The End of 435!

     The last nine posts on this blog have given only a brief explanation of what I've learned by taking Com 435. I remember a few months back thinking I was caught up with technology. I had just forced myself to get a Twitter account, and I figured that was the point technology was at. I thought I had joined the newest social media site available to the public and therefore was up to date on all technology. Now I realize how far I was from the truth. This class dug way deeper into emerging technologies and allowed me to catch a glimpse of their impact on society.
     I had no idea how big of an impact technology has on the individual. I have learned of our dependence on these technologies, and how our world is structured around technology, particularly the newest technologies. Technology is so integrated into our lives we cannot even see the impact it has until we take a step back and study it.
     For example, the computer. If students at Purdue University had to take Com 435 twenty years ago, they would have learned about the different parts of the computer technologies linked with the computer, like e-mail, printer, internet, etc. Now, those things are so integrated into everyday use we seldom take the time to realize they too, were once emerging.
     The whole point of this is that all the technologies we've studied in Com 435 are what the future is made of. From GPS to robotics to virtual reality to social media, our future is comprised of what's being invented and integrated now. Now I realize how much of our lives are based around these technologies and what sorts of social implications are emerging.
    The future looks bright in terms of technology, I just hope I can stay caught up!

Virtual Reality

     As mentioned in a past blog post, virtual reality is becoming more and more advanced. Weopia, for instance, is one example of where technology is headed. Weopia, an online dating site, combines online dating and virtual reality into one place, where two people dating can meet up to go on "real" dates.
     But, what about other virtual realities? This week our communication class had the opportunity to visit the Purdue Envision Center. I was shocked to see what is under development here at Purdue University and how far we can take 3D.
     We experienced the opportunity to test the equipment and seee one project being undertaken now. The Envision center has partnered with a pharmaceutical class at Purdue to create an environment students can take part in in order to prepare them for future jobs as pharmacists. Abbey Moorman posted a great article on her blog describing what virtual reality is all about and what is being accomplished at Purdue.
Purdue is also working to map out history through the use of virtual reality. We were told about an ongoing project to recreate historical places, so vistors could tour them, experiencing what it would have been like to be there years ago verses now. While we were able to step into 3D world during our recitation, there are other ways this technology is being incorporated into every day use.

Check out the various Purdue Envision Center Projects

3D Geographic Exploration is becoming increasingly common. This google option allows us to experience what a place is like without ever stepping foot at the location. See Video Below:

Legs

I am fascinated by Aimee Mullins and her outlook on life, despite having no legs. After viewing the ten minute speech and hearing her positive outlook on her situation and how it relates to technology, I am fascinated by this girl. As an avid runner myself, I've always asked myself, "What would I do with no legs."
I am intrigued with how advanced our world has become with manufacturing fake body parts. Otherwise handicapped individuals now have the opportunity to walk-- or even bike, run, swim, or become a track star and model like Aimee Mullins. If I had been alive 30 years ago, I might have seen this coming. At the pace technology moves, its no surprise we have robotic like parts that can be attached to the complex human body. However, I never could have predicted quite how far technology has taken robotics, or as big of a cultural debate that would arise.
While there are a vast numbers of implants and technologies that have been created by humans that could be implanted into humans (cochlear implants, ears implanted on any part of the body, sense machines, to name a few), I will simply focus on the culture implications of legs.
Aimee Mullins, for example, had to have her legs amputated by her first birthday. According to her website , she participated in all normal activities with her friends, who all had real legs. She later went on to graduate with all academic honors and become a track star, model, and actress in movies. She now frequently speaks and works with non-profits and is the center of a variety of art pieces, displaying different legs Aimee wears. Is this fair? I never thought there would be a day where we'd be asking, "Is it fair for someone who has fake legs to have fake legs?" There is much irony in this statement, but Aimee Mullins does have some advantages. She can change her height at any moment. Her legs can match her dress. She can put on special made legs to help her run faster. At what point will technology advance far enough so someone like Aimee could attach jets to her legs and fly up in the air?

I personally think that Aimee was born into this world with a disadvantage, and I admire her for taking the situation she was in and making beyond the most of it. As robotics continue to advance, it will be interesting to see how people react. If people can buy special additions to their bodies (which, if you think about it, breast implants, etc. are already an example), how much more of an advantage will they have?

2 Days in the sun and I'm thinking: "globalization"

Traveling abroad allows me to realize how mobile and globalized our world is really becoming. I am currently babysitting for a family who is vacationing in Cancun, Mexico. Our flight from the U.S. was not even 4 hours long, but we're still in another country, and so is the technology we brought with us. I'm on my laptop and could be on my phone (if it wasn't so expensive). We could also use GPS systems and other technologies from country to country. While traveling, I notice how technologically advanced we truly are, and how mobile those technologies have become.
In class we studied a brief history of computers. A few short decades ago, the few people who did vacation frequently to other countries definitely did not have the same sort of connections we can today to our family and friends back home. If it were 20 years ago, or even less, I would have just told my friends and family I'd see them when I returned from my vacation. Now, we have the technology to plan in advance whether we should chat verses instant messaging, facebooking, Skype, texting or many others. I think this is what leads us to be more globalized as a Universe. Also, with these technologies we are able to leave a country and maintain relationships we started while abroad. For instance, I can keep in touch with the family I lived with in Spain through a variety of ways. Twenty years ago, this was not the case. Now, people have connections to people in various parts of the globe, marking the push to globalization.

GeoCaching

I recently participated in Geocaching for my Communication Class. It was quite an interesting experience, mostly because it enabled me to understand what geocaching actually is. Seven different groups set out from our class to find hidden bags with clues in them, using whatever technological devices or means of communication we could think of and a GPS system. Most of us just used our cell phones, which nowadays contain more technological devices in the one phone than we could even try to carry. For instance, I have access to twitter, facebook, GPS, blogging, wikis, and the internet in general on my phone, as well as access to communication via the phone itself in the form of texting or talking (old school). While geocaching, our team texted other students stationed in the classroom to inform them of our whereabouts and conclusions about the clue we found and what it could possibly mean. Other teams worked in the same way until we had all worked to send our clues into the base team. In the end, everyone's clues were focused around women and their history at Purdue University or in the world. We finally solved the puzzle: March is Women's History month.
When we first began the activity, I had a hard time drawing the connection between what we were doing and its relevance to communication. As we participated, however, I was able to see how communication breakdowns can occur and how much of an influence emerging technologies have on our communication with others. I cannot imagine life without a cell phone or a quick way to communicate with others. Geocaching would have been impossible without some sort of hand-held communication device. Sometimes I have to force myself to remember there once was a time without instant communication, a world in which activities such as geocaching were certainly impossible.
The activity we did in class was designed for us to learn about geocaching and have fun, but I think it did a good job of teaching us the implications of instant communication. In such a quick paced world, we are now able to access information almost instantaneously, whether we want to see what restaurants are nearby, or report back clues to a team. Instantaneous communication has its flaws, like when communication overload occurs, or when we focus more on the means of communication vs. the meaning of what's being said. But, overall, this quick paced world is benefiting from emerging technologies like GPS systems and cell phones that provide instant access to communication.

Weopia: Emerging Online Dating Site

    Less than a month ago, Weopia was opened for participation to the public. Weopia is an experiential virtual environment where those seeking "true love" can avoid high cost, wasted time, and stress. Layman's Terms? Weopia is the "newest thing" in online dating sites, allowing users to actually go on virtual dates, like para-gliding over the ocean, or take moonlight walks on the beach. (Activities all dating partners do, I'm sure =] )

    How Weopia Works:
1. Users find potential partners on any online dating sites.
2. Users invite prospective dates to their personal Weopia space.
3. Users get to know their dating partner via romantic activities such as sunset boat rides and kissing on the beach and conversations in real time.
4. Users decide if they’d like to meet the person in real life, or pursue another person.

    Weopia allows the individual to have a virtual experience with their prospective date. It's harder for people to create a fake "face" if they are interacting via voice chat and interactive activities with their dating partners. Therefore, if the users do decide to meet face to face, they should know more truth about the person than the average Computer Mediated Communication relationship.

    Weopia has been said to be the place where individuals get a deeper sense of their compatibility with potential partners.

    According to our lecture, 75% of internet users have done at least one dating related activity online. Plus, there are 10 millino single Americans who are looking for partners.
    Weopia is important because the success rate of online dating increases with use of this emerging technology. In fact, researchers at Harvard and MIT say that Weopia works faster than typical online dating and dating is twice as successful with use of Weopia.

    After researching this emerging technology for class, I realized I would not feel comfortable using it. I feel as though many of the visuals it provides are inappropriate. I tend to use the internet to communicate with people I already know, and who I'd rather do those activities with in person verses over the computer. However, those who have a long distance relationship or those who use the internet to meet people could utilize the new technology.

Go to Weopia.com to check it out.

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Dating and Maintaining Relationships via Social Media

    I was surprised to learn how many people meet someone online and actually pursue a relationship outside of the computer world with that person. The statistics shocked me:

 

    According to Lorraine Kisselburgh in her February 10, 2010 lecture, 75% of internet users have participated in at least one online dating activity. When I really thought about it, that statistic includes me! When I lived in Spain for five months to study abroad, Ben and I maintained a long distance relationship via skype, AIM, and emails. I feel as though even Skyping among people a close distance apart is becoming even more popular. 

    I think living on a college campus is a whole different situation then what we may face someday. We are surrounded by people our same age who we could potentially marry someday. I know for many people, starting out professionally in a small city presents a variety of new challenges, especially when you haven't found the person you want to marry (pending on if the person even wants to marry of course). I feel as though during that time, young adults might be more inclined to use online dating searches or other online dating activities.

    Obviously I've been referring to using computer for dating activity, but I think it's also important to point out how frequently we use them for maintaining relationships between family, friends, and co-workers. I would say I spend 30-60 min (or more) of every day maintaining relationships via facebook, emails, and twitter. 

    I think the computer can serve as a great way to keep in touch, but many times face to face communication is more efficient. And sometimes, things still need to be communicated the old fashion way, through a letter or postcard. This is a picture of me while I was studying abroad in Alicante, Spain. This picture was actually taken in Málaga, Spain on the Southern coast. Despite my frequent uses of Skype to keep in touch with my parents, I sent them a postcard of every city I visited. It probably would have been easier to just update this blog or email them to tell them about each place, but there is nothing like the personal touch of a hands-on postcard. 

I'm interested in what others have to say here: Do you think computer mediated communication is sufficient in expressing feelings towards a dating partner? Have you ever pursued a relationship with someone you met online? How do you feel about this new era of using social media to keep up with relationships? 

Overwhelmed by Social Media

    My Facebook status this week read "overwhelmed by social media". Sometimes this is how I feel. But lately, I am realizing what a crucial part of communication social media is becoming and the best ways to incorporate it into my career and an organization's public relations strategy. I wanted to share what I have learned just this week about the impact social media is having, plus what I have gathered from social media websites and RSS feeds I follow:
    I attended a PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) presentation given by Rebecca Dohrman, Purdue University Doctoral Candidate, this past Wednesday. I was encouraged by her presentation as she explained how organizations best utilize social media. She presented several examples of organizations who are using blogs or Twitter to relate to their customers. For example, ComcastCares demonstrates how Comcast is using twitter as a way to provide quick and reliable customer service to their customers. Rebecca also showed us one hospital who uses their twitter to update their followers on how long their current wait time is to see a doctor. Who has time to check their twitter on their way to the emergency room? While few people would check it before they go to the ER, the hospital has the potential to attract more clients to their ER because they are constantly providing their twitter followers proof of their consistently low wait times and great customer service. Organizations can use their social media sites to maintain a good reputation with customers.
    For those of you who have not heard of Google Reader, I urge you to check it out.  I simply made a list of sites and blogs I'd like to follow and now I receive updates from each and every one of them as they are posted. It's so convenient to navigate and have the option to choose what I'd like to read on one page versus having to manually google search each site or blog.
    One twitter I follow via Google Reader is Samaritan's Purse. I'd like to comment a bit on how well they use methods of social media to communicate and promote their various projects. Samaritan's Purse, an international relief organization, uses their twitter well in 3 ways:

1. They consistently update their Twitter. As a non-profit organization, it's important for them to let the public know exactly what they are doing to benefit the world. It's easy to see they are involved and committed to providing help in the face of every natural disaster and situations involving extreme poverty and devastation. Receiving constant updates from their twitter page lets donors and supporters of the organization know exactly what is being done with their resources and how to they can help.

2. They use their Twitter to point to news, Facebook updates, and other blogs being written about them. For example, they were able to post a link to Michael W. Smith's Blog Post about relief work being done to help victims of the Haiti earthquake. I have seen various tweets about things I was involved in when I worked in Aurora, Colorado as a media intern for Operation Christmas Child, one of their various projects. For example, they posted links to K-Love Packing parties and links to newspapers who published information from the press releases we media interns wrote.

3. They Use their Twitter as one place to consistently post useful information for those who participate in their various projects. Their Followers are able to use their Twitter as the place to go for the most up-to-date information of Samaritan's Purse projects around the world. For example, they tweeted the most recent information about where volunteers could bring their packed shoe boxes. They also tweeted information for where to donate to help Haiti Earthquake victims.

To sum it up, organizations can use social media to promote their organizations. It's a simple way to utilize public relations via social media, but has the potential to build a great reputation and keep the organization's supporters in the loop.

The Perfect "Face"

When I write on this blog, I choose what I want to say and what I want to leave out. Although I have pictures and stories that you all know are valid, hypothetically, what I post on my blog could be fake.
It's scary what the internet has become. You can log into a website and be anyone you want to be. Each screen name is associated with an email address, which is associated with an actual person. However, other than giving your email address or some login name, we have the ability to create any person ("face") and communicate with others.

I remember when I was in middle school and AOL instant messenger was a HUGE DEAL. In fact, I remember thinking my screen name was awesome: dreambird66. It had meaning. I was a girl full of dreams with a last name of a bird and my favorite number was 6 so why not put two of my favorite numbers linked to a name full of meaning? I loved communicated via instant messenger because it gave me time to truly think about what I was going to say before I blurted something stupid out. I could talk to multiple people at the same time. I could do "homework" and be "getting help from friends on AIM" but really just waste countless hours typing abbreviated messages to my friends.
It's only now that I realize how long I spent communicating via a computer, and how much less time it would have taken to communicate the same message via face to face communication.
I also think computer mediated communication is one reason I love to be multi-tasking. Growing up, I did homework while AIM messages were popping up and I enjoy talking with others while I complete busy work. Even now, I am writing this blog while simultaneously talking on facebook chat.
Perhaps computers take tiny chunks away from each part of our life, although this sounds more extreme than I meant it to. Maybe I need to fully focus on one conversation in order to maintain a relationship with a friend, or fully focus on doing my homework so I can write the best paper I am capable of writing. All in all, I seem to be getting more and more done these days, but am I just rushing through life missing little things because I am multitasking with all of these emerging technologies?

Good Thing For My Classes

Needless to say, I fail in the "keeping up with my blog" department. I didn't send out the final results of the Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box drive! But, have no worries friends. Thanks to the importance of emerging technologies in the communication field, I am required to write a blog post once a week! I love it when classes keep me accountable to do things I should have been doing these past few months anyways (another example: reading books).

I think it's crazy how emerging technologies continue to develop even when I'm not paying attention (like when I'm off studying in another country or state). Even since my freshman year at Purdue, new technologies have emerged. For example, all communication majors who pass through PU are going to required to post a blog once a week. Twitter has become just another way to relate to people even if that relationship happens to be via the invisible world of cyberspace. I was recently opposed to accepted all forms of emerging technologies. Someone suggested I get a twitter if I wanted to be "marketable" to future employers, so I went and got one. I am thrilled to actually learn how these technologies relate to my future career.

There are technologies I don't even know about. They are intriguing, and sometimes it makes me sad that I will need to accept these head-spinning technologies simply for a career. That being said, I admit I utilize many of these technologies on a daily basis. The more I understand these emerging technologies, the better understanding I can maintain of our world today, whether or not it's moving at a slightly faster pace than I am comfortable with.
I hope to use this blog as a way to communicate how these emerging technologies relate to my future career. Maybe I can figure out how to link the technologies on this page so you all will actually know what I'm talking about.... hopefully, I'll actually know what I'm talking about : )

For me, the most fascinating part of learning about emerging technologies is anwering questions about what kind of an impact they are having on my life and the live's of their users. Do people relate differently to each other now that we "facebook stalk" one another and already know the answer to questions like, "what did you do last night?" Is studying abroad as much of a growing experience when we can call our friends and family five times a day via skype? No matter where technology takes this world, I hope to be one who maintains the values of interacting with people over solely interacting via cyberspace.