Social Media: Not Only for Creeping

We have all heard the term “citizen journalism" where just about anyone can appoint themselves journalists. Using the tools readily available online and the technology that we desperately cling to everyday, news from al over the world is, well, everywhere. It is also safe to say that many people use social media to connect with friends, share photos, and feed off the latest bit of gossip to hit their news feeds.

However, now more commonly, social media has helped spread the word about the record-breaking earthquake in Japan and people are already using social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to help Japan rebuild their country. People are contacting friends and family while posting videos, photos and news updates online from their phones and cameras. Information, as we all know, is never far away.

According to this article in the Technology section of ABC News, when Japan’s cell phones became too overcrowded to use, people used social media outlets, such as Twitter and Facebook to reach their concerned family members. The article discusses how an American law student who was in Japan for his spring break has used the Internet exclusively to connect with friends and family. This is not a tragedy that only affects the Japanese, and social media is helping remind us of that.

Google, which is becoming more social than just a reliable search engine, set up a “Person Finder” application that has helped linked victims to their family members already. And these immediate actions do not stop there. YouTube, as of March 11, holds over 9,000 earthquake-related videos and over 7,000 relating to tsunamis. The Google page looks like this. Simple and to the point and extremely effective:

Not only does this have newsworthy value, but it also opens a window for viewers all over the world to see how devastating a natural disaster like this can be. However, basic information is not enough to motivate people to help. When people can make an emotional connection, they are most likely to take action. It was groundbreaking to see live video during Vietnam War, as it can be accredited to causing such a negative view during that time. The same drastic affects are happening now, but thanks to social media, it is not uncommon or hard to find. People are inspired to help based on what they have seen through these images and videos of the earthquake. Twitter has becoming a main source of information, as people are posting devastating TwitPics and spreading the word about Red Cross’ efforts to assist victims in Japan just as it did for Haiti.

In the matter literally one second, my Twitter search for Japan was out of date:

The original purpose of the Internet was to create a network safe from military, technological and natural disasters and that remains true to this day. Now, however, it is a key player in spreading news, connecting with people and instantaneously raising efforts for those in need when other sources fail.

-Alaina Cordes

New Technology gives Viewers a Personal Perspective in Social Media Videos

Want to feel like you are watching the world from your favorite blogger or tweeters eyes? Now this is possible with a new technological invention similar to a helmet camera. ZionEyez has just announced the launch of their new product Eyez. These are sunglasses that video what the wearer is looking at and can be directly uploaded to social media sites. The glasses can use either bluetooth or usb to instantly upload video to the users favorite site. ZionEyez is hoping to capitalize on the trend of social media by taking a concept many others have tried before, helmet camera/ eyewear camera and making it easy to upload and send out. The product comes with a 3 hours of battery life, records in HD video, has a built in microphone, usb port, bluetooth, 16G memory, wifi, and removable lenses. The glasses comes with an app for smart phones and tablet application. Updates in real time are possible and gives social media viewers a first person experience that has been thus far not available. Imagine a blogger going to an event and literally taping what they witness and then they not only can blog about it later, but have video in a great quality.

According to co-founder of ZionEyez LLC, Evan Lindquist, “Dad can broadcast his son’s game-winning catch to out-of-town family members so they can all cheer him on in real time. Outdoor enthusiasts will finally be able to stream themselves kayaking, mountain climbing, or snowboarding. A college student can record lectures to study for an exam and then later that night capture the highlights of his campus party scene.” The drawback to this product is that not everyone wants to be filmed and the wearer may not use this for a good purpose. The discreet nature of the product makes it very similar to what critics have called it, James Bond glasses. Where the wearer can record things without anyone ever catching on.

Just take a look for yourself
http://www.zioneyez.com/

-Kelsey Flynn

Tweets From Below

Cremation or burial used to be the only question on our minds as death was approaching. With the introduction of the E-Tomb, whether you want to be buried with your Blackberry or Iphone is becoming a valid question. What the E-Tomb does is collect every piece of social media ever published by the deceased individual and through Bluetooth capabilities, connects it directly to your mobile device.

Access to blogs, pictures, videos, and even your Twitter account is a way to honor the individual and get a complete sense of what they were like when living. But that's not all; E-Tomb is set up so that mourners can leave comments, pictures, or videos of their own that can be added to this Social Media database. Many are speculative that this is taking Social Media too far. Just how long would you wait for a comment back?

-Robert Bird