Online entertainment a decade from now will obviously have quite a few changes!
Micro payments will be the way everything is viewed and purchased. Instead of being able to access information for free, companies will now be charging very small fees for accessed viewing. Consumers will be willing to do this because the fees are so small, but the amount of consumers paying the fees will mean huge revenue for corporations and businesses. For example, instead of being able to read the latest headline of the electoral race for free, you would go through a news site such as CNN, and pay a nickel for every article you access. It will be the same for entertainment sites such as People, TMZ, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Maxim, etc.
Data transmission speeds will be so phenomenally fast that mobile gaming will be THE platform. All online games will be fully accessible on mobile platforms.
The recently invented 3-D erasable and re-writable hologram technology from the University of Arizona will lead to holographic 3-D becoming prevalent in entertainment. Viewing sports games at home will be a whole different experience! Imagine if this had been available when Prince William got married. We could have paid a small fee to watch a hologram of the wedding, feeling almost as if we were there!
3-D technology will also advance to become the way most games are played. Not only will the 3-D technology we know today be a part of gaming, but touch, smell, and taste will be included. Motion sensors will play a big part. Your entire body will be involved in the game-play. It will be more and more difficult to differentiate between games and reality.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Our group presentation
Our group presentation was on Social Networks. We broke the presentation down into six sections of Social Networks: their History, Relationships, Crime & Deviant Behavior, how Corporations use social networking, how you can use them in your professional life,and Privacy aspects.
A social network is a social construction of many individuals connected to each other by various kinds of relationships. The history of social networks goes all the way back to 1997, with a site called SixDegrees.com. You could create a profile and share it with others. Eventually, SixDegrees.com had about one million registered users. Now, the most popular social networking site is, of course, Facebook, which currently has over 800 million active users!! There are over 70 languages available on Facebook. A statistic that may seem surprising: over 80% of Facebook users are outside of the US. Email is also considered a social network, but it comes in second to Facebook.
Relationships are an intriguing part of social networks. Many people argue that you cannot form a relationship with someone you have never met. Social network relationships seem to prove that theory wrong. Really, consider the "old days." Relationships were formed through letters and then through phone calls, long before people met face-to-face. There is an interesting tendency for people to share much more about themselves online than perhaps they would face-to-face, which can lead to dangerous consequences.
There have been crimes committed through the use of social networks. These crimes include identity theft, phishing, data mining, fraud, stalking and crimes committed by sexual predators. There are ways to protect yourself from these crimes when using social networks. Set your privacy levels at the highest setting, and change your password often and make the passwords something very difficult to figure out (throw a number into the middle of the word, put a capital letter somewhere random in the word, etc.) Do not use words that are used as answers to the questions given to retrieve forgotten passwords, such as place of birth, mother's maiden name, or favorite pet. Always log off when you leave a site. Don't overshare!! Verify friends before "accepting" or "friending" them. Monitor bank and credit card accounts often. Have a second email set up in case the first one is compromised. Have email alerts set up to notify you of changes to your accounts. Be suspicious of anyone-even friends-who ask for money. Act quickly if you think your account has been compromised and report it at once.
Corporations mainly use social networking to engage their customers and to promote business. They do this through placing ads, running promotions, and sponsoring stories. They also develop relationships with customers on their account page. 99% of retailers now have a Facebook account. 11.9% of fan pages on Facebook are for product, and that number is steadily rising. Many of the promotions run by companies on Facebook now are to get their fan numbers up. 77% of fan pages have less than 1,000 fans, but that number will probably drop drastically in the next year or two as more and more companies offer giveaways limited to their "fans."
Social networks are a good way to get ahead in the business world, also. Based on a survey in 2011 of almost 3,000 active social network users, 59% felt it was important to have a LinkedIn account, 53% said the same of a Facebook and a MySpace account, and 58% saw the value of having a Twitter account. They use their accounts for job searching, networking with former employers, within the industry, and with co-workers. Business also used social networks for hiring, keeping in touch, and promoting the business. So both an employee and an employer sees high value in using social networking sites.
Wrapping this up is the idea of privacy. Or should I say the illusion of privacy. Just remember there really is none. What you throw out their in cyberspace cannot be taken back. Even a deleted file can many times be retrieved. Use common sense!
A social network is a social construction of many individuals connected to each other by various kinds of relationships. The history of social networks goes all the way back to 1997, with a site called SixDegrees.com. You could create a profile and share it with others. Eventually, SixDegrees.com had about one million registered users. Now, the most popular social networking site is, of course, Facebook, which currently has over 800 million active users!! There are over 70 languages available on Facebook. A statistic that may seem surprising: over 80% of Facebook users are outside of the US. Email is also considered a social network, but it comes in second to Facebook.
Relationships are an intriguing part of social networks. Many people argue that you cannot form a relationship with someone you have never met. Social network relationships seem to prove that theory wrong. Really, consider the "old days." Relationships were formed through letters and then through phone calls, long before people met face-to-face. There is an interesting tendency for people to share much more about themselves online than perhaps they would face-to-face, which can lead to dangerous consequences.
There have been crimes committed through the use of social networks. These crimes include identity theft, phishing, data mining, fraud, stalking and crimes committed by sexual predators. There are ways to protect yourself from these crimes when using social networks. Set your privacy levels at the highest setting, and change your password often and make the passwords something very difficult to figure out (throw a number into the middle of the word, put a capital letter somewhere random in the word, etc.) Do not use words that are used as answers to the questions given to retrieve forgotten passwords, such as place of birth, mother's maiden name, or favorite pet. Always log off when you leave a site. Don't overshare!! Verify friends before "accepting" or "friending" them. Monitor bank and credit card accounts often. Have a second email set up in case the first one is compromised. Have email alerts set up to notify you of changes to your accounts. Be suspicious of anyone-even friends-who ask for money. Act quickly if you think your account has been compromised and report it at once.
Corporations mainly use social networking to engage their customers and to promote business. They do this through placing ads, running promotions, and sponsoring stories. They also develop relationships with customers on their account page. 99% of retailers now have a Facebook account. 11.9% of fan pages on Facebook are for product, and that number is steadily rising. Many of the promotions run by companies on Facebook now are to get their fan numbers up. 77% of fan pages have less than 1,000 fans, but that number will probably drop drastically in the next year or two as more and more companies offer giveaways limited to their "fans."
Social networks are a good way to get ahead in the business world, also. Based on a survey in 2011 of almost 3,000 active social network users, 59% felt it was important to have a LinkedIn account, 53% said the same of a Facebook and a MySpace account, and 58% saw the value of having a Twitter account. They use their accounts for job searching, networking with former employers, within the industry, and with co-workers. Business also used social networks for hiring, keeping in touch, and promoting the business. So both an employee and an employer sees high value in using social networking sites.
Wrapping this up is the idea of privacy. Or should I say the illusion of privacy. Just remember there really is none. What you throw out their in cyberspace cannot be taken back. Even a deleted file can many times be retrieved. Use common sense!
My presentation
My presentation covered the topic of online sweepstakes. I have been a "sweeper" since 1995. Back then, it was much harder to find online sweepstakes, but also much easier to win them because there were so many less people online. There were basic bulletin board groups, such as Delphi, where someone would start a group and others with common interests would join. I joined a sweepstaking group on Delphi, and we would post sweepstakes that we came across to help other sweepers have the chance to enter. Rather than looking at this as making your winning odds worse, we looked at it as "what goes around comes around." (If I help someone else who ends up winning, someday I may end up winning something because he/she helps me.) There are much larger forums online now with the same purpose in mind. Some sites charge a monthly fee to belong, and many of those sites are the ones with the best sweepstakes: the ones with better odds because they are local, or the ones with many valuable prizes, etc. However, there are many great free sites as well that list sweepstakes after sweepstakes available to enter. Many have a direct online link to the entry page.
Why would someone give something away? Many people worry that sweepstakes are not legitimate, and sometimes for good reason. People say "you can't get something for nothing." Companies use their marketing dollars to give product and money away to advertise their company. If a company can get someone to their website to enter a drawing, and then that person looks at their site and ends up buying their product or service...multiply that by thousands of people, and you can have a very successful promotion. There are scammers out there who will set up fake promotions to get your information so they can spam you. That is one reason that having a paid subscription to a sweepstakes website is a good idea. The sweeps site's owners and editors check out the sweepstakes before posting them to determine that they are legitimate. Another way to protect yourself is to enter sweepstakes of companies that are well-known, such as Coca-Cola, Amazon, Pepsi, etc. Set up an email strictly for using to enter sweepstakes, because you definitely will get junk mail. You could look at it as the "nothing" part of "you can't get something for nothing." Is it worth it to me to get a ton of junk mail, but in the middle of all that, find a legitimate email that tells me I won a big-screen TV (or a trip, or computer?) You bet it is!!
Why would someone give something away? Many people worry that sweepstakes are not legitimate, and sometimes for good reason. People say "you can't get something for nothing." Companies use their marketing dollars to give product and money away to advertise their company. If a company can get someone to their website to enter a drawing, and then that person looks at their site and ends up buying their product or service...multiply that by thousands of people, and you can have a very successful promotion. There are scammers out there who will set up fake promotions to get your information so they can spam you. That is one reason that having a paid subscription to a sweepstakes website is a good idea. The sweeps site's owners and editors check out the sweepstakes before posting them to determine that they are legitimate. Another way to protect yourself is to enter sweepstakes of companies that are well-known, such as Coca-Cola, Amazon, Pepsi, etc. Set up an email strictly for using to enter sweepstakes, because you definitely will get junk mail. You could look at it as the "nothing" part of "you can't get something for nothing." Is it worth it to me to get a ton of junk mail, but in the middle of all that, find a legitimate email that tells me I won a big-screen TV (or a trip, or computer?) You bet it is!!
Monday, November 21, 2011
What Community Means to Me
When I think of "community", I picture the aspects of community life that rarely seem to exist in society today. I think of people pulling together to help each other out. I picture the Amish, all coming together to build a house for one of their community members, being willing to give their time and effort, knowing that their community members will be willing to one day do the same for them. I imagine the deeper friendships that are built in communities where not only are people willing to help out, but people are willing to ask for help, to show their vulnerabilities and drop their defenses.
I think back to pictures I've seen of block parties and barbecues, especially in the 1950s era. It seems like communities were closer back then; that people took the time to get to know their neighbors, and to enjoy their "off" time together more than they do now.
I took a class on community organizing, and it was sad to me that most people polled in the class did not know more than two people in their neighborhood. And I am included in those results! What does that do to a "sense of community" if you do not even know who is around you? Most of us seem to be living isolated lives, filling our time with business and busyness, but what about relationships? We all need friendship, accountability, and a sense that someone cares what happens in our lives. I guess that is how I would define an ideal community: one where its members take the time to know each other, keep each other accountable, and care about each other.
I think back to pictures I've seen of block parties and barbecues, especially in the 1950s era. It seems like communities were closer back then; that people took the time to get to know their neighbors, and to enjoy their "off" time together more than they do now.
I took a class on community organizing, and it was sad to me that most people polled in the class did not know more than two people in their neighborhood. And I am included in those results! What does that do to a "sense of community" if you do not even know who is around you? Most of us seem to be living isolated lives, filling our time with business and busyness, but what about relationships? We all need friendship, accountability, and a sense that someone cares what happens in our lives. I guess that is how I would define an ideal community: one where its members take the time to know each other, keep each other accountable, and care about each other.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Determining my worth
Ha! Thanks for the depressing topic! :) Finding out your net worth is not too difficult to figure out, especially for the average college student, who probably doesn't own much yet, or have many, if any, investments. The simple equation to figuring out your net worth is to subtract what you owe from the value of what you own. If you don't own a house, a car, a savings account, or investments like a 401K plan, and you are debt free, it should be very easy to figure out! You are probably still on the plus side in the net worth category, because you must own something.
If, however, you don't own any of the above listed things, and you DO have debt, your net worth is probably in the hole. I used a financial calculator at http://www.msmoney.com/mm/financial_health/where_stand/yournetworth.htm to determine my net worth. If you plug your numbers in, and you do not like what you see, you can try to turn those numbers around by using a site like https://www.mint.com/ or https://money.strands.com/ which launched in 2009 and won the Best Banking Website in the 14th Annual Webby Awards in 2010. Moneystrands has an online app for money managing, as well as a free app for iPhones and iPods. A calendar can be set up to show which bills are about to be due. A 12-month spending plan can be established (otherwise known as the "b" word: budget.) One reviewer wrote: "Where does my money go" is my favorite feature offered by Moneystrands. It has helped me reevaluate where I spend the majority of my money. My coffee and food budget has been cut by 75%. Just having the visualization of my spending has helped me save so much." A person can set up email alerts; if you reach a certain level of spending in a certain budget category, an alert will be sent to your email or phone warning you so that you can reign in your spending. A person can even compare their spending (by category) with others in the community!
How important is it to know your net worth? Experts are divided on the topic. Per a New York Times article: "To me, it’s an irrelevant number,” says Spencer Sherman, author of “The Cure for Money Madness” and a founder and the chief executive of Abacus Wealth Partners. “If people have a billion in net worth and are spending half a billion in a year, they’re really poor.” After all, they’re on pace to be broke in 24 months. (Sherman’s preferred measure of financial health for retirees is a ratio that compares net worth, excluding home equity, with the amount of money people take from their portfolios each year. He generally doesn’t want clients spending more than 4 to 6 percent of their holdings annually.)
Of course, this is really referring to people who have taken some kind of interest in their finances, obviously, if they have a financial advisor and an established portfolio! Most experts agree that knowing your net worth is a good basic place to start and can lead to learning how to better manage your money.
If, however, you don't own any of the above listed things, and you DO have debt, your net worth is probably in the hole. I used a financial calculator at http://www.msmoney.com/mm/financial_health/where_stand/yournetworth.htm to determine my net worth. If you plug your numbers in, and you do not like what you see, you can try to turn those numbers around by using a site like https://www.mint.com/ or https://money.strands.com/ which launched in 2009 and won the Best Banking Website in the 14th Annual Webby Awards in 2010. Moneystrands has an online app for money managing, as well as a free app for iPhones and iPods. A calendar can be set up to show which bills are about to be due. A 12-month spending plan can be established (otherwise known as the "b" word: budget.) One reviewer wrote: "Where does my money go" is my favorite feature offered by Moneystrands. It has helped me reevaluate where I spend the majority of my money. My coffee and food budget has been cut by 75%. Just having the visualization of my spending has helped me save so much." A person can set up email alerts; if you reach a certain level of spending in a certain budget category, an alert will be sent to your email or phone warning you so that you can reign in your spending. A person can even compare their spending (by category) with others in the community!
How important is it to know your net worth? Experts are divided on the topic. Per a New York Times article: "To me, it’s an irrelevant number,” says Spencer Sherman, author of “The Cure for Money Madness” and a founder and the chief executive of Abacus Wealth Partners. “If people have a billion in net worth and are spending half a billion in a year, they’re really poor.” After all, they’re on pace to be broke in 24 months. (Sherman’s preferred measure of financial health for retirees is a ratio that compares net worth, excluding home equity, with the amount of money people take from their portfolios each year. He generally doesn’t want clients spending more than 4 to 6 percent of their holdings annually.)
Of course, this is really referring to people who have taken some kind of interest in their finances, obviously, if they have a financial advisor and an established portfolio! Most experts agree that knowing your net worth is a good basic place to start and can lead to learning how to better manage your money.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Purchases online vs. in store
Obviously, having trust in the security of an online transaction is important. But there are more factors in deciding whether or not to purchase on item online. Sometimes convenience is king! That is when I turn to the computer to make an online purchase. Some of the items I like to buy online are books, perfume, and games. The more the likelihood that I won't need to return the item, the more the chance I will make the purchase online.
When it comes to something that requires a proper fit, however, I will almost always make the purchase in a store. This is especially true for clothing. I do sometimes purchase shoes online, and can purchase with confidence if it is a brand I have purchased in the past. For the most part, though, when it comes to any apparel, I prefer to go to a store.
I also am a "texture" person, so the majority of the time, I purchase items such as sheets, comforters and towels in a store. I want to feel the fabric before I make my decision!
In addition to the "try before you buy" factor, and being able to feel the fabric first, I also enjoy puttering around in a store, so as convenient as the computer is, the stores still have a stronger pull for me!
When it comes to something that requires a proper fit, however, I will almost always make the purchase in a store. This is especially true for clothing. I do sometimes purchase shoes online, and can purchase with confidence if it is a brand I have purchased in the past. For the most part, though, when it comes to any apparel, I prefer to go to a store.
I also am a "texture" person, so the majority of the time, I purchase items such as sheets, comforters and towels in a store. I want to feel the fabric before I make my decision!
In addition to the "try before you buy" factor, and being able to feel the fabric first, I also enjoy puttering around in a store, so as convenient as the computer is, the stores still have a stronger pull for me!
Monday, October 17, 2011
My webpage
Here is the info on the webpage I created:
| <html> | |
| <title>Isn't Life Good?!</title> | |
| <body> | |
| You have one life on this earth. And no, it isn't always on an upward path.<br> Sometimes it takes some crazy turns, and loop-de-loops.<br> But this ride called life won't stay in a downward spiral forever, so hang in there.<br> Your "ride" will get on an even path again. Look for the good in every day you are blessed with. And keep reminding yourself:<br> | |
| <img src="C:\Users\Merilee\Desktop\sleepinkitty.jpg"><br> | |
| <marquee><p style="font-size: 150%;">"Isn't Life Good?!"</font> </marquee> </body> | |
| </html> |
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