What Happens Now

So as the last post for our class, I wanted to focus a little more on the overall feel instead of the specific topics for this week. We've discussed such a wide range of ideas and media features in this class that it's hard to decide how I feel about media now. I would definitely say that our articles and discussions have made me aware of media on a whole other level. Now I can't watch TV without seeing commercials that promote products with fantasies of how they will change your life. Being so aware of this sales tactic makes me perhaps overly critical and I know my roommate is starting to get annoyed with the amount of times I point it out while she's trying to enjoy her soaps. Everything from faster texting phones that will allow you to overcome boundaries or allow you to break records to the network that will prove your worth as a mother. These might be a stretch but I definitely think that technology is constantly promising us things that are unrealistic. Trying to sell us products that will change our lives. Between our talks of personalization and glass bedrooms to the iPad and outrageous artists living in public, there are so many reasons to love and hate the Internet. I will constantly be looking to see what new kinds of media will be throw out into our culture to sink or float. The iPad is still so interesting to me and I want to see how its creative fantasies pan out. I would want to hear from a panel of the creators who promote the iPad as a life-changing device and the users that agreed or disagreed. I wonder if Apple would ever agree to something like this. A session for its users to just call it out on the failings or successes. If something like this were ever to occur (maybe it already has) it could change how products or sold or created, perhaps viewed more as a life enhancing accessory instead of a necessity. No matter Apple's actions, I know I will be far more aware and observant of the devices and Internet capabilities that I utilize in my everyday life due to this class.

About those Butterflies...

So much for staying positive on the New Media front. This week we discussed.... CYBERTERRORISM! YAY! After coming off my high of great discussions and ideas about what new media has to offer the optimists of the world, my balloon was popped. Especially after hearing about all the things cyberterrorists could do to my daily routine, like I don't know, crashing the train as I go to Union for dinner? I've become really excited about new media and all it has to offer... not. Seriously though, I don't do a huge amount of online shopping and I don't visit Al Qaeda's website on a regular basis, so I didn't think I was at large risk to cyberterrorism but I was clearly mistaken. I am at risk. Everyone is. I didn't think that Conway's article did quite as good a job as our class presentations at scaring me. So I went online and found a class that we all should take on cyberterrorism defense training! This website, CDI, is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security and offers free classes that include "a comprehensive, integrated series of courses that incorporates best practices, procedures, and methodologies for a variety of systems." I'm not really sure who would take these classes or how effective they would be but it made me feel a little bit better knowing that the government is at least aware of the threats we discussed in class. Personally I feel like this is a real vulnerable spot for everyone. I mean I'm sure people more educated than me in computer hacking and technology probably have a different opinion. But the Internet provides so many options, and thus so many ways to maneuver around the defense systems we may be able to institute. Either way I think it's safe to say that cyberterrorism is raining on my parade.

I'm not all about sunshine and butterflies...

Alright so in class I know I was referenced as trying to be positive but I just wanted to clarify that I'm not trying to be all sunshine and butterflies about everything. I agree that we have to be critical about the Internet and developments and all the rest. When I suggested that we look at the positive I meant that maybe we should check out more of the stuff worth knowing. Stuff that we can use or that might help us out. There are a couple sites that I thought would be cool to check out. First off I like how the Internet can raise awareness all around the world. I'm sure all of you got the invites on Facebook for "One Day Without Shoes" sponsored by TOMS. I don't know if anyone noticed that I wasn't wearing shoes on Thursday but this day was started to raise awareness of the amount of children that go without shoes. For anyone who doesn't know, TOMS is a site that sells shoes and for every pair purchased they donate a pair to a child in a third world country. I just think that the Internet enables us to know so much more than before and participate in little things like this. Yes, I know that my not wearing shoes for one day probably didn't do a whole lot for a child in need, but I'd like to think that the 1/4 million people that participated at least began to raise awareness and maybe made a difference. It just gives us so many more opportunities and I think that's what I meant when I said I wanted to focus on the positive. I want to know more about the sites that give me little opportunities to get connected or informed or help someone out.
Another website that I thought was cool is this site called KickStarter. It's a site that gives people opportunities to raise money for projects or endeavors. I know of KickStarter because my friend is trying to raise money with her friends from home for their mini web series. They get to post videos and give descriptions of the plot and their ideas so that people can learn about it and donate if they want. They have a set amount of time (like 100 days) to get people to pledge their goal of $3,000. This site is cool because it gives people a chance to do something they otherwise wouldn't be able to. Some people might think its dumb but I just like it okay! Gosh sorry for trying to see the good in stuff! I'm an optimist and I can't help it. So everyone just be happy! Maybe it is all about sunshine and butterflies!

PS if anyone wants to check out my friends project (and maybe wants to donate a few bucks!) here's the link Small Timers