I’ve just read Mette's blog and I think she's right about the presentation on the wiki page. I seen other groups work and it’s very creative. Well, I guess it’s the quality that counts. Although there are study which say that most people scan through text on a computer screen.
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~nog/2006/writing_files/frame.htm
So all the 'exciting' links, images and videos we’re adding on our wiki should attract readers and be quite straight forward and interesting.
Mette and Jana uploaded a lot of text in the Monday session which was great due to the techno difficulty they had. I have upload some relevant images and need to focus on a strong into and conclusion.
Thinking about cyberspace and from other classes I have, its interesting to see the links and representation of cyberspace in films, cyberpunk novels and reality.
I've been researching on the net into cyberpunk novels and films, their narrative etc... coming across Matrix, La Femme Nikita, The Lawnmower Man, Cyborg Cop etc all film involving humans interaction with information technology, data etc and all provide a form of warning to society of this technological development which can exceed human intelligence.
This reminded me of a conversation I had with Nigel about my concern with having too much technology and radiation around the house, and my dislike for my siblings always on the phone or MSN. Virtual communities are taking over!! nooooooooooooooooo!!! Just kidding.
Wednesday 28 November 2007
Monday 26 November 2007
In Class
While Mette's focus was to upload all the work on the wiki, Khristina and I worked on gathering images and videos to enhance the visual appearance of the wiki page. Here are some examples of images and videos I thought would be useful:
The images shows a cartoon demonstaeing in a humous way, the power of computers and technology on humans.
My favoriate clip is below a short episode from 'The Real Hustle' showing card scams. Unfortuniately I couldn't find a clip on any online scams which would have been good.
The images shows a cartoon demonstaeing in a humous way, the power of computers and technology on humans.
My favoriate clip is below a short episode from 'The Real Hustle' showing card scams. Unfortuniately I couldn't find a clip on any online scams which would have been good.
It's bin soo long...
Wow, I can't believe I actually miss writing on my blog. Well, I bet Nigel missed me... didn't u Nigel? ... Did u notice that 'u', I was going to change it but realised it makes a point. I've been doing this a lot when trying o write essays etc. I’m just so used to writing in text, msn and chat format and way of writing.... And i'm not proud of it! But it just shows how people, especially young people are in a way writing words in short and not even noticing it. It's becoming normal. My brother last week showed me an essay he wrote, his teacher had underlined in red all the short words he'd used and it was disgraceful.
Anyway... back to work, I really think this course is useful in outlining and making consciouse the theory, arguments and research into identity and virtual communities. We use them with out realising their effects on use. As I've said before, I just can't believe how much one is reliant on the Internet, My Space, Facebook, MSN etc (in their personal space) in ways to communicate with the outside world. I no for sure that I use the Internet to communicate with friends and family much more than using my phone. Its available, free, and quick so why not? But what annoys me about myself and I see it in other people as well, is the fact hat when their not using and online network, their on the phone or if not that then it's using text messages.
From notes from Chris Sams lectures on cyberspace, and academic reading from many books, (my favouiate) David Bell's intro to cybercultures, all this raises the issues about real life and and a virtual life, and face-to-face communications. It's nice to read and be able to relate academic theories into the way we as members of virtual spaces behave.
Anyway... it's 10:30am and I have a lecture. I’ll come back to this soon.
Anyway... back to work, I really think this course is useful in outlining and making consciouse the theory, arguments and research into identity and virtual communities. We use them with out realising their effects on use. As I've said before, I just can't believe how much one is reliant on the Internet, My Space, Facebook, MSN etc (in their personal space) in ways to communicate with the outside world. I no for sure that I use the Internet to communicate with friends and family much more than using my phone. Its available, free, and quick so why not? But what annoys me about myself and I see it in other people as well, is the fact hat when their not using and online network, their on the phone or if not that then it's using text messages.
From notes from Chris Sams lectures on cyberspace, and academic reading from many books, (my favouiate) David Bell's intro to cybercultures, all this raises the issues about real life and and a virtual life, and face-to-face communications. It's nice to read and be able to relate academic theories into the way we as members of virtual spaces behave.
Anyway... it's 10:30am and I have a lecture. I’ll come back to this soon.
Monday 12 November 2007
Web Designs
Good and Bad Website:
I personally think that what make's a good website is; clarity, flow of colours, useful/ relevant links, picture illustrations and diagrams, sub titles, and precise texts.
What makes a bad website is, too many random links, too many colours and moving images, long blocks of texts, pop ups, bad spelling, no reference information for quotes etc.
Links to the examples of these are below;
Good Web Site; http://www.samlearning.com/
I personally think that what make's a good website is; clarity, flow of colours, useful/ relevant links, picture illustrations and diagrams, sub titles, and precise texts.
What makes a bad website is, too many random links, too many colours and moving images, long blocks of texts, pop ups, bad spelling, no reference information for quotes etc.
Links to the examples of these are below;
Good Web Site; http://www.samlearning.com/
Sam learning is an educational website for young teenagers. It’s designed to help with revision on key stage 1-3 Sats, GCSE's and A-levels. The aim of the websites it useful and informative, the colour design used (red and blue) works well, as they are bright and can in a way to encourage students to fell active in revision. If dull colours were to be used it would make it unappealing and boring to revise. Also it encourages links to help further with revision ' Take The Stress Out Of Mocks Pack'. The links are clear and bold and it is an established website, has a logo etc.Bad Web Site; http://www.janenorman.co.uk/
The high street fashion store 'Jane Norman' in terms of colour and layout, it does work, but the links and the availability of clothing images is very limited. Each occasion category shows only one out fit. I think fans of this store would like to see the whole collection.
Wednesday 7 November 2007
Reflection
Hello again..
Im not stressed any more, I have my internet back and I've got alot of work done this week. After research research research... I finally put together my piece on 'identity in virtual communities'. I've also done a project introduction and edited some research into the definition of 'community'.
I've emailed this to the group and feel prity confident again, and writing in my blog I think has become helpful in strcuturing and keeping record of our progress as a group.
Im not stressed any more, I have my internet back and I've got alot of work done this week. After research research research... I finally put together my piece on 'identity in virtual communities'. I've also done a project introduction and edited some research into the definition of 'community'.
I've emailed this to the group and feel prity confident again, and writing in my blog I think has become helpful in strcuturing and keeping record of our progress as a group.
Monday 5 November 2007
Reflection
After the class today we managed to set a plan, We think it can go something as follows;
- Intro - Definishion of 'Virtual community' (E.g. it is very difficult to define community, as technology has changed and developed so has the term. - Inoder to define the term we are goin to use theorist such as Howard Rhiengold, David Bell, etc and also a vox pot of people around uni and what they think a virtual community is. (which Metta and I can work on)
- Communities within Groups (Metta researching into)
- Case study into Facebook (Jana/Kristina researching into)
- Identiy issue - its effects on virtual community (Judith S. Donath) / Deception online/ fake identities. (which I will work on)
- Conclusion
Obviously, the plan can change. We think it's central to outline the development and change in technology and the effacts on online communities and communications.
As a group we have arranged to meet up next week to work in our own time on the project. We don't need to work together but it would be useful to have each other's presents to put some solid pieces of work together.
Research
Ok, I am officially a mess. I haven't had the Internet at home for over a week, I can't work, I can't check my e-mails, i actually feel i can't communicate with people I need as easily. e.g. MSN, Emails, Facebook etc. I can't believe exactly how much we are dependant on the Internet.
Anyway so I'm in class and writing in my blog...
As we know my group has been struggling in focusing on a topic to write about. Nigel's help was to research and then come up with focus piont. I dnt no about others but I found that really hard because thats just not my way of working. I prefere to have a question and go into researching and exploreing around it, or maybe that's just the way I been used to working through all my other degree courses.
However i did try... I read and made notes of Howard Rhiegold's book 'The Virtual Community' and David Bell ' Introduction to Cyberculture' which was very good, learnt alot and I personally think now we should look at Online Life vs Real Life.
Im actually really stressing because there's just not one way to define the term 'community'. Each writer in the books have different opinions, and I don't no how to start.
By talking to some friends and family about there thoughs on the subject, I actually got some similar responses. I asked them questions like: Do you think we can form a 'community' online? and wheather they thought Facebook or Myspace for example were a form of a community? Most answered saying that, 'a community is very complex, it takes dedication and is an on going thing e.g. all community members attend meatings once a week to discuss issue they all are interested in and have in common. These communities usually have a large membership, over 100 people and all share a goal. Actally I even got from my father that 'a community is people from one country, a nation who share culture and traditions' this actually reminded me of something I read from David Bells book who I believe says something similar. I will research again and add it in the wiki if it's relevant. Also I got that, 'a community can not be online... because there is too many people in a community to get together at one place and one time and talk about whatever their issue is' I think this is was very interesting and I should ask for more people opinions.
Anyway so I'm in class and writing in my blog...
As we know my group has been struggling in focusing on a topic to write about. Nigel's help was to research and then come up with focus piont. I dnt no about others but I found that really hard because thats just not my way of working. I prefere to have a question and go into researching and exploreing around it, or maybe that's just the way I been used to working through all my other degree courses.
However i did try... I read and made notes of Howard Rhiegold's book 'The Virtual Community' and David Bell ' Introduction to Cyberculture' which was very good, learnt alot and I personally think now we should look at Online Life vs Real Life.
Im actually really stressing because there's just not one way to define the term 'community'. Each writer in the books have different opinions, and I don't no how to start.
By talking to some friends and family about there thoughs on the subject, I actually got some similar responses. I asked them questions like: Do you think we can form a 'community' online? and wheather they thought Facebook or Myspace for example were a form of a community? Most answered saying that, 'a community is very complex, it takes dedication and is an on going thing e.g. all community members attend meatings once a week to discuss issue they all are interested in and have in common. These communities usually have a large membership, over 100 people and all share a goal. Actally I even got from my father that 'a community is people from one country, a nation who share culture and traditions' this actually reminded me of something I read from David Bells book who I believe says something similar. I will research again and add it in the wiki if it's relevant. Also I got that, 'a community can not be online... because there is too many people in a community to get together at one place and one time and talk about whatever their issue is' I think this is was very interesting and I should ask for more people opinions.
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