Social Networking

    Beyond advertising on Facebook or Twitter, companies are using social networks to build teams that solve problems faster, share information better among their employees and partners, bring customer ideas for new product designs to market earlier, and redesign all kinds of corporate software in Facebook's easy-to-learn style.
    For instance, NyTimes article "How Obama Tapped Into Social Networks" sheds light on fact that Obama's campaign in 2008 used social networking applications under the banner of a movement. "They created an unforeseen force to raise money, organize locally, fight smear campaigns and get out the vote that helped them topple the Clinton machine and then John McCain and the Republicans." This definetly shows how new media is also in Politics.
     Another article called "whats next? your future in social networking" tells the story of an IBM Internet division manger and his beliefs about social media. The manager speaks about how "online social networking is pointing the way to new new forms of communication and that its creating new ways of doing business".

     The benefits a social networking for a business includes the opportunity to facilitates open communication, leading to enhanced information discovery and delivery.It also helps to improve business reputation and client base with minimal use of advertising. If social network did have a darkside it would be that it increases the risk of people falling prey to online scams that seem genuine, resulting in data or identity theft. Another concern migth be the overwhelming sharing aspect of it. Even the most cautious and well-meaning individuals can give away information they should not. It also can cause people to loose touch with reality and real human contact.

     In my opinion, the social network will continue to grow and many more applications and platforms of it will develop in the near future. It time might come where everything we do; from work to play is connected and operated on networks. We are all just waiting for the next big innovation that will send us in to the new social media.  

 

  

Blogs V.S Wikis

      Blogs, are online journals maintained by a person or a team with regular updates. They are typically meant for general consumption and are arranged in a chronological manner with the most recent blog posts on the top. Blog posts can also have the provision for readers to leave comments. Blogs are usually more informal and chatty.
      On the other hand, In the simplest form, wikis can be imagined as a notepad of easily editable website pages. Each wiki can have a specific purpose and a bunch of wiki pages that are maintained by the users of that Wiki. Wiki pages typically have comments that can be used for collaborating around that page/topic. Wikis can be used for a variety of purposes like documentation, knowledge management or just a team repository of information.
      Nytimes Business section recently wrote an article called "Walmart Taste makers" It explained how walmart now encourages it merchants to speak frankly about the products the chain carries on blogs. This type of blog, where people can rant about gadgets within a company is known as corporate blogs. Walmart wanted little-known buyers to give advice also on there blogs to help other consumers by sending out quick feedbacks of merchandise.
     Another Article in the the Nytimes Media & advertising section called "An internet Wiki" states that even in a United States embassy in Rome Wiki's are now being utilized. An assistant there writed thats its extremely efficient and saving paper is a huge reason why they incorporated the wiki system they call Diplopedia.

The impact of Ebay

Have you ever purchased something on ebay, well I have. It seems like there is nothing you can't find on Ebay these days. I think this is really interesting, how Ebay helps connect consumers and sellers.
My project will focus on the many benefits Ebay offers. For example, helping to cut back on waste, because what is not useful for one person can be useful to another. I will also point out some drawbacks of Ebay. For instance, dishonest/fraudulent sellers, becasue an environment like Ebay can create some opportunities for scammers. Essentially I want to investigate the pros and cons of Ebay on todays new media society.