Summary of Article: The Convergence of Social and Technological Networks

The convergence of Social and Technological Networks article by Jon Kleinberg talks the data on Human Interaction before and after social media networks and about a growing pattern of movement through the online spaces to form connections with others to build virtual communities.  Therefore, creating an easier way to observe and quantify the data available through these social networks.  The author mentions that before social media networks like Facebook, gathering data information about a social network was very difficult. Research use to be done by using only a group of tens or hundreds, but with social on line interaction, now the scale has increase to tens of millions of individuals.

The article compares the “small-world phenomenon” in social networks and how we are all connected by short chains of acquaintances.  In this regard, the article touches on the “six degrees of separation” this to show that we all are only few steps apart from the global social networks.  It details about the experiment that Stanley Milgram created back in 1960. This experiment consisted sending a letter to a certain target in another town by only sending the letter to someone they knew by first name to direct the letter to the final target and the discovery was that there was a six degree of separation. Now with social networks like Facebook it easier to conduct human interaction and now social media networks has shortened this path.  Now there is the availability to collect data on human interaction, evaluate models of social phenomena at large scales and to design new computing application to help them in the collection of massive data for research purposes.

“The availability of such rich and plentiful data on human interaction has closed an important feedback loop, allowing us to develop and evaluate models of social phenomena at large scales and to use these models in the design of new computing applications.”

Jon Kleinberg: The convergence of Social and Technological Networks

Article Analysis: Micro-blogging as Online Word of Mouth Branding

According to the article Micro-blogging as Online Word of Mouth Branding, micro-blogs like Twitter are now serving as electronic Worth Of Mouth (eWOM), forming a eWOM branding which is based on social networking and trust. This aspect is very important, because with the new technology allowing us to increment our social networks through micro-blogs like Twitter, trust needs to be present among the members even if they do not know each other in person. This trust comes from member’s reputation, which is created by being a part of a large conversation first, so that the new member can build a good reputation among his/her social network.

Podcasting Reflection

For many years I wonder how I could share my children stories with other people. At first I thought about video, but that can be very expensive and time consuming.  I also thought about publish them, but they needed to have pictures/images and I am not a graphic designer.  I thought that I was never going to share these stories, but that idea went away the first time I heard about Podcasting.  I thought “I can do that”, I can record my own stories, add some sound effects, make my own voices and music.  At last, my dream of sharing these stories became true.  I never wanted to make money with this, I only wanted to share in hope that my stories put a smile or two on other children faces, just as they did on my kids when they were little.

After taking this podcasting class, it gave me not only the opportunity to finally accomplish the dream of producing my stories, but it gave me all the tools I need in order to turn this dream into money, specially with all my student loans coming up after graduation.  I am not sure if I will do it for money, but I know that definitely, I will continue with this project, the best payment I can get for now is to know that these two first stories have put a smile or two on some children and also on adults.

Podcasting offers the creator an opportunity to create and produce a program, story etc. that they actually enjoy, it can turn into a job or a hobby.  I hope that this class continues to be offer as part of the MCDM program, I am sure that there are many students out there that have a dream just like mine and this can be the venue that they were waiting for.

If you like children stories with a Latino touch, visit my Tales From The Heart blog where you will find the first two podcasts of my stories, full scripts and pictures.

10 Great Ways to Make Money Podcasting

According to Alex Nesbitt with Digital Podcast, even though podcasting has been around for about over four years, people still trying to figure how to make money podcasting.  Some of his suggestions have links which if you click on them, Alex makes money. He warns you about this and at first it may sound weird, it was worth it.  Here are the ten great ways to make money podcasting

Podcast Description

Tales from the Heart is a children’s tale podcast. Twice a month a new children’s tale is produced with a Latino touch in each story.

The goal of these podcasts is to provide the children and the adult audience with new tales, bed stories and fairy tales that include a Latino culture touch. The stories are developed in places like Chile, Peru, Mexico, Argentina, Guatemala and other parts of the American Continent. Some of the stories also touch on the environment and global social issues and some are pure fairy tales that take place on beautiful places all over the American Continent with new fairy creatures as well as magic.

Each story will provide a summary and a complete script of each story.  The podcast will vary from 5 to 15 minutes depending on the story. All stories will include at least one image as a reference point.

The audiences of these podcast are children, parents, teachers, grandparents and other family members who would like to share these stories with children.

Podcast Show Notes: Latin American Fairy Tales, Children Tales from the Heart, Short Stories for Children, Bedtime Stories.

Current Stories

The Landes Show Notes: Three magical creatures call Landes live in harmony in The Andes Mountains of South America. They must help a princess to re-claim her kingdom taken away from her by her evil uncle and Wekefu an evil Lande who hates humans and wants to create war among the two biggest kingdoms of the south, the Kingdom of Argent and the Kingdom of Chiloe.

Raka, the Cave Boy Show Notes: A cave boy enters a cave, the secret place of the Gods… He will travel to the future, finding his way all the way to the fabulous city of New York during a Halloween night. Would he survive the city? Would he find help to get back home?

Podcast Ready for Feed Back

I have created two podcast shows/tales and make some design changes to the blog. Feed back is always welcome and needed.