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Technology and New Media **Professor R. Law**

**November 10, 2011** media type="custom" key="11240394" align="center" As I was looking for information on the future of Google, and I found an article based on the rivalry between Facebook and Google. The article is very interesting and full of information. The fight for personal information is overwhelming, and proving to be extremely profitable for both companies. Additionally, privacy is another top priority for both companies. While Facebook currently has the lead as the top social networking site, Google + is gaining members. The benefit of using Google + is the connection Google has provided between their g-mail, blogging, and other accounts. Google + has also incorporated a video chat that allows groups to collaborate together from remote locations. Google + may not have as many members as Facebook, but it definitely offers more flexibility to it’s members. For example, when I opened my Google + account, all the pictures from my Google Blog were instantly uploaded into my photo folder in Google +. I did absolutely nothing to import the photos. The two accounts are linked together. What a wonderful time saving tool. Google Plus also offers a document center. The document center is fabulous so long as a user has Internet connection. The document center allows users to collaborate on text, spread sheet, and slide presentations. Facebook does have a doc. Program, but it is only available to groups. The current downfall of Google is the learning curve. Because so many people use Facebook and know how to maneuver the social network, Google + can be viewed as a challenge. People typically do not like to learn new programs. I believe learning how to navigate Google + is a deterrence for new users. However, Google + does offer a lot more for users. According to Wikipedia, Google + reported it had 25 million users after 4 weeks of being introduced. Google is everywhere. It has also reached the mobile phone industry. ** "Operating system: **Google designs and licenses the fastest-selling smartphone operating system on the planet: Every day, about 300,000 new Android devices are activated. Android is free for device manufacturers to license, so it has [|caught on like wildfire] . Google makes money by driving search traffic on Android phones" (Goldman, CNN Money). The flexibility Google offers is unbelievable. Google's ability to enter into different markets has allowed the company the freedom to incorporate so many different tools under one account. It is amazing.

http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/30/technology/google_wireless_carrier/index.htm  http://money.cnn.com/2011/11/03/technology/facebook_google_fight.fortune/index.htm   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google

media type="custom" key="11240324"

**November 3, 2011** [|Tablet Information] [|Tablet Comparison] [|Apple Info on the Future w/o Steve Jobs] Apple seems to be leading the way on tablets, especially in education. According to an article on Newsfactor.com by Barry Levine,“…none of the 25 were testing or using [|Android] tablets. The statement is making reference to the fact that 25 different schools are testing tablets for use in their schools, but none of the 25 schools are using Android tablets. Munster told news media that the lack of Androids could be due to the limited availability of devices using that platform, compared with the iPad. But, he said, it does point to Apple's "first-mover advantage," and could indicate a trend in education, which is also present in businesses, where students or employees are creating a demand for Apple products because they use them in their personal lives. In fact, schools mean "iPads" when they discuss "tablets." There is a huge price difference between the Android tablet and the Ipad. Samsung developed the Galaxy, and Nokia developed the Meego. HP developed the Slate, and today the HP Slate 2 was unveiled. The HP Slate has an SD card slot and a USB port. I think Apple is definitely leading the industry in tablet use, but I also think other companies are installing different features to sell to different demographics. According to an article by Valerie Samataro, Apple could lose its control of the tablet market by 2014. Jack Gold an analyist predicts that Windows 8 and the interface features will help raise the bar for consumers to want to purchase competing tablets. Works Cited Levine, Barry. Survey Finds a Bright Future for Tablets in School. Newsfactor.com. 1 Nov. 2011. Web. 3 Nov. 2011. www.tabletpcreview.com Samataro, Valerie. "Apple to Lose Control of Tablet Market by 2014, Says Analyist." www.tabletpcreview.com. 02 Nov. 2011. Web. 3 Nov. 2011.

**October 27, 2011**

Museumweb2.ning-

I tried to visit this website, but it was no longer available. I did submit a request to send my information to the creator of the site, but I did not receive a response.

Greenovation-

“Greenovation is an online social network dedicated to the greening of America's schools through innovation, education and awareness” (Greenovation.com).This is a program is sponsored by Lutron Electronics. The company partners with schools that purchase lighting systems from the company. Lutron electronics specializes in dimming and energy efficient lighting systems. Once schools purchase the lighting system from Lutron Electronics, the school can utilize the benefits of the program. The benefits schools receive from purchasing the lighting system is lower electricity costs and the educational program established by Lutron. The educational program offers four features: lighting, curriculum, network, and outreach. Lighting occurs after the school has the system installed in the buildings. Curriculum is associated with the lighting system, and includes four different levels. An example of what is offered in the curriculum is figuring out how the lighting system has reduced energy costs, and is taught as part of the science curriculum. The network component is the social network that is available after the lighting system is installed. Educators and facilitators can communicate using the social network, and discuss ideas and thoughts on the curriculum. Students can also use the network. Students can collaborate together and the platform allows students to discuss other “green” ideas, which can be effective and implemented at schools.

In my opinion the lighting company figured out a way to install lighting systems in schools by adding a curriculum and cutting energy costs. However, I am not completely sold on the idea. I don’t necessarily believe schools need to purchase this particular lighting system to cut energy costs. I am sure the lighting system is effective, but I wonder if there are other companies, which can provide schools with the same product. The niche for Lutron Electronics is the attachment of the educational purposes of the system. The social network is for anyone who can or wants to contribute green ideas for education. The foundation of the program is to promote “green” ideas in education.

Ning.com-

The textbook publishes a lot of Ning based websites. “As highlighted in our June 2011 [|Ning POV], education is our largest social category of communities on the Ning Platform” (ning.com). Ning is a program, which allows customers to build their own social network. Ning allows educators to customize social networks based on the audience and the subject. Educators use Ning to collaborate with other educators and as a part of student curriculum. Ning offers the following features: custom design, instant community, social integration, user generated content, and revenue options. There is a fee for using Ning. The fees are broken into three different packages. As the price increases for each package, the benefits increase as well. The minimum, mini, package is $2.95 a month and includes 1GB, 150 members, blog, and more.

I was able to view a few ning hosted social network sites. However, people must become members to participate within the social network. The sites seem to offer a lot of information. One site I was one provided member and contact information, forums, and on-line shopping. Each Ning site is custom built; therefore, each site provides information and tools geared towards its audience. After visiting a couple of the sites, I was extremely interested in purchasing a Ning and making creating my own social network. It seems simple enough to create a Ning. Plus, revenues generated through on-line sales and third party advertising can offset the monthly fee paid to Ning.

Digiteen.ning-

The following is taken directly from the Digiteen website, www.digiteen.ning.com:

"In some ways, Digiteen is 21st Century Character Education! Students are introduced to information through a series of videos selected by their school (there are several free options), research current digital citizenship trends and news and compile a collaborative report with other students around the world, and make fact based recommendations in their offline action project at their local school to promote safe, appropriate online behaviors.

This powerful method of teaching encompasses twenty first century skills, character education, global awareness, writing, and multimedia and is customizable to the individual school".

Digiteen has members all around the world, and students must apply during the open enrollment periods in order to become members of Digiteen. The Digiteen website also promotes other sites, such as Flat Classroom. Flat Classroom primarily promotes education, technology, and media.

I was having a very difficult time figuring out exactly what Digiteen was promoting. The about tab, linked users to information on Flat Classroom. I found the website to be extremely confusing. I felt like the website needed further explanation. The website was not user friendly. I did browse through a few of the topics, and the subject matter was informational and relative to education. The members posting wrote well and the conversations appeared to relate to current events. A few topics being discussed were cyber-bullying, copyright issues, and Internet security.

Out of the three topics I researched, Digiteen was the hardest to figure out. Digiteens audience is primarily educators and teenage students. Greenovation’s purpose of educating students on recycling, cutting energy costs, and cutting down on pollution is wonderful. Greenovation audience is primarily students and educators. I am not sure I truly understand the connection between Lutron Electronics and education. Unfortunately, I am being extremely cynical, but I believe Lutron Electronics is using the program for profit and not necessarily to educate and save costs for schools. Ning’s social network software was the most relatable, and I found the software provides some wonderful applications and tools. Ning differentiates from Greenovation and Digiteen, because it is a company, which sells software. Ning does not specifically promote educational learning, but provides the tools to enhance and promote learning.

Works Cited

[]. Web. 26 Oct. 2011

__ www.greenovationnation.com __. Web. 25 Oct. 2011

[|www.Ning.com]. Web. 25 Oct. 2011

**October 14, 2011** Ipad Apple offers a website dedicated to educational use with the iPad: http://www.apple.com/education/ipad/. I am not sure how accurate the above demographics are, but the illustration offers a lot of useful information on the demographics for the iPad. From Wikipedia: After years of speculation and multiple rumored "leaks" Apple announced a large screen, tablet-like media device known as the iPad on January 27, 2010. The iPad runs the same touch based operating system that the iPhone uses and many of the same iPhone apps are compatible with the iPad. This gave the iPad a large app catalog on launch even with very little development time before the release. Later that year on April 3, 2010, the iPad was launched in the US and sold more than 300,000 units on that day and reaching 500,000 by the end of the first week. ] In May of the same year, Apple's [|market cap] exceeded that of competitor [|Microsoft] for the first time since 1989. These are **cumulative** and approxiate numbers. According to one Sam Costello, Apple releases their sales around the same time as the quarterly financial reports.  **June 2011** - 25 million **March 2011** - 19 million  **Jan. 18, 2011** - 14.8 million **Sept. 2010** - 7.5 million **July 21, 2010** - 3.27 million  **May 31, 2010** - 2 million  **May 3, 2010** - 1 million   **April 8, 2010** - 450,000  **April 5, 2010** - 300,000 Works Cited Costello, Sam. What are iPad Sales to Date? About.com. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc. Web. 13 Oct. 2011.

<span style="background-color: #e2ae83; color: #404040; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">**October 6, 2011** media type="custom" key="10748522"

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Wall Street Springs <span style="display: block; font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">After three weeks,the WallStreet Spring is starting to gain media coverage, and protests are popping up in large and small cities across the country. It is hard to figure out how long people will protest for; however,I believe it all depends on how the protestors can organize themselves and become unified. In addition a few people are going to have to spear head a plan. The small individual protests will more than likely amount to nothing,but if the protestors continue to use social media networks,I believe they can unify. The protestors need to organize and select/nominate a "voice", some one to be the "leader" of the protests. Another item that would help unify the protestors is to collaborate together and reach out to people who might be able to aid their voices. For example, Howard Schultz the Chief Execute and founder of Starbucks has recently taken a stand against providing any funding towards political campaigns. He wants the government to come up with a solution to help stimulate the U.S.economy. In addition he is working with Opportunity Finance Network to help small business and employ Americans. Mr.Schultz is asking Starbucks patrons to donate $5.00, 100% of the proceeds will be given to Opportunity Finance Network, which will then be passed along to small businesses who ask for loans, but have agreed to hire employees within 6 months. If the protestors combined efforts with Opportunity Finance Network, the government and large business might listen. Essentially,the protestors and Opportunity Finance Network are trying to figure out a way to employ Americans and stimulate the economy. The protestors are blaming large corporations for their role in the poor economy, and Opportunity Network Finance isn't blaming large corporations,they are only helping small businesses. I read an article that predicted the protest would last another month. I predict the same, if the protestors don't use their resources, Facebook,Twitter,et cetera,wisely,they will lose momentum,and the protests will die off without forcing the government to make swift and stable changes.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">"Starbucks chief Howard Schultz asks customers to donate to jobs fund". The Telegraph//. Thursday Oct. 6, 2011.// []. Web. 5 Oct.2011

<span style="background-color: #e2ae83; color: #404040; display: block; font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">**September 29, 2011** <span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;">Digital Divide media type="custom" key="10641918" align="center"

<span style="display: block; font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">“The concern with the digital divide is that may create a vicious circle in which it amplifies the already existing social inequalities cumulatively” (Fratila). The digital divide is a global issue. However, the digital divide has sub-categories, such as how it affects countries, economics, education, and much more. It seems people who have more money and the ability to use the technology are progressing faster than the people who do not have money, the capability, or the desire to use digital devices. The above statement quoted from “Gap indicator for measuring digital divide”, is an accurate statement. The people that can afford and are learning the new technology are strides ahead of people who are not using digital devices, and there is all ready a gap between the wealthy and modest. If the wealthy are the people who can afford the technology and are using and learning the newest and latest technology, it is creating another gap among communities. The “social inequalities” are evident in the United States. I can only imagine how the “social inequalities” are in Mexico. On a global level under developed countries, which are not able to catch up with technology, might not be able to sustain and keep their sovereignty. Countries that are developed and seeking more power might be able to seize control of the underdeveloped countries. This example can be applied to all of the subcategories, education, economics, et cetera. <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">Works Cited <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Fratila, Laurentiu, Daniela Hincu, and Adrian Tantau. “Gap indicator for measuring digital divide.” ManagementResearch and Practice //3.2 (2011): 74+.// Academ<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">ic OneFile//. Web. 28 Sep. 2011.// <span style="background-color: #e2ae83; color: #404040; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">**September 20, 2011**

<span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;">Arab Springs

<span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Social media has been essential in shaping how people interact throughout the world. Websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace have changed the way people interact with one another. The Internet has provided a wealth of instant information. The Internet provides information and news, and connects people around the world. The information and connections can be instantaneous and inexpensive. The information that flows fairly freely over the Internet has allowed people over seas to pass on a wide variety of information about their local areas. For example, people in the United States can connect with people in France. The connections can be used to obtain information about economic conditions, education, and public stability.

Over the past few years, the Internet has provided information about civil disputes occurring in the Middle East. The unease in Arab countries has become international news. Arab countries have had unrest and disputes for decades; however, new technology has educated and permitted citizens in Western countries to question their governments, and people have been using updated technology to promote their causes and gain aid and help from other countries. The people who reside in the Middle East have allowed technology to aid them in acquiring peace within their own borders. Platforms such as Facebook were tools used to rally supporters during the revolution in Egypt.

The article “Demystifying the Arab Spring: parsing the differences between Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya” by Lisa Anderson states specifically “…so vividly on display in Tahrir Square this past winter-is not a result of the Internet and social media” (pg. 1). I gather the basis of the actually uprisings may not be a direct relation to the Internet and social media, but some of the outcomes were directly related to the Internet and social media. In addition to the outcomes being directly related, the manner in how people around the globe heard about the revolutions were a direct relation to the Internet, digital devices, and social media. I would venture to say that each revolution was based on specific events and situations, which have been on going problems for each of the nations; however, the information that was passed is directly related to the Internet and more. I will refer you back to the quote at the beginning of the paragraph that the author of the article uses. She makes a statement “…vividly on display…”, which is a direct relation to the media. Vividly referring to the fact that there were videos and pictures of the event, which indicates that the media or someone else was filming the events, that someone else could be a person who used a camera or even a web-cam to film the events in Tahrir.

The outcomes were directly related to the Internet and social media. For example, as soon as American’s heard about the civil unrest in Lybia, and how Muammar al-Qaddifi ordered his military to kill and attack civilians in his country, Americans spoke out to the United States government. American’s wanted justice for the hundred’s of innocent people that were dying because the people of Libya wanted a democracy. The federal government allowed other countries to provide aid and protection to the Libyan civilians. Protests and rallies have been occurring the in the Middle East for decades, and American’s did not hear much about the protests for one reason or another, but now with technology at the hands of millions of people, information and news is passed instantly. The media is no longer controlling all the information passed on; rather, everyday people are passing on the information to mass amounts of people. <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">Works Cited <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Anderson, Lisa. “Demystifying the Arab spring; parsing the differences between Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya." Foreign Affairs 90.3 (2011). Academic OneFile. Web. 19 Sep. 2011.

<span style="background-color: #e2ae83; color: #404040; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">**September 15, 2011** <span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Skype <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Communicating with people has transformed over the years. If I wanted to speak with some one who was not in my immediate range or vicinity, I used a telephone. The telephone I used allowed a person to contact another person with in the United States and outside of the United States. However, the phone calls outside of an area code were charged a higher fee. The fees for calling a person out of the country were extremely expensive in comparison to a local phone call. A landline telephone did not provide the opportunities to see the person on the receiving end of the telephone. However, as technology has evolved over time, so have the forms of communication. Currently people can talk to someone in another country and pay minimal fees, in addition technology provided the opportunity to visually see another person while you are speaking with them. This type of communication has cut costs and allows for a more personal conversation with people who are far away. Being able to see a person while talking to them allows for both parties to read body language, which is a significant part of communication. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Skype is a downloadable software program that allows people with computers and Internet connectivity to talk and see each other at the same time. Skype allows its users to have video calls. The software Skype provides, allows people around the world to communicate in real time. Skype has provided benefits, which have been useful around the world. For example, “BBC Radio 5 has interviewed dissident bloggers in Iran and China with the help of Skype. The radio station kept the writers' identities and locations secret by bypassing the telephone lines” (Schreck). In addition to the BBC using Skype to contact people in other countries, the United States military service members use Skype to connect to their families. Members of the Armed Forces who are over seas use Skype to keep in touch with their family members in the United States. Companies that provide products and services around the world use Skype to conduct daily business. Teachers are using Skype to connect children and learning experiences around the world. The visual enhancement in connection with the audio connection allows people to communicate more effectively. <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Works Cited //<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Schreck, Adam. “Ripping out the Landline.” //__ __// ; 2005 Fourth <span style="color: #262626; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Quarter, Vol. 11 Issue 4, p3-4. Web. 15 Sep. 2011.

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