Communication concepts and applications

¶ … Internet changing our mind and culture

There are some who claim that the Internet is not acting as a very good influence on either mind or culture. It is ruining the first and dumbing the second. According to these individuals, our minds are shaped by the tools that we use. So for instance, the printing press causes our minds to think in a linear way, machines to perceive things in a more mechanical fashion and the Internet dries up our imagination and creativity. However, every topic has its advocates and opponents and this one is no exception.

Advocates for the Intent see it as being an instrument that is shaping us into more tolerant and informative human beings by exposing us to a global network of information and connections (but then again we chose whom to communicate with on the net as well as what to read, and some of the information may make us dumber rather than smarter).

This question, by the way, was one that was asked by "The Edge.org" to its 150+ readers and one of the responses, by famous fiction writer Nassim Taleb, opined that the Internet "turns the worlds into Extremism…" The Guardian [Aug 15, 2010]. American writer Nicholas Carr, on the other hand, thinks that the Internet is not only shaping our lives but also altering our brains via the neural mechanism of neuroplasticity. More to the point, she laments the fact that she is no longer able to concentrate on reading material as she used to arguing that the Internet mode of browsing is impairing her neural mechanisms of concentration and wreaking havoc in her brain. On the other hand, 81% of a panel of 370 Internet experts unanimously told the Pew Research Center that they felt that "people's use of the internet has enhanced human intelligence" (The Guardian [Aug 15, 2010]). Ultimately, we may perhaps say that the Internet is both a blessing and a boon. It is undiscriminating, and it is up to the wise surfer to use it rationally. As to its changing culture -- certainly; just as it has capacity to change the individual human. The Internet has power both for good and for evil.

The cultural factors that may be effecting results

The fact simply may be that the author targeted a limited audience consisting possibly of people disinterested in reading about the topic. The American nation is comprised of a glob of different cultures and there is always one or more reader show is interested in a certain topic.

On the other hand, it is true that such a concepts such as memes exist and that some products and services sell better during one era than they do in another. Creators throughout the centuries have found such to be the case with art, prose, inventions, philosophies and so forth. Time and again, creators of product, service or information have achieved posthumous fame for the culture was suited to their mind's work only after their death.

The market that would be interested in this specific e-book is likely one that is predominantly comprised of the following:

a. Prospective immigrants to the U.S.

b. Fresh immigrants to the U.S. Who would like to know about their rights

c. Particularly intelligent and alert American citizens who experience a problems that involves legal issues in some area of their life. The book, however, has to explicitly address their area of concern. American citizens, and which rights that the Constitution protects.

Both Acts (Patriot I and Patriot II) are also connected with terrorism so this limits the ambit even more. My ideal targeted market would be an immigrant from some Islamic country who may feel themselves unfairly slung by racism because of their Islamic origin.

The book could not be more seasonal. Islamaphobia (i.e. prejudice against Islam or Muslims) is on the rise, and many feel themselves to be unfairly harassed. The May 2002 report of the European Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) highlighted the regularity with which ordinary Muslims became targets for discriminatory attacks. Their report - "Summary report on Islamophobia in the EU after 11 September 2001" -- was based on 75 reports, 15 from each EU nation and reported incidents such as blaming all Muslims for terrorism, verbal abuse, calling children 'usama', spitting on Muslims, removing women's hijabs, and other offensive actions. Muslims have been hospitalized and, one Muslim paralyzed. The anti-Muslim spirit is also represented by the media. Despite localized differences within each member nation, the recurrence of attacks on recognizable and visible traits of Islam and Muslims was the report's most significant finding, and the report concluded that "a greater receptivity towards anti-Muslim and other xenophobic ideas and sentiments has, and may well continue, to become more tolerated"( Allen & Nielsen (2002). Such actions, happening too in America, flagrantly transgress our constitutional rights. Islamic immigrants, facing such treatment, may not recognize that nor know what to do. The book is, therefore, not only current but also original and needed. I would simply need to find more appropriate tools and the correct audience in order to make it the success that it can.

Areas for improvements. Plan for improving work

I would do the following:

1. I would clearly define my targeted audience whom I think the book may interest / be most appropriate for.

2. I would approach an exemplar of that targeted market (perhaps a few individuals) and ask them for their opinion of the book.

3. I would leverage the book to sites that target that specific market, for instance websites that market themselves to recent immigrants.

4. I may have to edit and modify my pamphlet accordingly, for instance by simplifying the words; incorporating some of the culture's symbols, examples, values etc. so that the targeted immigrant can relate to the book; consider translation alongside the English; and adopt other strategies that would make the book more appealing to the targeted reader. This would necessitate that I put myself in the reader's position and speak to him rather than to myself.

5. I would provide the reader with further references and help so as to help the reader gain the assistance that he or she may need. Appendix will include associations connected to the subject (such as social work organizations); online sites; and offline material that the reader may be able to find in his local library.

Two different social media tools I will use if necessary

1. Post rank and Post rank analytics

1. This is a comparatively new social media tool. It explores blogs and discovers which topics get the most engagement on a particular blog by using the Good, Great, and Best filters to quantify degree of traffic on particular topics to that blog. It is particularly helpful to me since it will enable me to track down the blogs (and other sites) that are most congruent to my topic and assess social comments on the blog's postings. This will help me in at least 3 ways: