Hybrid spaces.

There is no escaping the web.

I find this statement absolutely true. Unless, by chance, you find yourself on some remote island, with no internet access whatsoever. But that’s beside the point. I’m talking about here and now, in our culture. It seems next to impossible to get away from the internet. I’m not even sure if it is possible. One reason is because of our advancements in technology, particularly smart phones, which allow for internet access virtually anywhere.

In her article, Adriana De Souza e Silva, discusses hybrid spaces and mobile devices. I’m going to focus on page 758 where she describes hybrid spaces as being the space between the physical and digital world, mobile spaces. It is in this hybrid space where the lines are blurred between physical and digital worlds. Mobile devices are a cause of these hybrid spaces, cell phones being the top device. Cell phones are now portable microcomputers, and in some countries, voice communication is no longer the top priority use of a cell phone. It is due to the popularity in devices like smart phones that people are ‘always on’ the web, giving rise to these previously mentioned hybrid spaces.

Nowadays it is rare to see people without a cell phone. But really what are they mainly using it for?? I rarely see people ‘talking’ on the phone. They are either text messaging, emailing, or surfing the web… on their phone! My boyfriend is constantly on his iPhone, looking at Best Buy ads, engadget news, or CNN updates. When it is so easy to carry these things with you wherever you are, it makes hybrid spaces very applicable to our everyday lives. Take for example Facebook. I am a part of that community, yet I don’t have to be on a computer to have access to it. I can check my updates on any smartphone or even on my Zune HD. The ability for me to access the web without having to go ‘get online’ but merely pulling out a phone, music player or laptop, makes the distinction between physical and digital spaces almost invisible.

What is a virtual community?? Did we ever answer this?

Virtual community: A group of 2 or more people sharing common interests, communicating through certain mediums such as the internet, who may or may not ever meet in real life.

This is my definition of a virtual community. I really am not sure if it is right or not. I thought I knew what a virtual community was before going to class yesterday, but was more questionable after class was dismissed. But, going off my thoughts of what a virtual community is I can say there are several that I am involved in. One of these I would say is Facebook and another our class blogs, for this class as well as those of us in 375. I thought for sure these were virtual communities. But maybe I'm wrong. Ill get to that a little later on.

First, what sort of barriers are there to these communities?? Well, if someone is not in the DTC 475 class, they are not part of our blogging community. They may come across one or more of our blogs, but that doesn't make them a part of it. Being in the class is one barrier. Also, if I do not accept your friend request on Facebook, then you are not going to be part of MY community. You may be part of the overall Facebook community, but you will be left out of my personal sub community I guess you could call it. This, sub community, including people I know in real life. Another thing is a common interest. If you just plain don't want to be a part of a social network like Facebook, then you won't create a profile, which will keep you out of the know of Facebook. I think the biggest barrier of virtual communities though is competence. Just because you have the technology, doesn't mean you know how to use it. Like my dad, for instance, has a computer, knows how to check his e-mail, that's all. Without the knowledge of how to use a computer and look things up on the web, the computer is not much good. This is where the digital divide line comes into play. And personally I think a generation gap is part of the reason for the line.

So, I say I am part of the 'virtual community' of Facebook, and Myspace as well. But are these really virtual communities? If all the people I am friends with on these social networking sites are people I know in real life, does that make it a virtual community or simply a new medium for which to communicate with my real life friends and family?? I think they are virtual communities. It is a group of people with the common interest of socializing, communicating via the internet. I personally don't feel that just because you may meet in real life, or have already met in real life, takes away the idea of something being a virtual community. I'm just sayin.

What is CYBERSPACE??

Reading through the definitions, I can agree with part of many, if not all of the definitions given. So, how to choose just one….

I finally decided that I most agreed with the following definition of cyberspace: The tablet becomes a page, becomes a screen, becomes a world, a virtual world. Everywhere and nowhere, a place where nothing is forgotten and yet everything changes.

First, when I think of Cyberspace, I think something that is constantly evolving. The definition goes through just that. We started with a tablet. A stone tablet. Then began using paper. We went from writing on paper to writing on a screen. That screen eventually led us to virtual worlds. What’s next??? Who knows. That’s part of Cyberspace I guess. The unknown.

Second, Cyberspace brings to mind someone sitting at their computer, immersing themselves in some type of virtual world, escaping the physical/real world. A place where you can go anywhere, be anyone, yet you are not going anywhere at all, and you are not anyone other than yourself. It’s a place where you can escape the physical world and enter a virtual universe.

But Cyberspace is not something that just be forgotten. Once you post a picture of yourself on facebook, send a love note to someone special, reveal anything personal about yourself, anywhere, it is next to impossible for that information to be forgotten. You may delete it. But it is not forgotten. All of that information is stored somewhere. You may change your profile. Or delete it completely. But it’s not permanently erased.

Just like in the real world. You may have had some crazy nights in your life that you wish to forget. But you don’t. You still remember. Even if you have old pictures. Torn up. You still remember. That information is stored in your brain. Just as enormous amounts of information are stored on the web. In Cyberspace.

Everything constantly changing. Yet nothing ever forgotten.

This is Me!

Hello everyone. I'm Michelle.

Junior in the DTC program. and. Having so much fun with it.

I am from Yakima. If you've never been there.. you really don't need to go. You're not missing much. I moved to Portland when I was twenty. Stayed six months. Too Big for me. Moved back home for a bit. And am now living in Richland.

I love listening to music. The Rocket Summer is pretty much my favorite band and has been for quite a few years. Rare. Love Taylor Swift music too.

Huge fan of the biggest loser. Inspiring.

I would describe myself as happy. organized. low-key. kinda short. determined. quiet. smart.

I have an amazing family. and some pretty awesome friends.

Well thats a little about me. Michelle.