Self Portrait Discussion

Life Is A Ride


Life is a ride is a self portrait video shot by a previous student. This video stood out the most because it was shot so well. At first I didn't know where he was going with the video, and then I saw the photos the character in the hospital bed. That's when it hit me.

The video is entitled, "life is a ride", because you never know where your life might take you. You may think you have everything planned out, but life can throw you a curve ball at any second. For example, this student used to do tricks on his BMX bike, and now he's paralyzed from the waist down. He even stated through text, that he wouldn't want it any other way. He's not going to give up on life because things are somewhat different and complicated than they once were. Another thing that I want to point out is that he constantly showed pictures of his family and friends. It was a rough time in his life, but he didn't have to experience this event by himself.

I completely understand what the author is trying to convey with this video. My life has been a ride as of late as well. When I'm not in school, I'm working and vice versa. Sometimes it's crazy to think about, but I just keep telling myself I have to moving forward. The finish line is in sight, but I'm definitely not there yet. Life is a ride is definitely the best video out of the bunch.

Color and Black/White


This self portrait video attempts to show the differences between color and black and white images. This video is hard to follow at times because I didn't know the symbolic meaning behind the images that were presented. For instance, there's a shot where the girl is clutching a stick with two butterflies on it. I don't know if that means the author enjoys embracing life or she has a hard time of letting things go.

There are some good aspects of the video though. The contrast between black and white was done pretty well. I think this would have been a better video if she left the color aspect out it the whole thing. There were only a few shots of sky which was shot with color. The video was dominated by black and white imagery. The items and objects she used seemed out of place for this video. I also think she would've made a better lasting impression if she didn't use music at all. With music and text absent, the viewer has to process everything on their own without any sense of direction. It's always a good thing to keep the viewer interested. Her transition from scene to scene was done well. They weren't abrupt and out of place.

After watching the initial video, it's hard to discuss the following videos because I expect all of the other videos to have that same level of fidelity and flow to them. This video is definitely worth a watch though.

Overuse of Text


This student made a video that had too much text in it. I felt like I was reading a book. This video had no sense of direction whatsoever, and the images were just random.

I don't think there's one part of this video that I actually liked. I don't mean to sound so harsh about this video, but I felt there was no point to the video. The student also incorporated this weird song that sounded as if was demonic in one way or another. That reason alone made it hard for me to follow the video. When you overuse text, it takes away any message you're trying to portray with your video. If you text when needed, then it'll be OK. For most people it's hard to watch film, and read text at the same time.

The student also reused some shots over and over. Whenever you reuse shots, they're supposed to symbolic. These shots didn't make sense at all. Now that I think about it, this video almost seemed as if it was a cry for help. The author constantly mentioned how he was alone, and he didn't know where he was going. I don't think I would ever put something like that in a video because I wouldn't want people to judge me. This video goes to show you that one small thing such as a song can change the overall effect of your video. There are better videos posted on the blog, and I would suggest that you don't spend too much time on this one.

My Experience with Wikihow

My experience with Wikihow was challenging to say the least. Initially I thought this project wouldn't be that hard because I was passionate about the subject matter. I think this project was difficult for most people because finding a topic to write about is a tough decision. When you're passionate about something, you can write enough about the subject to meet the set criteria. I decided to write my topic about apps for Android devices. I constantly check out reviews for apps, and I always evaluate if these apps will help me out in the future. My experience with the Android operating system has always been positive so I'm definitely a lifelong fan. I have been using the Android platform for the last three years, and evangelize its features too all of my family and friends. Finding corresponding information for my topic wasn't too hard because I knew all of the information beforehand. Once I had all of my information, I was ready to begin my Wikihow post. We initially wrote our blog posts about our topics, so we had an idea of what we wanted to write. Learning how to code your page properly was one of the most frustrating aspects of the page. Sure you can copy and paste your text from your previous post, but you want to find ways to make your article stand out from the rest of the class. The smallest effects require special coding. For example, if you want to bold or italicize your content, you need a special coding around those words. Everything was going fine until I made it to the final edit. When I made it to the end, I thought my project was ready to be published. I made sure all of my spelling was correct; I made sure I had all of the my corresponding photos with captions, and I almost forgot that I wanted to add a video to my page. This video was only a minute and a half, but it shows the features of the program Superpower. It can be a quite difficult program to understand if you don't know what you're doing. All of the settings are dependent on one another so you have to make sure everything is correct.
The main feature of the site that I feel is completely backwards is attempting to add a video to your page. You would think this would be a simple process, but it wasn't. I couldn't figure out how to use this feature which is normally a simple process, but Wikihow made it so difficult. Other websites allow you copy the link from another website, and the site will embed the video for you. There was no way to upload your own personal video to the website whatsoever. You know it's a difficult system in place when you have to read a Wikihow article in order to try and get the video to work at all. Even after trying to follow the coding guide step by step, it rendered my video useless. I spent the entire class Thursday trying to get my page coded correctly. The thing that made me so upset is that I wasn't able to publish my video, and it was my own personal video. I always take pride in my work, and I wanted to further showcase my knowledge of the subject. The site wouldn't let me do that at all. This should be a feature that the site admins should really look into. I'm pretty sure that I wasn't the only one who had a problem adding their own video to the site. My text was formatted correctly, and my own personal photos showed up just fine. In the end, I posted a statement with my video link attached to it. It just took away form the visual aesthetic I was going for. That's not the only thing that upset me about this website.
I recently logged into the website to see if anybody posted positive feedback or criticism about my article, and to my surprise my article is marked for deletion because it isn't a how to guide. I was highly upset by this because my first heading informed the reader how to access the various app stores, and it also informed the reader how to install the various apps. My article wasn't even posted for a week, and it's already marked for deletion. My experience with this site in particular shows you how critical people truly are. Going forward, I will learn how to deal with criticism because people will never hold their tongue when they type online. Wikihow isn't the only site where people conduct themselves like that. To name a few of sites include; Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. I hated using the Wikihow website with a passion. I hope that I never have to use that website to publish another article again. Using Wikihow to find relevant articles isn't bad at all. I was reading a few of the articles before I started mine so I could see how to get started. The article database is immense because people always continue to add articles. Since there were so many articles on the website already, it was hard finding an article title that didn't share the same title as your article.
My final complaint about this site is that none of the posters are professionals in any particular field. You can have any user posting content that they may not have all of the knowledge about. This can lead to problems because many users will try to use this site as a reputable source, and this can lead into problems. I would never use this site as a reputable source, but if I needed general information about a topic, I would definitely check this site out.
In conclusion, I hope that the rest of my classmates had a better experience with the website than I did. Overall this project would've been better if we didn't have to include the Wikihow article.

Web 2.0 and You

My Personal Opinion

Web 2.0 definitely lives up to the hype as time progresses. Web applications are constantly being developed because people will continue to figure out ways to consume digital media. Web 2.0 was a complete overhaul of what the Internet infrastructure used to look like and how it functioned. Due to that complete overhaul, more and more people are learning how to use computers. Computers are so simple to use that anyway can get on a machine, and click a program to access the world wide web. It's hard to say where the Web will go from here on out. We're currently in the technology trend where things are getting smaller, and applications respond faster than ever. Most people want an Ultrabook or a tablet to access web based content. The days of having a single desktop in your home are long gone. In the future, I think we're going to get to a point where every person has a smartphone instead of having basic phones with limited capabilities. When I received my first cell phone, I used it primarily to call and text my friends and family. Now I'm on my fifth or sixth smartphone, and I can pretty much find an app that'll do what I need it to do. I can watch YouTube; surf the web, compose a document, send an email, stream content back and forth to my computer, and finally I can use my phone as a GPS. All of those features are now made possible the advancement of Web 2.0. Web 2.0 will continue to change and expand.

Key Concepts of Web 2.0

According to Discovery Education, "Web 2.0 is about revolutionary new ways of creating, collaborating, editing and sharing user-generated content online." What does that mean for the user? That statement means that the way you access and share content with others is always adapting and evolving to fit your needs.
People will continue to find ways to edit videos and photos so they can share that content with the world. There are a ton of people who make a living off of posting daily videos onto YouTube among other sites. Sites like Animoto, allow the user to create professional style videos without the hassle that comes with complex editing programs. Once the user has created their video, that video can be shared with the world with just a few clicks of their mouse.
Social media has been influenced the most with the age of Web 2.0. In the past decade, social media has turned into this culture phenomenon. Jason Burby, from ClickZ states,"Last week, I opened my inbox to find a newsletter in my inbox with a scary subject line: "93 percent of Websites to Add Web 2.0 Functionality in 2008. Although this article was published four years ago, anyone can see the effect that Web 2.0 has brought to websites. Social media is here to stay, and  we'll see what they're going to add next. This type of uncertainty will keep people on the edge of their seats, waiting and anticipating for the next biggest thing. Companies that fail to comply with the ways of Web 2.0 are in for a rude awakening.

The Top Five Must Have Apps For Android Devices

Android devices are great devices that'll fit any person's needs. If you're a power user or you just want an alternative to the norm, then an Android device is for you. What's a high powered smartphone without the apps to back it up? If you need an app to search for reviews, play a specific game, or get directions to a restaurant, there's an app for you. I'll provide the link for the five apps at the end of their description.

All Android Smartphones come pre-installed with the "Play Store". The "Play Store" is the app where you can search and download new apps. There are other app stores like "Amazon Marketplace” and "Getjar" that require extra steps to download their apps. You'll have to go their respective sites, and request a link be sent to your phone. This a fairly simple process.

1. After you unlock your phone, hit the menu button.
2. Scroll down your options menu until you see Security.
3. Click on that, and make sure you have install from unknown sources checked. 

Without doing the steps above, you won't be able to download the third party apps that aren't directly from the "Play Store."

 APP 1: Superpower

Steps

1. Select Screen State.
2. Make sure you select Auto Data Disable. 
1. You can auto disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth from here as well. I leave those two options unchecked because I use my Bluetooth headset when I'm driving so I don't want my headset to disconnect in the middle of a phone call. I don't want my phone disconnect from an active Wi-Fi connection either because the 3G network can be really slow at times.
3. Select Wi-Fi network.
1. Select Data Disable, select Auto Wi-Fi disable, and set the Wi-Fi disable delay to thirty seconds. This will come be handy when you're leaving a Wi-Fi connection. Instead of leaving your Wi-Fi radio on and draining your battery, you'll be saving battery in the long run. The first option is key for those users who don't have an unlimited data plan for their contract.
4. Next select Background and Sync. 
1. The only option I have checked is control auto-sync. (By doing that, you allow Superpower to control your background and sync options. If you don't have this option selected, apps will try to update whenever they want in the background. When those apps try to pull in new information, it's a constant drain on your battery.
5. Select Lock Screen. 
1. This option controls what radios you want to have turned on and off when your screen goes into standby mode. I only have auto data disable selected. (I constantly check the clock on my phone when the lock screen pops up. My phone won't be sending data back and forth as long as I stay on the lock screen. This set of options is similar to those found in the Wi-Fi network sub menu.
6. The next set of options include when downloading files. I left those two options standard because I'm mostly on a W-Fi network when I'm downloading files.
7. The most featured setting list is the application specific options. 
1. For instance let's say that you use Pandora which constantly uses data. You can set that option to override previous settings so you can listen to Pandora regardless of the state of your phone. You can also set the application to kill at screen off. Again that option is for people who don't have an unlimited data plan.
8.  You can leave the tethering, night mode, charging state and notifications set to the default settings. I don't see the need for them.
9. The final option I tweaked was the schedule data. 
1. I set the frequency to never, and the amount of time to 1 minute. This option works together with background and sync. If I want to sync new information with any program; I can go into the app, and do it myself.

Description
Superpower is an awesome program that allows you to tweak options that would normally drain your battery. Tarandeep Singh from Geeknizer states, "SuperPower attempts to save battery power by controlling various power hungry components and features of the device. Everything in this app is Event-driven rather than polling, which makes this app itself play nice on battery." Superpower allows you to turn on/off Bluetooth; WI-FI, Background and Sync, and set low power mode options. If you constantly have these features running, there's a high chance that you'll reduce your battery life significantly. There are many imitation programs out there that claim that you will receive better battery life is you use their app. I would definitely stay away from those apps because they don't work like they should, and they fail in comparison to this app. I have been using this app for the last three years, and all of my friends ask me about Superpower because it works so well. You can grab this app from the Play Store for free. It's ad-supported, but if you don't want the ads to pop up then you'll have to pay $4.99 for the license key. SuperPower

 APP 2: OfficeSuite Pro 6

Steps

1. You can select recent files to open a file you were recently working on.
2. By selecting my documents, you can browse all of the files you currently have saved on your phone.
3. The internal storage and ExtSdCard options work the same way. Files are saved on your internal storage or you can set to save them onto your SD card which in most cases has more space available.
4. The remote files option allows you to connect and modify files that are saved on a server. If you ever used Dropbox, the same concept applies here.
5. There are four options at the bottom as well.
1. The new icon allows you to create a new Word, PowerPoint, or Excel spreadsheet.
2. The find icon allows you to set specific parameters so you can find your files.
3. The updates icon allows you to see if there's any available updates for your software.
4. If you need further help within the program, you can click on the Help icon.

Description
OfficeSuite Pro is the best mobile version of "Microsoft Office" that you can get. Journalist Darryl Doak from Android Authority states, "OfficeSuite Pro features rich mobile office solutions for creating, viewing, and editing popular document formats..., as well as for viewing Portable Document Format (PDF) files right on your Android device." This app allows you to open, edit, and create Documents, PowerPoint, and Excel worksheets. You can even connect a Bluetooth keyboard to your device, and type away with ease. I currently use this app quite often on campus because students flock to the open computers in their down time. You can currently grab this app for $14.99, and I believe that's a great price for all of the features that are available at your fingertips. OfficeSuite Pro 6

APP 3: Splashtop Remote Desktop

Steps

1. At the top of the screen, you can press the plus icon.
1. By doing that, you can add a new computer to your app.
2. You can also press the refresh icon just in case your computer doesn't show up.
1. Once you computer is connected, you can use your smartphone screen as a mouse and keyboard for your computer.
3. If you need help using the app, you can press the help icon at the bottom of the screen.

Description
Splashtop is an awesome app that allows you to control your computer with an active Wi-Fi connection. John Brandon from the Laptop Magazine website states, "For just $5, Splashtop Remote is an inexpensive and easy program to use, and it provides a simple interface for controlling your computer across a local network." This app essentially turns your phone into a digital receiver for your computer. Instead of using your onboard memory, you can stream your content back and forth. This app is essential for the media lover who doesn't want to go through the leg work of converting videos to the correct format for their Android device. You can watch movies; listen to your music files, and even access various types of files that are on your computer. The bigger screen you have, the better the app will work. This app is currently on sale for $4.99, and that's currently half off it's normal price. Splashtop Remote Desktop

APP 4: Flipboard

Steps

1. In order to use the app, you have to make an account. You'll setup a username, and password.
1. From the next menu, you can select what your home screen looks like. Some of the catergories you can add include Sports, Technology, Food, Flipboard Picks, and Cover Stories will show at the top by default.
2. You can also sign into your Facebook and Twitter accounts so you can share articles with your friends.
3. To move down the page, you just flick your screen from the bottom up. You'll be able to access more categories, and more importantly more stories.
4. When you select a category you can flip through the featured stories.
1. By selecting a specific article, you get to read the full article within the app. Some stories have a "Click for more" button if they want you to visit the site for more options.

Description
Flipboard is by far the best news website because the user interface is so interactive. You can prioritize your stories anyway you want. I have covers stories, technology stories followed by Flipboard picks. I really enjoy using this app on a daily basis because there are times when I'm waiting in line, or just sitting on the couch and I want to read some articles. Some of the articles give you a overview of the full article, and you can click the included link to go the full webpage with the article. You can even share these articles with your Twitter and Facebook accounts so your friends can read them. Flipboard

App 5: Google Maps

Steps

1. You find directions by selection the eyeglass icon. This is where you can type in a building name or location.
1. You can then specify if you want to get there by car, bus, or walking. You can always set the directions to avoid thruways and tolls if you're not comfortable going through them.
2. The directions icon allows you to put in two specific locations if you know the address.
1. For example, you know your address. Then you type in the address for Buffalo State College. Directions will pop up, and then you have the if you want a list of directions or driving directions.
3. The third icon called location allows you to search for local restaurants and gas stations.
1. This is useful if you're in a new area, and you don't know what to get for dinner.
4. The final icon is the layers icon. This icon will allow you to set different skins over the map app.
1. For instance if you wanted to see local traffic or bike routes. This would be the icon you would want to use.

Description
Google Maps is a free program that allows you to get turn by turn navigation on your mobile phone. Let's face it, GPS systems probably won't be around in the next five years or so. Once you input a destination, you can get turn by turn directions or you can look at set directions. This app also gives you an estimated time of arrival for each trip so you can plan accordingly. The last thing that's worth mentioning is that all of the updates are absolutely FREE! I can't emphasize that feature enough. If you buy a GPS system that isn't LMT(Lifetime Map and Traffic updates), then you're paying roughly $20-$25 for those quarterly updates. They're optional, but you won't have the latest map which could be troublesome for any occasion. You can avoid all of that hassle by downloading this single app. Google Maps

Conclusion

These are just some of the available apps for your Android. Everybody has different taste so there is definitely an app for you! There are some apps that I may have overlooked in this post so feel free to post your thoughts and concerns under the discuss tab.

All Access Pass

Your All Access Pass to the World

       I can remember the first time I used the internet like it was yesterday. When I was a young kid, I would always run down to my local convenience store, and look for the latest gaming magazine. I would constantly look for those magazines because they contained information about upcoming games and most importantly they had cheat codes inside them as well. My mother brought home our Windows ’98 computer from Walmart  and I was instantly hooked. I would constantly tie up the phone line because I was always on the computer researching video games, and checking out educational sites that my teachers would recommend. My mind was blown because I didn't realize how the availability of the internet would influence my life. I also loved the idea that everything was one click away. Having that instant access changed my life forever.

            I love the idea that I can use the internet on my smartphone to read articles; play games, and even connect with my friends via Facebook and Twitter. Most of my friends use one of the various social media websites so if I run across something that’s thought-provoking or hilarious, I can instantly share that moment with them. That’s another great feature of having constant internet access; you're never too far away to reach out to a friend. In the past, many people used to write letters to their pen pals or close friends who lived in another state. Some people will forget to write back and forget about their friends. Nowadays anyone can send an email, and the other person will receive that email instantly. The internet brings people closer than ever before, and people have less of a reason to lose contact with a dear friend.

            The internet is always changing and evolving so we have to stay current about the new features and implementations that companies are presenting to us. Think about this for a brief second. In the latter half of the 90’s, we were using slow dial-up connections to get online, and sometimes that would even be a drag. Now in 2012, we can turn our computers on, and we're online within seconds. How crazy is that? More and more people are getting internet installed in their homes because it’s easier to setup, and it doesn't tie up your phone line like dial-up connections did in the past. We can download media much faster than ever before, and we can even share things faster as well. Things are only going to get faster from here on out.

            The digital world known as the internet will continue to amaze us even when we thought we saw it all. More and more companies are adapting to this because more and more people consume digital media quite often. In the past, companies had to worry about television and radio. Companies now have to access how people consume their content, and what ways will be beneficial to everyone.

I will never forget the first time I used the internet. It was something new and exciting, and I look forward to seeing how the internet will change as programs become more complex, and more people continue to develop web based applications. The days where you had to wait to establish an online connection is gone. Now you can access a website in mere seconds.

Pros and Cons of Social Media

          Social media isn't just an internet sensation; it’s a way of life. I call social media a way of life because people base their entire social being on what they post online. Some people use social media to do their daily job. With the ease and accessibility of social media; there are bound to positive and negative effects. There isn't a way to avoid these effects because they're always going to be there.

Positive Effects

1.     "Most sites support the maintenance of pre-existing social networks, but others help strangers connect based on shared interests, political views, or activities." People often have a hard time meeting new people wherever they go. Social networking sites allow people to interact with other people they would normally never meet. I believe the reason I have so many friends is due to the fact that I have most of them added on Facebook. By accepting their friend requests, I'm opening my life to them; and then there’s a chance I can meet their friends. This ultimately causes your circle of friends to keep expanding.

2.     "By allowing such feedback, there is the prospect of conversation, of debate, of sharing information or perceiving new ideas." People tend to offer their opinions of various social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and even YouTube. These sites can be beneficial because you are exposed to new opinions and viewpoints that you didn't recognize before. As mentioned previously, it’s good to see all sides of a story regardless how many sides there are. Once you know all sides of the story, you can formulate your own opinions and debate them if you want. I try not to add my comment or opinion towards a story unless I know all of the details.

3.     "As so much of the way we communicate has become digitized “we see more and more that your telephone is your music player and it’s also your email client or it’s your Internet browser” (Bronk, 2008)." The author brings up a valid point. Without the advances in digital communication, we wouldn't use or phones as often. More and more people are buying smartphones because their potential is endless. I believe within five years, everyone will have a smartphone whether they like it or not. Smartphones have so much functionality built into them that you don't know what they can’t do. If I need to find out something for my class, I can instantly do a search on my phone. There’s a ton of applications as well so you will be hard pressed if you can’t find a suitable app for whatever you're doing.

Negative Effects

1.     "Hyper-networking was also associated with depression, substance abuse, poor sleep patterns, suicide and poor academic performance." This is a valid point because people spend so much time on social networking sites that they can't seem to focus on anything else. I know I have a bad habit of checking Facebook too often throughout the day. People are constantly bullied on social networking sites. It’s a major problem because people continue to die. They believe death is their only escape. There needs to be more support groups for people who are bullied in online groups. 

2.     "As people spend increasing amounts of time on social networks, they experience less face-to-face interaction." When people start to lose that face-to-face interaction, you know it's not going to end well. Those people are going to become disconnected from their families and friends, but they won't be able to conduct themselves in professional interviews among other things. I constantly see people who are out with their families, and they’re constantly on their phones. They might be sending out a text, or playing an online game. Before I had a cell phone, I used to go out to family outings more often. Now I don’t even leave the house without my cell phone. It’s a shame of how dependent I am on my smartphone.

3.     "Encouraging poor grammar, usage, and spelling." You can log into any social media website and see improper grammar being used on every single post. Nobody is going to take those people seriously. Teachers are going to read their work, and instantly think, "Did my student proofread this?" I make sure that I proofread all of my work before I submit. You have to make sure that the line between social media and professionalism isn’t crossed. If you don’t know how to discern the two, you will have a hard time knowing when it’s appropriate to use proper grammar versus slang.

Social media is here to stay, and it’s up to you whether you want to yield the positive effects or succumb to the negative effects. Make sure you know what you’re using social media network for before it’s too late.

Myspace Was Cool

Culture Clash

I exchanged my story with my classmate, Kiasia. I was surprised by the number of similarities we shared. We also had a few key differences as well. Some of the similarities include dial-up connections; one computer in the household, and I think the best one was how we consistently use free AOL monthly trials. Another important point that was brought up was the fact we both were excited to see the evolution of the internet from dial-up to high speed internet. Kids growing up nowadays are accustomed to high speed internet, and they will never experience what dial-up internet was truly like. It's crazy to think what they're going to have by the time they're twenty five. It's just crazy to think about.

The few key differences that I mentioned earlier include the sense of freedom, and the use of Myspace. I could pretty much do whatever I wanted to while I was on the computer, and Kiasia couldn't. Kiasia's parents would always monitor what she was doing while the computer was being used. Initially Myspace received a lot of bad press so it's understandable that it would make a lot of parents concerned about the website.