Creating a “social web” site with a mashup editor – Assignment 3

Gun crime has increased in the many different areas of London during the past year. Reports of shootings amoung youths has invaded the news and caused a media frenzy.

Nearly 1,000 individuals were killed in 2007, 1 in 10 of them being under the age of 14; prompting fears that Britain is going through a serious problem.

This motivated me to design a custom website based on the effects of gun crime within the British community, how it’s been targeted and who are affected in the long run by these killings.

The website that i created was designed in Yahoo Pipes which is known and identified as being a tool which enables users to manipulate, sort and mashup data and different media types from around the web.

The advantages of using a yahoo pipe is that many different sources of information around the web can be feed into one and later filtered, sorted and translated.

Creating my pipe

On the pipe editior there are 3 main panes which participate in the creation of the pipe:

• The Canvas – the main working area of the pipe
• The Debugger – displays avtivity output.
• The Library – Shows all the relevent activities that can be carried out on the pipe. These activities vary as different activities such as sorting, filtering and translating are all available.

1.  To begin with i selected the “Fetch Site Feed” from the Sources tab in the library and dragged it into the canvas.
2.  I then entered the websites URL of the feed ,  in my case this was from a site related to Crime.
3. I then selected and draged the “Filter” tab from the sources library and dragged it unto the canvas.
4. Becausse i was interested in topic s and informatio about Gun Crime, i permitted matches that contained Gun Crime on the filter tab.
5. This had been completed and all my results had now been displayed on the Debugger.
6. In order to finalise the pipe i linked the two modules to the output module, saved the page as “Gun Crime” and published the pipe.

 When pipes are created they are displayed as web pages and are accessed by different members of Yahoo if htey are looking for this ceratin/particular topic.

Web Marketing – Assignment 4

For the 1st part of Assignment 4 i have been asked to summarise and document on the Marketing Strategies in relation to Web 2.0.

I have decided to present my presentation in the form of a Powerpoint Presentaion below.

Web 2.0 Marketing Report

For the 2nd part of Assignment 4 i have also been asked to devise and document a Web Marketing strategy for my social networking site http://urbanorld.ning.com.

Devising a Web Marketing Strategy for my Ning Website.

The Marketing strategy that i have decided to devise for my ning social site, will be related in increasing the volume of potential and new users.

1.     Learn about Social Networking Sites: Before generating and designing my website I had a lot of knowledge about the various different types of social networking sites and services that were available.I also knew and understood how to use the activities, tools and diverse services that were available which helped in the development of my site. Even though I had this knowledge I also searched the web for old, existing and recently created social networking sites that are available.  

2.     Research the different social sites that are unavailable or not effective: In order to create a site that will have an extreme impact on individuals as well as the internet, I decided to use different sources to research the many social sites that are available, and by this evaluation I recorded the sites that are not available or well developed/established.

 3.     Research Social Networking sites individuals may be interested in: Collecting information on the different social networking sites users may be interested in by users of these sites was a very good strategy. I managed to see where certain sites were having disadvantages as they never asked users what they wanted.

 4.     Design and create the social Media site strategically: I decided to create an Urban Music Social Networking site aimed for individuals who are interested in making music. While researching I realised this was one of the social networking sites that were unavailable but effective in growth for the developer.  Creating a site which was aimed for the majority who were interested in advertising their music, had effective blogs, widgets and appropriate tools was my main priority. Users would be able to add many different forms of media (photos, music, videos) onto their profiles as well as creat5ing their own personalised profile. All users will also be able to exchange and discuss various conversations within the site.

 5.     Tools for advertising: Different advertising tools such as badges that can be added unto other popular social websites, bookmarks, blogs, invites and widgets are used. 

6.     Content and context should be unique: All the information and services provided should be unique to the internet and made interesting for the user. Services and tools should excite and draw the user’s attention in order for then to use the services. Colours, design and whole web site should attract attention by all or if not the users that it is aimed at. 

 7.Participate and take part in the development of the site:Join blogs, comments and have an account on the site in order to interact with the users of the site. 

 

Creating a “social networking site” with Ning – Assignment 2

The urban music scene has always been seen by certain members of society as badly influential to individuals, offensive, undermining and unsuccessful and not many of these urban artists are given the chance to share their material with others.

Artists that have been recognised by record companies or producers, have either been dropped by their record label or criticized by the material of their music. E.g. Bashy a young male artist’s music video called Black Boys was banned by OFCOM for being racist so could not be aired on TV.

Bashy’s record had a positive meaning, helping and encouraging boys in the black community to grow up into successful black men.

This encouraged me to design Unsigned Urban Music (http://urbanarea.ning.com) which is aimed for individuals who are talented in producing urban material such as R&B, Bashment, Grime, Hip-Hop and Funky House, to upload and share their media with other music lovers and listeners.

The reason why I have named it Unsigned Urban Music, is because all the media, profile data and entries that have been published on the site, are by individuals who have not been recognised or been given a contract by existing record companies.

The use of this site will enable artists to share their material, get feedback on their material, promote themselves as well as their material, obtain the advantages and opportunities of performing at venues and also feeling comfortable.

Users of my site will be able to add their music, videos, profile information, photos, friends, announcements of any performances as well as blog entries and forum discussions.

In order for the networking site to produce an ongoing dialog with its members, the site can instruct users to advertise their profile on other websites (facebook, myspace etc), record and notify users of any changes and current activities that have been carried out within the site, and wall comments. When these activities have been carried out the user will receive an e-mail stating the activities that have been done.

I aimed to create a straightforward visual style for the site, which consists of one image that is located in the right hand corner of the header. The colours I used have the urban effect and feel, but are very calm.

The reason why I decided to design the site in this way is because I wanted users to have the opportunity in customising and reflecting their personality on their profile page. If I added vibrant colours and different urban related images, the site wouldn’t allow the user to add their own individual content as I have created it for them.

The richness of the site is not highly developed. Users have the opportunity to make use of the appropriate widgets that are available on the site. This enables them to have a countdown of an event in which they may be participating in or just want friends to attend. The date, time, name and location are included and viewed in the middle of the profile page for better visibility.

Photo slideshows, comment walls, and activity readers are the other functions that users can use in their profiles.

Users have a really immense relevance to the site as well as the content and context that is held within the site.

As it is a social networking site aimed at individuals in the unsigned music industry, individuals will need to join in order to create the whole site and make the site worth while. Users have the advantage of uploading any preferred amount of media onto their profile. Searching for unsigned artists is very hard as they are not recognised in the industry and can be found in diverse unfamiliar locations, because of this cause I only have one member that has joined my network, making it difficult for me to evaluate the processes, requirements and progress of the site.

Unsigned Urban music promotes music that has not been heard by society; my customisation of the site has enabled and encouraged users to welcome their material. Different groups have been created on the site, such as Writers, DJ’s and Promoters, Rappers and MC’s and singers, which enables them to correspond and get to now each other in a more enhanced way.

Within the groups diverse music videos of artists that belong to the relevant categories have been uploaded in order for users to view and encourage them to join the group.

My main aim of creating this social networking site was to encourage individuals that have not been recognised or been rejected. I concentrated more on the conceptualisation and as individuals have to upload media and produce a profile the functions and customisation of the site somehow had to limited by me as the administrator, as the users create the site.

My review of a web2 website – Assignment 1

As a naive user the point of this assessment was to became familiar with a web2 site uploaded on the Internet. I had to look at the concept of the site, describe the general layout, features and information that members of the public have uploaded onto the site.

 

In order to provide in depth information and evidence , i had full accessibility of the site.

 

Bebo (www.bebo.com) is a social networking website where members that are signed up can connect with friends and collegues, share photos along with media and explore old,  new and excisting interests.

 

Bebo manages to incorporate many different aspects such as sharing media (that can be listened and viewed), searching, creating widgets and quizzes and viewing profiles which all contain different categories and interests.

 

The first step was to register onto the site, personal information such as my:

• First Name

• Last Name

• Date of Birth (which could be hidden by ticking the check box next to the text)

• Gender

• Country

• Email 

• Account password

All had to be completed as some information that i had provided would be visible on my bebo profile.

 

I completed a security process, which involved me completing a code verfication proccess, this feature was placed on bebo in order for the services to prevent automated registering onto the site.

 

Now that i had completed the registration on bebo, i was now ready to start creating my profile. A new window appeared on the screen, enabling my to complete the various subtitltes that releted to me and made up my bebo profile.

Subtitles included:

• Gender

• Me,My Life and I

• Reletionship Stautus

• Interests and Hobbies

This process was very straightforward and simple and information was not complosury, meaning that the user has the sence of control.

 

After the profile had been created i could now upload my photographs, videos, music, search and add freiends unto my profile.

 

Uploading photos, Music and Videos in bebo is are very simple processes and extremely quick, as these function are completed under 10 seconds (this includes browsing and uploading the file). Users can upload more then one media type unto thier profile.

 

The advantages of users uploading media unto thier space are:

• They are enabled to make Photo Albums of any kind.

• Videos can be catergorised and placed into thier tab on the profile, enabling a page just for the viewing of videos.

• Videos can be watched by other members of bebo

• Videos and Channels that have been uploaded by the user can be searched by others and vica versa.

The disadvantage of  bebo are that:

• If media is to large to fit the selected capacity, bebo doesnt have the functions that will enable the user to crop or cut the file. Instead the file cannot be uploaded at all.

The design and layout of the bebo site is very interesting, as users can navigate thier way around the site without having difficulties.

 

Headings, titles and icons are used in order for the menu’s and tabs to be visible to the user. When a tab, heading etc is selected it changes colour, notifying to the user that they’ve made that selection.

 

The main bebo tags include the headings Home, Profile, Friends, Mail, Explore and a search bar.

Each tag opens a new window. The Home tag opens the users bebo profile which can only be viewed, it also includes searches and changes to the site, as well as activities that can be done.

 

The Profile tag opens the users profile, which has related tags on the header of the page. The tag displayes the following titles:

• All – This shows the user all the activities, information, media, friends and blogs that are within the persons profile.

• Video – Enables the user to uploadall thier videos, search, view and suscribe to different videos.

• Friends – Displays all the users friends,

• Photos

• White Board – The user can draw and write different pictures on the whiteboard.

• Blog

• Polls

The Friends tag views all the friends that have been connected to the user. If the user has no friends the user has the choice to ad friends by selecting the “Click here to add friends” link.

The Friends tag has subtitles that include: Browse, Address Book, Requests Made, Top Friends, Write Stories and Friends Friends.

 

The Mail tag displays the messages that the user has recieved, read, composed and skins that can be used in thier messages.

 

The Explore tag displays a new window and relevent subtitles: video, music, authors, groups, bebo nation and mobile.

The user can surf different catergories of the subtitles given. Media that is displayed within the explore tag can be copied unto the users profile and users can view profiles of users that have uploaded thier media.

 

The music tag contains all the general music genres in the world. User’s profiles can be clicked and accessed so that their profile, photos, music albums or tracks, fans, songs, band members, upcoming shows, blogs, music and comments can be viewed.

 

The video tag contains videos from different backgrounds, types ranging from news through to theatre. This feature of bebo resembles another web2 site called YouTube and have alot of similarities.
Videos are displayed on the left hand side of the screen, underneath this the URL along with the embedded width and height of the video are displayed.

The user also has details on their music genre, music label, hometown, when the profile was created, their URL address, links on how to become a fan, using the current skin that they have and reporting abuse.

When an individuals profile is viewed the user will have an automatic count of how many people has viewed the page, this count will automatically appear on the persons profile.

The music tag contains all the general music genres in the world. User’s profiles can be clicked and accessed so that their profile, photos, music albums or tracks, fans, songs, band members, upcoming shows, blogs, music and comments can be viewed.

 

The video tag contains videos from different backgrounds, types ranging from news through to theatre. This feature of bebo resembles another web2 site called YouTube and have alot of similarities.
Videos are displayed on the left hand side of the screen, underneath this the URL along with the embedded width and height of the video are displayed.

 

This feature of bebo resembles another web2 site called YouTube and have alot of similarities.
Videos are displayed on the left hand side of the screen, underneath this the URL along with the embedded width and height of the video are displayed.

 

Users can log out of thier profile by selecting the “Logout” icon on the main toobar .

 

On the footer of the bebo site there are different icons that the user can select.

The help tag has frequently asked questions which have been answered by the bebo support team, terms and conditions of the service, privacy policy, contact, press releases which can be clicked and read, safety which contains a fun animated video on how to be and stay safe when using bebo.

Links to other safety websites have been placed on this page so that users can look at other sites that refer to safety on the net.

Testimonials which have been written and sent in by members of bebo have been placed on the testimonials page, this allows them to comment o how useful their services are.

A brief insight on what bebo is about and their services is written in the About heading.
This feature manages to show the name, occupation and photo of all the individuals who where part of creating, designing and maintaining the bebo website.

 

The last heading is called backstage. This profile i created by the official bebo group who announce new features, discuss issues and create polls to have the different bebo member’s opinions.
The page contains blogs, videos, members, the different changes to the site, forum, white board, polls, photos, comments and video blogs.

 

The bebo website is a very effective social networking site as:

• It has many functions, activities and tasks that users can use and take advantage of.

• Procedures and navigatio around the site is simple and straightforward.

• Colours and designs that are used are eye catching and do not interfere with the users experience.