Food for Thought

Jet’s linebacker Bart Scott is tired of fans becoming engrossed by social media and technology. However, technology is an extremely useful tool to help supplement one’s absence from actual game day. So what is all the fuss about? Not only are fans using technology to give them the closest game day experience, but they are becoming distracted by it within the stadiums, according to Scott. 

   "We have to challenge the people that [are] in the stadium now to get off their iPads and tweets and represent the stadium and get loud and make it a home-field advantage for us," Scott said Thursday, according to the New York Daily News.

Does this throw up any red flags or is the population just using technology the way it is ought to be used? With Twitter, statues or tweets rather, are updated constantly. One can use it to basically explain their current location, view or feelings on any subject.  One could argue that tweeting during the game helps promote the NFL. It gives the power of promotion to anyone watching the game, not only in the stadium, but to those at home as well. Anything said may draw any one of someone’s followers to watch the game or check out the replay. Is this not a positive thing? 

Should this be a concern? Those who pay for a ticket are there to watch, correct? They would not have paid that money to just sit there and tweet. It doesn’t make sense that social media could disrupt the entire game. Am I going to tweet while I’m at the game, yes! That doesn’t mean that I am completely out of the context of the stadium. Cheering continues and noise will still be generated. It takes only a few seconds to tweet so it doesn’t seem to be much of an issue. The real fans are there to cheer and will not miss out due to a tweet. Those on their iPads could definitely make rise to a different list of concerns, but Twitter is our focus. 

Twitter has blown up the communication network. It is part of the social norm and will continue to grow. There is no shame in utilizing the technology created for us. However, is it changing the way we view professional sports? Is it a bad thing or a good thing? Thoughts anyone?

!CAUTION!

Rick Santorum, yes the former presidential candidate, has a Google headache. When searching his name on the famous search engine, fake definitions of santorum appear. The words depict a result of a rather vulgar sex act. Here is the link to express the severity of the issue, sorry Rick! Santorum wants Google to clean up the search results for his name and one could only side with him. A man’s reputation, livelihood and self-esteem are at hand here.

Scott Rubin, Google’s spokesman, said, “We have a bias toward free expressions. That means that some ugly things will show up.” How scary is that? Yes, the tools provided by the World Wide Web are incredibly useful, but how far is too far? How much is too much and can digital media disintegrate people’s lives. 

Most of the information put forth on this blog has had a positive vibe. However, this is not the case on September 22, 2011. Digital media needs to be used cautiously. One cannot post whatever they want on the internet and expect it to be viewed by a general audience. Anything put on the web can be used against one in a negative way. The way one tweets or updates a status on Facebook can have an entirely different meaning online. F2F interaction seems to be the easiest way to comprehend one’s tone through body language and voice, but those aspects can become lost in cyberspace. 

Every week athletes are being misinterpreted or misrepresented through their tweets on Twitter. Are these so-called role models lashing out and expressing their feelings negatively or is that just how we perceive their comments? Players are being fined for what they say on Twitter and are getting bad reputations for how we comprehend their words. Is that fair to them? No, but digital media can be an evil tool. Everyone needs to examine the pros and cons of the digital world in their own eyes. The pros by far outnumber the cons in many situations, but as with anything, the cons still exist. Be smart about the release of information and monitor your digital output. Embrace digital media, but be careful!

4G Data Services Feed Social Media Revolution

AT&T plans to debut their 4G network this Sunday. They will become the second major company to release 4G capabilities following their closest competitor Verizon. It will debut in five cities and reach over 70 million people. What does this mean for social media and its users? 

4G capabilities will increase social media substantially. The more people that can access social media effectively through their phones will increase the use of it. With fourth-generation data services, one is able to use their cellphone virtually anywhere. Roaming is cut down by the new technology and increasingly faster speeds have been implemented. Not only can one access social media faster, but they can use it in more places than before. The networks are expanding and are creating better coverage for users. 

Faster speeds means more posts, uploads and downloads at virtually any time and anywhere. The hassle of waiting for a phone to load internet is being phased out. Smartphones and their capabilities have changed the way we use the internet and social media. The technology of having the World Wide Web and social media in our pocket with essentially the same experience as a laptop or desk computer is mind blowing. 

Sites like Skype and YouTube will benefit from the new technology considerably. The video experience will improve because of the increased speed. Videos will be uploaded quicker and loaded even faster. Skype’s video messaging will be viewed clearer and have limited lag interference. With more videos being uploaded and the ability to connect with family and friends almost anywhere, we basically have the power to never be alone. 

Social media just became more user friendly and reliable through the release of more 4G data services. Time is of importance and with faster speeds we are able to get information out quicker and receive information at alarming speeds. Technology seems to change every day and someday 4G will be outdated. What will we see then? How will social media have changed? I remember when I could only access social media through my desk computer at home. With the release of more 4G networks, look to see an increase in social media usage. The revolution continues to grow!

Forget about SmartPhone Owners & GPS...JOIN US!

Only about half of smartphoneowners’ use the phones GPS for directions. A merely 45% of those who own smartphones get directions elsewhere.  Does this mean that new media may not be everything we think it is? Does it mean that new media may not be taking over our lives as much? No, new media continues to impact our lives directly and indirectly. Sites like Facebook and YouTube have revolutionized how we communicate. It is only a matter of time that everything involving new media will be used by the majority. 

In no way is new media on the decline. Some may take a look at this story and feel that new media might not be increasing substantially, but it is! Do not worry and continue to help new media grow! Then why do people not use the technology to the best of its abilities? Some may reason that smartphone batteries are not the greatest and to save battery life the GPS is kept off. Others may say that it is too difficult to figure out on their personal devices. However, whatever reason, GPS is not the big picture here. The issue is about the significance of new media. Yes, one new media device hasn’t been used to its potential, but look at all the other new media phenomenon.  Skype and Twitter are out of this world successful. 

They, as well as other sites, have completely changed the way the globe and we as a nation communicate. How is that not worthy of some blogging? It is more than worthy to sit and reflect on how communication has changed. The telegraph used to be the form of communication and now look at what we have. It makes one appreciate new media and its significance that much more. 

What does the future hold for new media? The possibilities are endless. If we have transitioned all the way from the telegraph to Skype, than what else is possible? Is it scary to think communication can go even further or is it exciting to see what is next? Many of these questions can only be answer by oneself. There is no right answer or wrong answer. The bottom line is that new media will continue to affect us and those around us, so join us or be left in the dust!

?Facebook, the new Wal-Mart?

http://www.cnn.com/2011/08/31/tech/social-media/facebook-launches-music-platform/index.html?hpt=te_bn6

Facebook plans to turn its globally famous site into a site of all trades. It has started by releasing talks about interfacing Facebook with music. It wouldn’t stream the music online, but rather use outside sources to launch the music. Let it be clear that Facebook would become a platform for music and not a server that contains music. 

Facebook is headed in the right direction. They are expanding their general idea into something more for the user. Rather than going to Youtube or other music sites, Facebook is saying why not listen here. One is already using it to interact with friends, family and peers so why not use it to listen to music as well. Essentially this would turn it into a Wal-Mart. Not only can you get your groceries there, but hey, you can get your toothpaste and toothbrush too.  Our society is turning into a one-stop shop (http://www.orlando-florida-local.com/walmartsupercenter.html). We don’t want to stop different places to pick up different things. If we can get everything at one stop then count us in. Time is money and is very valuable to everyone so Facebook is ingenious.

 If one can interact online while listening to music in just one browser they are probably inclined to use it more frequently. Facebook has the right idea of innovation. They have a concrete site to start with and are looking for ways to expand it. Once the technology is created, developers seem to look for new ways and improvements to keep the site exciting and current! Whatever they can bring to the table to keep users there is a win for Facebook developers. The first sentence within #4 on the website below explains my reasoning.

http://www.microsoft.com/enable/business/plan.aspx

Sure, it may not be in the same context as to what I am speaking about, but the analogy/saying can be used the same. The site explains that once technology is in place that new technology must be presented. Facebook is doing this exactly. They have the technology in place and are presenting new technology to the table for future gain and expansion. Facebook is essentially becoming Wal-Mart. Kudos to them for their innovative planning!