“The Future Hold for the Mobile Industry”

1. How does the mobile phone in today’s communication market illustrate digital convergence?

        Mobile phones today have become a major facet of our society. Convergence has taken place because we have been able to bring together a phone, a music player, a web browser, and deeper integration of our social media sites and web pages. Smartphones are the epitome of digital media, and it combines the best of what we want out of the Internet, and really communication in general to everyone in the world. Because of all this integration, we are able to communicate to anyone from anywhere in the world at any given time, with just the touch of a button or application. It seems that even the term "mobile" is becoming a term that is not being used as much, as it seems that it's not just mobility, but integration as well as ease of access.

2. Why is mobility the future of digital communication? Please use the two media technology theories in the article “The Song of the Alphabet in Cyberspace” to explain the mobility.

        Mobility is the future of digital communication because it will enable us to widen our horizons and reach a larger amount of people quicker and more efficiently. In McLuhan's writing, he talks about hot and cold media, and how "hot" media is from a singular source, and really limited source of interaction. Mobility would eliminate that, and would allow a greater amount of interactivity with our environments. Mobility a "cold" media environment, meaning that there is more opportunities to interact and alter what you see to your like; a more personalized experience. McLuhan also talked about an acoustic environment, or direct content with the source of our information. Mobility would eliminate that as well, as there wouldn't be as much of a need to be in direct contact, but would rather have the ability to be away from our televisions and computer, and would be able to use that media in other places.

3. How does the possible integration of the mobile technology with the biological sensors create new opportunities for digital media communication in the future according to the digital media experts in the article? What are the possible ethical concerns?

        Possible integration of the mobile technology with the biological sensors are creating new opportunities for digital media communication in the future because we are able to use it for a more medical sense, as Howard Rheingold said in the article:

"We’re already seeing blood-sugar sensors for diabetics that plug into phones, sensors for environmental pollution, and I think we will rapidly see the growth of body-oriented sensors as part of the “quantified self” movement. Remote sensing of the chemical composition of the blood and even simple imaging devices will contribute to the growth of medicine and again, smartphones plus sensors in the body and sensors in the environment will lead to a new medium unlike smartphones as we know them today." 

      Despite even the medical sense of mobile phones, Dr. Max Schleser stated in hie theory that mobile media should be seen, and should strive to establish stronger connections between people and communities:

"In this context one should not only consider mobile media as screen media like TV or desktop computers, but a social interactive and multi-nodal network media that links to communities, provides new insights through visual communication, while providing access in many respects for a global audience. The notions of sociability and connectivity are and will be key in the future of mobile media."

        Ethical problems would be more aimed towards the question of where the jurisdiction of what can be used to advance technology. Will it come to a point where it is interwoven with our bodies? Our Clothing? Who knows. But when it comes to that point where physical devices are no longer enough, that will be time where the ethical issues arise.

4. Why are sociability and connectivity the important key for the future of mobile media?

       Sociability is what allows us to be more active in communication with friends and families from almost anywhere. It is becoming more and more crucial this day and age to have more socially oriented media. Connectivity allows us not just to be more interwoven in other's lives and activities, but allows us to expand into different communities and peer groups, sharing our ideas, and creating a greater sense of collective intelligence. Without these two elements of sociability and connectivity, the whole sense of having a personal, electronic experience, is lost, and the idea of having technological mobility is gone, losing its appeal. Those two elements are the two important keys to the sustainability for the future of mobile media. 

Digital Music Is Destroying the Industry, One Download at a Time

        Everyone has downloaded music illegally. It just seems like too much of a hassle spending money on something when you can simply get for free and have it be just a click away. Nowadays people are downloading music illegally, and having no shame in taking things what they want without having to pay.

        All the whole industry is paying for it.

        Digital Music has practically eliminated the cassette and other forms of old media. Buying CDs simply takes too long now, and downloading things in the comfort of our own homes is just easier and the number one option for music. As a result, artists make the majority of their money on tour rather than launch CDs because the risk of losing money is higher than ever.

        30 billion songs were illegally downloaded between 2004-2009, which means it's probably exponentially higher now than then. Of course as a result of this, it has led to loss of profits in the music industry, and since Napster in 1999, sales have gone down 47%, nearly an entire half of the money made, gone, just like that.

        That's not even the worst of it. Free music has cost the industry $12.5 Billion in losses, including a loss of 71,000 jobs. This is a major problem, and the music industry knows it. Now, labels feel the pressure of continuing with established artists instead of going out and finding new talent, which can gather larger audiences faster, bringing in more money as quickly and effectively as they can.

        Of course, like all crises, things were put into the law's hands. In 1999 the RIAA sued Napster, which at the type was the main source of illegally downloaded files and music. There was so much money put into an 8 year period, that it caused Napster to go bankrupt. After it was all said and done,
it changed file sharing laws forever.

        No matter how you look at it, digital downloads have had an overall negative effect on the music industry. But will it diminish it forever? Perhaps not. But the concept of the digitization to the music has been both a blessed curse, and an all too apparent curse.

       

Communication Journalism

Podcast:
http://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/episodes/86257-communication-journalism

RSS Feed:
http://www.buzzsprout.com/10676.rss

Twitter Killed All Journalists!

There has been a media murder, and the image above is the prime suspect. 

What was once a one-way street in the world of Journalism, has now become an overwhelming force where everyone can contribute, and have twitter to thank for that.

Many believe that journalism has been killed, and maybe it has, but more in the traditional sense. Twitter as well as other social media sites have allowed a greater sense of citizen journalism, making anyone able to share information that they obtain and distribute it to anyone, from anywhere in the world. But where does that leave the traditional journalists who are getting paid for what they do?

The short answer; referee. Or more specifically, they are used more and more as those that can correct people on the internet, keeping the credibility of the information intact, that way, no matter who puts out an image, or a link, or a video, there will always be someone who can verify it as fact.

Personally, I see this concept not as a deletion, but an evolution. The traditional journalist is dead, but the act of being a journalist is alive and well, maybe more so than usual. It's simply the medium and where it's obtained that makes it different.

A man by the name of McGuire at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication wrote about this topic, and stated:

"Twitter offers just as equal a chance for journalists to destroy credibility and ruin any potential connections with readers for an entire organization."

But that doesn't mean that people should be afraid of Twitter, that companies should cower in fear at the site of normal average citizens stealing their jobs simply with a camera phone. If anything, they should be embracing this evolution, and using this to further their Journalism careers, and understand that this craft has become a global enterprise.

When someone posts a tweet with an iPhone image and shows some major event, and posts links to other sites where they can get more information, don't be mad that he beat these mass journalists to the punch in broadcasting their information, be proud.

Because ultimately, it's them that's going to be the ones that give us up to date information when we want it. It is also up to the traditional journalists to make sure that the information is truthful and accurate.

Will you be part of the Journalist Revolution?



McGuire Article
http://cronkite.asu.edu/mcguireblog/?p=158

Are Twitter and Social Media Ruining Journalism?
http://jfbarclay.wordpress.com/2012/10/21/twitter-and-social-media-ruining-journalism/

Introduction to Podcasting

1.  How does podcasting fit into the organizational communication in business, non-profit, and academic contexts?

Podcasting fits into organizational communication because it is essentially streamlined, allowing the audience you’re reaching out to see a catalog of your content, and is essentially a universal medium. It allows anyone, no matter who they are, to start a podcast, and begin to create content that people may want to listen into and subscribe to. Anyone from businesses, non-profits, and academic contexts can be represented in the form of a podcast.

2.  Why does the speaker say that podcasting extends message?

The podcasts is able to educate. It is able to teach people. It needs to be able to teach people something and keep them wanting more. You’re going to want an audience that wants to hear your content everyday, and wants to keep coming back for more. It is able to extend the message beyond the conventional conversation, but is able to reach an ever-expanding audience and are able to get great feedback form them.

3. How does podcasting encourage participation culture according to the speaker?

It encourages participation culture because it allows people to participate in listening to it and enjoy your content. It also allows people to look at the rest of your content and become interested in what you have to give them. This encourages the feedback from your audience, almost instituting a form of collective intelligence, which can improve your podcast and content as a whole.

4. What are the three critical elements of development for a successfully media when the speaker talks about email, blogging, and online ad? Why does podcasting have the three elements?

The three critical elements of development for successful media are important, being able to keep content fresh and interesting, and keeping the audience wanting more on a daily basis. Podcasting has these three elements because they are essential to obtaining an audience and maintaining that audience that is always engaging and entertaining.

5. How does the concept of digital media convergence get applied in podcasting when the speaker discusses the compounding media?

Digital media convergence gets applied in podcasting through the availability of links that take you to other forms of media. Being able to access different social media sites, web pages, video, and even additional audio, that expands the content in the original podcast. It allows different types of mediums and media to come together towards a common objective, which is to better the podcast.

8 Principles of Web Design: Good and Bad

        One site that I felt was a good example of some of the 8 principles of web design, was Pandora Internet Radio. Immediately I saw that this was a cite that had a few of the criteria done. Similar to what was shown in the article with Spotify, Pandora meets the parameters of Fitt's Law, which says 

"the time required to move to a target area (e.g. click a button) is a function of the distance to the target and the size of the target. In other words, the bigger an object and the closer it is to us, the easier it is to use it." 

This was again evident, as the play/pause button is made so that it is slightly bigger than the other buttons on screen. There is also not a lot of clutter on the screen, allowing a more comfortable viewing of the page, and meaning more accurate readings, It's more streamlined, as shown in Hick's law, which says:

 "with every additional choice increases the time required to take a decision...So in order to provide a more enjoyable experience, we need to eliminate choices. The process of eliminating distracting options has to begin from the get go of the web design and should be carried on throughout the design process."

 I also noticed a little bit of the Rule of Thirds, as the main part of the page has one third for the selected artists, neatly organized, and the second third shows the main play, pause, fast forward and rewind buttons, meaning that this third is the most important in the whole page. Then the third section is for the person's account, and more personalization to their profile. All in all, there were enough of the 8 principles of sound web design met that makes this a well made web page.

        Then there's this site. This is TeacherXpress.com. While this does have the Rule of Thirds down, It has completely forgotten about Hick's Law, despite the fact that it has some poor level "organization". The main reason for this site not being well made is because it's far too busy. Right off the bat, you notice that there are way too choices for the viewer to look at at any given time. This needs much more organization and filtering, and could even use more Visual Hierarchy, as everything seems to be on even ground, which in web design terms is not necessarily best.
        Although you do see a little of both Laws of Proximity and Similarity, they don't help to aid the viewer in gaining more of an understanding of what to look for and where. There needs to be some sort of main graphic to draw people in, and then have a more simplified, organized way of showing all of the links that this site has to offer. Too busy in this case is terrible for the site, as even though there is tons of information here, there is just no one that will be able to go through all of, or any of it, really.



Links:

Teacher Xpress Main Site:
http://web.archive.org/web/20101225204203/http://teacherxpress.com/


Pandora: Internet Radio Main Site
http://www.pandora.com

Video Games Being Blamed for School Shootings

                                         Obama's Gun Control Announcement- January 16, 2013



        The tragic school shootings in Newtown, connecticut will resonate to us forever. Poor defenseless children gunned down for no reason by the hand of a maniac. Adam Lanza, age 20, was the culprit responsible for shooting and killing 26 people, 20 of them under the age of 7, and 6 female staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Because of this horrific event, the conversation of gun control has yet again saturated the TV screens and has been a hot button topic on the Internet. While there is some reform being instituted now by President Barak Obama, something interesting has surfaced. Vice President Joe Biden has apparently visited the video game industry to talk about controlling the violence and use of guns in games that are distributed to the public. In short, video games are being said to have a direct link to the violent shootings that have plagued this country since they originated.
        With the new gun control policies that President Obama is trying to pass, this would mean that there would be a stricter hold on those that are trying to purchase firearms. This is a very good thing, as there will finally be more background checks, in theory reducing the number of people "unsuitable to have a gun" from actually possessing one. This is the biggest gun control push since Reagan, and would hopefully be a more welcome reform, even though the NRA may have other ideas about it. But regardless, the fact that Video Games are still being under fire and being blamed for horrific massacres in the real world, is absolutely ludicrous and absurd.
        Frankly, this whole argument needs to stop. You can't expect this to really catch on as the source. How is it that virtual, unreal bullets are taking  responsibility for the damage done by real ones? According to Forbes, Joe Biden is meeting with "representatives" of the video game industry to talk about a solution to the violence of the games themselves. They stated:

"the idea that these two are remotely even close to equally responsible for mass shootings is ludicrous, as evidenced by countries like Japan with die-hard gaming populations but nearly zero mass shootings. What they do have? Much more restrictive gun laws, and far fewer firearms."

        Is the solution really that simple? Have the government take responsibility for their own actions and flawed regulation of the distribution of firearms? Why does Washington insist on blaming things that they don't have a stranglehold on? The gaming industry has made many different strides to preventing underage kids from getting their hands on violent video games. from "M" rated games, to explicitly telling parents NOT to buy those games for their 10 year old son, what else can they possibly do? The video game industry is merely a scapegoat for the misgivings of the government, and it's sad.
        CBS gave insight as to president Obama's policies for gun control, and it does seem to be much more aggressive than we've seen towards gun control in recent memory.

1. Assault Weapons Ban

There was a 10 year ban on 19 military grade weapons in the US in 1994, but since then has not been reinstated. Obama has tried to make an even more aggressive push to having it reinstated, and have it be an even tougher ban that the expired ban in 2004. However, because of the strong opposition from the NRA, having it passed will be easier said than done.

     2. Ban on High-Capacity Magazines

There is still some legality regarding the amount of rounds allowed per magazine, as there can essentially be dozens allowed without reloading. There is a major push now, especially since the summer shooting in Aurora, Colorado, and now with the Newtown, Connecticut shooting, to have a 10 bullet cap on magazines, a dramatic decrease from what is allowed now.

     3. Universal Background Checks

According to CBS, there is a very interesting statistic in the world of gun laws,

"Currently, criminal background checks are required only for guns sold through licensed firearm dealers, which according to the Campaign to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) account for only 60 percent of gun sales in the United States"

That means that there is 40% of gun transactions that are not licensed and do not have extensive background checks.

            The list goes on. But throughout all of this regulation, why is video games going under fire? Why is Newtown burning violent video games, when there has never been a direct link between the games themselves and the violence of those that play it? Adam Lanza is one of MILLIONS of people that played games, yet not everyone is going out and shooting up a school. The real reason? The man was insane. He had a chemical imbalance in his mind that made him believe that what he did was right. And yet, video games is the reason for that? Maybe it's the parents that should finally step up and take responsibility for the fact that they buy their children games that are far too mature for them. The argument is ridiculous and should be thrown out immediately, because the government is trying to blame something that they know nothing about, shocking I know. What do you think about the new gun laws that may be implemented soon? Do you blame video games for all the shootings and gun violence in the real world? Or do you think that there should be responsibility taken by the parents and how they monitor their kids? Please comment below and tell me what you think


Joe Biden and Video Game Industry "representatives" Meeting:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2013/01/10/joe-biden-meeting-with-video-game-industry-about-gun-violence/

CBS lays out Obama's plan for Gun Reform:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57564192/what-are-obamas-gun-control-proposals/

Video Games Being Scapegoated for Sandy Hook Shooting
http://www.policymic.com/articles/23298/gun-control-debate-video-games-are-being-scapegoated-for-the-sandy-hook-shooting/experts

Bonus Content:

Ralph Nader Speaks Out on Video Games:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/01/21/ralph-nader-calls-violent-video-games-electronic-child-molesters/

Background Information Regarding the Newtown Shooting:
http://www.greenwichtime.com/newtownshooting/article/State-Police-All-26-Newtown-victims-shot-with-4220548.php

Virtual Revolution

Questions for the documentary “Virtual Revolution” part 1, 2, and 3.

1.     The web is celebrated as the revolutionary technology that is great leveling of humanity creating equal opportunity, equal access, and equal potential. However, there are only a quarter of people on the earth who can use it. How do you explain the controversial argument here?

            The reason why there is that controversial argument here is that those people that are put into the quarter group are the one’s that can afford and have easy access to the Internet. Then there are others all over that world that simply are unable to access the Internet, whether it be due to financial reasons, or even the situations in the country they live in, similar to that of China with there restrictions on the Internet. That is why the ability to use the Internet, and becoming technologically literate is finally being implemented in Africa. Once they are able to receive and teach how to use the internet it will change the human race in many ways, allowing everyone to share information faster than ever, and having the network of people on the Internet expand even greater, gaining more knowledge into the collective.

2.     How is Wikipedia the best example to implement the leveling ideas of the Web rooted in the cultural revolution of 1960s, namely the Libertarianism in the counter culture? How does it explain some of the digital convergences?

The Wikipedia encyclopedia offers convenient and somewhat reliable free information that is uncensored and evades government control. The website offers the opportunity for anyone to edit and share information on any subject. It creates a collective hub of information that even the most average person can shape. There doesn't have to be any qualifications for the user to input what they feel is correct. The establishment of Wikipedia is a fulfillment of the mission statement of the Internet’s founding. The Internet was shaped off of the idealism of the hippie counterculture, which was simply free will and the ability to create an identity away from government control. Libertarianism is a political philosophy that encourages more of an absolute freedom, liberty and little to no government regulation or control. The creators of the once pubescent Internet were born into a time where computer technology, which was once government owned, was now becoming affordable and marketable to the American consumer. Of course, the Internet became a free place for everyone to use.

3.     How does the Web make it possible for different kinds of digital convergence?

            The web allows so many different types of digital media from all over the world to be all in one space, a place where anyone can contribute and alter what is being shared. The web is not controlled by any government, or bias, but rather by the people as a whole, creating a “collective intelligence”, an important part to the idea of what media convergence. The “anti-establishment”  movement that was really the groundwork for the internet itself, is now seen I full effect, as the Internet has been the place for instant feedback and a collection of the world’s knowledge all in one place. In order for digital convergence, there needed to be a space where all of it can be accessed at a given point, and that’s exactly what the web is for.

4.     How can the Internet become a challenge for traditional authority? Use the political landscape changes in some counties to illustrate your answer.

            The establishment of the electronic frontier Foundation championed and campaigned for freedom of ideas, expression and a sovereignty-less cyberspace that has no limits. This limitless atmosphere of information and content is a clear threat to the traditional mindset of authority. In the volatile country of Kenya, a simple blogger who campaigned for civil rights through the open Internet, established an open forum for those suppressed throughout the country to voice their oppression and post their untold stories for others around the world to see. This window into the usually censored Kenyan life exposed the injustices to the people of the web and as a result changed the atmosphere of the civil rights movement.

5.     Do you believe that getting information free can set us free eventually? Why or Why not? Do you see any concerns of the complete freedom or self-expression without limit on the Internet? Why or why not?

            I believe that getting information for free the way we do is an amazing thing. Without limitations or borders, the world truly is free from governments and other organizations limiting our access to the web and all its resources. However, this may be the only place where we will be truly be free, as the government has always tried to implement restrictions on other things, and are now even trying to put restriction and limitations on the Internet itself. I do see a little bit of a problem in the concept of absolute freedom. The fact that some people abuse the whole idea of “no boundaries” can be a problem on a moral level. Some entities would simply cross those borders, and it would be an issue for the community as a whole. All in all, however, the fact that the Internet is a space in which the world can collectively build an empire of collective knowledge will forever remain its greatest asset to society.

6.     In traditional media communications, it has the “vertical” authority. In the Web commutation, it becomes “horizontal?” How do you explain the change? How does this create the possibility for digital media convergence?

            The "vertical" authority on the web implies that there is a more strict level of guidelines. It seems that there is a more finite space and not much room to move around in. The "horizontal" authority, however, is more broad, and covers a wider space, leading us to believe that it encompasses more content from a larger group of people. The creator of the Internet has created an unbelievable power and yet turned his back on making any type of profit on it at all. The reason why it became such a success is because it was given away for free and available to anyone.  With the Internet being a free entity for any to own and use it created a process where the consumer had an equal opportunity to be a producer while being the opposite with producers. Everyone has equal opportunities. When Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web for everyone that was when digital converge was made possible because everyone was on an equal plane, and no one is above anyone in a completely free space.

7.     Why is that the Web is free critical for the success of the Web itself? How does that clash with the corporate business philosophy? How does that pose challenges for copyright issues at the same time? What will happen if the Web is not free?

            Having the web be free is the sole reason why it has been a revolutionary success, and if that is ever taken away, then the value of it to the world would immediately diminish. It clashes with the corporate business philosophy because companies try to limit what people see and share on the Internet, going against the entire meaning of the web itself. The web should either be completely free, or taken away, because it has become a safe haven for people to spread their knowledge to everyone. There is a sort of grey area with copyright infringement, as people are able to basically say and do what they want, yet that technically means that they can copy someone else’s work without asking. A solution to this would be to have copyright infringement implemented, and penalize those that take from others who have had their work copyrighted. That does seem to be a little bit of a contradiction to what the Internet is for, but it does seem like an unnecessary evil. If the web was not free, then the amount of people that would be able to fully access it would greatly decrease, and the whole original idea for the internet would be defeated permanently. That is why it is always important to protect the internet so that it is always a free space for everyone to use.

Historical Development of the Internet and World WIde Web

1. Why is broadband service the key for the success of online communication? What are the social effects of broadband service? How does the broadband service make digital convergence possible?

        Broadband service is the key for the success of online communication because it made the concept so much more expansive than those that have dial-up services to use their internet. Since this is a more efficient way of transferring information, more people are inclined to share information. The article said that "one trend that has been noted is that they are more likely to create and distribute media content than dial-up users, been though upload speeds are still slower than download speeds." It does allow a sense of community more than dial-up. There is also a more human connection created here, as everyone is able to send videos, images, and other content that can receive immediate feedback for the community. It also allows us to get a lot of information at once through a lot of different sources.
        The beauty of using visual media is that it transcends language and cultural barriers in ways that written media is simply unable to do, allowing us to have more of an appreciation of different types of cultures and peoples. This is where media convergence comes into play, as many different types of mediums can transport the same type of media to anywhere in the world.

2. Why does the use if World Wide Web open the door of the internet communication to a much wider audience? In what ways does the web with graphical web browsers move the online communication to "acoustic world" discussed in the previous class?

        The name really speaks for itself in terms of reaching a wide audience. As the internet really is the World Wide Web. Everyone can access the same information, and it can be shared instantly to anyone, and as a result, it allows people to have a united sense of allegiance to everyone, because everyone is equal on the internet. Graphical web browsers move the online communication to the "acoustic world", because each browser is a separate entity that distributes information to a mass audience, but that there is also no boundaries in a sense. The internet is a place where it is constantly expanding, and everyday is something new. The possibilities are endless, and that is how the "acoustic" aspect is still present in the online world.

3. How might telecommunication change if the government supported the development of broadband internet for everyone?

        Telecommunication can change if the government supported the development of broadband internet because a lot of times when the government tries to "support" something, it mostly means that they are going to try and regulate what is being viewed and shared. This would greatly change the sense of community that the internet already has, because then the types and amount of content that can be shared would be censored and limited. It would just seem that there would be some restrictions that the community wouldn't want to have on the internet.

4. News organizations were changed by the telegraph, and a whole new business of news, that of the wire services, was created because of the telegraph. Discuss other industries that could benefit from rapid dissemination of information and how and why they would benefit from it.

        Not just news organizations, but also businesses that are trying to sell new products would benefit from sending information instantly to a wide audience. There is such a benefit that companies are finally realizing, that the internet can be the best way to distribute new concepts, and receiving instant feedback. The benefits behind that speak for themselves, as the sense of community that the internet will get behind something that they believe in, and will even gives insight as to things that they like, things they dislike, and overall improvements that will make what you are trying to show better. Immediately being given information is an amazing way to have both the producer of content as well as the consumer of content to essentially be on the same playing field, and that's what keeps people interested.

5. Choose one of the common methods of online communication and think of how it could be improved in terms of facilitating communication between people, ensuring quality communication, and enabling the greatest number of users to distribute information.

        Social media, in my mind, can be greatly be improved in one major way; there can be more of a filter for different types of content. For example: Facebook should have a filter on your feed almost in the form of folders. There should be a folder for your friends feed, then a separate one for fan pages that you like, and then another one for messages and chat messages. It would just be easier, at least for me so that I can see what I want to, and not see what I don't. It seems to me that the whole point of media and how we access it is determined by filtering what we do and do not want to see, and I don't really see that happening on Facebook or on other forms on social media. This would be great for people to exchange information, because then we could find exactly what to see easily, and the quality would greatly greatly be increased as a result.

The Song of the Alphabet in Cyber-Space

1. What are the differences between the pre-literate acoustic world and the alphabetical visual world? How does the media of television become a part of the acoustic world?

        A pre-literate acoustic space comes before the alphabet. It is the world view through pre-illiterate eyes, a world of no boundaries in which information emerges not from fixed positions, but anywhere and everywhere; total immersion. The alphabetic visual word is different, as it was formed as texts only capable of being translated by those that are capable of doing so. It is a fixed place in which media is filtered and distributed by a more singular means. Television can become a part of the acoustic world because it can obtain and distribute content from anywhere and everywhere, and can allow a form of total immersion.

2. Why does the alphabet have the segregating tendencies? How exactly does the printing press reverse the segregating tendencies?

        The alphabet has segregating tendencies because it was only able to be interpreted by those who were able to, and that single person would then carry the message out to the masses, The printing press, however, has been able to reverse that effect, because it now allows more people to reach out to a much wider audience, and that way the information becomes much more true to the original creator, and not as open to interpretation.

3. How was the alphabetic communication in online communication make cyberspace acoustic? How is the online acoustic world different from the television, radio, or print acoustic world?

        The alphabetic communication in online communication makes cyberspace acoustic, because the alphabet itself is a set structure in which we base our languages and communications off of. We are still using the alphabet as it was in strictly print form, now just in a different medium. There is a major difference between online communication and that of radio, television, or print, because the internet gives us the ability to alter and change in the fly, creating a sort of avenue for evolution of our own means of communicating. 

4. Not only do we invent media and media technologies but also we select their uses in different contexts. What are two selection criteria? According to the selection criteria, please discuss what will happen to our online communication in 20 years.

        The two types of criteria are: 1. We want media to extend our communications beyond the biological boundaries of naked seeing and hearing, and 2. We want media to recapture elements of that biological communication which early artificial extensions may have lost- we want, in other words, our hearth of natural communication even as we exceed it in our extensions. According to this criteria, communication will be constantly evolving until the end of time. Just as many of our means of technology have replaced the more primitive versions of themselves, the current iterations of our gadgets will eventually be replaced with more efficient, necessary versions.

"Introduction: Worship at the Altar of Convergence"

1. Why does convergence happen in the communication and media fields? What are the two conditions that lead to convergence?

        Convergence happens in the media as the technology begins to evolve. Communication is something that cannot state stagnant for to long. It is something that is constantly changing along with the people that are using it. Converging different types of media allows the audience count to expand, and can reach people on all parts of the globe. It has gone from being a possibility into a necessity in the digital age. The two conditions that lead to the concept of convergence are wether or not there are the proper resources to expand into different mediums, and what types of media are being demanded as a means to make communication more efficient and useful to the masses. When those two criteria are met, media convergence is a key to evolving communication to fit our needs.

2. What are the three different kinds of digital convergence discussed in the article?

        The three different kinds of digital convergence that is given were that the computer industry is converging with the television industry, the word-processing program has converged with the typewriter, and the digital desktop publishing converged with the linotype machine and the letterpress. These are the three major convergences that have helped to shape what we use in technology today.

3. What cultural and social impacts does digital convergence have in addition to technological changes?

        Being able to share content over various mediums can create pathways leading to all different types of information. Our cultures, traditions and mindsets can be shared instantaneously, allowing us to communicate easily, making it a more social means. Because of that, the technologies that we develop are being made so that it's easier to implement these convergences. Televisions now have ben made so that you can access your social media and post things while still on the TV. Phones can now utilize social media instantly, and you can link all your profiles on the various sites together, constantly tethered to every facet of yourself on the internet. Being able to combine aspects of the media using links has many influences on culture because of what is being shared and expressed, and as a result, it becomes more social, and allows others to read and discuss it, linking us all together.

4. Does the new media displace old media in the history of media development? Why or why not?

        Old media was the foundation for modern communication. The origins of the radio and television allowed communication to a large of people possible. Since that time, it has evolved so that it has become more efficient, faster, and has made it to different mediums like the cell phone and personal computer. Since the digital age, social media has become parts of the medium that already exists, but has had more social implications, and has taken the old media's place as the new wave of evolution of communication. So new media has displaced new media because it isn't a physical product that is evolving communication, but rather os a part of something that already exists, and is an improvement of that.

5. The convergence happens form both the top-down corporate level and bottom-up grassroots level. How do both levels change the traditional concept of media consumption? 

        The traditional concept of media consumption was that the larger, top-down corporate level, simply communicated information to the bottom-up grassroots level, and that's it. There was no back and forth, and the radio prevented really any feedback from the audiences that it was talking to. Only those that could afford time on either the radio or the TV were allowed to utilize the medium. Now, all that has changed, as the evolution of the internet and social media has allowed anyone to communicate to everyone, and there a very high level of feedback from all of the internet that sees the site or post. This sense of community completely changes the idea of a one-track path to reaching an audience, but rather reaches out in all directions to all that are willing to see it.

6. What does digital convergence in media indicate for communication and journalism professionals in the future?

        If you are a journalist, or you are willing to pursue a career in journalism, digital convergence is essential in this day in age. Since everything can by instantly shared across all sorts of platforms, journalists are able to document the various changes in how we communicate, and spread it to a massive audience. This also helps journalists to keep a record of the evolution of the media itself. It indicates that people are willing to gravitate themselves more towards having their own niche, than to have some major company decide it for them.

Blog Intro Video

Welcome ladies and gentlemen to my blog. Here is the place where I will say some things and words and stuff that matter to me at the time. I am a Radio and TV major at Rider University, and I plan on using this for the foreseeable future. Hope you enjoy!