Response#13 December 9, 2009

What Will it Take to Win the Election in 2012?

The recent presidential election was a shining example of how effectively the Obama campaign used social media and Web 2.0 tools, to not only engage the public but to also mobilize citizens and increase voter organization and turnout.  And it didn’t end there, the Obama administration has still continued to use various social media outlets to engage citizens and encourage dialogue on issues that are being addressed and facing potential legislation.

The Obama online grassroots approach was very successful and candidates in the 2012 elections will have to be even more tech savvy and creative, to reach the masses in the way that the Obama campaign did. The fact that people were downloading phone numbers from the Obama website and personally making calls on behalf of the campaign from their own personal mobile devices, just proves how powerful a grassroots approach is and how it engages and motivates people to do something and be part of a cause.

The Obama campaign used video and social networking very well and in a way that was not seen before in any prior elections. So what does all this mean for future elections? I think it sets a precedent for effective campaigning and what will be expected of candidates in the future. Candidates will have use social media, Web 2.0 platforms and digital strategies; there is really no going back after the last election.

MotherJones states in his blog that “The next campaign managers must decide: Follow the online-offline hybrid model used by Obama in 2008, or use technology in new ways to scale grassroots and field organizing beyond what has yet been possible.” Personally, I think it will be a combination of online, offline, grassroots, and the usage of new and emerging social media tools and platforms; that will make it an even MORE engaging campaign. For those who follow social media and trends, the next election will be an exciting one to watch and analyze. Who knows, maybe some kind of augmented reality applications might be involved to further increase grassroots efforts and mobilize the masses.

Response #11 December 2, 2009

The International Front

For this week’s class assignment we are suppose to “explore the international landscape of the internet and bloggers from around the world.” So many countries that begin with the letter A……. so I think I’ll explore the blogosphere of ARUBA. I personally have never visited there, but my sister just got back from her honeymoon in Aruba.

Browsing around Global Voices Online, I immediately noticed many posts on topics such as weather, tropical storms, tourism and elections. Arubagirl discusses the recent elections in Aruba and her opinions of newly elected officials and the election process. She is also into photography and has posted some really cool landscape photos on her blog. Global Tastes & Travels is a great resource for authentic Caribbean recipes, culture and spice. If you are looking for a recipe for banana mango tarts then check out this site. Janine Mendes-Franco has blogged about the tropical storms in the Caribbean and includes photos of storm damage along with witness accounts in her blog. Aruba Real Estate Updates (Real Estate Agent’s blog from Aruba) showcases properties for sale and activities that are going on around Aruba. This windsurfer’s blog has a category solely dedicated to Aruba, where his posts discuss topics such as windsurfing, competitions and  surfing conditions in Aruba. Flickr has AWESOME photos of Aruba (almost 200,000 of them), definitely worth checking out too.

Interested in traveling to Aruba or tourism? There are many travel blogs on Aruba and on this site you can scroll through many pages of them and see other traveler’s thoughts, pictures and recommendations.  The Aruba official tourism site (90,000 friends you haven’t met yet) has a forum that let’s people discuss anything Aruba. Topics such as; beaches, weather, airfare, accommodations, shopping, nightlife are just a few but there are many more. You can also view photos in the community gallery.

There’s a lot of good stuff out there on Aruba and good internet presence. There are many good sites that people can find, if they are interested Aruba, planning a trip there or just want to look at some amazing landscape photos. I thought that there would be less but I was pleasantly surprised.

                                                                                 ohhh how I wish I was there right now!!!

Response #10: The experience of editing Wikipedia December 1, 2009

  Before doing the wikipedia project, I had never edited a page on wikipedia or created a new one. To be honest, I was a little intimidated of how to present content, what resources to use, how to use the site’s editing formats, and fearful that someone would take my edits down or that they would not be approved. With all that said, I was relived when I realized that it wasn’t as intimidating as I thought it would be and my edits are still up. It feels good to know that I contributed to a free open source encyclopedia that anyone can access.

What really helped me was the wikipedia step by step tutorial, it really makes the whole editing process much easier and it really is user friendly. I think that anyone who is interested in editing or posting on wikipedia should read over all the tutorial steps because not only does it simplify the process, but it also eliminates room for error in editing formats, citations, links and resources.

After I posted my edits, I was pretty excited to see that they were still up there, and that I was able to add more information on something I was interested in. It was also reassuring to see that the page editor had seen my edits, citations and resources. After seeing the internal workings of wikipedia, I still think it’s a great free information resource. I also think that people who spend time learning about the editing process and actually research a topic, are most likely serious about the information that they are intending posting. In class we covered the issue of inaccuracies on wikipedia and the lack editing guidelines, but after doing the project I really think that the majority of people editing on wikipedia are serious about what they are doing, because it can be a time consuming process. There is always room for error and for some inaccurate edits to slip through the cracks. This has led to restrictions on editing to certain pages, such as articles on people.

 I think Wikipedia is a very impressive project that has a lot of potential for more growth. I encourage people to play around with Wikipedia; I’m glad I did!

Interested in who these “editors and contributors” are on wikipedia? Check out this video from CBS News.

Response #9 November 18, 2009

Wikipedia a Good Resource..

I know many people question the accuracy and validity of Wikipedia, for good reasons, but personally I’m a fan of both the site itself and what Wikipedia stands for. Founder Jimmy Wales’s open source enclyopedia allows anyone to create and edit articles on just about any topic. The goal of the project is to give everyone with Internet access the other opportunity to access this free encyclopedia, which is also available in many languages. As of today there are a total of 3,097,167 articles, and 18,586,975 pages in the English version. Wow!

 

I think that the concept of Wikipedia is great and the cause is noble, but since it is an open source platform and anyone can become an expert and make tweaks, this is where users need to proceed with caution. Users should be aware that there will be information that is inaccurate and maybe even false altogether. Personally, I use Wikipedia to get background information but since I know that people can make edits at anytime, I would most likely not use it as a primary source or my sole source of information. Wikipedia attempts to verify the posted information but sometimes not everything can be confirmed.

 

Just because there can be inaccuracies on Wikipedia doesn’t mean it’s not a good free encyclopedia, and Wikipedia has the potential to be even better if there was more of a review process and more restrictions and guidelines for posting articles or making edits. Browsing around Wikipedia I came across a page that catalogs mistakes and omissions in the Encyclopedia Britannica. It’s interesting to check out!

 

There is always room for error and Wikipedia does have a general disclaimer stating “to be advised that nothing found here has necessarily been reviewed by people with the expertise required to provide you with complete, accurate or reliable information.” With that said, users should be smart about what they use Wikipedia for.

 

Check out this video of news personality Brian Williams as he discusses his biography entry posted onWikipedia!!

Response #8 November 11, 2009

Last week’s class lecture on crowdsourcing and open source software offered good insight to how these platforms work and their rise in popularity. Two great examples that we examined in class were Wikipedia and Threadless. I had heard about threadless before and we have also talked about it in my branding class. I think it’s really cool that people can display their own designs, that people have the option of voting for their favorite design and that you can also purchase your favorite t-shirts. The top selling t-shirt designs were the ones with the most votes and it’s the threadless community that drives these t-shirt sales.

I did some exploring this week to see if i could find some other crowdsourcing networks that have strong communities and where the communities votes can turn your design into a top seller! On Minted, a recently launched site that sells stationary and paper products, allows designers to submit designs where they are voted on.  The top designs get to become part of the inventory, similar to the way threadless works. Another interesting site is Designbyhumans, which is also another t-shirt site where people submit their designs and the community votes on their favorites. It’s also a community that discusses art and Design by Humans holds contests to find the best t-shirt design in exchange for a cash prize.

Online Merch Table launched on Nimbit, is a place where you can sell your songs and merchandise such as t-shirts, hats and posters. You can also create a bio page for fans to find out more about you and  your fans can sign up for your newsletter. At spreadshirt, users set up online shops to sell t-shirts, hats, and mugs. Users can also browse by topics such as humor and holidays or by products such as bags, caps and aprons. Users can also leave feedback on products they like.

There are many sites out there (i just mentioned a few!) that encompass the elements of crowdsourcing and it’s really interesting to see how these interactive communities work and how they have the ability to essentially change someones life by making their design into a top selling t-shirt or stationary paper. There are also many open source applications out there that are pretty cool.

Response #7 November 4, 2009

Social Media …. a semester of learning

I have a fair amount of knowledge of social media and online tools, but I know that there is a lot out there, so this class has been great at showcasing what is out there and providing background information that makes it easier to understand. I love many aspects of social media and that it’s constantly changing, but there are times that I feel overwhelmed since i don’t work intensely with social media on a daily basis at my job. Going over these new tools and sites in class has been very beneficial and provides me with a manageable grip on social media.

 

It’s not just learning about what’s new and in right now, although that is important, but it’s also about understanding how social media has transformed over the years so that you can understand the needs and demands of users. I also liked learning about social media tools that may or may not be appropriate for your job/organization because not every social network or app may be of benefit for your organization’s stakeholders.

 

I really enjoyed reading some of the books that addressed changes and challenges that have been taking place in Web2.0 and social media. It’s important to understand why social media has changed and who the key players were and are at the forefront. I really enjoyed “Here Comes Everybody“ and learning about how technology enables us to form groups and connect with one another and how social media propels that community interaction and connection. I also thought it was interesting when we discussed the promise, tool and bargain, which Shirkey offers many examples of in his book. These three components can be applied to work situations when undertaking social media.

 

Going over the different and new google apps has also been beneficial especially googlewave and reader. I love google reader and I just learned about it in this class and now i’m addicted to it! It’s such a time saver.

 

Response #6 October 28, 2009

My Brother is a Gamer………

Personally, I’m not into video games but i do know someone who is, my younger brother in college. Growing up, i played the occasional Nintendo (old school) with my sister but i never really got into it. That’s probably because i never made it past level 2 and if i did, it most likely took me most of the day to get that far. We all can’t be pros!

The industry, that has become multiplayer online gaming and international gaming tournaments is a really interesting phenomenon to me. The gaming industry is huge and the gamers are really dedicated to their craft. I admire that.

In 2007, total sales were $18.85 billion which almost $10 billion of that being sales from games. It’s one of the fastest growing industry, surpassing many along the way. I think one of the reasons that the gaming industry is so popular and successful (technology and graphics aside) is the rise of the online gaming community. Gamers have developed successful niches within their community and their dedication to anything game related is astonishing.

Take my brother for example, he’s your average 20 year college student who loves video games and knows everything about what games to play, what codes to use, and what blogs to follow. He has found gaming buddies online who he plays with on a regular basis. He’s been participating in this ongoing relationship with the online gaming community since he was a teen. I personally never understood how he could spend hours playing these games and why he would beg my parents to buy him the latest and greatest game on the market, i mean it’s just a game right?!

I think that the future of online gaming is promising and i don’t think it’s just a trend that will fizzle away in a few years. It is indeed a fast growing industry that has already been incorporated into other industries. Although, it’s not something i follow on a regular basis, i am curious to see the what will happen and will definitely follow it.

 

Response #5

Google, love it or hate it?

I have always loved Google, I mean what’s not to like? There’s google maps, gchat, gmail, alerts, google earth, reader, google chrome and the list goes on and on. There seems to be an application for just about everything including mobile applications. The enormous entity that is Google, got me thinking about it’s potential dominance over the Internet and it’s ability to know exactly what we do when browsing the net.  Like many users, I use google for the majority of my searches and use google maps for just about anything requiring directions and gmail daily of course.

Personally, i’m in awe of Google. To me and many other users out there, Google has become an integral part our our daily lives and culture. It almost seems like we wouldn’t be able to function without it, which is kind of a scary thought. It just proves how invested our culture and Internet users are in this brand. Google’s mission “to organize the world’s information and making it accessible” is closely tied to its success and continuous innovation of tools/ applications. In order to keep up with its mission, google has to be on top of its game and maintain its status as a front runner in technology and innovation.

Sure, it’s scary to know how powerful google is and the dominance that they have over the web but i think that if it wasn’t  google then it would be someone else, it’s just the age that we are living in. The Internet is changing daily and users are curious and more than ready for new applications and tools. Google in a sense is satisfying the user’s urge. As users, we also need to know that nothing that we do online is private and that google knows more about your friend’s interests than you do! You take that risk by using gmail and google having access to those emails on their server. Even if you delete your emails or searches, it’s still always there on their server. And those ads, conveniently placed on the right hand side, have always freaked me out. Here is am writing an email about plans for Sushi night and there on the right hand side is an Ad for a local Sushi restaurant. Kinda weird and has always freaked me out.

I don’t think we need to be afraid of google right now but who knows about the future, it may be best to proceed with some caution

Response # 4 October 13, 2009

Native American culture junkies are you out there??

I have always had a fascination with anything Native American. I enjoy looking at tribal art, reading Native American poetry and listening to traditional Native American music. I remember impatiently awaiting the grand opening of the National Museum of the American Indian here in DC, which in my opinion was long overdo and slightly disappointing. Anyway, it still doesn’t change the fact that I love browsing online and reading just about ANYTHING Native American when I get a free chance. But, I have to admit that I have been quite disappointed with the lack of social networks, groups, blogs, and forums pertaining to Native American culture. Where’s the online community and voice? I really thought a lot of people were interested in history and Native American culture, but the online world seems to say something different.

 

Concerned by this, I spent some time trying to see what was really out there about Native American Culture and to try to find a few blogs, groups or forums that were interesting to read and follow. I came across The Krystyn Media Blog, which focuses on Native American media, film and the art scene. I found some really interesting posts and it also included links to various events and fundraising efforts. The Facebook page for the actual National Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian) is also really good. There are frequent posts and updates, along with many pictures and event details. Not to mention many followers; over 9,000 fans have joined the group. So maybe this is where all Native American junkies are flocking to?  It looks like there is a strong presence on Facebook and people are actively communicating one another and commenting on posts.  

 

I wonder why there is such a lack of presence in the online community. I suppose maybe it’s because Native American culture is such a broad topic and perhaps people are interested in the specific aspects of the culture; such as poetry, flute music, pottery and wigwams.

 

I hope in the future more fans of Native American culture can take on leading roles to establish more social networks on this subject because there really needs to be a stronger voice, community and ongoing conversation.

I know for a fact that it’s a very popular subject; just take a look at amount of books at any given bookstore or on Amazon.

Response #3 October 6, 2009

User Rights?

The social web expands by the very minute as innovation continues to develop and new users continue to join. With such a vast and ever expanding platform, should there be underlining guidelines; a so- called Bill of Rights to protect users?  Robert Scoble thinks the “real issue is that people just don’t care about this”, maybe so, but that doesn’t change the fact that people have started and are still actively talking about this topic. They are engaged in dialogue which means that there are a lot of users out there that do care and that are interested.   

 

 The ‘Bill of Rights’ definitely raises important questions about what user rights are and what users should expect when dealing with the social web. The three key points highlighted are Ownership, Control and Freedom. Ownership of the user’s personal information, control over this personal information and freedom to grant access to this personal information, if desired. These key points seem fundamental; basic guidelines if you will, and as a social web user I would like to have ownership, control and freedom over my personal information. Unfortunately, I know that this is not true. The saying goes that once you put something on the web, it will always be there and is not longer private or yours. You take that risk every time you join a new social network, blog or even make comments. Your private information and thoughts are out there for just about anyone to find or see. That’s why I think having a Bill of Rights would be reassuring and even beneficial, but I just don’t think it would work in regards to the social web. As the social web continues to expand these “user rights” pose challenges to both the users and the various sites that they use.

 

Who knows what will happen in the future, maybe there will be more regulations and more ‘terms of agreement,” and/or maybe more users will demand their fundamental user rights, establishing and embracing an actual Bill of Rights. What I do know is that you have to be a smart user. It’s very easy to be reckless on the social web and sometimes it’s important to approach with caution.