The Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DCMA), effective since 1998, is a copyright law that criminalizes technologies that "circumvent measures that control the access to copyrighted works". Copyright penalties are also more severe under the DCMA. The DCMA is a form of enclosure that Benkler talks about. Laws like the DCMA are meant to enclose and control the distribution of material via the Internet. Under such laws, it is difficult to share content without being under the possibility of breaking the law.
Acts like the DCMA do contribute to the suppression of creativity and innovation. What it prevents are tools that help to circulate material easily and increase accessibility of these materials between users. Of course, the materials being shared are often under copyright.
Yet the main concern for us is, what if we were to use the materials to create new things? Accessing copyrighted material via unlawful ways may be an act against the law yet if our creativity is suppressed then that violates our freedom of rights. It is an interesting conflict between protecting what is created and promoting innovation. If we draw on other sources for inspiration or if we look at precedents in order to develop new ideas, then laws like the DCMA act as walls that come between the old and the new. The new cannot exist without the old and vice versa.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
The Power and Limits of Social Networks
The advent of social networking has created a whole new dimension of connectivity between individuals. Tools like Facebook, Myspace, and Friendster have become immensely popular; social networks have made various effects on social relations. Benkler mentions two main effects: the "thickening of preexisting relations" and "the emergence of greater scope for limited-purpose, loose relationships" (357). The Internet has created a dynamic system for communicating that is incomparable to the other forms of communication media.
Communication media such as the TV, radio, and print differ from the Internet by a simple and obvious aspect. The conversation is only one way; the people receiving the message are always only on the receiving end. There is no exchange between the audience and the broadcaster. The message is communicated to a massive audience yet there is little possibility for reponse.
The telephone provides opportunities for exchange yet it is still limited. Telephone conversations are often confined to two individuals or sometimes three if the conference call feature is used. In addition, time is an important factor when using the telephone. The parties communicating need to be available at the same time in order to talk.
The social tools that exist in the Internet do not have many of the problems that other communication media have. The Internet is a place where discourse is ubiquitous; hence, it is impossible for something to be communicated and not receive any response from the public. Commenting tools, email, instant messaging etc. offer easy and quick ways to create dialogue. The issue of time is also not a problem for the Internet. People can converse instantly via chat or they can do it on their own time via email. Things said on the Internet are not completely ephemeral. They linger for a period of time; some stay longer than others.
It is this flexibility of the Internet sets it apart. It offers instantaneous activity and some longevity of content.
Communication media such as the TV, radio, and print differ from the Internet by a simple and obvious aspect. The conversation is only one way; the people receiving the message are always only on the receiving end. There is no exchange between the audience and the broadcaster. The message is communicated to a massive audience yet there is little possibility for reponse.
The telephone provides opportunities for exchange yet it is still limited. Telephone conversations are often confined to two individuals or sometimes three if the conference call feature is used. In addition, time is an important factor when using the telephone. The parties communicating need to be available at the same time in order to talk.
The social tools that exist in the Internet do not have many of the problems that other communication media have. The Internet is a place where discourse is ubiquitous; hence, it is impossible for something to be communicated and not receive any response from the public. Commenting tools, email, instant messaging etc. offer easy and quick ways to create dialogue. The issue of time is also not a problem for the Internet. People can converse instantly via chat or they can do it on their own time via email. Things said on the Internet are not completely ephemeral. They linger for a period of time; some stay longer than others.
It is this flexibility of the Internet sets it apart. It offers instantaneous activity and some longevity of content.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Culture, Freedom and the Web
Benker describes the internet as playing an integral role in cultural production. The internet continues to grow at a rapid rate and its growth stimulates "a more participatory and transparent cultural production
system" (274). Benker's definition of culture is a general one that I believe is quiet accurate. We exist in culture and it inevitably dictates our behaviour. The important thing to note is that the relationship is very mutual; we are influenced by culture, and we simultaneously influence it. "Culture is created through communication among human beings", and the internet is a canvas where changes in culture can take place (284).
Another thing that the internet provides for its users is cultural transparency. It offers users numerous meanings for a single thing. The Barbie example that Benker uses does well in not only showing how this cultural transparency is apparent but also how it does not, in fact, function as a tool to control. By being offered with numerous meanings for Barbie when she is looked up on the internet, users learn that she "can have multiple meanings and that choosing meanings is a matter of political concern for some set of people who coinhabit this culture" (287).
The power of the networked environment continually increases as more and more users learn to utilize it for discourse and exchange. The art community is a good example. With an increase in tools to share work, there is an increase in work to be shared; Flickr and Deviantart are just a few. Sharing work stimulates discussion and debate about various epistemology and methodologies. The complicated nature of art is accurately mirrored by the complex network that exists around it on the internet. The ability to spread work via the internet forms a culture that advocates this practice.
system" (274). Benker's definition of culture is a general one that I believe is quiet accurate. We exist in culture and it inevitably dictates our behaviour. The important thing to note is that the relationship is very mutual; we are influenced by culture, and we simultaneously influence it. "Culture is created through communication among human beings", and the internet is a canvas where changes in culture can take place (284).
Another thing that the internet provides for its users is cultural transparency. It offers users numerous meanings for a single thing. The Barbie example that Benker uses does well in not only showing how this cultural transparency is apparent but also how it does not, in fact, function as a tool to control. By being offered with numerous meanings for Barbie when she is looked up on the internet, users learn that she "can have multiple meanings and that choosing meanings is a matter of political concern for some set of people who coinhabit this culture" (287).
The power of the networked environment continually increases as more and more users learn to utilize it for discourse and exchange. The art community is a good example. With an increase in tools to share work, there is an increase in work to be shared; Flickr and Deviantart are just a few. Sharing work stimulates discussion and debate about various epistemology and methodologies. The complicated nature of art is accurately mirrored by the complex network that exists around it on the internet. The ability to spread work via the internet forms a culture that advocates this practice.
Friday, November 13, 2009
The Networked Public Sphere
In chapter 7, Benker suggests that the Internet has made great changes to the public sphere. Therefore, an audience is no just an audience; they have the capacity to communicate and make their own voices public.
A basic tool of networked communication that Benker mentions is the blog. It not only allows users to communicate between one another, but it also functions as a growing cultural practice. When blogs first emerged on the Web, they were merely public "journals" that people used to document everyday happenings. As its popularity began to grow, its social, cultural, and political impacts increased. The current state of blogs is one that has a multitude of purposes.
A reason for its success is mainly due to its simplicity. Blogs are easy to set up and use. They can also be edited from any computer so long as it has access to the Internet. One aspect that separates blogs from regular webpages is that they "enable individuals to write to their Web pages in journalism time—that is, hourly, daily, weekly—whereas Web page culture that preceded it tended to be slower moving" (217).
In addition, the fact that readers of a blog have the ability to comment on the blogger's post creates a dynamic exchange of information between writer and audience. Despite the fact that the blogger has the power to filter what is being posted, it is important to note that not all do so. As a result, the advent of blogging technology has helped to form a complex network of information flow and to change the traditional structure in which news is communicated.
A basic tool of networked communication that Benker mentions is the blog. It not only allows users to communicate between one another, but it also functions as a growing cultural practice. When blogs first emerged on the Web, they were merely public "journals" that people used to document everyday happenings. As its popularity began to grow, its social, cultural, and political impacts increased. The current state of blogs is one that has a multitude of purposes.
A reason for its success is mainly due to its simplicity. Blogs are easy to set up and use. They can also be edited from any computer so long as it has access to the Internet. One aspect that separates blogs from regular webpages is that they "enable individuals to write to their Web pages in journalism time—that is, hourly, daily, weekly—whereas Web page culture that preceded it tended to be slower moving" (217).
In addition, the fact that readers of a blog have the ability to comment on the blogger's post creates a dynamic exchange of information between writer and audience. Despite the fact that the blogger has the power to filter what is being posted, it is important to note that not all do so. As a result, the advent of blogging technology has helped to form a complex network of information flow and to change the traditional structure in which news is communicated.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Culture, Politics & the Network Environment
Benkler introduces to us "the networked information economy", where decentralized individual activity is playing a big role in the industrial information economy. What this means is that there is an increasing amount of individuals or groups who cooperate and coordinate action through new and developing technologies in order to create change to various already established systems. As Benkler mentions, there is an ongoing power struggle between the individual and the institution.
A prime example of this struggle exists in the technological gadgets we use. For instance, the Apple iPhone's dynamic operating system allows flexibility and continuous application development. Even with its vast library of applications to download and develop, Apple still limits users on what they can do with their phone. As a response, developers created software that could hack, or "jailbreak" the iPhone. Once an iPhone is jailbroken, the user has access to another application called Cydia which is much like Apple's App Store.
Cydia is different from the App Store because all its applications are open source. In addition, Cydia includes applications that bring iPhone customizability to a whole new level. With Cydia applications, users can essentially do anything they want with their phone; they can completely change the appearance and add extra widgets to the phone.
Apple has tried time and time again to prevent jailbreaking software from hacking the phone by constantly upgrading operating systems etc. What this seems to do is have the opposite effect; developers are not discouraged. Infact, they are more eager than ever to try and crack the code. As a result, there is this tug-o-war happening between the two sides.
For this week's practicum I jailbroke my iPod touch. The touch works in the same way as the iPhone except that it cannot make phone calls. Being a person with very little software background, I find jailbreaking my iPod a somewhat pointless task. Besides, downloading themes and extra little application, I don't use the jailbroken mode to its fullest capacity. It's an interesting thought, however. When one receives so much power to do whatever they want to something, they don't know where or how to start.
Here are the images of my jailbroken iPod Touch:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42666484@N06/4057974804/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42666484@N06/4057236561/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42666484@N06/4057236035/
A prime example of this struggle exists in the technological gadgets we use. For instance, the Apple iPhone's dynamic operating system allows flexibility and continuous application development. Even with its vast library of applications to download and develop, Apple still limits users on what they can do with their phone. As a response, developers created software that could hack, or "jailbreak" the iPhone. Once an iPhone is jailbroken, the user has access to another application called Cydia which is much like Apple's App Store.
Cydia is different from the App Store because all its applications are open source. In addition, Cydia includes applications that bring iPhone customizability to a whole new level. With Cydia applications, users can essentially do anything they want with their phone; they can completely change the appearance and add extra widgets to the phone.
Apple has tried time and time again to prevent jailbreaking software from hacking the phone by constantly upgrading operating systems etc. What this seems to do is have the opposite effect; developers are not discouraged. Infact, they are more eager than ever to try and crack the code. As a result, there is this tug-o-war happening between the two sides.
For this week's practicum I jailbroke my iPod touch. The touch works in the same way as the iPhone except that it cannot make phone calls. Being a person with very little software background, I find jailbreaking my iPod a somewhat pointless task. Besides, downloading themes and extra little application, I don't use the jailbroken mode to its fullest capacity. It's an interesting thought, however. When one receives so much power to do whatever they want to something, they don't know where or how to start.
Here are the images of my jailbroken iPod Touch:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42666484@N06/4057974804/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42666484@N06/4057236561/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42666484@N06/4057236035/
Friday, October 23, 2009
Peer Co-Creation
Shirky's theory of promise, tool, and bargain in functioning groups is one that is very evident in many social networks that we participate in today. The promise is what interests potential users to become actual users, and the tools are what can be used to meet the promise. Being "the most complex aspect of a […] group", the bargain is the expectations that members of the group have for one another" (270). An important point that Shirky mentions is that "a successful bargain […] must be a good fit for both the promise and the tools used" (261).
For many online platforms, this promise, tool, and bargain system seems obvious. Wikipedia is a prime example where the systems works smoothly and allows harmony between users. For platforms such as Twitter, the waters are somewhat murky. On the main page of the website, Twitter promises that users can "share and discover what's happening right now, anywhere in the world". That seems simple enough but at the same time, aren't there other platforms that promise the same thing? So what separates Twitter from the others?
The answer may be in the tool. Twitter only allows users to make 140-character status updates; this means that everything is short, sweet, and quick. Users are able to update quickly and scan through content quickly. Without the character limit, Twitter would resemble a blogging tool where users can write as much as they want. With this system, they are limited, so they have to get right to the point. Another good thing about Twitter is that if you are interested in a particular topic and you want to know what others are saying about it, you can search it. The search will scan through all the recent tweets and pull out the ones with the keywords you typed in. The platform also incorporates a new type of tagging where you can mention other tweeple in your tweets and they will be notified. In short, Twitter is a very simple way to connect with other people and be heard.
Even with such a simple promise and tool, the bargain between users seems a bit unclear. Afterall, what really is the purpose of tweeting about every move you make? Does anyone really care that you are getting a coffee or shopping for a new dress? One thing that did make Twitter so popular is because celebrities use it. So what factors does that add to the picture? I think when people use Twitter, it is partially because they wish to gain attention. Maybe users have the expectation that if they read other people's tweets that their tweets will be read as well.
For many online platforms, this promise, tool, and bargain system seems obvious. Wikipedia is a prime example where the systems works smoothly and allows harmony between users. For platforms such as Twitter, the waters are somewhat murky. On the main page of the website, Twitter promises that users can "share and discover what's happening right now, anywhere in the world". That seems simple enough but at the same time, aren't there other platforms that promise the same thing? So what separates Twitter from the others?
The answer may be in the tool. Twitter only allows users to make 140-character status updates; this means that everything is short, sweet, and quick. Users are able to update quickly and scan through content quickly. Without the character limit, Twitter would resemble a blogging tool where users can write as much as they want. With this system, they are limited, so they have to get right to the point. Another good thing about Twitter is that if you are interested in a particular topic and you want to know what others are saying about it, you can search it. The search will scan through all the recent tweets and pull out the ones with the keywords you typed in. The platform also incorporates a new type of tagging where you can mention other tweeple in your tweets and they will be notified. In short, Twitter is a very simple way to connect with other people and be heard.
Even with such a simple promise and tool, the bargain between users seems a bit unclear. Afterall, what really is the purpose of tweeting about every move you make? Does anyone really care that you are getting a coffee or shopping for a new dress? One thing that did make Twitter so popular is because celebrities use it. So what factors does that add to the picture? I think when people use Twitter, it is partially because they wish to gain attention. Maybe users have the expectation that if they read other people's tweets that their tweets will be read as well.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
The Social Implications of New Technology + Audio Podcasting
The rise of "user-generated content" has given strength to the idea of "publish then filter" that Shirky writes about. Social outlets like blogs, Flickr, and Youtube serve as re-creative tools that spread user-generated content. With the help of these tools, anyone can share anything and this creates an endless amount of "public" content.
The term public in Web 2.0 is a rather complicated idea. Once something is posted on the internet, there is the assumption that it is for everyone to see and is addressing everyone. What Shirky argues is that much of user-generated content is, in fact, not speaking to a general audience. User-generated content can be seen as not being content at all in this case, and "those of us who grew up with a strong separation between communication and broadcast media" may find the idea of public content being not so public hard to accept. Prior to user-generated content, everything that was made public was filtered before being published. Therefore, if something was published, it was meant for the world to see. With the the advent of new social technologies such as blogs, something that is published is not always relevant to everyone.
Every blog starts off small but has the potential to grow. What motivates people to blog is not just the relationships they form with fellow bloggers but also the desire to perhaps gain a bigger audience. Of course, there are people who merely blog for leisure, but something as simple as a blog can go a long way. In the discipline of design, starting a blog can be a helpful way to promote the designer and his/her work. The audience will start small but with time and commitment, more and more readers will join the audience.
The term public in Web 2.0 is a rather complicated idea. Once something is posted on the internet, there is the assumption that it is for everyone to see and is addressing everyone. What Shirky argues is that much of user-generated content is, in fact, not speaking to a general audience. User-generated content can be seen as not being content at all in this case, and "those of us who grew up with a strong separation between communication and broadcast media" may find the idea of public content being not so public hard to accept. Prior to user-generated content, everything that was made public was filtered before being published. Therefore, if something was published, it was meant for the world to see. With the the advent of new social technologies such as blogs, something that is published is not always relevant to everyone.
Every blog starts off small but has the potential to grow. What motivates people to blog is not just the relationships they form with fellow bloggers but also the desire to perhaps gain a bigger audience. Of course, there are people who merely blog for leisure, but something as simple as a blog can go a long way. In the discipline of design, starting a blog can be a helpful way to promote the designer and his/her work. The audience will start small but with time and commitment, more and more readers will join the audience.
KirbyCast!
I made my first podcast for SOCS300. It's pretty horrible but I had fun singing with my brother!! Oh how I love the cracks in his voice. Hahaha.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Peer Production + Wikis and Wikipedia
The existence and maintenance of Wikipedia can been seen as a true web2.0 phenomenon. First seen as an idea that would never work, it is now integrated into the lives of everyday Internet users. If one wanted to learn more about a certain topic, it is very likely that he/she would search it up on Wikipedia. As a matter of fact, Wikipedia pages are usually one of the top 5 links that will appear on search engine results.
One reason why Wikipedia managed to work so well was the "spontaneous division of labour" that Shirky mentions (118). An article only needs to be started and contributions will be made by numerous individuals who are or feel they are knowledgeable in the subject.
The type of motivation that influences contribution is not of monetary value; it is the existence of inadequate material that motivates individuals to feel the need to change the articles. Shirky argues that people are more likely to make improvements on something that is done poorly rather than make something great from scratch. In addition, the feeling of being able to offer your own knowledge without being restricted is a strong one. The freedom that Wikipedia gives to its users creates a form of radical trust. Being able to freely operate within a given space creates some structure to the site without placing too much control over users and content.
The constant editing and adding of information makes an article "a process, not a product" (119). The main reason why Wikipedia is going to stick around for awhile is that it never gets finished. It is its imperfect quality that will maintain its survival. Perhaps it utilizes well our weakness: constant dissatisfaction. Human being's innate desire for perfection may just be the very reason why people continue to read, re-read, edit, and re-edit Wikipedia.
Friday, September 25, 2009
New Technologies, Modes of Production and Opportunities + Social Bookmarking
Shirky addresses the Internet as a new ecosystem that has hit the world by surprise and has changed the way information is published. No longer do we ask whether or not something is worth publishing; we ask, "Why not?" (60) This is partly due to the freedom that the web has created. With an endless number of outlets for the spreading of information, such as weblogs, anything can be covered by anyone. The result is the "mass amateurization" that Shirky speaks of.
Surely you can imagine how the flow of information can be endless. As users of the web then, how do we select what to read and what not to read? A simple way that I'm sure all of us do, is to read according to relevance. Relevance creates interests and as a result, people with common interests form groups or networks that Shirky has mentioned in Chapter 1. At the simplest form, groups come together to socialize and eventually to collaborate and produce.
In the realm of fashion blogs, which I am an avid reader of, there is this existence of sharing and collaboration. Fashion bloggers rely on each other to create content. There is this mutual understanding that information and images are meant to be shared and re-posted. All it requires is some "netiquette". I believe it is passion that brings people together. In this case, the love for fashion allows people to be so willing to socialize.
This is also highly apparent in design too. I notice the continuing increase of people who are willing to share design ideas and resources. There are numerous design professionals who voluntarily share there knowledge with the world through the web. Professionals connect with amateurs; "instead of mass professionalization, [what is created is] the process of mass amateurization." I see good in this, because if someone wants to create art, write about fashion, or design, why can't they?
Surely you can imagine how the flow of information can be endless. As users of the web then, how do we select what to read and what not to read? A simple way that I'm sure all of us do, is to read according to relevance. Relevance creates interests and as a result, people with common interests form groups or networks that Shirky has mentioned in Chapter 1. At the simplest form, groups come together to socialize and eventually to collaborate and produce.
In the realm of fashion blogs, which I am an avid reader of, there is this existence of sharing and collaboration. Fashion bloggers rely on each other to create content. There is this mutual understanding that information and images are meant to be shared and re-posted. All it requires is some "netiquette". I believe it is passion that brings people together. In this case, the love for fashion allows people to be so willing to socialize.
This is also highly apparent in design too. I notice the continuing increase of people who are willing to share design ideas and resources. There are numerous design professionals who voluntarily share there knowledge with the world through the web. Professionals connect with amateurs; "instead of mass professionalization, [what is created is] the process of mass amateurization." I see good in this, because if someone wants to create art, write about fashion, or design, why can't they?
Friday, September 18, 2009
Rhizomes and Social Tools
With the advent of technology, there has been the rise of new tools to connect people together. Prior to Flickr, Facebook, Twitter etc., gathering large groups of people together relied on the most traditional tactic: the organization. The organization runs on the management structure to coordinate members of the group, and this form of hierarchy survives because there is a pay out for the members. Clay Shirky states that with the manesfestation of new social tools, activities that would be deemed too costly for organizations to carry out could happen through a new form of coordination created by such tools.
In the second chapter of Here Comes Everybody, Shirky mostly discusses the advantage of the photo sharing website, Flickr. Flickr has become a great outlet for a diverse range of people. It is not only about displaying the photos one has taken; it is about a new form of sharing and connecting. Shirky gives a multitude of real life examples about Flickr that prove this whole new level of human interaction.
During my second year at Emily Carr, we had a final project that required about 40 students to source 4 images each. The goal of the project was to have groups of 3 students use this pool of images to develop a concept and create a publication or website based on the derived concept. The first issue was how we coul allow to all 40 students to access 160 images easily. Of course, we used Flickr to do the job. Flickr's simple interface and tagging abilities helped create an easy, efficient, and fool-proof way for students to share and navigate the images. Since we only had to use 48 images out of the 160, Flickr was a great way to view the screen quality images before going into the Emily Carr server to download the high resolution ones. Also, I cannot stress how vital the tagging system was to this project. Each student tagged the photos with various information that allowed quick and easy search.
Needless to say that without Flickr, it would have been almost impossible to compile all the images in such an efficient manner. I believe it is the simplicity of Flickr that has made it so popular; anyone can use it. People are not intimidated or bound to a complicated interface.
In the second chapter of Here Comes Everybody, Shirky mostly discusses the advantage of the photo sharing website, Flickr. Flickr has become a great outlet for a diverse range of people. It is not only about displaying the photos one has taken; it is about a new form of sharing and connecting. Shirky gives a multitude of real life examples about Flickr that prove this whole new level of human interaction.
During my second year at Emily Carr, we had a final project that required about 40 students to source 4 images each. The goal of the project was to have groups of 3 students use this pool of images to develop a concept and create a publication or website based on the derived concept. The first issue was how we coul allow to all 40 students to access 160 images easily. Of course, we used Flickr to do the job. Flickr's simple interface and tagging abilities helped create an easy, efficient, and fool-proof way for students to share and navigate the images. Since we only had to use 48 images out of the 160, Flickr was a great way to view the screen quality images before going into the Emily Carr server to download the high resolution ones. Also, I cannot stress how vital the tagging system was to this project. Each student tagged the photos with various information that allowed quick and easy search.
Needless to say that without Flickr, it would have been almost impossible to compile all the images in such an efficient manner. I believe it is the simplicity of Flickr that has made it so popular; anyone can use it. People are not intimidated or bound to a complicated interface.
Friday, September 11, 2009
It's Still Summer! It's Still Summer!!!
Even after the first week of classes, I seem to still be in denial.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
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