User Generated content Problems

Stumbled upon this news article online. Its taken from June but is interesting to see some of the problems that have arisen from the rise of user generated content, and how some corporations have taken advantage of it

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8118577.stm

mashups

As a web 2.0 phenomenon, the concept of the "mashups" meets the web 2.0 criteria, including media convergence, participatory culture, collective intelligence and much more. The idea of the web as a platform for software programming by professionals and amateurs alike is compelling, as demonstrated by the variety of mashups possible http://www.programmableweb.com/mashups.

Apple's iPad

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8484823.stm
this is the link of iPad's functions.
i think i need a device like this.

a few stories

For the class on business models - apple's profits

For the class on digital music

And an interesting example of UGC as a force of protest

Week 2's Reading

2 – USER-GENERATED CONTENT

AND SOCIAL MEDIA

One of the peculiarities of digital media is that they simultaneously submerge us as never before in a global mass whilst also empowering us as individual producers of content. This class considers how we as individuals and groups have moved beyond being simple audiences of mass-produced and distributed broadcast content to become major content creators, self-broadcasters of our own lives and opinions and collaborative peer-producers of both immaterial and material products, goods and services. In particular I want to look at three processes that transform the media ecology – user-generated and mass distributed content, personal individual modes of intercommunication and social-networked modes of communication, all of which add up to the realm of what I call ‘me-dia’: of personally produced and meaningful content.

Research

- My tags and any other news stories relating to the topics below.

- The history of user-generated content. What antecedents can we find before the web? How did individual production occur in earlier eras?

- Individual mediated communication. How did individuals communicate with each other prior to digital media? What channels were available and how effective were they? The rise of peer-to-peer, of horizontal communication and ‘me-dia’ and its significance - what new forms of personal communication have appeared?

- Social media. The rise of social networks of communication. How did these operate prior to digital media. What social media are available and what is their significance?

- Case study of UGC and their form, functioning and effect. E.g. Youtube videos, channels and comments.

- Case study of horizontal media: the mobile phone, SMS and MMS

- Case studies of social media: Myspace and Facebook

Reading

Jenkins, H. (2006) ‘Introduction’ and ‘Conclusion’ in Convergence Culture, New York: New York University Press (pp. 1-24; 240-260).

O’Reilly, T. (2005) ‘What is Web 2.0?’, available at: http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html

Further Reading

Bruns, A. (2008) (Ch. 2) ‘The Key Characteristics of Produsage’, in Blogs, Wikipedia, Second Life and Beyond. From Production to Produsage, NYC: Peter Lang Publishing.

Shirky, C. (2008) ‘Gin, Television and Social Surplus’, April 26^that: http://www.shirky.com/herecomeseverybody/2008/04/looking-for-the-mouse.html

For critical perspectives upon Web 2.0 and a famous video explaining the concept, see:

Zimmer, M. (ed.) (2008) ‘Critical Perspectives on Web 2.0’, special issue of First Monday, Vol. 13, No. 3, 3^rd March, at http://www.uic.edu/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/issue/view/263/showToc

Wesch, M. (2007) ‘Web 2.0: The Machine is Us/ing Us’, on Youtube, at: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NLlGopyXT_g

The following are the most famous texts discussing the rise of collective creation and user or fan production:

Benkler, Y. (2006) The Wealth of Networks, London; Yale University Press.

Bruns, A. (2008) Blogs, Wikipedia, Second Life and Beyond. From Production to Produsage, NYC: Peter Lang Publishing.

Burgess, J. (2009) Youtube. Online Video and Participatory Culture, Cambridge: Polity.

Jenkins, H. (2006) Convergence Culture, New York: New York University Press.

Howe, J. (2008) Crowdsourcing, New York: Random House.

Leadbetter, C. (2008) We Think: The Power of Mass Creativity, London: Profile Books.

Shirky, C. (2008) Here Comes Everybody, London: Allen Lane.

Snickars, P. and Vonderau, P. (eds.) (2009) The Youtube Reader, National Library of Sweden.

Tapscott, D. (2007) Wikinomics. How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything, London: Atlantic Books.

Critics of the Web 2.0 world of user-generated content include:

Allan, S. (2009) Cyburbia, New York: Little, Brown.

Keen, A. (2007) The Cult of the Amateur, London: Nicholas Brealey.

Siegel, L. (2008) Against the Machine, London: Profile Books.

Carr, N. (2005) ‘The Ammorality of Web 2.0’, 3^rd October, at: http://www.roughtype.com/archives/2005/10/the_amorality_o.php

And Terranova’s essay is essential. Reflect upon your own use of Web 2.0 sites such as Facebook…

Terranova, T. (2003) ‘Free Labour: Producing Culture for the Digital Economy’, at: http://www.electronicbookreview.com/thread/technocapitalism/voluntaryand http://www.uoc.edu/in3/hermeneia/sala_de_lectura/t_terranova_free_labor.htm

The Digital Edge

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