Open & Crowd Sourcing "Oh the Possibilities"

Open Source & Crowd Sourcing 

The internet has not only created new and innovative ways to connect with each other. The web has web has also changed the way we create programs and projects from the ground up. Thanks to open source and crowd sourcing projects and software are constantly being improved at a stellar rate, with one goal in mind to create and improve. 

I believe these new forms of innovation is a benefactor to internet users overall, but nothing is perfect under the sun.       

When searching for the definition of open source on the internet I came across wordnetweb.princeton.edu. It stated “Open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials—typically, their source code. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology.” When thinking of these definitions one would have to acknowledge the fact the open sourcing is a philosophy and a way of thinking that also when applied to society can have profound effects. The philosophy of open sourcing is a mission for ever-improvement free for all to enjoy. Initially I thought open sourcing was simply giving away free software however after going to opensource.org I see now that open sourcing has specific criteria. The first being of course free distribution, the program also must not discriminate against any person or denomination, and most notably the software must allow modifications to be made upon the original version. Many who dispute open sourcing argue that it only leads to unnecessary copies of the same software, however using open source means there is more possibilities for improvement with no cost.

The possibilities for open sourcing are endless you can get a free image editor, a free sound editor, a free word processor, media player, file archiver, PDF creator… the list goes on and on and on. While some of these free apps do not offer quite the same level of polished functionality as their commercial rivals, others far exceed the capabilities of everything else on the market. The possibility for open sourcing is so unrestricted. The vast majority of software is created cross-platform and accessible to everyone. Culturally if we take on an open source mentality, societal change would be swift and imminent. The foundation of open sourcing is to create improvements for the people by the people with no discrimination.

Crowd sourcing as defined by PCmag.com is the delegation of task to a large diffuse group, usually without monetary compensation. Many in business see many possibilities in crowd sourcing. The use of collective intelligence of the public at large to complete a business-related problem, but free labor is only a narrow part of crowdsourcing's appeal. However many may see crowdsourcing as a way to get their foot in the door of a particular industry. Crowdsourcing can improve productivity and creativity while minimizing labor and research expenses. Using the Internet to solicit feedback from an active and passionate community of customers can reduce the amount of time spent collecting data through formal focus groups or trend research, while also seeding enthusiasm for upcoming products. By involving a group of customers in key marketing, branding, and product-development processes, managers can reduce both staffing costs and the risks associated with uncertain marketplace demand.

Netflix has a crowdsource component in their website. Specifically to improve the software algorithms used to offer customer video recommendations. The team or individual that achieves key software goals will receive $1 million. Crowdsourcing has great potential. Businesses use it as inexpensive labor and many apply the same mind-set as open sourcers, which is to work in efforts to improve what has already been established. I believe if we all take on the ideals of crowd and opensourcing, the standard of giving and civic service would be at an all time high. 

http://www.nydailynews.com/tech_guide/2009/09/21/2009-09-21_netflix_prize.html

http://www.opensource.org/docs/osd

wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Social Media and Web 2.0

1) The ability to create your own high quality media content is now at the tip of our fingers due to advances in technology. Many TV shows and advertisements purposely try to emulate the gritty feel of a home production in efforts to connect with their target market. I believe that truly home grown content will get better overtime because of the improved standard of technology. As consumers we become even more savvy and aware of this kind of “forced grittiness” and will accept it as an art in itself. A great example of an independent entity produced with high quality is a company called 2-Cent Entertainment. With no major backing they are still able to produced high quality music videos. An example of a major company using lower level quality of content would be Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. Shows like Robot Chicken and Aqua Team Hunger Force have a amateurish feel to it. By doing this these shows connect with their target demographics that enjoy superficial humor.

Aqua Team Hunger Force 

2)   I personally was reluctant to get a FaceBook page of my own. I believed FaceBook would be no help in my social life and would add to the distraction in my life. However I ended up getting an account as a requirement for a poetry class last semester (second semester junior year). At first I would only use the site for homework post and discussion boards, then later I became hooked like everyone else. FaceBook has totally demolished Myspace as the leading social networking site because it is ever evolving. The site also maintains a professional layout and a clean reputation. On the other hand Myspace was publicly linked to many child predators, which brought it’s reputation down. FaceBook is here to stay because the site continues to update itself and use user-feedback to direct upgrades in the future. Since being indoctrinated into the social scene digitally my hesitation to connect with people online is nonexistent and I now use twitter as well. Twitter is great because it has an instantaneous element that makes you feel connected with the people you follow. Hopefully FaceBook can integrate some form of twitter within their site as well.        

3)   According to the reading, transparency is “when used in a social context implies openness, communication, and accountability” According to the Webster’s dictionary It is also described as an object that can be seen through. So the purpose of being transparent is so the core truth can be shown with little delay. The idea of transparency in the social media is vital for longevity and safety. It is important for users to know that what they are reading and participating is true. Without that layer of truth as the foundation of a social media site people can also get hurt as well. Although transparency is an important element to social media I believe it holds even more significance in the real world. when offline you interact with people hands on and in person so you must interpret the truth through body language, tone and gesture. In the offline world your character as a person is only based on what you reveal online, so overall the element of transparency is important on and offline.