The New Age of Music Festivals

  Sites such as YouTube have changed the way producers view music.  It is a force that cannot be ignored by talent agencies, book publishers, and TV networks who are hurrying to capitalize on the movement.  It is about "bringing the internet to life" -Rojas- DigiTour Media.  Teens have begun to focus a large amount of their time on finding artists on sites such as YouTube, Instagram, and Vine instead of looking for professionally produced music.  These fans want to see their internet idols in RL and as a result have prompted a series of music festivals that cater to this desire.  An explanation of how this works is in the article Performing Without Net: Stars of YouTube Take to the Stage.
  I think that this is an excellent way to accommodate for those people who have built up a real followings on these sites.  This allows for a larger group of people to do what they love and receive recognition for it.  The music business is hard to make it big in, but if some can build a following on their own and get to play for those fans, I think it's great.  It is nice that people are paying attention to the shifts in culture that these sharing sites foster.

Life is always picture perfect.

On Instagram that is...

Instagram has been famous since its culmination in 2010 for the ability to glam any photo with a flaw hiding, perfecting filter.  With this simple tool the world has been subject to what is known as "Instagram Envy" which is the result of everyone's lives appearing so perfect on the site.  Now Instagram has taken the perfecting a step further by adding a variety of photo editing tools.  These are designed with care and consideration to be easy to use and effective. The new tools will allow for subtle adjustments such as brightness, contrast, shadows and highlights among others, read more about the tools in the article- Instagram Goes Beyond Its Gauzy Filters.  

Now this seems like it is making a lot more work for users of Instagram...however a large amount of users have been requesting more editing options.  According to developers, Instagram is considered a type of stage for most people thus the services must put their best foot forward in order to give consumers what they want.  "In other words, if my feed makes my life look amazing, that's because it is"  -Manjoo.  People want their photos to reflect what they actually see.  Often times we see an amazing scene, snap a photo of it, and it isn't the same when we look at it.  With these photo edits it makes greatness possible.

Stay Safe on Public Wi-Fi Networks

Keeping Safe on Public Wi-Fi

With all of the new mobile devices and strict data limits more and more people are relying on free Wi-Fi in public places.  However, what most people don't think about is the risk that is involved.  It is not well advertised that these Wi-Fi networks may allow for hackers to easily pray on shared information while connected.  So the next time you decide to hit the coffee shop for some work make sure to take precautions.  The New York Times article How Not to Pray the Price for Free Wi-Fi provides some helpful tips for staying safe while navigating these free networks.  

These tips include:

1. Make sure the sites that you visit have "https" in front of the URL.  This means that the page is encrypted and that other people on the network cannot see what you are doing on your device.  

2. Use a virtual private network (VPN).  This will encrypt all of your online traffic.

3. Sign-up for two step verification.  Sites like Facebook, Twitter, WordPress and others have begun to offer this option.  This is when a site will often ask for a password as well as a specific code that was sent only to you.  The problem with this can be if you use the same password for multiple sites, hackers could figure this out and thus access other accounts that aren't set up with this two-step verification process.

4. Bring only what you need and turn off what you are not using.  This means to not have all of your sites up and running while on public networks.

In addition to these four tips it is also important to worry about the safety of your actual devices in public.  Do not underestimate the ability of someone to snatch your device and take off with it.  So remember to keep your online traffic safe as well as your device in your sight at all times.

Smart textiles.

The Clothing of the Future

Imagine knowing your heart rate and breathing rate every time you exercise? Well that's easy...we already have wristbands and handheld gadgets that provide that information.  But wait, what about a wearable medium that you've already been wearing your whole life?? Any guesses.......your CLOTHING.  That's right, smart clothing.  The co-founder of OMSignal predicts that in a decade all clothing that is purchased will have some sort of biofeedback sensors weaved into the fabric.  These smart clothing pieces may possibly be able to monitor stress levels in the body as well, so your shirt can literally tell you to take a chill pill.  This smart clothing will eliminate the need to wear extra accessories, such as the wrist band that can also monitor these vital signs.

Challenges

The problem with the OMSignal clothing is the price. Right now it is difficult to take the prototype and turn it into something that can be mass produced for a reasonable price that will promote consumer support.  This is the first time fabric like this is making it out of the laboratory. This clothing is predicted to be like the gas gauge on cars.  Originally they weren't there, but now we can't imagine cars without them.

What will the future be like?

I think that these clothing items could be useful for many high performing athletes or those who have health conditions that cause these vital signs to be of the utmost importance during physical activity.  However, I believe that we are already so connected...does our clothing have to be also?  However, these shirts have the potential to make great health advancements to encourage more people to be aware of their bodies.  It is crazy to think that this is possible.  It is a wild thought to picture what future technology has in store for the world.  And the big plus, the shirts are machine washable! I wonder if they will come in colors...

Creepy or Useful? The Facebook "Ask" button.

The "Ask" Button

I have seen several articles addressing the implementation of an "Ask" button on Facebook.  This button allows friends to click a button labeled "Ask" next to any of their friends' personal information.  This prompts a box to be opened that will allow a short message in order to ask a question about the personal information.  There is considerable dissatisfaction with the button because of privacy concerns.  Learn more about this button here. 

Is it really doing harm?

The main argument is that this is infringing on peoples' privacy...let's not forget that these people are on FACEBOOK.  If you have an account and expect privacy from other people I don't know why you would have an account.  Facebook is meant for people to CONNECT.  This can be on several levels, whether it be dating or friends it is all about knowing what the other person is doing.  If asking about a relationship status sparks an opening for a relationship then I would say Facebook is doing what it's meant for, connecting people.  If a person asks an inappropriate relationship question then maybe you should consider un-friending that person because they do not posses the qualities of a person you want to associate with.  As far as the hometown, work, school, etc. it may connect people who live in the same area.

The aspect people need to remember is that only people you are friends with can do this.  Thus if you don't feel comfortable enough with the people who are your Facebook friends to have this information than your privacy is already gone.  Just because Facebook gives people this option does not mean that everyone will suddenly be hit with a bunch of questions because most people will know the information either way.

Xbox users rejoice

Microsoft announced that it will no longer charge a fee for Xbox users to use online streaming services such as Netflix or Hulu plus.  This privilege was previously only available for the $60 fee for Xbox Live Gold subscriptions.  Also Microsoft will offer the Xbox one without Kinect for a cheaper price.  This streaming offer includes multiple services and is available for both Xbox 360 and Xbox one.  Read more from the Huffington Post here.   Microsoft is not doing away with the profitable Xbox Live Gold subscriptions, they are still required for other services on the devices. 

I think this is a great change for Microsoft to make.  It makes the product more useful and can give people what they want for less money.  The Gold subscriptions will still be purchased by the "gamers" but for the general public these new options may attract more people to buy the Xbox for more than just games.  Maybe this will create more profit in the end.  I like that Microsoft is attempting to cater to their customers. 

The effect of Facebook on self-esteem.

Facebook

Facebook has undoubtedly changed the way we interact with one another.  It brought a multitude of people into the social media stratosphere.  Do we have stop to fully take that in?  Recently it was Mother's Day, scrolling down my news feed I couldn't miss it.  The multitudes of Facebook users took to their profiles to wish their mothers a happy day.  Some threw in pictures, both recent and old, others went for the note of appreciation.  Some of these posts received over a hundred likes, others received in the single digits.  It shouldn't be a big deal......but is it?

The Effect on our Self-Esteem

A study done by the New York Times claims that people who feel ignored on social media suffer from lower self-esteem.  This is so sad because it is an outlet for us to feel connected.  Unfortunately it is very much a mirror of society.  People often have these left out feelings in RL social interactions, and many find similar situations online.  The study that was conducted in this article claims that those who posted and received little or no feed back felt "invisible" and as a result had lower self-esteem.  This is the hard aspect of online interactions, these feelings are common.  

Reality Check

I often wonder why some statuses get more likes than others even when the level of importance appears to be the same. In my own experiences I have found that it is related to how often people post, this creates more of a steady following base of people that will be more inclined to like or comment on posts.  Also, as the TED talk we listened to in class explained our news feeds are filtered so it may be that some posts have been filtered more than others.  I think that people shouldn't use social media as a means to gain self-esteem.  Social media should be for personal enjoyment and not for the "likes".  Focus more on having a few close people who truly care about you rather than 100 people who just like to "creep" :) 

  

Put an end to the glorification of drama!

Bullying vs. Drama

I can think of three girls that I went to school with who were mean girls.  They created endless amounts of drama, and do you know what made it worse?  Their mothers.  Ever time the victims of these means girls' attacks would try to call the girl out they would run to their moms and twist the story.  And that is the fundamental problem with combating bullying...stories can get twisted.  The truth is difficult to discern when two sides of a story don't match up.  I think this problem is why bullying shouldn't be called bullying.  If there are two sides of a story, then there is wrong on both ends.  Similar to Boyd's argument, there needs to be inequality.  Often when two sides get twisted it's because friends turned against each other.  Having recently left high school last year, the "drama" is all too fresh in my mind.

Drama, Drama, Drama

How do we fight against drama?  Stop glorifying it.  It is simple.  Stop rewarding bad behavior with attention, status, and money.  What is the quickest way for a celebrity to get a front page story in the magazines?  Behave badly.  That is the behavior that is modeled for teens and so that is what they act like.  It's looked at as cool to be mean.  In reality niceness will get you much farther in life. 

Punishment adds to the "drama" because that just makes the people lash out at something else.  The person who was previously directing their bad behavior at peers will now direct it at authority figures. I agree that bullies are often dealing with deeper emotional issues and should be assigned a councilor or therapy session.  Situations like the one Amanda Todd went through should never happen.  However, look at how much attention it bullies are given, but look at the price they pay.  I think that more emphasis should be put on the prices that people pay for the fame they receive rather than the fame itself.  Think of how powerful a story would be if a girl overcame all of her adversity and made something positive out of it.  Share the story and promote awareness rather than guilt. I can only hope that this online world can become a safer place for all who use it.  No one should feel that they are helpless.

Can you hear me now?

Does anyone remember those Verizon commercials with the guy who was always saying "can you hear me now? Good." and walking all over the place? Well although it always appears that the person on the other line of the call can hear the man, that might not always be the case now.  Personally I feel that I have to have my call volume all the way up to hear who I am talking to.  I am frequently having to repeat what I say and sometimes I hear my own voice echoing in the phone when I am talking.  I used to think it was just me...but a recent article in the New York Times gives me the answers I am looking for.  I am not crazy.  Call quality really is going bad.  This is not new, in fact companies have been continually trying to remedy the problem with various promises such as high speed LTE or 4G networks.  This process ended up being much more expensive than anticipated, so we are still waiting for these miraculous improvements.  Now this new HD voice is supposed to me the cure-all to the frustrating "what" language that frequents cellular phone calls.

I do not think that this HD voice is worth all the hype around it.  At the moment it will only work on certain networks and with that both callers must have that network.  With the multitude of networks that are out their it is rare to have everyone you need to talk to on the same network.  I think it would be great to have better call quality, however I am skeptical because the other attempts have failed.  I am an avid texter and I think that the bad call quality plays a role in this.  At least it's a good excuse :) I hope that the advancements will make a difference and as a whole we can spend a little bit less time repeating and a little more time conversing. 

Privacy, what's that?

What are our rights online?

People tend to get worked up over online privacy.  I get it...it's a BIG deal.  However, are we getting upset at the wrong thing?  People want to blame the internet for their problems.  "Oh the internet caused me to not get the job" or "If it wasn't for the internet I wouldn't have been caught" etc.  But the thing  is, the internet isn't making stuff up...it is simple publishing what a person is actually doing.  So...whose fault is it really?  If you don't want to be seen in a negative light then don't do those things. 

 

Don't get me wrong, I agree that the internet makes it harder to be a teen these days.  Or even an adult...they have been destroyed by it just as much. But it isn't the internet's fault.  People need to realize that the world is an unforgiving place and their actions have consequences.  

With that being said I believe that we as fellow humans need to recognize how unforgiving the world is and be a little forgiving ourselves.  Don't just blame the internet, let's take personal responsibility and have real forgiveness from our peers, employers, and roles of authority.  If we treat each other like humans and not robots the world will be nicer.    

Instagram or Instaglam?

Fashion

Instagram

     Instagram has slowly taken the world by storm with one hashtag connection at a time.  Countless teenage girls have found a passion for posing in front of the camera with the now ever popular "selfie" uploaded to one of their various social media outlets, namely Instagram.   This form of social media has led many average people to glamorize their otherwise mundane lives with some fancy filters and intriguing hashtags.  However, this outlet for peoples' lives is not simple effecting individuals who post their own photos on this site. 

The Fashion Industry

    This site is now a location for all major companies to advertise their products in a way that makes it seem like they are just part of the regular crowd.  An article in the New York Times, Fashion in the Age of Instagram, discusses the actions of viewers at a recent Paris fashion show.  The audience members were not simply sitting viewing the show, but rather were illuminated by it.  This illuminating light was coming from their smartphones.  The audience was snapping photos and videos of the show and immediately uploading them to Instagram.  This gets the clothes out without the designer doing any extra advertising.

A Positive or Negative

   The designers admit in the article that they often fall into the trap of designing clothes based on how they will photograph verses how they will present in a showroom.  The younger generation is wired differently.  We are not trained to see clothes for the first time in person, rather we see what we want online first.  Thus, designers are concerned more with the photogenic qualities of an outfit.

   Does this create a vicious cycle?  Are we as viewers prompted to join the #selfie craze because our clothes just look so fabulous in photos? Gone are the days of simply putting on an outfit and looking with pride in the mirror at how good you look and heading out for the day brimming with confidence.  Now the thought process is, "I look good, better Instagram this, hope I get a lot of likes!"   

   I think that social media has given designers a great outlet to reach their target audiences, but I don't think the audience should only wear the clothes for the virtual world.  Let's stay in the real world.  But hey, if you're working it, mine as well share it.   

Google, harmless or harmful?

Google

   I can't think of a person who doesn't know what Google is.  It runs our online lives.  I find myself opening Google even from other search engines.  It is the only search engine that I trust.  Why is that? Well from the information that I have learned about Google it is probably because it has exactly what I like.  It picks the links that I would want, it is my one stop shop.  When I think about this...how does Google know me so well?  It becomes a bit disturbing when I process how much is known about me by this cyberspace robot that I know nothing about yet trust with basically my whole life...

Privacy

   Often I think of online "creepers" as being middle aged men who make fake profiles and lure young girls to meet them.  I consider myself safe because I don't give my information out to people online that I don't know...or do I? Anyone who knows their way around Google could potentially access information that pertains to my personal life.  This is a scary thought.  If someone at Google wanted to find out about me, they have access to my electronic paper trail.  However, I do think that most of the things that I Google do not put me in any danger. Nor do the things that I post online.  It is just a scary thought to think of those that over-post online.  It could happen to anyone.  It is important to be mindful of everything that we post online. 

Protection

   I think that online safety is something that the younger generations should be educated on.  It is hard though because talking to kids about online safety often goes in one ear and out the other because they can't imagine anything bad happening.  I was the same way, hindsight can be 20/20 though.  The people who have been victimized by the internet probably didn't think they were being put in harms way either.  If anyone has any ideas on how to promote internet safety in a way to get through to kids I think it is worth sharing. 
  

Blog about bloggers talking about blogging.

Background

For my first blog post I chose to review the interview of Trine-Maria Kristensen.  Kristensen's blog, titled "hovedetpaabloggen", which means "Head on the Block" or "To Dare" in Danish is an outlet for her to help organizations understand social media and how to use it in their business ventures. The blog is mostly in Danish, but it does translate to English and she will answer questions in English.  Kristensen currently lives in Copenhagen with her husband where she continues to blog.

The Connection  

What I was drawn to in this article was her true passion for blogging that she conveyed through her textual voice.  She was constantly happy when discussing her blog- made evident by her use of smileys, ":-)", and her tone throughout.  In all of her answers she demonstrates her enjoyment for what she does on a regular basis, posting to her blog.  I found a connection to her in the sense that she was confused by blogging in the beginning.  It took her some time to become comfortable sharing her thoughts/ideas.  However, she is a success story and now is not shy about her opinions at all.  I hope the same will happen through this blog for me! She is often posting about what sites can do to improve. She most always provides useful feedback and links to the company so that they can see her feedback and hopefully engage in communication with her.  I like her attitude of not hurting the people she talks about, her mentality is more about constructive criticism. 

Loves her Readers First and Foremost

She has a genuine love for her readers and makes the comment, "I always say that I prefer to have 15 engaged readers to 1500 who don't care about me or my blog."  She likes the idea of blogging as a network which is truly the spirit of blogging.  Kristensen is a positive influence to blogging, she shares a passion for the community sense of the job and thrives on the opportunity to provoke discussion.  She uses her blog to promote positive change in order to help others,  "I often say that the more I blog the more naive I become. I truly believe that people can and will work together to change the world (or at least change organizations), and that we will come up with even better solutions when we work together."  I found her attitude to be refreshing.  She is a good example to follow of how to communicate effectively and positively through blogging.