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Category: Week 8

When your account provides outfits for your shape and taste through algorithms #mscedc

When your account provides outfits for your shape and taste through algorithms #mscedc

Above is a few screenshots of my Fabletics account after they combined my frequently searched, size and favourite styles purchased into a personalised swimwear collection. Now, I am an individual that lives in active wear and I purchase alot online, BUT I feel that they may have missed out on the algorithm that informs them that I live in Scotland. In Scotland, beachwear consists of wellies and a Canada Goose jacket!!
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Emoticon experiment

Emoticon experiment

 

I am an expressive person and there are times where words over social media or technology driven text just do not give a conversation justice because of the lack of social cues (Kozinets, 2010). I am a frequent emojicon emoticon user, sometimes I reply with a simple emojicon emoticon to demonstrate my reaction than provide any text at all which my peer Eli pointed out. I like to explore the new emojicons emoticons whenever there is an update but algorithms influence my use of emojicons emoticons due to the frequently used selection appearing first, so, I get stuck in a rut. I usually pick the ones that pop up through convenience but it means that I am forever using the same emojicons emoticons. Over the week, I varied my activity and caused havoc on my frequently used! I even sent a shout out to my other #mscedc peers. The predication of the algorithm means that I am limiting my social expression by repeating and displaying the same emoticons emoticons over and over again. The algorithm arrowing down and closing off choice limits my experience (Beer,2016). Could the external influence of the emojicons emoticons affect my actual emotions or how I project them???

References:

Beer, D. (2016). The social power of algorithms. Information, Communication & Society, 20(1), 1-13. DOI: 10.1080/1369118x.2016.1216147

Kozinets, R. V. (2010) Chapter 2 ‘Understanding Culture Online’, Netnography: doing ethnographic research online. London: Sage. pp. 21-40.

After feedback from my tutor, I realise that I made up the word ’emojicon’ and it is in fact EMOTICON!!

 

 

Now, I do enjoy an emoji & algorithms update my ‘frequently used’ as my favourites change 🤷🏼‍♀️💁🙋☺️👍🏻#mscedc what’s your favourite?

Now, I do enjoy an emoji & algorithms update my ‘frequently used’ as my favourites change 🤷🏼‍♀️💁🙋☺️👍🏻#mscedc what’s your favourite?

from http://twitter.com/LinziMclagan
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Algorithms Everywhere….

Algorithms Everywhere….

Looking into algorithms got me thinking that there are algorithms everywhere, even when we look at completing the rubik cube. I went to my word salad app and typed in ‘algorithm’ and waited for the internet search to create a visual collage involving the most frequently used words in relation to the word searched.

‘FAB’LETICS? #mscedc http://ift.tt/2mmcjYb

‘FAB’LETICS? #mscedc http://ift.tt/2mmcjYb

As a Dance Educationalist I do not get the luxury of wearing smart dresses or outfits to work. Majority of my work week is spent in active wear which is carried on to my gym sessions and extra curricular activities with my daughter, dog and the horses. I am therefore, FOREVER in active wear. I enjoy clothes so I like to shop online (I mean whoever has the time these days to go shopping in person?) for smart outfits despite the informal appearance. Fabletics is a website I’ve used for a while and it conveniently caters to my taste, size and lifestyle. The first thing I was required to complete was a ‘pop quiz’ where I answered numerous questions on my activity, my shape, size and my colour and style preference. Each month I am sent e-mails and updates of co-ordinated outfits and personal recommendations. At first, I thought this was wonderful and I felt as if I had an online personal shopper. As it continues my bank balance suffers and I have more capri pants to open my own store! Algorithms is not just for the client, it is definitely for the convenience of the company. I now have no need to buy any active wear for a few years. The algorithms at play managed to alter choice by sorting, ranking and creating outfits that I could order. Why buy a top when you can but an outfit? The algorithm has the decision on what should be visible to me when I open my account or they take it a step further and send an e-mail. They create ‘truths’ around my choice, taste and lifestyle (Beer, 2016). If I’ve bought it then you bet I am wearing it to get my moneys worth!!

References:

Beer, D. (2016). The social power of algorithms. Information, Communication & Society, 20(1), 1-13. DOI: 10.1080/1369118x.2016.1216147

 

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Places and spaces #mscedc https://t.co/wKJOh4Is8j https://t.co/htnqgqhhn6

Places and spaces #mscedc https://t.co/wKJOh4Is8j https://t.co/htnqgqhhn6

Places and spaces #mscedc

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Places and spaces #mscedchttps://t.co/wKJOh4Is8jhttp://pic.twitter.com/htnqgqhhn6

Today I had the opportunity to meet James Lamb in real life (IRL) from our course whilst exploring Edinburgh. It’s always a pleasure to meet individuals in person and even more convenient in the city of the university where we study Education and Digital Cultures. This makes me excited for our EDC get together IRL at the end of April. Where people from spaces meet in wonderful places it reminds me of Lister (2009, p214-215) where he covers ‘belonging’ and if communities can be separate from physical location due to a digital divide. I believe so and have valued the relationships formed with individuals online with shared values and interests.

References:

Lister, M. … [et al.], (2009) “Chapter 3. Networks, users and economics” from Martin Lister … [et al.], New media: a critical introduction pp.163-236, London: Routledge

Pinned to Algorithms on Pinterest

Pinned to Algorithms on Pinterest

Just Pinned to Algorithms: How algorithms rule our working lives | Cathy O’Neil | Science | The Guardian #mscedc http://ift.tt/2n2HGXS
I read this article by Cathy O-Neil and pinned the link to pinterest as I found the topic of algorithms affecting our working lives intriguing. It made me consider the restrictions students face when applying for further education or applying for funding to support their studies. Looking at the different personalities of course participants and the psychology behind motivation we all need different incentives. If we were to have access to information that puts us under certain categories would that affect our performance within a course?
Pinned to Community Cultures #mscedc on Pinterest

Pinned to Community Cultures #mscedc on Pinterest

This post made me think of community cultures and our association with identity. Algorithms can help navigate us to people and communities. Some conceal certain aspects of themselves while others could be unaware of their digital footprint or some may not actually care. The things is, we are open for judgement when exposed online. Lectures, peers or ‘lurkers’ can make assumptions of ‘who we are’ which in return can influence how they interact with us online and face to face. Admit it, we have all found out a little too much about someone online and then acted like you were unaware until the information came up in conversation!

Just Pinned to Community Cultures #mscedc: Monica Bulger and Mikaela Pitcan interview Jade Davis about student privacy issues when they are assigned social media projects. http://ift.tt/2lUvTc5