4 posts tagged “web 2.0”

Al Gore and the Purpose-Driven Web - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11...

“The purpose, I would urge all of you — as many of you as are willing to take it up — is to bring about a higher level of consciousness about our planet and the imminent danger and opportunity we face because of the radical transformation in the relationship between human beings and the Earth,” Mr. Gore said Friday evening at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco.

I am getting a bit tired by Al Gore's efforts to raise awareness on climate change issues. I believe that he is stuck in a vicious circle. His award-winning personality has raised more eyebrows than the causes he supports. Yet, he made a point at the Web 2.0 summit and I am glad we are starting to talk about the purpose-driven Web. My master's thesis was on this topic and this NYTimes article justifies my essay.

There is more than blogging about our lives or sharing photos in Facebook or chatting on MSN. Social activism has gained a great potential through the Web 2.0 trend and we are still far from truly harnessing it. Maybe, we could learn a thing or two from Obama's web campaign. Hence his presence on YouTube, official blogs, Facebook, MySpace, etc. was a crucial element that convinced young voters to vote for him. 

The past few weeks, I have been occupied with the new Nokia service, Share on Ovi (ex-Twango). It has taken me by storm. I have been selecting a pile of photos and creating channels, where I can upload multiple new pics for each subject.

Share on Ovi reminds me of Flickr, but with more options and storage space. Every channel can be an evolving album, while each month 2 gigs of space are offered. Besides photos, a user can upload videos and documents. All files can be private and a user can choose which ones can be shared with the rest of the community. I am planning to upload some documents in private mode, because I need to format my windows-based laptop. Also, I love the way that Share on Ovi is integrated with my N95 8GB (business phone); though, I can't still install the service on my N82 which is my primary personal camera phone. The uploading options are also great. A user can upload his/her files with four different ways (one-by-one, multiple files and folders, e-mail and mobile phone). Pics can also be resized, so a user can save up space for more files, if he/she wants to take full advantage of the service.

What I would like to see is a better integration with major social networking sites and blogging sites, like Vox. For example, I wish I could transfer my photos from Flickr without having to download them and upload them one more time to Share. In addition, I would like to see a Facebook application, because I want an one-stop destination for my pictures and share them with my friends through my Facebook profile without uploading them to both sites. If the rumors are real and Nokia is going to achieve a big partnership with Facebook, then my dream will not be far away. Searching through media and users is kind of awkward and the service has to become more stable, because there are times when the site is unavailable.

Nevertheless, Ovi is destined to have a great potential and I hope that Nokia will make the best out of it and soon, because I would be really disappointed if all the buzz around the new Nokia handsets and Share on Ovi was blown away.

PS. I uploaded around 65 photos from my trips to New York and create a slideshow. I hope you enjoy it!

It's been so far quite a day. I presented some points from my thesis to undergrads who seemed interested on the subject. Yet, I have a difficult time finding the proper material. A short books list will not be accepted, therefore I need to find empirical evidence. 

Good-morning from Athens, my fellow Voxers

A new year has started and time is running. I have less than 4 months to research, write, submit and present my master's thesis. Since my subject is about new social movements and the impact of the internet and the social networking trend, I want to share my progress and thoughts with you, my neighbors, because we all met through an online social network. Comments and feedback is expected and welcomed! Sharing ideas is one of the greatest things the web has brought to our society; why not make the best out of it?

One of my basic readings is Cyberprotest: New Media, Citizens and Social Movements, edited by W.Van De Donk. It's a collection of essays regarding the titled subject and it provides a great insight. Accompanied with the work of Manuel Castells, the reader will enter a whole new world.

The basic idea is that the internet gives a digital touch to all communications, breaks the geographical barriers and transmits ideas faster than ever. Well, this is true. In the meantime, the way politics function and especially the operation of the civil society is transforming under the prism of the so called Web 2.0 wave. No matter where you live, you can still be motivated to participate in a social cause's campaign. I believe that many of you still remember the blogging initiative last fall concerning the environment and climate change. People from all over the world dedicated a post for global warming and this action became so big that even Greek TV shows showed a certain amount of interest.

Meanwhile, there are websites, such as Razoo and Change.org, that promote private initiatives towards social causes and have gained popularity. It is becoming more clear to me that we need to re-define the term "New Social Movements". I don't think that they are driven by a certain idea, but rather by the sense of common, social welfare.

What's your opinion on this matter?