Linking out to gain a profile

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Tim Chapman

I have learned a lot in Networked Media, but probably the one thing that stands out is the hyperlink. I would see these used all the time on websites and blogs, yet I never looked into how to actually create them! I know, I should’ve just googled it. But in this course I have not only learned about hyperlinks, but I’ve also learned more about hypertext and how to best use it, how to link one site to a another site in order to increase you visibility on the net.

In the future I would like to work in the TV or radio scene, and I can see how these principles could be utilised in order to gain valuable results. For example, if I was in charge of promotions at a local radio station, understanding how to make our video page optimised for search engines, how to use hyperlinks to link to not only another page but also to many of our pages, or even just knowing how networks operate and grow would all be vital information and help me do my job to the best of my ability.

Obviously I’ve got a lot more to learn in that area, but I really feel that Networked Media has given me a good platform to move forward from. A bit of a launching pad I guess you could call it…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48124311@N04/5345854490

Also, check out another reflection on the Networked Media course by Jake Farfoud.

Time and Passion

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Tim Chapman

I wish media projects wouldn’t take so much time to complete! I am keen to make more short clips and interesting content in the future for my Church and other places, but the obstacle I always come up against is time! It’s like, ‘Oh I’ve got a great idea for my next project!’ And then as the excitement resides a little it’s then that I remember… ‘Dang, that’s gonna take ages to make.’

But, I think I’m finding that the more I do it, the better I become, and also the quicker that I get at producing, editing, and completing. I guess it’s similar to so much in life, practice makes you better. The more familiar you come to your equipment and editing techniques, the easier each project will become.

I reckon it all comes down to passion. Passion is where your project begins and ends. If you don’t have passion for what you are doing, it’s gonna be a chore. But if you do have passion, you will put in the work to get the result you are after. We need passion to persevere! Steve Jobs talks about passion in the realm of internet companies, and I think it relates to media production too:

It’s hard to tell with these Internet startups if they’re really interested in building companies or if they’re just interested in the money. I can tell you, though: If they don’t really want to build a company, they won’t luck into it. That’s because it’s so hard that if you don’t have a passion, you’ll give up.

Very true.

Summer Food Truck Stop

Posted on February 9, 2014 by Tim Chapman

Well the end of semester is nigh, which means that projects and assignments are getting finished up! Thankfully our TV group in Broadcast Media have just finished our TV project, which is a nice feeling! So I thought I’d post it up on my blog.

Our show is based on the format of Coxy’s Big Break, and we focused on the food truck scene around Melbourne that is steadily rising in popularity. We had a great time filming down in Yarraville, and it was great to meet some of the owners of the food trucks. They are fantastic people who really just wanna make good food, meet people, and create a good vibe around the place. And I reckon they’re doing a pretty good job of it!

So here’s out clip:

ps. the food was pretty good too!

Check out Venessa’s post on Facebook’s Look Back film function, an enjoyable read!

Housemate Heaven

Posted on February 4, 2014 by Tim Chapman

I am about to embark on my first experience of living with people other than family. My siblings have moved out, and in comes one of my old mates from school. Now I’m looking forward to the opportunity, but also kinda wary that not all house sharing experiences turn out happy and healthy. But what if suddenly you did find the perfect housemate, what would it look like? I’d call it Housemate Heaven, and if it ever existed, I think it would look a bit like this…

1. Housemate does the dishes without me saying a word about them.

2. Housemate always puts the seat down after toileting.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelehen/8453484381/

3. Housemate never eats my food, or uses up my last bit of milk in the fridge!

4. Housemate shares the vacuuming and household cleaning so it doesn’t look like a pig sty.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/philips_newscenter/7849288160/

5. Housemate always pays their share of the bills on time.

6. Housemate picks up after themselves, rather than leaving stuff lying right throughout the house.

7. Housemate offers to put out the bins, and he actually does it before the truck comes.

8. Housemate keeps quiet after 10pm every weeknight.

9. Housemate only watches what I watch on TV.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/imanifest/226955402/

10. Housemate can cook, and makes my lunch for me each day.

Okay, so not all these ideas are realistic! But some of them are reasonable, and it does beg the question, if they are things I would like in a housemate, well I better start doing them myself! I guess it’s not fair to expect them of others if I don’t put in a good effort and start the ball rolling.

There’s a challenge…

Oh and check out Mishell’s blog on her apirations in life!

Week 4 Workshop

Posted on February 1, 2014 by Tim Chapman

With the Australia Day holiday on Monday, week 4.1 and 4.2 combined into the one workshop on Wednesday. We were lacking numbers in class so we all gathered around the one table to begin our symposium. The topic was Network Theory, and we discussed examples of networks around us in life and learned various characteristics held by them.

Two important rules that explain how networks operate are the fact that networks are always growing; and as they grow, nodes link to other nodes according to preferential attachment.

Bryan shared an interesting example of preferential attachment as found on the World Wide Web network. He mentioned how YouTube acts as a large hub, and many people link back to YouTube from other sites such as Facebook, private websites, and blogs. The people are working in the same way as nodes because they are linking back to a site with many links already. They are working by preferential attachment, allowing the richest hubs to continue to get richer.

And I’m going to do the same thing right now, as I link to a YouTube video representing how a network grows in this way.

(Warning: repetitive music ensues)

Also, to gain an insight into the challenging life of an international student, check out Bryan’s clever blog here.

Technology and Culture

Posted on February 1, 2014 by Tim Chapman

In the introductory chapter of the Murphy and Potts reading, it was quite interesting to read about the relationship between culture and technology. Both these words are thrown around quite frequently, and as I was reading I realised that I would struggle to give a specific definition of each. Luckily, the reading covered these, even if the definitions themselves were quite general.

So what is technology? I like the definition by Lorenzo Simpson included in the reading:

That constellation of knowledge, processes, skills and products whose aim is to control and transform.

This definition is very broad in order to include the many aspects of political, economic, and cultural life that are a part of the contemporary world we live in. As the definition shows, technology is something that is used for a purpose.

It can refer to a large systems and processes, or it can also relate to the latest in electronics. However, in whatever context the term is used, technology is always used for a purpose. It is used to control objects, or to transform them.

How about culture? Culture is a harder one to pin down. Not only is it always changing over time, but it means different things to different people groups. The definition given by Brian Eno in the reading would have to be one of the clearest definitions I’ve heard:

He defines culture as ‘everything we do not have to do’

Think about that for a moment. There are certain things that we have to do to survive, and then culture comes into the equation when we take those things to town, so-to-speak.

Food is a necessity, yet eating at a fine restaurant is not a must. We need to keep warm or stay cool, but the brand name clothing we buy to do that is not as important. Everyone has to drink fluids, but if you choose to drink alcohol, juice, or coffee, you’ve acted out of your own free will.

There are some things in life that you just have to do, but everything over and above these could be classed in the culture category.

Tim Chapman

Media of the Networked Variety

Monthly Archives: February 2014