Second Life is a world that is built and owned by its residents. Virtual worlds have become very popular because of the fantasy that they possess. Individuals can get away from their regular lives and enjoy meeting new people and participating in things that they may not usually be able to. Currently Second Life has over five million members around the world.
These virtual worlds allow people to meet others who have the same interests that they do. There are all kinds of things to do, from nightclubs to fashion shows. Real money can even be made in these worlds. “Residents” can create virtual goods and services to sell at in-world venues. Within the game, the real estate market provides opportunities to build communities and businesses with the currency in Second Life called Linden Dollars. Particularly in second life, musicians can participate in online concerts by streaming live video footage for residents to see.
Virtual worlds are fantasy games that can be very addicting. They are not for everyone, but can become very addicting for those who love are part of the communities. Players keep coming back to complete tasks to move to a new level or buy more things to boost their character. Often in rpg’s once the top level is reached the player begins again or a new game must be found. It is difficult to see what the future will bring for virtual worlds, but it seems that there are so many different aspects to them that anything may be possible.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
MySpace with a microsite
MySpace can be a very good resource for businesses, but it needs to be used in the correct way. The features need to be examined and used in the most efficient way. Lately MySpace has adopted different features such as applications, and friend updates.
One benefit of MySpace is that html coding can override the default MySpace profile. This would allow them to be able to target their page using the features that they want. The downside to this, is sometimes custom MySpace’s are often slower at loading, but not always.
As far as the features to use in the Myspace the most important ones would be blogs, bulletins, and friend updates. A weekly blog should be written about a continuing topic that “friends” will be able to expect. By posting bulletins the microsite’s page will come up on its “friend’s” bulletin space and may increase viewing that would direct them to the actual microsite.
It is important to keep the page as clean as possible. Making it too busy with many applications will cause the page to load slower and if it is too cluttered for some users they may not return or either delete or not add the microsite’s MySpace. An events calendar should be placed on the page because it will encourage viewers to go back and look at the page as well as market for events around Ventura County.
This MySpace has the possibility of being very successful for the youth in Ventura County, so it is crucial that all of the options be discussed before it is created in order to successfully reach the target audience.
One benefit of MySpace is that html coding can override the default MySpace profile. This would allow them to be able to target their page using the features that they want. The downside to this, is sometimes custom MySpace’s are often slower at loading, but not always.
As far as the features to use in the Myspace the most important ones would be blogs, bulletins, and friend updates. A weekly blog should be written about a continuing topic that “friends” will be able to expect. By posting bulletins the microsite’s page will come up on its “friend’s” bulletin space and may increase viewing that would direct them to the actual microsite.
It is important to keep the page as clean as possible. Making it too busy with many applications will cause the page to load slower and if it is too cluttered for some users they may not return or either delete or not add the microsite’s MySpace. An events calendar should be placed on the page because it will encourage viewers to go back and look at the page as well as market for events around Ventura County.
This MySpace has the possibility of being very successful for the youth in Ventura County, so it is crucial that all of the options be discussed before it is created in order to successfully reach the target audience.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Results
From my results on Survey Monkey I saw that most of the respondents use the Internet more than five times a day and use it for just about everything including paying bills. DSL is the most common for connection speed, although dial up is still used. All of the respondents are in college. The amount of income is primarily under $30,000 and the other options were distributed evenly. Windows is used most commonly used operating system among the respondents, with some users that used only apple and others who used both. Respondents felt it was more important to use a computer at work.
On the whole, most of the respondents use iTunes. The respondents download primarily music from iTunes. However, almost as many people don’t download at all from iTunes. Fifty percent of the respondents believe that iTunes is easy to use and would not use any other program. Overall, respondents believed that lyrics would be a beneficial addition to iTunes. As far as reviews when buying albums fifty percent of the respondents thought it would be helpful.
I was surprised to see that the respondents did not see iTunes as limiting when buying an album and that most of the respondents like the password guarded feature, however there are some that don’t purchase music at all because of this feature. I was not surprised to see that if iTunes was cheaper respondents would buy more music and that the program needed to be improved. The respondents believe that a good change would be to allow songs from iTunes to be put on other mp3 players.
Overall it is clear that iTunes needs to be improved. If the songs were cheaper more people would buy them, and if they were able to be used without a password Apple would get the consumers that do not purchase because they do not have the same flexibility that they do with illegal downloading or purchasing the actual album. Additional features would be helpful for buyers including the reviews and lyrics and perhaps other features or promotions. iTunes users are happy with the program, but believe that it could use some improvement.
On the whole, most of the respondents use iTunes. The respondents download primarily music from iTunes. However, almost as many people don’t download at all from iTunes. Fifty percent of the respondents believe that iTunes is easy to use and would not use any other program. Overall, respondents believed that lyrics would be a beneficial addition to iTunes. As far as reviews when buying albums fifty percent of the respondents thought it would be helpful.
I was surprised to see that the respondents did not see iTunes as limiting when buying an album and that most of the respondents like the password guarded feature, however there are some that don’t purchase music at all because of this feature. I was not surprised to see that if iTunes was cheaper respondents would buy more music and that the program needed to be improved. The respondents believe that a good change would be to allow songs from iTunes to be put on other mp3 players.
Overall it is clear that iTunes needs to be improved. If the songs were cheaper more people would buy them, and if they were able to be used without a password Apple would get the consumers that do not purchase because they do not have the same flexibility that they do with illegal downloading or purchasing the actual album. Additional features would be helpful for buyers including the reviews and lyrics and perhaps other features or promotions. iTunes users are happy with the program, but believe that it could use some improvement.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Startup.com
Startup.com featured how GovWorks.com was created and the trials and tribulations that come along with starting a business with a best friend. I felt the documentary captured the essence of starting a business, the problems, stress and everything that goes along with it. I found Kaleil and Tom’s friendship falling apart to be quite compelling and how their personalities changed. Their idea was a great one, but they were before their time and in addition to corporate espionage failed. The most interesting part of the documentary for me was watching them build the business up and once it became successful it expanded so fast. It is very unusual that someone who is not involved in the process whatsoever can see a business succeed or fail.
As I began thinking about the logo for Nextown I thought about the sound of the name and if it had been used in place of GovWorks the logo needed to express an online presence, speed and convenience.
My first thought was a road, because of the idea of going from one town to the next. I then thought of what needed to be expressed in the log and decided that the most important aspects of the logo for this company would be to show an online or computer presence as well as the road which would represent going from one town to the next. Finally I thought that the best way to combine them would be to have a computer monitor or LCD screen with a windy road on the screen.
computer screen
road
As I began thinking about the logo for Nextown I thought about the sound of the name and if it had been used in place of GovWorks the logo needed to express an online presence, speed and convenience.
My first thought was a road, because of the idea of going from one town to the next. I then thought of what needed to be expressed in the log and decided that the most important aspects of the logo for this company would be to show an online or computer presence as well as the road which would represent going from one town to the next. Finally I thought that the best way to combine them would be to have a computer monitor or LCD screen with a windy road on the screen.
computer screen
road
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
The iPod and Music
Apple launched the iPod on October 23, 2001 and now in 2008 there are four different types of iPods and the iPhone, which is also an iPod. Before the iPod mp3 files were not nearly as popular. Apple created a medium, which changed the way the world listens to music. It not only became a technology, but a pop culture icon featured in the media. The iPod had a “cool factor” and a monster was unleashed.
Currently there are six generations of the classic iPod. There are many consumers who choose to use an iPod and others who buy other brands of mp3 players. I am not very familiar with many other brands besides the iPod, which as I think about it is not very wise.
I am an avid music listener and whenever I find new music that I enjoy it allows me to think a little more when I get a different perspective on life from songs. I remember when I used to have a portable CD player and I would carry it around when my family went on vacations so I was able to bring my music with me. Unfortunately, it was not very compact with my case of CD’s that was probably bigger than a book. As I listened to more and more music, it became more inconvenient to carry it all so when my CD player died I got an iPod for Christmas.
From that time until now, I don’t even want to remember carrying those CD’s around. My iPod has all of my music on it and as it is such an important part of my life, I would be sad if it were to break, get stolen, or lost. The one thing that I do miss about the time before digital music files was having the cd case, and booklet with all of the words in it. Today, it seems that consumers have lost that part of the music experience.
I was recently introduced to a Pixio mp3 player, which had one feature in particular that I thought was very smart; it has speakers on the outside in addition to earphones so if the listener would like to share their music with others they are able to. Of course these speakers are not great, but for someone who just wants to play some songs without earphones it is great.
Apple began a trend that has changed the way that I, and millions of people listen to music. Not only has it affected the music industry, but also television, and film with the ability for consumers to buy episodes of TV shows and movies. I don’t know if I would watch something on my iPod because the screen is rather small, but who knows what apple will come up with next. Perhaps the iTV will bring a new element to the way we buy our entertainment in the future.
Currently there are six generations of the classic iPod. There are many consumers who choose to use an iPod and others who buy other brands of mp3 players. I am not very familiar with many other brands besides the iPod, which as I think about it is not very wise.
I am an avid music listener and whenever I find new music that I enjoy it allows me to think a little more when I get a different perspective on life from songs. I remember when I used to have a portable CD player and I would carry it around when my family went on vacations so I was able to bring my music with me. Unfortunately, it was not very compact with my case of CD’s that was probably bigger than a book. As I listened to more and more music, it became more inconvenient to carry it all so when my CD player died I got an iPod for Christmas.
From that time until now, I don’t even want to remember carrying those CD’s around. My iPod has all of my music on it and as it is such an important part of my life, I would be sad if it were to break, get stolen, or lost. The one thing that I do miss about the time before digital music files was having the cd case, and booklet with all of the words in it. Today, it seems that consumers have lost that part of the music experience.
I was recently introduced to a Pixio mp3 player, which had one feature in particular that I thought was very smart; it has speakers on the outside in addition to earphones so if the listener would like to share their music with others they are able to. Of course these speakers are not great, but for someone who just wants to play some songs without earphones it is great.
Apple began a trend that has changed the way that I, and millions of people listen to music. Not only has it affected the music industry, but also television, and film with the ability for consumers to buy episodes of TV shows and movies. I don’t know if I would watch something on my iPod because the screen is rather small, but who knows what apple will come up with next. Perhaps the iTV will bring a new element to the way we buy our entertainment in the future.
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