Memorial Day Trip

This morning I visited the Vietnam Wall Memorial in DC. (Via Second Life, of course!). I am still not very good at things - I think because my computer is just too slow. I was also unable to play a video, it asked me for my movie feature but I am not sure that is loaded. It may take a while more to play with that. It was nice to do a Memorial Day activity without actually traveling! :)

Annotated Bib - Excerpt

One of my annotated bibliography entries is the Frontline story on our Digital Nation. The program can be viewed entirely online. It's an interesting perspective, I thought it was a balanced report of how our new digital age helps and hurts us. Basically, like anything else, moderation is the key. That is, use technology as an aid to life, not in place of it. Whether we agree or not, we live in a digital nation. Our future will depend on how we embrace it and use it, for better or worse. We can use our virtual world to enhance our lives, not replace them.

The story also hits on Second Life. IBM is using it as a virtual meeting space for teams.

Lesser Known Metric Units

1 millionth of a mouthwash = 1 microscope

Ratio of an igloo's circumference to its diameter = Eskimo Pi

2,000 pounds of Chinese soup = Won ton

Time between slipping on a peel and smacking the pavement = 1 bananosecond

Weight an evangelist carries with God = 1 billigram

Time it takes to sail 220 yards at 1 nautical mile per hour = Knotfurlong

16.5 feet in the Twilight Zone = 1 Rod Serling

Half of a large intestine = 1 semicolon

1,000,000 aches = 1 megahurtz

Basic unit of laryngitis = 1 hoarsepower

Shortest distance between two jokes = 1 straight line

453.6 graham crackers = 1 pound cake

1 million-million microphones = 1 megaphone

2 million bicycles = 2 megacycles

365.25 days = 1 unicycle

2000 mockingbirds = 2 kilomockingbirds

52 cards = 1 decacards

1 kilogram of falling figs = 1 FigNewton

1,000 milliliters of wet socks = 1 literhosen

1 millionth of a fish = 1 microfiche

1 trillion pins = 1 terrapin

10 rations = 1 decoration

100 rations = 1 C-ration

2 monograms = 1 diagram

4 nickels = 2 paradigms

2.4 statute miles of intravenous surgical tubing at Yale University Hospital = 1 IV League

Second Life - Interaction

Well, I have to say Second Life took on a whole new meaning when interacting with other avatars! Especially when listening, it was really weird to hear someone talk over the computer. I have to find our microphone- we used to have one, but now can't find it. Either way, even with chat text it introduces a new level of interaction when others are on the same location with you. :)

Stupidity

I have to recommend the documentary: Stupidity. It was very intriguing. One of the ideas discussed was a question - Is technology making us more stupid? Interesting! They presented some good ideas. Actually, very little research has been done on stupidity, beginning with a definition. Some of the show was definitely for entertainment purposes, but getting past that it was very thought provoking!

SL Avatar - Misspelling

Sorry, my name is Sabina Castanea. :)

Thank you, FB!

I hate to get philosophical over a Merlot, but I just got in from a restaurant opening about ten minutes from here. Dinner was outstanding. The best part is my friend from high school is the owner. I knew about it all from FB. I've followed his adventure of buying a closed restaurant, fixing it up, carefully planning the menu and hiring, so tonight was the big night - open to the public.

I can't say we were best friends, but seeing one of my fellow EFHS graduates doing well was awesome. I am so happy for him. And I was thinking - without FB, I could have gone into the restaurant tons of times without having any idea that it was his. How cool is that!!! :)

Trend in Addressing Privacy Issues?

On today's CNN.com (http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/12/meet-diaspora-the-anti-facebook/) a new social networking site was developed, diaspora. The claim is that it is aimed at keeping all data private between you and your friends. It will be interesting to see if this is the start of a trend.

I would argue that FB started that way. If you look at what data was private, most of it was. Then, over time, pressure from advertisers and such caused the site to morph into allowing most data to be shared.

Let's wait to see how this site works out, who considers privacy that important, and how well they maintain their principle advantage, secret data.

Social Media Survey

This morning on my Ford Company Home Page, they had a social media survey. They asked what social media sites were used and if you discussed Ford products. When I viewed the results, I was only the fourth person to answer, so they must have just posted the survey. I will be interested to see the results after more people answer.

My comment [to the survey] was that I think it's important for companies to be aware of social media sites. It's a way to be in touch with the younger people who may just use these sites exclusively.

I'll post more information when more folks take the survey. It'll be interesting to see how it goes, considering the current demographics of the company.

Second Life

by Sabina Castenea
Just created my avatar. I can tell you my computer is way too old for Second Life. It was extremely slow, even after shutting down all other windows. I would imagine I need an upgraded video chip. I never play video games on computers, so I never pay attention to any video capability. I'm sure that a newer computer would not mind Second Life's requirements.

That said, it was interesting to begin to explore. I did have one random request to be a friend, which I turned down. Then I found a location and everyone chatting was saying "WTF" and they spelled out the words. Hmm.

I look forward to learning more about the site. It will take some time, due to my system capabilities. :)

Podcast

I agree with monitoring social networking activity of youngsters. It is a part of any adults' responsibility in mentoring youth. This is just another method for young folks to communicate. Therefore, as parents place limits on things like phone time, computer time should also be limited and monitored.

I don't have children of my own, but my friends do struggle with these issues, especially in teen years.

Social Media Revolution

I have seen several versions of the video from our Network lesson this week. The statistics are mind-boggling. The economies of scale offered on the Internet are unprecedented. They are hard to imagine.

It was quite an impact to read that news will find us, we no longer have to seek out the news. For you FB users, if you notices the ads on the left of your home page, they are tailored to your age, occupation, etc. Very clever.

The fact that social networking is now the #1 Internet use, which used to be porn, I think is encouraging! :)

Blog away!

Epiphany

I had an epiphany last night while working with all of my social networking sites. I set up my NING network for comments on my thesis, which I officially start this fall. I invited all of my fellow PhD students, as a start. Last night the followers started to join! What a great feeling!

Through these conversations it will really help me narrow my research focus. I was able to log on, view the comments and really think about what they said. Who knows, by the fall I might have a totally new direction!

So it's really through my online education classes I have been introduced to so many tools that are going to really help me!!! I might just graduate after all!!! :)

Delicious

Just as my previous comment about giving things a chance, the learning process continues. I set up a Delicious account in my last class (winter semester). However, now I can see that I was not using it to its potential. The network function does provide the opportunity to see what others have found. I like that. I also like Professor McVey's comment about "now you have a research partner." :) I can see this might be a valuable tool for my thesis! Awesome!

Twitter Tweets

I'm new to Twitter, can't say I'm a fan yet. I much prefer Facebook. It could be familiarity. I just like the various formats of FB. Twitter is only text. That is pretty simplistic - so it's shorter than a blog? I may change my mind, the more I use it.

I have found new things with the Experience Project web site, so I am keeping my mind open and looking past first impressions. I also look forward to everyone else's thoughts and experiences.

The Experience Project - Social Networking Site

I selected a site from the Wikipedia list. First, I thought it was a very long list and probably not inclusive of all of the sites available. I selected the Experience Project.

Log in was simple, provide a user name and email address. The only other brief questions were age group and sex (male/female). Once you provide those details, you are taken to a menu to invite friends. I skipped that section. The next section is a list of random groups you might want to “join” or track. I selected two:
I like helping people
I like watching documentaries.

Then you are put onto a main page that shows random posts from various groups. The groups were fairly benign, then in the group titled “I am a ____ ask me a question” was a post from someone who titled their post “I am a pervert, ask me a question.” The anonymous author then describes they are a ninth grader in Canada and into “pretty weird things…”

I find that interesting because as much as I believe the intention of the site is altruistic, there are always strange people “out there” and they show up on all kinds of sites. There were three comments to the post, each asking “what do you mean by weird?” Then, in tiny printing, the site posts: “Experience Project is a community based on authenticity, support, and respect. EP encourages you to post with these values in mind.” Interesting!

There are thousands of groups from entertainment to pets. I’m sure there are people who find some good advice or at least can relate to someone with the same experiences. It will be fun to look around at the various posts.

Check it out at www.experienceproject.com

Learning Something New

After being on FB for almost a year, I learned how to make a list of my friends! It took some time, but it's nice to have everyone categorized. I also found some of my EDMT friends to ask to join me.

I also opened my first Twitter account. I found Dr. McVey! That's as far as I've gone with that.

And now, time to catch up with the Red Wings!

The Experience Project - Just Visiting

Hunting Around the Site: Experience Project

I selected a site from the Wikipedia list. First, I thought it was a very long list and probably not inclusive of all of the sites available. I selected the Experience Project.

Log in was simple, provide a user name and email address. The only other brief questions were age group and sex (male/female). Once you provide those details, you are taken to a menu to invite friends. I skipped that section. The next section is a list of random groups you might want to “join” or track. I selected two:
§ I like helping people
§ I like watching documentaries.

Then you are put onto a main page that shows random posts from various groups. The groups were fairly benign, then in the group titled “I am a ____ ask me a question” was a post from someone who titled their post “I am a pervert, ask me a question.” The anonymous author then describes they are a ninth grader in Canada and into “pretty weird things…”

I find that interesting because as much as I believe the intention of the site is altruistic, there are always strange people “out there” and they show up on all kinds of sites. There were three comments to the post, each asking “what do you mean by weird?” Then, in tiny printing, the site posts: “Experience Project is a community based on authenticity, support, and respect. EP encourages you to post with these values in mind.” Interesting!

There are thousands of groups from entertainment to pets. I’m sure there are people who find some good advice or at least can relate to someone with the same experiences. It will be fun to look around at the various posts.

Definition of Social Networking Found

There are many different articles on Social Networking. I found this one that had a good definition. The article also hit on the history and ideas on educational use.

Boyd, d. m., & Ellison, N. B. (2007). Social network sites: Definition, history, and scholarship. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13(1), article 11. http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol13/issue1/boyd.ellison.html

Social Network Sites: A Definition
We define social network sites as web-based services that allow individuals to (1) construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, (2) articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and (3) view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system. The nature and nomenclature of these connections may vary from site to site.

Social Networking - A Definition

Social Networking is when communities of people share a common web site via the Internet. Many times these people share a common interest, such as cooking. Each person can log onto the same site and interact with each other, depending on the capability of the site. Some sites may be a simple as allowing members to post text, such as Twitter. Other sites have the capability for others to interact real-time, such as chat sites.

Social Networking does have potential as a learning tool. The common sites allow for interaction outside of the traditional classroom. This is a way to either provide more learning time, or provide a way to interact in the event the classroom is unavailable, such as a snow day. The other advantage of a virtual learning tool is to allow access for persons who may not otherwise be able to attend the physical classroom. For example, if a student is injured and has a mobility problem, they can keep up with studies via the virtual classroom. Another use of a social networking site is to connect classrooms from all over the world. It expands the knowledge base of the physical classroom. Even with these potential uses, I do feel very strongly that a virtual classroom will never replace a physical classroom.