Virtual World

There are many ways these virtual worlds can be used in reality.  According to "Going to the virtual office in Second Life'' by Mark Tutton.  Companies have gradually moved in office conference to an extent having virtual meetings on their own computer networks.  Companies like IBM sells its virtual world tool for businesses to better facilitate online and 3D conferences.  I personally believe in the potential advancement of this technology.  Employees nowadays do not have to relocate to another office location for specific meetings and events.  Having the use of the tool can sufficiently save time and efficiently fasten business processes.  The website called ''The Lower East Side (VLES) ''shows another revolutionary landscape to virtual world technology.  Users do not merely meet new people by sending a message to each other, but by mimicking reality in 3D and sharing musics and interests with others.  It is totally a good way to find people who share similar interests and make friends in virtual reality.  I also believe the trend of using virtual world would last and advanced.  It will definitely ease peoples' lives in daily basis without leaving their homes.      

How does a Twitter discussion compare to a BlackBoard Discussion? To an in-class discussion?

I think using Twitter for class discussion is faster and more fun compared to BlackBoard.  When it comes to Twitter typing things can be free and instant.  Unlike BlackBoard, which requires more steps to first create a thread and share a message.  I personally prefer Twitter because it is closer to the public, and latest trend and news adds variety and creative in things we write.

Social Networking Sites

There are different types of social networking sites that fit peoples' needs and preferences.  The first impression I had when I first used Facebook is its strong connectivity for linking everything together.  The newsfeed on its homepage provides everything you will need to know about friends' activities.  On the right side, you will have the most updated trend and news whereas on the left side, there are joined groups and available friends online you can chat with.  I believe it says a lot just in one page.  I also think Facebook did a really good job in fitting so many things in one page for its newsfeed.  The impression I had for Twitter and Myspace is somehow similar.  I believe its main function is for writing blogs unlike Facebook which is more personable.

I also think Linkedin is another great social networking site when it comes to professionalism.  From a recruiter point of view, whenever I view a candidate's profile, it also tells everything I will need to know about the candidate regarding past experience, school, and mostly importantly career interest.  I personally recommend Linkedin because it is great site to use especially for college students who are eager to learn and expose to professional activities.  

The benefits and down side of technology

According to '' Social Networking Technology Boosts Job Recruiting '' by Frank Langfitt.  It is easier nowadays for job seekers to assess to various job openings through the help of Linkedin.  The website frequently has many recruiters known as ''head hunter'' finding different talents after they have viewed candidates' credentials.  Moreover, the recruiters can also have viewed your profile and decided to conduct an in-person interview.  Therefore, the existence of websites like Linkedin has gradually changed the way people find jobs, and also how one person interacts with another on a professional basis.  However, there can also be some downsides in terms of online privacy.  According to an article '' Facebook privacy is so confusing even the Zuckerberg family Photo isn't private''. by Rebecca Greenfield.  The article states one member of the Zuckerberg families posted a photo regarding holiday celebration online, and was later commented by an unknown web-surfer.  The privacy control on Facebook is so confused that even one of the Zuckerberg family don't know how to use it.  Therefore, privacy control is another contemporary issue now days that companies like Facebook and Twitter has focus on.  I also believe as users are feeling uncomfortable and insecure when they post photos of themselves online, it can lead to a serious problem on users's sanctification and the continuity of using the site.                

Blog vs. Wiki

Posting ones new ideas and preference about things we experienced in a daily basis can now be shared on a platform called the internet.  Bloggers can share their point of views on items they purchased or matters regarding relationship, work, and school.  Commenting on ones opinion had been a new way to connect with individuals with similar interests.  According to an article ''Wal-Mart Testmakers Write Unfiltered Blogs'' by Micheal Barbaro.  It says ''Instead of relying on polished high-level executives, it is written by little-known buyers, largely without editing''.  Customers post a review on products they purchased from Wal-Mart.  Comments are easier to comprehend by public and is also straight to a point on discussing the pros and cons of the products.

In comparison of blog, Wiki contents are nowadays more restricted by its site managers.  According to ''Wikipedia to Limit Changes to Articles on People'' by Noam Cohen.  It mentions ''The new feature, called “flagged revisions,” will require that an experienced volunteer editor for Wikipedia sign off on any change made by the public before it can go live. Until the change is approved''.  It is a sign that Wikipedia does not want to provide any false information to its readers.  Therefore, some contents are reviewed and inspected before published.  I believe Wiki can provide a customized forum for individuals to discuss about the contents of the website.  Instead of merely giving out facts, people can also interact with one another select what they wish to know.   

Project Proposal Description

The title of my term project proposal is called "The impacts of social media on our lives in a daily basis".  I would like to research about contemporary social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin, and more.  My purpose is to discover how it has gradually changed the way people used to interact with one another.  I also like to discuss how social media like Linkedin has became a significant role in helping the job seekers to sense the newest job postings and where to connect with professionals who share similar career interest.  I would also like to point out several phenomenons how people treat social media like Facebook or Twitter as a way to express their characters.