Don't Hassle the Hoff

      Ok, prepare yourselves. Computer Mediated Communications has officially reached a new level. The infamous David Hasselhoff has created his own version of the social networking site MySpace, titled HoffSpace. The website, according to a tvsquad.com article was created for people are interested in social networking sites but want one that's more focused on something they are interested in rather than just one about themselves. David Hasselhoff, famous for his role on Baywatch and now judge on America's Got Talent, is excited about bring people together through a social networking site devoted to himself. Hasselhoff said, " I realized that while two people from two entirely different countries and backgrounds may seem to have nothing in common, the only thing that they might have in common is me...So I decided to start a network where people from across the world might come together and get a conversation started over me."

         Though Hasselhoff seems to have the right idea about social networks connecting different types of people from different parts of the world, I think its funny that he feels it needs to be about him. The website is a good way to promote Hasselhoff himself, because it boasts exclusive pictures and videos not available to those who are not members. On the website, members can create their own personal names and pages. Members can also communicate with each other by chatting on their web pages much like social networking sites of Facebook and MySpace.

      Social networking sites such as HoffSpace are much like message boards and forums to me, in a sense that it is a sharing of opinions, stories, likes/dislikes, etc. People who are huge fans of Hasselhoff can chat with one another about their favorite Hasselhoff roles, or can share knowledge on David Hasselhoff to one another. At the same time, those HoffSpace is also available to people who may not necessarily be fans of Hasselhoff's, so it may not also be beneficial to the star.

The same concerns that come along with social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace can follow into websites such as HoffSpace. The fact of the matter is that you still do not know the real person sitting behind the computer communicating with you. And you also do not know one's real intentions of joining and interacting on the website.

For those David Hasselhoff fans or haters, be sure to check out HoffSpace.

IM lingo

       Not only have we became a society so enthralled with computer mediated communication as opposed to face to face, but we also have created our own language to go along with it. I read an article from sciencedaily.com that discusses the AOL Instant Messaging language. The article states how people over the age of 30 would not understand the language because it was created by those from the younger generation. Dr. Pamela Takayoshi, a professor at Kent State University, said "Instant messaging, or IM, is not just bad grammar or a bunch of mistakes. IM is a separate language form from formal English and has a common set of language features and standards." Dr. Christina Haas, also from Kent State University, along with four undergraduate students performed a study on the language of Instant Messaging. The found the IM language to be playful, explicit, and abbreviated.

     The article brings up a good point saying that most technologies used today, especially for young people in my opinion, are writing technologies. Things such as blogs, text messaging, social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook, along with IM all are what the Kent State students considered "writing technologies." Through these technological programs, people not only communicate through computer mediated programs, but also use their writing skills as well. I believe that a lot of our IM language is abbreviated, and that just goes along with how lazy the younger generation can be. Instead of typing out "be right back," it is easier to simply say "brb." And using things such as "lol," meaning "laugh out loud," helps to fill in the gap between face to face communication and computer mediated communication. Meaning, since you can't physically hear or see someone laugh, they say "lol" to let one know they actually are.

 People have also studied they use of the IM language in face to face conversations. I personally find it silly in general to have an IM language, but am guilty of throwing around a few "lol's" myself. In text messages especially, however, I am annoyed when people do not spell out words, saying things like "ur" instead of "your." What's another two letters to type?

         The researchers are also now interested in studying the Facebook language and comparing it to that of the IM language. I feel like all computer mediated communication lingo's are all the same, whether it be IM, a social networking site, or text messaging.

        Well, ttyl. :)

"Broadcast Yourself"

Since it's creation in February 2005, the video sharing website YouTube has created a large worldwide frenzy. YouTube is available to all, registered users or not. Those who are not registered can watch personal video clips, movie or television clips, and even music videos. And registered users can upload an unlimited amount of video footage. Founded by three former PayPal employees, in 2005, YouTube was one of the only websites where video sharing was offered. In 2006, Google Inc. acquired the company for $1.65 billion U.S. dollars.
People today search YouTube for practically anything, and usually find it. A 2008 study showed that the website hosts 83.4 million videos and about 3.75 million user channels. Personally, I use the website often, searching for everything from music videos, to clips of some of my favorite movies, to video montages done by people I do not know.
The website has also offered an outlet for aspiring musicians, actresses, or performers in general. One popular budding musician I have heard of and watched on YouTube is Nick Pitera. Pitera posted many videos of him singing popular songs and clearly got noticed with over 7.3 million views on just one of this songs. Performers like Pitera uploaded those videos with high hopes of record labels, recording artists, etc. to notice.
YouTube can be classified as a social networking site, but I have heard of very little negative issues involved with the website, such as those with sites like Facebook and MySpace. Because users can upload video footage, the website does monitor and videos containing defamation, harassment, illegal content, and videos with commercial advertisements.
With that said, the website is very helpful to many. A lot of my professors, even outside of Electronic Communication class, have showed YouTube videos in class as a good source of information, or even a good laugh. My Christianity professor uses the website usually in every class to show music videos and relates them to our class discussion for the day. In my advertising class, we use the website to look at various television commercials.
With the rise of technology in the past decade, YouTube has only become an asset. Just as many say "Google it," people now say "YouTube it" as well when talking about some sort of information or entertainment is desired. Though many so some internet websites, and in particular social networking sites, are harmful or impersonal, I feel as though YouTube only shines and stands alone in this category.