Digital Media Convergence

A lot of this course will be a on the Web.

But why, if the Web is dead?

Is it dead?

Read the August 17, 2010 article by Chris Anderson and Michael Wolff “The Web Is Dead. Long Live the Internet.” from Wired magazine.

Think about your own use of the Internet? Of the Web? Of media?

Pick a 24-hour period, between the end of class today and 11:59 pm, Tuesday, August 31st and keep track of all use of the Internet. Mark the time for every individual interaction with the Internet and the length of time spent. Let’s even include text messages.

If you would like, you may also keep track of use of “old media,” like a television (not tv on the Internet), a DVD or VHS (anyone have those?), listening to the radio (not radio on the Internet), reading a book, reading a newspaper (not the online edition), reading a magazine, making a telephone call (is a cell phone new or old media/technology?).

Make sure you have thoroughly read the above article first! (It’s in bold, that means it is important.)

Bring this list to class for an activity on Wednesday, September 1st.

Also take note that all assignments will have the category tag of “Assignments.” Keep track of them.

… Now what?

First off, you are either one of the 15 or 16 students enrolled in Com 310, Digital Media Convergence and Design, for this fall and I told you visit the site to enter your information, or you are some random visitor.

If you are the latter, come back in a couple months when there is more interesting stuff here.

If you are the former, let’s get you signed in so we can make this site interesting for that random visitor.

If you’ve misplaced the link to sign in, it is at the bottom of the left sidebar under “Meta.”

Your username is the your @etown.edu username and your password is the generic password I sent you. Change that ASAP. Add your name, a website if you have one, and change your display name to be your first and last name.

If you would be so kind, please leave a comment on this post (do not leave it as a separate blog post), just to say “hello,” or “sup,” or “yo,” or whatever the kids are saying these days. This is of course assuming you will not simply sign in, do the required stuff, and leave the site. Obviously, you, being a highly inquisitive and investigative young scholar, will explore the little that is here. Inevitably, this will lead you to the front page of the blog, whereat you will find this post.

Just leave a little hello. Thanks… more to follow.

-Dr. Helb