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.