Next New

     A new type of "new media" that doesn't currently exist could be an application dedicated to helping you find events going on in your area by using your current location or the location you have searched. These events could be concerts, pop-up stores, parties, or festivals. There would be a feature that would allow you to filter events by date, time, cost of admission, and popularity. To further help people decide, a 5-star rating system and a comment area would be added. Since personalization is becoming a big thing, the application would have the ability to look at the events that you are interested in or have attended and give you similar suggestions. People will also be able to share events with a friend and let them know that they are interested or will be attending. This can help them spark conversation in real-life as well.
     I have experienced times when I want to do something, but I do not know what to do. There are probably other people who have gone through the same thing. This app could help solve that problem because it is connecting you to all the possibilities of things that you can do and look at what other people think about it.

P2P

     File sharing refers to sharing or providing access to digital files from one computer to another over a network or the Internet. Peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing requires the use of a third-party software which allows computers using the same network to locate shared data. This allows users to directly access, download, and edit files. Some examples of P2P file sharing include BitTorrent and the Lending Club.
     According to a Wired article titled "The BitTorrent Effect," BitTorrent was created by Bram Choen and it lets users upload and download large files in a timely manner. Many people used it to download episodes that they had missed. The NPR article titled "Peers Find Less Pressure Borrowing From Each Other" described Lending Club as a peer-to-peer online lending site where borrowers and lenders meet. It's attractive to borrowers because the interest rate is lower. It is also attractive to lenders because it is another way that they can invest their money.

Privacy

     New media has created new ways to share our information with friends and family. However, this information may not be completely safe from outsiders (i.e. hacker, third-party members). They may use our personal information to commit identity theft. The platforms that we provide our information to should keep it private. These companies must also inform us of how they intend to use that information. For example, when you make a new account the platform makes you agree to the terms and conditions to use their service. However, no one actually reads it. Many companies are now using cookies to track your activity and some advertisers are using the information collected to provide personal ads on your social media accounts. We have to read more carefully and use the privacy settings provided. As users of new media, we have to be more careful with the information we provide. We also have to do our research to make sure that companies are in compliance with privacy and confidentiality standards.

Creativity and New Media

     New media innovations like social media have changed the way I look at the world around me. Specifically, Instagram made me more aware of the change of color and light throughout the day and how it reflects on different surfaces to create unique effects. It has opened my eyes to a new way to take pictures. Most of the pictures on the site are aesthetically pleasing and creatively styled with props. Before using Instagram, I just took pictures with people on special occasions like birthdays. Now, after using social media, I take pictures of everything, not just people. This new media creation has taken me out of my comfort zone. It has helped me find the beauty in the everyday things that would have gone unnoticed by me.

     For example, I took a picture of the Unisphere pictured above. Inspired by users of Instagram, I creatively styled it with the branches and leaves surrounding it by stepping back a few feet and slightly tilting my camera up. This allowed me to use up the entire space and not leave any blank spaces.

     I remember the day that I took the picture where the window is reflecting on the water. I was surprised that I even noticed it. The water was so still that it looked identical to the real-life version.
     With the Instagram app, I am inspired to get creative and I am able to edit my photos without spending significant time learning how to do it. I am able to create great images without a heavy cost. In the pictures above, I slightly edited the shadows, highlights, and increased the saturation to bring out the color. The app's editing feature is simple to understand that I was able to use it without any problem.
     In conclusion, new media has inspired me to look at the world more artistically and appreciate being able to see in color.

Creativity

     In the New Yorker article titled "1+1+1=1: The New Math of Mashups," it talked about how D.J. Reset used digital software to combine songs. Through new media, he was able to find the right vocals for the song by testing different acapella voices on the Internet. Also, Mark Vidler explained the benefits of digital technology. He said that new media technologies like the Internet and computer make it easy to distribute and create song mashups. Thus, the reduced cost of producing and distributing them allows more people to make their own mashups and explore what other things can be combined together. The current software might be missing a feature and someone could add it. This new addition could lead to creating other things that might be unimaginable otherwise.
     Claire Cain Miller's New York Times "Twitter Serves Up Ideas From Its Followers" article talks about how Twitter outsources some of the idea generation to its users. This is great because it creates features that its users actually want and need. Twitter does not have to spend time and money developing something that potentially might fail in user popularity. Other companies also use social media to get feedback from its consumers to create better products and services. Therefore, new media allows more people to be involved in the innovations created.
     In conclusion, the collaboration provided by new media allows people to share their creations which then inspire others to get creative and share their ideas.

Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds

     Virtual worlds are a multiuser virtual environment which can help people create supportive communities, escape reality, and may act as a de-stressor. The pros of virtual worlds are that they can be used to improve gaming experiences, training programs, and virtual prototypes. The cons of virtual worlds are that it may have a lag time, lack of acuity, and overlook basic laws of physics. Virtual worlds foster creativity since people may collaborate to create something new in the virtual world that they could not have done in real life. This may inspire others to get creative and develop their own creation. Since now there are virtual reality headsets and we can experience a different place anywhere, I think that in the future virtual worlds will no longer only be seen and heard; they might even be accompanied by distinct smells to make it more realistic. Maybe someone will invent a contact lens version of the virtual headset. However, that would pose a safety risk for your eye health and physical safety. So, it may be awhile before that is created to be functional.

     Health 24's "Virtual World May Impact Real-World Behavior" article states that two research studies found that the type of avatar (hero or villain) one uses affects that person's behavior in real life. For example, if a person had a villain avatar, they were more likely to give a future participant spicy chili than chocolate. However, if the person had a heroic avatar, they were more likely to give a future participant chocolate than chili sauce. Thus, virtual worlds may be used to influence a person's behavior which may be a good thing if you are trying to help someone become a better person. However, if a person has bad intentions to make someone worse, then virtual worlds are not good since that are being used to achieve something bad. Thus, being able to influence a person's behavior through the use of virtual worlds may be a good or bad thing depending on the situation.
     In the New York Times article "I've Been in That Club, Just Not in Real Life," the writer used the virtual world called 'Virtual Lower East Side' to visit many real-life landmarks in the neighborhood. An advantage of visiting the online version of the Lower East Side was that users could go to clubs and see people perform without waiting on long lines or being in crowded places.  A disadvantage was that it introduced people outside the neighborhood to it which may come with a risk for the residents in the real Lower East Side.

Social Networking Sites

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat are all social networking sites meant to foster relationships and keep people connected. However, they are each unique.

Facebook posts can be tailored to a specific audience (everyone, friends of friends, only friends, or just you) which is a great feature. You can post pictures, videos, and status updates as well as say how you are feeling and check in to different places. You can also say if you are interested or are going to an event. However, there are too many links and advertisements on it which fill up my feed. I think that this social media site is very content heavy in terms of words. I have noticed that my older relatives use it more than my friends or myself.

On the other hand, Twitter provides a platform where one can get to the point faster which can save time. It is a form of microblogging which allows you to be updated on what happens in the lives of the people you follow no matter how small the incident.

Instagram is focused more on visual content rather than words or links. I think that it is a more personal platform since it is specifically dedicated to sharing pictures or short videos You can share the location of where a picture was taken. It is a platform where you can show off what you have been doing, where you have been, and with who you have spent time with by tagging people in a picture or in the caption.

I think that Snapchat is even more personal than Instagram since it is mainly for sharing 10-second short videos along with pictures. You can add the location of where you are. Unlike Instagram, to share your location at any moment, you have to be at that place when you share the video or image. For example, you cannot be in Midtown and say that you are in SoHo. You will only be able to use the SoHo location in your post. However, Facebook and Instagram are incorporating a feature like this. They recently introduced a feature where you can post a video or picture for 24 hours just like Snapchat.