17 May 2005
Small Fry Under the Big Sky
At 30 years old I thought I was a bit too late to join in all this internet entreprenuerialship. The dot com boom has come and gone. Today there seems to be no topic left untouched within the world wide web. How would I ever build something that isn't already represented? The overwhelming sense of "too late" left me thinking I would simply use the internet to keep my own little memoirs, and artworks for my friends and future family to see.
Enter Tanya Notley to QUT to talk to our class about the Youth Internet Radio Network - YIRN. Her groups's research involved travelling all over Queensland to remote locations in order to expose and educate youth about the intenet, and how they could participate in its formation. The kids learnt about radio broadcasting and making short digital movies about themselves. The website developed by the youth, for the youth is www.sticky.net.au. That hit a resonate note with me because here I was making my own little world about me too.
I took 3 things from this experience. One is that producing your own content about yourself is not neccessarily looked at as boring by other people. I guess the fact that every-one ran away whenever I brought out my holiday snaps of Europe (see pic) had something to do with my misinterpretation that I was boring. Now I know, it was my "friends" who were way off track in terms of what is hot right now. That is - the personal IS interesting. Especially when it's mine. Get down DJ Fatima!
Secondly I found viewing these digital movies from far and wide really interesting. There are many other cultures out there that we are not exposed to in the mass media. The internet allows any-one to access this interesting stuff, made by everyday people with no extraordinary skill. "Any-one" that is, who has access and the skills to use the internet. That's why YIRN is such an inspirational group. The researchers recognised that the digital divide is preventing remote school kids from connecting and sharing with other online kids. YIRN made the connections and educated the kids on some simple skills to give them a sense of belonging.
Thirdly it made me realise that no matter how far behind I feel relating to internet technology, there are way, way more people further behind than me. In the city I am a small fry. But if I were to move to a remote area, I would possibly be considered an internet expert! I could be a leader, and make a whole project out of a willing community to develop something by themselves for themselves. This may not be the most profitable way to make a buck out of the net, but it would certainly be a rich experience. And in the end, experience is what really matters, to me.
Enter Tanya Notley to QUT to talk to our class about the Youth Internet Radio Network - YIRN. Her groups's research involved travelling all over Queensland to remote locations in order to expose and educate youth about the intenet, and how they could participate in its formation. The kids learnt about radio broadcasting and making short digital movies about themselves. The website developed by the youth, for the youth is www.sticky.net.au. That hit a resonate note with me because here I was making my own little world about me too.
I took 3 things from this experience. One is that producing your own content about yourself is not neccessarily looked at as boring by other people. I guess the fact that every-one ran away whenever I brought out my holiday snaps of Europe (see pic) had something to do with my misinterpretation that I was boring. Now I know, it was my "friends" who were way off track in terms of what is hot right now. That is - the personal IS interesting. Especially when it's mine. Get down DJ Fatima!
Secondly I found viewing these digital movies from far and wide really interesting. There are many other cultures out there that we are not exposed to in the mass media. The internet allows any-one to access this interesting stuff, made by everyday people with no extraordinary skill. "Any-one" that is, who has access and the skills to use the internet. That's why YIRN is such an inspirational group. The researchers recognised that the digital divide is preventing remote school kids from connecting and sharing with other online kids. YIRN made the connections and educated the kids on some simple skills to give them a sense of belonging.
Thirdly it made me realise that no matter how far behind I feel relating to internet technology, there are way, way more people further behind than me. In the city I am a small fry. But if I were to move to a remote area, I would possibly be considered an internet expert! I could be a leader, and make a whole project out of a willing community to develop something by themselves for themselves. This may not be the most profitable way to make a buck out of the net, but it would certainly be a rich experience. And in the end, experience is what really matters, to me.
