What is Citizen Journalism?
Citizen journalism is where media consumers are making themselves heard by reporting on their own news stories through various ways such as pictures from mobile phones or posting blogs.
What vision of the future did the Googlezon video present?
Googlezon is a fictional company created in the future when Google merges with Amazon. Google will create a 'Google Grid' which has an unlimited amount of storage space and bandwidth so any kind of media can be shared. Along with Amazon, Googlezon aim to take over from Microsoft and become the biggest internet news cast. Googlezon wins this so called battle and releases EPIC (Evolving Personalized Information Construct) which puts the fourth estate out of buisiness.
What could be the advantages and disadvantages for us as consumers?
Consumers would have a very personalised news agenda, so any type of media can be published as it is the consumer broadcasting what they want. There will be a lot of bias and the news will be based mainly on opinion rather than fact. The fourth estate will go out of business, therefore leaving journalists with no place in the media and no job.
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
Tuesday, 4 March 2008
Newspapers - In Decline?
What is 'the Fourth Estate'?
Fourth estate is the press itself, there are three other estates, religion, the courts and Parliament. The fourth estate was argued by Edmund Burke to act as a check on abuses of power by the other three estates by holding them accountable to the electorate and providing information to ensure democracy is allowed to operate efficiently.
Is new media technology responsible for the decline in newspapers?
Newspapers are now seen as publishing yesterday's news whereas new media technologies such as the internet and live news channels can broadcast live and breaking news at the time it happens. As well as this the internet has usurped the newspapers' role of news provider even further, so now newspaper companies are publishing newspapers on the internet for free, however newspapers which have experimented with subscription-only web access have had little success.
Fourth estate is the press itself, there are three other estates, religion, the courts and Parliament. The fourth estate was argued by Edmund Burke to act as a check on abuses of power by the other three estates by holding them accountable to the electorate and providing information to ensure democracy is allowed to operate efficiently.
Is new media technology responsible for the decline in newspapers?
Newspapers are now seen as publishing yesterday's news whereas new media technologies such as the internet and live news channels can broadcast live and breaking news at the time it happens. As well as this the internet has usurped the newspapers' role of news provider even further, so now newspaper companies are publishing newspapers on the internet for free, however newspapers which have experimented with subscription-only web access have had little success.
What does it mean "maybe the internet is already the cyberspace of the fourth estate"?
This means that the internet is taking over the role of the press, the internet is able to publish news when it breaks and can also offer online newspapers. The internet is now taking over from newspapers, as you can access news on the internet for free rather than having to pay for news which can be seen as old news in newspapers.
Sunday, 24 February 2008
Feedback #1
Well done Will - this blog is up to date and you make some interesting observations on NMTs. In terms of the film industry entry, to add some more depth, you need to reference some secondary sources to show your research - quotations, statistics etc.
C/2
C/2
Monday, 11 February 2008
Digital Technology and the Film Industry
Production
The film industry is changing as technology is developing. From the first films in black and white where there were little special effects used, and pretty basic stunts, to a period now where it seems that anything can be done in a film. One major feature of special effects that seems to have a dominant part in many films (mainly action and adventure) is CGI. Films can be created by CGI, such as Toy Story and Shrek, however it is mainly used in films for constructing miniatures and for shots so they do not have to use a lot of extras. Set design's and locations have been developed due to more money being available for films and along with CGI anything can now be created, for example someone could be in space in a a film when they are actual in a studio in front of a green screen.
Distribution
In 2005 representatives of Hollywood's top movie studios brought an end to the infamous film reel by introducing digital cinema initiatives. $631 million dollars was spent on prints for films in 2003 in North America according to the Motion Picture Association ofAmerica. Subtracting rells from that eqaution can reduce total distribution costs by 90%, and if you add costs for overseas distribution and exhibition, and the move from prints to digital files could mean an eventual annual savings of up to $900 million.
There is a lot of corruption which is happening in the distribution of films. Films which have only just come out at the cinema can be easily downloaded for free via the internet, as well as being purchased cheaply by pirate copy. This is all illegal however this shows the development in technology as people are being able to do this. According to the BBC one in four people on the internet have illegally downloaded a film.
When a film is released it can either be bought by VHS video, or DVD. Technology again has developed here so now most people own a DVD player and VHS is now going out of the window. DVD discs are also developing as well, going from the standard DVD to High Definition or HD DVD and just recently Blu-ray disc. DVD have many extras and special features which allow people to see how films are made, this is another reason to why DVD's are such a high selling product today.
Exhibition
Home cinema is changing people's look on the cinema. Home cinema allows you to watch a film in the comfort of your own home, you will have control of the film and you will be able to make it feel like your at the cinema with surround sound and your own tv. This is making cinema's less appealing, because there you can't stop the film say if you need to go to the toilet and you have to put up with noise from other people in the audience. Along with the development of DVD's the picture quality at home can also be better than what it is at the cinema, you will be able to watch the film in High Definition and it will seem all the more realistic to you. It seems that people just wait a few months for the film to come out on DVD so they can watch it at home rather than going to see it at the cinema first, so the whole cinema experience seems to be gradually disappearing.
The film industry is changing as technology is developing. From the first films in black and white where there were little special effects used, and pretty basic stunts, to a period now where it seems that anything can be done in a film. One major feature of special effects that seems to have a dominant part in many films (mainly action and adventure) is CGI. Films can be created by CGI, such as Toy Story and Shrek, however it is mainly used in films for constructing miniatures and for shots so they do not have to use a lot of extras. Set design's and locations have been developed due to more money being available for films and along with CGI anything can now be created, for example someone could be in space in a a film when they are actual in a studio in front of a green screen.
Distribution
In 2005 representatives of Hollywood's top movie studios brought an end to the infamous film reel by introducing digital cinema initiatives. $631 million dollars was spent on prints for films in 2003 in North America according to the Motion Picture Association ofAmerica. Subtracting rells from that eqaution can reduce total distribution costs by 90%, and if you add costs for overseas distribution and exhibition, and the move from prints to digital files could mean an eventual annual savings of up to $900 million.
There is a lot of corruption which is happening in the distribution of films. Films which have only just come out at the cinema can be easily downloaded for free via the internet, as well as being purchased cheaply by pirate copy. This is all illegal however this shows the development in technology as people are being able to do this. According to the BBC one in four people on the internet have illegally downloaded a film.
When a film is released it can either be bought by VHS video, or DVD. Technology again has developed here so now most people own a DVD player and VHS is now going out of the window. DVD discs are also developing as well, going from the standard DVD to High Definition or HD DVD and just recently Blu-ray disc. DVD have many extras and special features which allow people to see how films are made, this is another reason to why DVD's are such a high selling product today.
Exhibition
Home cinema is changing people's look on the cinema. Home cinema allows you to watch a film in the comfort of your own home, you will have control of the film and you will be able to make it feel like your at the cinema with surround sound and your own tv. This is making cinema's less appealing, because there you can't stop the film say if you need to go to the toilet and you have to put up with noise from other people in the audience. Along with the development of DVD's the picture quality at home can also be better than what it is at the cinema, you will be able to watch the film in High Definition and it will seem all the more realistic to you. It seems that people just wait a few months for the film to come out on DVD so they can watch it at home rather than going to see it at the cinema first, so the whole cinema experience seems to be gradually disappearing.
Monday, 7 January 2008
Moral panics and concerns with online technology
There are major panics and concerns that come with the development of online technology. You are now able to publish your own details online through websites such as Bebo and MySpace. On these websites you can publish personal details as well as post pictures and videos of yourself. You can either set your profile to be publicly viewed or privately viewed, where you select who your friends are on the website. This is all ok however anyone can create a website and pretend to be another person, and if your profile is set to be publicly viewed anyone can view it which is a major concern.
Second Life is a virtual world where you can create your own character (an avatar) and be whatever you like. This is a major development in technology as people are even setting up businesses on Second Life and making it part of their lives. There have been major problems in Second Life with censorship. There are no Police in this virtual world so you are literally able to do anything you want so this is causing a major concern over who should be able to create an Avatar and what should be in this world. Also as there are no rules in the virtual world there is no way of controlling what happens as you are free to do what you like. All this online technology is however only available to people who can afford it. People who are in the less economically developed parts of the world may be left behind as the technology develops companies may put more into the virtual world as it becomes bigger and as the less economically developed countries will be unable to access this economy.
Second Life is a virtual world where you can create your own character (an avatar) and be whatever you like. This is a major development in technology as people are even setting up businesses on Second Life and making it part of their lives. There have been major problems in Second Life with censorship. There are no Police in this virtual world so you are literally able to do anything you want so this is causing a major concern over who should be able to create an Avatar and what should be in this world. Also as there are no rules in the virtual world there is no way of controlling what happens as you are free to do what you like. All this online technology is however only available to people who can afford it. People who are in the less economically developed parts of the world may be left behind as the technology develops companies may put more into the virtual world as it becomes bigger and as the less economically developed countries will be unable to access this economy.
Sunday, 6 January 2008
What is the future for online technology?
1. Who is Chris De Wolfe and what does he say is the future for social networking? What impact will portable hardware have on this area of technology?
Chris De Wolfe is the CEO and co-founder of MySpace and he believes that the future of social networking is to become more personal and portable. He expects that social activity will become more fluid based on the online population that want content where they want it, when they want it, and how they want it. He believes that social activity should be portable and the industry will carry on moving into that direction. Finally he says that the future of the social web will harness the savvy of the masses to produce more relevant and meaningful social experiences, ultimately pushing the larger industry to be more innovative and progressive.
2. Who is Chad Hurley and what does he say is his company's goal? Is he a positive or negative technological determinist?
Chad Hurler is the CEO and co-founder of YouTube and his company's goal is that in five years, video broadcasting will be the most ubiquitous and accessible form of communication. Personal media devices will be universal and interconnected. So in five years the world will be a smaller place
3. What does Maurice Levy say is the challenge for advertisers and what is 'liquid media' compared to 'linear media'?
Maurice Levy believes that virtualy all media will be digital in five years and digital will enable almost all kinds of advertising. Online advertising will depend more than ever on the one element which has been at the heart of impactful advertising, both analogue and digital. Linear media is fast giving way to liquid media, this is because liquid media enables you to move seamlessly in and out of different settings as people are no longer willing to put up with interruptions for a commercial break during their entertainment experience
4. What parallels does Norvig draw between Edison inventing electricity and the development of online technology in terms of searching for information? (tricky question - read this section carefully)
Edison invented electricity and now today we assume that electricity will be on demand in almost every room of every building we visit. Edison may have found this useful however he would have not been able to foresee the range of appliances this would enable. This draws a parrellel with the development of online technology as it is increasing and computers are becoming more fluid so they can attend to each persons specific needs.
5. What are the issues for the developing world? How is this evidence of a 'digital divide'? (socio-economic divide due to access to technology)
The internet and other information-age tools, such as digital archiving, will help us understand the world more deeply, broadly and creatively. The new digital media helps us understand what is happening in the world and the divides between the economically developed countries and the less economically developed countries. The less developed countries will have limited access to the latest forms of new digital media which the economically developed countries will have which will keep the less economically developed countries behind with technology and information.
Chris De Wolfe is the CEO and co-founder of MySpace and he believes that the future of social networking is to become more personal and portable. He expects that social activity will become more fluid based on the online population that want content where they want it, when they want it, and how they want it. He believes that social activity should be portable and the industry will carry on moving into that direction. Finally he says that the future of the social web will harness the savvy of the masses to produce more relevant and meaningful social experiences, ultimately pushing the larger industry to be more innovative and progressive.
2. Who is Chad Hurley and what does he say is his company's goal? Is he a positive or negative technological determinist?
Chad Hurler is the CEO and co-founder of YouTube and his company's goal is that in five years, video broadcasting will be the most ubiquitous and accessible form of communication. Personal media devices will be universal and interconnected. So in five years the world will be a smaller place
3. What does Maurice Levy say is the challenge for advertisers and what is 'liquid media' compared to 'linear media'?
Maurice Levy believes that virtualy all media will be digital in five years and digital will enable almost all kinds of advertising. Online advertising will depend more than ever on the one element which has been at the heart of impactful advertising, both analogue and digital. Linear media is fast giving way to liquid media, this is because liquid media enables you to move seamlessly in and out of different settings as people are no longer willing to put up with interruptions for a commercial break during their entertainment experience
4. What parallels does Norvig draw between Edison inventing electricity and the development of online technology in terms of searching for information? (tricky question - read this section carefully)
Edison invented electricity and now today we assume that electricity will be on demand in almost every room of every building we visit. Edison may have found this useful however he would have not been able to foresee the range of appliances this would enable. This draws a parrellel with the development of online technology as it is increasing and computers are becoming more fluid so they can attend to each persons specific needs.
5. What are the issues for the developing world? How is this evidence of a 'digital divide'? (socio-economic divide due to access to technology)
The internet and other information-age tools, such as digital archiving, will help us understand the world more deeply, broadly and creatively. The new digital media helps us understand what is happening in the world and the divides between the economically developed countries and the less economically developed countries. The less developed countries will have limited access to the latest forms of new digital media which the economically developed countries will have which will keep the less economically developed countries behind with technology and information.
The key issues for audiences and institutions
From the podcast there were six main key terms that were thoroughly covered and three other areas which were looked at.
The first key term is Digitality, this is a way of encoding information in a series of zero's and one's using binary. This is how a computer works, electrical pulse on or electrical pulse off and any programming is based on binary, information can be dealt with in the code.
The second key term is Interactivity, which is a way of streaming information so it can go through the air via a satellite system, ISDN cable (broadband), telephone cable and cable satellite. The way its compressed means more width so multiple strands of information can be sent via one feed. Interactive means that you can interact with other people, say yes and no to it, it is a feed that goes both ways rather than one way.
The third key term is Hypertextuality. The organisation in texts is no longer in linea so you can jump any way you like where you like in a text. You can jump from one text to another, so the producers of the texts must ensure that you can jump around their text and that you can leave their text and go to another one. An example of this is the way that websites are linked and how TV programmes are being broken down into short segments to allow for adverts to try and keep your interest and to make you think about the small bites of information.
The fourth key term is Dispersal, which is how information is shared and communicated to do with the market share and size of the market as well as the take up, so who is using it. Dispersal coupled with digitality increases the market and makes a huge market for producers.
The fifth key term is Virtuality. Ideas that link with real representation, some of the virtual worlds are representational. Mimicking and re-presenting the world.
The final key term is Convergence. New technologies converging into one e.g. MP3 players that show pictures. The debate is where it will go next and whether people will use it. It is related to size as the gadgets are getting bigger they are able to fit more small data packets in them.
The three other topics mentioned were, Audience, Regulation and Control and Ownership.
The first key term is Digitality, this is a way of encoding information in a series of zero's and one's using binary. This is how a computer works, electrical pulse on or electrical pulse off and any programming is based on binary, information can be dealt with in the code.
The second key term is Interactivity, which is a way of streaming information so it can go through the air via a satellite system, ISDN cable (broadband), telephone cable and cable satellite. The way its compressed means more width so multiple strands of information can be sent via one feed. Interactive means that you can interact with other people, say yes and no to it, it is a feed that goes both ways rather than one way.
The third key term is Hypertextuality. The organisation in texts is no longer in linea so you can jump any way you like where you like in a text. You can jump from one text to another, so the producers of the texts must ensure that you can jump around their text and that you can leave their text and go to another one. An example of this is the way that websites are linked and how TV programmes are being broken down into short segments to allow for adverts to try and keep your interest and to make you think about the small bites of information.
The fourth key term is Dispersal, which is how information is shared and communicated to do with the market share and size of the market as well as the take up, so who is using it. Dispersal coupled with digitality increases the market and makes a huge market for producers.
The fifth key term is Virtuality. Ideas that link with real representation, some of the virtual worlds are representational. Mimicking and re-presenting the world.
The final key term is Convergence. New technologies converging into one e.g. MP3 players that show pictures. The debate is where it will go next and whether people will use it. It is related to size as the gadgets are getting bigger they are able to fit more small data packets in them.
The three other topics mentioned were, Audience, Regulation and Control and Ownership.
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