Web 3.0 is the next step in technology.
"Web 3.0 will make tasks like your search for movies and food faster and easier. Instead of multiple searches, you might type a complex sentence or two in your Web 3.0 browser, and the Web will do the rest. In our example, you could type "I want to see a funny movie and then eat at a good Mexican restaurant. What are my options?" The Web 3.0 browser will analyze your response, search the Internet for all possible answers, and then organize the results for you."
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/web-30.htm
Many of these experts believe that the Web 3.0 browser will act like a personal assistant. As you search the Web, the browser learns what you are interested in. The more you use the Web, the more your browser learns about you and the less specific you'll need to be with your questions. Eventually you might be able to ask your browser open questions like "where should I go for lunch?" Your browser would consult its records of what you like and dislike, take into account your current location and then suggest a list of restaurants.
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/web-30.htm
Friday, 27 March 2009
Technophile
A technophile is someone with a interest for new technology; they accept and embrace new technologies, and adapt to them quickly.
In 2020 a technophile student would be enjoying university, however the education may become more web-based than it is now, they will be taking part in more units like this, which seems all new to us at the moment!!
Online or distance learning may take a bigger part in the university lifestyle.
In 2020 a technophile student would be enjoying university, however the education may become more web-based than it is now, they will be taking part in more units like this, which seems all new to us at the moment!!
Online or distance learning may take a bigger part in the university lifestyle.
Neo-luddite
A Neo-luddite is someone who is against developing technologies.
While at university, students are required and expected to check their emails daily in order to keep informed of any developments or information from their tutors, this has become part of the university system and it seems so natural to all students.
Blackboard site, or something very similar, on which a student's timetable, emails and course details are all available.
A neo-luddite would never be able to find their timetable and download the necessary course materials, this would make the university experience much much harder.
This unit a neo-luddite would not be able to take part in because of the views on technologies this to me seems crazy as technology is so beneficial to everyone, from people needing the latest treatments in hospital to us using the Internet to research topics for our essays.
While at university, students are required and expected to check their emails daily in order to keep informed of any developments or information from their tutors, this has become part of the university system and it seems so natural to all students.
Blackboard site, or something very similar, on which a student's timetable, emails and course details are all available.
A neo-luddite would never be able to find their timetable and download the necessary course materials, this would make the university experience much much harder.
This unit a neo-luddite would not be able to take part in because of the views on technologies this to me seems crazy as technology is so beneficial to everyone, from people needing the latest treatments in hospital to us using the Internet to research topics for our essays.
The person who threatens the notion of Native/Immigrant...
Again i think my mum is The person who threatens the notion of Native/Immigrant.She's 47, but despite her age, is fairly good with all things Web 2.0.
However she hasn't always worked with computer, its only since we have needed them for homework etc that she has got into using one, she has followed developments in all office-based programmes She prefers editing documents on screen to printing them out, understands emails, email lists, blogs, social networking sites, put still will not become a member of one because she thinks she is "too old" which i think is untrue as social networking sites are for all ages!
However good my mum maybe with computers she still cancels it out as she sends letter instead of emails etc
However she hasn't always worked with computer, its only since we have needed them for homework etc that she has got into using one, she has followed developments in all office-based programmes She prefers editing documents on screen to printing them out, understands emails, email lists, blogs, social networking sites, put still will not become a member of one because she thinks she is "too old" which i think is untrue as social networking sites are for all ages!
However good my mum maybe with computers she still cancels it out as she sends letter instead of emails etc
The Youngest Digital Immigrant I Know...
The youngest digital immigrant i know would be my mum, she uses the computer for work, online banking and knows a fair bit about computers and how to use them.
However my mum will still choose to use a pen and paper, over using a computer to say write a letter, she also tend to print off her emails just so she can have a copy handy. There are times
when she does need help like mastering MSN messenger!
My mum will text me but sometimes its easier just to phone her because it takes her a long time to type a text message as she doesn't do it everyday like we do!
However my mum will still choose to use a pen and paper, over using a computer to say write a letter, she also tend to print off her emails just so she can have a copy handy. There are times
when she does need help like mastering MSN messenger!
My mum will text me but sometimes its easier just to phone her because it takes her a long time to type a text message as she doesn't do it everyday like we do!
Oldest Digital Native I Know....
The oldest digital native i can think of would be some one from my generation, as we have grown up with technology, web 2.0, mobile phones and so on....
We can write essays, and edit them on the screen, we can keep in contact with people via social networking sites, email, texts. Instead of writing a letter or sending a postcard to the person in question.
Facebook is used everyday by most people in my generation, emails are checked regular and we feel lost without our mobile phones, laptops and the internet, this shows how much we depend on technology in the 21st century!
However we are always looking for the next update available, such as the iphone.
We can write essays, and edit them on the screen, we can keep in contact with people via social networking sites, email, texts. Instead of writing a letter or sending a postcard to the person in question.
Facebook is used everyday by most people in my generation, emails are checked regular and we feel lost without our mobile phones, laptops and the internet, this shows how much we depend on technology in the 21st century!
However we are always looking for the next update available, such as the iphone.
Semantic Web
The Semantic Web is the extension of the World Wide Web that enables people to share content beyond the boundaries of applications and websites. It has been described in rather different ways: as a utopic vision, as a web of data, or merely as a natural paradigm shift in our daily use of the Web. Most of all, the Semantic Web has inspired and engaged many people to create innovative semantic technologies and applications. semanticweb.org is the common platform for this community.
The main idea is that all data on the world wide web will be read by machines, in their own language, they then will process this data all around the world, creating a global database. This then will make data more accessible to machines, which will make the web easier for humans to use and view.
http://www.altova.com/semantic_web.html
http://semanticweb.org/wiki/Main_Page
The main idea is that all data on the world wide web will be read by machines, in their own language, they then will process this data all around the world, creating a global database. This then will make data more accessible to machines, which will make the web easier for humans to use and view.
http://www.altova.com/semantic_web.html
http://semanticweb.org/wiki/Main_Page
Stretch
I typed "stretch" into dictionary.com and this is what i came back with:
–verb (used with object)
1.to draw out or extend (oneself, a body, limbs, wings, etc.) to the full length or extent (often fol. by out): to stretch oneself out on the ground.
2.to hold out, reach forth, or extend (one's arm, head, etc.).
3.to extend, spread, or place (something) so as to reach from one point or place to another: to stretch a rope across a road.
4.to draw tight or taut: to stretch the strings of a violin.
5.to lengthen, widen, distend, or enlarge by tension: to stretch a rubber band.
6.to draw out, extend, or enlarge unduly: The jacket was stretched at the elbows.
7.to extend, force, or make serve beyond the normal or proper limits; strain: to stretch the imagination; to stretch the facts; to stretch food to feed extra guests; to stretch money to keep within a budget.
8.to extend or strain (oneself) to the utmost, as by intense exertion; tax.
9.to increase the quantity of (a beverage, food, paint, etc.) by dilution or admixing: They caught the bartender stretching the gin with water.
10.Radio and Television. to prolong or slow down (action or pace) in order not to end too early: to stretch a show; to stretch the action two minutes.
However i personally think "strech" means to push yourself, for example trying to leanr a new language, education stretches each person to different levels for example when you first learn to read and write it pushes you to understand and gain knowledge of the topic in question even if it is the plot of the story.
–verb (used with object)
1.to draw out or extend (oneself, a body, limbs, wings, etc.) to the full length or extent (often fol. by out): to stretch oneself out on the ground.
2.to hold out, reach forth, or extend (one's arm, head, etc.).
3.to extend, spread, or place (something) so as to reach from one point or place to another: to stretch a rope across a road.
4.to draw tight or taut: to stretch the strings of a violin.
5.to lengthen, widen, distend, or enlarge by tension: to stretch a rubber band.
6.to draw out, extend, or enlarge unduly: The jacket was stretched at the elbows.
7.to extend, force, or make serve beyond the normal or proper limits; strain: to stretch the imagination; to stretch the facts; to stretch food to feed extra guests; to stretch money to keep within a budget.
8.to extend or strain (oneself) to the utmost, as by intense exertion; tax.
9.to increase the quantity of (a beverage, food, paint, etc.) by dilution or admixing: They caught the bartender stretching the gin with water.
10.Radio and Television. to prolong or slow down (action or pace) in order not to end too early: to stretch a show; to stretch the action two minutes.
However i personally think "strech" means to push yourself, for example trying to leanr a new language, education stretches each person to different levels for example when you first learn to read and write it pushes you to understand and gain knowledge of the topic in question even if it is the plot of the story.
Digital Divide
"Digital Divide" refers to the gap between those who benefit from digital technology and those who do not http://www.digitaldivide.org/dd/digitaldivide.html it is concerned with, class,society,technology, and money issues in different countries/cultures.
It is said those in developed countries have more disposable income, and presumably, more of an involvment with technology. These are the people that the market caters for; those with no disposable income are ignored Digitaldivide.org. this shows that the digital divide is getting bigger not smaller
The socioeconomic gap,is widened because the lower classes are ignored,because they do not have a disposable income compared to the upper and middle classes who keep up to date with constantly evolving technology have. digitaldivide.org
It is said those in developed countries have more disposable income, and presumably, more of an involvment with technology. These are the people that the market caters for; those with no disposable income are ignored Digitaldivide.org. this shows that the digital divide is getting bigger not smaller
The socioeconomic gap,is widened because the lower classes are ignored,because they do not have a disposable income compared to the upper and middle classes who keep up to date with constantly evolving technology have. digitaldivide.org
Prensky and Wenger
Wenger defines Communities of Practice as "groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly. She does however also define them as "formed by people who engage in a process of collective learning in a shared domain of human endeavour: a tribe learning to survive, a band of artists seeking new forms of expression…” (2007)
Prensky says that communication is a key part of education and learning, and it should be encouraged. It could be said say that Prensky's theory of education relates to Communities of Practice, in the way that there would be interaction, team work and group learning.
Prensky also said that using other technology could be used as an educational tool, could this limit levels of group learning, I would think that face to face interaction would work better that contacting each other all the time via technology
Wenger, E. (2007) in Smith, M.K., (2003, 2009) 'Communities of Practice', the encyclopedia of informal education, http://www.infed.org/biblio/communities_of_practice.htm
Prensky says that communication is a key part of education and learning, and it should be encouraged. It could be said say that Prensky's theory of education relates to Communities of Practice, in the way that there would be interaction, team work and group learning.
Prensky also said that using other technology could be used as an educational tool, could this limit levels of group learning, I would think that face to face interaction would work better that contacting each other all the time via technology
Wenger, E. (2007) in Smith, M.K., (2003, 2009) 'Communities of Practice', the encyclopedia of informal education, http://www.infed.org/biblio/communities_of_practice.htm
Websites Used
http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf
www.women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article4295414.ece
www.cheeps.com/karlmaton/pdf/bjet.pdf
www.amk.co.uk/article/2005/5/23/digital-immigrant-or-digital-native
www.futurelab.org.uk/resources/publications-reports-articles/web-articles/web-article561
blogs.law.harvard.edu.digitalnatives
www.women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article4295414.ece
www.cheeps.com/karlmaton/pdf/bjet.pdf
www.amk.co.uk/article/2005/5/23/digital-immigrant-or-digital-native
www.futurelab.org.uk/resources/publications-reports-articles/web-articles/web-article561
blogs.law.harvard.edu.digitalnatives
Articles Three and Four
Article Three: http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf
M Prensky - On the horizon, 2001 - pre2005.flexiblelearning.net.au
This article written by Marc Prensky is the first part of a two part article on Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants. In this article Prensky talks about how digital natives brains work differently when using a computer and the Internet compared to the brain of a digital immigrant, this could be because of their "accents" and the fact that digital natives have been brought up using the Internet where as digital immigrants have had to learn how to use the Internet, the main argument is that technology has to be brought into the early stages of eduction, to some disagree.
Article Four: http://www.cheeps.com/karlmaton/pdf/bjet.pdf
S Bennett, K Maton, L Kervin - British journal of educational technology, 2008
This article deals with the question of is traditional education ready for digital natives or the "net generation" this article also states that traditional education is unprepared for the sophisication of digital natives computer and Internet skills, could this effect the way they learn because they are used to "googling" instead of the traditional method of reading a text book?
The article also goes onto say that there is a state of "moral panic" due to technology and children using it.
M Prensky - On the horizon, 2001 - pre2005.flexiblelearning.net.au
This article written by Marc Prensky is the first part of a two part article on Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants. In this article Prensky talks about how digital natives brains work differently when using a computer and the Internet compared to the brain of a digital immigrant, this could be because of their "accents" and the fact that digital natives have been brought up using the Internet where as digital immigrants have had to learn how to use the Internet, the main argument is that technology has to be brought into the early stages of eduction, to some disagree.
Article Four: http://www.cheeps.com/karlmaton/pdf/bjet.pdf
S Bennett, K Maton, L Kervin - British journal of educational technology, 2008
This article deals with the question of is traditional education ready for digital natives or the "net generation" this article also states that traditional education is unprepared for the sophisication of digital natives computer and Internet skills, could this effect the way they learn because they are used to "googling" instead of the traditional method of reading a text book?
The article also goes onto say that there is a state of "moral panic" due to technology and children using it.
Articles One & Two
Article One: In this article there is a fair bit i disagree with, however there is alot to back up the ideas and points being made. Some of the points made i think could have been given in more detail to give the reader a better understanding and could do with more exploring, such as "digital exclusion" which means children could be at risk from social exclusion. I do think some of the statements made with the journal are quite judgemental, and if you do understand the topic being talked about. This relates to the never ending debate of Online communities vs real life communities...which one is better? Livingstone, S and Helsper, E (2007) "Gradations in Digital Inclusion: Children, Young People and the Digital Divide". New Media and Society. Volume 9: Issue 4.
Article Two:Van Eck, R (2006) “Digital Game Based Learning: It’s not just the Digital Natives who are restless”. Educause. 41 http://www.seriousgamesystems.com/Digital%20Game-Based%20Learning%20Its%20Not%20Just%20the%20Digital%20Natives%20Who%20Are%20Restless.pdf
This article looks into the differences between video games to entertain and video games for education and the increasing popularity of these DGBL's. I agree with some of the points the article makes such as video games are "fun to play but are hit-or-miss when it comes to educational goals and outcomes. The answer is not to privilege one arena over the other but to find the synergy between pedagogy and engagement in DGBL" this shows there has to be some balance between the entertainment and the educational aspects of DGBL's. It goes on the explore other aspects of video games such has how video games in schools will fit into lesson plans and the curriculum.
Article Two:Van Eck, R (2006) “Digital Game Based Learning: It’s not just the Digital Natives who are restless”. Educause. 41 http://www.seriousgamesystems.com/Digital%20Game-Based%20Learning%20Its%20Not%20Just%20the%20Digital%20Natives%20Who%20Are%20Restless.pdf
This article looks into the differences between video games to entertain and video games for education and the increasing popularity of these DGBL's. I agree with some of the points the article makes such as video games are "fun to play but are hit-or-miss when it comes to educational goals and outcomes. The answer is not to privilege one arena over the other but to find the synergy between pedagogy and engagement in DGBL" this shows there has to be some balance between the entertainment and the educational aspects of DGBL's. It goes on the explore other aspects of video games such has how video games in schools will fit into lesson plans and the curriculum.
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Week 8- Website 5
This website has both a blog, and a wiki aswell as a website.
Again this website allows users to post comments on each blog post, the wiki doesn't seem to be up and running, i am unsure as to why.
However the blog is regularly used the last post was the 13th of march 2009, this shows the website is regularly up dated and checked.
The website is user friendly and easy to understand, however you can tell that the website is aimed at digital natives because of the terms use.
The website has links to other sites such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.
The website also allows you to search within the articles for subject of your choice.
Week 8- Website 4
This website article was on The ‘digital natives’ debate, the article raised issues such as:
- Claims about digital natives
- The distinctive characteristics of digital natives
- Distinctive native learning styles and preferences
- Arguments for fundamental changes in education
Again the article references Pransky as well as others, such as Livingstone, this article was written in 2008 so this shows it is up to date.
The website as a whole was user friendly as it is a blog, so its usually fellow bloggers who are i would say digital natives using the website, the website again is colourful with different colours for date of the item posted.
This website is not specific to digital natives, it seems as you can write a post on any topic and comment on any topic.
Week 8- Website 3
This website is a website based on a programme finding new ways to teach children via using technology, they have done studies on how video games can help children learn.
In the article i looked at they refer to Pransky saying that:
"Our students have changed radically. Today's students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach. Today's students have not just changed incrementally from those of the past, nor simply changed their slang, clothes, body adornments, or styles, as has happened between generations previously. A really big discontinuity has taken place. One might even call it a 'singularity' - an event which changes things so fundamentally that there is absolutely no going back. This so-called 'singularity' is the arrival and rapid dissemination of digital technology in the last decades of the 20Th century."
The website as a whole if fairly up to date, the article i looked at was written in 2004.
The usability of the website is simple, easy to use and the navigation is straight forward. The links to each section of the website are brightly coloured in bold writing so that they are eye catching to the user.
There are boxes situated on the right hand side of the page so that you can leave your comment about the article they have posted up. This makes the articles seem to me more like blog posts.
Week 8-Website 2
This website is a well known broadsheet newspaper's website, the article itself is concerned about teenagers use of the Internet and how the are digital natives.
the article is written by a women, who is a digital immigrant trying to understand why her son a digital native is able to learn while listening to his ipod, being on facebook and having videos on Youtube playing. To me this does seem abit much, but i tend to learn more while listening to music and chatting on facebook, it could be because it makes the time go faster and you don't realise how much you have done or learnt because you are still in contact with everyone.
The article talks about how hard it is for parents to understand the concept of being a digital native.
In the article she refers to Marc Prensky and his work on computer immigrants. She also refers to other academics such as Brian Kelly.
The website as a whole in terms of usability, is easy-to-use for all maybe because of who its target audience is, this is probably why the site is simple, and easy to use, the links are situated on the top of the page letting you choose which section of the newspaper you would like to view, which then creates sub categories for you to choose from, there is also a box containing the top stories of the day.
Over all i think the website is up to date, practical and 100% caters for all computer users old or young.
Monday, 16 March 2009
Week 8-Website one
This website was fairly up to date as the article was written in 2001, the article was based on research carried out by a academic of both Yale and Harvard.
The website is designed for both digital natives and digital immigrants, as the site is simple to understand, easy to navigate around and easy to use, this again shows that it is used by natives and immigrants.
Links to all the other areas of the website are at the top of the page, situated in a brightly coloured, eye catching box, this draws your attention to them. The links themselves are direct and simple to understand and navigate around, this shows that Prensky does practice what he preaches!
The usability of this site is not a problem for users because it seems that most areas have been catered for both natives and immigrants.
I think the website is up to date because at the bottom of most of the pages it says 2008 this shows the last time the page was up dated, it also shows the the website is reviewed and checked fairly often. There is also a personal blog which gives a insight into his work, the last blog post was Feb 2009 and in this post he posts his new work for fellow bloggers to read and comment on.
Many of the issues discussed on the website are current concerns to do with education and keeping it up to date with technology. Maybe one day we will all learn online and will not have to attend classes...who knows?!
Sunday, 15 March 2009
Week 7-Distance Education in Africa
http://www.elearning-africa.com/newsportal/english/index.php
In Africa online learning is becoming more and more popular, this is because it allows many more Africans to learn,
who would otherwise not receive an education. This goes for the people living in the rural parts of Africa.
It could be said that online learning is not always the best thing because, the people learning do not get one to one tutor time,
the classroom environment and the traditional learning methods.
I think that online learning is a real positive way of learning because it gives an opportunity to many different people to get some
standard of education, which in turn helps them better themselves, however even though it may not be the same level of education
that they would receive if they went to school, college or university, everyone should to be able to get some sort of education,
which has been given to every person by online learning.
The website discusses both the positives and the negatives of online learning in Africa, this shows that they are aware of
what they may need to improve over time, in many different areas.
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
Week 7-Distance Education in China
In this blog i will be looking at the key ideas about distance learning in China.
"China was one of the first countries to use radio and television for higher-educational purposes. During the early 1960s, soon after television broadcasting began to develop in China, the first television universities (TVUs) were founded in the capital, Beijing, and other principal cities to meet the demand for adult education.-1960 to 1966, more than 8,000 students graduated from the Beijing Television University and over 50,000 students finished single-course studies through its teaching programmes" this to me shows what a good thing online learning can be, as it gives people who may not be able to go to a physical located university a chance to get a degree or some kind of education.
However in1976 and the socialist modernization project (the modernization of industry, agriculture, national defence and science and technology) calls for a large number of trained people which resulted in 3.5 million teachers being trained. this meant that by them being trained at a TVU it would cost the government less money meaning they could train more people via the CRTVU - 'the Central Radio and Television University', which was a good thing because hte CRTVU runs at five different levels:
- 'The CRTVU, at the highest level, is under the direct leadership of the State Education Commission (formerly called the Ministry of Education).
- The PTVUs, at the second level, are under the auspices of provincial governments.
- Their branch schools, at the third level, come under profectural/civic governments.
- Work stations, at the fourth level, are run either by district/county education bureaux or by a particular industry.
- The teaching and learning classes (usually called television classes), at the lowest level, work directly with TVU students'
The CRTVU could offer "150 courses in the subject areas of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, economics, accounting, statistics, finance, banking, industrial management, commercial management, archives management, journalism, law, library science and Chinese language and literature"many of these courses where offered at a undergraduate level, some of the course are available as a short course, this may have been because they needed to get people into jobs in specific fields.
Something i do not understand about online education in subjects such as science and engineering is the fact that you can learn everything via a video tape, i think that for these kind of subject you need the hands on approach.
However i do thing distance education is a good idea because it allows people in rural areas to get some degree of education even if it is just basic.
Wenger 2
I think that joint enterprise is the idea of a community working together to achieve a goal set or to improve their skills in some way. This could happen in the work place or online in forums like Ellie mentioned in her blog.
I think the role of joint enterprise is to create a sense of community with people who have similar interests, which then gives you support and encouragement in achieving your goals and aims.
I think joint enterprise works better in the physical world as you can use team work to complete your goals such as if you are doing the Duke of Edinburgh award.
Website Analysis
The website I have chosen is www.thesun.co.uk according to Marshall McLuhan in Lister p.g.39/40 the idea of remediation is to effectively tie new media to old media as a structural condition of all media. They propose and argue at some length that the “new” in new media is the manner in which digital technologies that they employ “refashion older media” and then these older media “refashion themselves to answer to the challenges of new media” this in the case of the sun newspaper shows that it has gone from being a conventional traditional printed newspaper which people buy, to a convention traditional newspaper which is available online and on your mobile. The paper being available online means that it is constantly being updated where as a printed newspaper is limited to the stories the paper has received the day before printing.
Structure:
The Sun online is a well structured website. The websites front page has links to various different articles or different sections of the website, there are six main tabs across the top of the website which are Home, My Sun, Sun Lite, Site Map, News Alerts and Contact Us.
When clicking on Home it takes you to the first page on The Sun website, My Sun allows you to set up your own Sun page where it is “your new, your views, your life” http://www.thesun.co.uk/portal/site/mysun/ I think the strap line on the page speaks for itself in the terms that it is where Sun readers can blog and comment on different areas of the news. However if readers do want to blog and comment their comments are blogs are moderated before being posted this doesn’t show much produsage.
Sun Lite is the part of the site which lists every story on the website, under four headings, New, Sport, Showbiz and Women it also allows you to search past papers for other stories. There is also a box which tells you the newly posted stories, the most read stories and the most discussed stories. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/?sunlite=today
The Site Map tab allows you to view the different sections of the paper and click on what you would like to see. This is similar to Sun Lite. News alerts is a page set up so you can join their email services. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/hygiene/site_map/
By having all these different sections it helps the reader by enabling them to select again using hyperlinks the stories they want to read.
Hyperlinks and not only use of this site to give users access to different articles but they also link to external adverts too. I think that the website makes good use of hypertext which Lister describes as a “network of links to other texts that are outside, above and beyond” P.g.26 there are hyperlinks also embedded in certain stories for example this article on Jade Goody, there is a hyperlink where you can sign a petition. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2288027.ece
Overall I think the website is well structured, as it is an extension of the printed newspaper, with extra features such as video clips, it also allows you to read articles from past newspapers which maybe still important but do not make today’s front page or top stories.
Cultural Level
The Sun is a right wing tabloid daily newspaper published in the United Kingdom and Ireland with the highest circulation of any daily English-language newspaper in the world and the biggest circulation within the UK, standing at an average of 3,121,000 copies a day between January and June 2008 and with a daily readership of approximately 7,900,000, of which 56 percent are male and 44 percent female. It reaches 2.9 million readers in the ABC1 demographic and 5.0 million in the C2DE demographic, which means the paper is aimed at all classes, creating a mass audience. http://www.nmauk.co.uk/nma/do/live/factsAndFigures?newspaperID=17
There are not many serious issues talked about in the sun but politics is mentioned which has a labour party slant on it. While researching the sun newspaper I found this article which shows a decrease in the sun’s readership over the last year. This could so that the current readership is changing their views or choice of paper. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/feb/19/nrs-figures-newspapers-readership
I agree that the Sun is often childish and is dumbed down, and again this is shown by the number of pictures and adverts which can be distracting, many of the articles do seem to have spelling and grammar issues.
Appeal as a user:
The appeal to me as a user is that the website is well set out even if it is a bit cluttered by adverts and pictures, it does however use hypertext in a useful way which makes navigation for the user easy and hassle free. However the language used which is mainly slang and chatty for example http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article2291022.ece this makes the paper easy and quick to read.
I think the main appeal to reading newspapers online for me is the fact they are free and easy accessible 24 hours a day 7 days a week and also that fact that they are updated throughout the day.
Wenger 1
The communities of practice that i belong to is the community of Waitrose workers. In this community i work on shop floor, in contact with management, and customers as well as other Waitrose members of staff.
In this community i have a unrecognized role as well as a bootlegged role. A unrecognized role according to Wenger means "invisible to the organization and sometimes even to the members themselves, creating a lack of reflexivity awareness of values and of limitations". A bootlegged role according to Wenger means "only visible informally to a circle of people in the know, getting resources having an impact, keeping hidden).
Within the Waitrsoe community knowledge is created, shared, organized, revised and passed on to other members of the community, for example if anything new happens within the Waitrose branch it is put up on the noticeboard for everyone to read, usually it is notes of rule changes, things that need to be improved as well as congratulation notices about marriage or babies being born, keeps everyone informed and up to date.
Branch meetings are held once a month for none management staff again to keep people in formed but management staff usually have 1 or 2 meetings a week, so that everyone know what is going on within the branch and the business as a whole.
This fits into Wenger's model as the community provides support to each worker, providing guidance and resources.
Within the Waitrose community leadership comes from different areas, like day to day leadership from the social committee who plan and provide events out of working hours, they also provide interpersonal leadership, as well as, classificatory, interpersonal and boundary leadership practices taking place, this is all done to create a happy environment for both Waitrose members of staff and customers.
Monday, 2 March 2009
Week 5- Burns
I think produsage and acting like a produser will be around for a long time into the future and its popularity will only increase. I think more people will act as produsers because it is a quick and easy way to get your material out to the rest of the world, it could be anything from a news article to new music. In some ways i do believe that it is a trend and a phase in which people will get bored of as soon as technology advances again creating something new and exciting to take part in and experience, due to the fact people are still blogging like us for example we are blogging to experience this new trend and new way of life for some people. I do think like most people that there will be a time, were we have to pay ot blog and post videos or even watch the videos posted on Youtube.
Week 5 Meikle D&E
I think Open news like all news can be feature news. This be linked to most of the web. it can be good news due to the new culture of the produser on the web which means that anyone can post and be a researcher and use different sources etc to create a news article, but on the other hand we never know who is posting the different article so do we know what they have written is fact, so the again shows that the news is not completely open, websites such as IndyMedia and wikipedia are still monitored and edited, however on Wikipedia, it is monitored in a different way compared to IndyMedia because the people that police are anonymous and policing the website in the way they think is fitting. Again this could be seen that the new is not open as it is edited, does this mean that all news on the internet created by ordinary people is edited to fit the conventions of the news?
Sunday, 1 March 2009
Week 5- Meikle A&B
I think that most of what appears on the net is just rumours, and this is the same when it comes to the news. This is because we do not know who is publishing the news, it could be anyone and they will be using a range of sources, from the reliable to the not so. I tend to look at the BBC News online, this is mainly to find out the top stories of the day, the weather and usually the rugby new too. News on the web, I think can be anything, because no one monitors who posts the news or what is said. I think we all choose to believe what we want to believe
I think we find our own news and information, learning from all different things, we read and study.I think we choose what we learn and what we learn from each different text. We can publish our own news and information,on websites such as wikipedia, we can copy from other sources, this means that we are playing both the role of the researcher and the reader and this again in turn creates new kinds of journalists online.
I think we find our own news and information, learning from all different things, we read and study.I think we choose what we learn and what we learn from each different text. We can publish our own news and information,on websites such as wikipedia, we can copy from other sources, this means that we are playing both the role of the researcher and the reader and this again in turn creates new kinds of journalists online.
Monday, 23 February 2009
Week 4-Part 3- Music downloads
a) How do file sharing, online downloading and the ‘networking’ of new material change the way music is consumed?
File sharing and online downloading and networking has changed the way music is consumed because like the Arctic Monkeys who posted their music on Myspace, it means new music can be discovered by people before record labels have signed them up. Downloading must in some way affect the sales of record as most people download using something other than itunes where you have to pay for each song, people tend to use uTorrent which is free.
b) How and why could any band ‘make it’ through social networking/content sharing sites?
Again bands can make it through social networking/ content sharing sites because now record companies are looking online for new and up and coming bands to see what is out there and what people like at the current time.
c) Has/will this change popular music?
I think popular music is forever changing, as there is always new music being created and played to the public, weather its online or in a club.
d) Will we still need media companies in future if people can produce and distribute cultural products directly?
I think we will still need media companies in the future as bands and artists need the backing and guidance from people who know how the industry works, however you will have people producing and distributing their own music like we do today.
File sharing and online downloading and networking has changed the way music is consumed because like the Arctic Monkeys who posted their music on Myspace, it means new music can be discovered by people before record labels have signed them up. Downloading must in some way affect the sales of record as most people download using something other than itunes where you have to pay for each song, people tend to use uTorrent which is free.
b) How and why could any band ‘make it’ through social networking/content sharing sites?
Again bands can make it through social networking/ content sharing sites because now record companies are looking online for new and up and coming bands to see what is out there and what people like at the current time.
c) Has/will this change popular music?
I think popular music is forever changing, as there is always new music being created and played to the public, weather its online or in a club.
d) Will we still need media companies in future if people can produce and distribute cultural products directly?
I think we will still need media companies in the future as bands and artists need the backing and guidance from people who know how the industry works, however you will have people producing and distributing their own music like we do today.
Week 4- Part 2-Into The Blogsphere
I think that not every site should have an online community, i think the phrase has been over used because it seems that pretty much any website which has a forum can become a online community. Is this right i wonder? I do however think that virtual communities are important because of social reasons- some argue that they replace the relationships relationships people have with others as people become more isolated from there neighbours ( Rheinsold 1993, Schuler 1996)
Virtual communities allow people to connect with others around the world who share the same interests, creating a global village, (this however doesn't always happen) which is really is like expanding a persons real life village community around the world! As people become more connected via the virtual communities, they get the benefits of social relationships with like minded others.
Virtual Settlement is a very usually concept because it shows how virtual communities can change into a settlement making more people involved, by putting their links to websites on the forum or blog space. It also provides a sense of community, just like for me facebook does as it keeps me in contact with all my friends at home or at uni, it makes me feel like i am still in touch with what is going on at home in Wiltshire! In forums and blogs you get the sense of a community as you are discussing the same topic and then may go on to become good friends with your fellow bloggers!
Lurkers i think are people who like to read what is going on and see what other people think about what is being said, i myself are one of these and i tend not to comment unless what i think hasn't been said. I do think that everyone has a different people within a virtual community from the lurkers tho those who post and comment all the time.
Virtual communities allow people to connect with others around the world who share the same interests, creating a global village, (this however doesn't always happen) which is really is like expanding a persons real life village community around the world! As people become more connected via the virtual communities, they get the benefits of social relationships with like minded others.
Virtual Settlement is a very usually concept because it shows how virtual communities can change into a settlement making more people involved, by putting their links to websites on the forum or blog space. It also provides a sense of community, just like for me facebook does as it keeps me in contact with all my friends at home or at uni, it makes me feel like i am still in touch with what is going on at home in Wiltshire! In forums and blogs you get the sense of a community as you are discussing the same topic and then may go on to become good friends with your fellow bloggers!
Lurkers i think are people who like to read what is going on and see what other people think about what is being said, i myself are one of these and i tend not to comment unless what i think hasn't been said. I do think that everyone has a different people within a virtual community from the lurkers tho those who post and comment all the time.
Week 4-Part 1
What is an Online Community?
Kellner 1998 and Poster 1997 state that the idea of online groups as the heart of a new revived public sphere. It could also be said that online communities keep you attached to the rest of the world, as you can find out what is going on in different places 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Online communities allow all different types of people to talk to each other on different topics they have in common, they also bring together people who in a physical community may not speak to each other because of different reasons.
It has been asked if communities can be separate from a physical location? I think that online communities can be separate from one central physical location because there is always one central location for each online community which people come to, to socialise with others.
Lister states that online communities allow:
Kellner 1998 and Poster 1997 state that the idea of online groups as the heart of a new revived public sphere. It could also be said that online communities keep you attached to the rest of the world, as you can find out what is going on in different places 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Online communities allow all different types of people to talk to each other on different topics they have in common, they also bring together people who in a physical community may not speak to each other because of different reasons.
It has been asked if communities can be separate from a physical location? I think that online communities can be separate from one central physical location because there is always one central location for each online community which people come to, to socialise with others.
Lister states that online communities allow:
- Opportunities doe education and learning
- Create new opportunities for participatory democracy
- Establish countercultures on an unprecedented scale
- Ensnarl already difficult legal matters concerning privacy, copyright and ethics
- Restructure man/machine interaction
Online communities can be both empowering and disempowering, i think they can be empowering as they can bring people together for example "Jay Allison" telling his story, empowered readers/audience as they could relate to him, it allowed them to share their stories, give advice and reply to him so he knew he wasn't alone, however online communities can be disempowering as some people mat feel like they still don't fit in and online bullying may happen.
The net provides a public sphere, of newsgroups, bulletin boards, email groups etc which all enable users to communicate with the group. Many of the discussions about the affairs of the day and all different kinds of culture. However there are limitations to this.
Having freedom on the net, is a good thing and a bad thing, it is a good thing because it allows to to access all different kinds of material, as a student we need information on all different topic from all different points of view.
Freedom on the net is a bad thing because it enables people, to hack into computers, pornography is widely available, and the worst threat of all, paedophiles having access to children on the Internet. There are other problems as well such as flaming or obscene conversations in chat rooms which adds to the fear of contamination of files via file exchange and downloads. However these aspects of the Internet can be stopped in time, and i do think what with out freedom on the Internet we would think about things in a very different way.
Monday, 9 February 2009
Week 3- Topic 2
Withholding your identity online can be seen as right or wrong. I Personally think it is right to withhold your personal identity, because of cases of fraud etc. The only time I use my full name is when i am buying things over the Internet but then i am always careful, just in case it is a fake site. However on my facebook account i do have my full name this is because i only have the people i know on my friends list and my profile is also set to private so no one can view it unless they are already my friend on the site.
However some people feel more confident by using different ways of addressing people, for example i talk differently to my friends than i do my family, this is the same with false identities as some people may feel more confident by being hidden behind this fake person, this also allows you to fit into different groups of people that you would not usually fit into, this is the new way of social interaction some may say? By adopting this mask it allows you to take part in online relationships as well as online self expression.
However some people feel more confident by using different ways of addressing people, for example i talk differently to my friends than i do my family, this is the same with false identities as some people may feel more confident by being hidden behind this fake person, this also allows you to fit into different groups of people that you would not usually fit into, this is the new way of social interaction some may say? By adopting this mask it allows you to take part in online relationships as well as online self expression.
Week 3-Topic 1
I have found this week's blogs hard to write about and comment on, hope i am not the only one with this problem!!
A) Bell Canada, 1998 defines "Open Architecture" as "The manner in which the information highway is designed so that equipment of different manufacturers may be used, and content producers/providers are able to share information and any subsequent revenue opportunities." and also A network, consisting of many connected networks, which has the capacity to carry high-speed, broadband services, including interactive and voice, data, image and video communication. The network will allow customers to reach offices, homes, schools, hospitals and a variety of other institutions. The Net can be thought as open because you have access to all different types of information, and it seems to be an open space which is changing all the time, just like architecture does. http://www.hackcanada.com/canadian/phreaking/gtit1.html
B) Having a Online Persona allows people of all ages to pose as who they ultimately want to be, this is done by not only describing themselves differently but by also posting pictures of other people they wish to look like, this could boast the users confidence as they feel more attractive being seen as the person in the picture eve if it is not truly them.
Many people decide to experiment with their online persona in chat rooms etc but some people decide to be themselves for example most people who use facebook are themselves. however people do tend to play around with different online personas to see the reaction of others and just for entertainment. I think by having a false persona it allows people to get away from reality and themselves This is backed up by the idea of Bolter and Grusin: “We can experiment with other parts of ourselves, take risks or express aspects of self that we find impossible to live out in day-to-day ‘meatspace’” (Bolter and Grusin cited in Lister et al, 2003;167) however having online persona's is not always a good thing as you never know who you are talking to and if what they are saying is the truth. For example someone posing as a 17 year old boy could actually be a 55 year old man, who has criminal convictions, which could lead to all kinds of different events taking place like identity fraud.
C) People's online selves can be completely different to themselves, this means they can change their race, gender, class, relgion, culture etc this is backed up by "Identity is seen as anything but essential or fixed...identity is understood as a fluid process in which ‘self’ and environment are constantly interacting” (Lister et al 2003; 167) which again suggests that no identity is fixed when you are online and that it changes with your surroundings.
A) Bell Canada, 1998 defines "Open Architecture" as "The manner in which the information highway is designed so that equipment of different manufacturers may be used, and content producers/providers are able to share information and any subsequent revenue opportunities." and also A network, consisting of many connected networks, which has the capacity to carry high-speed, broadband services, including interactive and voice, data, image and video communication. The network will allow customers to reach offices, homes, schools, hospitals and a variety of other institutions. The Net can be thought as open because you have access to all different types of information, and it seems to be an open space which is changing all the time, just like architecture does. http://www.hackcanada.com/canadian/phreaking/gtit1.html
B) Having a Online Persona allows people of all ages to pose as who they ultimately want to be, this is done by not only describing themselves differently but by also posting pictures of other people they wish to look like, this could boast the users confidence as they feel more attractive being seen as the person in the picture eve if it is not truly them.
Many people decide to experiment with their online persona in chat rooms etc but some people decide to be themselves for example most people who use facebook are themselves. however people do tend to play around with different online personas to see the reaction of others and just for entertainment. I think by having a false persona it allows people to get away from reality and themselves This is backed up by the idea of Bolter and Grusin: “We can experiment with other parts of ourselves, take risks or express aspects of self that we find impossible to live out in day-to-day ‘meatspace’” (Bolter and Grusin cited in Lister et al, 2003;167) however having online persona's is not always a good thing as you never know who you are talking to and if what they are saying is the truth. For example someone posing as a 17 year old boy could actually be a 55 year old man, who has criminal convictions, which could lead to all kinds of different events taking place like identity fraud.
C) People's online selves can be completely different to themselves, this means they can change their race, gender, class, relgion, culture etc this is backed up by "Identity is seen as anything but essential or fixed...identity is understood as a fluid process in which ‘self’ and environment are constantly interacting” (Lister et al 2003; 167) which again suggests that no identity is fixed when you are online and that it changes with your surroundings.
Friday, 30 January 2009
Week 2- Task 2 & 3
A) How we are able to navigate around a forum or blog determines if we will continue using it, i know from my experience that if a website is difficult to navigate around i tend to try and find a different website with the same sort of content, the navigation of a website should be easy and straight forward to use and understand. I do believe a forum and blog are a form of online conversation as we are talking to people who are interested in the same things as you are.
On Blogger there are many different blogs which have been running for months or maybe years, this shows how people use this to communicate with others to get advice or information.
B) How we express ourselves on forums and blogs depends on what the topic is and who will be viewing it, for example if this blog was about our emotions it would be written in a different style where as this blog is being used as part of our studies so it has to seem more formal and correct. I think we do still take turns like you would in a face to face conversation as you are waiting for someone to comment or reply to your post. How we express yourselves while blogging and using the forums is different to how we would write our essays as our essays have to be academic and formal.
C) The interaction of blogs and forums seems very different compared to being in a seminar, this maybe because it is all new to me, but i do think that forums and blogs are a good way of learning as you can read what everyone else thinks and feels about the unit.
On Blogger there are many different blogs which have been running for months or maybe years, this shows how people use this to communicate with others to get advice or information.
B) How we express ourselves on forums and blogs depends on what the topic is and who will be viewing it, for example if this blog was about our emotions it would be written in a different style where as this blog is being used as part of our studies so it has to seem more formal and correct. I think we do still take turns like you would in a face to face conversation as you are waiting for someone to comment or reply to your post. How we express yourselves while blogging and using the forums is different to how we would write our essays as our essays have to be academic and formal.
C) The interaction of blogs and forums seems very different compared to being in a seminar, this maybe because it is all new to me, but i do think that forums and blogs are a good way of learning as you can read what everyone else thinks and feels about the unit.
Week Two- Task One
A) Upgrade culture is something designed to improve and enhance the users experience of such such programmes as Mircosoft Office, however it is also big business as people will buy the newer version of Office compared to buying the older versions his in turn generates more money for Mircosoft and other companies. So it could be said that some new media change is just for consumerism
B) Lister et al. stated that it is not only the new or digital media that has changed society, but also the printing press, telephone, photography, and of course the Internet have help turn our society into what it is today. I do not think that any of these are a product of capitalism, i think that "new media" is an extension on what some would say is "old media" like the printing press.
C) New media is defiantly a way of progress in education, business, shopping, democracy etc.
In education it means that we can read our lectures online, submit work online, and even enroll. In business the Internet allows business to boom, as it allows online shopping so you can buy anything from a weeks food to a new bed at just a click of a button, this is more convenient for most people as it means they can shop in their own time.
Ideology of progress i do agree with as you need a process to improve our media and keep it up to date.
B) Lister et al. stated that it is not only the new or digital media that has changed society, but also the printing press, telephone, photography, and of course the Internet have help turn our society into what it is today. I do not think that any of these are a product of capitalism, i think that "new media" is an extension on what some would say is "old media" like the printing press.
C) New media is defiantly a way of progress in education, business, shopping, democracy etc.
In education it means that we can read our lectures online, submit work online, and even enroll. In business the Internet allows business to boom, as it allows online shopping so you can buy anything from a weeks food to a new bed at just a click of a button, this is more convenient for most people as it means they can shop in their own time.
Ideology of progress i do agree with as you need a process to improve our media and keep it up to date.
Week One Topic 2
A) Gloebbels talks about the French revolution and the political events to back up the German ideas and theories during the war. He talks about how radio is up to date and how it is seen as new media where as today we see the radio as "old media" as such as many people do not listen to it in the way it was listened to during the war, this is due to computers and televisions being around. He also talks about how it is influencing the masses, this is again because during this period it was the only way people to listen and find out on a daily basis what was going on during the war. This was a valuable way of keeping in contact with the whole of the country, also from read other peoples blogs it does seem like he only wanted Germany to have the radio.
B)Goebbles views now would be dismissed in today's world because of what has happened over the years.
Radio in my opinion is good when you are on the go, for example i only listen to the radio if i am driving or my mum and dad have it on at home, however when i am at work the radio is always on for background noise in the dining room, it is never turned off. However older people tend to listen to the radio more because it is what they grew up doing.
C) There are many different issues with the Internet but the one you hear most about is young people gaining access to material online which is not suitable, there is also the issue you of illegal downloading which it seems everyone is doing, it could be anything from film, music to software that people are downloading. People are doing this because they know they will properly never get caught but on the other hand the Internet is very important positive thing in today's world.
B)Goebbles views now would be dismissed in today's world because of what has happened over the years.
Radio in my opinion is good when you are on the go, for example i only listen to the radio if i am driving or my mum and dad have it on at home, however when i am at work the radio is always on for background noise in the dining room, it is never turned off. However older people tend to listen to the radio more because it is what they grew up doing.
C) There are many different issues with the Internet but the one you hear most about is young people gaining access to material online which is not suitable, there is also the issue you of illegal downloading which it seems everyone is doing, it could be anything from film, music to software that people are downloading. People are doing this because they know they will properly never get caught but on the other hand the Internet is very important positive thing in today's world.
Week 1 Online Gaming and Websites.
Online gaming is not something which has ever appealed to me, this maybe because i don't use the Internet to its full potential or because its not something i have ever had an experience in.
Unlike websites which i use and go on everyday, mainly i go on facebook, clothing websites or websites to do with uni work. the pros of websites is that they provide an easy access to different types of information from around the world, showing different opinions, websites allow you to browse different things, and you can do it all in your own time, they also allow you to discover new things and new events taking place, and finally i think we would all be lost without them!
Unlike websites which i use and go on everyday, mainly i go on facebook, clothing websites or websites to do with uni work. the pros of websites is that they provide an easy access to different types of information from around the world, showing different opinions, websites allow you to browse different things, and you can do it all in your own time, they also allow you to discover new things and new events taking place, and finally i think we would all be lost without them!
Week 1 Chat Rooms and Messenger Services.
The only messenger service i use really is MSN messenger and this is again like email to keep in contact with friends and family, again it is easy to use, free, allows you to share files with people on your contact list, allows voice and video chats, it also integrates with other services, like the news, entertainment, facebook etc, it also allows you to make PC to phone calls this is useful when wanting to speak to people living in a different country or place.
however the down side to MSN messenger is, it takes up alot of memory on your PC or laptop and it also doesn't allow you to receive calls.
Chat rooms, i have used chat rooms unless Facebook, Myspace and Bebo are seen as chat rooms? however chat rooms are a good way of meeting new people, keeping in contact with others, and a way of being soical.
The down side to chat rooms are that you dont just talk to your friends, usually young people end up chatting to strangers and you never know if they are telling the truth and what their intentions are.
however the down side to MSN messenger is, it takes up alot of memory on your PC or laptop and it also doesn't allow you to receive calls.
Chat rooms, i have used chat rooms unless Facebook, Myspace and Bebo are seen as chat rooms? however chat rooms are a good way of meeting new people, keeping in contact with others, and a way of being soical.
The down side to chat rooms are that you dont just talk to your friends, usually young people end up chatting to strangers and you never know if they are telling the truth and what their intentions are.
Week 1 Topic 1 Emails and Bulletin Board Systems
I use email like most people to stay in contact, with people i do not get to see very often or that live in a different country, or even just family who are always on the go!
Emails are quick, easy to use, cheap, they can easily be stored as they do not take up much space, it is also universal as most people and companies can send and receive email.
However the down side to emails are, emails can seem impersonal, as they can be quickly written where as a hand written letter takes time and more effort, the fact that email's can be easily stored is not just a good thing its also a bad thing as your emails can be read by anyone who knows how so it is best to write your emails as if they are going to be seen by the general public. Finally emails can take over your life, just like facebook has taken over mine, emails and mobile phones have or will do the same!
Usenet and bulletin board systems i have never really used so i don't really know much about them but from what i have looked at they are used to find and share information on different topics of interest.
Emails are quick, easy to use, cheap, they can easily be stored as they do not take up much space, it is also universal as most people and companies can send and receive email.
However the down side to emails are, emails can seem impersonal, as they can be quickly written where as a hand written letter takes time and more effort, the fact that email's can be easily stored is not just a good thing its also a bad thing as your emails can be read by anyone who knows how so it is best to write your emails as if they are going to be seen by the general public. Finally emails can take over your life, just like facebook has taken over mine, emails and mobile phones have or will do the same!
Usenet and bulletin board systems i have never really used so i don't really know much about them but from what i have looked at they are used to find and share information on different topics of interest.
Thursday, 22 January 2009
My First Post!!
Hey All!
This is my first time ever writing a blog...scary stuff!
I Hope this gets better and easier over the coming weeks.
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