Role of Digital Culture

My name is Paul Dudson and I am a Digital Film and Visual Communication major at Reinhardt University. When I was asked to choose what degree I wanted to do, I was a little bit hesitant as there were so many options and I knew I had to make a correct decision otherwise I would be stuck in class's studying a topic for the next two years I wouldn't enjoy. I finally came across the degree I am talking now and I have not regretted taking it ever since.

The world we live in today is constantly evolving and changing (Information Society), and as a result more people have to adapt to these changes or face being left behind. With advance in technology in the computer world, many people are becoming more involved in social networks, such as online chats, video games and online social forums, which are called CYBER CULTURE.

Fun fact - although the USA makes up 5.1 % of the world pop, it uses had 69% internet penetration

Many people use these online cultures to often create an AVATAR (graphic online identity). These Avatar characters can be designed to be played in a particular game or even used to communicate to people across the world. I personally have never really designed an Avatar to communicate to people around the world, but I have spent time design my soldier in Call of Duty, so that he can be and look like I want him to.

In the Gaming / virtual world, software functioning has allowed players to use their own set of rules and narrative conventions, such as building civilizations or take down an enemy unit. These games are allowing people to become whoever they want to be and do what they like to other players on the gaming world. Sims for example will allow you to create people and control their every action. The same applies to Grand Theft Auto, which usually ends with people being shot, blown up or run over. Many people have argued that these games can have the effect to possible harm young people’s minds and have often been blamed for many of today’s shootings involving young gun men in America. 

Criticisms of online chat rooms, societies and is the dangers of misuse of these by pedophiles and rapists who search the net for victims. It is easy for potential pedophiles to claim to be someone else and befriend young males and females. 

Another problem is that potential jobs can research you and find out many things about you, which they might not like the look of and that as a result may cost you that job. Many people have done and will continue to do silly things on the internet. At the time you don’t seem to realize the possible effect that it can have on you, but you never know how many people can see what you are doing. However safe you think your information is online, there are ways that pictures, videos can be leaked and viewed by people you don’t know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT1GvPQG904

Today the internet is being used by many film/gaming and advertising companies to seek out ideas and opinions from the general public about what is wanted/needed/or needing to be improved. This is called Interactivity. The role the audience’s, listeners and viewers become more involved closely with the structure, format and story, via opinion polls, opinions. Companies are doing this to help speed up what is wanted by society and also at a much cheaper cost.

Social Networking sites have become a global powerhouse where billions of people are able to communicate to one another via sites such as Face Book, Twitter etc. For the youth, such sites have become a mode of self-representation for them. To display pictures, and post comments about how they are feeling to topics which can cause much debate. 

 Advertisers have used these types’ sites to advertise their products to the public such as album, protein shakes to even shoes. I took notice of this the other day when I was searching for a pair of Adidas shoes that I wanted. When I had finished looking at the shoes, I closed down the site and went and logged on Facebook to only see the exact same pair in my advertisement section.

Many forms of media are converging many forms of media in the digital age to create one piece of software. This is called Digitextuality, where print, audio, video and graphics can be simultaneously accessed and processed through one common software application. Ex. I pads/I Pods that function as music players, radios, emails, movie devices and sometimes phones.

Pros and Cons of the digital Age

Pro
1. Far easier to send and Receive Information
2. Easier to search for information
3. Can communicate with people around the world
4. Able to multitask a lot more easily
5. Our lives can become more easy to run

Con
1. Because people are multi tasking more, they are not focussing as much attention as needed
2. Peoples attention span is reduced and lose long term focus
3. people spend more time on electronics which can result in obesity
4. With the current ease of gathering information. Retaining that information in our minds can decline.
5. People rely on this technology too much.

I personally feel that the advances in technology can be a positive thing if used wisely and not constantly relied on.  People can spend many hours on devices which can result in bad health, whilst also making that person more lazy.

I am personally a pretty poor writer, and I am often getting correct on my spelling by my teachers and computers. Technology on phones and computers for example have setting's which allow you to be corrected on your spelling, and not send a horrible email or text. This can be seen as a positive, but at the same time, many people like myself will just click a button and the word will be spelt correctly. This will not teach me as well where I went wrong with my spelling as I have not learned from my mistakes.