digital dilemma

Power Browsing has become the new way to read thanks to Google.  People are becoming more and more antsy and are becoming less able to sit down and read a lengthy article or a book.  Bruce Friedman says “I can’t read War and Peace anymore,”; but lets be honest, can anyone actually sit down, read and enjoy that book.  I have never been much for reading unless it is a book that I enjoy or something that I am interested in.  I like reading on paper and not on a screen; it just all depends on the topic. For example I did not like reading The Hobbit, but I like reading the Harry Potter series and some of those books get long.  I liked reading Dan Brown books and Jane Austen novels and The Odyssey but I didn’t like reading To Kill A Mocking Bird.  I even got a bit anxious reading this article because one I had read it before but two it was kind of lengthy and it was on a screen.  I think what it really comes down to is time and if something is worth your time.  If a person decides it is worth their time, for whatever U&G reason, then they will pursue it otherwise it is considered a waste of time.

At least for me, websites like Google, and any other search engine, are a double-edged sword.  Sure search engines have their perks, and I am on Google constantly and on a daily basis, but search engines’ presences walks a thin line of a love-hate relationship for me.  I Google just about everything; when I need directions, when I am writing a paper or if I am shopping.  Google is good because it has lots of information that is easy to find.  The bad part is that anyone can have a website and I would assume that some of the SEO is monetary driven. For example when I am looking for information about a topic for a paper, one way I verify sources other than .org or .gov site is that if I see the same information pop up in multiple websites, of various domains, it must be true.  But is too much information a bad thing? For me not necessarily, I think having a lot of information where you can read all sides of a story and make your own informed decisions is best, the problem is, is that not all people think and behave this way.  I guess the argument about Google making us stupid, is that people have become lazy and just do all research online because it is there; it is convenient.  And it is convenient to research things online but also more and more books are becoming available online so it is a valuable time saver.

interactive research paper

http://student.elon.edu/emaddox/interactive_paper/controller.swf

here is my research paper in interactive form

AR apps

According to TechSplurge.com it seems that AR apps are becoming a rising trend and the future of most apps.  Though growing slowly AR apps for android seem to be overtaking QR codes.  In particular, Layar. 

How Layar Works

Layar Mobile

Layar is an app that displays the real world, through the use of your camera, and then displays real time digital information on the top of the real world based on your location.  (see links above).  Similar Apps to this one are Wikitude World Browser.  This app is useful for planning a trip or things like getting information about landmarks and surroundings.  

Another similar AR app is the Weather Reality app.  this app allows for current conditions, real time radar and severe weather alerts.  It also has the ability to geo-tag weather pictures on social networking sites.  

There is even a fast food reality app to make it quick and easy to find nearby Fast Food Restaurants like McDonalds.  

33 awesomeARapps

I think that AR apps like these are starting to pick up is that it is quick and easy, point and shoot with your camera (because basically every phone now comes with a camera) and information pops up.  While it is just as easy to download and install the Scan app for QR codes, i think that people like seeing real time so that they have visuals of distance and surroundings.  these AR apps could be especially helpful when it comes to finding your way around a city or if you have gotten lost somewhere.

Not only are AR apps good for getting information about weather and directions but they can also be used to help market a product.  For instance RED BULL has just launched a new app to boost their product sales.  From what I understand of it the app is to create your own race track by taking photos of cans of Red Bull and then it creates a race track where your phone then becomes the controller of a race car.  I dont really get how this is beneficial to marketing but I suppose it is an interesting way to market a product.

Finally AR and AR apps can be used just for fun.  For example http://gamesalfresco.com/2008/03/03/top-10-augmented-reality-demos-that-will-revolutionize-video-games/ featured a video about 3D graffiti AR (number 5).  I found this really cool and interesting because I like well done graffiti and being able to see this and art in 3D could be cool and educational or just fun. http://toucharcade.com/category/games/augmented-reality/  this website featured another fun AR app, the Star Wars tie fighter app. in this app you aim your camera at something real and the game makes the real object interactive.  

virtual realms

(posts for the week)

On the article about retail drama in the metaverse, I suppose I am having a hard time grasping the concept.  When I purchase something online I expect to receive something in the mail a few days later.  I guess i just don't get why someone would purchase something with no physical return. And for that matter I dont quite understand how people make legitimate money from Second Life.  But it might just be that I need someone to explain this better.  I could however understand how observing interactions on Second Life, when shopping, could benefit real world stores/customer service.  

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On the Ethical Issues/Copyright issues article, I want to be empathetic with those who may have been affected from various "crimes" in Second Life, but at the same time the virtual world itself does seem to invite a lot of these problems. I feel like there are too many unknowns and not enough structure for people to get too upset.  Your avatar doesn't have to look like you, you could be anything and the person behind the avatar could be anyone.  Also I feel like this makes it hard to track down a SL criminal because of all of these unknowns and personalities.  I feel that this brings a lot of sketchiness to SL especially related to the different scenarios mentioned in the article.  You want to feel bad for the person but at the same time it is like well they knew the parameters of SL before they entered the world.  

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To be fair I dont know anything about Second Life or World of Warcraft except that they are massive multi people virtual worlds.  I still dont really see what McGongial was trying to get at with W.o.W in her book, Reality is Broken, but now I can at least see that if you have a team of people, who you know or dont know, you have to trust them to stay in formation and stick to the plan--this requires a lot of coordination and planning otherwise you end up with Leeroy Jenkins,  but other than that I feel that these skills could be learned elsewhere.