Month: October 2014

 

Miles (2007) describes network literacy as the ability to participate in peer groups that are involved in the burgeoning knowledge network that have resulted from the use of the internet. It can also be described as an understanding of how networks work as described in the video below;

Double Click to launch the video     (Rheingold, 2011)

 

Miles (2007) argues that having network literacy should not only entail knowing about it, but should also involve doing it. In his article on network literacy, Miles gives an analogy of a student searching for a book from the library and gives a number of activities involved in print literacy. He argues that the student needs to have knowledge about how the library operates and has to use this information in order to get the books she is looking for. Similar to print literacy, network literacy requires that one have an understanding of what it is and at the same time be able to put that knowledge into action.

As a future media maker, it is important that I know some of the things that make up a network. Agarwal & Tayal (2009) argues that some of the things that one need to know about networks includes the fact that network rely on protocols some of which are technical and which includes http, imap, pop, ftp and smtp while others are social like flaming, spam, attachments and quotation. Other information includes the fact that the internet has a different mode of communication which may have different types of social protocol, which emerge from the users and are also negotiated by them. For example, there is blog etiquette which is the protocol observed by people who use blogs. In Protocol, Alexander Galloway (2006) argues that the founding principle of the Net is control, not freedom, and that the controlling power lies in the technical protocols that make network connections (and disconnections) possible. He does this by treating the computer as a textual medium that is based on a technological language, code. Code, he argues, can be subject to the same kind of cultural and literary analysis as any natural language; computer languages have their own syntax, grammar, communities, and cultures. Instead of relying on established theoretical approaches, Galloway finds a new way to write about digital media, drawing on his backgrounds in computer programming and critical theory.  It is also crucial to be aware that different tasks within the internet are performed using different tools. One has to use a variety of different social and technical protocols in carrying out the different tasks involved in media making.

There is a need to realize that the code used in making most of the media that goes into the internet are textual in nature. One of the most commonly used codes used on the internet is HTML. The text is acquiescent, reusable, rewritable and discoverable. Moreover, it is important to realize that most of the structures that are important are emergent, they keep on changing with time. Miles (2007) points out that it is possible for different websites to communicate with each other. Communication between different websites is managed through two virtual languages called RSS and XML. XML helps in publishing information in a way that it would be possible to share it. On the other hand, RSS helps in sharing of information in different services. Such capabilities of the internet allow for communication of internet services amongst themselves while at the same time allowing the internet users or the media makers who place some of the information on the internet to put vital content in different locations but be able to merge them as one publication in one location.

The different information about how the internet operates will largely influence the way I make media. Knowing that the information provided on the internet should be textual in nature is very important. Text here does not only imply words, but it also implies graphics, sound, images and pictures. I will use this information to make media that include a sequence of all the elements. All the different elements will be used in communicating different information to the society. Most of the media that I will make will be advertising. For this reason, I will make use of subtexts.

Subtexts in this case are elements of a piece of media that cannot be seen or heard, but rather they are the interpretations that a person has on a piece of media. I will ensure that though the subtext of most of the graphics will be influenced by my own knowledge and experience, they should be able to elicit almost the same interpretation from most of my audience. A good example of an application of this will be in the advertisement below. The graphic shows an hp laptop with features like Intel i3 core processor, vivid color in HD. There is also information about saving up to $170 and an extra $250. The features of the laptop are represented in text. The subtext for the advert would be a quality laptop or a fast laptop.

The different elements to include in making the media will be placed in disparate locations on the internet and then integrated through different technologies to appear at the same location on the internet. This will enable me to explore the different tools in the internet. Further, since the media will appear in different communication channels including blogs, twitter, Facebook and Youtube, I will customize each of the media to ensure that it follows the social and the technical protocols set by the user of the different channel. Sometimes, failure to do this may cause the media not to communicate the intended information to the audience. It will also influence the choice that the communication channel chooses for the various media made. I will have to access the communication channel that has the largest number of users and use it to pass information.

Additionally, the different elements that will be used in making the media will be made in such a way that they follow the different internet protocol that are in use today. For the advertisements that will need to be passed to the audience as files, they will be made in a way that follows the ftp protocol. For those that will need to be sent via emails they will follow the smtp protocol. For advertisements that will need to reach many people, some social protocols like spam will be used.

Network literacy involves some peer being involved in sharing knowledge over the internet. This information is crucial because it will affect the way the media I make will be consumed by my target audience. An advertisement targeting a group of young people will be shared with other young people through different mode of communication. For example, information released through a social media platform like Facebook may end up being shared with other social media like Twitter. O’Guinn, Allen, Semenik and Scheinbaum (2014) argue that one of the advantages of using the internet as the medium of sharing information is the fact that it allows for interactivity. The consumers of the media that I will make will be in a position to interact with one another in the process of sharing information. James (2010) posits that there is a huge number of people that have access to the internet and that the popularity of the internet continues to increase. For this reason, it means that applying network literacy in my media making will ensure that the information I release into the internet is accessed by a huge number of people. In other words, applying network literacy will allow the media I make to reach to a large target group.

Hanson (2007) argues that the internet allows people to work 24/7. It allows for people to have access to information anytime and anywhere. This means that the media I will make will be consumed throughout. It will also be consumed over a wide geographical area.

Especially for print media, because print media are moving on to online media. The move to a digital-only edition will enable  Magazines and newspaper to cut printing and distribution costs, though by the look of its online-only issue, publishers won’t be skimping on the production value of its front covers. In Newsweek’s first digital-only edition (below right), the cover features a stunning portrait of author Tom Wolfe, expertly shot by portrait and magazine photographer Platon.

On the other hand, when young twenty-something readers compare the cover price of e.g.Cleo and Cosmopolitan over getting that sort of content free online, it’s a difficult argument on what do these titles offer to their readers that they can’t get anywhere else?The same can be said for our daily newspapers. Just how long will it be feasible for Fairfax to publish weekday editions of these papers when all the content is all available online it seems people are much pro smart devices to catch the news these days.

Besides influencing the way the media is consumed by people, applying network literacy may also influence the way the media will be used. An advertisement meant to advertise a particular product to a group of consumers may end up being shared with a non-consumer. For the consumers, the information may be used as a source of information, as a way of making them buy the product as well as a way of making them be aware of the product. However, for non- consumer, the same information may be used as a form of entertainment, especially for adverts that may be funny.

Network literacy may also change the way information is distributed over the different form of communication channels on the internet. The change in distribution is influenced by the fact that different channels have different protocols that the users have set. Any information disseminated through a channel should be distributed in a way that it respects the social and technical protocols set for that channel.

The use of internet in communication keeps on changing over time. The digital tools used for media making keeps on changing and new ones keep coming into the market. Sometimes invention of new tools renders old tools obsolete. The implication of this for media makers like me is that we should ensure that we embrace a culture of constantly learning new and different tools and ways of sharing information over the internet. Media makers should also learn the different tools of media making to ensure that the media we make continue to be relevant into the future. Another implication is that there is a need for media makers to be flexible enough to be at pace with the dynamic world of the internet.

It is important for people to have network literacy. However, most importantly, it is important for one to be in a position to make use of the literacy. Information about network literacy can be applied by a media maker in making media. Applying such information influences the way information is consumed, distributed as well as how it is used. As a media maker, it is important to be aware of the changes in the tools used for sharing information on the internet as well as the changes in the different tools that could be used for sharing this information. Some of the information that a media maker would need to know about network literacy include the fact that networks use protocols like http, smtp and ftp. It also uses texts which include video, graphics, words and sounds to represent a message. One can learn about these changes by constantly learning about networks and applying their critical thinking in the application of the knowledge gained.

 

 

 

Reference List

Agarwal, B., B. & Tayal, S., P. 2009. Computer Network. Laxmi Publications: New Delhi.

Galloway, Alexander R. Protocol: How Control Exists after Decentralization. The MIT Press, 2006. Print.

James, K., . (2010. The Internet: A User’s Guide. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd: New Delhi.

Miles, Adrian. 2007. “Network Literacy: The New Path to Knowledge.” Screen Education        Autumn.45.  24–30.

O’Guinn, T., Allen, C., Semenik, R. and Scheinbaum, A., C. (2014). Advertising and Integrated   Brand Promotion. Cengage Learning: Stamford.

Rheingold, H. 2011. Network Literacy Part One. Retrieved from            <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6UKWozzVRM>

Hanson, J. 2007. 24/7: How Cell Phones and the Internet Change the Way we Live, Work and     Play. Greenwood Publishing Group: Connecticut.

Wyk, S.V, 2013. End of an era, start of a new one – how print media will evolve in 2013 Retrieved from <http://cdn.marketingmag.com.au/wpcontent/uploads/2013/01/Newsweek.jpg>

This symposium I appreciated how Adrian related everything that we learnt back in with Networked Media, and explained that everything is constantly changing.

He said the 8 years ago there was no such thing as a vlog, now all of a sudden look where we are in terms of technology and the Internet, Imagine in another 8 years time.

He used an example of the camera operator, in the future, all they will be doing is working from a joystick. Maybe there will be cars that need no driver, they are capable of doing it themselves. It would be more beneficial to have had this talk at the beginning as well as the end of the course, because it puts in perspective what we have learnt and why.

Why is everything important that we have studied and why the subject keeps changing. Another example was how an app will come out and by the next week there will already be an update.

 

In this post, the author attempts to make an explanation of what he refers to as the six  degrees of separation in line with the theory that all individuals are linked together by 6 people as based on studies that have been carried out on networking as well as the manner in which the brain has. The author also posits the question of whether it is possible for these six degrees of separation to occur without the use of technology. This is especially when one considers that a growing number of individuals are increasingly being connected because of the internet, advancements in mobile telephones as well as any form of communication that does not require an individual to travel.

The author also argues that in many instances, it is not about the six degrees of separation but instead the networks that characterize this separation which bring forth the argument that all the individuals in the world are connected to one another. In order to articulate the theory, the author used the Oracle of Bacon where they typed in the name of the celebrity and a link was then revealed of all the individuals who either knew him or are related to him. The author argues that both networking as well as socializing are critical since it helps to enhance on business, increase the growth capacity of economies and also help to improve on bilateral ties that characterize countries(Felder, 2011)..

The author also articulates the manner in which the entire theory of networking eventfully leads to a clear understanding of the networks that exist within human cells and subsequently to an understanding of evolution. In this way, the author argues that these two distinct case studies while being different also work well together and therefore help to create an understanding not only of the manner in which human beings communicate but also how this fits into evolution(Felder, 2011)..

A positive attribute of this post is that the author clearly articulates to the reader his understanding of the theory of networking and how the internet has played an active role in this process. Moreover, the author presents this explanation using a well known celebrity complete with a picture which is key in ensuring that the reader has a clear understanding. In the end, the author presents a statement “It’s a small world after all” which ensures that the reader continues to consider the post log after it is over especially with regard to the way in which aspects such as technology help to create a sense of connectedness of all individuals. In addition, this question helps the reader to have an overall understanding of the writer’s point (Felder, 2011).

Even with the above mentioned positives, there are a number of criticisms including the fact that an individual with no knowledge of Kevin Bacon will have a difficult time attempting to understand the Oracle of Bacon that was used. Moreover, the author has not clearly articulated the notion of “six degrees of separation” which might leave the reader feeling a little bit confused (Felder, 2011).

In this post, the author sought to answer questions regarding the linkage between technology, art and culture as well as the potential presented by hypertext and the extent to which human beings will be satisfied with the use of this technology. Here the author sought to answer the question of whether technology can be able to continue as a separate entity from both art and culture. The author described how there was a discussion and how one of the tutors argued that technology and culture are not separate entities and that indeed technology can be derived from desires that are artistic in nature.

The positive aspect of this post was the fact that the author presented to the reader just what the symposium had focused on and that the discussion had taken place between tutors. In this regard, the reader had a clear image of the context within which the discussion took place and could imagine the back and forth discussion that was carried out in the symposium. The author also provided the insight that one of the tutors provided to the discussion which was another positive factor. However, the author did not put in an effort to further articulate what the rest of the tutors said and whether the students made any contributions.

Moreover, there was no attempt to make a conclusion to the topic and what exactly the author learned and if indeed he was an active part of the discussion or he was a passive bystander. The author also did not articulate the relationship that existed between technology and culture and whether this was related to the notion of the evolution of technology (Felder, 2011).

The term six degrees of separation is not something new to me. My friends and I did come across it before. But i never knew that based on this theory that we were all only separated by 6 people came out further studies on networking and how the brain is synchronised.

Is six degrees of separation possible without the aid and advancement of technology?  In fact, many people are being connected straight away because of the internet, the advancements of phones or walkie talkies, any mode of communication which does not require us to travel

When you claim that we are six people away from each other, shouldn’t the fifth person in line know the person you are trying to connect to? It’s no long about the six degrees of separation but rather the networks that go behind it. In the lecture, Adrian did say something about at the end of the day with this theory the whole world is connected to one another.

And to prove this theory further we played a little game called the Oracle of Bacon, Kevin Bacon that is, it shows that if we type in any celebrity name there is a link to them from him.

 

They always say, that networking and socialising is very important, it aids businesses, boosts economies indirectly and even improve bilateral ties between countries.  And i believe the very fact that we are able to connect and be able to network is because technology is bringing the world together. It is the reason why the world is getting smaller.

I love how the whole theory of networking eventually led up to a certain understanding of network with proteins in our cells and maybe one day an evolution. These two are completely different case studies working together. It is amazing to see the concept of networking behind the lines. Whether it is through technology, protein cells or even human social networking. It brings all of us together somehow one way or another.

 

What can I say? It’s a small world after all.