Introduction
The concept of the video will be the notion of hyper-surveillance, with a specific focus on the issue of privacy. Other areas of discussion will include references to Legislation, the Bill of Rights, and the current-day similarities to George Orwell's 1984.
Concept
The video podcast will focus on how privacy is infringed upon in many areas of one's daily life and activities. Throughout the course of our research for this podcast, as well as in the presentation of the podcast itself, we intend to answer the following question regarding surveillance and breaches of privacy: How far is too far? Our intention is to convey the concerns and precautions that one must take when it comes to their personal privacy, not only online, but with any technologically related medium. An important issue is that in today's surveillance society, one is constantly being watched, but if we are doing nothing wrong, then should there be a reason to worry? Nearly all of the technologies in today’s society consequently also have methods of surveillance. Cellular phone conversations can be overheard, instant messaging conversations are routinely archived, and built in webcams on personal laptop computers can be controlled remotely. The methods by which our actions can be recorded are endless, and it is our goal through the video podcast to bring attention to these methods.
Also, corporations such as Facebook, Google, and Microsoft often take great lengths to obtain our personal information, but what guarantees do we have that this information is dealt with accordingly? It may be possible that Facebook sells our information (such as who we talk to, our relationship status, etc) to advertising companies. Google always crawls the web to capture any information it can, but just how powerful are their web crawlers? Microsoft requires personal information for most installations, and with the introduction of ActiveX, are there any more barriers to that information? These topics as well will be covered by our video podcast.
Research Approach
The basis of our research will involve a combination of field research and a variety of conventional research to further support our arguments. We will include live interviews with random subjects and incorporate supporting evidence from scholarly journals and other personal blogs or video podcasts to show opposing views about the issue. Some of the video podcast we will be using will be taken from www.current.com. One of the main articles that we will focus on is “public surveillance functions of private security” by Alison Wakefield. We would also be looking at different articles on the infringement of privacy involving internet. Lastly, we would also assess different major corporations and their methods of gathering data.
Treatment
The podcast will incorporate a hit television show ‘24’ type theme, where multiple segments of events are happening at once during a specific duration. The camera will play a neutral roll, capturing our interaction with each other. Many shots will be filmed from the shoulder to not only capture dramatics, but also carry good audio quality. The type of atmosphere we are trying to generate would be action pact and adventurous to draw the attention of the audience as well as keeping it formal to come off as factual.
Our footage would contain research that will be placed in dialogue, which is backed up by visual aids. Interviews of individuals as well as other extended metaphors will be placed to further emphasis our story. Much effort will be placed on ‘what makes a good blog’ by including comic relief and emotion.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Week 6: Project 2 Proposal
Week 5: The A-Team
Team name: The A-Team
Team members: Clarianne Asuncion, James Purdy, Mark Shannon, Victoria Wighton
The initial concept for our video podcast is regarding Google and its relation to privacy in the online world. Features such as Google Analytics and Googlebots pry into the darkest corners of a website, and quite possibly, password protected information such as bank accounts and secure web sites.
Also, we will speak about privacy in regard to other applications which have yet to be determined, but may include cell phone conversations and ATMs.
Team members: Clarianne Asuncion, James Purdy, Mark Shannon, Victoria Wighton
The initial concept for our video podcast is regarding Google and its relation to privacy in the online world. Features such as Google Analytics and Googlebots pry into the darkest corners of a website, and quite possibly, password protected information such as bank accounts and secure web sites.
Also, we will speak about privacy in regard to other applications which have yet to be determined, but may include cell phone conversations and ATMs.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Week 4: A little bit of Fashion Sense?
H&M Video Blog
Fashion. Where is it heading and what is considered hot? Your answers can possibly be found watching H&M’s video podcast. Yes, I know it’s a sponsored podcast that probably employs some scheme to convince us to buy their products. What makes this interesting is it goes around the world interviewing individuals what they think would be the next step in fashion, what would they want to wear, and what is hot now in fashion.
A lot of companies are trying to sponsor media, so they can data mine and gain valuable information on consumer trends. However, this podcast pertains difference perspectives on fashion around the world. To me this is very interesting because, metaphorically, I live in a box. I do not travel, nor talk to anyone outside the GTA. If I could finance traveling, then I could experience this first hand. Well, with my reality check in place, this isn’t happening any time soon so I would like to appraise H&M for bringing the world closer to my finger tips.
Asides from bringing awareness through another set of eyes, what makes this podcast good and exciting to watch is how it is edited. Fast paced music which reasonably quick shots make it interesting enough to follow without having to track back and recap the action. It is professionally done. The only weak point about this podcast is, yes, there is an H&M advertisement in the middle that is incredibly long. Overall, this podcast is a good form of entertainment and enlightens me by showing different cultures in regards to fashion.
Fashion. Where is it heading and what is considered hot? Your answers can possibly be found watching H&M’s video podcast. Yes, I know it’s a sponsored podcast that probably employs some scheme to convince us to buy their products. What makes this interesting is it goes around the world interviewing individuals what they think would be the next step in fashion, what would they want to wear, and what is hot now in fashion.
A lot of companies are trying to sponsor media, so they can data mine and gain valuable information on consumer trends. However, this podcast pertains difference perspectives on fashion around the world. To me this is very interesting because, metaphorically, I live in a box. I do not travel, nor talk to anyone outside the GTA. If I could finance traveling, then I could experience this first hand. Well, with my reality check in place, this isn’t happening any time soon so I would like to appraise H&M for bringing the world closer to my finger tips.
Asides from bringing awareness through another set of eyes, what makes this podcast good and exciting to watch is how it is edited. Fast paced music which reasonably quick shots make it interesting enough to follow without having to track back and recap the action. It is professionally done. The only weak point about this podcast is, yes, there is an H&M advertisement in the middle that is incredibly long. Overall, this podcast is a good form of entertainment and enlightens me by showing different cultures in regards to fashion.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Week 3: Web 2.0 and podcasting where is this heading?
The internet has been a revolutionary invention that has changed the way the world communicates. The web has evolved over time making interacting with not only easier but also more entertaining. This is internet evolution is called Web 2.0- today’s web!
Web 2.0’s general function or so called ‘definition’ is best described as whole by wikipedia.org, which has been created by Web 2.0 technology. Wiki states that Web 2.0 is a “second generation of web-based communities and hosted services (such as social-networking sites, wikis, blogs, and folksonomies) which aim to facilitate creativity, collaboration, and sharing between users.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2)
Podcasting is another technology fueled by Web 2.0 technology. All these technologies are being connected and pooled together to create the ultimate way to interact with one another online. Facebook.com is a prime example of this convergence because hosts and utilizes multiple web applications to cater to the users preferences given the ability to ‘customize’ their experience.
Web 2.0 development made it possible for businesses to make money off of the internet. With the arrival of these new technologies like podcasting, companies could discover how further market podcasts for a profit. Websites like http://www.podcastingnews.com hosts quite a few individuals who have their own podcasting mini series featuring episodes about pretty much anything! It is our media! So where could web 2.0 and podcasting be heading? It is heading your direction! You are the spotlight. Shed some of your light to the rest of the world and maybe that will make you popular- better yet, rich!
Web 2.0’s general function or so called ‘definition’ is best described as whole by wikipedia.org, which has been created by Web 2.0 technology. Wiki states that Web 2.0 is a “second generation of web-based communities and hosted services (such as social-networking sites, wikis, blogs, and folksonomies) which aim to facilitate creativity, collaboration, and sharing between users.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2)
Podcasting is another technology fueled by Web 2.0 technology. All these technologies are being connected and pooled together to create the ultimate way to interact with one another online. Facebook.com is a prime example of this convergence because hosts and utilizes multiple web applications to cater to the users preferences given the ability to ‘customize’ their experience.
Web 2.0 development made it possible for businesses to make money off of the internet. With the arrival of these new technologies like podcasting, companies could discover how further market podcasts for a profit. Websites like http://www.podcastingnews.com hosts quite a few individuals who have their own podcasting mini series featuring episodes about pretty much anything! It is our media! So where could web 2.0 and podcasting be heading? It is heading your direction! You are the spotlight. Shed some of your light to the rest of the world and maybe that will make you popular- better yet, rich!
Monday, January 21, 2008
Week 2: My Personal Review of engadget.com
Blogs! how I love thee. One of my personal favorite technological blog sites is http://www.engadget.com/. This site updates information and gives a review about new and innovative technology. Engadget’s purpose -rather what it is famous for- is infringing upon technological rumors and shedding light on them with photo evidence and/ or research. As technology develops, many people are unsure about different things or have no idea what is out there.
Many blogs tend to rant about current issues, however, Engadget is completely distinctive. Engadget.com provides a background behind the nature of the product, how it works, and the pros and cons of this product.
Another distinctive feature Engadget has over other ‘typical blogs’ is how they organize their content. Instead of having to search for postings by month, Engadget achives their data based on different types of techonology. For instances, if you needed to research for a new cellphone and wanted something new, hip, up to date and practical. All one would have to do is look in the site’s archives under phones and immediately, you would be brought to Apple’s iphone. This feature makes browsing this site easy and user friendly.
I found Engadget’s content to be valuable because geeks like myself love to know what is buzzing around the world in terms of technology. Ironically, just as much as how women enjoy reading ‘Delisted.com’ or ‘PerezHilton.com’ about gossip on celebrities and how these sites amusingly degrade them.
Comparing Engadget to http://blogoscoped.com (another ‘tech-ee’ blog site), I found it’s advantages through the author’s style of writing. I find his writing style humorous as well as very interesting and easy to read. Good blogs should be stimulated to review. Blgoscoped.com I found was useful but not visually exciting and as popular as Engadget. I feel Blogoscoped gave more tutorial feel to how a product works oppose to where Engadget hypes up a product and unveils what it is worth. All in all, rating Engadget.com based on content, organization, and insightfulness, on a scale from 1 to 5, I give it a 4.5.
Many blogs tend to rant about current issues, however, Engadget is completely distinctive. Engadget.com provides a background behind the nature of the product, how it works, and the pros and cons of this product.
Another distinctive feature Engadget has over other ‘typical blogs’ is how they organize their content. Instead of having to search for postings by month, Engadget achives their data based on different types of techonology. For instances, if you needed to research for a new cellphone and wanted something new, hip, up to date and practical. All one would have to do is look in the site’s archives under phones and immediately, you would be brought to Apple’s iphone. This feature makes browsing this site easy and user friendly.
I found Engadget’s content to be valuable because geeks like myself love to know what is buzzing around the world in terms of technology. Ironically, just as much as how women enjoy reading ‘Delisted.com’ or ‘PerezHilton.com’ about gossip on celebrities and how these sites amusingly degrade them.
Comparing Engadget to http://blogoscoped.com (another ‘tech-ee’ blog site), I found it’s advantages through the author’s style of writing. I find his writing style humorous as well as very interesting and easy to read. Good blogs should be stimulated to review. Blgoscoped.com I found was useful but not visually exciting and as popular as Engadget. I feel Blogoscoped gave more tutorial feel to how a product works oppose to where Engadget hypes up a product and unveils what it is worth. All in all, rating Engadget.com based on content, organization, and insightfulness, on a scale from 1 to 5, I give it a 4.5.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Week 1: What is the biggest issue facing blogging, citizenship and the future of media?
Since the early 2000’s, web logs have had become progressively more mainstream and has become a prime candidate for spinning gossip and news.
The biggest issue surrounding blogging, citizenship and the future of media is the freedom of speech. Society as a whole has always found a means of connecting everyone. Back in the day, opinions and news were expressed through local newspapers. Today, through the Internet, ‘blogging’ drives news, gossip, and opinions.
Blogging protects real life identity from the world in cyberspace because anonymity breaks the barrier of citizenship, leaving the ability to converse with anybody regardless age, sex, race and location. However, we are not completely hidden. Technology has left us traceable by our IP addresses and click streams making it easy for authority officials to find the source of the heat.
For some people, freedom of speech is not so free. It is more ‘freeish’ because you can write what you want but potentially consequences could follow your actions. For example, in China, the Communist Party's propaganda mandarins are obsessed with control and have closed down some outspoken blogs. Chat forums and online bulletin boards are routinely monitored for controversial political comments and sensitive words such as 'freedom' and 'democracy' are censored. (www.worldpress.org/2373.cfm)
How could this effect the future of media? We the people are the Internet. We fuel it’s existence by data driven content. If one blog website goes down, it is pretty much guaranteed another is going up and the same topics or issues will be aroused again. Freedom of speech should be protected. Opinions are really left up to the people, not the Government.
The biggest issue surrounding blogging, citizenship and the future of media is the freedom of speech. Society as a whole has always found a means of connecting everyone. Back in the day, opinions and news were expressed through local newspapers. Today, through the Internet, ‘blogging’ drives news, gossip, and opinions.
Blogging protects real life identity from the world in cyberspace because anonymity breaks the barrier of citizenship, leaving the ability to converse with anybody regardless age, sex, race and location. However, we are not completely hidden. Technology has left us traceable by our IP addresses and click streams making it easy for authority officials to find the source of the heat.
For some people, freedom of speech is not so free. It is more ‘freeish’ because you can write what you want but potentially consequences could follow your actions. For example, in China, the Communist Party's propaganda mandarins are obsessed with control and have closed down some outspoken blogs. Chat forums and online bulletin boards are routinely monitored for controversial political comments and sensitive words such as 'freedom' and 'democracy' are censored. (www.worldpress.org/2373.cfm)
How could this effect the future of media? We the people are the Internet. We fuel it’s existence by data driven content. If one blog website goes down, it is pretty much guaranteed another is going up and the same topics or issues will be aroused again. Freedom of speech should be protected. Opinions are really left up to the people, not the Government.
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