social_networking

Waiting on the proof-of-concept …

Social Networking Extends Mobile Battery Life
AlphaGalileo (11/17/10)

Researchers at the University of Zagreb, Crotia, are developing a new approach to social networking for mobile devices that is based on the context and preferences of users. The approach would provide a richer and faster experience for users, boost mobile battery life by up to 70 percent, and reduce the bandwidth burden of telecommunications providers.

The researchers have developed middleware to sit between telecommunications providers and users. The system works through serendipitous cooperation, via more energy-efficient Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, between users close to each other in an urban environment. The MAgNet middleware enables telecommunication companies to create an overlay network, or social network, on top of the network of users physically situated in a mobile network environment and using mobile devices.

“The system identifies mobile users near each other who are interested in the same multimedia content,” says Zagreb Podobnik. “Each mobile user would download only a part of the requested content from the mobile network and then share it with other users in their locale via an ad hoc Bluetooth or Wi-Fi network.” The researchers say that three proof-of-concept services prove that software agents would provide an adequate solution for implementing the middleware.

UWOD

January 26: default potential

A self-portrait or a picture with you in it that has the potential to be your default image on myspace/facebook etc.

This picture is so good, TOTAL default potential!

http://www.urbandictionary.com

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Made me laugh, I am always searching for pics with good default potential.  The worst of it is, after I come up with one, I’m happy for a month or two, and then want to change it. Never satisfied for long, that’s me.  Maybe I should come up with some sort of drawing or symbol that I can live with.

Right.  Been there, done that, same thing happens.

Village vs City

Researchers Help Define Next-Gen Social Networking
IDG News Service (07/28/08) Gohring, Nancy

Academic researchers predict that the next generation of social networking will give more people tools for defining smaller online communities in a way that mimics the real world. Rochester Institute of Technology’s Liz Lawley, speaking at Microsoft Research’s annual Faculty Summit, says current social tools are broken in regards to context and establishing boundaries over who to share information with. Many social network sites require users to become a part of a huge community, or force users to choose whether someone is a friend or not, with no subtleties defining relationships.

“People want to create villages and they’re being forced into cities,” Lawley says. “That’s creating a huge tension in social interactions.” Academic researchers could help develop tools to allow for such specific social networking, but first they must start using the tools, Lawley says, as many have no idea how to use online tools such as sharing a bookmark with other people or moderating comments on a blog.

Lawley also objects to some of the restrictions that separate children from adults online. For example, Lawley says she cannot interact with her 14-year-old son on Second Life because he has to be in the teen grid and she is in the adult grid.

Shutting down sites or isolating people will not solve the problem of sexual predators, she says. And although there is merit in age verification online, it should not be used to segregate users. Instead, Lawley says it would be better for parents to teach young people how to interact safely with adults online.