Presentation #1 Outline

- Walk through Gantt chart discussing tasks and progress made on each task.

- Show new website design layout and the idea behind the design

- Mention Phil joining group as independent study.

- Discuss the behind the scenes accomplishments, server setup, storyboarding etc.

- Show our tasks seperation

• Gary
  - Radio Station, questions
  - Storyboards
  - Business Plans


• Joe

Jenkins

Question:

How does your capstone measure up according to the definition proposed in Henry Jenkins' "Eight Traits of the New Media Landscape"? For this entry, describe the principle that your project fits best and the one it fits worst. How might you alter your project to fit better?


Answer:

To me the biggest trait our capstone would fit under is Convergent. The reason being is that our system is built entirely on what the users give for input, and becuase of this the site and station will be controlled by the mass media. As Jenkins says '.... participatory impulses of consumers, who want the ability to control and shape the flow of media in their lives; they want the media they want when they want it and where they want it.' By providing this type of voting system we hope to create the media they wish to have when they want.

The least of the eight traits that our capstone will incorporate is Global. Our capstone will broadcast over FM radio and is restricted to the size of our antenna, which will result in a smaller broadcast radius. Due to the small broadcast signal we will only be able to generate a small list of users at first. A simple solution to this problem would be to allow users to play the daily song lists online(which has already been done) or increase our radio signal.


Question #2:

Do you agree or disagree with Jenkins' definition, and why?


Answer:

I agree with Jenkins's idea of New Media becuase of the openness of the definition. Unlike Crosbie, Jenkins' definition only requires that the media incorporates some of the traits outlined in his article, Global, Convergent, Innovative. Crosbies definition was to limited, in order to be New Media it had to recreate the way we communicate, which I disagree with. Whereas just building onto existing ways of communication or even creating an artistic project can be considered New Media.

Crosbie

Question #1:

How does your capstone measure up according to the definition proposed in Vin Crosbie's "What Is New Media?" How might you alter your project to fit better?


Answer:

I think our capstone measures up ok with Crosbies definition of New Media. The idea we have presented is more of a vehicle then New Media as described, because we are not creating a whole new way to communicate but merely expanding on the ways we currently do. Our project will add more to the Informational Revolution by creating a broadcasting station that is based on the many to many commmunication described by Crosbie. Our vehicle will create a many to many communication that is tailored to individuals/groups needs. Here the radio isnt braodcasting only what the DJ plays, instead the users vote to individualize the station to thier needs, which can be compared to Levis who are now mass producing individualized Jeans, to thier clients.


Question #2:

Do you agree or disagree with Crosbie's definition, and why?

Answer:

I agree with alot of what Crosbie defines as New Media. But at the same time I feel that alot of projects and works shouldnt be considered vehicles, but actually New Media itself. I think that you need to consider the use of media/medium that is used in creating a work. For instance I believe anything that invovles blending technologies together to create a new vehicle, should be considered New Media, becuase the ending result couldnt be accomplished without the preceding Media that created it. I dont think that all New Media has to be a whole new way of communicating entirely, but can be a small step in increasing/enhancing the way we currently communicate.

This may be a possible solution to how the station will play its music.

• - We will begin creating a playslit each night at 11:30pm.

• - CPU selects most requested songs

Two Choices
A) Play 411 songs a day = 24hrs * 60mins /(3 1/2 avg song length)

1. Least selected songs play from 1:00 am to 9:00am(lowest to highest ranked)
2. Most selected songs play from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
3. Again least selected songs play from 5:00 pm to 1:o0am (highest to lowest ranked)

B) 137 songs played a day, day divided into 3 sections each 137 songs

1. The day is divided up into 3 8hr intervals
2. Each interval plays the same songlist, in different orders
3. Between 9:00 am - 5:00 pm make a smaller playlist of 1/2 the songs, and play them twice in random orders

*Math

• 24hrs * 60 min = 1440 minutes in a day
• avg song = 3 1/2min
• 1440min /3.5min = 411 songs a day
• becuase 411 is alot of songs to play we divide the playlist into 3 sections
• 411 songs a day / 3 sections = 137 songs a session
• middle section will really be 2 of the same play list
• 137 songs a session / 2 = 68.5 songs per session for middles section on avg

Link to our new website template
Template

First draft of our logo

Here is a list of the current options the system will support.


User Options

- Registered

• - Requested songs


• - View month stats


• - View daily stats


• - View Yearly stats


• - Vote for next day songs


• - E-mail admin suggestions


• - Preview songs


• - Search for songs

- Unregistered

• - Search for songs


• - View songs

Admin Options

• - Add songs


• - Remove songs


• - Remove users


• - Read suggestions

Here is the first approach regarding our new Capstone project

After 1/2 of a semester Derek, Joe and I have choosen to do another capstone project. Our project will be to create a website that will allow users to select songs from a list, that will create a playlist for the radio station to play the next day.

Workgroup Pseudo Code(v1.0)

*creating the workgroup

if(loggedin==1){
create_workgroup - possible div pop-up on click
(form post update_workgroup.php)
input project_name = txt
input project_description = txt area
input project_members = txt, seperated w/comma
input project_admin = txt, autofill with user name

upload multiple thumbnails, jpeg, bmp, gif

(/form)
}

*once the workgroup is created you can then edit it, add job positions and descriptions
*each position will be connected to the project via project_id, so all avail positions can be viewed
*selecting all job listings with project_id

if(loggedin==1){
add_job_listing
(form post update_workgroup.php){
project_id = txt, hidden
position_title = txt
position_description = txtarea
position_talents = txtarea
(/form)
}

*file associated with projects
if(loggedin==1){
add_file
(form post update_workgroup.php){
project_id = txt, hidden
file_name = txt
file_path = txt ? maybe we can allow for a hierachy directory
file_type = list select - use for upload protection/virus protection
(/form)
}

Here is a new logo I have created

This is a small post of the 16x16px icon I created for our site. The icon is basically a stripped down version of my original icon post. The smaller icon is simply a world globe in black and white, which will be usefull for including in the url of our project.

Project Outline/Psuedo Code (v1.0)

Login

• Register




• Upload Resume


• Previous Works


• Contact Information




• cell


• email


• im






• Search Interface




• Categorized




• Skills


• Talents


• Avail Positions


• Name Contact


• Project


• Group


• Project Description







• Create Workgroup




• Project Name


• Project Description


• Project Members


• Project Files


• Avail. Positions


• Project Thumbnails





• E-mail


• IM Group/individual


• Video Conferencing



• View Workgroups




• Not Logged in
  
  
  • View individuals
  
  
  • View descriptions
  
  
  • View thumbnails
  
  
  • View expertise
  
  
  • View positions
  
  
  • Contact admin of group
  
  
  • Apply for position
  
  
  
  
• Logged in


• Download/upload files


• Add to message board


• IM group


• Attend conferences

Collaboration Network(Joe Grace, Derek Myska, Gary Nealey)

Our intent is to create a website that will allow users to network amongst themselves to find interesting jobs/projects that they can possibly work on.
The whole idea of our project is to create a system that will allow users to login and create projects that they are interested in and need help with. The creator of the project then becomes the admin of that current project, each project will have a description and some diagrams/images that will help explain the idea behind the project. Each project will have a listing of required skills needed for the project and if there is an opening. If there is other users can 'apply' for the project, at which point the admins will be able to view the persons history and previous works. Once a user has been accepted to work on the project he will be able to view all project parts. These include audio samples, source code, videos etc.
Each user will be able to work on multiple projects within the system, each project will have its own group, which includes all of the people working on the current project. Upon completion of a project we may integrate a rating system that will allow other group members to comment on other group members.

The Differences

The closest thing I could find to our system was the website freelance.com. Freelance.com is a website that essential does the same thing our website does. It has companies register then post jobs, the admins of the website then choose the best freelancers to work on that project according to ther talents.
The problem with freelance is that the administrators of the website are the ones that choose what workers are best fit for each project. With our system we want to allow the admins, of the groups, within our website to select the person they feel is fit to the job, according to the requests submitted. This way the site can grow exponentially, because no matter the amount of projects posted, the admins of the site, don't have to surf through every single job posting and than find the most talented person. Instead each admin of the group (which could be hundreds or thousands) can surf through the people to select the person fit.
The other difference is that our site will be self-contained. What I mean by this is that every project and piece of work will be on the server. This way each person within the group can download the information and work on it. I believe that with freelance.com you have to retrieve the information from the company once the admins have agreed to hiring you. Whereas with our system all you need to do is login and download the required files, once you have been accepted to the group.