The Next New Thing

The definition of new media originates from the evolution of old media in coherence with the Internet and social media.  In the future, new media will be redefined by technological advancements yet to be revealed.  I feel that the new focus is on individualistic needs such as social networking and personal entertainment.  Although Facebook and Twitter are still popular websites, I feel like users are tiring from countless updates and statuses from family, friends, and news networks.  I believe people want more for their intention spans such as discovering something new from Pinterest or Stumbleupon.  These websites have been around for a while now, but their audiences have expanded since then with smart systems that customize and recommend pages or content to our tastes/preferences.  Overall, I think the next new thing with new media is having information "discovered for you", not necessarily you searching.

Wiki-So Far

So browsing through the class wiki, I have been looking into new media and Education, especially with virtual worlds versus classroom environments.  I'd also like to contribute to Entertainment, considering I did a term paper on the future of old media and focused on each media mode (double checking statistics for updates).

P2P File Sharing

File sharing is the uploading, distribution, and downloading of digital content (such as documents, music, videos, pictures, etc.) between users online.  In the age of new media, distribution of content can reach larger audiences compared to physical distribution such as bookstores or libraries.  Peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing is similar to file sharing, only the transferring process excludes a central server.  The downside to file sharing is the illegality of it all.  Most content shared and downloaded are music and movies.  The entertainment industry continues to suffer profit losses due to piracy and copyright infringement(s) (Stelter, Digital Pirates Winning Battle with Studios).  Today, users prefer to stream multimedia rather than download bits by bits (Nuttall, File sharing joins the mainstream).  A few examples of P2P file sharing websites include BitTorrent, The Pirate Bay, uTorrent (recommended by download.cnet.com), HFS-HTTP File Server, etc.  Although some may argue that file sharing can lead to illegal sharing, NMA (Content producers should take advantage of P2P, not fear it) encourages producers to give downloadable access to users for free or donation, so for more exposure and online trafficking.

Privacy and Confidentiality

Privacy and Confidentiality are difficult to protect in terms of the Internet.  Although every digital device enables users to customize their privacy settings, advanced system tracking has found a way around that.  For instance, a person that is "private browsing," is really preventing any history searches and data to be recorded on their computer.  But is it true the other way around with websites?  Caches and cookies are still recorded unless the user manually deletes them.  I am usually weary when it comes to downloading apps on my portable devices, buying things online, or signing up to a website.  Most of the time, providers will say they will keep your information private (and perhaps from third-party advertisers), but what is that to stop them from tracking you?  Google is guilty in this matter.  Their system tracking (as well as other websites) allows them to read your searches and post advertisements  based on those searches.

Bluntly, it IS the Internet.  Anyone can search your name and information, especially if you have a FaceBook, Twitter, Linkedn, etc.  Yet the Internet is a useful took for people that want to post their resume online even though they know the risks.  Any information you put out publicly, people will find (including uploaded photos and videos).  Employers will search prospective employees' profiles and photos to obtain better knowledge of their character.  Unless you ask your family, friends, and peers, anything posted or uploaded can risk your protection as well as your reputation.  Most socialites tolerate their lack of privacy, considering they constantly update their statuses, tweets, blogs, pictures, videos, etc.  Simply, if someone wants to protect their privacy, they should limit the amount of information they put out there, and consider other peoples' feelings and privacy next time they post something.

Advice

Let me first consider what Baruch is already implementing with new media.  A lot of material and resources can already be accessed online for Baruch students and professors, such as course registration and payment, Blackboard, Baruch Blogs, library informational databases, etc.  In addition, the student government sends tweets on campus updates and upcoming events.  In my psychology class, my professor would post a poll (via FaceBook) and students would send in their texted votes.  I just realized the college has a social media directory (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Linkedn, etc.) found on the main Baruch website.  Also, students can now reserve group study rooms and access labs workstations online as well.

The main factors of new media are interaction, convergence, and the Internet.  So in terms of an enhanced learning experience, most professors do not take advantage of tools Baruch offers such as Baruch Blogs or Blackboard.  Since upcoming generations will be using and be more knowledgeable of digital technology, professors can try and hold discussions through private feeds (blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) outside of class.  This would help students understand important topics or questions being discussed, as well as participate more rather than within a class setting.  For instance, a politics course could follow news broadcasting accounts.  Or a literature class can use blogging for discussions (I understand some classes already do this).  Also recalling an assignment on blogs and wikis,' professors can post their course material, instructions, or resources as an alternative to Blackboard.

Creativity and New Media

New Media allows plenty of ways for creativity.  We can create things on our own or be inspired by others' creations.

I recently opened a Pinterest account, so anyone is free to follow me (still pretty new at this).  Anyway, I'm using what others' have posted as inspiration for my girlfriends' hangout.  I call it the Dames Reunion. I find this website and app very addicting since it's easy to re-pin posts and upload your own. I have discovered ideas and things that I would have never thought existed or could be done.

And I just returned to a virtual world, smallworlds.com, where you can dress however you want, create a work of art, and make a video (not mine, but I'm "in-world" friends with the creator).  Like any virtual website, anyone can customize their avatar. In the first picture, I decided to go with royalty on skates, and on the second, it was a Carnival-themed Amazonian.  The last two pictures are pieces of art constructed through a sculpting widget, and can be sold or bought with the virtual money.

Creativity

Today new media immensely fosters creativity in several ways for not only professional creative directors, but also amateurs who simply want to showcase their talent.  In the world of interconnected socialization, millions of people have access to the Internet and unlimited tools such as blogging, uploading videos and music, and social networking.  As learned previously, blogging can be used for news, how to's, journalism, product/service reviews, planning, showcasing photography and art, etc. As long as it is free and accessible, someone is bound to come across it. 

Websites such as YouTube or Souncloud enable people to show off their video and music editing talent, uploaded and made public for the world to see/hear.  As soon as Gangnam Style became a viral hit on the Internet, people started recording their own versions inspired by the dance and beat (same with the Harlem Shake).  Also, several videos on YouTube are parodies or mash-ups of popular movies, music, televised footage, etc (Barnes, Disney Tolerates a Rap Parody of its Critters. But Why?).  I remember finding an Obama version of "Call Me Maybe," using snippets of his speeches and interviews.  And if that isn't enough, there are many ways to market a blog or video through social networking, in which businesses, television hosts, and politicians have been taking advantage of.