Review questions for November 30

1 . The exercise we did in class this week involved finding information. What was your best source of information to answer the questions? Why? What other strategies did you use to answer the questions?

To answer the questions I searched on Google several definitions of the word, on dictionary as Wikipédia, specifics blogs, or Internet websites. Then I tried to understand exactly what the word means and to finish I wrote what I have understood, my definition, in my blog.
My best source was Wikipédia: Indeed, in this particular dictionary, I could read different definition, even if sometimes it’s not absolutely right (because definition can be written by everybody). Most of the time it was pretty clear and well argued.


2 . At the end of class, we had a collection of answers available to all of you in the form of each student's blog. What is this effect called and what does it do? How can it be useful to you? Did you use it? What types of situations or tasks can it be useful in?

I felt has if we were a “Community”, because I think that all our blogs are a concret realization of what you called “generosity”. Indeed, thanks to it we can all share easily our different work, get new ideas. We are all linked by the same work and we have all a different space to answer to the questions. In this case, blogs are kind of “personal virtual desk”: and we can visit them, left messages and help us each other.
I use it now to write all my e-learning work. And I can also record my podcast, share images, ideas, left questions: If someone knows the answers, he can send me a message: it’s a new easy way to communicate.


3 .What is the difference between the attitude and approach of French people (in general) and Americans (in general) to technology and the adoption of new technologies? Should this change? How? What would help it change?

Yesterday, we had a very interesting conversation with one of our French professor about this subject. We were talking about new technology emergence and new habits. We agreed that in general French reaction with new technology was not really good, because most of the times French aren’t “aficionados”, they need time to get used new way of communication. But why?
Maybe because of our Latin roots, maybe because changes effrayed them (us), maybe because most of the time it’s a foreign technology, made for more open,-minded people, they need to think about it , to see the interests before trying it. Sometimes, it creates a barrier, which seems impossible to cross. But at last, French will get used to this new technology as everybody. It’s just a little bit longer… Whereas Americans want to believe in new technology, they are less refractory to changes. It sure that they are more open minded, and research and development are really better there than in France. French should be more open-minded and Americans should think more of the impact of new technology.


4 . In more and more professions, the application of e-communications skills like we are developing are increasingly important. Give three examples of professions you are interested in where this is the case.
- I want to work for a media, like a radio (I worked for NRJ several years ago for example), or a television, : most of the time, big media have a website, so I could also propose new ideas.
- I would like to work for a music label and I think that e-communication will be very helpful in order to discover new talents on the Internet
- I would like also work in a agency or a web agency : all the new technology on the web that I know will be very interesting because I could be able to propose new ideas to the customers (like podcast, blog… Moreover I already understand how it’s working now)


5 . Concerning the practice of ripping: what is your point of view on this practice? Is it illegal? Is it unethical? What are the moral considerations? Do you consider it normal? Why?

“Ripping is the process of copying the audio or video data from one media form, DVD or Compact Disc, to a hard disk. While the original media is typically digital, the extraction of analog media such as VHS video or vinyl records to a digital format can also be referred to as "ripping" by extension. Exemple: when I copy a music cd in my computer or when I keep it on my hard disk ( Itunes)…”.
I am abslutly for the practice of ripping. Because most of the time , the person which download music for exemple, would have never buy the CD. Culture must be accessible to everybody, : moreover for the music label and the artist it represents nothing. They should think with new technology to sell their music on line less expensive. I consider it’s normal, even if I don’t do it.
It’s actually illegal but I can’t consider it’s unethical. It’s just a problem of money for the company.


6 . What are three things you learned from this exercise, two things that interested you, and one question you still have about the subjects mentioned?

Learned : Long Tail Marketing , Bricks and clicks and Intellectual properties
Interested : VOD and TIVO
It’s not really clear…: Digital rights management (DRM)