About Someone Else's Term Project

Overall I think everyone did a great job with the presentations. But if I had to pick one that stand out for me, it would have to be Mike's project on new media and its impact on teens. The numbers and statistics shown in this presentation were astonishing. People who are constantly using new media such as SNS and the computer or the 'heavy users' were reported to have lower grades while the 'light users' reported doing better in school. Heavy users also have family issues while light users seem happier with family members. There is definitely a correlation between overusing new media and ones person life. Teens are the ones especially vulnerable to this since they seem to have the most free time.

However, the researchers don't take into account that people usually multitask while using the computer. So although there might be an increase in hours of using the computer, people/ teens may also be doing their homework assignments (since schools are starting to offer hw to be done online) while being active on a SNS. This will go against the argument that increase computer hours means decrease school work. New media has also allow people to stay connect with family, which can actually bring families together. Overall I think there are some correlation between heavy usage of the computer and one's personal life, but there certainly need to be more research done in this area for a more valid answer.

About My Term Project

I will be be presenting about: Social Networking: Better or Worse than the Real thing? I'll first give a brief history of social networking. Then talk about the advantages and disadvantages of social networking. Follow by real life in comparison with social networking. Finally I will give you my conclusion on which one I believe is better.

The ‘original’ SNS was SixDegrees.com. It was the first to combine the features of creating profiles and lists of friends to share with others. The service did close down around 2000 because the users complained that there was nothing else to do after accepting friend requests (I guess they didn’t have mafia wars back then). Also most users were not interested in meeting random people, they would only add people they know fairly well. Just to show how times have changed.

Advantages of SNS are that it’s rather intimate in the sense that you are able to learn more about a person aside from their names. For instance on facebook, you can see where they went to school and what recent activities they've done. You can join groups and meet people with the same beliefs as you. If you're a fan of something that no one else appreciates you can rest assure that there is going to be at least another person on SNS that will support your beliefs. SNS has made the world a smaller place. Families and friends with an internet connected computer can stay connected with one another from around the world. SNS also give the notion of unlimited availability where you can literally make new friends and stay connected with others as you sleep. For instance, anyone can choose to follow you on twitter and bloggers. You can check someone's profile on facebook without the person even being online. You are constantly available.

There are various disadvantages as well. For instance, multiple suicides had been caused by cyber bullying. Privacy and malicious third party apps are a big issue as well, according to McAfee users should be weary of the links they click on in facebook. What might look like an invite can actually be malicious third party apps. Ironically although you are socializing in SNS, you can become less social-able in real life. I actually know a people who are very lively online but rather quiet when in real life, which I find odd. This can also affect your job interviewing skills as well.

When you socialize in real life you can see the other persons emotions and reactions to what you do or say. People can write 'LOL' and not actually laugh. It's just not the same as real life because you get to physically be there with the person. Instead of chatrooms you can physically hang out. People can also put up fake photos or photos can be photoshoped on SNS, this way you will be able to see the real person.

But disadvantages of real life are pretty obvious. It's hard to stay connect with people who lives far away without SNS. It's even hard to stay connected with people you go to the same school with. For instance, you and your friend go to Baruch, but you may never see or hang out with one another due to your class schedule and job. Another disadvantage is that it'll harder for you to lie to someone in real life compared with SNS, you'll have to practice to be a good actor whereas on SNS you can just bs the whole way, with an elaborate story and photoshoped pictures to prove your point. ;]

Ultimately SNS and real life are just "Two-halves to support a local community". One shouldn’t just exclude oneself to a particular field because it’s only when you combine both that will get the best results. This is pretty much what I’m going to cover in my presentation.

The Next New Thing

Nearly every kind of 'new media' exist already. For instance, you can do nearly anything you want due to the enormity of apps on the iPhone. I guess for something to be 'new' in new media would be integration of different parts of new media. Have one thing that can do everything efficiently. I personally use Amazon and Youtube a lot. I would browse what product to buy on Amazon and then open a new tab to find video reviews for the product. Why not combine both. It's definitely more helpful to have a video review of how the product looks and feels as well as written personal reviews.

Privacy & Confidentiality

There are definitely privacy issues with new media. Social networking sites might be the ones that are most subjected to this. For instance, people upload a vast amount of information on facebook, including one's birthday, occupation, address, and phone number. Not to mention the loads of pictures people post on their page. If you've ever tried it, it's quite easy to check out a strangers facebook page with just clicks of the mouse. The reason for this is because people either don't know or don't touch their privacy settings.

Users do receive a notification about changing their privacy setting from facebook, but this usually goes ignored. I believe the reason for this is because there isn't much emphasis on the notifications, it's just a small pop up text, where you can easily ignore it. I don't know the actual numbers but identity theft and scams must be at an all time high because of these privacy issues. Although new media makes life easier, it also makes negative things easier as well.

Advice to Baruch College

Although new media was used extensively in our class, it's rather rare for other professors to do use it. If I was hired by Baruch College to use new media to improve the College, I would definitely incorporate some of the new media tools I've learned. I feel that each course should have a wiki, this way students can share information with one another, as well as see the work that previous classes have done. This will allow students to have a better understanding of materials taught in class.

As seen in class, Youtube videos can be very helpful in the learning process, it's definitely more interesting and gets the students attentions. Why not create a Baruch College community channel on Youtube or on the school's webpage. Contents may include anything from giving a tour of the school for upcoming students to recorded class lectures. Hearing or learning something in the classroom just once might not be enough for people; this way students won't have to constantly bother the professor and other students about what was already said.

Whenever the semester starts, you would see so many flyers posted up for books. It's obvious that students want CHEAPER BOOKS! By just giving us bulletin boards to post our flyers in school is not enough, and not to mention extremely wasteful. The school should have a market place (similar to that of Facebook) exclusively for students; where students can buy, sell, and trade school material like books.

These are just some suggestion I have for the school. It's not perfect, but it certainly beats what we have now. The amazing thing is that ALL this is actually possible with new media!!

Our Class Wiki - So Far

Although I initially signed up to be a contributor for, "How Business is Using Social Networking" I'm also contributing in other fields as well. I basically try to add on to the, rather vast, information that's already on the wiki, from interesting articles that I stumble upon while roaming the web. I've also added information using some of the interesting class readings as well. I haven't been really active in the wiki lately because of the Spring break (which is already over =/ ) , but I will definitely continue to work on it now that school is starting again.

I will continue to use the same method as I have been doing for the wiki contribution, I will also be using the Baruch database to add information since I'm already using it for other tasks as well. I will also like to do some editing in the future seeing that some stuff are a little outdated.

My New Media Class - So Far

New media is definitely a interesting area to study, which is why I find this class to be very interesting thus far. The required assignments are all done and submitted electronically, this makes it very convenient for me, since I'm usually on the computer. This might also be the reason that I tend to finish this class's assignments before my other classes. Anyways, I find the readings for this class to be very informative and interesting. I had no idea, prior to this class that wiki's can be integrated into the classrooms; which is a great idea!

Aside from being on-top of my blogging, I'm also starting to use twitter more frequently; in fact I've downloaded the twitter app for my phone so that I can literally tweet and go. I will also start contributing on the wiki's now that I'm done with all my exams (finally!!). The way I see it is that if the other contributions (blogs and twitter) are relatively easy and fun, this (wiki) shouldn't be any different. I'm actually looking forward to see what I can contribute a relatively completed site (hopefully something :] ).

I enjoy this type of learning (so far), nothing difficult has arise (so far) and hopefully it stays that way. Not to say that I'm scare of a challenge, because that's not the case, I'm just happy that I can be laid-back for this class and actually enjoy what I'm learning :].