Facebook's Rise To Power

Facebook is changing the way our society communicates ideas, thoughts, and information. In fact, it is changing the way the entire world communicates. Facebook allows us to be almost instantly connected with the people around us. Even with those who are not in close physical proximity. Even though The Book has many advantages and perks I fear what it is becoming

When I think about it I imagine that Facebook is some kind of electronic octopus that reaches its tentacles out into cyber space and whatever it touches becomes a part of the ever- expanding entity. If this is to continue Facebook will be at the center of everything web-based Kirkpatrick explains “Facebook Connect.” This idea, or platform, would be the body of the octopus in my previous analogy and I think this is a terrible concept. To centralize the web would be to remove a crucial part of it. Being able to have literally millions of different options to choose from is a fundamental concept of the internet.

A recent article in the New York Times points out a condition about the fear of missing out, or FOMO (Wortham). This problem is exactly as it sounds. Being able to see what your friends are doing as they are doing it makes a person feel like they could be spending their time differently, and possibly in a more enjoyable way. I find this interesting because it means that Facebook can cause stress in people for using it exactly as it is meant to be.

Facebook in my opinion is helping to ruin face-to-face communication. Already we see kids and young adults having problems socializing in off-line settings because of how much time they spend on sites like Facebook. There is also the reverse of this to consider. I myself have trouble talking to people on Facebook. I get nervous writing on peoples walls, or responding to something they sent me because I don’t feel like I am truly communicating so much as just throwing some information into cyber space. I have always found it easier to physically talk to someone because I can read their body language and tone to discern their true feelings about whatever we are speaking about. Facebook doesn’t allow that kind of communication. Instead, a person is presented with only flat, text-based, communication. Though the way Facebook is expanding I would not be surprised by a video component being introduced.

I have read some comments in our discussions about monetizing Facebook. Well it happened.....a year ago. Facebook Credits can now be purchased (10 credits is equivalent to 1 U.S. dollar) and used on facebook to buy games and eventually other media. They're also able to be purchased in 15 different currencies. This is a link to the wiki page about them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook_Credits (The code blogger supplies does not work for some reason so copy/paste)

ALL HAIL FACEBOOK!

Nothing In Life is Free

The internet and online communities help to connect people enabling the rapid spreading of ideas. Also offering the freedom to create and publish in an unrestricted environment. Though some of these resources do put restrictions on content and availability

For example Apple’s app store allows anyone to create an application that they can share with the world. But it is an illusion. Apples policies for applications actually limit what people are allowed to create for apple products, and the company has a right to do so. But these policies encroach on the “freedom” which is implied in being able to create and share personal projects and ideas. By creating impossible to crack coding and constantly changing this code, Apple restricts its users abilities freely exchange ideas. As seen in the Lessig video, Apple withholds all the rights to the applications in the app store. They offer you the ability to create an application then take all the benefits for its creation. That’s simply unfair. However, it is clearly stated in their policies that this is the case. It is the structure and branding of Apple that implies a sense of freedom and connectedness, though this “freedom” is really shallow.

In the “Fitting Our Tools to a Small World” article it is shown how connected people really are. With sites such as Facebook people are becoming even more connected. Being able to see others who like the same thing as you and being able to engage in pseudo conversations with others about such topics greatly increases the links between individuals. For example on my personal Facebook page it says I like Waffle House. I chose to put that there and it is a true statement. It also allows me to see others who think Waffle House is as great as I do. This fosters the building of an online community. If for some reason a protest needed to be raised in support of Waffle House, I am sure one of the first courses of action would be to go on the Waffle House Facebook page and publish a call for action from the fans of the good old WH. Facebook enables people the ability to share ideas, connect with likeminded individuals, and eventually co-operate with others to achieve a goal.

With the free exchange of ideas people are able to organize more effective and widespread demonstrations to help change negative social scenarios. I also see art and entertainment growing and diversifying at exponential rates because of the enhanced ability to publish works. This is not wishful thinking for the future, it is happening now.



Isn't Philosoraptor great? I use a mac but i have no love for Apple. This a link to a blog that illuminates some of apple shady business practices http://blogs.computerworld.com/16192/apple_replaces_microsoft_as_technologys_bad_boy (Link doesnt show up.... not sure why.... copy/paste)

Virtually Limitless

Virtual reality is going to change our world. With the introduction of virtual worlds will come a great many beneficial affects to our society. Affects such as effective therapy for veterans, self-actualization, and as I see it more equality based interaction.

With the introduction of programs such as Coming Home where “in an environment of complete anonymity, they (veterans) can find support from peers and counselors, learn relaxation techniques, and even travel a labyrinth.”(Gilbert) This is an incredible resource. Delivering help for veterans in need, directly into their homes allowing them to gain support from a community of peers they will never actually meet. Help for a veteran goes beyond even that however with virtual reality simulations designed to help lower former soldiers stress levels. Soldiers with PTSD will soon be able to go to their local VA and participate in a virtual reality program that helps them to reduce their anxiety and stress levels related to the war.



Another huge change that the virtual world brings with it is the ability to change yourself, or at least how you represent yourself. Being able to create and change an avatar gives the user the ability to completely control what they look like. With this ability people are able to express their true identity while at the same time having their avatar look nothing like them. Your online identity and millions of others can mingle and communicate creating real relationships. Though these relationships may take longer to develop because of a lack of physical communication, they still have all the fundamental characteristics of a relationship.

With the creation of these avatars comes the inability to trust the online representation of the person or persons you may be interacting with. Obviously this has some negative affects, but at the same time it can be a good thing. Your image will become less important than what you have to say. In a world where everyone was represented by an online avatar, things such as gender, race, height, voice pitch, anything physical would simply not matter, because you couldn’t trust what you were seeing. This would eliminate gender and other biases from academic and most other communities.

Virtual reality has obviously been around for a while. This is an old virtual game system put out by Nintendo called the Famicom. Well actually its an accessory for the game system that allows for 3-D play but was never released for sale outside of Japan. Select games would start in 2-D and could be switched into 3-D. This is pretty ingenious especially for the time it was released (late 80's- early 90's)

Insanium in the Cranium

Our brains are meant to change. It is in our nature to change and adapt to new conditions and experiences. In this current age our brains and our sociality are adapting to the Internet and all it holds. As Horstman points out in “Brave New Brain” these changes include: greater connectivity, interactive learning, heightened visual senses, faster neural shifting, and shorthand communication. Studies have also shown that frequent use of the Internet can lead to shorter attention spans. So we know what the Internet does to our brain, now the question becomes, is it a bad thing?

I say no, these are not negative affects nor are they necessarily positive. They are just changes. We sit in front the computer screen for hours because it is a terrific tool for everything from scholarly research to just passive entertainment. We can essentially now live an entire life plugged into a computer. As “Digital Nation” shows some kids literally spend almost all of their waking hours online socializing, learning, and creating digital experiences. Some would say that this isn’t actually living, and in a traditional sense it is not. However, throughout history, traditions have changed, therefore being so wired and connected could become the legacy we pass on to our children.

Speaking in terms of physical affects to our brain the Internet once again has an influence. Our Brain creates neural pathways to suit the various ways in which we absorb information. With the webs multimedia abilities we are stimulating all of those connections in one place. Our brain is immeasurably malleable so that even a so-called “digital immigrant’s” brain is able to quickly adapt to the way in which information is presented online. In studies it has been seen that using the Internet stimulates the memory centers of our brain as well as those that control decision-making. In seems then that the World Wide Web is not dumbing us down but in fact working our brains harder. On a Final note, I find it interesting that all of the changes that have been imposed on us originate from a human creation. We created it and now we are molding ourselves around it.