Wiki So Far

In regards to our class wiki thus far, I have contributed by adding content in the "Youtube Stars and Advertising" subsection of the Youtube page. I basically wrote about Adam LZ, a youtuber who went viral for his interests in BMX and Japanese-inspired cars. I also contributed by editing one of my colleague's content on this page as well, fixing spelling and grammatical errors. My next contribution will focus on the page regarding new media in sports and e-sports. I will add content in relation to "Television and Sports", as it seems to only focus on football. I have already pinpointed the subsection, "Advertising and Sports", as well, which needs its information updated.

P2P

File sharing is an act which basically describes itself. Files are shared using digital media; sometimes over a local area network for work related documents, or other times, further on to friends, for software, music, movies, and other related reasons.  This act allows many people to access the same file, giving them the ability to view, share, modify, or copy it. One problem does arise; it is not always legal. The majority of mp3's or movies being shared are in violation of copyright law. The software that is shared is also subject to software piracy. However, this act of file sharing is not uncommon present day.

One type of file sharing that is most prevalent is P2P file sharing. It is "peer to peer" file sharing, where digital media becomes available to those accessing the same P2P network. One example of this is BitTorrent, one of the most successful P2P programs in history. It allows users to upload and download files from the size of a simple mp3, to sizes thousands of times as big. It should also be noted that this happens at extremely fast speeds, leaving very limited wait time. These files include music, television shows, movies, software, and much more. However, according to the article "The BitTorrent Effect", the crackdown of this program began, as those downloading movies were being caught and struck with piracy charges. Although very convenient for users, it is also very illegal, and hurts the individuals who work hard to release this content. This article was written in 2005, and even twelve years later, BitTorrent is surprisingly still around, running strongly.

Privacy

When dealing with new media, the issues of privacy and confidentiality often arise. Individuals want to trust that their personal information will not be leaked to outside sources when new media is utilized, but this unfortunately does happen. One tragic example of this occurrence involved the University of Maryland. Over 300,000 students had their social security numbers, date of births, and university identification numbers leaked to an outside source during a security breach. This was accessed through the school's computer system. Although we hope for these type of incidents not to happen, it is natural in the new media world. Whenever or wherever an individual inputs personal information, there is always a chance of an unethical worker, or even a hacker accessing this information. A platform as simple as Facebook and Instagram can be targeted, holding names, date of births, and even credit card information, due to the fact that people can now shop through the Instagram app.

Another instance where privacy and confidentiality have been compromised were with Target. In this case however, over 110 million people had their credit card information leaked to an outside source. As we can see, it seems very normal (being a large chain store that many Americans go to), but it is definitely not something we want to deal with. That is why Target began using chip enabled smart cards to make hacking much harder. They also started using tougher security on their system so that it would take a great deal of effort to actually access credit card information of customers. No matter which company you deal with, no matter how well known it may seem, the compromise of privacy and confidentiality is always possible. It is just up to the company to not leave open doors for hackers, and to try just as hard protecting their customers, as they do serving them.

Advice

As an employee of Baruch college on the verge of improving new media, I would create multiple apps accessible to all students of our college. For example, students often want to be notified of networking opportunities and job fairs. If possible, I would create an app specifically for Starr which would allow mobile friendly, simple access to students when downloaded. This saves a lot of time from finding a computer to log on to, or trying to find your way around the website on a phone which isn't mobile friendly. Another possible benefit to this app could be saving your resume and using a "one touch" application; a function where you can send your application in simply one touch.

Another app I would create would be a sort of Facebook, dedicated to only Baruch Students. Not only would this allow easier communication, it would be an opportunity to network.Not all students are comfortable asking their peers for a number or email, but in this platform, they would definitely be comfortable knowing that the app functions for this purpose. Users (students) would be able to chat, and post entries all relating to Baruch. There could possibly be groups formed, based on classes, where students can easily upload and share notes, and ask each other questions. As the need for information is in demand based on the topic, more apps could be created to allow easy access.

Creativity and New Media

Biggie Smalls - Juicy (NY Themed Mashup)

The new media tool I used for this mashup was a DJ software, Serato DJ. The hardware used was a Numark NS7. I basically combined Notorious BIG's "Juicy", with Jay Z's "Empire State of Mind", and Fat Joe's "Lean Back". This was done quickly, so bear with me if it sounds sloppy at all. The website I used also decreased the sound quality, making it a bit less clear, but the concept is definitely there. Together, I thought the three mp3s would create a New York theme, combining NYC (Jay Z) with Brooklyn (Notorious BIG) and Bronx (Fat Joe). I apologize that this is not the censored version either 😁.

HW Creativity

New media gives us the ability to expand our creativity to endless extents. The creation of mashups are a prime example of this ability. Whether it be videos mashed together, mp3s, or even videos and mp3s, the outcome is often spectacular. One instance where mashups of these sorts have gone viral were with clips of Disney characters combined with rap songs. While Soulja Boy's song, "Crank That", was on the top of Billboard's Hot 100, it was unexpectedly combined with a clip of Winnie the Pooh and several other characters. As unexpected as its creation, the reception was as well; yielding thousands of views. Luckily, Disney felt this was a fair use of its copyrighted content, so this video continues to exist on Youtube after almost a decade.

Mashups created through the use of new media allow us to foster our ideas and express them in a way quite admirable to others. It gives us the ability to break boundaries and change things up in ways they were never meant to be. You wouldn't normally hear a Jay-Z track with a Beatles instrumental on it and you'd never watch a normal television series be turned into a movie trailer. Being an audience with limited ability to actually influence what exactly goes on in songs, videos, or television shows, mashups give us the ability to do it all on our own. It doesn't matter if we're combining a rap song with Disney characters, it's all about our creativity and expression.

Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds

Virtual worlds mimic reality, but allow creativity to extend our experience to endless possibilities. Since these “virtual worlds” have arisen, they have been platforms of socialization with other users, education from informative content, and even explorative traveling. One instance where we have seen these platforms at play was in “Naughty Auties”; a resource center created within Second Life (virtual world) for individuals with autism. Users were able to travel to this tropical hideaway, practice interactions with other users, and find extended information on this condition. We can certainly see the benefits being ease of communication, the atmosphere of a more comfortable, non-pressured environment, and readily available and informative information. 

Another instance we have seen these factors at play were in the article “I’ve Been to That Club, Just Not in Real Life.” After entering a jam-packed, foul smelling music club in Manhattan, the author slipped right out, and into his apartment to play VLES. This virtual world allowed him to experience the club without bumping into a crowd of people or inhaling those foul odors. All he had to do was simply log on, and visit the club! This example exposes us to some of the more negative aspects of virtual worlds; one being the lack of actual human interaction. It may seem convenient to visit a club virtually, but the entire aspect of socialization and real-life experience is lost. Let’s not forget what the hours spent in front of the computer screen is doing to our eyes in the long run. Aside from this, when large numbers of users decide to interact, there is often lag, as mentioned in the article. This can be quite frustrating, and it is definitely not something we deal with in reality. Lastly, virtual worlds do require money for extended features. For example, in Second Life, you can create an avatar and roam for free, but to buy land and much more, you must upgrade to a premium membership, being nearly $10 a month.

Creativity is fostered through these worlds by allowing you to customize and create further and further. In Second Life, you can create your own house, have your own job, and even create a private island. You can customize your avatar with jewelry, tattoos, clothing, and much more. This avatar can experience endless activities, visiting just about anywhere you could in real life; including clothing stores, cafes, and even your wedding destination. As technology continues to advance, I believe virtual worlds could take an amazing turn. I can imagine virtual reality equipment, where you can scan your own body and experience everything first hand, instead of using an avatar. It would be able to take you anywhere on earth, or anywhere in a fictional world. This is something I would definitely look forward to trying.