espodesigns

Hispanics’ Web Identity Grows As Ads Target Diverse Audience

By Alan Sipress

Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, October 7, 2006

Interesting article on Hispanic websites.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/06/AR2006100601704.html

Getting Families to Play Together
washingtonpost.com
By Mike Musgrove
Thursday, October 12, 2006

An article about gaming. Please visit

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/11/AR2006101101666_pf.html

OUR world from space 

Click on the following link to look at OUR world from space.

http://home.att.net/~hideaway_fun/442/planet.htm       

October 7, 2006
Week 6 – ICM Introduction to Interactive Communications 

Blogging and Perceived Perception

The power of perceived perception is an equalizing force that can shape loyalty and trust within a company or organization. Men in business suits become characters narrating thoughts and feelings on a given topic in an informal “open-door” policy manner. Perceived personalities and assumptions are now being shaken as the concrete elite walls are being cracked. The role of blogging within companies is placing splinters in these walls, but, within these cracks new challenges are arising. The role of blogging is testing the parameters of brand messaging, freedom of speech in America and risk communications.

In many large and small organizations graphic designers, sales people, managers and others from the top to bottom are taught about their company’s brand. Company brand identifies uniform colors, fonts, tag lines, logos, words and writing style conventions used in all documents; thus, the overall packaging of the product or concept. Countless hours are spent designing this brand to create a professional polished product or concept that denotes trustworthiness, authority and loyalty. What happens then when the controlled polished brand message of the company is discussed on a blog? Will the correct message instilled into the minds of workers spread? What about grammar and writing conventions? If a blog is riddled with grammatical errors and spelling, will the public perceive that a company hires illiterate professionals? In a book written by R. Scoble and S. Israel, I learned how the use of blogging helped modify public perception of Microsoft and GM. I was surprised by this; it goes against what one is taught about message management and branding.

I came across an article on October 2, 2006 in the Washington Post. This article, titled Hard-Learned Lesson: Don’t Try to Censor a Blogger, discusses how corporate head Murry N. Gunty of Milestone Capital Management LLC was almost ruined by a blog.  Gunty, who graduated from Harvard University, manipulated the 1992 election for officers of the Harvard Business School’s Finance Club. The matter was widely reported at the time, including a front page article on the Wall Street Journal. Gunty atoned by resigning from the club and writing an ethics paper.

On January 19, 2006, Mark Pincus founder of Tribe.net posted an essay on how ethical lapses in US business executives rarely result in punishment. His essay used Gunty as a prominent example. Dozens of posters wrote on the blog scolding Gunty, even though it was during his college years and he atoned for his actions. This issue on the blog reached epic proportions when a letter was sent to Pincus asking the article to be changed because it was in violation of privacy, which Pincus posted on his site. Within days Gunty had his own entry in Wikipedia detailing this controversy. Pincus’ blog was hailed as providing freedom of speech and the perceived perception of Gunty was of one trying to take this right away.

Freedom of speech in America is paramount to blogging. Blogging is unregulated and may contain unsubstantiated non-factual material. Where does one’s responsibility to integrity and a desire to be honest and truthful lie? Someone’s life and hard earned reputation could be ruined by words and perception through a blog. Should legislation be placed to protect one’s reputation? Should one give credit to this type of claim even if it isn’t deserved? Do you check Google daily to see if your name pops up and respond to any blogs that appear? What are the rules with freedom of speech and blogging?

In many industries such as healthcare, the HIPAA privacy act of 1996 prohibits the types of information that can be shared. In addition, to assist with risk communication during emergency situations, a Public Information Officer (PIO) is created to provide communication to the public. Could gross errors of miscommunication, such as the West Virginia Coal Mine accident on January 5, 2006, be adverted if a blog was used? What if questions are blogged and this information was brought to the PIO for response? Not all detailed information can be discussed, but this would have provided an outlet for fears and questions. In a local area, face-to-face response may be preferred, but in a larger scale emergency this site can be used to provide information from a distance. A blog could help create a perception of information and welcomed community.

A blog is new territory for many companies and organizations. Brand perception, freedom of speech and management of risk communications are three things that are pushing the walls of communications in companies and organizations. Blogging represents a powerful tool one where new rules test the parameters of message distribution and protocol. As blogging becomes more popular, how companies and organizations embrace blogs may change some of the current practices in which they operate.

Citations

CNN.com (2006, January 5). Sounds of Moans Led Rescuers to Surviving Miner: Mining CEO says He Regrets False News that Most had Lived. US CNN.com. Retrieved October 8, 2006 from http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/04/mine.explosion.wed/index.html.

Office for Civil Rights, HIPPA. Retrieved October 8, 2006 from http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/.

O’Hara, Terence (2006, October 2). Hard-Learned Lessons: Don’t Try to Censor a Blogger. washingtonpost.com. Retrieved October 2, 2006 from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/01/AR2006100100710.html?referrer=email.

Scoble, R. & Israel, S. (2006). Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, pp. 1-62. 

October 1, 2006
Week 5 – ICM Introduction to Interactive Communications
Experience the Experience (“Gamerience”) 

As I walked through the grocery store the other day, I felt my body taking in experiences all around in a surreal way, as experienced in Second Life.  As I read individual products I saw phrases such as “wandering barefoot on the shore”, “relaxing in the hammock” and “exploring a mountain trail” for Frebreze Scentstories an air freshener with sound.  Then I made my way to the frozen aisle and saw a sign that read “a hit outside the ballpark” for Kraft hotdogs in a bun that can be heated in 35 seconds. This phrase was meant to bring back the experience of a ballpark on a hot summer day with family and friends. In the pasta aisle tomato sauces had phrases and images such as “Old World Style” for Ragu flavored with meat. In addition to the text, it had an image of a man in a gondola at dusk. In another aisle was a lady giving away samples of the new warm and crunchy Oatmeal Crunch. She used words such as delicious, tasty clusters that provide calcium, iron and seven other nutritional supplements. In addition, special offers were announced over the sound system. The experience of basic supermarket shopping has taken on a whole new meaning. I was experiencing the experience.

The other night I was on the virtual reality website of Second Life. From there my character went in and out of rooms such as the Austin Room, Gardens of Bliss and Old Salt’s Pub. I experienced different sounds and visuals of the environment such as an ocean crashing or the sound of a piano playing.  My character was wearing an outfit I designed and featured physical characteristics of my choosing. This website was rich in experiences.

B.J. Pine and J.H. Gilmore wrote an article, the Experience Economy, that discusses the transition from our economy from farming, industrial, services to experience-based. In every facet, from the simple experience of grocery shopping to browsing on a website, we are confronted with media that attempts to enrich sensory experiences. C. Crawford’s article, What is a Game?, focuses on variables that make up a game. Is it possible that many variables of game, along with the new found experience-based economy, will combine more to create a deeper dynamic experience?  

One of the features of a game is a subset of reality. A game is a safe way to experience reality. In the case with Ragu, we are really not jet-setting to Italy many years ago to have tomato sauce. With Frebreze Scentstories we aren’t relaxing in a hammock enjoying a carefree, sunny day. When I went online to Second Life, I experienced the Gardens of Bliss. This garden featured ocean crashing sounds with a distant owl sound in the background. I saw a virtual sunset and saw the flickering of a flame. In all of these cases, the setting of the background did set up a subset of reality. Physical reality of that moment was experiencing the environment and my senses. It was a subset of reality and very real in its experience.

A second aspect of a game is interaction. Interaction generates cause and effect by things that are tied together. For instance, I interacted with oatmeal crunch and enjoyed a warm, crunchy sensation.  The cause was eating the oatmeal crunch and the effect was my reaction to this product. My enjoyment in doing so lead me to purchase Oatmeal Crunch.

During Second Life, I experienced various locations and I also interacted with various characters in my environment. The interaction of the sensory of the experience, motivated me to stay, sit, chat and teleport to other areas on the Second Life islands.  The exploration of different areas and characters provided dynamic interaction during this experience.

A third element of a game is its ability to be explored in different directions as its value increases in each experience.  Many products such as Kraft hotdogs, try to interact further and transcend past the eating experience to its website for the promotion of its products and culture. Kraft’s website contains cooking schools, recipes of the day, celebration ideas and message boards. Second Life provides interactions with new environments and different characters that lead to fresh, unrealized paths.

In conclusion, as people become accustomed to the experience of everyday products and the barrage of websites, the one’s experience will play a large factor in its longevity and loyalty. All aspects of a game are not intertwined with experience but a combination of this new breed, or “gamerience” will take place in a competitive commodity type environment. More and more, the subset of virtual reality will blur as the line between physical and virtual become experienced.

Citations

Crawford, C. (1982). What is a game? (c.1). The art of computer game design.

Kraftfoods.com. Retrieved October 1, 2006 from http://www.kraftfoods.com.

Pine, B.J., & Gilmore, J.H. (1999). The Experience Economy.
Cambridge: Harvard Business School Press, pp. 1-26.

September 17, 2006
Week 3 – ICM Introduction to Interactive Communications

Weblogs, Newspapers (printed and online) and TV News Stations (viewed on TV and online)

Since 1998, the framework of journalism has been evolving as it struggles to define itself through weblogs, newspapers and television news stations. Each of these three mediums is closely linked but has different profit models, environments and formats in which it contends.

One of the foremost struggles of newspapers and television is its ability to make a profit with its primary method of business. Their role is to provide balanced news to the public while maintaining a strong profit margin with printed sales, high ratings and a strong advertising base. Income earned is used to pay overhead for the newspaper or television facility, reporters, writers and support staff, etc.  The newspaper and televisions news stations view the internet as an extension of it is primary form.  By creating interactive extensions, the newspapers and television stations hope to provide brand loyalty but also a voice for different reactions and opinions in a community.

With online newspapers, much investment has been made in chat room discussions and email response. The Chicago Tribune is ahead of the curve with cybercasts on round-table discussions. With online televisions stations such as WTNH in New Haven, a weblog is used to provide feedback on different topics. Many of the responses may be used for future newscasts and stories. Many sites that carry free standing weblogs do not have to contend with the pressure of profit margins, staff coverage and management structure.

The environment in which one reads a printed newspaper, views a television newscast or views online weblogs for news is different. Papers are lighter and easier to transport. You can sit outside, lie in bed and eat breakfast while reading. Although many computers are now wireless, it isn’t as light as a paper. While reading a paper, if you get water or milk on the paper it isn’t of much concern. If you get water or milk on a computer it is a cause for immediate correction. Reading a paper is a relaxing engaging event that requires just the flipping of pages.

Television broadcasts are also passive. You can find up-to-date information of the latest news in your community as it is pushed to you through the television. Other than turning the on switch and clicking to the desired news station, no additional work is needed. Watching the television news is something you can do while getting dressed in the morning or winding down to sleep at night.  

Weblogs require engagement. You have to be present in front of a computer to respond. Booting up a computer, if you don’t have a wireless connection you are set to a designated sitting area and browsing random ideas take time. The ability to have time set aside to find news is a pressure that is limited in many people’s busy lives.

With a formal newspaper story or television broadcast, the writer or reporter has a limited use of space or time to convey a message. A newspaper reporter provides a short narrative of a current situation or event and then the story is closed at the end. Newspaper writing is formal with full sentences, formal grammar and speech.  A television news story shows a few visuals, has a few quotes and provides the headline framework of a story. Such reports usually run 30 to 90 seconds. In conjunction, online newspapers and online television usually have the written or shorten story that appeared in its formal form. An advantage of online formats is keywords searches and archive retrieval. Weblogs in contrast can be bullet pointed, two sentences, a hyperlink to another source, quote or a stand-alone picture. Its responsibility to format is none. Conceptual space or a time broadcast segment is not an issue. Discussion can occur in a random order and format.

In summary, the method in which journalism is delivered affects how a story is told. Physical environments in which information is delivered will continue to play a role in consumption of information. Different formats affect the types of interaction of user involvement.  Newspapers and television hope to provide information but also hope to provoke a response. Weblogs allows a format for such responses. I believe the future will hold a combination of all modalities in which the public will provide different amounts of time.  For example, a person may read a newspaper during breakfast, respond to a weblog about a sensitive topic at lunch then watch the nightly news later at night.   

Bibliography 

Jankowski, N. & van Selm, Martine (2001). Traditional news media online: an examination of added value (pp. 375-392). 

WTNH On-Air Staff Blogs. Retrieved September 17, 2006 from http://wtnh.tv/blogs/index.php/anchors. 

September 10, 2006
Week 2 – ICM Introduction to Interactive Communications 

Does texting make a person socially acceptable, a recluse, bored or rude?

There is someone typing into his/her phone in a public space. Does that make him/her socially acceptable, a recluse, bored or rude? What are the rules of social engagement? Is this simply ritual communication? What does text messaging mean to the individual identity? In different places around the world the view of text messaging or texting can mean different things.  This response paper will address the social role of text messaging in Japan, Finland, Sweden and the United States. 

In Japan, text messaging for teens and individuals in their twenties grants a degree of privacy and right of assembly previously unavailable. The space at home is dominated by parents. The home phone once was a means for parents to monitor and regulate their children’s relationships with their peers. “Texting makes it possible for young people to conduct conversations that can’t be overhead.”¹ In addition, everyday tasks such as transportation, entertaining and food shopping are conducted in crowded public spaces. Texting allows a degree of privacy to share “thinking about you” emotions and thoughts to a social network of individuals in public places. It is allows immediate connection in a crowded country.  Texting in Japan is a way to communicate, feel connected and is socially acceptable and embraced. 

In Finland, mobile phones and text messaging dominate the country. Text messaging helps maintain the “rhythm or wave with one’s closest friends, the feeling of a continuously shared life.” Millions of dollars have been invested in neighborhoods to create wireless virtual communities such as Helsinki Virtual Village in Arabianranta.  These villages allow the virtual urban infrastructure to access mobile technologies. In Finland, it isn’t just the adolescents using text messaging, but also business mangers. “Managers in Finnish companies keep their phones on. Customers expect fast reactions. In Finland, if you can’t reach a supervisor, you make many decisions for yourself. Managers who want to influence decisions of subordinates must keep their phones open.” ¹ Texting in public areas allows the Finnish to share relationships and is a necessity to be competitive in the business world.

In Stockholm Sweden, a new sub-culture with text messaging has evolved. Botfighters is a virtual game which involves a virtual persona, mocking text messages, location-sensing technology to destroy a “bot” on individual mobile phones.  The game can be played while waiting in line, sitting on a bus and can fill the void between mundane tasks.  Strategizing and social messages connect groups in a game.  The game attacks males from the age of twelve to thirty. In Sweden it is acceptable and fun to text message in a public domain. 

In the United States the role of text messaging can be broken up into two main age groups. The first main age group is from twelve to thirty. The second main age group is from 30 plus.  Texting to the younger generation is an activity taking place below desks and underneath the surface of the adult world. It is a way to create privacy from the rules or controls of home. For women dating, their mobile phones act a “symbolic bodyguards” when feeling vulnerable in public. It is a way of communicating with their girlfriends to discuss all of the aspects of a date in “real time”. Texting helps teenagers to overcome awkwardness and inhibitions and to develop social and communication skills; they communicate with more people and more. A huge component of texting is gossiping which develops rule-learning and social bonding². Text messaging in public is acceptable and a way to socially bond if you are in the twelve to thirty range. 

For many adults over 30, text messaging is viewed as a quick function to get an achieved answer. For instance, a wife could text message her husband to pick up milk. He would message back okay.  However, other than the quick message, text messaging is viewed as an informal noncommittal voice. Many prefer face-face or phone conversation to a quick message. I asked a few friends, male and female, looking for a significant other their thoughts. One male’s noted that hearing someone’s voice generates a truer sense of reality than a text message. It is much more romantic. A girlfriend of mine broke up with a prospective suitor over text messaging. He would send her inappropriate sexual messages at the beginning of their courtship. In addition, he would hide behind the text and never pick up the phone to send or receive calls. Not hearing his voice or face-face contact ended their relationship. In the business world, my friend’s husband is a manager at a retail store. He recently cancelled his text messaging option on his phone. While he is in the store, he prefers direct conversation for questions. Text messaging does not convey information accurately. In addition, when he was home he did not want to be interrupted constantly by buzzing mobile text.  In the cases above, texting is only purposeful for direct actions. For direct emotions and responses texting is viewed negatively because face-to-face or full conversation is preferred. 

Around the world different countries create different cultural norms about text messaging. Social interaction, social standing and emotion are tied with the texting.  Privacy and the ability to express oneself in a “safe” atmosphere cross languages and boundaries across the world. As text messaging evolves, new rules and acceptable norms will dominate the future of text messaging. 

Bibliography

[1] Rheingold, H. (2002). Shibuya epiphany (pp. 1-28). Smart mobs. New York:  Perseus. [rheingold-2002].  

[2] Fox, Kate. (2001). Evolution, alienation and gossip. The role of mobile telecommunications in the 21^st century. Social Issues Research Centre. Retrieved September 10, 2006, from http://www.sirc.org/publik/gossip.shtml.

September 4, 2006
Week 1 – ICM Introduction to Interactive Communications
Response to Week 1 readings 

From 1915-1990 J.C. R. Lickliderlider discussed the role of man-computer symbiosis and the computer as a communication device. He theorized that the original design of the computer would evolve into a cooperative “live together in intimate association, or even close union, of two dissimilar organisms” in symbiosis. In order for this symbiosis to evolve, Licklider proposed that the cost and size of the computer would need to become smaller, memory hardware requirements would have to be created, memory organization requirements would need to be addressed, input and output equipment would have to be created and the expansion of the computer as a communication device would be required for this symbiosis to occur. 

According to the 2002 census, over 61.8% individuals have a computer in their household¹. Dell, Hewlett-Packart, Macintosh or others can cost you between $650 and $3,000 not including your software requirements. Many of the computer companies are offering 0 percent credit cards for 6-8 months upon your purchase of these computers. In addition to the manageable costs, the overall size and weight of the computers can now be portable. Dell notebooks weigh between 3-7 lbs. The size, lowered cost factor and interdependence are bridging the symbiosis between humans and computers.

In order for symbiosis to occur, Licklider theorized that computers would need to have enough storage capacity to meet the demands of the consumer. Since Licklider’s article was written, the hardware industry has tackled memory hardware requirements with different approaches. One approach is network or server-based technology. Intel, Unix and Avocent have created names for themselves by offering center management solutions from a single graphical user interface. Web servers, such as Apache, Microsoft Internet Information Services and others offer virtual server space that can be accessed through the world wide web. Burnable CDs, flash drives and external hard drives offer local access to hardware concerns. Entire sub-industries have been created to meet the storage demands of the consumer. Licklider felt it was imperative that information be retrievable both by name and pattern, and that it be accessible much faster than serial search. His concern was that the Trie memory would not facilitate retrieval of information adequately.  Dr. Vannevar Bush in 1945 also expressed concern in the system of indexing. Through a series of complier type languages such as C++, JAVA, Scheme and others, various programming languages have been developed to make information searchable through key words indexes, directories and date range using any or all of the words or phrases. The advent of the complier type languages have altered the method in which many individuals use the world wide web or even a library. In the past libraries have used the card catalog system to catalog their books and periodicals. Now many libraries have moved to a computer based searchable catalog but also a catalog that indexes listings for all public libraries within the same county. In addition, libraries are now available online for home access and information.  Licklider felt that input and output equipment, as seen from the human operator’s point of view, is essential for man-computer symbiosis. The advent of the mouse and drop down menus in Microsoft and Macintosh has metamorphosed interfaces. Entire software packages have been designed to address the need for user control over what tools bars are made accessible or non-accessible based on the user’s needs. In most systems, when one opens up a word processing program, the tools bars File, Edit, View, Window and others are standard at the top or side of their screen.  In graphics programs such as Adobe Photoshop CS they have set parameters where the program remembers your last used tool bars, such as align, color swatches, etc. each time the program is opened. Output devices have parlayed into scanners, printers and hard drives that allow you to place digital photo cards. Finally, the computer has expanded to integrate with the world wide web and e-mail allowing the method of everyday communication to explode into new territories.  The written word takes on new meaning with regards to tone, message and subject matter.  E-mail etiquette rules as to who is included or carbon copied in the message, capitalization, bolding and underlining has taken on new meaning. The speed at which messages can be sent around the office is much faster than average memo that is put on one’s chair in many circumstances. In conclusion, many industries and companies have been born to address the relationship between man and the computer. As the evolution of this relationship occurs, new paths such as nanotechnology, alternative devices used as a computers (such as cellular phones and I-pods) and wireless technology will improve the freedom of the user experience with a computer. With the reception of the computer into one’s everyday lives, the integration will expand into other medium and tools that become part of one’s adaptive symbiosis existence.  Bibliography “Statistics, Computers” Cyber Telecom October 2005 <http://www.cybertelecom.org/data/statcomputers.htm>.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Chinese proverb. Lao-tzu.

Hi, my name is Lauren and this is my first ever post on a blog.  A journey is truly started with one step, one thought and one motivation. The blog, this class and others is the start of my graduate school journey with Quinnipiac University. Each conversation, paper, experience will fill a bowl of my graduate existence during this tenure. In this journey, with the help of some chocolate candy , I hope to learn new skills, make friends and contacts and develop new avenues in the world of interactive communications.

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