A Writers Perspective

After reading an article from Author Alice Walker on mediation of inner spaces, I think her perspective on the writing process was an easy flow of knowledge and positive reinforcement. Walker talks about her life struggles as a single mother etc. and how she uses a meditation method called “Metta” to help her resolve any issues she may have with people she has encountered. According to Walker (2000)” We were being guided to send metta to a loved one, a benefactor, a neutral person and a difficult person.” The difficult person, assuredly the person to whom you have had the most conflict with would shockingly be the person to whom you have the most conflict with. A lot of what Walker says makes sense to me and my own personal experiences. The people that you have had conflict with over the years all deserve closure and so do you. Metta is described as one of the best methods of relieving old tension and moving on with your life. For example, in a metta sent to someone it would state “May you be happy” which is not a statement built on sarcasm but rather positive resolution.

I strongly agree with Alice walker’s approach to alternative methods of life changing resolutions by means of metta. In Psychology, you learn that people compensate for actions and emotions that are not always explainable at first sight. You also learn that as humans, we tend to manifest our feelings and thoughts etc. in different ways including internalization's. If you have anger built up inside for various life experiences, how are you going to forgive those involved and move on? What positive methods will you acquire to do so? Life is a continual process, in which we as humans continue to emotionally evolve every day. My thinking has significantly changed throughout this course regarding a writer’s perspective in the social media environment. I feel that as a writer and communication professional, it is my duty to state fact without persuading targeted audiences to my personal opinions. You have to leave it up to your reader to voice their own opinion on your publicized work. Social media is a new age technological tool that has forever changed the dynamic of human interaction and relationships through online forums. A writer is a human who has a talent for writing however, the reader is a human with a perspective on a writer’s talent. This course taught me as a writer to accept more responsibility for what I blog to readers and in return target larger audiences. Not everyone will agree with your opinions or methods of tranquility such as metta etc. But you are the key to your success and the journey starts and ends with you.

References

Walker, Alice. (2000). After 20 Years, Meditation Still Conquers Inner Space. New York Times.

Retrieved from:  http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/23/arts/23WALK.html

How does Multimedia enhance our messaging?

How does Multimedia enhance our messaging?

First you must ask yourself, what defines Multimedia? According to Loretto (n.d) “Multimedia is a systematic tool used to combine both media and content through various forms such as text, audio, video, animation, interactive features, and still images in various ways and combinations made possible through the advancement of technology.” With the advantage of using modern technology such as the internet and social media, multimedia enhances our messaging by allowing us to connect and share our thoughts at faster rates than ever. After looking at the wide range of multimedia tools at your discretion, are there some programs more effective than others?

            Video: An exmaple of Cloud computing using Amazon cloud services. 
                                                            
According to Education technology resources (2014) “Animoto is a cloud-based tool that allows users to easily incorporate images, video clips, text, and music into video slideshows.” Before you try to figure out what a “Cloud” based service is, you must first ask yourself what is a “Cloud” in the world of technology? According to Griffith (2013) “Cloud computing in laymen’s term means storing and accessing data and programs over the Internet instead of your computer's hard drive.” For example the Apple corporation has a service provided on all of their premium tech devices such as the IPad, IPad Mini, IPhone 5s, 5, 4s, 4 etc. which uses the internet to store large amounts of data. So the next time you want to save a report on your phone using an app, make sure your tablet’s ICloud feature is synced with your phone to eliminate manual labor and time. The benefits of using Cloud, is to save more storage space on your handheld devices and tablets hardware while making information more accessible and time efficient. Animoto does the exact same thing that Apples ICloud does, but comes with a subscription for their services (Education technology resources, 2014).

In comparison to other multimedia tools such as Microsoft PowerPoint, I think that Animoto is equally effective at getting the job done. This opinion will range based on what a user is looking for with regards to multimedia tools. For me, I prefer using multimedia tools that educate while allowing users to play a role in learning. As an adjunct professor, I have learned overtime that students tend to learn concepts better with a mixture of text and visuals. Making things more relatable instead of basic lecturing and make a world of a difference. I love what I do and I wouldn’t change it for anything. Multimedia has become a marvel of technological advancement for its success in enhancing our way of thinking, processing and learning.

References

Education Technology Resources (2014). Multimedia Tools:  A collection of links, tips, and resources for

using multimedia tools. Wikispaces. Retrieved from: https://aartechresources.wikispaces.com/

Griffith. E., (2013). What is Cloud Computing? Pcmag. Retrieved from:   

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2372163,00.asp

Engadget: The Technology wiz of Blogs

You know, not every webpage has mass followers and some are due to its inability to relate to larger demographics. According to Ebizmba (2014) Engadget is listed as on of the top 15 blogs of today.      Now before you look at how a Blog functions you should consider what content it entails.
After analyzing a blog named Engadget, I quickly fell in love with its set-up and content. The technology themed blog and its form, function, substance is extremely relative to a large mass medium.Behold!! every Tech-Geeks Dream!

 Lets Break this website down three ways:

Form

I initially thought that Engadget contained a lot of widgets and were impossible to use however, my ideas changed after playing around it it's general functions. The blog provides a large amount of information with cited sources and adds many forms of media to share posted content. The main purpose of this blog is to gravitate towards more tech-friendly audiences and business wise audiences. Engadget is the perfect site to view for the latest devices and software updates etc. 

Function

Engadget, being a huge technology forum has a huge advantage to that of other tech-friendly audiences. It allows users to engage in online discussion while continually updating users on the hot-list for seasonal device releases. It is strategically aimed for audiences geared towards knowing what devices to buy and what not to buy. For example, if you want the new Apple Ipad Air, Engadget has a extensive review and comparison to other tablet devices on the current market now. They provide news, online forums, event updates etc. geared towards keeping their audiences actively engaged in "Whats New."   

Substance

The primary goal of this weblog is to provide its users to the latest information on the technology out there. As a consumer it is imperative that I can use sits such as Engadget to make decisions on what and what not to buy. It allows you to look up your favorite devices and get a wide range of reviews from amateur and professional experts. If you want a new laptop, than this webpage is the place to visit. They provide expert-level advice on tech-news and are backed up by AOL news. If you are that inner tech geek that loves to get daily updates on what devices are new and hot, than Engadget is the place for you.

References  

Ebizmba (2014). Top 15 Most Popular Blogs. Ebizmba. Retrieved from: http://www.ebizmba.com

/articles/blogs  

Joe Paterno: An All American Football Marvel

Joseph Vincent "Joe" Paterno often refereed to as "JoePa" was an all American football legend that coached the Penn State Nittany Lions from 1966 to 2011. Born on December 21st, 1926 in Brooklyn New york to Florence de LaSalle Cafiero, who was a homemaker, and Angelo Lafayette Paterno, a law clerk, Joe would one day rise to fame as one of the most prolific coaches of all time. Joe attended Brown University with his tuition sully paid for and also served in the army for a short time. While attending Brown University, Joe joined the football team and played several positions including quarterback and comeback. Being of Italian ancestry, Paterno often referenced himself as a "Guy with a distinct accent."

In his career, Paterno became increasingly popular and gained immense respect amongst his awards  such as the Coach of the Year for 1994, 2005, and 2008 and his former spot under the NCAA for having the most wins. he was asked to work for numerous teams in the NFL such as the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots, but declined those offers to stay at Penn State. His reputation in the late 2000's took a spin for the worse after decades of perseverance. 

After the child sex abuse scandal involving his former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky broke in full in November of 2011, Paterno announced to the public that he would retire at the end of the current season however, officials decided to immediately fire him. Joe died on January 22, 2012 at the age of 85 just shy of two months after being fired. His reputation amongst many perspective alumni and family remained the same, but his professional brand started to tarnish after details of the case suggested that he withdrew from telling officials about Sandusky's whereabouts. Joe's Son Jay Paterno is currently running for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania seeking democratic nominations for the May 20th 2014 ballots. Above all, Joe Paterno will forever be immortalized as one of the most inspirational and talented coaches of American Football History.

Below is a video in tribute to Joe Paterno by ESPN sports.

Bryan.Womack@snhu.edu      

Social Media Tools: Whats the most effective?

In the world of technology, there are countless ways to connect with one another. The three social media tools I selected were photo sharing websites such as Facebook, Twitter and text messaging. According to  Fiegerman (2014) "Facebook's market share value is significantly worth more than even technology monopoly Amazon." Facebook annually has an estimated 1 billion users actively on and connecting with people from across the world. With social media networks and the freedom to access the world wide web, Information sent to and from sources have never been the same again. Facebook is an extremely valuable source of connectivity amongst peers etc. You can post, share and "re post" or "re-blog" other users statuses and photos all with one click of the button. Facebook will be able to reach users more effectively, primarily based on the fact that it has a huge fan base and popularity with adolescent groups.

Twitter is often sought after as a "King of News feed" According to Franklin (n.d) "A few years ago, Twitter was punchier, more interactive, easier to use and it didn't take me long to get gathered up in the excitement." Twitter has gained high acclaim in it ability to send out messages from users at rapid speeds and re-blogs. Companies, celebrities and other locals such as myself are able to connect with one another through social media websites like this and save our conversations. For example, If I wanted to attach or "Tag" superstar Beyonce Knowles-Carter to my twitter message and say hello, she could see what I posted and reply if she wanted to. Millions of people are able to view your comments and others at fast speeds while also sending replies and messages of their own. Twitter is most definitely a great social media website to use.

Last but not least, text messaging which is a feature offered on the cellphones of today. Remember when you had to use either a pager or a payphone on the street to connect with one another? well technological advancement of cellular phones have made our lives a lot easier to connect. With the touch of a screen on a smartphone, you can send messages including photos, screenshots etc. to groups of people etc. This is a clear and effective way of sending information from one person to another. who wouldn't want to leave the house if you didn't need to. the technology of today is quite different from the technology of yesterday.

In synthesis, out of the three social media tools used, I find that Facebook is the most effective and provokes the most alarming responses. Most social Media networks of today allows users to send and receive information from other social media websites. Most phones have features that allow users to send pictures etc. to social media websites. With over 1 billion active users on this social media empire, it is the most successful platform thus far.     


My Attempts are of the following:
1.    https://www.facebook.com/bryan.e.fitzhugh
2.    https://twitter.com/IamPrinceEden

Copy of a text message sent out to a friend of mines regarding a youth organization. Clear, fast and effective. this was done through ios7 software (Apple) IPhone 5S
3.

References 

Fiegerman., S. (2014). Facebook is bigger than Amazon, by Market Cap. Mashable. Retrieved from:  http://mashable.com/2014/02/14/facebook-tops-amazon-market-cap/  

Franklin., S. (n.d). The Twitter Phenomenon. The Rangers Standard. Retrieved from:   

http://www.therangersstandard.co.uk/index.php/articles/fan-culture/135-the-twitter-phenomenon

 

Unrestricted Web Publishing

After Reviewing the Huffington post article and other sources about former U.S National security agency contractor Edward Snowden  reporting to a German TV channel about threats to his life this is what i discovered. Snowden accuses the U.S. Governemnt of plans to assassinate him for leaking official documents of the NSA tracking millions of U.S citizens telephone numbers and emails. Snowden admits that he fears for his lie, but subsequently sleeps well at night. 

The potential impact of unrestricted web publishing through mass media can be devastating. Although article publications don't directly have the authors personal views, it doesn't mean that the sources by which he/she obtained to compare and contrast aren't bias. When media content is unrestricted, it allows any author to post and forward stories without providing crediable sources. Unrestricted material publshed through multiple sources can be sought after as an act of plagarism, but instead remains unchanged. 

After evaluating the article on former U.S National security agency contractor Edward Snowden, the Criteria to evaulate the creditability of www resources are as followed: 

1. According to Reuters.com Author Erik Kirschbaum for the Huffington Post is not new to the arena of investigative reporting. Kirschbaum has been covering politics, economics, sports and entertainment in Germany since 1989. 

2. According to Erik Kirschbaum's personal Linked in Profile, he is associated with the Foreign Press Association (VAP) as the Chairman. He also has worked for Thompson Reuters as a correspondent; doing investigative reporting on foriegn press material. Here's his link for addditional info: 

http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=254705301&authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=YLNe&locale=de_DE&srchid=1344547111390786999025&srchindex=2&srchtotal=2&trk=vsrp_people_res_name&trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A1344547111390786999025%2CVSRPtargetId%3A254705301%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary&_mSplash=1

Here is the link to his affiliated association:  http://blogs.reuters.com/erik-kirschbaum/

His email: erik.kirschbaum@thomsonreuters.com

3. Erik Kirschbaum's publications have been Featured on Peer reviewed resarch from a time magzine article entitled 

America Gets Back on Track For scenery, company and peace of mind, riders are returning to the rails.

References

 Gibbs, N. R., Cramer, J., & Kirschbaum, E. (1988). America Gets Back on Track For scenery, company and peace of mind, riders are returning to the rails. Time, 131(14), 90.

4. After reviewing the publshed article, I discovered that the Author stayed true to the premise of the article and didnt deter from it. There were no products promoted nor referenced. Kirschbaum didn't make a social/political spin on the issues presented. 

5. The most current Information found date recently from January 26th 2014. 

6.  The information provided doesn't comes with a set of work cited material however the suthirs background is in investigative reporting of Politics. 

7. Based on the evidence provided about the sources, I have to conclude that it cannot be fully credited through www sources, however this doesnt mean that the information provided isn't creditable. 

8. The information found on Edward Snowden was found through the Huffington Posts which falls under the News and Journalistic sites (E-zines). The Huffington Post is parent to internet company AOL and was founded in New York City in 2005 by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, Andrew Breitbart and Jonah Peretti. Arianna Huffington is Greek-American liberal commentator, author and columist that is known for her political views after running for governor of California in 2003. After the internet company AOL aquired the huffington post, they made Arianna Huffington the CEO. Her background is in investigative reporting and she personally has a high-profile political background. Her knowledge of politics makes her come off as a more creditable source however, this doen't exclude her from sharing her own personal views on political topics. 

In short, Unrestricted sources are often seen as less than creditable because the sources itself dont derive from empirical research. A source should involve someone or something that has expertise in the suggested topic. When you are able to freely post and forward information without providing resources, does it mean that what your saying isnt true? No, however it makes it harder for the reader to discern truth from fiction. I personally believe that your beliefs on topics run as deep as your research into it. 

Social Media: Fact or Fiction?

How do we as hominids obtain knowledge? Well according to Kovach and Rosentiel (2010) "Humans from birth are neurologically hardwired to make sense of their individualized environments." We as humans obtain knowledge and evolve first by our senses such as touch, feel, taste and smell etc. Kovach and Rosentiel (2010) also states that "Overtime, as we get older and learn more," We obtain knowledge through various types of media such as blogs, newspapers, social media etc." To me, Knowledge is something that is learned and cannot be taken away. Epistemelogical foundations are set from birth on up to death however, how we learn what we learn is contingent on our surroudings. I would not be who I am if it wasnt for my mother, who attended college and knew the importance of reading, writing and advocating for free speech. As you grow older especially in a time of fast technological advances such as social media in today's society, you have to learn all you can learn. 

One new thing that i've learned using social media websites would   be that my favorite popstar Beyonce was set to release her music video called "Grown Woman." The song Grown Woman was originally featured as a short promo song for Beyonce's exclusive commercial deal with pepsi.  In the video she's glancing into a set of mirrors that all showcase her past iconic looks as alteregos such as Sasha Fierce. Through Instagram, tons of followers were posting short thirty second leaked video snippets of what was supposedly the "real" video set to be released in December. I personally started to believe the video release hype because it was not only on Instagram, but featured on Facebook, Tumblr etc. The news quickly flooded the internet on NBC, ABC news etc. The video itself started to seem to me as if it was authentic which come to find out, it actually was. Then on December 13, 2013 Beyonce released her fifth studio exclusively to itunes at midnight and informed her fans by releasing a short instagram video. Stark and Crawley (2013) states " On Thursday, after almost a year of speculation over the release of her fifth album, the 32-year-old singer rush released her latest studio effort on iTunes with no promotion or prior warning to her fans." The news of Beyonce releasing her highly anticipated album was a jaw dropper for me and to this day I still laugh at the surprise because she shocked everyone. This is a perfect example of social media sites that have potential crediability however, they arent always a relaible source of information. 

I personally think that social media websites aren't always creditable for obtaining information from because alot of sources come tend to derive from one another. An common issue with communication and journalism is that alot of gossip tends to pollute original sources which leads the reader to discern whats valid from whats false. This doesnt mean that looking a someone's blog is automatically subject to examine its sources further, but you should always question what you read. From a researchers perspective I tend to believe information that also has longitutional empircal research attached to it or tend to provide the same information across multiple media sources. Social media sources arent always reliable, but its up to you as the reader to determine what is fact from fiction. 

References 

Kovach, B., & Rosentiel, T. (2010). Blur: How to know whats true in the 

age of information overload. New York: Bloomsbury, USA. 

Stark, G., & Crawley, J. (2013). 'I see music!': Beyonce shocks fans as 

she releases groundbreaking self titled album... along with

SEVENTEEN new videos featuring Jay Z, Blue Ivy and her mom. 

Daily Mail. Retreived from: 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2522985/Beyonce-

shocks-fans-releases-new-album-17-new-videos.html