by

Week 06: Social Graph

The social graph is like a huge map people, where everyone is a node and each node is connected to another in some way. I am connected to the people I know; such as neighbours, co-workers, friends and family through a range of social media sites. The problem is the everyone needs to create a new identity when coming onto a social networking site for the first time, it would be less hassling if only one login was needed. If any these sites can read RDF files then I can use FOAF file (which are machine readable files that describe people) to find people I know quicker and easier. This idea works well with the semantic web, if more databases were linked from different sources it would facilitate the finding of connection I have with the people I know.

The positives of using FOAF:

  • Connect with people you know.
  • Create new communities.
  • Find people with common interests and share a little about yourself with other people.

The negatives of using FOAF:

  • Reveal personal information to many people on the Internet
  • Share friend’s personal information on the Internet.

I can see that Friend Of A Friend does have benefits, but the risks far out-way any possible gain. Not only would I need to put up sensitive information such as my name, work status and email address, I would have to include up to 3 friend’s personal information as well. I realise that this is optional, but even asking for this kind of information would but many people in a difficult position. If my friends found out I used their personal information and shared it with everyone on the Internet they would not be please. As it stands FOAF is not something I would ever use or share with the public.

References:
Iskold, A. (2012, September 11). Retrieved August 26, 2012, from ReadWriteWeb: http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/social_graph_concepts_and_issues.php

Foaf Project (2012). Retrieved August 26, 2012, from Foaf Project:
http://www.foaf-project.org/about

Dodds, L. (2012). Retrieved August 26, 2012, from FOAF-a-Matic:
http://www.ldodds.com/foaf/foaf-a-matic

by

Week 05: Google Maps and APIs

This week we learned about site mash-ups and why it useful it is to incorporate data from many sources into one location. The best example of this is Google Maps. Websites can use this feature to pinpoint the specific locations of their retail stores, or show where  a restaurant is located to their customers. This service is very dynamic with many possibilities, and would not have been achievable before Web 2.0. Below is a an example of how a map can be embedded into any webpage:


This location is the Noosa CQU campus.

A great API for Google Maps would be to link into the transportation networks on the Sunshine Coast. Translink could use Google maps in their website to show bus and train routes in their Journey Planner to better facilitate customers in getting to the right location. This would also show all of the bus stops along the route, as only a few are listed on the PDF timetables. The possibilities for use on mobile phones would be more profound, as any one could use their “current location” feature on most smartphones to get directions to the closest bus stops and relevant timetables for the routes near their position on Google Maps. I would find this very useful while travelling between towns as I do not drive a car. This would also be very helpful to tourists and backpackers.

References:
Google. (2012). Google Maps. Retrieved August 1, 2012, from Google Maps:
https://maps.google.com.au/?hl=en

Translink. (2012). Journey Planner. Retrieved August 25, 2012, from Translink: 
http://jp.translink.com.au/travel-information/journey-planner

by

Week 04: Social Media Music Project

This week we had to look at innovations in social media.
Produsage and  crowd-sourcing are very popular; it allows users to create content, contribute and collaborate on a variety of things.  Roles between creators, users and participants change to make an idea grow into something larger that is shared between a wider range of people.

I think the video clip at OneFrameOfFame is very innovative in it’s use of crowd-sourcing and produsage. Creators of this site are trying to sell their music tracks, and to do this they are creating a web of awareness by making a movie clip that anyone can contribute to. The clip asks people to imitate the motions of the original person, then it is seamlessly joined together with thousands of others. This idea isn’t entirely new, it is a lot like a stop motion movie clip. I have never seen one done on this scale, with a new person shown on almost every other frame beside the main two actors. It’s a fresh idea that (to me) is unique and clever.

By using a collaboration of fan-made film clips they are extending their fan base considerably. This produsage allows everyone to get their face on something that many people will see and hear. I know if I was included in the film clip then I would be very likely to show/tell their friends and family, which would further create aweness for the band’s music.

References:
Bruns, A., Social Media: Version 2 – User Engagement Studies – November 2009, Smart Services CMC,pp 41-42

Kypski, C.-M. &. (2012). One Frame of Fame: Got a Webcam? Retrieved August 25, 2012, from One Frame of Fame: http://oneframeoffame.com/

by

Week 03: Best Job in the World

In 2009 Cummins Nitro and Tourism Queensland launched a campaign for the Best Job in the World as a way of promoting Queensland as a great holiday destination. They created video that went viral, sparking interest all over the world.

Src: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI-rsong4xs
(Accessed: 18/08/2012)

This resulted in multiple news stories surrounding the event, and pages created on large social networking sites like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Applicants only needed to submit a short video of themselves and upload it to the islandreefjobs website (now removed) to be considered for the position. Other people could view these submissions and vote on the best ones,which resulted in a huge produsage event that made people take part and become aware of the campaign.

This was a  User-to-Documents Interactivity which was McMillan’s way categorising how people and systems communicate over the Internet. Users did not communicate directly with the videos entries, but were able to respond by voting for favourites.  As a result there was over 35,000 applications to the site, and the winner was Ben Southhall. Ben kept up the publicity for Queensland by way of a blog that showed pictures and videos of his time at Hamilton Island.

Overall the campaign was a huge success, with users interacting all over the world to result in a giant step forwards for Tourism Queensland. If I was not in high school at the time and had a video camera I would surely have entered the competition myself.

References:
Southhall, B. (2012, June 21). Best Job in the World – How it Happened. Retrieved August 18, 2012, from The travels and adventures of Ben Southhall: http://www.bestjobben.com/the-best-job-in-the-world-how-it-happened/

Youtube. (2012). Retrieved August 18, 2012, from Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI-rsong4xs

McMillan, S. J., 2002, “Exploring Models of Interactivity from Multiple Research Traditions: Users, Documents, and Systems” in Lievrouw, L. & Livingstone, S.,  (eds) The Handbook of New Media

by

Week 02: Trustworthiness of a Site

Facebook is a site that needs to be trustworthy to its users. People are constantly updating their profile pages with sensitive and personal information that should not be shared with just anyone. That’s why I can choose to display this kind of information to people I know and have accepted as friends and Facebook will not display it to anyone else unless I want to.

Src: http://www.facebook.com/settings/?tab=privacy
(Accessed 10/08/2012)

That is not the only issue of trustworthiness, a huge site like Facebook is full of other concealed dangers such as scammers. Facebook created a “Guide to Facebook Security” to make people more aware of what could happen when carelessly clicking or responding to messages on the site. These scammers try to trick users into revealing critical information that could lead to identity theft or someone hacking your account. Anyone can make an account so it is extremely difficult for Facebook to stop all of these dangers, even with numerous checks, so that’s why they are trying to make people realize the dangers that can happen if you aren’t careful. That’s why I flag scams when I see them and stay on pages I know to be safe.

Along with these privacy settings, Facebook uses a secure http encryption to ensure that my account settings are safe, provided my information has not been stolen. This goes a long way to making me feel this site is trustworthy and will keep my information safe.

Src: https://www.facebook.com/settings?ref=mb
(Accessed 10/08/2012)

I also know Facebook can be moderated in cases of cyber bullying or disagreement between friends. Not only does this make the site more trustworthy in dealing with my personal life, it also manages how I can block people that I no longer want to communicate with. This kind of moderation is very useful, and many users would probably be in need this feature at one time or another.

Src: http://www.facebook.com/settings/?tab=privacy&section=block&h=AQOBNBcWlm9q-RXI
(Accessed 10/08/2012)

Facebook recently added another type of moderation for users, and that is the keyword blocklist. This means that page admins are able to decide what words can be sent to spam and not displayed on the main page. An example of this on the Inside Facebook webpage is a brand not wanting the words “hate” and “competitor” to be displayed, thus allowing this particular retail shop to stop spam from other users.

References:
Mc Carthy, L, Watson, K, Weldon-Siviy, D. (2012). Own Your Space : A Guide to Facebook Security. [online], pages 4-7. Retrieved August 10, 2012: https://docs.google.com/a/cqumail.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:J0p1G23oJLMJ:www.facebook.com/safety/attachment/Guide%2520to%2520Facebook%2520Security.pdf+&hl=en&gl=au&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShRZYKitPVZEIMfegf9P2T0KiSXeqwx5Shh4TmMUZYYAxl8y-SzXxotaY2IBVFtcEtCp-3Bp1zWzArvZc6EW27cbYC_rhN4TnJSsauA7aQHEanc74I-X5MmHaKe_KsNpTut5cVH&sig=AHIEtbT1RmbBlyCuuno0EWKOUrj0sn7lRA&pli=1

Constine, J. (2011, Februrary 10). Facebook Adds Keyword Moderation and Profanity Blocklists to Pages. Retrieved August 10, 2012, from Inside Facebook: http://www.insidefacebook.com/2011/02/10/keyword-moderation-profanity-blocklist/

by

Week 01: Choosing a Social Media Site.

I chose Facebook as my social media site of choice.

As a user of Facebook I engage in this site to keep in contact with my friends and family. Although I rarely log-on to this site because I do not like talking to people 24 hours a day, I do like being able to talk with the people when I need to, exchange photos, and keep up-to-date on the events in my family’s life.

I can connect with friends through instant messaging and games when I know they are online, so I don’t have to wait for them to respond to a comment, inbox message or notification. I connect only to friends and people that I know because I am very conscious of who I allow to see my personal information.  Because the site is so large and everyone is contributing personal information it is easy for one of your friends to disclose something you don’t want shared, such as phone numbers and addresses.

Example of the social networking - Facebook

Src: http://www.facebook.com/welcomeback/requests/
(Accessed 28/07/2012)

This is a site for everyone; any one in the world can create an account using their email address and set up a profile page. Facebook allows people with common interests and friends to find each other and connect instantly, and is excellent for maintaining long-distance relationships with loved ones. The site offers these people many ways to communicate as seen in Fred Cavazza’s Social Media Landscape, these include; games, content sharing, photo and video sharing. Other sites can be used in conjunction with Facebook to further facilitate connections between people; such as Flickr and YouTube.

References:
Cavazza, F. (2009, October 4). Social Media Landscape Redux. Retrieved August 1, 2012, from Fred Cavazza: http://www.fredcavazza.net/2009/04/10/social-media-landscape-redux/

Facebook. (2012). Retrieved July 28, 2012, from Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/