In my previous blogs I have discussed the evolution of the internet from being merely an information source to becoming a business tool, a social networking tool, an international networking and relations tool, its evolution from a hobby to a career builder, the produsage effect translating to television and now the production of software itself via the internet. I suppose it is only natural to progress from consumer- produced content to consumer-produced software, and discuss the step-up of the consumers role in the evolution of the internet and now consequently software itself. However with another new internet-led phenomenon, one must ask- is this really produsage in a more large scale action or is it just an excuse and opportunity for IT students and technology interested folks worldwide to experiment with existing software structures?
The phenomenon in question is in fact labelled as Open Source Software. The differences between closed source and open source software are mainly the confidentiality surrounding closed source software produced by large companies such as Microsoft which operate the development of software as a structured business in relation and opposition to the free and open knowledge of open source software which is in fact developed by volunteers and teams in the community rather than paid employees. Anyone can see, use or even edit open source software to create their own form of software to suit themselves and fix withstanding problems of the software in opposition to developmental goals which are set by software companies. In essence, the difference between closed source software and open source software is merely software production versus software produsage.
But is open source software really produsage for the greater good of the community in general or is it more or less just for IT students looking for ways to brush up on their ‘sweet skills’ and developing software in a more experimental way than what would be allowed by the software company? I guess that in the case of software and the internet, the motivation behind the technology is not of real importance but the outcome of the experiments. Probably the greatest benefit for the production of open source software is the fact that changes are being produced by consumers themselves. Produsers who are participating at their own free will in the direction they choose, also for their own consequential benefit, the subsequent software is bound to be of benefit to the entire community rather than an exploitation. It is also possible that the software will be developed faster and a larger range of solutions will be developed through having a large number of consumers contributing to the software’s development. Possibly the greatest benefit of open source software is the fact that it will always be evolving and being bettered by those who are interested in creating something better and more interesting, as produsers will easily and quickly spot the flaws in their own designs once using their own product, once again proving the benefits of open source software in relation to closed source software, and that the benefits far outweigh the concern behind any motivation the produsers might have to make their product perform and work the way they intend it to.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Produsage and Television
In my previous blogs I have discussed the ideas and trends of produsage on the internet and the subsequent changes in uses of the internet. However, it is not only the internet that has been affected by the new phenomena that is currently sweeping the web. As I have been focussing on the effects and changes that have been occurring over the internet, I have come to neglect one of my favourite forms of media, television! I have decided that this week I will further my discussion of the topic of produsage, however instead of continuing on focussing on the internet, as I have for the past four or so weeks, that I will now focus for a moment on the changes that have occurred within the television industry due to the changes occurring to internet usage.
I have in fact studied this topic previously and find it fascinating that I have never at any point related the produsage phenomena of the internet to the produsage phenomena that is now occurring, and has been for a few years, on television. I have no doubt that it is in fact the television industry that is following the footsteps of the internet. With the huge increase in the number social networking websites on the internet and the immensely popular website YouTube, which is based all upon the idea of produsage, it is no wonder that the television producers of today are looking at ways in which they can include this phenomena in to their own media. Obviously the recent shift in the relationship between the audience and the producers is due to the fact that producers want to maintain or increase their profits. Consequently, media producers have had to ensure that they are aware of the audience’s desires regarding entertainment and television. When media producers look at the trends of the internet, there is no doubt that their audiences are enjoying having the ability to have control over their own media and are producing their own also- just look at YouTube. So in an effort to increase their audience and subsequently their profits, television producers have taken to including interactive television shows through which the audience as a whole can choose their own outcome and their own winner, which is essentially produsage in action.
And it is no surprise to the producers that subsequent television shows such as Big Brother, American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, have become hugely successful all over the world. By voting by phone and online, the audience are choosing what the television producers end up producing. However, while television producers have given the audience control over the direction of the television program, they can still maintain and preserve the strict guidelines to which they are legally bound by governmental regulations.
So to link this topic back to the internet, it is easy to see the effect that the fluidity of the internet and it’s evolving uses have not only effected global physical cultures as discussed in the couchsurfing blog, but that the internet is also having a big effect on the production of television shows. In addition, it’s also interesting to think that television producers now create websites for television shows they air and that through these websites, interest groups are evolving and creating more virtual cultures and social networks.
I have in fact studied this topic previously and find it fascinating that I have never at any point related the produsage phenomena of the internet to the produsage phenomena that is now occurring, and has been for a few years, on television. I have no doubt that it is in fact the television industry that is following the footsteps of the internet. With the huge increase in the number social networking websites on the internet and the immensely popular website YouTube, which is based all upon the idea of produsage, it is no wonder that the television producers of today are looking at ways in which they can include this phenomena in to their own media. Obviously the recent shift in the relationship between the audience and the producers is due to the fact that producers want to maintain or increase their profits. Consequently, media producers have had to ensure that they are aware of the audience’s desires regarding entertainment and television. When media producers look at the trends of the internet, there is no doubt that their audiences are enjoying having the ability to have control over their own media and are producing their own also- just look at YouTube. So in an effort to increase their audience and subsequently their profits, television producers have taken to including interactive television shows through which the audience as a whole can choose their own outcome and their own winner, which is essentially produsage in action.
And it is no surprise to the producers that subsequent television shows such as Big Brother, American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, have become hugely successful all over the world. By voting by phone and online, the audience are choosing what the television producers end up producing. However, while television producers have given the audience control over the direction of the television program, they can still maintain and preserve the strict guidelines to which they are legally bound by governmental regulations.
So to link this topic back to the internet, it is easy to see the effect that the fluidity of the internet and it’s evolving uses have not only effected global physical cultures as discussed in the couchsurfing blog, but that the internet is also having a big effect on the production of television shows. In addition, it’s also interesting to think that television producers now create websites for television shows they air and that through these websites, interest groups are evolving and creating more virtual cultures and social networks.
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