EME6414: Web 2.0

 I have a personal relationship with activism, both in person and online.  As a freshman at Florida State (redacted) years ago, I protested the One Florida Initiative.  I told the story on my personal blog years ago in the context of voting.  I sincerely believe that citizens have a duty to fully participate in the political process and that protest is included in that participation.  Through several waves of unrest and calamity at home and abroad, I find myself moving so much of my protest online.  What has encouraged me is finding younger people online who are exercising their franchise in many ways.  They are so encouraging it's tempting to believe "hey, they don't need me!"  Two examples come to mind: Little Miss Flint There are millions around the globe without access to safe drinking water. That is why I am starting #WednesdaysForWater . Every Wednesday I will share a place that needs clean water and how you can help. pic.twitter.com/HDj...

 The Social Dilemma warned us of several ways social media is using its consumers as data sources.  One way to combat it, the experts claimed in the film, was to thwart the algorithm.  Instead of watching what's offered, trending, or default in a feed, choosing instead what you want to see.  Depending on the platform, the algorithm can feel pervasive and difficult to overcome...like the platform is serving up what you're supposed to see like a Big Brother. For me, however, the experience varies by platform.  For example, the Meta platforms for me are the most frustrating because I spent a significant amount of time curating who I wanted to see and each time the algorithm gets tweaked I get less of what I want and more promoted content.  I would have joined the scores of people who abandoned Facebook if it weren't for the family and friends I can connect with solely in that place.  (They won't join Twitter; I tried).  Instagram is the worst: I rue ...

 One item of Web 2.0 I hope to increase is the breaking down of borders.  I’m old enough to remember the draw of what was called the World Wide Web was the connection across the miles to any country in the world.  And it has.  I watch soap operas from around the world and tweet with followers from countries I haven’t visited.  At one time, the Internet allowed me to facilitate modules for fellow corporate trainers in eleven countries simultaneously.  Web 2.0 should be accelerating this further, right?  The world online has no barriers, right? There’s just one catch.  We don’t know the slightest thing about each other. Science-fiction taught us to imagine a world, for example, that spoke the same language through merging of vernaculars or auto-translation.  Google Translate is good, but lacks context and cultural sensitivities.  Videos like those by Cut demonstrate how different we still are within our own country: Two things stand out i...

 In hearing one of my peer's using SoundCloud audio in their weekly blog post, it made me realize how much another Web 2.0 element plays in my life.  Thanks to smartphones and unlimited* streaming data, the radio has yielded to the podcast in my car.  When I had to commute to the office, I learned quickly that the rush-hour radio in South Florida was unreliable at best.  The music I wanted to hear - and remembered from the fleeting trips to Miami from my childhood - was hidden behind flighty signals, interminable commercials, and unimaginative DJs.  Starting with podcasts from favorite DJs, I replaced the unreliable with digital mixes. Then my tastes began to evolve.  Longer trips in the car can make even the best record spinning monotonous.  For those, I started to find the talk shows.  Politics, faith, and pop culture were the spaces I migrated to for these moments. Then the pandemic came and uprooted my daily routine.  The talk shows becam...

 As a child, I remembered when anything not in the Microsoft Office suite was "playing on the computer." At least that's how my mother put it.  So it's strange to think about how much social media has changed our lives.  Mine in particular.  There are so many examples I could share, but the first anniversary of one is coming up. Social media changed how I bathe. If you're like me there are certain news stories that you purposely avoid when they trend online.  For me, the story of Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis discussing how infrequently they bathe their children and themselves was an automatic "pass."  Every year this cleanliness debate comes up: some people admit to not showering daily or brushing their teeth or washing their clothes...then the rest of the Western Internet immolates them with critique.  I've even participated in the outrage, but I realized a while ago it's not productive.  Are you going to convince this famous or popular person...

 For your consideration, please share and review my knowledge sharing project on the 2022 US election: https://padlet.com/jsl80311/ft7t62y5om7omda5

 I use two Instagram accounts regularly.  For #eme6414, I use my public account, dedicated to my holistic health journey @fitby40orelse .  Therefore, a Instagram challenge was right up my street. Imagine my surprise when I was playing catch up. Monday, I shared the advice (and pet peeve) of people using their video calling out in public.  This is the problem with the use of "intuitive technology" that requires no training...nobody told you that it was rude, did they?  Required netiquette classes for all! https://www.instagram.com/p/CfDV7sVD5UU/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Tuesday, I recalled the days of early pandemic when churches were closed and we worshipped at home.  I was smart enough to capture on my personal account one communion Sunday when I had no bread or grape juice.  With Ritz crackers and orange juice I remembered Christ.  As we look at how tech changes our life, I was proud of that moment. https://www.instagram.com/p/CfIiRFcs-MF/?igshid=YmM...