Cujo’s Byte

Science fiction and Popular Science magazine has given us the idea that one day there will be Virtual Worlds where we can escape real life and immerse ourselves in an imaginary land built on 3D graphics. As early as the 1950’s, scientists and engineers wrote about a movie experience that would draw the user into the world presented on the screen (Tate, 1996). Many believed that by now, users would have VR simulators in their homes and escape anytime they wanted but we seem to be far off of what was predicted or imagined.

Virtual Reality is a broad term that most assume means wearing a heavy headset, putting on sensor gloves and moving around in an imaginary world. That is one form of Virtual Reality but there are far less complex examples that are more widely used today.

Virtual Reality is defined by SearchCIO (2008) as, “an artificial environment that is created with software and presented to the user in such a way that the user suspends belief and accepts it as a real environment.” By this definition, most first person consol video games could be considered Virtual Reality as well as the applications  with the ability to interact with a 3d object on a computer over the Internet.

Some would argue that interacting with a three-dimensional shape or playing a video game on a television is not true VR because the users do not truly believe they are in a real environment. I argue that if the user enters a state of suspension of disbelief as audiences do in action movies or fantasy books, where for all intents and purposes the world is real then it is truly a virtual reality. Media College (n.d.) explains the suspension of disbelief as,“a semi-conscious decision in which you put aside your disbelief and accept the premise as being real for the duration of the story.”

The key to make Virtual Reality a true reality for users is have a sense of context of what is real and combined true reality with that of an alternate reality. One successful use that can be seen today is augmented reality.  Augmented reality is combining digital or created content as a supplement or contributing to real life situations and objects. For example, using a smart phone video camera, an application can provide contextual information bubbles or additional photographs as you pass a monument or historical figure. This is already being seen in many iPhone  and Android applications and with Google Goggles (Google Goggles, 2010)

But what platform is best to provide this virtual or augmented reality to the user through the Internet? Ideally, it would be accessible in every browser and not require an additional plug-in or download but that is difficult to do at the present time with the limitations of the most widely distributed browsers. Today, most have used Flash to provide 3D and virtual realities to users via he Internet.  But with the conversion of VRML to X3D and its implementation into the WebKit browsers such as future versions of Safari and Google Chrome there will be a lot better implementation and uses of the virtual environment and combining it with existing realities.

X3D, is a three-dimensional framework language that can be transferred and rendered at runtime. This technology, a fast, smaller and a more flexible upgrade to  it’s predecessor VRML which did work inside the World Wide Web but was not well adopted.

With X3D and the Web 3D Consortium working to get it implemented into every major browser in the near future, developers and publishers will have an easier and more interactive time delivering virtual worlds.

Today, publishers and media organizations should began thinking about how they could offer virtual worlds and augmented realities to their users so that when the browsers are deployed and adopted they can lead with great vitural content.

For example, it will not be enough to have a 2-D interactive graphic of a new baseball stadium but it the graphic will need to be able to be controlled and consumed in 3D space with realistic visuals and sounds that immerse the user. And when the user takes a X3D enabled smart device to the stadium they are presented with additional information, videos, images, etc. that supplement the real life experience.

This is just one possibility but think about locations as worlds and consider how you can deliver more than the present reality to those that are present and those that are not.

References:

Google Goggles (2010) Google Labs [Online] Available from: http://www.google.com/mobile/goggles/#landmark (Accessed 30 January 2010).

SearchCIO (2008) [Online] Available from: http://searchcio-midmarket.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid183_gci213303,00.html (Accessed 30 January 2010).

Suspension of Disbelief (n.d.) Media College [Online] Available from: http://www.mediacollege.com/glossary/s/suspension-of-disbelief.html (Accessed 30 January 2010).

Tate, S. (2006) Virtual Reality: A Historical Perspective [Online] Available from: http://ei.cs.vt.edu/~history/Tate.VR.html (Accessed 30 January 2010).

VRML (n.d.) Web3d Consortium [Online] Available from: http://www.web3d.org/x3d/specifications/vrml/VRML1.0/index.html
(Accessed 30 January 2010).

What is X3D? (n.d.) Web3d Consortium [Online] Available from: http://www.web3d.org/about/overview/ (Accessed 30 January 2010).

I was recently asked to write a post for the Visual Student NPPA blog and you can find my post here. It not only applies to photographers and videographers but anyone in the industry or in journalism school right now.

Recently in my master’s class I was asked the question, what is a multimedia system? Here was my response. Do you agree? I think your answers will be different depending on if you are a technologist or a communicator.

I find it humorous that despite the fact that I once held the titles of multimedia producer, multimedia developer and deputy director of multimedia, it is difficult to accurately define a multimedia system.

To a journalist, as I began my career, multimedia is the combining of photos, video and text to tell a story or to present information. But a video game developer might say he works in multimedia and if you asked a 16 year-old student what multimedia is they might just say, “The Internet.” But today, as an application development manager I think of it as something more complicated. Multimedia is more than just media; it is the communication of a message using multiple media.

According to media professor Mike Cuenca, “Multimedia is the concurrent use of multiple presentation media to communicate a message” (1998). Cuenca’s definition is basic but accurate to all disciplines that use the term multimedia. The key components that define multimedia are communication and the use of more than one medium or media. Chapman’s book, Digital Multimedia (2009, p.7), defines multimedia in a more simplistic definition as the combining of media. He ignores the aspect of communicating a message and focuses on the technical aspects of placing the mediums together. I think this is too simplistic and think the success of the message cannot be ignored. For example, a text story about an economic recession, combined with a photo of stuffed animal and a recording of Elvis are technically multiple mediums but combining them does not better communicate a message.

It is often assumed that multimedia, sometimes called “new media” is a new concept that was brought on by the Internet. But using the definition above, the old fashioned film strips with a cassette tapes would also be considered multimedia as well as network television, cartoons and feature length movies that combines moving images and sound (Chapman, 2009, p.7-13).

At the most basic level, multimedia systems, as well as all communication systems, require a message, a vehicle or transmitter and a recipient of the message. In the past the transmitter and receivers have been in analog form but new digital communication technologies give numerous other options for delivering messages.

Applying communication’s System Theory, which was pioneered by Georg Hegel and famously applied by both Karl Marx and Charles Darwin, to a multimedia system, provides a basis for determining the most important characteristic of a modern multimedia system. System Theory consists of four pieces, objects, attributes, relationships and environment. Should there be a loss or deficiency of any of these pieces communication breaks down making all four aspects necessary and important (Littlejohn, 2002, 36-39).

Applying this theory to the multimedia system of the World Wide Web, the objects are photos, video, audio and text. The attributes are Internet transfer protocols for transmission and reception. The relationship is user to server to message disseminator (organization or individual). And the environment is the international Internet. Without any of these aspects, multimedia messages cannot be communicated.

Today, modern multimedia systems tend to add an additional element other than just communicating with multiple mediums. Interactivity and user choice is also a valuable component that has been enabled by the use of computers and the Internet as the delivery method. This allows for non-linier storytelling that allows the users to choose what order to receive information (Chapman, 2009, p.7-13). Although this is not a requirement of a multimedia system it is typically assumed that interactivity is possible when presenting multiple mediums. This is most widely used on the Internet but can also be seen in most DVD presentations. DVDs at the most basic level display linier media of images and audio over a specific amount of time. But now DVDs typically come with interactive menus that allow users to view different features in whatever order they wish or even break the linier fashion of the feature by jumping to a specific scene.

At the most basic level a multimedia system must have multiple mediums combined together. For a multimedia system to be an effective form of communication it must incorporate cohesiveness and interact well in the environment in which it is presented.

Reference:

Chapman, N. & Champan, J. (2009) Digital Multimedia. West Sussex: John Wiley an Sons, pp 7-13.

Cuenca, M. (1998) ‘Opinion: Where’s the Multimedia in Online Journalism?’, Journal of Electronic Publishing, vol. 4, no. 1, September [Online]. Available from: http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=jep;view=text;rgn=main;idno=3336451.0004.111 (Accessed: 7 January 2010).

Littlejohn, S. (2002) Theories of Human Communication. Belmont: Wadsword Thompson Learning, pp 36-39.

Every fall during the first week of school, attractive collage aged sales people can be seen successfully signing up students for credit cards, bank accounts, magazines and other subscription and credit services. Students pass over personal information including bank account numbers and government identification numbers only for the promise of a free t-shirt or coffee mug.

In most cases that information is used for legitimate reasons, though not necessarily in the best interest of the student, typically collected and protected by large corporations. The issue is not how the information will be used it is how easily it was to obtain. Without questions or concerns, students are in the habit of releasing personal information.

The same can bee seen in older generations as well. Those not as comfortable or not understanding new technologies have, without hesitation given over bank records, retirement accounts and other personal information via email and the Internet because they were ignorant to the idea of Internet scams such as phishing. Once released, the information can be used, traded or sold for various purposes and it almost impossible to track and remove.

In the United States there is the mentality that personal data protection places the majority responsibility on the individual although there has been legislation passed such as the Fair Credit Report Act. But the Fair Credit Report Act was passed in 1970 and with the changes in technology does little to protect an individual’s credit but only allows them to determine if a problem exists. This act also places much of the burden on the individual, a few requirements on the credit agencies and little regulation on collectors and holders of personal data that could lead to credit fraud (Fair Credit Report Act 1970).

The European Union has taken a much more proactive approach that is a combination of personal, corporate and government responsibility. The Data Protection Directive, considered a vital aspect to both human and privacy rights, places regulations and oversight on organizations collection and storage of personal data. For example, in the EU the legal responsibility for the data rests on the “controller” which can include representatives of the organization or the actual organization collecting or using the data. The controller is required to be “transparent” and inform the individual as to why the data is being collected, how it will be used and must request consent from the individual to collect (Data Protection Directive 1995).

The directive also differs from practice in the U.S. where data can be collected for one reason but then sold or provided to another organization for a different purpose. A college student could give personal information for a magazine subscription and then that information could be passed to a credit card company and used for other purposes.

One thing that both the EU and the U.S. have in common is there is great responsibility still needed by the individual despite legislation that might provide some protection. Though not expensive, this personal responsibility can be time consuming and therefore consumers are not diligent in protecting personal data. The UK Government encourages individuals protect themselves by “shredding documents” and “monitoring credit reports.” Both are inexpensive actions. A credit report cost £2 in the UK and in the U.S. one is provided free each year upon request (DirectGov).

Today and in the future, it is important that governments write legislation that protects the information of individuals but is as equally important that individuals from college students to retired people be diligent about protecting themselves despite the time consuming process and the nominal fees. That time and money in prevention is much less than what would be consumed after a fraud is committed.

References:

Data Protection Directive 1995, Directive 95/46/EC (European Commission).

DirectGov: National Identity Service. (2009). Protecting your identity. Available: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Identitycards/DG_174616. Last accessed 8, October 2009.

Fair Credit Report Act 1970 (U.S. Congress, Senate and House).

I love my iPhone but this new device is something great. Amazing picture quality and a huge viewing service. Watch the video below!

Just kidding…. very funny.

I love hearing not-so-technical people us buzz words improperly in a meeting. My recent favorite is the misuse of cloud computing. An editor made the case that he should have his servers hosted outside the Washington Post servers because they needed to be on “on a cloud,” and the WP servers were not sufficient.

I held back the sarcastic comments and politely explained that washingtonpost.com is it’s own cloud. Many years before the the buzz word was ever heard, the Post built it’s own cloud. We have hundreds of servers across the globe that form our own personal TWP Cloud!

For those wanting to know what cloud computing really is, take a look at this great “explainer video” from CNN Tech.

This week the White House announced that whitehouse.gov is now managed by open-source CMS (Content Management System) platform Drupal. This is a major switch from the proprietary platform built by the Bush Administration. At face value this might seem like a major mistake that could create security vulnerabilities or an unstable environment for The White House web site. On the other side of the argument is that going open-source provides greater security and services because of the vast contributor community. The individuals who were consulted and implemented the system have amplified responsibilities to the President, the American public and the world to provide a safe, secure and always available flow of information. These responsibilities cannot be taken lightly and as time will tell, could be an example for computing professionals to follow.

Despite the nonchalant voice of the new media office and the lack of a press release, this is not a simple install of the downloadable Drupal CMS on a cheap monthly service like the majority of Drupal instances. Whitehouse.gov’s deployment was a well thought through, carefully planned customized scheme that provides added security and stability. According to White House new media director Malcolm Phillips, four different companies were brought in to provide technological expertise and services for the site. Those companies include Acquia, which is owned by the original creator of Drupal Dries Buytaert, Terremark Federal, a government infrastructure and security firm and Akamai provided the necessary content delivery networks (CDN). Each firm, represented by top computing professionals, delivered on various responsibilities for the project. But these responsibilities are no different than any web development project, they just have a higher profile (Scola, 2009).

The White House project as with any other website for delivering information to an audience has the responsibilities of legally delivering truthful and appropriate information to the audience in a timely fashion that is easy to consume and understandable. Those basic goals require an easy to use CMS such as Drupal as well as highly secure networks that ensure integrity of information that were built by Terremark and timely delivery with a 99.9% site availability from Akamai (Hoover, 2009).

To break down those basic responsibilities even further would mean the developers and content producers should always follow all applicable laws, be sensitive to other cultures and opinions and be responsive to users opinions. Roger Darlington (2002), a international ethics scholar encourages creators and users of the Internet to apply the laws of the “off-line world to the on-line world” especially in matters of child pornography, hate speech, libel and copyrights. In addition to legal responsibilities he also asks of sensitivity towards other cultures, “while originally most Internet users were white, male Americans, now the Internet belongs to all. As a pervasively global phenomenon, it cannot be subject to one set of values like a local newspaper or national television station; somehow we have to accommodate a multiplicity of value systems.”

In order for professionals to deliver on these responsibilities they must be properly informed and up-to-date on the latest Internet technologies, services and security issues. It is not the responsibility of the consumer, customer or organization they work for to know everything about search engine optimization or the latest security holes in the CMS. It is the computing professional’s responsibility to know or hire an organization than can provide the necessary expertise. When the new media director of the White House needed to deliver a site of such a high profile he did not choose to build the site himself, (as he did during the campaign) but choose to surround himself with experts who could fulfill the responsibilities before him. He tooks his responsibilities seriously and knew when to include others to keep them.

Darington, Roger (2002) Internet Ethics [Online]. Available from: http://www.rogerdarlington.co.uk/Internetethics.html (Accessed: 28 October 2009)

Hoover N. (2009) ‘White House Uses Open Source To Open Government’ [Online] Information Week Government. Available: http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/info-management/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=220900519 (Accessed: 28 October 2009)

Scola, Nancy (2009) ‘WhiteHouse.gov Goes Drupal’ [Online] Tech President. Available from: http://techpresident.com/blog-entry/whitehousegov-goes-drupal (Accessed: 28 October 2009)

If you are a fan of the TV show Lost, you might want to check out the map and timeline we have been working on. Can you find the island?

The new guy wandered around the food service area, trying to decide between pot roast or pasta. Before leaving the line he asked where the napkins were from someone who seemed to move through the cafeteria like a movie stars on a red carpet.

Eating in the busy cafeteria, he stared out the window, reading a discarded paper a little in silence, trying not to show he was listening to the big shots at the center table talking about Sunday’s football game and the other news of the day. Cleaning up his trash and putting his tray away, he left the lunch room early to find the room for his next appointment.

It was a struggle, finding his way through the building, going up stairs and back down again. Familiar-looking hallways were different at the same time. He even asked for directions several times before making it to his assigned room, only to find it empty.

Seated in a historic conference room of The Washington Post, wearing a sharp designer suit, preparing to launch his team’s latest innovative product, the new guy thought about his first day at a new school in 8th grade.

I smiled at the idea of how that major change 15 years prior started me on a path to this conference room today.

Today, The Washington Post announced the merge of the digital operation with the parent company. This is a move we knew was coming for a long time and I welcome the change.

It’s a move I will make in just a few short months. Today, I four scheduled meetings at my future home before returning to the now temporary office in Arlington, Va. The historic and ancient Washington Post building  (actually two buildings connected by some hallways somewhere on some floors) just blocks from the White House, is under construction, which is why I claimed to have gotten lost.

For today, it did feel like the first day of school as I met new people, traversed the halls and eavesdropped on our former and current executive editor’s conversation at the lunch table. I am actually looking forward to the changes and even the feelings of uncertainty are welcome because I know over the long haul we will be stronger and better because of them.

I am proud of my company for making the tough choices and bringing us under one roof and one name. Despite my longer commute and the loss of “Bagel Monday” and “PB&J Fridays,” I look forward with anticipation to the full integration. This new force, united under one banner, is a team I hope will once again, as it did forty years ago, redefine the journalism industry and lead the country to active participation in our beloved democracy.

We recently launched a new way of presenting comments and Poynter has a nice article about it!

http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=101&aid=169103