Organisation of Categories on 112MC Convergent Media

Task 1-Visulaising statistics about my life: https://daramol2.wordpress.com/category/112-mc-convergent-media/task-1/

Task 2-Data visualisation: https://daramol2.wordpress.com/category/112-mc-convergent-media/task-2/

Task 3-Google maps: https://daramol2.wordpress.com/category/112-mc-convergent-media/task-3/

Latest posts under 112 convergent media: https://daramol2.wordpress.com/category/112-mc-convergent-media/latest-posts-under-112-convergent-media/

Responses to lectures/Research on Convergent media (Theory): https://daramol2.wordpress.com/category/112-mc-convergent-media/responses-to-lecturesresearch-on-convergent-media/

Ted Talks: JANE McGONIGAL – Gaming can make a better world.

Jane McGonigal is a game designer and she has been making online games now for 10 years. What struck me about her video on TED talks was basically the way that she spoke of her next goal for the next decade which is to try to make it as easy to save the world in real life as it is to save the world in online games. She claimed that we invest 3 billion hours a week playing online games, however as it seems to be a lot of time that is spend playing online games, it actually isn’t. According to her research at the institute for the future, it’s actually the opposite, 3 billion hours a week is merely enough gameplay to solve the worlds most urgent problems. In facet she believes that if we want to survive the next century on this planet, we need to increase that total dramatically. She calculated the total we need, at 21 billion hours of gameplay every week. If we want to solve problems such as hunger, poverty, climate change, global conflict, obesity, she believes that we have to aspire to play games online for at least 21 billion hours a week by the end of the next decade.

Furthermore, she threw in examples such as the face of a “gamer on an epic win” and the “I’m not good at life” face which explore why we should be just as good achievers and winners in real life as we are in online games and online game will help achieve this. Most gamers feel that they are not as good in reality as they are in games. Not good as in successful although that is part of it but also motivated to do something that matters, inspired to collaborate and cooperate and when we are in game worlds, she believes that many of us become the best versions of ourselves, the most likely to help at a moment noticed, the most likely to stick with a problem as long as it takes  to get up after failure and try again. However in real life, when we face failures, difficulties, we often don’t feel that way, we feel overcomed, overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, frustrated and cynical, but we never have those feelings when we are playing games. Overall, she concluded that we need to challenge ourselves more in reality and this is through continuous online gaming and reflecting upon the same actions in reality. She urged people to play games such as superstruct, and evoke will help build on their motivation to solve problems in life and prepare for problems in the future. Gaming has however become a social networking area as well whereby gamers can communicate with each other and tag along and solve problems within the game. It almost becomes a virtual lifestyle in the converging world of today.

Links:

• http://www.ted.com/talks/jane_mcgonigal_gaming_can_make_a_better_world.html
• http://www.argn.com/images/janemcgonigal.jpg
• http://www.worldchanging.com/EVOKE.jpg

112 CONVERGENT MEDIA: Module Critical AND Personal Evaluation

112 was all about convergent media. The media that exists today, what existed in the past and what we are yet to discover in the future. During this module we had three tasks, the first one was about visualising statistics about my life on Photoshop, task two was based on data visualisation using graphs on many eyes and creating montages, and task three was based on google maps.

With the first task,  I can conclude that I had several strong areas and some weaknesses. My stong point came from uploading my pictures and constructing the statistics which I would use in my images about myself, and my weaknesses came from my lack of knowledge about the Photoshop CS4 software which was required to change these images around. However I was able to adapt to situations and gradually learn how to use this software to enable me to transform my images with my statistics. Looking back at the images which I transformed, I can honestly say that they show a decent level of creativity but could use a little more. If I had the opportunity to re-create some of the images, I would explore more of the tools that can be used on Photoshop CS4, which will then be included in my images. Embedding Flickr into my blog was a major problem as even with the assist I gained from my lectures, it still wouldn’t show, however, I dealt with this situation by creating a link. This task as a whole was successful and I have gained Photoshop skills, and my creativity has improved.

Secondly, task two was mainly based on using data visualisation tools. First of all, I had to create a questionnaire which was done on (http://freeonlinesurveys.com/). After collecting data based on how much students spend on food on each day of the week, we had to transform this data to a visual format such as graphs. My problems occurred when I had to use many eyes which at first I didn’t find that straightforward. After moments of adjustments and guidance from lecturer, I was able to grab the concept of the tools on the website which enabled me to create my graphs. This task in general introduced me to the world of collecting data just as data is being collected over the internet regarding what social networks and websites we are members of. It showed me how data can be collected and generalised into one information using visual forms.

Finally, I found introduction to task three very interesting, It was based on creating a map on google which shows information about how to get from my home to the University and a place I have been to within my location. With this task, pictures and videos were needed and this wasn’t a major problem. The problems I encountered came from the embedding of these pictures and videos into the map. I think I handled this process well as a whole after getting instructions and tutorials from lectures, I was able to grab ‘HTML’ of media objects and embed them into the map. This task was one which I enjoyed completely and I has enabled me to understand the effectiveness of maps, and the features that are present within google, to interactively and visually create a map which explores my surroundings.

In conclusion, I have enjoyed 112MC due to the media concepts, theories and interactive skills which I have learnt. It has improved my knowledge about convergent media, understanding what it is about and what key theorists have to say about it.  It has been a wonderful experience nad I am prepared to see what the future of the web and technology has to offer.

Comments from group members:

Adam Broome: https://daramol2.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/mashups/#comment-7

SDFilm22: https://daramol2.wordpress.com/2010/02/22/data-visualisation-reflection-and-process/#comment-8

Abu Mukid : https://daramol2.wordpress.com/2010/02/22/data-visualisation-reflection-and-process/#comment-11

112 Overview

112MC was about convergence media. We explored how the media has converged over recent years and what the future holds. The lectures were particularly focused on our convergence culture and the need to evolve everytime. Throughout the term, we have studied about:

• Lev Manovich (Hybrid forms)
• The world in data
• User Generated Content
• Unintended consequences
• Mashups
• We the media, they the consumer
• Convergence=Ubiquity
• Connecting the cloud.

Task 3: Reflection and Evaluation

During the first week of the introduction of this task, I had already set a plan for research and structure of how I would formulate my ideas for my maps, in order to make my locations as visible, clear, and instructive as possible. The first idea was of course to get some pictures that I could use after drawing up my map on google maps. reflecting upon the quality and quantity of the pictures that I took, which was with a Nikon D90, I would agree that visually, they were quite straightforward and relevant for the locations that I needed to include in my map. I chose to draw a map showing how I get from home to the university. I have chosen this location because it consists of basic routes with the town centre and is quite fascinating in terms of appealing to students of Coventry University as a tour around town.

Furthermore, after creating my google account, I started working on my maps. The process was quite straight forward. I started by naming my locations, and then using the line tool to draw lines across roads that are relevant within my directions. In order to avoid complications, I tried to keep the routes as simple and as direct as possible linking roads and easily identified roads together. This part of the task was particularly decent as the only part which I found difficult was re-naming and deleting the lines which I didn’t want to appear on my map. I think I added lines constructively enough within my maps to show illustrations of which routes I take to get to Coventry University.

With my lines drawn, I then started allocating stand points to which locations I wanted to identify. These stand points were given further details and most importantly, were the locations that I was going to include my videos and images. As for the images which I took, I uploaded them on flickr in order to enable the availability of (HTML) which enabled me to embed the images from flickr into my map. After looking back at my map, I feel that I should have tried exploring more icons which I could use to visually represent my locations. However, I think that they were at a good standard.

Moreover, the uploading of my videos were done through my YouTube channel where the HTML was copied and then embedded into my maps. This process was difficult as I had to make sure that the right HTML was inserted into the ‘Edit HTML’ during the editing process of a specific location. However from my own judgement on how I handled this aspect, I think that due to its success as the videos were embedded, I think that I did well. The same process was used for uploading my images, but was channelled through my ‘flickr account’.

In addition, after the completion of my map, it was then time to embed it into my blog. This process was the one which I found the most difficult as I continuously made several mistakes regarding how to paste the HTML into my blog in order to make map visible. After several tries, I realised that I was doing the wrong thing as I was copying the wrong link. After finally copying the HTML, I pasted it on my blog and then update it which enabled me to see my map embedded in my blog. Nevertheless, this part of the task caused problem s and I don’t think I handled it properly as I left it till late to ask someone for help on this occasion. However, I am satisfied with the turnout.

In conclusion, I think that I have worked really well during task three and I am sure that I have covered all the key areas and concepts that needs to be followed. This task has enabled me to learn the features that are present with google, and how effective they can be in terms of planning a journey, identifying locations. It has also  helped me understand google maps more. I enjoyed aspects of the process of making this map and I feel it is at a good standard.

Evolution web 1.0, web 2.0 to web 3.0

This video does all the explanation of how the web is evolving, however I was able to understand the process of convergence and how the world wants the web to operate.

Web 2.0 vs Web 3.0

This video stood out to me because once again it is a subject based on the change from web 2,0 to web 3.0. It is based on Eric Schmidt’s opinion and conclusion of the battle between the web 2.0 and the web 3.0, and how the society conform to the culture of these convergence.