Social Media 3 Questions

1.      I believe that the amateur user-generated videos will continue to get better over time, and they will slowly get closer to looking professional because of the greater access to helpful technology. But this does not mean the real professional shows and commercials will go away. There is a time and place for a “homegrown” video. Shows like The Office that use a amateur-looking appearance with the interviews and moving cameraman work well because it is just the style of the show. A show like Everybody Loves Raymond would not be as good with a moving camera, it would distract from the content which is the constant humorous situations and jokes. As for commercials, I think it depends on the product being sold. If the product is trying to closely relate to everyday life, then an amateur video will use the “simple folks” advertising technique. The goal of this technique is to relate to everyday common life.

2.      I probably use Yahoo and Facebook the most. I think Facebook is more successful than MySpace because it is more organized and targets the older, more mature crowd. While MySpace was a good place to “express yourself,” Facebook is the ideal place to keep in touch with friends and family easier, which is what the majority of people us it for. I think Facebook is here to stay for long term. They are constantly updating their format and applications to stay contemporary.

3.      Most people just want to fit into the crowd and feel normal. These sites such as Twitter and Facebook make it easy to keep updated about things going on with friends and even in the news. I think it is equally important to be transparent in the online world and offline world, but only at certain times. There are times when it is definitely good to stand out if you want to get anywhere and make a name for yourself doing something. You can also do this on Facebook or Twitter if you are innovative and start trends with posts or tweets.

Channeling McLuhan Photoshop Assignment

The IPod Nano is still a fairly new invention, having been introduced in 2005. The IPod Nano is a more compact version of the classic IPod, and it also has more options and capabilities. The IPod’s primary function is playing music through headphones, but can also be attached to speakers and played out loud. This device made by Apple takes a huge toll on CD’s and the CD player business, as well as stereos, boom boxes, etc. Since the IPod Nano is so small and compact, it is very convenient to carry around. Its portability is what defines the new generation of music players, as well as the memory capability. Apple has come out with 6 “generations” of IPod Nano, each version smaller than the next.

The message apple is sending with the continual release of smaller yet more powerful music playing devices is that smaller is better. The smaller the device, the easier it is to simply carry in one’s pocket. Not to mention the available space for more and more music is rapidly growing as well. Though people may not listen to or need the thousands of songs that can be held on the IPod Nano, it is preferred to carry as much with you as possible at all times just in case you want to listen to a particular song at a given time. However, along with the IPod Nano comes Apple’s music source, ITunes. While artists can certainly sell their songs to ITunes and make a profit, new file-sharing capabilities make it very easy to illegally obtain music and keep it on an IPod for anytime listening. Same goes for movies, TV shows, audio books, and every other form of media the IPod supports.

3 examples of current mediums

Video Conferencing

Yahoo News

Ipod Nano