Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia openly managed by everyday people like you and me -- also known as a life-saving resource for last minute college research assignments. As if Wikipedia could get any better...
...and it has! Or at least, it's about to VERY soon. Today, Wikipedia has been reported to hold over 6 million files equaling almost 8 terabytes of data. When I read this, I could not believe how much information that contained! And their new server is going to allow page editors to post videos, which will provide unique opportunities to garner more data. After all, pictures are worth a thousand words so moving pictures should be exponentially better, right?
Although Wikimedia proposed this idea two years ago, allowing video content has been postponed until now with reason. Most of the foreseen problems seemed to stem from technical and licensing concerns. With more space newly available on their server, Wikipedia now has to define how the logistics will pan out. Since this encyclopedia is unique with its public collaboration, the website is ruled by everyone. The company had to verify that their thousands of volunteers would be able to adjust to this major change -- another reason that Wikipedia's pages have not seen many drastic changes.
Wikimedia has to make the transition work, while avoiding being seen as another Flickr or YouTube site. In fact, Wikimedia's wants to avoid their destination as a place to watch personal vacation videos. And to top it all off, the buttons to load, edit, and play the videos must be easy to use and figure out for people less proficient with online tools.
Within the next few months, I'm excited to see the array of videos that will enhance the individual page's content. Although my biggest concern is already being addressed: who will monitor if the videos are appropriate? Will the videos be screened before they are published? Perhaps Wikimedia will rely on the public to report inappropriate, violent, or revealing content.
But at the same time, I'm curious to see how the videos will help certain pages. For example, if someone were to search for the "Oranges" page, it will be interesting to see what type of video will be posted. Will it focus on the cultivation, growth, or harvesting of an orange? Maybe it will also touch on the nutritional facts or where in the world it is grown.
Regardless, good things are constantly happening in the technology world with every blink of the eye. And Wikipedia is no exception.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
De Ja Vu with the Book Industry
Last semester in my undergraduate CMGT 456 course with Karen, one of our assignments was to draft a couple briefing memorandums that outlined a marketing tactic from one media industry that could benefit another.
After learning about the slow decline in physical book sales over the past decade, I wanted to focus on improving its publicity. In one of my memos, I suggested using a marketing strategy from the movie industry by incorporating DVDs with every book purchase. The DVDs would implement extra background information about the plot, the author, and the making of the book. In addition, it would include an extra audio book previously released from the same author in order to create an extra 2-for-1 incentive. Of course, the offered book would be less popular and less expensive.
When I read the article entitled, "With Kindle, the Best Sellers Don't Need to Sell," it reminded me of the same assignment that I wrote about just a few months ago. The article discussed the pros and cons of giving away free e-books through Amazon's new electronic book device called the Kindle. One of the most popular products purchased on Amazon this past holiday season, Kindle created more than just a buzz for the book industry.
And what's not to like? It's portable, convenient, environmentally friendly, and...gives out free content? That's right. As a way to facilitate word-of-mouth for less popular authors, some book publishing companies are offering free downloadable books in anticipation of the author's next book release in a series. For many authors of all genres, such as romance and Christian thrillers, sales have exponentially increased. However, some companies want to retain the integrity of the books and refuse to distribute them for free.
When I read this article, I was pleasantly surprised to see the same concept that I wrote about in my assignment. The main point was to stimulate a stir for less popular authors and simultaneously increase physical book sales. Only in this circumstance, the free book correlates with e-book sales. Even though the comparison is not exactly the same, I'm glad that this tactic succeeded and I could actually see this strategy come into fruition.
After learning about the slow decline in physical book sales over the past decade, I wanted to focus on improving its publicity. In one of my memos, I suggested using a marketing strategy from the movie industry by incorporating DVDs with every book purchase. The DVDs would implement extra background information about the plot, the author, and the making of the book. In addition, it would include an extra audio book previously released from the same author in order to create an extra 2-for-1 incentive. Of course, the offered book would be less popular and less expensive.
When I read the article entitled, "With Kindle, the Best Sellers Don't Need to Sell," it reminded me of the same assignment that I wrote about just a few months ago. The article discussed the pros and cons of giving away free e-books through Amazon's new electronic book device called the Kindle. One of the most popular products purchased on Amazon this past holiday season, Kindle created more than just a buzz for the book industry.
And what's not to like? It's portable, convenient, environmentally friendly, and...gives out free content? That's right. As a way to facilitate word-of-mouth for less popular authors, some book publishing companies are offering free downloadable books in anticipation of the author's next book release in a series. For many authors of all genres, such as romance and Christian thrillers, sales have exponentially increased. However, some companies want to retain the integrity of the books and refuse to distribute them for free.
When I read this article, I was pleasantly surprised to see the same concept that I wrote about in my assignment. The main point was to stimulate a stir for less popular authors and simultaneously increase physical book sales. Only in this circumstance, the free book correlates with e-book sales. Even though the comparison is not exactly the same, I'm glad that this tactic succeeded and I could actually see this strategy come into fruition.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
To be a community or not to be?
After reading Amy Bruckman's definition of a "community" in her article on the impact of an online community and whether or not it exists, it will be interesting to discover in class who agrees and disagrees with her conclusion. I particularly enjoyed reading her article because of its simplicity and easy read.
Without unnecessary filler, Bruckman immediately begins by delving into the debate of whether an online community essential fulfills the requirements of being considered a "community." While online communities help each other by providing virtual support through niche groups, sociologists argue that people can only establish communities based on a geographic location. And as the internet has spanned every corner of the globe, the world wide web is no longer confined to a specific area.
Looking from a sociologist's perspective, I understand why they would want a concrete definition that clearly delineates what constitutes a community. And their solution? Physical borders. Although I do not entirely agree with this outlook, I do support the statement that vouches for both "weak and strong interpersonal ties" that exist over distance. According to these two statements, it seems to me that their statements are contradictory.
I highly value Bruckman's statements about communities because she states her claims, backs them up with warrants, and refrains from using extremes. She qualifies her opinion by stating that their are very different ways to understand this multi-faceted concept. The comparison of a community to a group "category" made logical sense when she provided an example of a bird. By comparing a "bird" to a sparrow vs. a penguin, one can differentiate between the more prominent member of the bird community. The empirical reaction tests to prove her claims also helped explain her take-away points.
Even with this theory in mind, there are definitely flaws with the "cut-offs" or as Bruckman defines it: boundaries. The example of colors as relative "facts" made me think of a story that happened a couple years ago. My friend was showing off some new shoes he had just purchased that weekend from the mall and kept saying that the green color was just so cool! Some of the people he told became confused and told him that he was crazy because they were clearly brown. And that's how he found out he was color blind.
The point of that story was to show how relative EVERYTHING can be. That's why anyone or anything can be part of a blurred category. In reality, whether an online group is considered a community or not will never become fact. I don't like using extremes, but I am confident that this question will only receive opinionated responses. I'm curious to hear what other people think on Monday.
From my perspective, I think a community involves: support, interaction, and two or more members. Therefore, I believe a community can establish itself online because anyone can meet, chat, and play an important role in each others' lives without ever meeting them in person. That may be rare, but with technology these days, the impossible definitely seems possible.
Without unnecessary filler, Bruckman immediately begins by delving into the debate of whether an online community essential fulfills the requirements of being considered a "community." While online communities help each other by providing virtual support through niche groups, sociologists argue that people can only establish communities based on a geographic location. And as the internet has spanned every corner of the globe, the world wide web is no longer confined to a specific area.
Looking from a sociologist's perspective, I understand why they would want a concrete definition that clearly delineates what constitutes a community. And their solution? Physical borders. Although I do not entirely agree with this outlook, I do support the statement that vouches for both "weak and strong interpersonal ties" that exist over distance. According to these two statements, it seems to me that their statements are contradictory.
I highly value Bruckman's statements about communities because she states her claims, backs them up with warrants, and refrains from using extremes. She qualifies her opinion by stating that their are very different ways to understand this multi-faceted concept. The comparison of a community to a group "category" made logical sense when she provided an example of a bird. By comparing a "bird" to a sparrow vs. a penguin, one can differentiate between the more prominent member of the bird community. The empirical reaction tests to prove her claims also helped explain her take-away points.
Even with this theory in mind, there are definitely flaws with the "cut-offs" or as Bruckman defines it: boundaries. The example of colors as relative "facts" made me think of a story that happened a couple years ago. My friend was showing off some new shoes he had just purchased that weekend from the mall and kept saying that the green color was just so cool! Some of the people he told became confused and told him that he was crazy because they were clearly brown. And that's how he found out he was color blind.
The point of that story was to show how relative EVERYTHING can be. That's why anyone or anything can be part of a blurred category. In reality, whether an online group is considered a community or not will never become fact. I don't like using extremes, but I am confident that this question will only receive opinionated responses. I'm curious to hear what other people think on Monday.
From my perspective, I think a community involves: support, interaction, and two or more members. Therefore, I believe a community can establish itself online because anyone can meet, chat, and play an important role in each others' lives without ever meeting them in person. That may be rare, but with technology these days, the impossible definitely seems possible.
Friday, January 22, 2010
I'm Jumping the Gun - Allow Me to Introduce Myself
As the title of this post explains, I've been so caught up with the last few posts about the latest news in technology that I haven't taken the opportunity to formally introduce myself via Blogger to the APOC class and, naturally, the rest of the world.
My name is Ashlie Chan and I am currently an undergraduate student at the University of Southern California majoring in Communication and minoring in Spanish. I completed one hurl last semester when I completed my last Spanish minor requirement, so I'm excited to continue these accomplishments. Born and raised in Arcadia, CA (the city next to Pasadena), my first "move" was the super long trek out to Los Angeles for college. My job as Vice President of the Undergraduate Student Government occupies a lot of my time, as well as being President of Helenes, an all-female philanthropy-based organization on campus dedicated to serving USC and the LA community since 1921.
I have one older sister just a grade above me. It's slightly ironic that she's studying to be a journalist as I'm striving to obtain a degree in a field that has indirectly and directly contributed to the journalism industry's decline. I'm also interested in marketing and entertainment management, because I used to work in front of the camera as a child in the acting field. But if I were to choose a career with no monetary compensation involved, it would have to revolve around baking -- possibly a TV show centered around baking and decorating cakes. It's so therapeutic. However, that's wishful thinking and we're in the now. Maybe that could be a possibility in the future.
Speaking of food, one of the new online communities I recently joined was Yelp. Everyday, I learn more things in class that are pertinent to real life. Case in point, when I was creating a username for my latest and greatest Yelp account, I found myself thinking about how easy and straightforward the process was. Then I remembered in class that simple is always better, especially when people want registration as painless and least confusing as possible. Though I haven't posted anything yet personally, I have been an avid Yelp surfer for a while -- searching "Happy Hour foods in Downtown" has become second nature to me after I learned about the great deals they provide.
I also just created a Twitter account. Now this step was a big one for me. Since its creation, I felt pretty adamant about not creating a Twitter so I wouldn't be addicted. Then I started learning about the social benefits of Facebook and how it can certainly help spread the word about the latest news or prevent you from spending $12 at your local movie theater to watch Bruno. After another straightforward registration, I e-mailed my mom and reluctantly told her that I just signed up with Twitter. Not to my surprise, she was thrilled to know that she'd have another "follower" after bugging me to do so for the past year. It seems to me like a kill-two-birds-with-one-stone move.
I briefly talked about my first APOC class in a previous blog, but my other class on Wednesday is also terrific. Zachary Posner is a phenomenal professor and I can tell that his knowledge is something the APOC students can tap into and constantly learn from. Upon listening to the first web presentation about RSS from Tom and Josh, I told a friend, "These presentations are really, REALLY cool." I surprised myself at how emphatic I genuinely felt. During the second half of lecture, we discussed the different programming languages that zoomed by me. What I did note was that I'm looking forward to the day when programming languages won't be as daunting as they seemed on Wednesday.
Contrary to what my graduate concentration says, I am not as computer/internet/website literate as I would like to be. I hope that the APOC program will teach me the necessary steps and material that I need to create a fully-functioning and professional website in the future. In fact, I'm not sure what the first steps would be to create a website.
Up until now, I've asked friends to help when I needed a website designed for Helenes and my USG campaign. It would be gratifying to know that I can do it myself. After all, websites and technology are the future of business and having a firm grasp on the foundation of it will really be an asset in the future with whatever career path I take.
Overall, the APOC family seems absolutely fantastic! I've met many unique and interesting individuals that I probably would not have met otherwise and the directors, professors, and guest lecturers are nothing short of amazing and accommodating! I'm really excited about collaborating ideas, interacting, and hopefully helping to propel each other's endeavors in the internet realm very soon.
My name is Ashlie Chan and I am currently an undergraduate student at the University of Southern California majoring in Communication and minoring in Spanish. I completed one hurl last semester when I completed my last Spanish minor requirement, so I'm excited to continue these accomplishments. Born and raised in Arcadia, CA (the city next to Pasadena), my first "move" was the super long trek out to Los Angeles for college. My job as Vice President of the Undergraduate Student Government occupies a lot of my time, as well as being President of Helenes, an all-female philanthropy-based organization on campus dedicated to serving USC and the LA community since 1921.
I have one older sister just a grade above me. It's slightly ironic that she's studying to be a journalist as I'm striving to obtain a degree in a field that has indirectly and directly contributed to the journalism industry's decline. I'm also interested in marketing and entertainment management, because I used to work in front of the camera as a child in the acting field. But if I were to choose a career with no monetary compensation involved, it would have to revolve around baking -- possibly a TV show centered around baking and decorating cakes. It's so therapeutic. However, that's wishful thinking and we're in the now. Maybe that could be a possibility in the future.
Speaking of food, one of the new online communities I recently joined was Yelp. Everyday, I learn more things in class that are pertinent to real life. Case in point, when I was creating a username for my latest and greatest Yelp account, I found myself thinking about how easy and straightforward the process was. Then I remembered in class that simple is always better, especially when people want registration as painless and least confusing as possible. Though I haven't posted anything yet personally, I have been an avid Yelp surfer for a while -- searching "Happy Hour foods in Downtown" has become second nature to me after I learned about the great deals they provide.
I also just created a Twitter account. Now this step was a big one for me. Since its creation, I felt pretty adamant about not creating a Twitter so I wouldn't be addicted. Then I started learning about the social benefits of Facebook and how it can certainly help spread the word about the latest news or prevent you from spending $12 at your local movie theater to watch Bruno. After another straightforward registration, I e-mailed my mom and reluctantly told her that I just signed up with Twitter. Not to my surprise, she was thrilled to know that she'd have another "follower" after bugging me to do so for the past year. It seems to me like a kill-two-birds-with-one-stone move.
I briefly talked about my first APOC class in a previous blog, but my other class on Wednesday is also terrific. Zachary Posner is a phenomenal professor and I can tell that his knowledge is something the APOC students can tap into and constantly learn from. Upon listening to the first web presentation about RSS from Tom and Josh, I told a friend, "These presentations are really, REALLY cool." I surprised myself at how emphatic I genuinely felt. During the second half of lecture, we discussed the different programming languages that zoomed by me. What I did note was that I'm looking forward to the day when programming languages won't be as daunting as they seemed on Wednesday.
Contrary to what my graduate concentration says, I am not as computer/internet/website literate as I would like to be. I hope that the APOC program will teach me the necessary steps and material that I need to create a fully-functioning and professional website in the future. In fact, I'm not sure what the first steps would be to create a website.
Up until now, I've asked friends to help when I needed a website designed for Helenes and my USG campaign. It would be gratifying to know that I can do it myself. After all, websites and technology are the future of business and having a firm grasp on the foundation of it will really be an asset in the future with whatever career path I take.
Overall, the APOC family seems absolutely fantastic! I've met many unique and interesting individuals that I probably would not have met otherwise and the directors, professors, and guest lecturers are nothing short of amazing and accommodating! I'm really excited about collaborating ideas, interacting, and hopefully helping to propel each other's endeavors in the internet realm very soon.
Is Facebook Really that Revealing?
To the average college student, Facebook is the coolest, most happening online niche to be a part of. And what's not to like about it? You have a ton of friends (though some of which you interact with once a year if that), pictures to remind you of memorable and not so memorable times, and messages that contain inside jokes that further your popularity status. Of course college students are going to love it.
But what really caught my eye when I read another article in TechCrunch was an article entitled, "Ok You Luddites, Time to Chill Out on Facebook Over Privacy." Initially, the title seemed slightly confusing with the way it was phrased, but as soon as you read the first few lines of the page, it makes more sense.
In order to get the full scope of the story, I had to define "Luddite" on dictionary.com. I learned that a Luddite is someone who opposes technical or technological change. Then I started reading the paragraphs and took away some main points, knowing that privacy was going to be an issue.
According to the article, in the 1900's, people freaked out about using phones because it was easy for the government to listen in and tap phone calls. With the turn of the millennium, people raved over the benefits and technical aspects of Gmail, even though the website scans every e-mail for special keywords. These, of course, inadvertently lead to contextual ads. That's why it's no coincidence to see your favorite bands' concert tickets always on sale!
Once people became educated about the power of the World Wide Web and it's ability to discern your identity through a few clicks of a mouse, consumers started to ease up on the conservatism. They ultimately decided that the benefits outweigh the privacy costs, which means that Facebookers will learn to accept their favorite site's publicity initiatives. Though people think pictures and personal information are too revealing on Facebook, it hardly compares to the information that banking companies and supermarket chains have on file for each of us. In fact, privacy is really, really dead, and with cell phone companies tracking our every move, GPS systems could finally be the end of true privacy.
In my opinion, the take away point was that we are not going to stop using Facebook. If people really were opposed to the site, they could either create a better solution or neglect it all together. But the lure of it is so great, that people eventually give in. Some people are so willing to share personal information, that new, innovative sites, such as Blippy, tracks a user's purchases made online. Though it sounds crazy, it's creating quite a stir in the internet world, because word-of-mouth spreads and more advertisers can cater to them through suggestions of new products. Hundreds of accounts exist, but it may be just to give your popularity another boost.
So until Facebook faces a serious court case for violation, it's here to stay. And that's good news to us, because for many people, regardless of age or background, Facebook is our friend.
But what really caught my eye when I read another article in TechCrunch was an article entitled, "Ok You Luddites, Time to Chill Out on Facebook Over Privacy." Initially, the title seemed slightly confusing with the way it was phrased, but as soon as you read the first few lines of the page, it makes more sense.
In order to get the full scope of the story, I had to define "Luddite" on dictionary.com. I learned that a Luddite is someone who opposes technical or technological change. Then I started reading the paragraphs and took away some main points, knowing that privacy was going to be an issue.
According to the article, in the 1900's, people freaked out about using phones because it was easy for the government to listen in and tap phone calls. With the turn of the millennium, people raved over the benefits and technical aspects of Gmail, even though the website scans every e-mail for special keywords. These, of course, inadvertently lead to contextual ads. That's why it's no coincidence to see your favorite bands' concert tickets always on sale!
Once people became educated about the power of the World Wide Web and it's ability to discern your identity through a few clicks of a mouse, consumers started to ease up on the conservatism. They ultimately decided that the benefits outweigh the privacy costs, which means that Facebookers will learn to accept their favorite site's publicity initiatives. Though people think pictures and personal information are too revealing on Facebook, it hardly compares to the information that banking companies and supermarket chains have on file for each of us. In fact, privacy is really, really dead, and with cell phone companies tracking our every move, GPS systems could finally be the end of true privacy.
In my opinion, the take away point was that we are not going to stop using Facebook. If people really were opposed to the site, they could either create a better solution or neglect it all together. But the lure of it is so great, that people eventually give in. Some people are so willing to share personal information, that new, innovative sites, such as Blippy, tracks a user's purchases made online. Though it sounds crazy, it's creating quite a stir in the internet world, because word-of-mouth spreads and more advertisers can cater to them through suggestions of new products. Hundreds of accounts exist, but it may be just to give your popularity another boost.
So until Facebook faces a serious court case for violation, it's here to stay. And that's good news to us, because for many people, regardless of age or background, Facebook is our friend.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
iTunes Going to the iCloud
This week, TechCrunch posted an article about Apple working to create iTunes.com, which will eventually replace the standard iTunes software. The CEO of MP3.com stated that this move was bound to occur eventually.
Of course, Apple implemented a strategy that is not only convenient for the consumers, but it also poses as an economical advantage. By creating iTunes.com, outside websites can benefit by creating "one-click purchase content" buttons through iTunes APIs, otherwise known as Application Program Interfaces. That way, multiple third-party sites can benefit in this win-win situation.
Even though iTunes currently has these purchasing buttons available on some websites, the process is still not as easy as it should be since customers would still have to download the software and purchase items through the original iTunes store. This is not ideal, because the more difficult or time-consuming the overall process, the easier it is for the customer to be bored and neglect an easy purchase. After all, the customer is always right, and inconvenience is the ultimate enemy.
This "in the clouds" approach could potentially turn into a huge business endeavor and Apple hopes to make their profit margin higher than ever before. In the future, TechCrunch believes that sites, such as Pandora, will be converted into an iTunes-like store. For example, once songs randomly play on your station, they will be easy to purchase with the click of a button.
This is a smart maneuver, because there will ultimately be fewer bugs, more streamlined updates, and more financial opportunities for Apple. In terms of streamlined updates, Apple's millions of customers will all have access to the same site, without relying on outdated software.
If you're like me, you are still holding onto the original mini iPod. And why not? The hardware and the actual iTunes software are still fully functional, but the biggest difference lies in the available song space. 3 GB hardly seems sufficient for anyone these days, so access to a continually improving site is great news!
It only seems like a logical progression, because the iPod is one of the few technological gadgets that the public has readily accepted and been committed to. In Karen's undergraduate class last semester, we discussed how most customers continue, and event want, to upgrade their iPods and seek the latest Apple trends. Most companies' products are usually either phased out or trumped by another inventions.
Whatever Apple decides, they have already adequately made their mark on the technology world and in our daily lives. I'm excited to see what the future of Apple has "in store" for us!
Of course, Apple implemented a strategy that is not only convenient for the consumers, but it also poses as an economical advantage. By creating iTunes.com, outside websites can benefit by creating "one-click purchase content" buttons through iTunes APIs, otherwise known as Application Program Interfaces. That way, multiple third-party sites can benefit in this win-win situation.
Even though iTunes currently has these purchasing buttons available on some websites, the process is still not as easy as it should be since customers would still have to download the software and purchase items through the original iTunes store. This is not ideal, because the more difficult or time-consuming the overall process, the easier it is for the customer to be bored and neglect an easy purchase. After all, the customer is always right, and inconvenience is the ultimate enemy.
This "in the clouds" approach could potentially turn into a huge business endeavor and Apple hopes to make their profit margin higher than ever before. In the future, TechCrunch believes that sites, such as Pandora, will be converted into an iTunes-like store. For example, once songs randomly play on your station, they will be easy to purchase with the click of a button.
This is a smart maneuver, because there will ultimately be fewer bugs, more streamlined updates, and more financial opportunities for Apple. In terms of streamlined updates, Apple's millions of customers will all have access to the same site, without relying on outdated software.
If you're like me, you are still holding onto the original mini iPod. And why not? The hardware and the actual iTunes software are still fully functional, but the biggest difference lies in the available song space. 3 GB hardly seems sufficient for anyone these days, so access to a continually improving site is great news!
It only seems like a logical progression, because the iPod is one of the few technological gadgets that the public has readily accepted and been committed to. In Karen's undergraduate class last semester, we discussed how most customers continue, and event want, to upgrade their iPods and seek the latest Apple trends. Most companies' products are usually either phased out or trumped by another inventions.
Whatever Apple decides, they have already adequately made their mark on the technology world and in our daily lives. I'm excited to see what the future of Apple has "in store" for us!
Monday, January 18, 2010
A New Semester - A New Degree
Last Monday, I took the first dive; head first, naturally. So this is what graduate school feels like...
Getting into the swing of things is probably just as difficult, if not even more so, than coping with the middle of the semester or end of the year. I thought I’d be used to it by now, having begun five new semesters already. However, this semester was no different, especially since I am juggling this graduate degree with undergraduate courses and extracurricular activities. But overall, it was refreshing to come back to school despite the amount of work that is definitely looming in the very near future. I don’t think the looming clouds are helping anything either.
Monday’s speaker, Jeff Cole, was extremely interesting to listen to with his perspectives about technology implemented in the future; so much in fact that I caught myself talking to my friends about his opinions in everyday conversation. I was lucky enough to catch Jeff Cole once already last semester in Karen’s undergraduate CMGT 456 class. Even though some of his points were re-stated, it was a much-needed reminder and an impactful way to really emphasize the take-away points.
There were dozens of really interesting points that really resonated with me as I was listening. It was fascinating to learn that Walter Annenberg sold TV Guide for $3 billion dollars in 1990 and helped us inadvertently become who we are today. Because without Annenberg, which I’ve grown to love and appreciate so much for all of the resources we can take advantage of, I would not be the same USC student. And the funny thing is that $3 billion on top of inflation turned out to be less than $1.00 less than two decades later. Perhaps “funny” isn’t the right word, but at least Walter Annenberg laughed all the way to the bank.
Not only did we benefit with the construction of the Annenberg school, but we also directly owe the APOC graduate school route to Walter Annenberg’s grandson who happened to find a passion in technology pursuits. In my opinion, his passion was in the right place, because web and online technology is the future. Many people, regardless of age, nationality, or income level, all focus some parts of their life around the internet.
When I was elaborating about the lecture with a couple friends after class, we discussed how most people do not like too many options on TV. With cable TV’s emerging popularity, owning 400+ channels is no longer a rarity. In fact, some people expect at least that many channels on plasma big screens mounted on their walls in large, over-the-top theatres. But when research showed that about 90% of what we watch stems from only about 6 channels, I begin to wonder whether paying for all of these channels is really worth it. Then we linked a connection in class between restaurant satisfaction and menu variety. Even though studies show that people prefer small, more select menus, I like having a list of options to choose from. I laughed when my friend associated really pricy, sought out restaurants with typically smaller menus.
After the lecture, I’m genuinely excited to see the future of technology in that all of our content will be floating “in the clouds”. I’m not as wary about technology taking over our lives, because I think in a sense, it already has. Physical space for CD, DVD, and even Blu-Ray storage will be unnecessary – and I can’t imagine telling future generations what technology was like “back in my day…”
Getting into the swing of things is probably just as difficult, if not even more so, than coping with the middle of the semester or end of the year. I thought I’d be used to it by now, having begun five new semesters already. However, this semester was no different, especially since I am juggling this graduate degree with undergraduate courses and extracurricular activities. But overall, it was refreshing to come back to school despite the amount of work that is definitely looming in the very near future. I don’t think the looming clouds are helping anything either.
Monday’s speaker, Jeff Cole, was extremely interesting to listen to with his perspectives about technology implemented in the future; so much in fact that I caught myself talking to my friends about his opinions in everyday conversation. I was lucky enough to catch Jeff Cole once already last semester in Karen’s undergraduate CMGT 456 class. Even though some of his points were re-stated, it was a much-needed reminder and an impactful way to really emphasize the take-away points.
There were dozens of really interesting points that really resonated with me as I was listening. It was fascinating to learn that Walter Annenberg sold TV Guide for $3 billion dollars in 1990 and helped us inadvertently become who we are today. Because without Annenberg, which I’ve grown to love and appreciate so much for all of the resources we can take advantage of, I would not be the same USC student. And the funny thing is that $3 billion on top of inflation turned out to be less than $1.00 less than two decades later. Perhaps “funny” isn’t the right word, but at least Walter Annenberg laughed all the way to the bank.
Not only did we benefit with the construction of the Annenberg school, but we also directly owe the APOC graduate school route to Walter Annenberg’s grandson who happened to find a passion in technology pursuits. In my opinion, his passion was in the right place, because web and online technology is the future. Many people, regardless of age, nationality, or income level, all focus some parts of their life around the internet.
When I was elaborating about the lecture with a couple friends after class, we discussed how most people do not like too many options on TV. With cable TV’s emerging popularity, owning 400+ channels is no longer a rarity. In fact, some people expect at least that many channels on plasma big screens mounted on their walls in large, over-the-top theatres. But when research showed that about 90% of what we watch stems from only about 6 channels, I begin to wonder whether paying for all of these channels is really worth it. Then we linked a connection in class between restaurant satisfaction and menu variety. Even though studies show that people prefer small, more select menus, I like having a list of options to choose from. I laughed when my friend associated really pricy, sought out restaurants with typically smaller menus.
After the lecture, I’m genuinely excited to see the future of technology in that all of our content will be floating “in the clouds”. I’m not as wary about technology taking over our lives, because I think in a sense, it already has. Physical space for CD, DVD, and even Blu-Ray storage will be unnecessary – and I can’t imagine telling future generations what technology was like “back in my day…”
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