Week 1 Topic 2 - The Internet and its impact on society

You might suggest that the interent has become popular because of its lack of structure, people have to ability to look at whatever they want on the internet, even as far as talking to whoever they want. There may be opportunities for adults to protect their children from what sites they view, however this isnt compulsory and so children may be exposed to all sorts.

The internet has even been linked to the suicides of many teenagers in Bridgend (Wales). It has been proposed that these teenagers "think it's cool to have a memorial website. It may even be a way of achieving prestige among their peer group." (The Times:2008) Also in 2001 'Simon Kelly, from Cornwall, was communicating with others on a suicide chat room right up until the moment that he killed himself`(The Times:2008). This may start a moral panic within society, with other forms of media showing these internet effects on young people.

The internet may not be the main cause of these teenagers deaths, but in the case of Simon Kelly in particular, gave the opportunity for other people to see his death, which can be argued that this might lead to other individuals being influenced in doing the same. A downfall of the internet?

The Times (2008) Bridgend, suicide and the internet: the facts http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3399528.ece

Week 1 Topic 2 - Goebbels

Goebbels expresses how the radio's purpose 'is to teach, entertain and support people', reaching 'the people' and 'works for the people'. At first glance you would think that this would be a benefit, however it seems that Goebbels use of the radio were for other reasons, ultimately this being for political gains. He speaks of the radio like its a political party; it has to have its 'own rules', 'eliminate excessive organisation' (to which he refers to rival political party the national socialists) and also speaks of how the use of radio is to introduce the 'leadership principle'; much like the Nazi party that he's affiliated with, even the term propagaganda was used. Therefore it may seem like Goebbels is working 'with the people', but maybe for selfish reasons, mainly using radio for personal gains, trying to make the German nation believe that their nation or even the Nazi party was the most notable. As Goebbels said 'One People, one Reich, one will and a glorious German future'.

Today radio might have completely different functions. It still may be used 'to teach, entertain and support people', but with technological advancements, there are many other mediums to either offer the same or even different purposes. Some people might use the radio for entertainement, tv for learning new things and the internet as a form of support. Radio itself has changed, theres not so much of a structure, with a range of radio stations, from classical stations, to stations that are dedicated to sport. Goebbels had a structure which meant that it would be more likely for a mass audience to be listening to the same radio station and therefore be more powerful. However with the ever increasing choice between stations and mediums, appealing to a mass audience might be harder nowadays.

Today the radio still has the capabilities to communicate with people. Radio may even be more accessible being that theres many stations that arent funded by the public, whereas german radio listeners in the mid 1900's had to pay a fee. The radio still a good source of feeding information, but this time doesnt resemble a political party. It could be argued that instead of 'working for the people', the people work for the radio, with people allowed to phone-in to express their opinions, request songs, send photos through via the internet etc.

Joseph Goebbels, "Der Rundfunk als achte Großmacht," Signale der neuen Zeit. 25 ausgewählte Reden von Dr. Joseph Goebbels (Munich: Zentralverlag der NSDAP., 1938), pp. 197-207

Week 1 Topic 1 - Websites

World Wide Web, is the name given to the hypertext part of the internet. It allows users to easily navigate through the internet by using various URL's (Universal Resource Locator's), an example being 'www.blogger.com'. The user can be on one website or URL and then click on a link and take them to another website. Thus making the interent more diverse.

Week 1 Topic 1 - MUDS + MOO's

A MOO or in other terms Multi Object Orientation, an environment which allows more than one person to talk at one time, often also allowing display of emotions and object manipulation in a given environment.

A MUD or in other terms Multi-User Dimension (Dungeon) combines elements of roleplaying in a virtual world. An example of this may be the 'World of Warcraft' game, whereby users can create a avatar and interact with a virtual world, giving commands which resememble natural language.

Topic 1 Week 1 - Chatrooms and Messenger Services

In real life (IRL) chatrooms and messenger services have gradually become a popular choice of communicating. Its sychronous and can allow many people at a time to communicate or one on one communication. You talk to people from across the world, disregarding the possible differences in timezones. This brings up the ideology of Benedict Anderson, who spoke of 'imagined communities' (1991: 1), different from an actual community because it is not (and cannot be) based on face-to-face interaction between its members. Instead, members hold in their minds a mental image. Members of the community probably will never know one another face to face, however they can have similar interests. 'MSN'; which is an example of a messenger service, has allowed me to talk to a friend in Australia, i have many interests with them but might never know whats real, an 'imagined community'.

Anderson, B (1991) Imagined Communities; published by Versa

Topic 1 Week 1 - Usenet and Bulletin Boards

The first bulletin board system (BBS) was created in 1978, which was named 'Computerised Bulletin Board System' and a reference to the typical cork bulletin boards that you place in homes and businesses. A BBS still runs on the same idea, allowing an online community to run on a host computer. The users involved can log in, post messages on public discussion boards, send and receive email, chat with other users, and upload and download files. BBSs are text-based and often related to the specific hobbies or interests.

Usenet differs from a BBS because its worldwide, instead of centralised, accessed through the Internet or through many online services. Usenet contains more than 14,000 forums, called newsgroups, that cover almost every imaginable interest group. Created years before the Web, it is still used daily by millions of people around the world.

Topic 1 Week 1 - Email

Email allows people to communicate electronically on the computer. Its inexpensive, convienient and also saves time. If, for example you need to contact someone whos not in your proximity and you need to arrange a meeting with someone just to talk, then you may be paying money for travel, and allow time to do so.

Theres been many times within university that i've needed to get in contact with a tutor and so i've used email, by simply contacting them, again saving alot of time and getting the information i needed in the comfort of my own home.

Another benefit of email is that it allows asynchrony. Email isnt in real time and so can be left for days or even weeks without being dealt with. Sometimes with phonecalls you may need to contact someone but cant because their phone is off or unavailable, but with email, you can send whoever you need and know that the email can be accessed at another time.

Measuring 'Newness'

To say that something is new, is to ultimately propose that its evolved from something. So if we were to talk about digital tv, we can suggest that its a form of new media because previous to this was analogue tv. However is it a new form of medium? Is it Its merely changing how the form of tv is delivered to the audience?

This would be the case of what Mackay and O'Sullivan decribe as an 'old' medium 'in new times' (1999:4-5). What does everyone think?





Mackay, H, O'Sullivan, T (1999) The Media Reader - Continuity and Transformation, SAGE