Time to wrap it up!

This will be my final blog post for the IAB260 unit, but it will also be my final assignment/blog submission of my bachelor’s degree and that makes me really happy because it also gives me a chance to reflect on more than just a subject but the whole experience of going through learning outcomes and the reward from what I achieve.

 

The light at the end of the tunnel

 

The structure, the communication, the opportunities.

I’d like to start with what I thought was a big step forward for university units. Social technologies provided a different learning space, instead of the typical QUT blackboard, Kate was able to have us vote towards our own online community page – Social Technologies. In this current age of technology and education, it’s very important that resources and material can be easily gathered and identified. Therefore, to achieve better engagement and interaction with students, Kate was able to provide two quality services that brought this unit together and also some variety from the usual QUT Blackboard. Having addressed our new QUT Blackboard, we were also asked to join the Google+ community that was set up, which for me was my first experience with the Google+ community features (I had only previously used Google+ for minimal things). At first I was a bit concerned with how everything worked because we had two platforms, lots of text to read, heaps of notifications and posts to be made. The weeks progressed and as I started to create the pattern of checking my notifications, going to the learning activities, and blogging my way through, I realised how easy this unit was to connect with my peers, the learning resources and ways to interact with various online communities and tools.

 

That brings me to the way we communicated in this unit which was very different opposed to all my other units the last few years. Vlogs! Some students produced their content on YouTube and they were also able to get great results from this. I am a huge YouTube user, and I follow my subscriptions almost religiously (lol). It was very interesting to see how people used this service to reflect and give perspective on the variety of topics throughout this unit. This is opposed to other units, which only consist of one communication medium (reports, case studies, word documents etc), and for me that is quite significant, because students were able to be marked for creating a Vlog which in my eyes is very similar to presenting in front of a class. I’ve always wanted to create my own YouTube channel that would share my passion/interests so that it may help people or just discuss topics, but in this case I just didn’t feel comfortable expressing myself through this medium opposed to blogging. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy blogging though, because I feel like it comes naturally to me. Maybe that’s because of experiences, or maybe it’s because I am open to sharing my perspective on topics. Either way, I really enjoyed the ability to receive marks based of blogging and being able to read and see what others are doing around the various discussion points.

 

So what was my favorite task and what did I find the most rewarding experience from this unit?

Easily the best experience from this unit was the Persona and Identity Map. The workshop was great because it provided some great context on what we should be focusing on, and also a place to start. Compared to many units, this was a great way to introduce our assignment and get some ideas. What I really enjoyed from this experience was the amount of time it took me to create the designs, and in that time I was able to reflect on how I use social media and online tools to represent myself. Reflection and self-analysis is a tool that I have been practicing in several areas of my life for some period of time and I used this to my advantage throughout my persona and also my blogs.

My persona

 

 

 

Critical Reflection and Online Identity

The learning resources available each week provided a good backdrop to this unit, I did however find it quite hard to keep a consistent pattern when it came to my readings. I would typically focus on my work (Evens) and then spend that same week to read through the previous week (Odds). My personal preferences also stopped how I communicated (participation) with others on platforms and this is due how I like to represent myself online. I believe that my effort to connect with others was very minimal and I put this down to my own personal motivations, in which I did not feel necessary for this unit to achieve the results I wanted. The variety and range of topics that each week consisted of kept this subject interesting, even without having to go to university or classes.

 

In summary, I’d like to say that this unit has helped me reflect on myself, my online identity and has also shown me what my motivation for social media is. Blogging is a great tool for expression, sharing and connecting with others. But what intrigues me the most is that you have the ability to tell a story, and I’ve always been the type of person to keep my story inside rather then share with everyone.

 

That’s it, all done, no more! #freefromassignments

Artists’ communities in social media spaces – Patreon

The topic of this blog post will focus on the social platform – Patreon. This service is used by artists around the world as a crowdfunding source for their work. After launching the site in 2013, Patreon had registered 125,000 users both patrons and creators within the first year and a half[1]. Since then, Patreon has been recognised as a platform for artists that need a place to share their work whilst having revenue options and support from the community.

 

Patreon has some key features that has allowed it’s service to reach new users across the world:

• Content created pages that host media e.g. Artwork, Music, Videos, Games, Crafts & DIY [2]
• User pledges that offer creators payment for their work
• User rewards for their payments
• Small fees from user contribution goes towards Patreon and its development
• Moderation on content to ensure the work is produced
• Commenting and sharing options

 

The relationship between the creators and the patrons is what ensures the success of the platform and without this contribution from the community Patreon will struggle to generate an income due to the lack of fees raised after the user pledges. A key point to ensure the success of any social platform is to the provide the users with content and let them be rewarded first. As you can see, the creators are able to generate revenue to support their endeavours (content and other expenses), but as a general user you have the ability to scroll through all the various categories and see the interesting work that has been created for you. While some users may choose to support their favorite creators, there will always be room for someone who is just using the service to browse through the interesting content that the community has created.

 

Crowdfunding services like Kickstarter and Patreon have been in increasing their reach the last few years because of the opportunities available after sharing the projects or goals to the communities. The potential for sponsors and revenue options have yielded as a great opportunity for creative individuals/groups thus encouraging many entrepreneurs or designers to share their efforts and creations. As we venture towards a society that encourages people to share their creativity and passion it’s clear that these services can help fund and support many projects and creations. It’s not always something that people haven’t seen before, for example this creator shares how to steps, videos and information articles about his interests such as building cupboards, skateboards, walls and much more. Check out his introduction video below!

 

and here’s a cool video he made for the creation of a pocket notebook:

 

In summary, social platforms have given people a voice to express their opinion or businesses an opportunity to have a larger marketing reach. Patreon has provided a service for artists, designers and entrepreneurs that allows them to express their creativity whilst offering them with a way to generate revenue and connect with the people that they are sharing their work with. It’s interesting to see how each creator approaches their work and how that allows them to reach different niches within the internet.

 

So have you pledged or supported a creative individual so that you could benefit from their work?

MyFitnessPal – Life Logging Tool (Self Quantification)

Quantified self is a term used to describe an individual who uses technology and data to track/monitor different aspects of their life (e.g. Calories, Sleep, Exercises, etc). The use of mobile devices and the sensors available have given us an opportunity to better ourselves and connect with others doing the same through social media aspects. What makes tracking these daily activities so useful is the ability to analyse the data, and then from there figure out ways to make ones self better, or to review the data and figure out what may have lead that individual the wrong way.

 

One of my personal applications that I use is MyFitnessPal. I’m a gym-junkie and one of the most important part about going to gym and lifting weights is the nutrition behind the body which will support my exercise. Through the use of research, some calculators and just experience I am aware of how many calories I need when I am looking to increase my weight, maintain my weight or lose weight. What makes my MyFitnessPal so versatile is the tools that have been developed. For example, a user can establish their macro-nutrient goal (I myself use this: 50% Carbohydrates 30% Protein 20% Fat) for the day, allowing them to monitor the foods they eat whilst tracking the macros and calories. MyFitnessPal requires the user to log each and every single meal for there to be an accurate tracking system, and by skipping meal entries the data log isn’t able to provide the best information relating to the weekly totals or daily calorie/macro intake. That being said, this application requires consistency and effort from the user.

 

 

I’ll admit, using MyFitnessPal everyday can be a hassle and even though it’s easy to add foods (especially with the barcode scanner), it is still time consuming. After using this application for several months/years I find myself being able to judge and estimate the macros/calories of a food without using the app, thus allowing me to be self-aware without the need for the MyFitnessPal. This application has been handy, but I find it hard to continue using the service everyday especially when I am eating take-away. That is why I choose to go without MyFitnessPal when looking to increase my weight, whilst when planning to lose weight I make sure that I add and track all my meals.

 

In summary, self quantification is a great way to become more self-aware, self-knowledgeable and ultimately self-improve. However, self quantification generally requires some form of self discipline so that you can provide the best and most accurate results. MyFitnessPal is a great application for the gym-junkies, but also for everyday people looking to improve their health by tracking their calories and working towards their fitness goals. Using self quantification to track calories/macros can also be a great way to stay motivated and on track with your goals.

Creating an Online Community: Build-Your-Body

Introduction

For the past several weeks I have sharing posts which have a focus around Web 2.0 best practices, this post will be me sharing an idea of a new social platform with me as the community manager/designer. Over the past several weeks we have been introduced to several key features that are needed to maintain the users base, whilst being able to provide relevant content that ensures the success of the service. I hope to explain how I would begin a service that creates value from user created content and the connections made between users. The service that I’m looking to start is called Build-Your-Body (BYB).

 

Build-Your-Body, the Social Platform

The BYB service is a cloud-based social platform available on all devices allowing users to connect, communicate and share information like medical articles or training spreadsheets, videos (form videos, meal preparation, etc), pictures (transformation, bar path) and generate questions that peers can comment on and provide feedback. The scope of the BYB is to provide beginners, intermediate and advanced lifters with a social platform that meets their expectations. By enabling the users to share content related to their goals or training, they can gather feedback from those in the community who are able to support them with advice and resources to perform better. The purpose of having this service available is to spread knowledge with support and accurate information, and by using this service all of the users can take time to better themselves and their training.

How would BYB ensure success and what are the expectations?

To ensure the success of BYB against competitors like Bodybuilding.com, a strategy must be implemented that places the benefit of using this service higher than it’s competitors. Users will be given tools that are actually wanted within the service such as Cloud storage for their information (examples: Squat video, Training Spreadsheet, Nutrition Plan) allowing them to share their resources with friends, groups or the newsfeed. By incorporating other social platform designs and techniques, the user will understand how to navigate the interface easily and then make connections without the strain of learning each step required. It is important that each user gets involved and feels like their identity is accepted, by including features to introduce new members, such as polls, basic tutorial videos and various chat rooms, users can quickly get connected with others. BYB will bring something new and exicting to the industry by establishing groups like: Bodybuilders, Strongman, Powerlifters, High Intensity Sports/Training, Nutritional Advice, and smaller niches within that such as Brisbane Runners, Sydney Strength Camp. These groups will allow a platform of individuals to learn, share and grow together through the use of the innovation in a Pull model [1] (user visit collection, where users are attracted to seeing a news feed). As the groups grow, more information between users is shared which leaves room for moderation and advanced users/lifters to provide well-written/published articles that can draw a lot of attention between multiple groups thus connecting the service together.

 

How can early adopters benefit?

An interesting feature similar to Dropbox would work well, where if you invite a friend you receive extra storage. Here are some simple tricks that could work for BYB:

1. They can help shape the future platform by sharing ‘accurate’ and researched backed information as staples for communication regarding various topics
2. More space in the users Cloud storage
3. Ranking system (i.e. Noob, Beginner, Beta, Intermediate, Advanced, Alpha)
   • As user begin to share, connect, get voted for and help other there are given points toward reaching new ranks
4. Reward system for those who provide exceptional service to the community (Moderator privileges, Higher reaching posts)

Adding early adopter benefits is a huge to key to the success of the BYB, and will ensure that early members are happy with the current state of the service. Using polls, chats, groups or messages it will be easier to find better suited features for the public and perhaps invest into their ideas.

 

Conclusion

In summary, BYB would allow for multiple niches to be formed with the ulimate goal of connecting each other through fitness and health. Sharing information that is both accurate and tested is key to delivery benefit to those in the community, but the only value is through the users input and ability to maintain their efforts for a long period. Having some ‘addictive’ features (rankings or larger storage) in place will ensure long-term success and with appropriate moderation users can filter out the non-sense and focus on doing the right things towards their goals.

 

What type of group would you be looking for in an online fitness community? And would be willing to take advice from individuals or would you rather see someone in-person?

 

 

 

 

Network Effect

As social networks continue to expand and reach new customers on a global scale, it’s interesting to look at how they started and what got them to where they are today. Originally many companies like Facebook or Imgur started with a small number of users looking to capture their attention with their features and available content. By using the network effect they have grown rapidly allowing the company to grow and increase their market share. This blog post will be looking at Network Effects and how LinkedIn has capitalised on it.

What is the ‘Network Effect’

Like many Web 2.0 theories, a Network Effect requires time that will ultimately capture value by increasing the user base. However, there are four types of network effects[1]:

1. Direct
   • The value of the service (e.g. more content) becomes greater as more users adopt
2. Indirect
   • Due to increased usage, the service/product has options to better the service and provide more value (e.g. enhancing upon features to suit users)
3. Cross-network Effect
   • As one of the services adds value, the potential for other services to benefit from this increases (e.g. software packaged with an operating system)
4. Local network
   • Typically the user will be influenced by other users due to the nature of the service (e.g. After watching a video, a video recommendation that other users clicked on is shared to the user)

These network effects are needed to ensure the user base adopts the service whilst also encouraging the user to stay because of the value that is provided commonly through the service. Without the network effect, users may experience unrelated content and they may lose passion for the service.

LinkedIn

If you haven’t heard of LinkedIn, it is a professional networking site used by businesses, self-employed, entrepreneurs, and job seekers. LinkedIn launched in 2003 with only several users signing up daily (slow adoption) and was primarily used as an online service to manage professional contacts (similar to keeping a business card for that person). As of 2014 LinkedIn has reported more than 332, 000, 000 registered members [2], which is due to the free service avaliable for new members. As a free member you are entitled to the basics of the service:

• Profile page (including details, skill sets, profile summary)
• Job Recommendation
• Messaging/Invitations
• Skills/Endoresments

This basic membership is a great example of the network effect, because like most social platforms, the more users the better! By increasing the amount of basic users, those who pay for the premium service are able to reach a larger audience (potentially making themselves a better candidate by recruiting agencies). As the user base expands and connections amongst professionals are established, a cross-network effect can be applied. For example, if the multiple groups of users begin to interact and endorse each other both parties can benefit from their connections/invitations/endorsements. However, there is also a direct network effect apparent here, due to the large adoption amongst businesses and social groups, it’s almost a social norm to have a LinkedIn account for others to recommend you and endorse you. The more registered users, the more value for everyone.

Conclusion

Without a strong network effect incorporated into a social platform it’s hard for that service to maintain it’s market share and also the users interest within that service. By including a network effect that benefits not only the business but the users, a social platform has a greater opportunity for adoption and potential customer reach. Thanks for reading.

Is it wrong for social platforms to force these network effects upon all users (e.g. Local network – Social Influence)?

Connect with my LinkedIn here: My Profile (not a huge user currently)

Social Media in Times of Need (Natural Disasters) – Sydney Siege

The 15th of December, I remember my dad opening my door waking me up to inform me that there was a hostage situation in Sydney right around the corner from where my sister was working. As I started to wake up and question what my dad was saying I did my morning ritual of scrolling through Facebook and Instagram. My friends were already aware of the situation and some posts were circling around my newsfeed. My dad was able to contact my sister (who was also seeing my visiting mum) and ensured their safety. As the siege continued throughout the day more and more posts began to circle with information relating to the man and topics around ISIS occurring[1].

It was a strange time, and could be argued as the most historical terrorist attack on Australia’s homeland. The hostage situation lasted several hours[2] and sparked the social media hashtag #illridewithyou. This hashtag was used to help and support those who were facing adversity due to the race/religion of the man responsible for the hostage situation[3]. In tough times it’s common for people with different backgrounds and ideologies to come together to support each other. What makes this situation so interesting is the fact that the Australian public stood behind those who in some instances would be targeted, and made the situation a positive reflection of our culture and how we treat our each other.

An image of Australia with the hashtag that occurred during the Sydney Siege.

As the day went on and the media continued to track and share live updates, Australia watched closely waiting patiently for something to happen. This was the first time we had faced the controversy of a suspected terrorist attack and it made me consider just how safe we really are in this country. This story was huge for social media and thousands of tweets, statuses, photos and videos were shared in relation the incident. The story unfolded on social media, rather then using the usual medium – TV or Radios, Facebook/Twitter. Social media was used to announce updates on the incident, even videos of the hostages escaping leaked on social media almost immediately. The problem with this type of information is the detail and accuracy of each post, it can’t exactly be confirmed and often leaves room for misinterpretation or just wrongly share information. What was also really special was the fact that a hostage used social media to connect with their friends to share the terrorists requests and send messages to the public, “Please broadcast on all media that this is an attack on Australia by the Islamic State.”[4]

An image of news reporters speaking to Haron Monis prior to the Sydney Siege in relation to sending offending letters.

How can social media be a great tool in the case of natural disasters? Social media is a great way for communities to connect in hard times, everyday people have a voice with Facebook and Twitter (Social Platforms), and also being able to share your support or receive support whilst in times of suffer can potentially make a world of difference for those who might need it the most. The amount of information available in these situations is remarkable and staying up to date with the latest news is as simple following a hashtag or reading some statuses.. In conclusion, it’s safe to say that if I was to ever experience a disaster I would turn to social media for help, support and information.

So when have you used social media to connect with news and breaking stories?

A reflection upon my Online Identity

Introduction

Welcome everyone, especially those from the IAB260 Community. This particular blog post will take a step into my personal life and I will provide a critical reflection relating to my social media experience. The post will also look at how I use social technologies to ‘brand’ myself and the different types of activities I perform. The reflection fofowill also be based around the learning outcomes and process from designing a Persona and Identity Map.

 

At this point I’d like to clarify what a Persona is to me. It is an online identity of a individual or party (business), that presents themselves in a particular way. This usually aligns with the goals and motivation of the social technology at use, whilst allowing the user to conduct themselves in way that reflects their personality and professionalism. My online identity has been in the making since I was a young kid using the computer to play Pinball and Age of Empires. As technology advanced and new services such as MSN, Myspace, Facebook and more were introduced it became apparent that I needed to create an online identity that I believe depicted personality.

 

Professionalism

So what’s my persona? I decided to review my Facebook first because I believe it is the most used and has the most connections with family and friends. I’m not one to share a Facebook status every week, or simply upload a photo. I find that Facebook statuses have less purpose now days, due to the difference between what you upload, and what you’re trying to share with your friends. But how good is messaging friends, group chats, or just connecting with a new friend after a night out! Facebook allows me to engage with my circle of friends, like their stories/photos, comment on their milestones and say happy birthday.. But I don’t like to share much of my story (day to day, rants, photos), except for the occasional YouTube video, Work related (Supplement Store Sales) or the rare achievement:

My Facebook identity is unique and that’s why I find it hard to click the upload button and I sometimes question why I don’t post more often. Facebook is the centre for my identity and it shows who I am to not only my friends, but also my family, co-workers and future employers. The network I’ve established has created a good platform for both work and social activity which I find is my main motivation for using Facebook. The messaging, and informative content are my favourite features but the privacy, suggested newsfeed and time wasted scrolling is what makes me resent Facebook. As time moves forward I will continue to adapt my Facebook identity to represent who I am and what makes me different.

Facebook Profile

To close the chapter on Facebook.. It’s a love hate relationship. I like to separate myself from Facebook for several weeks or months when I’m not at University. I need Facebook to connect with my friends and peers, without Facebook as a medium for communication it can be very hard to organise things and actually keep track of my friends. But what makes Facebook so interesting is the option to be anything you want. By simply creating the right connections or sharing some meaningful information you have opened new doors and given yourself a way to connect with anybody in your friends list. It’s a huge service and everyone has their on way of enjoying the experience.

 

Socialist and Personal Interests

To move on, I’d like to reflect on my personal interests which are incorporated into the use of Instagram and YouTube. These two services are easily my favourites of the social technologies that I use, and I can’t remember a day where I didn’t use at least one of these applications. Instagram is a simple application, I use it to follow from my friends, artists, YouTube personalities, athletes and businesses. While I use Instagram to connect with various people, the main attraction is the photos my friends upload and also the short videos that are shared by celebrities/businesses. But what is my activity like compared to others? My expectation when using Instagram is that it allows individuals to create a network of interesting contacts whilst providing them with a platform to share their own personal stories or even brand themselves. Now, YouTube is a little bit different. When I use YouTube I am trying to learn and discover new things in relation to gym (exercises), health (diet and mental), and work (IT techniques) whilst trying to find entertainment within the context. What makes me different from everyone else on YouTube though? My subscriptions have been changing since a I was a young member, originally using YouTube to watch skate videos, game tutorials, interviews and to listen to music. As I grew and as I discovered what was interesting to me, I was able to find channels that were active and provided content relating to my interests. I have filtered my subscriptions and am constantly adding new channels. YouTube can provide me with a great tool to find and select new approaches for real world situations and that is why I love the service so much. Here’s a sample of the videos I tend to watch:

When reflecting on how I use Instagram and YouTube, I’ve come to the conclusion that I am a highly active and often spend hours weekly using these services without really contributing anything. For me to share content on YouTube I would of course have to discuss a particular/certain topic to which would require some effort, planning and work. As stated, I use YouTube for entertainment and a tool to learn, and I like being able to use it to get away from life sometimes. This is similar to Instagram, I really enjoy the service and love seeing photos/videos from the people I follow. But just like Facebook, I’m very particular about what I post and I’d rather not share all my stories. I do however enjoy sharing photos of my travels, stories, activities and the occasional captioned selfie.

 

Screenshot of one of my Instagram posts.

I guess you could say that I prefer quality of quantity on both the professional scale and also my friendly social activities. By sharing something that has meaning to me, it shows my followers that I believe what I’m sharing and I’m using it as a tool to express what I am doing, or what I have done. In my opinion there is so much information available online and it’s up to the individual to find the sources to meet their goals. My main motivation behind using social technologies to connect with individuals that will help me grow stronger (mentally and physically) and connect with old and new friends.

 

Persona

I’d like to share with you all the Persona diagram that I designed for the IAB260 Social Technologies Unit. This diagram was required for part of the assessment and will be used in an exhibit with my peers and QUT visitors. It took some time to develop this, having to make a lot of changes and updates based on feedback from my peers and friends. I was able to gather lots of interesting icons using The Noun Project, whilst editing and designing with Photoshop CS6. I believe this persona diagram accurately displays my online identity and what type of person I am when it comes to using various forms of social technologies. The design phase was great and it really made me think about the activities I was doing on each platform. As I reflected, I took the time to review my history and the style of posts I shared. I tried to apply this information to my persona and also my online identity.

Persona

Online Identity Map

As previously mentioned this diagram is also being used for assessment. This Identity Map is used to depict how I work and remain professional, whilst have fun and socialise. The scale is used to identify the actions that I believe were a large importance when using an application in each manner (Professional/Social). While each application may seemed linked, each one of these services are not linked and I have a very different personality on all of them. I used a lot of my information from my Persona to fill information about the applications and what I used it for.

Identity Map

 

Conclusion

This was a great experience and it took some time to plan, design and develop the diagrams. The benefit of making these illustrations was the opportunity to spend reflecting on self image. I enjoyed reviewing the type of posts I made and also what made them important to me when I shared them. Each application is different and I think it’s important for me to use these tools to express myself. Although I find it hard to hit that share button, it always feels good knowing that people value my opinion and what I’m saying.

 

Thanks for reading this blog post and taking the time to reflect with me.

Leveraging the Long Tail – Netflix

Another week, another topic. Leveraging the Long Tail and a look at Netflix (recently released in Australia).

 

Long Tail Methodology

Long Tail has been described as: “The theory of the Long Tail is that our culture and economy is increasingly shifting away from a focus on a relatively small number of “hits” (mainstream products and markets) at the head of the demand curve and toward a huge number of niches in the tail.” Stated by Chris Anderson[1], the editor-in-chief of Wired Magazine. To put this clearly, products that are very popular (hits) sell themselves, so the delivery of those smaller products rely on the quality and effective selling points. This means that if the product is correctly marketed or presented these items have a great opportunity to sell due to audience and quality of the product. Whilst also being favourable to consumers due to the potential decrease in costs and favourable to retailers because they can provide infinite storage space (no shelves required to stock online orders).

 

Now lets move onto the interesting stuff, Netflix!

If you have never heard of Netflix before, here’s a summary. Netflix is on-demand media streaming service available in a variety of countries that currently has over 50 million subscribers[2]. So what makes Netflix so popular? Netflix delivers thousands of choice to its consumers, by providing them with the latest movie, TV, and documentary releases at a very reasonable price:

1. $8.99 AUD/month with 1 screen in SD
2. $11.99 AUD/month with 2 screens, available in HD
3. $14.99 AUD/month with 4 screens, available in HD/Ultra HD

What makes Netflix so popular is the catalogue of media that they provide to the consumer. There is a huge range of choices, ranging from kids material, horror movies, sport documentaries, your favourite TV show and even some stand-up comedy. Looking at this in relation the the Long Tail, Netflix provides some of the largest TV show episodes for example Breaking Bad or Prison Break, from start to finish (every season, every episode). But what makes Netflix so widely adopted is the fact that they also share the unknown shows, similar to their movies and other media. The cost effectiveness, ability to provide self-service (choose and stream), suggestions/recommendation and options for media is what makes Netflix and products long tail so popular.

 

Netflix Australia Catalogue (Click to enlarge)

 

Another important feature that Netflix offers is the recommendation tool used to suggest similar media based off the previous viewed experiences. The community was given an opportunity to win a million dollars by providing an algorithm which would recommend users another media to watch next[3]. How does the algorithm work? As mentioned by Xavier Amatriain[4], Netflix uses a Restrcited Boltzman Machine (RBM) and a form of Matrix Factorization. Using both of these methods (and others that are not mentioned), Netflix is able to match the users complex demands for entertainment by suggesting quality media.

 

With so many options to discover within Netflix, they have thought of a way to connect friends and the community. Before or after watching a video, a user can recommend the media to friends via social media API’s. When it comes to watching unknown media, Netflix has provided a 5 star rating review system for the community. By including this feature, Netflix has provided a way to easily decide if you should watch this media. For example, you can filter media based on top rated, or on a scale of 1-5 stars.

 

As you can see, Netflix provides the world with a huge demand for movies, TV shows and other media. This service has been so widely adopted because of its easy to use self-service, at a low-cost (compared to renting from video stores) and general ability to watch what you want, when you want. That’s it for this post, I hope you enjoyed the read.

 

Now it’s time to stream some movies! 

Online Communities #IAB260

Welcome all, this blog post will be focused on the discussion around online communities, the characteristics of an online community, and where they might occur.

[1]

What is an online community?

To be quite clear an online community is a group of people that are communicating with each other. The difference between an online community and social networks is generally the interest that draws the user in, also known as a hobby for example games, cooking, etc. As the community expands more communication and collaboration occurs which require specific tools to ensure a good user experience. The rise of Web 2.0 has enabled online communities to grow rapidly and this is due to the amount of interactive tools available, for example discussion boards (forums), reviews, messaging systems, and the ability to create lists of interests or friends [2].

 

What characteristics do they have?

There are four main characteristics that danah boyd has mentioned[3], that I believe are consistent throughout the various online communities.

1. Profiles:
   Each online community provides its users with an option to create/register a profile. The user then has the ability to tweak their profile to allow certain privacy restrictions (E.g. Public, Private, and Semi-Public). As the user begins to interact with the community, overtime their profile becomes an identity which can be used to portray their personality, professionalism or just the fact they are another anonymous user.
2. Friends List:
   Participants of an online community will have opportunities to find and connect with people from all kinds of backgrounds. It’s this key feature that allows users to interact with their peers. It provides users with a way to connect and share with each others content, thus creating value in the connection and a reason to share information to the intended audience.
3. Tools for public communication
   The interactive tools that we see today that have been shaped by and for the online communities we all use. The following interactive tools are some examples of the key functionality that have provided the backbone for the growth of these online communities:
   •  commenting and messaging systems
   • chat rooms
   • discussion boards
   • file sharing

   Without these essential tools, the online communities we see today would surely not be as functional, beneficial or entertaining. With these available features the users are able to provide the final characteristic, content.

4. Content
   By definition content is described as:

   “Relevant, compelling, timely and valued knowledge and/or entertainment.” – David Erickson[4]

   With that in mind, online communities are able to provide a vast array of ranging topics including content on all different kinds of levels. In summary content can be seen as text related information, videos, images etc.

 

Where do they occur?

So where can a someone like yourself find an online community? Here’s a list of the few communities that I use:

Facebook – Within my Facebook profile I am connected with several communities, two for work, one for shoe selling/buying/sharing with over 9.7k members, and University groups.

YouTube – As an enthusiast of health and fitness, YouTube has a large fitness community with various accounts to provide content and different ways to approach training/nutrition.

Google+ – A community has been establish on G+ for students of Social Technologies (IAB260), which is great for keeping up to date with the lecturers/tutors and also peers.

In summary, if you’re looking to expand your knowledge of a certain topic, or maybe just looking to connect with others who share similar interests, an online community is a great place to start. Online communities provide users with a place to connect, share but most of all be heard. You have the option to create your own identity and share what really matters to you and that is what makes online communities so engaging. Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or constructive feedback please leave a comment at the bottom.

 

So what online communities are you apart of?

Software Above the Level of a Single Device – VEND

Welcome all, today I will be defining ‘software above the level of a single device’ and also sharing some great information about the service Vend[1]. Ready?

 

Vend Company Logo

 

Definition of Software Above the Level of a Single Device

The technology advancements in the last decade has allowed previous PC based websites/applications to be viewed on any device, at any time, anywhere. The internet has provided so many options for consumers and it is now common for these services to be linked between devices. The phrase ‘software above the level of a single device’ represents the capabilities that have been realised within the technology, thus increasing the potential for features, whilst creating a better designed platform that is truly developed for the real world usability. The software/services are now being developed strategically to connect the data across various devices, servers and networks. The adoption of this strategy has seen huge growth in businesses engagement and provided a strong infrastructure for a large community.

 

Vend in review

Let me begin with the basics:

• Written in HTML5
• Cloud-based point of sale service
• Available on all platforms/devices
• Vend can work offline
• Opportunity for several add-ons
• Add and track inventory
• Multiple reporting features
• 24/7 End user support

 

Real Example the Vend Dashboard including several features and statistics (Click for a full size image)

 

Now lets get back onto the topic.. Vend provides software that is available to all devices, that being said retailers are able to use this service in their stores, on the run, or even at home. With the option to use this service on your iPad, retailers can now leave the counter and actually connect with the consumers. Being portable isn’t the only benefit, in the case of PC malfunction, or network issues, Vend can provide an easy solution with its offline options and multiple devices being able to access the service at any given time (anywhere).

 

With the appropriate businesses, it is possible to use reporting features to manage and analyse the sales/data that is being entered into Vend. Larger businesses are able to connect their stores and view clearly the information that is being entered. As the company grows these figures can then be used to provide KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators), stock management, staff sales, store totals and many more valuable options.

 

It’s important to remember what the key value is in this service, which is providing a means to sell products and track each sale. Vend has made that easy, using simple sale procedures that can be followed with a few simple clicks. Even on a phone or tablet, each sale can be easily updated and tracked allowing for on-site sales and much more. Data is shared between all services and can be easily updated if mistakes happen, for example:

1. A user accidentally sells a wrong item and doesn’t realise until their next shift. They could easily call a manager or another employee and share the information needed to easily update their wrong doing. Or they could log on from their phone before they go to bed and make the necessary adjustments to fix the mistakes.
2. A customer is in a rush to purchase an item but the PC behind the counter is having difficulty accessing the internet. As the end user, you decide to finalise the order by using Vend on your mobile device ensuring the customer doesn’t have to wait for the PC to be fixed.

 

Vend has adopted some of the most essential business needs when it comes to finalising a sale, tracking store sales, monitoring stock, adjusting prices and many more options. It has provided a unique service that can be accessed from all devices and platforms whilst being able to offer offline services in those desperate times. As the technology around us continues to develop, so do our businesses and as employers start to focus on the delivery of best practices these kinds of services are quickly being implemented due to the ease-of-use and the ability to share data between devices and networks. Vend provides multiple options for businesses to incorporate dynamic sales, and since we are all on the move these days isn’t it about time that we can offer retail service on our phones and tablets?

 

Thank you reading (may have been a bit long!), and as usual please any feedback or comments and I will return the favour.