Enter World: exploring mediated cultures

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Consolidating and networking the networks

After much searching, I finally found an application that appears to offer what I want for socializing and managing my social networks. I have reached the point that I have a bookmarks folder just to keep up with the accounts I create. I don’t even remember the purposes of many of them, and I certainly don’t want to log into each account to update bits and pieces everywhere. However there are benefits to the niche networking available in communities devoted to specific subjects—gaining feedback on creations, finding new resources based on shared interests, and connecting with similar people. So what is the solution?

• Not sending updates to email or using email for updating. Clunky.
• Unfortunately not 8hands, because it’s only for Windows and only covers the management end.
• Likewise, not Six Apart’s brilliant social graph, because it only covers the networked networks portion.

What then!? After much searching I actually found a solution through a political article discussing the management issues politicians face in the age of campaigning through online social networks: MyLifeBrand. While I’m not overly excited by the name, I applied for a celebrity account this weekend to test it out. Hopefully this won’t just become another bookmark in the folder, but instead a way to manage, link, and explore the many networks I’ve already lost touch with…

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

taking virtual worlds f2f

There is a definite progression of virtual interactions, which began as plain text and have evolved to multi-sensory experiences, from what appeared (to outsiders) to be an anti-social experience sustained wholly in the ether to technology available for use IRL. We count on each other, through this evolved technology, for directions, advice, entertainment, problem solving, stories, warnings, news, photos, games, recipes, help finding ingredients in the grocery store ...

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Social goes for broke

Online social networking, social marketing, and social media optimization have been targets of organizations and businesses trying to harness the power of the web. And now we can add social pressure.

I grew up hearing that peer pressure was a bad thing, but it looks like the city of Pittsburgh is trying to turn this often lamented form of social influence on attitudes, behaviors, and values around to its positive side.

To bring some money into the city, they have decided to collect on old tickets. And what better way to do that than to shame those who have not paid publicly? check the online database to see if you (or someone you know) has been charged with a summary offense

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In other social networking news, a global survey showed Facebook as the most mentioned company. Can we finally say goodbye to MySpace? Here’s hoping ... 

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

A new journal

Some people I know through Fielding have started a new organization and are working on an online media psychology journal. It’s exciting to have two now, and it’s nice to see the older one publishing again. I hadn’t checked the site for years because the information didn’t change, now there’s all sorts of new tidbits, like the online gaming piece.

Media Psychology Review
Journal of Media Psychology

Saturday, October 13, 2007

comprehensive exams

After a lot of juggling dates and resources, I finally submitted the first attempt at my comps. I’m excited to move back to the concept paper, finalize that, and feel like I’m moving ahead again. I had intended to submit the comps before Summer Session, but the house sold after three days and we were busy for months. We’re still in limbo, looking for a new home to settle into where I can unpack my ton of books. For now, having them all in storage has been a good excuse to start exploring some new areas, and I’ve started accumulating a new mini-library here.