Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds

     A virtual world is an interactive simulated environment accessed by multiple users through an online interface. It is a representation of reality while being more simple than the real world (Lecture). They can be used for commercial gaming, socializing/ online community building, education, political expression, and military training to name a few (VWR). As like anything else, it has its pros and cons. Some pros include employees meeting in virtual worlds from the privacy of a company's own network and a way for anyone to explore and experience in a way not possible through other media (CNN). Some cons include a sense of "lack" of human contact that could lead to feelings of isolation and some conversations and interactions were sought out to be disturbing at times. There are also strip clubs and other raunchy places, obviously not appropriate for children (VWR).
     Virtual worlds definitely foster creativity. A way in which this is accomplished is by being able to "design" your house for example. You can pick out your own furniture. Also, in terms of shopping, you can pick out your favorite styles of clothing and really express your creative side. On a more professional scale, I think that virtual worlds in the future are definitely going to dominate "in-office" meetings. It will save transportation costs, time, and energy.




1. http://www.virtualworldsreview.com/info/whatis.shtml
2. Virtual Worlds Lecture Notes
3. Going to the Virtual Office in Second Life, CNN.com: Nov 5, 2009 http://www.cnn.com/2009/BUSINESS/11/05/second.life.virtual.collaboration/index.html

Blog about Twitter

Twitter? Blackboard? In-class discussions? 

Of course there are both similarities and differences. With twitter, you can identify your friends/classmates by the username they chose for themselves. With blackboard and even in-class discussions you can identify each other by first names. Both call for communication between two or more people and the ability to share your opinions. With in-class discussions, there isn't really a limit to how many "characters" you can say. This differs from twitter and blackboard discussion where there is indeed a "character" limit.

With in-class discussions, you can't "go back" to someone's response (unless you ask them to repeat it if they even remember what they just said). One great thing about the online discussions (Twitter and Blackboard) is that you can do this... And quite easily!

Are you shy in person? Well then what easier way to say what you want then to type it! No verbal communication necessary (Phew!)

There are definitely more things you could easily list about this topic, but I just thought I'd share a few that popped into my head :)

Social Networking sites

Myspace:  Is this thing even still around? It looks so much more different than from what I remember a few years back. It seems like it's now integrated with twitter...actually, it looks like twitter has taken over it. There is a bunch of music samples that I have never heard of too. Thumbs down.

Twitter: I created a twitter last year when jumping on the band wagon, but never really got the full hang of it. The re-tweeting, hashing, etc. always confused me a bit. But now that I'm finally getting the hang of it, it's pretty cool. It's cool to see that there are definitely other things you can use it for besides tweeting and telling people what you're doing at the very exact second (kind of annoying!).

Facebook: I guess because I'm so used to it and I know how to access and maneuver it fairly well, Facebook is definitely my "cup of tea". I like seeing friend's pictures from a fun night out, talking to them with Facebook instant messaging, and other things Facebook has to offer. Do I spend too much time on it? Of course. Who doesn't? But out of these three social networking sites, It is 100% my favorite (except for the new 'timeline' format they're using!).

Linkedin: A great website! Aside from the "oh boy what happened last night?" statuses and pictures you wish you weren't tagged in, this is a much more mature website designed to help you network. There are so many businesses that are on Linkedin. There's a really cool feature is that once you put in your information about the kind of work you do or industry you're in, it actually lists possible job openings worth looking at. If you need feed lists, this is the place. Privacy is protected and opportunities are huge!

social networking

Social Media:

"...a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0, and that allow the creation and exchange of user-generated content."

According to Kaplan and Haenlein there are six different types of social media: collaborative projects, blogs, content communities, social networking sites, virtual game worlds, and virtual social worlds. People obtain information, education, news and other data from electronic media. They are relatively inexpensive and accessible to enable anyone to publish or access information.

We use social media in the business world for marketing, communication, recruiting, interview processes (via skype, foe example), etc. We also use social media for our leisure. Some examples of these activities include Facebook, instant messaging, some types of gaming, and "tweeting".

But not everyone sees this as all "fun and games". A dark side to social media? Of course. Many individuals, especially parents, worry about lack of privacy and cyber bullying. And on wikis, is the information you are getting the 100% truth or is the information faulty? There are still ways we are looking to improve such issues in the world of social media.

We have come a long way with social media, but still have a long way to go in terms of adjustments and improvements. I bet somewhere down the road you won't even need to show up at your office. All you'll need to do is webcam, show face, and work from home!


http://baruchnewmedia.com/notes/n_socialnetworking.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6522523&sc=emaf

Blogs vs. Wikis

 Many know the general ideas and motives behind blogs and wikis, but how exactly are they different? How are they similar?

To start with a definition, a blog is a website where entries are made in journal style and displayed in reverse chronological order. A wiki is a website that allows visitors to add, remove, edit, and change content. While they are both websites, user-generated, and they both allow users to comment on the content, they do have their differences.

A few interesting examples to help differentiate the two that I came across state the following:
1. A blog is a flow of information, while a wiki is a place to stock information.
2. In a workplace setting, a blog replaces the bulletin board, and a wiki replaces the binder-manuals.

Wikis involve more collaboration than blogs do. In terms of communication, a blog is usually the voice of one individual who has the access to add more posts when he/she wants to. In a wiki, anyone from the whole company or department can contribute (not just one individual).

I think the ideas that I've come up with involving the use of wikis have all been started. Whether it may be Wikipedia for fast information on a topic, or a wiki through a job or company to add to current information or communication, I think wikis have addressed most areas where they may be useful.




http://mplictechtrain.blogspot.com/2007/04/what-is-difference-between-blog-and.html
http://baruchnewmedia.com/notes/n_blogs.htm
http://baruchnewmedia.com/notes/n_wikis.htm

Facebook: Friend or Foe to Society?

     The topic of my research paper is focused in on Facebook. It will be an analysis of the positive and negative effects it has on society today. I will include some of the ways it has affected people in their personal as well as their professional lives (both good and bad). From a business standpoint, we will explore how this "new media" has helped companies in regards to marketing, recruiting, etc. After researching this topic, I hope to get a better sense (in my opinion) in determining if Facebook has overall become more of a good or bad thing for today's society.

MGT 3120 marks and end.

5:50pm was what marked the start

of Management 3210 class

but it was rare you ever made it on time

because those elevators were a pain in the ass!

We would all come in to grab our seats

Then look at the front of the room

Because with the start of every class

There was some sort of twist coming soon

From Legos and eggs

to survival skills and jello

Kurpis used these weird ways of greeting us

it was never with just a simple “hello”

left right left right

this guy never stood still

maybe someone should have offered him

a dosage of that aderoll pill

we argued and fought

saying “these tests are unfair”

Now we see why rate my professor.com said

Getting 100’s on his exams are super super rare

here come the twisted part:

he knows what he is doing to us

its all in his plan to get us worked up

because he actually enjoys seeing us make a fuss

but why would a professor do this?

Perhaps to give our brains a big of a jog?

Nope, not even close

Hooray for us: it’s the topic to our next blog.

I guess I’m being a little harsh

It may seem like I don’t like the guy

But in all honesty It’s already hard

to know I have to say goodbye

Thank you professor for such a great class

I know I’m one of many who took it to heart

It’s sad to think that after today

We, as a class, will all depart.