Longing for a bit of long tail

Finally I’ve worked out which week I’ve missed, and I remember why I missed it. For someone reason I just couldn’t grasp the long tail notion. After another read of the readings, and a big stalk on other student’s blogs, I began to get a bit more of an idea.

Retailers have jumped onto this phenomenon of selling as they make a profit through the retailing of unique goods in small volumes. Type long tail into Google and almost every search result will mention Amazon.com at some point. They have increased the profit of niche marketing and created a long tail marketing process. Another example can be seen when discussing the shelf price of clothing. If a company is paying large amounts for distribution costs, it makes sense for them to only sell high profit generic items. As opposed to a company operating under a long tail approach, they have an equal cost on shelf space, allowing the way for unique items to hit the shelves and cerate profit.

This is particularly prevalent in online shopping where items can be searched for. Take e-bay for example; its bidding function has the ability to place a hefty price on relatively cheap items. And keep customers coming back for a chance to a one-of-a-kind piece.

Okay, so I’m still a little bit unsure of how to actually get the long tail idea into words. If anyone has a bit of a clearer description, would love to read it!

Let’s talk about things... And the Internet of them

It has now come to the closing of the semester, and the final blog post, (well second last, I seem to have missed one along the way, whoops!). And the topic on the agenda is the internet of things. What is this you ask? To be honest I wasn’t too sure either!

After doing some research it turns out the Internet of things means that someone is always watching always knowing your every move. If you ever think you are alone, think again, chances are a RFID tag is nearby and is tabbing that sneaking mars bar you thought you would chow down before you got home from work.

Personally, I don’t feel as though this is invading my privacy. There are already such arrays of surveillance technologies present that another one will simply be added to the list. Who knows, It might even be beneficial to know that two shops up from where I’m standing is only an update away from seeing me walk away with a new pair of heels, and a smile on my dile at the latest bargain.

But this being said what I DO have a problem with is the secrecy to which his is happening. And the little public knowledge let alone consent that has been granted. Although RDIF appears user friendly, is this simply hiding the vindictive technologies that sit below the surface? And I love a bargain as much as the next shopper, but just how much information should be allowed to be stored about me and my shopping habits?

As you can see, I’m still a little bit on the fence with this one. What do you guys think about the internet of things?

I found love with PC. But am cheating on him with Mr Mac

I was caught red handed soaking up the joys of a Mac. I have always been loyal to my PC, but the limitless options of photo booth were just too tempting. So many distortion possibilities, as opposed to my PC’s limited webcam features of ‘black and white’ or ‘sepia’.

I am the first to rant and rave about how inconvenient Macs are. How the computer labs are negatively impacting my learning by making me struggle to use one with each class that I have in there. But is this argument really all that important?

After a simple Google search and abundance of PC VS Mac websites appear, follow this link to one of them!

http://www.macorpc.net/pc-images/mac-vs-pc-62/

With all these upgrades constantly being released, and so many brands and forms of technology to chose from, this can all become a little overwhelming. Anyone looking for a better understanding, have a look at this blog, http://gabbybrown.blogspot.com/2011/10/but-what-about-microsoft-hp-blackberry.html . She sums it up nicely in relatively simple language!

Interestingly enough, this war has expanded to Google, who is a PC supporter. With it’s soon to be released, Samsung Galaxy Nexus, will it have the potential to surpass Apple and it’s ever so sleek a popular iPhone and its many many upgrades.

One thing is for sure, I am one of the fence sitters, who is loyal to neither brand, I am who these companies are marketing too. But to tell you the truth, by the looks of my bank account, and my current budget, I won’t be purchasing either of them anytime soon.

Who’s got the power? SNS do!

Social networks are more than simply a ‘tool’ as Morozov refers to them as. They have the power to engage and connect people globally, and allow even the most timid of users, to have a voice and be part of revolutionising communities.

Thanks to SNS like Facebook and Twitter, I would say I am better educated on happenings that occur around the world. I see a status on Facebook, a tweet on Twitter and go on to do further research. If these SNS didn’t exist, it’s sad to say that a majority of the time I would be unaware of the severity of the events that are occurring.

While Morozov looks at SNS on a global scale and their impact, I found great relativity between this week’s reading and my group project. We assessed the importance of online identity management and how this impacts upon ones personal, business and private life. Social media bestows the power to send images, comments, and videos viral, in turn having the potential to effect future job prospects and creates issues with family and friends.

It is important to think of the consequences of using SNS. If they have the power to create ‘revolutions’ and create turmoil around the world (London riots, Arab uprising, Wall Street), imagine the impact they can have upon YOUR everyday life.

So next time you think about uploading the picture of your friend passed out with a VB in their hand think about this – do you want to be the reason behind their next job rejection?

Hacking into the truth

The New Yorker’s article ‘No Secrets’ really opened my eyes to the extent Julian Assange has shaped our society. After reading the article I came to the conclusion that Assange is the creator of the e-democracy.  A bold statement I know, but a simple scan through the archives of Wikileaks will uncover an abundance of political and government processes that he has unveiled to the public, that were conveniently ‘hidden’ from the public’s eyes.

Plan B, or ‘collateral murder’ as it is now known is discussed throughout the article. If you haven’t seen it, take a look...

Without sites like Wikileaks, there would be miniscule pressures upon the government to tell us facts from fiction. And more incidents, like the above video, will occur without the public’s knowledge. The age of the e-democracy has increased tensions between government, the military and journalism as the fourth estate.

Without the hacking skills of Assange highlighting the issues that our fourth estate is failing to report, individuals would carry on their daily lives oblivious to the wrong doings of those in power. The extract, ‘Conscience of a Hacker’ used by ted throughout the lecture, for me was a perfect piece of irony for those wanting to eradicate Wkileaks.

The decline of truth and accuracy in journalism today, I believe make it almost ethical for hackers such as Assange to be releasing such important information and knowledge into the public realm.

From a former Twitter sceptic

I too was once a Twitter sceptic, much like Johnson in his article ‘How Twitter Will Change The Way We Live’. When I found out that we had to create a Twitter account for DIGC202 I resentfully created a username and stared blankly at the empty Twitter feed on my computer screen. What could anyone really have to say in 140 characters that would be interesting enough for me to want to follow them and then be inundated with updates from them on a daily basis.

Now, while I’m still not a fanatic Twitter lover, I have seen its benefits and the way it creates and shapes a conversation and creates taste communities where opinions are free to be shared, agreed upon and challenged. And to be perfectly honest, I still get a little bit excited when I get retweeted or replied too. The power of the hash tag on Twitter has shaped the way people communicate and gives users the ability to filter through information that interests them.

I still really don’t care about what the people I’m following had for breakfast; but I have found that #digc202 has given me a new perspective of how I view global networks. It doesn’t take a global meeting to get the world talking about important issues; all it takes is a 140 character post. This post has the ability to enlighten others on a new way of thinking, ignite debate and personally I think makes us all feel like our opinions are valued in such a fast moving world.

Convergence, it’s a pleasure to meet you!

Some may see convergence as the curse of innovation, slowly grappling away at real-life social situations as the person to your right laughs at the IM received through their iphone, and the person to your left states a ‘did-you-know’ fact to the group fresh from their latest Google search conveniently from the palm of their hand. And furthermore, it might seem a little strange that this scene can be taken from your last outing with your friends. Yep, that’s right YOUR last outing with YOUR friends!

Let’s give a big warm welcome to convergence!

My advice is to befriend convergence asap as it isn’t going anywhere and will/has/is currently making itself extremely welcome in your life. Now, it’s not all bad. Let’s continue with this concept of interaction. While convergence may be the cause for distractions from some social situations it also allows us to communicate with a plethora of people all at the click of a button.

It allows for greater platforms of communication with many thanks needing to be given to Web 2.0. Everyday activities such as reading the paper, which could be seen as an activity of solitude in the past, now offers an abundance of interactivity as readers are able to find more information on articles through the internet, and interact with others through leaving public feedback and participating in forums. Readily available content at the click of button has unlocked new levels of learning and knowledge for anybody and everybody.

So before convergence cops a beating ask yourself this, has it helped you? If convergence still has no friends, I’ll be sure to volunteer.

What is mine is yours and what is yours is mine

How would you feel about an idea conjured up in your mind stolen, tweaked and fixed to become a money making machine (keeping in mind none of this money making is for your benefit)?

Not too happy? I didn’t think I would be either until I realised through the lecture and readings this week that this is an everyday practise, this is the basis of issues surrounding intellectual property and copyright.

Week in week out I’d like to think my blogs are innovative and unique- then I realised that I only ever compose my blogs after reading the material of students first ,and drawing upon their blogs for inspiration and other ideas (sorry, guys!). But does this give every student in DIGC202 a right to accuse me of breaching the law and stealing what is not rightfully mine?

It’s another touchy topic we’re trolling through this semester however I think Lessig’s Free Culture reading provided a nice summary of what he deemed appropriate in the world of copyright with his references to Disney. He explained that Disney ‘builds upon the culture and makes it something different’, might I mention this idea of ‘different’ also being extremely profitable.

It seems a shame that the old copyright laws of allowing 30 years before intellectual property can hit the public domain are well and truly buried. It is highly unlikely that these laws will resurface anytime soon, so the clash of the copyright will continue.

What do you do for a living? I’m a professional in my social life

The days of counting down until that 5 O’clock clock-off is well and truly a thing of the past. After reading Bradwell & Reeves, I realised that:

1.       The word ‘clock-off’ has pretty much become extinct 
2.         If you’re not networked, you’re no one
3.       There is no distinction between social relationships and professional life

They raise the concept of the ‘network citizen’ and allude to the fact that without engaging in social networks, you will be left behind in the working world. Throughout tutorials this week, Teodor Mitew got me thinking about the vitality of net presence and just how heavily we all rely on it in everyday life.

It is almost as though a social life has become an occupation as there is pressure to know exactly what is happening in each of your friend’s lives on a daily basis (thank you Facebook newsfeed). Bradwell and Reeves comment on constantly being connected to the workplace improves customer loyalty, but at what cost to employees who are constantly connected?

Once again drawing upon ones social life as an occupation, just how much time are we loosing by constantly seeking updates on our friends lives? And if we aren’t connected (GASP) does that make our friendships weaker for not knowing that your best friend checked in at McDonalds for lunch?

Petty as it sounds, I think we are living in fear that if we aren’t connected we will not only lose touch with the workforce, but with friends as well. Indeed it may seem like our social worlds are becoming our occupations, but when technology makes it so easy to be connected to such a wide network, there are no excuses for not knowing what, not just your best friend, but what each and every one of your friends had for lunch.