Professional Communication Technologies
It is intriguing and equally fascinating having the opportunity to get to know what Web 2.0 really is. It's infinite, extensive and incredibly widely used nature make it rather hard to imagine a world where it is not in use - and this is considering that it is a fairly recent development!
As a young person living in the 20th century, I have grown up with and lived through one of the most technologically inventive periods throughout which we have been constantly bombarded by new gadgets, web applications and the ever luring world of social networking sites.
To be really honest, so many young people today find it a real challenge to go even a few hours without checking their social networking profiles. Youngsters seem to constantly want to immerse themselves in the most recent updates, comments, photos, videos; practically anything that their contacts may have uploaded. And why? I view it as a way to remain involved, to feel like you are not missing out on anything fun, exciting, current and 'cool'.
The emergence of smart phones has made such access to social networking sites even easier. Having a portable device which allows you to constantly keep in touch with what is going on in the world around you is rather mind blowing! Whatever you're doing, wherever you are, whoever you are with; instant sharing is an ever more accessible possibility. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flikr, YouTube, Skype; and the list goes on! How is it that we have managed to become so consumed by these web applications which allow us to instantly access whatever we take an interest in be it people, culture, art, food, sport, fashion etc.?
I want to describe it almost as a security blanket. This virtual world that we have become so accustomed to is as familiar as having a good friend hanging around with you all the time. We always have a place to go where we can share what we have done that day; who we have met, where we are in the world, what we have eaten, what we are wearing; seriously the list is endless! It is actually a strange feeling not having access to this world of social media and for many, I'm sure a serious bout of FOMO (fear of missing out) kicks in when, much to our distaste it is discovered that no Internet connection is available (we've all been there!).
1. So how does Web 2.0 affect how we work and affect us in our workplace?
- whenever a long awaited break arrives we instantly reach for our smart phones to check out the latest updates. It's almost like we have become slaves to social media, without it we feel disconnected, incomplete.
- in terms of actual communication within the work place, we use Web 2.0 to receive emails, contact colleagues, check out websites and do research so in that sense it is a super useful tool. It is also simple, quick and easy to use and it is guaranteed that pretty much everyone has access to it.
- it is fantastic for advertising/marketing purposes, launching a website and getting a product, institution, social service or whatever it may be out to the wider masses can be hugely beneficial for a company/brand and help to create a more established company/brand on a worldwide basis.
2. Next, how does Web 2.0 affect how we interact socially?
- how great is it when you have the ability to contact friends, family, acquaintances who you do not get to see often for one reason or another (could be distance or circumstances for example). On a personal notes, I experience such issues being an ENBS graduate and having most of my friends move out to various countries in Europe. For this purpose Web 2.0 is pretty much an essential tool in terms of me being able to easily keep in touch with them all.
- on a shorter note it's instant, easy and fun - I in fact prefer it to texting which just seems so the early 2000s (haha).
- it allows you to document and store up your life's experiences all in one place this affecting how we share our day-to-day activities and put forward our interests.
- we get to share and discover whilst interacting with others.
- I feel that it is almost like a sense of control over our social lives. We get to decide what we want to share and simultaneously discover. I'm sure that everyone has spent hours trawling through Instagram, researching on Google, reading the latest articles, getting tempted by online shopping, watching YouTube videos; I want go on any more! It's a clever tool for procrastination!
- Basically I want to describe it as a dangerous yet utterly enthralling trap that sucks you in and never fails to capture your attention, imagination and therefore your time (time that none of us really have!).
- Web 2.0 encourages us to consistently comment, contribute, like or dislike etc. In this sense it gives us a voice; a voice which we can then use to interact socially and express how we feel towards something or someone. In a nutshell, Web 2.0 is a powerful and therefore perfect tool to fuel our increasingly instinctive desire to need to see/hear/interact with others socially through the Web.
Just a quick note: for regular social media news and updates, I find this page on the Telegraph website to be really useful so I thought I would share in case any of you fancied a gander!
3. As a final note on the specific affects of Web 2.0; how does it impact how we relate to one another?
- It inspires, motivates and encourages us. By this I mean that we can take real enjoyment in learning about other people, places, animals, products etc. Many take a lot of pleasure in following celebrities; finding out about their lifestyles, their daily activities, their fashion sense, all so that in some small way they can feel connected to them and perhaps integrate some of the things they like about them into their lives. However on the other side of this, following celebrities or people of interest can often make us feel inferior or fuel our desire to look the best, be the best and excel. This may not necessarily always be a bad thing yet it is sometimes very easy to succumb to feeling like you have to look like those models on commercials or so something so epic that it makes a change in the world. In this case I think it is important to remember that even if we are not 'Insta famous' or have millions of friends on Facebook, we are still important, valued and have the ability to achieve whatever we put our minds to.
- On a lighter note, Web 2.0 is an excellent tool to use if we want to meet new people. Dating sites have exploded with popularity within the last few years to the point where dating apps are now being created and again are insanely popular! Web 2.0 is so convenient in that distance has no impact on your online social life. N matter where in the world a friend or family may be , it is still possible and as easy as pie to have regular contact with them.
- I also like how Web 2.0 can allow a perhaps introvert, unsociable and less confident person speak out and create an online social world within which they can interact with people in confidence and perhaps voice opinions and ideas that they would perhaps feel too afraid to do in person.
- Through Web 2.0 we can find similarities and differences with individuals as well as discovering mutual friends, likes/dislikes. There is always the opportunity to discover someone new who you may have a lot in common with.
- Finally, although an absolutely fantastic social device, Web 2.0 can be rather consuming, addictive and hard to get away from. It is a constant feature of our lives from which we find little disconnection.
Network as a platform
READER <-------------> CREATOR (mutual interaction)
This phrase simply means "that all the data and the software that manages the application is not run locally on your computer and can be accessed from anywhere in the world" (REFERENCE). It almost sounds a bit scary when you put it like that; worldwide access to whatever you decide to share! I guess it makes you realise how important privacy settings are and how you should only share what you are comfortable with being seen by practically anyone. So to reiterate this point (and not to sound boring), safety online is very important and taking better care in this vast environment could reduce the amount of people who run into trouble and get involved with fake contacts, software viruses, payment fraud, stolen account details etc.
However on the other side of this and on a more positive note, YOU are the one who controls what data is uploaded; the power is yours to make what is seen publicly as you want it!
It is quite interesting how much time and effort needs to be invested in order to make something 'out of yourself' online. In simple terms, the more data uploaded the better the site can become as people will find greater interest in someone who is regularly uploading and making an appearance online. You actually have to be quite dedicated and enthusiastic to want to regularly update, share and post about yourself and anything that interests you in the surrounding world.
Below is a diagram created by an early Web 2.0 enthusiast, Tim O'Reilly. The diagram, or 'meme' in this case, displays the concepts, ideas and processes surrounding Web 2.0. I like how O'Reilly has discovered his own way of interpreting Web 2.0 highlighting what identifies something as Web 2.0, what communication or interactive processes are involved and finally some of the attitudinal aspects so whether you trust other users and are willing to share with them.
Different position and interpretation (the discourses)
The following '3 competencies', as suggested by O'Reilly, create the core around which Web 2.0 and its use in a professional capacity revolve. They are as follows:
The 3 competencies:
1. Architectures of participation
In order to participate, it is often the case that we require specific instruments that may be difficult to obtain. Money, time, specialised skills, financial commitment and infrastructure are all tools that can hold us back from being able to fully immerse ourselves in something and commit fully to it without it draining our time and resources.
Yet Web 2.0 as a whole encourages participation, interaction and communication with a wide and culturally diverse group of people, without such barriers as time and money holding us back. It is a cheap, quick and easy tool that anyone, no matter the resources they have available to them, can become involved in. Web 2.0 is such a wonderful device to have access to as we don't need bags of time and money to be able to get stuck in and enjoy participating in the wider world.
Traditional participation and communication practices have been extended, through Web 2.0, from a one-to-one to a many-to-many basis. We can now "collaborate, comment, critique, share and remix information and communications" (Reader 1). To us this has become a customary part of our society and something that feels completely natural. However if you perhaps think of the older generation within your family, this many-to-many way of communicating is far more alien to them and thus harder to grasp. I find it exciting that moving forwards, platforms such as Web 2.0 will be even more understood and widely used. I am sure that in the not too far future, a new social platform that is even more advanced and accessible will be created; the possible implications of this world of social media and online interaction are truly incredible!
To conclude 'Architectures of participation', the democratic society that we live in the UK is reflected through the features of Web 2.0. Aside from the basis principles of online applications, we have control as the user to customise it as we so wish. We can reflect ourselves and our personalities with ease simply through, for example, how we design a page, what pictures we post and what we choose to share. I really enjoy how you can create a version of yourself online and, whether aware or not, fuel the constant development and evolution of the online platform.
2. Remixable date and transformations
Web 2.0 = Remix Culture
Don't worry I had no idea what this meant either until I read that remix culture originates from hip-hop and rap music, so the idea of re-using and rearranging material to create something new. I guess this is exactly like what we do online; we take something that we have seen, taken a liking to and then we mould it and share it in a way that we like most. It is actually a great platform to encourage imagination and spur people on to create something from objects that we already have an interest in. Original and authentic ideas are often hard to envision on our own and so any form of inspiration be it aural or visual can really stimulate us to design and generate our own material.
I really like Valtysson's quote from Reader 1 which states that:
interactive and participatory aspects of new media objects further erode the distinction between artists and audience and offer a model which has been termed the rise of the prosumer...
(Valtysson, 2010, p 205)
I find this term the 'rise of the prosumer' an interesting one in the sense that we are both the consumer and producer when using Web 2.0 applications. It's actually quite brilliant to think of yourself as not only the consumer of data but as someone who has a voice, someone who can contribute to the constant stream of data and act as a producer. Having the power to produce is no longer limited to those who have specifically trained or are employed to do so. Therefore produce away! Do not be afraid to take something and make it your own. Equally consume and produce and you will be surprised at how satisfying it can be.
Similar to Valtysson's 'prosumer' concept, Bruns (also mentioned in Reader 1), likes to label our producer/consumer participation as 'Produsage', a combination of producing and using. In the table below I have outlined, using Bruns' theories, how Web 2.0 might support the idea of produsage. I have categorised it into the Web as it was and the Web as it is now:
|
THEN (WEB)
|
NOW (WEB)
|
|
Dedicated
individuals and teams of producers shared data for the consumers
|
Broader-based
community of participants share content on a wide scale from all different
generations
|
|
Mostly
professional/trained producers shared content
|
Fluid
movement occurs between amateur and professional producers sharing content
|
|
Artefacts
produced are traditional, always completed and then published with little
room for alteration
|
Artefacts
remained unfinished, are continually under development and are open to
editing by anyone who wishes to do so
|
3. Harnessing collective intelligence
Web 2.0 offers a "social space for people, strangers and almost strangers with diverse backgrounds to come together as equals, as generators of ideas, to deliberate and act collectively"
(Feenberg and Bakardjieva, 2004, p 37).
Collective intelligence allows experiences, opinions, views to be expressed and observed subsequently allowing a more rounded, accurate and widely based community-feel to be achieved online. On a professional basis, collective intelligence is highly beneficial in that it allows us to improve and excel in whatever we are doing. Often the best way to learn is through communicating and interacting with a wider base of individuals who may have shared similar experiences to you and can therefore offer help, advice and sometimes support.
In my opinion, it can be agreed upon that many minds working together are better than one. Think in terms of a project or venture at work; to do alone it is challenging, time consuming and stressful. Then think about working in a team where as a collective, you are striving with other colleagues to complete the task as best you can. Collective intelligence helps to break down the barriers of loneliness and struggle whether internal or external to your workplace thus allowing a community, no matter how big or small, to get together, share together, learn together and subsequently benefit.
Finally in terms of networking, it is impossible to thoroughly excel in your chosen area of work without fully immersing yourself in communicating and sharing with others. Collective intelligence is so worth being a part of as it can result in making important contacts, familiarising yourself with your colleagues and finally allowing you to further transcend yourself in a professional capacity.
As suggested by Gruber in 2008, "there are three components of an online system that support collective intelligence" (Reader 1) and allow benefits to be felt in their entirety by the user. They are as follows:
The 3 components:
1. Social System
2. Search Engine
3. Intelligent Users
These components are generally present in all Web 2.0 platforms; Facebook being a perfect and widely used example. This piece of software, which has become a constant presence in our lives, has evolved and expanded through the popularity of its find/search and share/comment features. Users enjoy the feeling of being involved in something and being able to express themselves, keeping collective intelligence alive.
Ethical considerations for using Web 2.0
Ethical considerations; for us this means always considering what we say, participate in and discuss with other users. In this sense, we should be sensitive to others' opinions, contribute only when we feel appropriate and be completely partial to everyone's views no matter if you agree with them or not. It is of course fine to voice your disagreement if needs be but do it in a way that is polite, informative and again allows room for other's to speak up and offer equally interesting views.
Copyright and authenticity; scary words to hear as a student. There is always that little flutter in your stomach when you hand in a piece of work and hope that you won't be accused of plagiarism no matter how careful and correct you have been! Online it's pretty much the same thing, you should give credit to those who have contributed to your posts in any way. Although it can seem to cloud your creativity in that it makes it seem you haven't conjured everything up yourself, it is fair, ethical and a legal requirement.
Another ethical consideration which should not be taken lightly is confidentiality. I can definitely relate to the need for confidentiality online and it is with children on a weekly basis. As a Teaching Assistant on the ENBS Juniors Programme, I interact with children and their parents on a weekly basis and thoroughly enjoy seeing their progress, experiencing their enthusiasm and sharing in their achievements. Yet I am fully aware that it would be inappropriate for me to openly share this online without the full consent of the children's parents and the institution within which I work. It is something that can be easily forgotten but should be persistently implemented.
For my personal professional reputation needs, I should actively ensure that neither myself or others post something about my work that could be deemed as inappropriate and too closely linked to my personal life. There is nothing wrong with wanting to talk about your job, how you enjoy it, what it entails although all of this should be done in a way that is confidential to an extent and of course suitable.
Creating a professional reputation for yourself online is really important. All of your Web 2.0 profiles can be viewed and scrutinised by a potential employer and they can instantly make a decision about what type of person they think you are and whether they would want to employ you. Therefore think carefully about how you are presenting yourself online, put yourself in the shoes of an employer or a person of a professional capacity and judge whether you come across well or not.
Over the last few years, I have discovered how useful Web 2.0 can be for the purposes of online learning. In 2012 I started an A Level in History which was based online and completed through distance learning. To begin with, this did seem rather daunting as it was strange not being able to physically see and interact with a teacher. I often felt very much on my own having to power through the work in whatever way I felt was right.
I am happy to say that I was successful in my venture however without the availability of Web 2.0, this may not have been the case. It was a real life saver being able to communicate with my tutor online, view and contribute to student forums and just generally research distance learning studying tips and past papers to practice with. I have in fact taken up another A Level. this time in Law, using the same learning methods so I will keep you posted as to how it all goes!
I have been thinking how I can apply these online skills that I have acquired to the BAPP Programme. I am so lucky to have, without realising at the time, obtained very adequate online proficiency which I feel can be further exploited through BAPP. Although this is my first ever time suing a blog, I am so pleased to say that I love how you can just write, express, share pictures, post links and basically do anything you like - and people will look at it! If you ever feel like what you have to share is not interesting, you are wrong! Someone out there will find common ground with what you have to say and the rest is in you making the effort to continue to be a Web 2.0 user.
That's enough from me! Enjoy 'pro-sumering'!
Lil' Blogger
No comments:
Post a Comment