The following is the excerpt I wrote from our clustering exercise:
I wonder what it's like in the blackness; a void of non-existence until someone wakes you up- 'cybernetic oblivion' and eternal blackness, until someone calls you forward and you become and imitation of life once more, that presents to your controller the ideal or perfect version of themselves. But what if the construction? If they only exist within the digital realm, surely they are unreal: not you at all- simply a construction. An unrealistic digital reality. But what if that 'version' of yourself was a perfect representation- a perfect copy? Would that make them you? Take all the data on yourself- every medical record, dental check, online profile, digital photograph, family history...all compiled...and you have you- the perfect digital copy- yourself formulated from your data. 'The digital age' has new meaning when thought of as a time when every life record is stored in a digital system, accessible through a digital portal, and able to render a complete and perfect digital version of you and me- a digital reality...no falseness, no construction, no picking out the best bits, augmenting, changing, selecting, editing...just YOU.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Week 7 Thinking about the Final Assignment
"How can your final project can be delivered or marketed in an online environment?"
There are very few truly original ideas today, particularly when it comes to games, networks, movies or other media-related developments. So how do 'new' ideas within these mediums gain enough interest to become world-wide successes?
An important concept from Seth Godin's blog is "The Big Drop Off" - circles of people that spread our ideas...if they are worthwhile...which will inevitably reach the eyes and ears of marketers, producers and any other people who may be interested in what the idea-maker has to offer. This concept should always be kept in mind as our initial pitch to the 'first circle' must have enough impact for these people to spread it to a second circle and then to a third and so on in a ripple effect. If our initial pitch doesn't pack enough punch, the ripples will surely die away before the idea reaches those who could help us develop it.
But how to go about planning and presenting a pitch that will make people want to listen and develop our idea is another tactic altogether. As I was thinking of proposing an idea for an online networking game my challenge is to come up with something that is new, different from what is already popular and that will capture the interest of networking enthusiasts as well as average internet users. This will require research into what is already out there that could render my idea redundant and what exactly made the current networking/gaming sites so popular and thus successful. By incorporating this into my idea I should be able to ensure that my idea grabs the attention of those interested in supporting new interactive sites. Most importantly, one must make clear why these people should care about what they are proposing - why should anyone be bothered with this idea?! Answer that and you are well on your way to success.
There are very few truly original ideas today, particularly when it comes to games, networks, movies or other media-related developments. So how do 'new' ideas within these mediums gain enough interest to become world-wide successes?
An important concept from Seth Godin's blog is "The Big Drop Off" - circles of people that spread our ideas...if they are worthwhile...which will inevitably reach the eyes and ears of marketers, producers and any other people who may be interested in what the idea-maker has to offer. This concept should always be kept in mind as our initial pitch to the 'first circle' must have enough impact for these people to spread it to a second circle and then to a third and so on in a ripple effect. If our initial pitch doesn't pack enough punch, the ripples will surely die away before the idea reaches those who could help us develop it.
But how to go about planning and presenting a pitch that will make people want to listen and develop our idea is another tactic altogether. As I was thinking of proposing an idea for an online networking game my challenge is to come up with something that is new, different from what is already popular and that will capture the interest of networking enthusiasts as well as average internet users. This will require research into what is already out there that could render my idea redundant and what exactly made the current networking/gaming sites so popular and thus successful. By incorporating this into my idea I should be able to ensure that my idea grabs the attention of those interested in supporting new interactive sites. Most importantly, one must make clear why these people should care about what they are proposing - why should anyone be bothered with this idea?! Answer that and you are well on your way to success.
speed writing draft 2
edit of initial speed writing session: week 7
Beethoven Op.110 for piano~
A sun shower graces a grassy hillside. As the drops fall onto the ground, the grass, and the flowers a calm mist fills the air. One little drop among the thousands falling on the hill, tumbles down the petal of a flower at the peak of the hill, slipping along the yellow slide. It reaches the center of the flower and rolls onto the fluffy pollen, wiggling and wobbling as the flower bends in the breeze. As the rain fades and quietens to a stop, the single drop rolls off the flowers middle and tumbles down the stalk, coming to a leaf half way down. It rolls and wobbles up an down the soft green leaf, before reaching the end and gazing off the precipice. As it leans over the edge it begins to slip down bit by bit and falls slenderly onto the dampened ground. The hill is steep so our little rain drop slowly begins to roll down and down, curving through the stalks of flowers and blades of grass threatening to splice it into two. Down and down it rolls through the green, over the moistened earth and around the mounds of dirt and plants. A glimpse of sun reflects off what lays ahead. As the little rain drop rolls through the thinning hillside it sees the clear pool of water made by its cousins. The lake grows larger and larger as the millions of little rain drops tumble in. Our little rain drop is picking up speed rolling and rolling down the hillside. As it reaches the bank it launches off a shallow mound of earth, sailing through the air and enjoying the rays of sun dancing on the surface of the pool, before plunging into the lake to join the rest of the rain.
Beethoven Op.110 for piano~
A sun shower graces a grassy hillside. As the drops fall onto the ground, the grass, and the flowers a calm mist fills the air. One little drop among the thousands falling on the hill, tumbles down the petal of a flower at the peak of the hill, slipping along the yellow slide. It reaches the center of the flower and rolls onto the fluffy pollen, wiggling and wobbling as the flower bends in the breeze. As the rain fades and quietens to a stop, the single drop rolls off the flowers middle and tumbles down the stalk, coming to a leaf half way down. It rolls and wobbles up an down the soft green leaf, before reaching the end and gazing off the precipice. As it leans over the edge it begins to slip down bit by bit and falls slenderly onto the dampened ground. The hill is steep so our little rain drop slowly begins to roll down and down, curving through the stalks of flowers and blades of grass threatening to splice it into two. Down and down it rolls through the green, over the moistened earth and around the mounds of dirt and plants. A glimpse of sun reflects off what lays ahead. As the little rain drop rolls through the thinning hillside it sees the clear pool of water made by its cousins. The lake grows larger and larger as the millions of little rain drops tumble in. Our little rain drop is picking up speed rolling and rolling down the hillside. As it reaches the bank it launches off a shallow mound of earth, sailing through the air and enjoying the rays of sun dancing on the surface of the pool, before plunging into the lake to join the rest of the rain.
Week 7 Speed Writing
Beethoven Op.110 for piano
A sun shower graces a grassy hillside. As the drops fall onto the ground the grass the flowers a calm mist fills the air. One drop tumbles down a petal sliding sliding along the yellow slide. It reaches the center of the flower and rolls onto the fluffy pollen wiggling and wobbling as the flower bend in the breeze. As the rain fades and comes to a stop, the single drop rolls off the flowers middle and tumbles down the stalk, coming to a leaf half way down. It rolls and wobbles up an down the soft green leaf until it reaches the end and gazes off the precipice. As it leans off the edge it begins to slip down bit by bit and falls slenderly onto the dampened ground. The hill is steep so our little rain drop slowly begins to roll down and down, curving through the stalks of flowers and blades of grass threatening to splice it into two. Down and Down it rolls through the green over the moistened earth and around the mounds of dirt and plants. A glimpse of sun reflects off what lays ahead and as the little rain drop rolls through the thinning hillside it sees the clear pool of water made by its cousins. The lake grows larger and larger as the millions of little rain drops tumble in. Our little rain drop is picking up speed rolling rolling down the hillside and as it reaches the bank it launches off the shallow mound of earth, sailing through the air and enjoying the rays of sun dancing on the surface of the pool, before plunging into the lake to join the rest of the rain.
A sun shower graces a grassy hillside. As the drops fall onto the ground the grass the flowers a calm mist fills the air. One drop tumbles down a petal sliding sliding along the yellow slide. It reaches the center of the flower and rolls onto the fluffy pollen wiggling and wobbling as the flower bend in the breeze. As the rain fades and comes to a stop, the single drop rolls off the flowers middle and tumbles down the stalk, coming to a leaf half way down. It rolls and wobbles up an down the soft green leaf until it reaches the end and gazes off the precipice. As it leans off the edge it begins to slip down bit by bit and falls slenderly onto the dampened ground. The hill is steep so our little rain drop slowly begins to roll down and down, curving through the stalks of flowers and blades of grass threatening to splice it into two. Down and Down it rolls through the green over the moistened earth and around the mounds of dirt and plants. A glimpse of sun reflects off what lays ahead and as the little rain drop rolls through the thinning hillside it sees the clear pool of water made by its cousins. The lake grows larger and larger as the millions of little rain drops tumble in. Our little rain drop is picking up speed rolling rolling down the hillside and as it reaches the bank it launches off the shallow mound of earth, sailing through the air and enjoying the rays of sun dancing on the surface of the pool, before plunging into the lake to join the rest of the rain.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Week 6 Article Thoughts: Interactive TV
Week 6: 04/09/2009
"Primetime Emmy Awards Telecast to Include Interactive Element"
http://itvt.com/story/5556/primetime-emmy-awards-telecast-include-interactive-element
This article details the new feature that allows viewers to vote for the "Breakthrough Performance of the Year," similar to the voting for the Logies. As viewer voting becomes more and more popular due to programs such as Australian Idol, it makes sense that the show executives have chosen to include this element. As Jack Sussman of CBS states, "...their votes play a direct role in shaping part of the Emmy telecast," thus making the viewers feel more involved in the outcome of the show. This in turn should generate more interest in the program and more watchers/voters as today's consumers would much rather feel involved in the show rather than just a watcher. This expansion of interactive TV to include televisions biggest awards show demonstrates society's need to influence the programs they watch and the producers awareness of the profit potential of interactivity. As Jeff Clark, VP of TV.com said that this new interactive element is "...giving these fans the most complete Emmys experience possible." For avid fans of the show, the ability to vote for their favourites in a specific category is an excellent way to feel a part of the action on the night. For me, I'm quite happy to watch and let the program wash over me to be forgotten about the next day, but I'm just not the type of person to be bothered voting in a poll that determines the winner of a category that sounds completely made up - "Breakthrough Performance of the Year?"... I think I'll stick to best actress.
"Primetime Emmy Awards Telecast to Include Interactive Element"
http://itvt.com/story/5556/primetime-emmy-awards-telecast-include-interactive-element
This article details the new feature that allows viewers to vote for the "Breakthrough Performance of the Year," similar to the voting for the Logies. As viewer voting becomes more and more popular due to programs such as Australian Idol, it makes sense that the show executives have chosen to include this element. As Jack Sussman of CBS states, "...their votes play a direct role in shaping part of the Emmy telecast," thus making the viewers feel more involved in the outcome of the show. This in turn should generate more interest in the program and more watchers/voters as today's consumers would much rather feel involved in the show rather than just a watcher. This expansion of interactive TV to include televisions biggest awards show demonstrates society's need to influence the programs they watch and the producers awareness of the profit potential of interactivity. As Jeff Clark, VP of TV.com said that this new interactive element is "...giving these fans the most complete Emmys experience possible." For avid fans of the show, the ability to vote for their favourites in a specific category is an excellent way to feel a part of the action on the night. For me, I'm quite happy to watch and let the program wash over me to be forgotten about the next day, but I'm just not the type of person to be bothered voting in a poll that determines the winner of a category that sounds completely made up - "Breakthrough Performance of the Year?"... I think I'll stick to best actress.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Week 6 Article Thoughts: Interactive TV
Week 6: 03/09/2009
"IBM Files Patent for Blogging Remote Control"
http://itvt.com/story/5523/ibm-files-patent-blogging-remote-control
This article describes IBM's new idea for a remote control that will allow the user to blog or twitter about what program they are currently watching. In essence a network-capable remote that can automatically post what the user is watching, or allow them to customise the post, add a screenshot or comment about the program. The rationale states that "more than ever, people wish to be able to share their comments with others in real time as they experience life," thus a technology that allows the consumer to directly share their thoughts or even just enable the auto-blogging option to post what they are watching on TV, is a conveniant way for consumers to stay in touch with their friends and followers from their living rooms. While this may sound like just another absurd extension of interactivity and networking via a TV remote, it can also be seen as a consumerist trap for those obsessed with exposing their every move to the twittering or blogging world. Giving a generation of networkers the capability of updating their status or posts via a remote, may inevitably increase their time spent sitting on a couch, watching television and updating their profiles. To me it sounds like a ridiculous waste of time and money, as rather than encouraging our inactive, obese and increasingly unhealthy society to get up and do something with their lives, this remote seems to say, 'its ok, you can sit on your couch for as long as you like and still stay in touch with what is going on in the world.'
"IBM Files Patent for Blogging Remote Control"
http://itvt.com/story/5523/ibm-files-patent-blogging-remote-control
This article describes IBM's new idea for a remote control that will allow the user to blog or twitter about what program they are currently watching. In essence a network-capable remote that can automatically post what the user is watching, or allow them to customise the post, add a screenshot or comment about the program. The rationale states that "more than ever, people wish to be able to share their comments with others in real time as they experience life," thus a technology that allows the consumer to directly share their thoughts or even just enable the auto-blogging option to post what they are watching on TV, is a conveniant way for consumers to stay in touch with their friends and followers from their living rooms. While this may sound like just another absurd extension of interactivity and networking via a TV remote, it can also be seen as a consumerist trap for those obsessed with exposing their every move to the twittering or blogging world. Giving a generation of networkers the capability of updating their status or posts via a remote, may inevitably increase their time spent sitting on a couch, watching television and updating their profiles. To me it sounds like a ridiculous waste of time and money, as rather than encouraging our inactive, obese and increasingly unhealthy society to get up and do something with their lives, this remote seems to say, 'its ok, you can sit on your couch for as long as you like and still stay in touch with what is going on in the world.'
Week 6 Article Thoughts: Interactive TV
Week 6: 03/09/2009
"BBC Unveils Revamped Red-Button Interactive TV Service for Children's Channel, CBeebies"
http://itvt.com/story/5532/bbc-unveils-revamped-red-button-interactive-tv-service-childrens-channel-cbeebies
This news article was very interesting as it details BBC's new interactive channel for kids six and under called 'CBeebies.' In the article, Damian Vicary, interactive TV producer for BBC Children's, describes the features and educational benefits of the new interactive platform, such as information about the characters from some of the most popular children's shows, educational games about nature and even a feature for the parents, allowing mum and dad to link in to BBC online and find the latest hot topics or games to play with their kids. This level of interactivity mirrors the Internet as far as what is provided for the children/parents to access, as the CBeebies website could potentially contain the exact same platform. The biggest difference is that is can ass be accessed whilst watching TV from the comfort of your own living room.
By targeting young children with this new interactive platform, channels such as BBC are leading the way into a new generation of interactive TV. It can be assumed that a generation of children brought up within the world of interactive TV will not be satisfied with 'normal' TV once they grow up, but rather the demand for interactive programs and accessible features will inevitably increase. This new CBeebies platform is being presented under the banner of education, as are most new programs and features concerning children. The channel appears to have been created with the aim of extending the knowledge and interest in education of young children, which parents will eagerly accept and use. However, while the information presented as harmless and may well extend the knowledge of young kids, the interactive nature of the platform also creates an expectation and a need to have access to whatever they want whenever they want. By having schedualed games and activities such as kareoke and bedtime stories, the children indulging in the platform will come to expect the information they desire to be readily available whenever they feel like accessing it, unlike the 'traditional' form of TV where the viewer must wait for the schedualed time of their program to begin, with no entertainment to take up the time spent waiting. Younger generations dependance on technology is becomming more and more of a need than a want, as they are being brought up with these interactive platforms and multiple outlets for accessing information when and where they want.
"BBC Unveils Revamped Red-Button Interactive TV Service for Children's Channel, CBeebies"
http://itvt.com/story/5532/bbc-unveils-revamped-red-button-interactive-tv-service-childrens-channel-cbeebies
This news article was very interesting as it details BBC's new interactive channel for kids six and under called 'CBeebies.' In the article, Damian Vicary, interactive TV producer for BBC Children's, describes the features and educational benefits of the new interactive platform, such as information about the characters from some of the most popular children's shows, educational games about nature and even a feature for the parents, allowing mum and dad to link in to BBC online and find the latest hot topics or games to play with their kids. This level of interactivity mirrors the Internet as far as what is provided for the children/parents to access, as the CBeebies website could potentially contain the exact same platform. The biggest difference is that is can ass be accessed whilst watching TV from the comfort of your own living room.
By targeting young children with this new interactive platform, channels such as BBC are leading the way into a new generation of interactive TV. It can be assumed that a generation of children brought up within the world of interactive TV will not be satisfied with 'normal' TV once they grow up, but rather the demand for interactive programs and accessible features will inevitably increase. This new CBeebies platform is being presented under the banner of education, as are most new programs and features concerning children. The channel appears to have been created with the aim of extending the knowledge and interest in education of young children, which parents will eagerly accept and use. However, while the information presented as harmless and may well extend the knowledge of young kids, the interactive nature of the platform also creates an expectation and a need to have access to whatever they want whenever they want. By having schedualed games and activities such as kareoke and bedtime stories, the children indulging in the platform will come to expect the information they desire to be readily available whenever they feel like accessing it, unlike the 'traditional' form of TV where the viewer must wait for the schedualed time of their program to begin, with no entertainment to take up the time spent waiting. Younger generations dependance on technology is becomming more and more of a need than a want, as they are being brought up with these interactive platforms and multiple outlets for accessing information when and where they want.
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