Blog Entry #12

Current event blog entry

For my current presentation in class I brought in an article from msnbc.com titled “Facebook adds new perils to rituals of dating.”  This article talks about the development of dating nowadays and how Facebook has changed our social environment as well as how we meet people compared to how things were just 10 years ago when people were forced to call someone to get in touch with them.  Today the alternative to calling a person is to “friend” them on Facebook in order to get in touch with them. 

In this article Stuart Fox discusses how Facebook is sharing more personal information than giving out your phone number.  One man interviewed said: “if you give them access to Facebook, you give them your life on a webpage.”  I don’t think this statement is necessarily true for all people including myself, but you can learn a tremendous amount of info from a person by looking at their Facebook and in some cases people do put tons of information of him or herself.  With this ability to put information about you out onto the World Wide Web, people are able to showcase their talents to anyone willing to watch or listen which in some cases has been millions.  I have seen this happen first hand with one of my good friends from back in Boston who put his music onto youtube and now is performing in shows across the country as well as making into the Top 10 albums on iTunes.  This type of evolution may not have been possible for people 10 or 15 years ago where getting your name out into the public community was much more difficult.

Facebook has effected people so much in how they act in just the past 5 years it will be amazing to see what new technology the world has for the future. In today’s world things are constantly changing and if someone told me that I was submitting my school work over the Internet I don’t know that I would believe them even 10 years ago.

Blog Entry #11

Blog Part 3

The final section of The Facebook Effect, by David Kirkpatrick is a great finish to the book, as it helped me gain such a great appreciation for Mark Zuckerberg and the others involved in the development of Thefacebook. Although he did have help from others at his university, Zuckerberg was the main contributor to making Facebook the network it is today. The ending of the book proved that all along his intentions were to make a page that was useful and appealing to all and a way to assert ones right to be oneself (pg. 278). It describes his goals of creating different elements, features, and applications of the page that would be useful to people at various levels; such as college students, businesses, and even political campaigning.

With continual access by the millions of users, Facebook has succeeded through the frequent upgrading of features and components. Throughout the process of making Facebook the success it is today, Zuckerbergs focus has been solely on creating the page so that it can be used for almost any networking action you need. The fact that his dedication was not to making money and becoming the most popular person on campus is what caused us to admire his work in the first place. As we said before, Zuckerberg was patient in the way he decided to take on outside help, which is a main reason for the success. Being a person focused more on customer satisfaction than receiving money and other economic gains, he has successfully created a page that is rapidly growing in users and appealing to many different organizations for different methods of use.

This section of the book explains Zuckerbergs techniques to achieving success, describes the new approaches and recent changes in how the business is run, and gives ideas for the future success of Facebook. But, the part of this section that stood out to me the most is how it proved and concluded everything that has been described about Mark Zuckerberg over the course of the book. His constant dedication to customer satisfaction and creating and up keeping a social network page that can be used for various reasons by almost anyone, is one of the main reasons he and his page have become so popular. Even though it has been an extremely long process to get his page where he wants it, not worrying about the money that he was individually making but rather focusing his attention on his users has achieved his goals.

Blog Entry #10

Facebook Part 2

For this blog I will examine the second section of David Kirkpatricks book The Facebook Effect, pages 107-214. This part of the book interested me as it basically described The facebook and its features in the beginning of its development. Kirkpatrick talks more about the group of Harvard University students who started the page as well as, how they were being viewed by outside critics, and how they strategically developed the page in a manner that was sure to be successful. Throughout this section, Kirkpatrick also goes into more detail about the financial offers that Zuckerberg and his group were receiving from companies interested in buying their product.

During this part of the book I found myself flashing back a little to when I first heard of Facebook. It was appealing to read how Kirkpatrick incorporated the development of Thefacebook and how it reminded me of the minimal amount of features it had as well as the constraints that were placed upon it. After reading this book, and realizing that Zuckerberg is the mastermind behind all of this, I understand how and why the page became the extremely popular social network that it is today. I first heard of Facebook in high school after was visiting various colleges and talking to some of the students. One feature, which Kirkpatrick talks about, that reminds me of this time, is the excluding of certain people from Facebook. When I was high school, the only way to become a member of Facebook was to be invited by a college student. This not only was strategic by Zuckerberg in order to completely control his page, but it also made the page very appealing to a large number of people. I felt that the features and developments that David Kirkpatrick talks about in this part of the book are very interesting to read in order to truly understand how Mark Zuckerberg and his group made the page so successful.

This section of the book also touches on the financial support that Thefacebook had and gives us a better understanding of how the college students kept the page running. Within the first year, Zuckerberg had already been offered large sums of money by companies in hopes to take over his idea including a $75 million offer from Viacom. Internet websites similar to this particular page gain most of their financial revenue through advertisements and other sources of media. Kirkpatrick points out that, Mark was kind of against ads, as far as [they] could tell, (pg 16). As Zuckerberg had an idea in the back of his head of how his website would run and how it would be supported, the group began to find other companies to invest in order to support their invention.

I found this part of the book to be very interesting as it touched on two different important elements of The Facebook. David Kirkpatrick went into greater detail not only on the financial support of how the page continued to be supported, but also the various features and components that contributed to its development. He gave us a better understanding for why the page had to start slow, with some constraints and boundaries, and gradually expand to having almost every feature you could ask for. He proves Mark Zuckerbergs intelligence as he describes the different strategies he used in order to keep control of his company. I enjoyed reading The Facebook Effect by David Kirkpatrick, as it gave me more appreciation and a better understanding of the development and success of the social network I use so often.

Blog Entry #9

Facebook Part 1

The book “The Facebook Effect,” by David Kirkpatrick has so far been the most enjoyable book we have read. For this blog entry I will examine the first one hundred and six pages in which Kirkpatrick defines the history of Facebook. He begins with the story of Oscar Morales, who created a Facebook group titled “Un Million de Voces Contra Las Farc” in order to protest against the Columbian Communist Geurilla organization. Through his page, Oscar managed to rally 12 million people all in favor of protesting the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia. After relating this story to the positive attributes of Thefacbook, Kirkpatrick then introduces the man behind the wand, Mark Zuckerberg. Zuckerberg, while studying at Harvard University, gathered a group of people with similar desires of creating a Social Network that would appeal to a large number of people.

Zuckerberg and his roommates designed Thefacebook as a means for students, and other members of Harvard University, to use in order to contact and reach out to others at the University. Kirkpatrick explains the lack of acceptance that was experienced by the boys as they created this networking device. Not only did people think it would not be successful, but they also seemed to view it as a waste of time. Zuckerberg, and partners, continued to pursue their goals of the project. “Making Thefacebook fun was more important than making it a business,” (pg. 33). This statement by Zuckerberg is one that went against many of the things in which people criticized him for. As the project was looked at as amateur and a waste of time, Zuckerberg and his partners did not focus on the amount of revenue they were bringing in, but paid closer attention to the certain elements and features of the page that would make it successful.

The first part of his book, Kirkpatrick also describes what Zuckerberg’s intentions of Thefacebook were. As he proves that his intentions were not rooted in making money, but rather creating a page that would appeal to many students and be of frequent use to them. The early Internet software, ‘Course Match,’ was created as way for students to choose classes by seeing what students were already registered in them. This area stood out to me as I felt that it somewhat related to my life. Through this book I have noticed, after studying at Rutgers University for four years, that some tools and applications that you use very frequently, such as scheduling classes, choosing professors, and deciding which campus to take a class on based on their peer’s opinions, the person behind the idea of those pages is connected back to Mark Zuckerberg and the boys that supported his thoughts at Harvard University. After attracting much attention simply through course registration and reaching out to other Ivy League schools. It became a more intimate source of connection in which students used for various reasons such as study groups, meetings, parties, and other social events. The first section of David Kirkpatrick’s book “The Facebook Effect,” has gotten me very excited to read the rest of what he has wrote about the history and development of Facebook.

Blog Entry #8

Slade Part 3

In the final section of Slade’s book, “Made to Break: Obsolescence in America,” Slade extends on the idea that obsolescence begins to become so normal to our society that it is needed to survive.  Throughout this part of the book Slade provides many examples where disposability is very noticeable.  He proves the idea ‘Made to Break; with the example of America becoming suspicious of Soviets innovations during the 1970s.

Specifically in chapter 8, “Weaponizing Planned Obsolescence” Slade uses the story of Gus Weiss in relation to the obsolescence of technology in America.  America became suspicious to the “imbalance in the overall number of inventions that existed between America and the Soviet Union” (page 231), and believed that the Soviets were stealing or illegally buying technology that America needed, the strategy that America took in order to react to their actions proves the example that new technology is needed in order to succeed and be the more dangerous party.

The initial belief that the Soviets had been gaining newer technology and innovations from America is what sparked our strategy during the Cold War.  We believed that if we developed the most sophisticated and newest forms of weapon systems as often as possible, then we would eventually beat out the Soviets economically.  Through this story, Slade’s uses of the example of Eisenhower’s opinion on upgrading our technology so much as a strategy of defense.  I believe this statement that we must intelligently plan where we will force certain types of technology goes parallel with Slade’s point; disposability becomes so common in society that it eventually is heavily relied on to succeed.  Ultimately, through the cold War “repetitive consumption and planned obsolescence became one of the mainstays of America’s geopolitical strategy” (page 232).  Eventually, our dedication to inventing the newest, most sophisticated, and most expensive equipment and technology is what “doomed” the Soviets to loose the strategic technological game.

The final section of Slade’s book really seemed to put all three of the sections that I read together.  The first two sections focused a lot on how our society has conditioned them into consistently buying new technology even if it is not needed.  The final part gave great examples of how continuously upgrading technology and other innovations can be a great defense against national attacks.  He provided many examples that helped me understand American disposability to a greater extent.  Our strategy against the Soviet’s seemed the most interesting to me as it justified the title of Slade’s book.  He proved that our technology, and other around the world, is “Made to Break” and that although it can have negative impacts on our society it has been beneficial to us in the past.

Blog Entry #7

Slade Part 2

In this blog entry I will examine the next section of Slade’s book, Made to Break: Technology and Obsolescence in America.  This section goes into more specific detail about a company’s effort to increase consumer purchasing.  In the first half, Slade brings to our attention the planned methods that companies have to ensure that their products will continue to be purchased.  This part of the book gave me a better understanding by providing specific examples of companies using “planned obsolescence” as well as the “model change.”  It also helped me to better understand the author’s perspective on the situation.

It seems that after looking into many companies and the various traits they have in their marking and production, Slade proves that technological obsolescence is very apparent.  Although we have seen in previous areas of the book that this obsolescence is noticeable, he provides us with reasoning as to why it can hurt the American system.  As we have started to understand, from reading Slade’s book so far, obsolescence is a trait that Americans have gradually inherited and become accustomed to.  Although a lot of blame can be placed on the company, we have also greatly contributed to the disposal of products.  With efforts to have the most advanced, newest, and most popular piece of technology, we have begun to shape our own opinions into believing that everything is replaceable.

This is where I believe that Slade is contributing his own opinion.  He is portraying the idea that if we don’t recognize our own faults in disposability then soon it will control and be a part of almost every aspect of our lives.  To think that you always have the option to go out and purchase a new piece of technology is a terrible mentality.  This could affect our country in many ways and I believe Slade does a great job proving that.  The area that could take the hardest hit from this disposability is our economy.  America’s economy is currently in one of the worst recessions in its history.  While the production and consumption of products does benefit, in many cases you will see a person purchasing some type of new technology or innovation that isn’t truly needed.  This type of purchase is usually pricey, ultimately leading to another expense that many cannot afford.

This section of the book was very interesting to me as I felt that it realistically proved American’s tendencies of disposability through examples.  By providing us with different companies methods of production I noticed how our everyday lives could be affected.  With afferent types of marketing, American’s are vulnerable to continue buying new technology and devices as they come out.  This book, Made to Break, by Giles Slade, has taught me a great amount about how a stronger focus on our habit to dispose of certain things, that may not need to be disposed of, can greatly help us in many aspects of our everyday lives.

Blog Entry #6

Slade Part 1

For this blog I have studied the first section of Giles Slade's book, “Made to Break; Technology and Obsolescence in America.”  The title of this book is a great basic of what the book will be about.  Throughout this section, Slade proves the idea that technology is “made to break.”  With the idea that technology, and innovation are constantly changing, he explains three stages of product obsolescence. Slade also portrays ideas throughout history that can justify American’s motives when purchasing new electronics and other products.

The first stage that Slade describes is referred to as “technological obsolescence.”  This stage occurs when new innovations replace old ideas about how to perform a task.  The effort to have the most effective device in order to get the job done is the main reason this first stage is known to replace old technology.  The second stage, “the annual model change’ is similar to the first stage but is seen mainly when initial devices are updated or changed by the company in order to bring in more customers.  Although it seems like company does this to sell more products, it also is an updated version of the old product motivating more people to buy the new version.  The third stage of obsolescence described by Slade is “planned obsolescence.”  This stage is best understood as it is simply talking about products durability. As he describes this stage, Slade suggests that companies will plan for an object to not be relied on as a lifetime device as some parts of it are bound to become old and ineffective.  While the efforts behind this stage are attempts to make a consumer buy a new product, Slade informs us that this planning is not legal but is still seen throughout our market economy.

As Slade describes the stages that have led to American’s upgrades in technology he continues to explain in detail how we feel the need to get rid of these products.  Slade describes American Disposability as a habit we have accustomed over the years that will be hard to break.  Since we know that in today’s society, new technology will eventually replace our old objects, it is hard to keep ourselves from wanting new ones.  This idea also begins to float into the social aspect of new technology.  Slade writes, “this self-conscious concern about being out-of-fashion is the key feature of psychological obsolescence” (page 55).  The psychological obsolescence that Slade is talking about is our personal desire for the popular, new technology that is on the market.  This disposal of items paired with the replacement of them is a great example of how technology is a constantly changing and improving in the American culture.

Throughout the first half of Slade’s book, “Made to Break: Technology and Obsolescence in America,” he portrays the idea that technology is always changing.  To justify this idea, Slade proposes the three stages that possibly contribute to the average American’s desire for a product as well as our casual attitude towards how frequently we dispose of things in our everyday lives.  The first half of this book gave me a great understanding of how the consumer market can effect my perspective of technology and also that when I maybe WANT a new cell phone or iPod, I don’t necessarily NEED one.