This is my last blog for my Emerging Media course.  It is a bittersweet ending for this blog about social media, new technologies and emerging technology crazes.  This is not to say that I will not continue to blog, but the blog will become more informal and on more random subjects. 

This blog has taught me quite a bit.  I realized how much technology actually impacts me, and everything I do.  I realized that I have grown up with emerging technologies and media.  I often though that this is the era of emerging technology but throughout this course I have realized that we are always in a realm of emerging technology.  Radio was emerging at one point, landline telephones were emerging at one point, and even the light bulb was new technology in its time! Take all this into perspective and one can sit back and wonder what people will be saying in thirty years at our critiques about all these  ‘emerging media’ ideas.

Soon the Ipad will be like the first SEGA and a smartphone will be as funny as the original ‘brick’ cell phone that Zack Morris carries in the television show, Saved by the Bell. If you ask what that show is I will cry!

I hope that future classes like this one will blog about their experiences and critique all these changing ways.  In our class, each person brought various strengths to the course encouraging and informing the rest of us.  Speakers were brought in and opened our views to a virtual world of resumes and proved that paper will no longer cut it.  Finally, the assigned readings further proved (in case you were not receptive to everything else and needed to have a tangible book in your hand as proof, however you could purchase the E-reader versions of all of these) that in a world where everyone wants to know everything about you, you have to be open and responsive to the new methods of putting yourself out there.

Thank you readers for reading! I hope you have a happy holiday season! This is my blog and I can say it loudly, MERRY CHRISTMAS!  I will blog more in the future, but you might get a new spin on my ramblings!

-R-

I am a fan of technology love the ease of everything at my fingertips but there are flaws…. For some odd reason, perhaps that it is the end of the semester and I am stressed, I want to pick on the ease of technology.

 

Let’s look at Amazon, I love Amazon.  Seriously, I purchase all my books from their site because it is easy, efficient, cheap, and reliable.  So what am I crowing about right?! Well let me tell you.  All this ease that comes with having an Amazon account also comes with its consequences. For example, I want to watch a movie, I don’t own the movie, I look on Amazon and it is $1.50 for a used one with a very good quality rating. I say sweet, pay the $3 in shipping and suddenly I spent $5 I was not planning on spending! Yes, I received a good deal but when this happens too frequently it is not such a good thing, however it is not till after that I go hmmm not such a good idea.  I would not call my situation an issue but some people get addicted to this!

 

I now want to talk about Facebook.  I am fascinated by social networks in general, however, Facebook takes the cake! I am not worried about potential employers seeing anything I put online.  I am not a person that has all this inappropriate information on any profile, nor pictures of me intoxicated and dancing on a bar.  I am not sure why people put these pictures on online profiles and don’t just keep them for themselves but to each their own.  That being said, I still do not want an employer looking at pictures of all my friends and I at the beach or on vacation.  My twitter account is open; my LinkedIn account is open, so why must you see my Facebook? I don’t get it, google me, read my blog, twitter and LinkedIn but leave the Facebook alone.  I get that you shouldn’t put anything out there that you don’t want others to see and I don’t.  I am just curious as to when wanting to keep to some things in your life private for friends meant that they were inappropriate?

 

See my dilemma! It truly is a love/hate relationship.  However, it is not a relationship I am breaking up with anytime soon!

 

Until next time! 

Oh thanksgiving! I love this holiday: food, family, friends, pets, snow.  Okay so some of you may not have snow but where I come from a Thanksgiving snowstorm is a staple. Beyond the snow think about Thanksgiving traditions…think about the foods, the process, the cutting of the bird.  Perhaps the dinner has always been held at mom’s place or grandma’s place.  I personally am excited for the day I get to hold it at my own place.  A small graduate apartment is not the ideal place for thanksgiving but someday I will host this holiday and when it happens I will be prepared! 

So this blog is about emerging media and Thanksgiving this year crowned emerging media! How you ask? Well simply log online and all the advice you need was given from how to baste a turkey to how to crimp the dough on the piecrust.  If you were in a crisis on the big day, log onto the jenny-o webpage and all the online advice was there for the perfect bird.  Tweets were abound on the process, how to’s, and more.  I found none of these annoying and embraced the information for one day hosting my own. 

The best part of this Thanksgiving was being in the kitchen with my mom.  Although technology, blog posts, web pages, tweets and others were telling me how to create the best thanksgiving, I feel I learned best from Mom.  This year took it to another level; I was allowed to cut the bird.  A few cuts along the grain the right way, a few laughs and some spilled green bean hot-dish later it was a fantastic thanksgiving, without any technology telling me how.  However, if you need the help, embrace it! The help is there for a reason! Happy Holidays!!

*Before you read this I do not pretend to be the least bit objective and completely opinionated.  I do not wish to offend but it is my pure opinion analysis of the article mentioned*

 

 I currently read an article that a friend sent me.  This article suggested that the Harry Potter movies are better than the books.  Read it here!  I see so many issues with this article it is not even funny.  The article gives 5 reasons that the movies are better than the books.  Here is a small recap of what fans have told author Joal Ryan why the movies are are better:

 

1.Confusing but I think the author is trying to make the point that the movies can be a reinterpretation of the novel (also suggesting that Harry is a ‘hormonal’ teen, necessary?).

 

2. Movie magic adds the excitement that the book can’t give.

 

3. Quidditch, because the movies add their magic.

 

4. Brevity vs. the long-winded author J.K. Rowling (Ryan believes the editors need to do a better job cutting it down).

 

5. Cedric Diggory vs. Robert Pattinson.  (Ryan suggests that Robert Pattinson makes this role. Perhaps his writing of the “OMG!!!” is what makes this point valid?).

 

How could people believe this to be true? Did the contributors to this article actually read the books or do they suggest that the movies are better based on a purely ignorant standpoint? Honestly, I cannot believe that someone could suggest that a movie is better than a book. 

 

A book can fuel a person’s imagination for hours.  Picturing scenes, characters, conversations, and attitudes.  Now I have to admit I have not read all of the Harry Potter books.  I am currently half way through the fifth book but based on what I have read, many parts have been left out.  Relationships are not fully developed from what they could be and explanations of artifacts not discovered. 

 

I am not bashing the movies.  Movies do give a great experience for those who do not have the time to enjoy the books, and no one should miss out on the magical stories by J. K. Rowling.  Here are the reasons that I thing the ones mentioned above are wrong!

 

1.     Reinterpretation of the book sure, but not the interpretation of the characters and events that were in my mind.  Why suggest that someone else’s imagination is better than mine, or better than a middle school child reading the books?

2.     Movie magic does add a lot, but it misses a lot too! Movies have time restraints, your imagination does not.

3.     Sure Quidditch is amazing in the movies but exactly how does this cancel out the book? I feel this argument is not developed.

4.     Brevity? Really? Read the books and tell me you do not appreciate the explicit detail put in every inch of these books.  There is a reason J. K. Rowling is paid what she does and why the books are so popular.  Please show me where all these people are that love the movies better than the books!!!

5.     Robert Pattinson is really your best point for suggesting that these movies are better than the books?! I won’t even go into the ridiculousness of the “OMG!!!” comment.

 

So you see my opinion.  Feel free to create your own but I suggest reading some of the books before you jump the gun and go for the movies over the books.  Let us remember how to use our own imaginations and take us back to that innocent state of creating these stories in our dreams.

I made a big purchase, like huge, like I had to go have a beer before I could sign on the dotted line.  However, I have experienced no buyer’s remorse.  My first question with this purchase is the same as last week; do I need it or just want it?

I need a new computer but do I need all the amenities of the MacBook Pro? The answer, YES! So here is the thing, this computer has everything I need without having to buy additional software to install in order to do the editing I need to for projects I am working on.  ßHello run-on sentence!

Moving on, I can easily transfer everything off of my old computer and onto my new one without problems.  It also is compatible with all the editing software I will be using on Marquette’s campus.  Seemingly this is a win/win situation.  

I took my roommate with to encourage me that this was a wise decision.  I hate spending money and for this large purchase I needed a friend’s hand. I enter the apple store and it was amazing! I was suddenly surrounded by all of these amazing pieces of technology and every sales person was eager to help.  Although I had previously done my research for which computer would best suit my needs, I talked to an employee to make sure they agreed.  They confirmed what I suspected and now the big decision was to be made.  

I needed the concept of this purchase to sink in so I opted to walk around for a bit and come back.  I asked for the salespersons card and he handed it to me but assured me that anyone would help me when I came back.  They do not work on commission and they want to make sure everyone gets the assistance they need.  Can someone say CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! Bravo APPLE!!! 

Seriously I was impressed, so to make a long story short (or not so short for what is already written) I made the purchase.  I love this computer.  There is a learning curve but that comes with anything! 

Although I knew I needed a computer and would most likely go with an Apple product it was not just the product that sold me.  The customer service was top notch, the help great and the online support and information given made me an informed consumer that could make an educated decision.  Apple has figured this industry out and I give them five stars!! 

This week I was given the chance to play with an IPad.  My excitement of playing with this new device could be compared to the student that gets to hold the class pet for the first time in elementary school.  The light weight, rectangular, shiny piece of technology I held in my hands made me almost squeal in excitement. 

Many thoughts ran through my mind while I used this piece of equipment:

Do I need it?                                            Would I waste time playing with it?

 Why is it better than my computer?      Is it realistic for me?

Could it replace my computer?              Are there improvements that need to be
                                                                               done to it?

After using the IPad for the better of two hours I found it to be amazing.  However, no matter how amazing it is, I do not need it.  The IPad could not replace my computer.  There are just some things I can do on my computer that I would not be able to do on the IPad or could not do easily. 

Another issue I have with the IPad is that however convenient it is as a device, I have to pay additional for everything! I get a sour taste in my mouth when I pay for a device and then cannot use the entirety of the device until I pay for more applications.  I would love to try and read a book on this device.  I consider it more ‘reader friendly’ than a computer and because it is larger than a kindle I feel I would like it better than reading on various E-readers.  After being amazing with the quality of the display and wasting a significant amount of time watching hilarious videos, I think I would get distracted easily.  I also do not like the fact that it is not flash compatible. 

The device is not realistic for me.  Sure I would like one, but I don’t need one.  If I were to be traveling and having to give presentations or pitches I think this device would be a god-send.  I can see it being very useful and convenient for people who can use all the functions of it, for me I would rather save my money and buy a new MacBook Air.  Oh my I am starting to really like apple products!

 

Something has been bothering me for the past few days.  I have been pondering the word ‘friend’.  I was thinking about all the friends in my life and how some are truly just acquaintances. 

Think about all the social networks in which you communicate.   There are so many people that I communicate with and yet I consider very few truly friends.  I jump on Facebook and I have many friends, I go to LinkedIn and there are more, and let’s not forget all my Tweeps on Twitter.  So really I have many so called ‘friends’. 

The reason I bring this up today is I thought I saw someone who I have only communicated with via social networks.  I found it odd to try to talk to them in person and simply opted out. 

Am I the only person to experience this? Am I the only one that feels that how you know me on the internet and through social networks could be a bit different than real life? How do you interpret my statuses and tweets? Do you understand my sarcasm? Inflection cannot really be expressed through writing to show sarcasm and intent, perhaps I am coming off as cross or giddy. 

Could the problem be that I am open with my accounts and let most people be my friend and read my tweets?  Maybe all of you are more selective with who you have as friends and acquaintances.  All these thoughts run through my mind.

Having never experienced this before I have to wonder if others have.  I find it intriguing to start thinking about friends and acquaintances and putting them in ‘human’ and ‘social network’ categories.

Readers I need feedback on this one!

I remember when I was a kid and Friday would hit. I was so excited to get done with school and go rent a movie for the weekend.  My brother and I would decide if first we wanted to go to Video Vision or Hollywood Video, then if we had a coupon and could get more than one movie, then the debate of dinner.  I think we should have just bought Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls for how many times we rented it. 

So now you are wondering why I bring this up.  My roommate and I have a Netflix subscription.  In our quest to find the movie we wanted to watch, Ace Ventura was brought up in our conversation and brought me back to running into the video store to rent it. 

In a day where everything is readily available for us to use, I find Netflix to be fantastic! Not only can I rent Ace Ventura via DVD through the mail, I can watch it directly on my computer.  I wanted to see what else I could watch from time past.  To my surprise there were all the cartoons, (Rugrats, Loonytoons, Doug,The Jetsons) the amazing shows, (Saved By the Bell, Walker Texas ranger, The Cosby’s) and so much more!

How wonderful is it to pay a monthly fee and watch most of the movies instantly on your computer and any other movie in about two days.  New releases come out in a timely manner and if I have to wait a couple weeks, I don’t really mind.  I love the convenience of this business. 

When I was a kid it was routine to go to the video store and rent a movie, I am over the routine. I prefer the convenience and reliability of this service. An emerging service that is trumping others in the business, Netflix is on its way up while video rental stores are on their way out.

Hello to all of you!

I know I am supposed to write about emerging media, but something has captured my attention and stunned me.  Note it is a rare occurrence where I am completely shocked by something, but today was that occasion. 

Today I went to see the movie “Social Network”.  A fantastic movie mind you, time flew by and at the end I found myself saying, “Whoa, I am a part of that!”  The movie left me wondering who the select people are that set Facebook over 500,000 members, 1,000,000 members and so on.  They must know and have it written down somewhere! What would happen if you knew, you were in fact the millionth person to join Facebook?! I feel you should get a share of stock or some sort of recognition!

Beyond the fact that the movie was fantastic I was blown away by the theater.  Moving to Milwaukee from Northern MN the price of a movie increased dramatically.  This is the main reason I have not seen a movie since my move August 1st, however today I regret this.  Apparently emerging technologies are regional.  My hometown, not a small town mind you, is lacking in the field of having an amazing theater! I would not mind at all paying the extra money to have a comfortable seat, with enough leg room, sound system and visual display enough to feel you were in the room with the characters themselves!

This theater not only had popcorn; they had a smorgasbord of delectable treats for everyone! They had tea, coffee, icee’s, pizza, hotdogs, soup, nachos, candy, popcorn, and so much more! Since when did the movies turn into this?! Walking into the theater my jaw dropped; beautiful seats that fit your back and allow you to have your own space and not share the seat with the person next to you. 

So I wonder why this is a regional phenomena of updating and bringing theaters into the new age.   I know they are popular enough back home to support such a move, and why have some theaters in Northern MN not even reupholstered the seats since the grand opening in 1994 with the Lion King!

I am so excited to see another movie it is sickening, although I do recommend the 10:10am showing, $5! Who wants to catch a flick?!

It seems that wedding season has shifted to be year-round.  Friends are getting engaged left and right, weddings are no longer only held during the beautiful summer months, and I can keep track of everyone’s wedding organization by the click of a URL.

Long ago are the days of a wedding book, keeping every bride sane with planning.   Instead, there are online tools to aid, paper free, in planning bliss.  I honestly can see no wrong with this new age organization. 

Benefits as a guest:

As a guest, I can follow the progress and feel like I am a part of the event.  If I lose the invitation I do not have to worry because I can log on and RSVP, see where the event is, what time it starts and if it is a cash bar or not. Wondering who is in the bridal party or what the colors are? Look online!  If I cannot make it to the wedding there are online guest books that guests can sign and leave their endearments for the happy couple.  Have questions of where to stay for the event? The bride or groom can upload links to where I can make reservations.

Benefits as a bride/groom:

As a bride or groom these online tools are priceless.  All of your organization is at your fingertips no matter where you go.   Not only is everything together but you can access it via a mobile phone if you have an internet connection.  Guys, there are no longer the excuses of you not wanting to mess up the ‘book’ by looking at it, you can help too! Most couples want the guests to know their ‘story’. What is better than a web-page all about you and your experiences together? Guests can know his side of the story and her side of the story.  The couple can share who is in their wedding party and the importance of each person to them.  Some of these sites can even be linked to an online registry for the couple!

All in all, I would say this is a fantastic development of our ever changing technology.  In a world where convenience is golden, this is at the top of the heap for those who are ready to start the rest of their lives together.