The Professional Communications Course Reader provided is centred on Web 2.0. Its aims are to inform, encourage and stimulate the reader to explore debates and theoretical perspectives on the role of web 2.0.
Tim O’reilly defines what he constitutes as Web 2.0 system by developing a "meme" charting concepts, ideas and processes. Looking at the meme I can see how it provides support for social and business enterprises, but I am also made aware that the same tools currently cripple sales in the entertainment industry e.g. unsanctioned pirate copies of video and music being transferred online.
The reader suggests, “there are three particular competencies that are relevant to the positioning of web 2.0 within professional practice and the work place”. "Architectures of Participation", "Remixable Data and transformations" and "Harnessing collective data".
I decided to examine the information provided and the potential outcomes.
- Architectures of Participation
Taking part as well as interaction and creation are a part of the fundamental process known as cultural consumption and cultural production (Bourdieu 1993; Duncombe 1997; McCarthy & Jinnett 2001; O’Hagan 1996; Schuster 1991).
By making participation accessible to all, cheap, easy and quick increases calibration, resulting in building successful relationships and the democratisation of media (Hamilton 2000). Ullrich et al (2008) describes the process as the ‘architecture of assembly’. Users are encouraged to be self empowered, take control of data production and the access other people have to their data, this concept is known as “The democratisation of the web”
By making participation accessible to all, cheap, easy and quick increases calibration, resulting in building successful relationships and the democratisation of media (Hamilton 2000). Ullrich et al (2008) describes the process as the ‘architecture of assembly’. Users are encouraged to be self empowered, take control of data production and the access other people have to their data, this concept is known as “The democratisation of the web”
I was reading in The Republic of China there is not a free flow of information over the Internet. The government censor the Internet and social networking. I believe this stunts global creativity and calibration. The distortion of truth is also banned in The Republic of China. The advantages would be, less potential for customers to be bamboozled by misleading advertisements.
One of the advantages of being behind the confines of a computer is, individuals are able to participate and send comments while remaining anonymous.
- Remixable Data and transformations
Originating from rap and hip-hop music, reusing and rearranging data for a new purpose from each other to maintain and nurture dialogues. A fusion of production and usage known as “Produsage” Burns (2007), where we participate as both the producer and consumer.
Having the ability to remix data encourages companies to be competitive, forcing them to upgrade products and services which benefit the consumer e.g. IPad, Amazon kindle and Blackberry PlayBook. Virtual data can be constantly edited and improved. I think that we are bombarded with so much uncensored and opinionated information having to cipher out what is factual and what is not. I also believe that an influx of similar repetitive data can subliminally dictate the choices we make e.g. “vat to rise”, “spending cuts” resulting in spending choices.
- Harnessing collective data
The amalgamation of combined information from participants can result in self-service problem solving online discussions, harnessing information from someone who has asked a similar question. Companies use web sites (e.g. www.amazon.co.uk) to gain statistics from people who have viewed their pages for various purposes and to recommend similar items of interest to them. When booking a hotel I always check www.tripadvisor.co.uk to get customer feedback before making a purchase.
I rely on web tools so much; it’s hard to think how I survived without them. Society also forces us to be cyber literate with online banking, airport check in and online customer care self service help desks.
The course reader has highlighted the dependency I have on both my mobile phone and computer as they have the ability to access web 2.0 tools. Having a contingency plan in place if servers go down seems paramount. Backing up my important data to disk is something I am now considering.
Thank you for the link to Stephie's blog and for your comment.
ReplyDeleteI'm still having a play around with the CV format and trying to post it on here but hopefully I should have it up and running soon. Fingers crossed!
some really interesting examples you have used to illustrate the reader. China is a very relevant example of web 2.0 issues. Clearly, the Chinese government believes it is their right to control the flow of information to their population. Yet, the economic reality of the impact and influence of social media has the 'creator' of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg learning Chinese in order to crack the Chinese market...and the Chinese government entertaining the notion.
ReplyDelete"In China I think the values are so different from what we have in the US so, before we do anything there, I'm personally spending a lot of time studying it and figuring out what I think the right thing to do is.
"It's kind of a personal challenge this year, I'm taking an hour a day and I'm learning Chinese. I'm trying to understand the language, the culture, the mind set -- it's just such an important part of the world.
"How can you connect the whole world if you leave out a billion-six people?"
'Facebook founder eyes China, faces death threats in Pakistan By Adrian Addison (AFP) – Oct 18, 2010
In some ways this is similar to what happened when the Dubai government challenged Blackberry, and both parties compromised to ensure the continued economic and social benefit of technology