Blogtastic!

So what have I learnt from this, my virgin flight into the blogosphere? Don't knock it till you've tried it!

Previously, I thought that blogs were for narcissists who indulged in nothing else but their lives. But this assignment has definitely opened up new worlds to me which otherwise I would have been ignorant about. Who knew there was such a thing as digital poverty? Or that there is actually a re-wiring of the way we read?

But it's not just about finding personally meaningful subjects to blog about. With some purpose and a dose of focus, one can learn quite a lot. It has taught me to digest the information I have read and with critical analysis, form opinions that matter as opposed to blabbing out self indulgent views that only matter to me.

It has also helped in my research to read some of the worst and best blogs on the web which again, showed me that there are some lovely roses among the thorns. Blogs, when written with sharp wit, critical analysis and educated opinions can really be considered masterpieces even in the literary world. The only difference is that it is published in the virtual world.

For people who are trying it out for the first time, I would strongly suggest that they do so with purpose. It is a unique device you can utilize to push yourself to learn more about the world around us. It can be a humbling experience where people can share their views with you, even the ones you dislike or didn't even ask for!

But overall, a blog with purpose is a more enriching one and definitely more fulfilling and meaningful than telling the world what you had for breakfast. Honestly, who cares about that?

Image Source: Getty Images

A Secret for all to know

Here's a little story about myself. Every Sunday, I log onto the web and head to my favourite blog. It's a popular site yet against the backdrop of the huge web world, it is also incredibly obscure. So, here's my secret...

It's called Post Secret. This blog was started by Frank Warren in 2004 and it's one of the most amazing, revealing and innovative social experiments ever started on the web. Basically, people from all around the world send Frank anonymous postcards and on it are their secrets. Frank then gathers a selection of the most compelling secrets and post it on his blog every Sunday.

It is an incredible and unique example of how the web can be utilized. Through the creation of this blog, Frank has given people a chance to air their secrets, their confessions. It is public yet private. What Frank has also noticed through the years is how people have taken the time to not only send him their secret, but the painstakingly creative postcards they send. Perhaps it is the idea that maybe it will be published so pride is taken to deliver the best they can. Even if no one knows who they are.

These collections of mini artwork have been turned into books and there is a Post A Secret community with a forum and news updates on the blog. Frank is also a sought after inspirational speaker across the U.S. But these are all secondary to the fact that this site has connected with people worldwide and it's request is simple and universal- Post a secret.

Do you have a secret? Post it...


Resource:
http://postsecret.blogspot.com/ viewed 28 March 2009

Image source: Post Secret

Whacha doin'?

Nothing grabs one's attention like a really good headline. Walsh (2006, p. 31) states that an internet site is to give the reader a variety of information. So what if you combined both? What you'd probably get is the Facebook status update tool.





On it, everyone gets to tell whoever enters their Facebook page exactly what they are doing. It is an act of spontaneous reporting. It ranges from longwinded dalliances to snappy quick cuts, all instant descriptions of what the person is up to. It gives readers an immediate gratification of looking into a person's life and engages them to comment. Even a simple "Had a rough day." can illicit sympathetic responses. And this simple tool becomes an active communication avenue for the person and readers.

That one tool has become so popular that there is even a collection of the funniest Facebook status updates! Proof that the sometimes, the simplest things are the most effective tools of communication.

Resource:

Walsh, M 2006, 'The "textual shift": examining the reading process with print, visual and multimodal texts', Australian journal of language and literacy, Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 24-37

Online article: Being There

Image source: Facebook

A Button We All Need!

I still remember it clearly, even when it happened 4 years ago. I had written a biting email to my production assistant complaining about the inconvenience one television participant was causing to our show. But in my haste, I sent it to the participant himself. I will never forget the dull, sinking feeling I got after I hit ‘Send’ and the embarrassing apology I had to make.

Been there before? Well, today I just found out that Gmail, the free email service from Google has created an ‘Undo Send’ feature! Now why hasn’t anyone come up with that sooner? According to the report, Michael Legget, Google User Experience Designer came up with it after his personal experiences with sending out emails by mistake.

But that’s a twist- this feature is only available within a 5 second window. Miss that golden opportunity to withdraw your email and no one can help you! But I don’t know about the rest of you out there but 5 seconds is better than none at all! With the advent of technology, I’d trust Mr. Legget and his team will find a way to eventually extend that window…patience everyone!

Online article: Google Introduces 'Undo Send' for Gmail
Image source: Google

Print is still alive!

As the battle rages on about the debate on print vs. online, print gets a leg up...from Asia! According to TIME, the good old newspapers are still all the rage. Granted that it may be as quoted 'the world's last great newspaper boom', but it's a boom nonetheless.

Just 3 years ago, TIME published an online forum asking top American media analysts about the future of newspapers. Its fate definitely looked bleak from their side, but with a growing literacy rate in Asia and low internet penetration means that Asians are still very much attached to their papers.

In my previous post on the evolution of reading, I personally enjoy reading print-based text and this includes newspapers. While I agree that timeliness poses an issue with newspapers being that it cannot immediately report breaking news, nevertheless, it is definitely a more visceral experience for me.

I do believe, however, that reading the papers is an 'old fashioned' habit that has the younger generation scowling at. Asian newspaper publications are well aware of that and most, if not all have started online news sites to handle the future of when one day, newspapers with its glorious ink-staining pages will be obsolete.

But for now, roll up, roll up and read all about it!

Online article: Newspapers in Asia: A Positive Story

Image Source: Getty Images

Fight Digital Poverty

First, let's understand what digital poverty means. Essentially it is the lack of access to information and communication technologies (ICT). The ones to suffer the most are the poor in countries with minimal internet penetration and where having the techological devices like computers and mobile phones are out of the question.

There are currently organizations across the world working to bridge that digital gap as they see it as a way to fight poverty. It is the access that benefits the people and set ups of ICT stations are proving to be of great help. One such set up was in Sri Lanka where the poor were taught to search for job opportunities online or engage in distance learning to improve their way of life.

Yet, this access can be harmful if not monitored as it can be used in detrimental ways- for example, access to online gaming can prove to be a distraction or even lead to unhealthy habits.

While it's a balancing act, according to Norris (2000), before Internet can play a major role in civic engagements, people need to have online access to political avenues and it is an ongoing battle that governments and organizations are working together to solve. Hopefully, the great divide will be minimized in time to come.

Resource:
Norris, P 2000, The Worldwide Digital Divide: International poverty, Internet and development, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, viewed 7 March 2009, http://ksghome.harvard.edu/~pnorris/Acrobat/psa2000dig.pdf

Online article: Bridging the digital divide to fight rural poverty

Image source: Getty Images

Who Turned Off the Telly?

Singaporeans are turning on their televisions during the current recession according to a report. Sounds like good news for broadcasters and us television producers right? Well, let's just say I wouldn't hold my breath.

While the television set is still a fixture in households, more people especially the younger generation are turning to the web for their dose of news and entertainment. In the U.S., TVWeek reported an increase in online viewing especially among the young and in Singapore, AsiaOne reported last year that there has been an increase of hits on news sites.

It's no wonder that the Media Authority Development of Singapore announced a $250 million investment into the media industry, part of which will go to what they term as 360˚TV where programs are leveraged on multi-digital platforms. American broadcasters are already reaching on to the online audience by providing exclusive web entertainment. Companies like PBS's Frontline are commissioning original documentaries for the web, and Endemol, one of UK's largest entertainment producers is collaborating with Bebo, an online media source to develop an online drama series- all this in bid to entice the younger audience.

Being a television producer, I can no longer ignore the fact that our ideas have to go beyond the television screen. But now, not only are we up against the vastness of the World Wide Web and what is already available, but our competition has evolved. They are young and technologically savvier youth who not only create content that's in tuned with their generation but also have the means to do it faster and better.

A new dawn is emerging for the way programs are going to be viewed in the future. It's definitely exciting and challenging and who knows? Maybe one day the word 'television' will no longer have a place in our job description.

Online article: Americans watching more television shows...
Image source: Getty Images