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I asked:

The author of the augmented reality article says that augmented reality surpassed virtual worlds. I want to know how they have surpassed them and what’s really different between the two, because just from their titles they sound very similar.
After the video chat with Whurley today, I think that the two are very similar. I do feel like augmented reality does go beyond just virtual worlds because it seems to put the user in the virtuality more. With virtual worlds, the user may have an avatar type creature that mimics and goes through the motions that the user would go through. But with augmented reality, the user is actually doing the actions themselves. They are in this world. So it is closer to actual reality, it is just not exactly the same as real world. As I said though the two are very similar.

Which aspects of augmented reality were derived from virtual worlds/reality (gaming and such)? And which came first? Did we just learn one before the other, but augmented reality was actually created first?

I’m still unclear as to which one came first, Augmented reality or Virtual reality, but I’m going to guess that augmented reality is an extension of virtual reality because the technology behind it seems more advanced and unique. For instance, the new game console Kinect, and the games that go with it, seem to go so far beyond World of Warcraft gaming and other video games played with the PS3 and other more advanced game consoles.

1.The author of the augmented reality article says that augmented reality surpassed virtual worlds. I want to know how they have surpassed them and what’s really different between the two, because just from their titles they sound very similar.

2. Which aspects of augmented reality were derived from virtual worlds/reality (gaming and such)? And which came first? Did we just larn one before the other, but augmented reality was actually created first?

3. How is augmented reality affecting or how will it affect social networking and online relationships?

My first question was:
For my research project, I studied children’s interaction with the media. In these websites, we are reading about people have virtual worlds with their churches. Will this stretch out into schools? How will children be affected by virtual reality, specifically in an educational environment?

I think that this is entirely possible with all the new online college and even high schools. We already have homeschooling for elementary schools and it’s really only a few steps away to add in virtual elementary schools. This can be both positive and negative depending on the parental supervision and the motivation behind the schooling. Some kids may work better from home and at their own pace and be more productive, whereas other children may just goof off and play instead of studying.

My next question was: What makes virtual worlds a new idea, separate from other digital environments like video games? How can I relate this to how children will relate to media in the upcoming years?

Virtual environments are very similar to the idea of video games but are taken a step further. Virtual reality is putting imagination into action. In video games, the user becomes the little icon character inside the game, only in their mind. In a virtual reality world, the user’s imagination is not put to work as much and the user is simply given the world around them to react in. This world is customizable, yes, but the imagination is always more infinite in it’s scenarios than a game could provide.
Some would argue, which is better? I think that virtual reality is certainly the newer, more fascinating one right now. But video games had the same wonder and awe when they first came out too.

My third question was:
Is the virtual reality world revolution going to bring about positive or negative affects in children’s interactions with media? Maybe both?

I think this answer is pretty obvious. And that is that with all types of media there is going to be both postivie and negative consequences. It all comes down to the healthy use of or unhealthy abuse of the content. That is up to the user and (depending on age group) the user’s parental supervision. The story that we watched in class about the 16 year old boy so addicted to online gaming that his mother is “scared”, to me, is just ridiculous. There is no way I would just let me son take over and tell me how much time he’s going to spend on the internet and gaming. If I own the house, the computer he’s using, and him (legally- by responsibility purposes), then he will follow my rules. A 16 yr old is still a child in my opinion and needs the continued guidance that a child would receive. Therefore, I feel that this is the same for other forms of virtual reality. An adult is responsible for his or her use or abuse of it. And a parent is likewise responsible for his or her child.

This week I will be focused on my interactive version of my research paper. Questions that I can gear toward this are:

1. For my research project, I studied children’s interaction with the media. In these websites, we are reading about people have virtual worlds with their churches. Will this stretch out into schools? How will children be affected by virtual reality, specifically in an educational environment?

2. What makes virtual worlds a new idea, separate from other digital environments like video games? How can I relate this to how children will relate to media in the upcoming years?

3. Is the virtual reality world revolution going to bring about positive or negative affects in children’s interactions with media? Maybe both?

We didn’t have much class this week so it is hard for me to post responses to class discussion. I can only post answers as guesses or intelligent stabs at what I believe to be the answers.

My first question this past week was how virtual reality will affect the video game world. I have to believe that it will tremendously affect the game world because thats exactly where games are headed. Some game systems now don’t even require a game controller. The users body is the controller. That’s fascinating to me. I can only assume that virtual reality will continue to become a large part of the video gaming industry. I don’t think video games will cease to exist. I just think that the two forces will combine into a new creation.

I think that people from Asian countries just have mastered the skills a lot better than most Americans. Apparently the rest of the world would agree.

I do think that video games are headed toward a higher popularity than movies and other media. I think this will have a large impact on the children of tomorrow, which will one day be the adult generation. I also believe that video games like the wii have taken a large part in “family time” or “family game night”. I think that a positive spin for the gaming world is if it toko a more educational turn. There could definitely be a place for video gaming in the classroom. Interactive games could be much more effective in some cases than reading a book or watching a video. It could be a great way to involve the kids and also teach them that learning can be fun.

1. How will increases in technology like virtual reality affect the video game world? Will it become more popular (than 67% of Americans)? Will it change the nature of video games in general?

2. Why do video games coming from other countries seem to have more impact on Americans and video gamers altogether, than those made in America do? Specifically Japanese games.

3. Are video games headed toward a higher popularity than movies and other media? How is this going to affect the graduating class of iMedia students? Will this change the direction of job oppurtunities?

This week seemed to be focused on wiki-leaks. Before we talked about this topic this week I had honestly no previous knowledge or opinion of them what-so-ever. Watching the interview, I have to say that I’m torn on my opinion for what he does. In a way, I admire his struggle to discover the truth about engaging and controversial topics. I think he definitely has a point, that a lot of the information that comes from the government is corrupt. It is important that the public receive the truth. However, I have to say I feel like what he does is very rebellious, and as such really touches toes over the line of whats legal and ethical. I’m not sure that the way he approaches his field is the safest and best option for approaching hidden information.

My questions for this week dealt with privacy issues and Facebook. The first question for this week was more rhetorical than realistic. I wasn’t really searching for an answer, as much as I was providing a stance.

The second question, though, can certainly be answered. Our privacy concerns do and should stretch out to all the websites we use. Any information entered in on the internet can be hacked and “found out”. It is NOT the safest type of purchase to purchase online. You hear stories everyday about how someone’s account was purged after purchasing something from Amazon.com. I personally have never had this happen to me, but my purchases online are few and far between.

The third question I posed this week was the ethicality of employers and teachers punishing employees and students based on pictures of posts on facebook. I feel that even though my question led the reader to believe I disagreed with the ethicality of this, I do not. I think it is perfectly fine and a good idea actually for employers to have access to and view their employees Facebook page. I feel that everything posted online is public domain. If the user does not want their boss or teacher reading what they wrote, or seeing their pictures, they should never have posted it in the first place. Being professional and moral should carry into every aspect of your life, because you are a representation of the company or school you belong to.

1. When thinking about privacy issues with Facebook, I can’t help but think that everything put onto a profile is really up to the user. So, can someone really complain when their information is made public, when its put onto a public domain? And who really cares if people can go on their to find out their favorite movie or quote? If people don’t want more private info like phone numbers and email figured out, they can simply just not include it on their profile.

2. How far out do these privacy issues stretch? How vulnerable is our other information when we visit sites like ebay or amazon, or other sites that ARENT social networking sites?

3. Yes, it is legal. But, is it ethical for employers to be able to use information on our Facebook against us? Pictures with alcohol, vulgar language, a negative statement in reference to work or school, if no specific name is mentioned?

Citizen journalism is still puzzling and fascinating to me in that its new and so interactive that there is not much policing or order to it, nor is there definition yet really. (And maybe there shouldn’t be) I do feel like it is a good change for our news in that more and more people can become involved in the news and more points of view can be conveyed. Also, stories can get out so much faster now. People can have access to the back story almost as quickly as it happens.

Right now, I feel like the credibility of citizen journalism is not all there. I feel like people will have to become more comfortable with the idea of this community news before they can complete trust it. I do think that eventually everyone will find worth in this and be able to separate the “Crop from the crap”. Once people learn how to decipher which parts of the news group reporters are reliable then the credibility will increase and people’s comfort with the whole idea will improve.

1. This thought of citizen journalism intrigues me. How much media is involved in this broad term? The articles talk mostly about online news but couldn’t this branch out to even hands on news like message boards or debate halls?

2. How does citizen journalism relate to credibility issues? Are the stories written by the every-day joe as credible and trusted as ABC or CNN? I don’t think so. I think most people go to these sites more for “fun” news than “real” news.

only two questions this week. 🙂