm not really sure. Everything has become more and more available at the click of a button on the internet. You can watch movies on hulu.com, read books, and listen to music at pandora.com. Does this mean we will stop interacting face-to-face in the future because everything that is of interest will be avilable on the web? I hope not, but like Shirky said, "we have lost the clean distinctions between communications media and broadcast media. As social media like MySpace now scale efforlessly between a community of a few and an audience of a few million, the old habit of treating communications tools like the phone differently from broadvast tools like television no longer make sense."
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Group Member
Question: Describe a group you are a member of (online community, church, job, etc.) and how it is organized. Is there management? How is information distributed within the group?
I am a member of a soroity at James Madison University that consists of approximately 130 sisters. There is a executive board that is made up of 13 positions that include, but are not limited to: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Recruitment/Assistant recruitment chair, risk manager, and rital chair. These members are in charge of making every major decision for the chapter. They meet every sunday before our general body chapter meeting to discuss upcoming events such as our philanthropies, social events, and national issues. Once that issue has been brought up to the chapter, we all vote on it. This is a great way to communicate with everyone. Besides from our weekly meetings, we also communicate throughout the week by e-mails sent by our president. If anyone in the chapter has something to say or wants to raise awareness to an issue, she will send an e-mail to our presidnt who will then compile all similar e-mails into one and send it out to the chapter.
I am a member of a soroity at James Madison University that consists of approximately 130 sisters. There is a executive board that is made up of 13 positions that include, but are not limited to: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Recruitment/Assistant recruitment chair, risk manager, and rital chair. These members are in charge of making every major decision for the chapter. They meet every sunday before our general body chapter meeting to discuss upcoming events such as our philanthropies, social events, and national issues. Once that issue has been brought up to the chapter, we all vote on it. This is a great way to communicate with everyone. Besides from our weekly meetings, we also communicate throughout the week by e-mails sent by our president. If anyone in the chapter has something to say or wants to raise awareness to an issue, she will send an e-mail to our presidnt who will then compile all similar e-mails into one and send it out to the chapter.
Hierarchical Organization Charts
Question: This chapter talks about the challenges that face an organization that grows too large, requiring a lot of staff devoted to management. What are some of the potential pitfalls in an organization that’s large and organized by a hierarchical organization chart?
Every organization needs to have some sort of hierarchial organization chart in order to keep everyone on point and to prevent a free-for all of information. I liked how the book used the analogy of the western rail road to demonstrate how management needs to grow faster than the size of the organization. This is a very true statement. If the organization continues to grow, while management remains the same it may cause miscommunication between departments and throughout the organization as a whole. Within a large organization there is always going to be someone looking to climb the ladder to success, the organizational chart helps instil power and structure within the organization so others don't cut corners. Lastly, a pitfall of a business being organized by a hierarchical organization chart is the loss of flexibility.
Every organization needs to have some sort of hierarchial organization chart in order to keep everyone on point and to prevent a free-for all of information. I liked how the book used the analogy of the western rail road to demonstrate how management needs to grow faster than the size of the organization. This is a very true statement. If the organization continues to grow, while management remains the same it may cause miscommunication between departments and throughout the organization as a whole. Within a large organization there is always going to be someone looking to climb the ladder to success, the organizational chart helps instil power and structure within the organization so others don't cut corners. Lastly, a pitfall of a business being organized by a hierarchical organization chart is the loss of flexibility.
Trant Article
Question: Many organizations waste time and money researching answers to questions already answered or creating content that may already have been done by others within the organization. What shortfalls of social tagging does Trant identify that might prohibit a searchable tagging system to be a successful aid within an organization such as a business or school?
Trant points out the many shortfalls of social tagging that might prohibit a searchable tagginging system to be a successful aid within an oragnaization. The first shortfall Trant points out is the relativistic nature of social tagging-systems. Meaning that the information is most often accepted, but more by chance than with purpose. Another shortfall is polysemy, which refers that a word may have more than one meaning. For example the verb "to get" can mean "take" (I'll get the drinks), "become" (she got scared), "have" (I've got three dollars), "understand" (I get it) etc. Although this is just a basic example, as you can see, polsemy could create problem with inconsistency.
Trant points out the many shortfalls of social tagging that might prohibit a searchable tagginging system to be a successful aid within an oragnaization. The first shortfall Trant points out is the relativistic nature of social tagging-systems. Meaning that the information is most often accepted, but more by chance than with purpose. Another shortfall is polysemy, which refers that a word may have more than one meaning. For example the verb "to get" can mean "take" (I'll get the drinks), "become" (she got scared), "have" (I've got three dollars), "understand" (I get it) etc. Although this is just a basic example, as you can see, polsemy could create problem with inconsistency.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Abelson Chapter 1:
Q: With so many cell phones on the market today able to take photos (and video), do you ever worry about being “captured” in a not-so-flattering moment? How would you deal with a friend who decided to share such a picture or video with others?
The simple answer is: Yes! After reading chapter one, it scares me to think how a person can gain access and follow you through bits without ever having to physically follow you. There are so many celebrities who try to live a private life but there is always someone who is more money hungry than the next that will exploit them in any way possible. In addition to that, there are also many social celebrity blogging websites such as Perezhilton, that post unflattering pictures, especially if Perez is not a huge fan of that celebrity. If i were captured in a not so flattering moment and it was posted on facebook for example, I don't know if there is anything you can legally do because once a picture/video is posted on facebook it doesn't matter if you delete it. Facebook now legally owns it and can do what they wish. This phenomenon might make it extremely hard for many people, especially politicians to get jobs in the future.
The simple answer is: Yes! After reading chapter one, it scares me to think how a person can gain access and follow you through bits without ever having to physically follow you. There are so many celebrities who try to live a private life but there is always someone who is more money hungry than the next that will exploit them in any way possible. In addition to that, there are also many social celebrity blogging websites such as Perezhilton, that post unflattering pictures, especially if Perez is not a huge fan of that celebrity. If i were captured in a not so flattering moment and it was posted on facebook for example, I don't know if there is anything you can legally do because once a picture/video is posted on facebook it doesn't matter if you delete it. Facebook now legally owns it and can do what they wish. This phenomenon might make it extremely hard for many people, especially politicians to get jobs in the future.
Abelson Chapter 1:
Q: Both Google and Yahoo have been criticized for censoring their search results in China. What are your feelings about this? Why should Google, or why should Google not, produce different search results for different countries?
In the book it states, "With hundreds of TV and radio stations and millions of web sites, Americans love the variety of news sources, but are still adjusting uncomfortably to the displacement of more authoritative sources. In China, the situation is reversed: The technology creates greater government control of the information its citizens receive, and better tools for monitoring their behavior." I don't think that any government or search engine for that matter should censor information to the public. Can you imagine if all the news in your country was biased and only had one opinion?
In the book it states, "With hundreds of TV and radio stations and millions of web sites, Americans love the variety of news sources, but are still adjusting uncomfortably to the displacement of more authoritative sources. In China, the situation is reversed: The technology creates greater government control of the information its citizens receive, and better tools for monitoring their behavior." I don't think that any government or search engine for that matter should censor information to the public. Can you imagine if all the news in your country was biased and only had one opinion?
Shirky Chapter 1
Q: If managers aren’t important anymore towards the formation or control of groups using online tools, what do you consider the main role websites such as Meetup.com, Facebook, or MySpace have provided newly emerging groups?
The story of the lost cell phone proves that social networking sites have become an easy way of reaching out to million of people from your living room to gain support over an issue. Even though a lost cell phone is not normally a huge deal to the NYPD, the amount of people involved in the cause due to Evan's blog created a lot of buzz and pt the NYPD under the spotlight to do something about it. As seen in the story, social networking sites allow individuals to gain followers and momentum because the web creates a way for people to come together over a single cause that they might feel passionately about. In other words, I think the main role websites such as Meetup.com, Facebook, or MySpace have provided to emerging groups is just a common place for everyone to talk about whatever is on their mind.. because chances are there are a lot more people out there that feel the same way you feel about an issue.
The story of the lost cell phone proves that social networking sites have become an easy way of reaching out to million of people from your living room to gain support over an issue. Even though a lost cell phone is not normally a huge deal to the NYPD, the amount of people involved in the cause due to Evan's blog created a lot of buzz and pt the NYPD under the spotlight to do something about it. As seen in the story, social networking sites allow individuals to gain followers and momentum because the web creates a way for people to come together over a single cause that they might feel passionately about. In other words, I think the main role websites such as Meetup.com, Facebook, or MySpace have provided to emerging groups is just a common place for everyone to talk about whatever is on their mind.. because chances are there are a lot more people out there that feel the same way you feel about an issue.
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