Reflective Evaluation

Well, the project is complete and first of all I want to say well done to the alteregos group. Our combined contributions helped to create an educational and insightful wiki, hidhlighting the diversity of online identity(s).

I don't really know what to say regarding the course unit. I understand that the internet plays a large part in society in the 'digital age', especially for the young generartion. Also, I can see how learning about its uses corrolates with our Media and culture degree. However i didn't or couldn't connect with the unit. Virtual relationships, 'communities' or social sites are just not for me. I am not a member of MySpace, Facebook, or hi5, and I am certainly not a member of second life, and right now, i have no desire to be. So, the main course subject matter didn't appeal to me and i did try. The obvious reason for my adverse attititude may be that i don't have internet access at home, but that's too easy. All of my siblings have a Myspace account, you can find them in the crowded internet shop on the corner on many a evening (thats where i am now, please save me!!:-( ). Personally, I believe the problem may lie within my 'self'. I'm not overly socialable in the 'real world', so you can imagine what an effort it would be for me to maitain an online social 'life'. I guess i'm just not ready to share my space (get it?).

I've enjoyed working in a group, but i feel that my lack of internet 'know how' has hindered my activities within the group. Once i had finished my research on online identity and got it on the wiki, i felt as though i were a spare part just hanging around waiting to be used. I'm sure Nigel looked at me a few times wondering what i was doing, well i was thinking the same thing a lot of the time. I feel a little more time could have been spent in the beginning of the class explaining how to use the wiki. I know Nigel showed us the basics expecting us to familiarise ourselves with it at home but as i said i don't have access at home so i was a little disadvantaged.

I think what facinated me the most about what i've learned about the internet is that it not only enables people to reinvent themselves, but it can enable people to be themselves. I think this unit opened my eyes to just how increasingly imortant the internet is to the daily lives of some people. Amazing really.

8th lesson: Identity

In this lesson I wrote my piece on identity online onto the wiki. Its not hard editing the wiki page but I didn't do anything to alter the asthetics. Though I did find the information interesting, I was able to breath a sigh of relief after it was up there. I may have mentioned that i'm not too computer saavy and since the whole project was based around creating a wiki site, I felt my contributions may be minimal and was worried i'd let the group down. The group seem to be pleased with my written and cenceptual contribution and so i'm satisfied. I had a look at the whole alteregos site yesterday and the progress we're making looks really good.

This week is are final week so fingers crossed.

Seventh lesson: Websites & group wiki

In class we were looking at good and bad examples of web design. My example of poor web design was for Russel&Bromley an up market shoe retailer ( i work there and its actually more like a expensive high street brand). Firstly it was not a secure site, so of course there was no chance of ordering off the site. It doesn't actually offer that facility anyway. The site is sooo slow to navigate that that anyone surfing may just give up before the second page turns up. The perpetually scrolling advertisement may be the cause according to Nigel. Also they did not advertise a full range of their products, they only previewed advertised or best selling products. So, you can't actually view or order something you may have seen in the shop window. They had a lot of information regarding the history of the shop and its owners (yawn) and it made me wonder 'just who is this bloody website aimed at??!!'. The answer to that question alludes me and frankly i don't care. The only useful thing on the site is the location of all the stores in England. If your thinking of buying something from Russel&Bromley don't bother visiting the site, its pants. I didn't get around to looking at good web design in that class, but from previous experience I do know that the Dolce & Gabanna website (that's D&G to me and you luv) has a really good design. Its quick and easy to navigate and previews clothes from their current and next seasons collection. If you click on the item it gives you a world of information including the materials size availability, the stockists including concessions and size availability. They separate the the high street from the couture and the kids from the women and of of course the men. The pages are mainly white but the colours of the clothes really stand out against that blank backdrop. Also the use of a lot of white space makes the whole site look very classy. The Russel&Bromley website does that as well, but the only other colour they really utilise is light blue, the contrast isn't as striking.

The group project really came together last week, for a while i was a bit worried but i feel were all on steady ground now. we've all got our essential parts to take care of and any other images or data found along the way will be placed in the relative pages. yipee.

Sixth Lesson:Group discussions...

Unfortunately I was absent on the 5th, so I really don't know what happened in that lecture.

OK, so on the twelfth, we discussed where are group was regarding the group project. Nigel had rejected our idea about deception on the Internet under the study of chat room grooming. I think that was because the subject was too 'dark' for this project. Although the subject maybe dark, I personally believe it is something that illustrates the negative possibilities connected to the Internet being available to social and sexual predators. Anyways that got scraped, so now our focus is on writings on identity online and 'gender bending' or gender online. We decided to meet early before class the following week (today) to look at academic studies on these subjects. I would be lying if I said I was either enthusiastic or motivated by this project and so I won't pretend. I have chosen to focus on writings on online identity in general, as its probably the only subject that would hold my attention. The study I'm looking at right now is called 'Virtual Culture: Identity and Communication In Cybersociety', it won't set the world on fire but it will answer a few questions.

Fouth class: Gettin there?

I mentioned before that I was getting a firmer grip on the aims of unit. It's true. However I'm still far from confident regarding the technical use the wiki programme. Nigel and others in the class can actually write html. Programme the wiki page by primary inscription!! Apparently that is not completely necessary for this project however during the class we found that it was the only way to upload our pictures (taken that day with my pink digital camera) to the computer successfully. Well, kind of. Thinking of taking a course in IT:-).

The actual discussion in the class was based on the question of what constitutes a community. I think a community is people who have a cultural activity/aspect in common and share their appreciation through actions pertaining to that particular aspect. It could be geographical, biological, a matter of taste e.g music, fashion or whatever. I could be wrong, but i don't think i am.

Besides uploading our photos our group decided to do some individual research regarding issues of identity on the web.

Third class: gettin 2 grips with cyberspace

The lecture or main discussion in mondays class (22nd) was online communities. The online introduction for 'second life website' left me amazed at the possibilities for vitual interaction and creation using the internet. That a person could actually live a forfilling virtual life both amazed and horrified me. The class debated wether a virtual existance could be considered a real existence. Though nigel put forward a good defence for the internet i believe there is something instinctually perverse in creating a better life online.

I had to leave early, but my group 'alteregos', presented our modest ideas to the rest of the class.

As far as i know our group hasn't allocated roles or decided the structure we will use.
I'm pretty much ok with the actual assignment but i'd like to get started.

Second class: A firmer grasp

I think I can breath a little easier knowing a little more about this unit and about the internet. Its Interesting how the computer has its own language for interpreting and programming new information. Though I don't know it and probably never will, i feel more comfortable about the mystical functions of the Internet. I now understand the technical meaning of 'Open source Software'. Thats when the programme can be created and/or edited by anyone using it e.g me. The wiki programme that we're using is an example of such software. I think that the course won't seem so daunting as I get accutomed to using the programme.

Our group project theme is 'Identity' on the web. I Haven't actually begun to think what issues this raises for me as i don't really have an online identity. This is because i'm weary of the possiblities of fraud and theft, not just financial but intellectual theft. I suppose thats an issue in itself. Our group has taken contact details and will meet for a discussion on friday 19th.