I came across another article in Vogue oddly enough that touched on a variety of topics: media, education, lost/striving art programs in schools, online gaming, inspiration, creative-driven students, and more. The article was called "Nuvana Lily Kwong; Inspiring Students Through Online Games that Teach Everything from Art to Science."
Lily Kwong and her brother created a place in their father's educational game-design company, Nuvana, where people of all kinds can come together and create their own world of creativity. They enact change in their world when they don't have the ability previously, or its another place to grow (as a person and artist). The form they use is "socially networked online games." These games aren't just ordinary game though, they give others the opportunity to involve themselves and have control over decisions, they teach them through having fun, and is a positive atmosphere in general. The games cover a large range of topics, from Art to Science. They all also happen to be free!
This place of gaming is a safe-home to those who lost their art programs in their own schools. It's an outlet for them by different means. They can continue their abilities, creativity, and imagination in a place where they can be heard. Lily even mentioned how the games were used to stop bullying. That to me is impressive. Especially because we always hear terrible stories about cyber-bullying. Its more common than we may think. This site is just another way that there are people out there doing good with the internet's abilities. I think more people should be publicizing this gaming company, hands down!
NIKE!
Another fact that makes their business outstanding is that NIKE Foundation and Grameen America both support projects they do! They must be doing something good for people if they have a partnership with those big name, powerful, and wealthy companies.
I wish there was some way I could myself tell newspapers or someone with ability to share their information to larger mass of people. I wonder if it would be a good research project too........
Here is their website, check it out!
http://nuvana.org/
---Sarah W
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Social Media - An expanding company and Twitter combine...
Twitter is a social media site that a large amount of teens use regularly. Even older adults have Twitter accounts. Companies have accounts on Twitter!
Vogue has a Social Media section in there magazine. I just picked one up to read and I came across an article that referenced a company combining Twitter values. I had to get it because it reminded me of this class. The article name is "Fast Company. As Twitter reshapes news and entertainment, Jacob Weisberg tours its headquarters to find a team dedicated to openness, spontaneity-and relentless expansion." They talked about how celebrities use Twitter as a new way to interact with their fans.
They stated that Twitter was "like the dialogue on an Aaron Sorkin show: Ideas are tested;banter is exchanged; cultural references fly by at 60 mph. When the meeting ends, it is unclear what exactly has been accomplished, but a lot has been commented upon in a clever, pithy way. Being at Twitter is, in fact, a lot like being on Twitter." They suggest that experiencing a "Twitter-like" meeting is just like conversations go on Twitter itself. In the article, they continue to agree that base qualities of those conversations are liked by some companies. "Twitter prides itself on openness and egalitarianism..." Those qualities right there are what some companies look for when hiring people. That's the kind of atmosphere they want the company to achieve. To them, it's a way they can grow in this economy.
Katie Jacobs Stanton was listed as 56th on the world's most powerful women. She worked for Google, but then was offered a job by Twitter. She ended up working on President Obama's campaign, which while there she got the White House up on Twitter. Her focus was "on integrating technology, especial social media, into American foreign policy." Even the government is on social network sites like Twitter. Twitter and other social media sites are trying to involve everyone around the world. A global interaction through new media.
Twitter has been there for those who don't have free press or freedom of expression for individuals.
There is a lot more to the article but that is just some information. I will try to blog about the rest later. The "Twitterati" is a growing global phenomenon nowadays. It's apparently grabbing attention of all sorts of people - Vogue included.
---Sarah
Vogue has a Social Media section in there magazine. I just picked one up to read and I came across an article that referenced a company combining Twitter values. I had to get it because it reminded me of this class. The article name is "Fast Company. As Twitter reshapes news and entertainment, Jacob Weisberg tours its headquarters to find a team dedicated to openness, spontaneity-and relentless expansion." They talked about how celebrities use Twitter as a new way to interact with their fans.
They stated that Twitter was "like the dialogue on an Aaron Sorkin show: Ideas are tested;banter is exchanged; cultural references fly by at 60 mph. When the meeting ends, it is unclear what exactly has been accomplished, but a lot has been commented upon in a clever, pithy way. Being at Twitter is, in fact, a lot like being on Twitter." They suggest that experiencing a "Twitter-like" meeting is just like conversations go on Twitter itself. In the article, they continue to agree that base qualities of those conversations are liked by some companies. "Twitter prides itself on openness and egalitarianism..." Those qualities right there are what some companies look for when hiring people. That's the kind of atmosphere they want the company to achieve. To them, it's a way they can grow in this economy.
Katie Jacobs Stanton was listed as 56th on the world's most powerful women. She worked for Google, but then was offered a job by Twitter. She ended up working on President Obama's campaign, which while there she got the White House up on Twitter. Her focus was "on integrating technology, especial social media, into American foreign policy." Even the government is on social network sites like Twitter. Twitter and other social media sites are trying to involve everyone around the world. A global interaction through new media.
Twitter has been there for those who don't have free press or freedom of expression for individuals.
There is a lot more to the article but that is just some information. I will try to blog about the rest later. The "Twitterati" is a growing global phenomenon nowadays. It's apparently grabbing attention of all sorts of people - Vogue included.
---Sarah
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Electrical Big Brother Bill....
Big Brother has always been a topic of debate. In high school I read the book 1984, which was all about Big Brother controlling a society. The new thing is the Electrical Big Brother nowadays. The government controlling our internet, and in extension, us. This greatly impacts us because so much of our lives today is on the computer. Right now, I'm doing work for a college course talking about a common problem seen in the world, online. Online.
Do I think the Electrical Big Brother is such a thing?
I don't have trouble believing in it. Its possible, and bills trying to be passes like SOPA are perfect examples of it trying to be accepted. Some people may not fully understand it or see that being an outcome, but it's not so far-fetched. SOPA is just the beginning of it. I'm not trying to be a paranoid extremest or anything, but if you think about it realistically all of the precursors are there.
Government controlling internet history...
The idea of the government looking through people's internet history to find those who can be a threat to children & such is a respectable reason to monitor search history. But controlling it to just control it is exactly like Big Brother. That's where I become concerned. I don't think I need someone looking after every single minute action of mine by someone else. I have parents for that. I don't stay in the US to be controlled by our government. That is why we are a free country, run by the people and for the people. I don't believe the government should have that kind of control. There should be restrictions to protect us people, but in a reasonable way.
Later,
Sarah
Do I think the Electrical Big Brother is such a thing?
I don't have trouble believing in it. Its possible, and bills trying to be passes like SOPA are perfect examples of it trying to be accepted. Some people may not fully understand it or see that being an outcome, but it's not so far-fetched. SOPA is just the beginning of it. I'm not trying to be a paranoid extremest or anything, but if you think about it realistically all of the precursors are there.
Government controlling internet history...
The idea of the government looking through people's internet history to find those who can be a threat to children & such is a respectable reason to monitor search history. But controlling it to just control it is exactly like Big Brother. That's where I become concerned. I don't think I need someone looking after every single minute action of mine by someone else. I have parents for that. I don't stay in the US to be controlled by our government. That is why we are a free country, run by the people and for the people. I don't believe the government should have that kind of control. There should be restrictions to protect us people, but in a reasonable way.
Later,
Sarah
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Facebook for kids?
Is Facebook for kids under 13 years of age?
It shouldn't be...I don't think kids under 13 should be worried about wanting a public profile out on the internet across the world. WHY do they need one? I bet most young kids couldn't give a legitimate reason why they should. I got one when I was in high school so I can keep in touch with friends that I had in junior high (that had gone to different high schools), and then to keep in touch with high school friends that I wouldn't be seeing once in college. Keeping contacts is a valid reason, I believe. At 10 or 12 years old, you don't have that problem more than not. The only way I can possibly see one having a Facebook is if it is ONLY controlled by a parent/guardian. Facebook can get inappropriate for young kids and if they aren't careful, bad things can happen in result (like witnessing things parents wouldn't want them to see/hear or if they pick up things to say/do that are not age appropriate). Its just not necessary.
Games?
Kids love games, without a doubt. But where those games are played matter. Why do they need to be on Facebook to play games? There are numbers after numbers of other ways to play all sorts of games than on the internet. Even college students can admit that Facebook is highly distracting and not the most educational website out there, so I don't see why a 10-13 year old should have that on their plate too. They should be outside plying, making up imaginary scenes for a fairy tale, or playing a game with the family/siblings. I just think there are other ways out there to entertain a young kid than the incredibly mature internet.
~Sarah W
It shouldn't be...I don't think kids under 13 should be worried about wanting a public profile out on the internet across the world. WHY do they need one? I bet most young kids couldn't give a legitimate reason why they should. I got one when I was in high school so I can keep in touch with friends that I had in junior high (that had gone to different high schools), and then to keep in touch with high school friends that I wouldn't be seeing once in college. Keeping contacts is a valid reason, I believe. At 10 or 12 years old, you don't have that problem more than not. The only way I can possibly see one having a Facebook is if it is ONLY controlled by a parent/guardian. Facebook can get inappropriate for young kids and if they aren't careful, bad things can happen in result (like witnessing things parents wouldn't want them to see/hear or if they pick up things to say/do that are not age appropriate). Its just not necessary.
Games?
Kids love games, without a doubt. But where those games are played matter. Why do they need to be on Facebook to play games? There are numbers after numbers of other ways to play all sorts of games than on the internet. Even college students can admit that Facebook is highly distracting and not the most educational website out there, so I don't see why a 10-13 year old should have that on their plate too. They should be outside plying, making up imaginary scenes for a fairy tale, or playing a game with the family/siblings. I just think there are other ways out there to entertain a young kid than the incredibly mature internet.
~Sarah W
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