When students arrive to class, teaching assistants will be scanning students’ UGA IDs with a scanner similar to the one use d at University athletic events. The students’ information such as their name and 810 number will then be stored in a class database.

     The digital system will be more efficient than outdated sign in tracking procedures used across campus.

     “Wouldn’t it be cool if we developed a system that would use a student’s 810 number as a digital signature and made it easier for professors and their teaching assistants,” said Shelby Reimer, the New Media Institute capstone project manager.

      The New Media Institute – a certificate program within Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication – is committed to teaching students about innovative digital media technology through personal media.

      Reimer and three other NMI students are working on developing an effective attendance tracking system, updating the Institute’s website and integrating an efficient way to make and take quizzes.

      A survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control showed that in 2010, 19.5% of the U.S. adult population was current cigarette smokers. According to the Mayo Clinic, one trick that can help smokers overcome powerful cravings is by delaying or distracting themselves. "Smokin' Mirrors" is designed for just that.

     For years, magicians have used smoke and mirrors to distract audiences from reality in order to pull off amazing feats. "Smokin' Mirrors" is a mobile application that provides this ‘smoke and mirrors’ affect.  It distracts the viewer from their cigarette craving by giving them an assortment of YouTube videos to watch.  From the coolest music videos to Dumb and Dumber scenes to Deion Sanders highlights to the hilarious talking babies Etrade commercials, this app has something for everyone.  It starts users off with short videos and works its way up to longer videos as the user increases their resistance to cigarette cravings.  Ideally, the goal for the user would be to eventually not watch any videos because they quit smoking altogether.  

Well a couple of weeks ago, one of my dreams came true.  I was invited to attend one of the newer TED offshoots called TED MED.  It is a TED licensed event dedicated to "imagining the future of health and medicine."  And it was cheaper — only $5000 for registration. But we cobbled together different accounts and got a little bit of a deal, so I could attend.  I learned a ton at TED MED — over 60 talks spread over 4 days!  But the biggest thing I learned is that I really hadn't understood what a TED is really about.  Yes, TED stands for Technology Entertainment and Design.  Yes, TED always has amazing speakers.  But the real power of a TED doesn't come from the stage — it is in the audience.  TEDs use smart people to attract smart people.  The discussions, ideas, disagreements, suggestions, and proposals in the dinner lines, shuttle busses, cocktail parties, and, ok, in the restrooms were the true highlight of the event.  I am still cranking through so much of it.

And now we are trying to bring that collaborative energy to UGA in a couple of different ways.

On Saturday, May 5th, the NMI hosts its annual SLAM (hey, the all caps alone conjures up the spirit of TED, right?).  All day long, NMI students will be showing off incredibly cool projects they have been working on all semester long.  Facebook apps, iBooks, mobile sites, videos.  Over 25 projects in all.  You can hear presentations and then walk around to interact with the students as they talk about the wild things they made happen.  The public part of the day starts at 1:30PM in the NMI (fourth floor of the Journalism building). And just like TED, the true highlight is in the interaction between smart students and smart people like you.

And more long term, we are working on a way to bring a TED-esque event to the University of Georgia.  Currently a group of students, faculty, and staff are working on hosting a TEDxUGA in April of next year.  Lots of working and planning involved, but it is something that a committed and smart group wants to accomplish.  I will keep you posted. 

The weekend of May 3rd through the 6th , the University of Georgia golf course plays host to the Stadion Classic, a stop on the Nationwide golf tour. The New Media Institute at the University of Georgia has created a mobile application to enhance the tournament experience for visitors and followers of the tournament at home.

The mobile application will amplify the participation of a patron at the tournament as well as immerse a follower of the tournament who can not make it to the course. Users of the application  can take advantage of a number of different mobile features such as following the leader board, reviewing scores, reading player biography's, and confirming tournament tee times.

The mobile application also provides a social media interface by connecting the user with a twitter feed in association with the tournament. The user can see recent news, audience responses, and players personal updates via the Stadion's twitter feed. The application will also offer access for the user to book their own tee time at the University of Georgia golf course.

The application will be available for download on iPhone and Andriod devices in April 2012. For more information visit www.golf.mynmi.net or contact Public Relations consultant Fan Hughes at fhughes1@uga.edu or by phone at 706/833-8138.

Davis Adams is not your average car junkie.  After graduating only two and a half years ago, this fast car fanatic has already added Porsche and now AutoTrader.com to his resume.  Adams majored in Publication Management at the University of Georgia and also received a certificate in New Media. 

Although Adams has always had an interest in automobiles, his journey can be said to have begun during college.  He launched a blog that included reviews of many cars that he test drove thanks to local vendors.  While the blog may not have been the highest quality, Adams was able to prove early on that he was self-motivated and passionate about the automobile industry.

“You should differentiate yourself,” Adams advised to a New Media class during a mid-April visit to campus.  He went on to add that when applying for a job, it is important to fit in culturally at the company.  The most important way to set yourself apart from all other applicants is to show that you are passionate about a certain subject, not the position itself.  These words of advice from Adams make a very good point: brand yourself in an area you are interested in, not as a job title.

Being a managing editor and working on product development at AutoTrader.com has its definite perks.  Adams frequently test drives a colorful variety of cars from the Bugatti to the everyday minivan.  He has also travelled to everywhere from New York and Los Angeles to Paris and Geneva.  Davis Adams is a great example of a New Media alumnus who used his talent to achieve his ultimate dream job.

Students of the New Media Institute are brilliantly creating a bilingual interactive Facebook application that targets the Hispanic community and educates that target audience on matters of healthy living. The name of this insightful new app is iGalactico.

Remember the Arcade Fire song “We Used to Wait” and its short interactive film called The Wilderness Downtown? By entering your address, it enacted Google Maps to bring the music video set to you.  Similarly, “iGalactico” is an interactive experience that pulls information from Facebook to create a unique experience tailored to individual users.

NMI students depended heavily on Adobe Flash Player to create a high-resolution video that takes users through a simulation of their own Facebook timeline. It will move through a ten-year period showing the progression of the user updating their status about unhealthy eating to exercising and fame as a professional soccer player.  The video will show fake “posts” by the user sharing facts about healthy foods and the benefits of exercising.

The unique aspect of this application is its ability to be viewed in both English and Spanish. It is the first application of its kind that is specific to the Hispanic audience.

2. New Media Institute SLAM – 5/5/12

3. Get the Certificate on your Transcript

4. Positions available in Fall’s NMIX 4310 Rich Media Production.

1. Bubba and I in the here and now.

I was in the moment.  Living fully in the place I was standing.  Attending to those things in front of me.  Not worrying about where I wasn’t or why I wished I was.  Just digging on the here and now.  And so was Bubba.

Easter Sunday, I was at the Masters.  Late in the afternoon – actually closer to early evening, I was standing on a hill overlooking the 10^th green looking at a manual scoreboard.  An antique where somebody hidden behind changes the numbers by hand.  The tournament had been exciting.  It looked like it was going to go to a play-off.  And my expert tour guide (thanks, John Bateman) told us to forget running up to the 18^th, we needed to post up on the 10^th.  It would be the second hole of sudden death – and would be where the winner was crowned.  As we stood there our only connection to what was happening was that old-time scoreboard.  It was going to be the way that we found out if they were going to play 10– or if the tournament was already over.  It was like a time-warp.  Nobody was connected.

Nothing electronic.  No phones.  No cameras.  No radios.  The don’t let anything electronic on the grounds of Augusta National during the Masters.  More diligent than TSA but a heck of a lot nicer, the security ran metal detectors you had to pass through to get in.  They even scrutinized my keyfob.  They didn’t want the devices to disturb the players.  So 35,000 people walk around without ringtones, earbuds, or flashes.  You are just there – and nowhere else.  Your memories of the day will be memories and nothing more tangible or permanent.

It took a while to get used to it.  When there was a slow moment, I found my self fishing in my empty pocket for that device of distraction. But slowly I relaxed into it.  And it felt great.

I was about 25 feet from the pin when Bubba Watson knocked his ball up on the green.  Nobody stood in front of me with a camera or tweeted their friends to brag.  We all just watched silently as a fellow Bulldawg sank the putt that gave him the green jacket.  And I got to feel the raw power of unmediated reality.  And I want more.

2. New Media Institute SLAM – 5/5/12

What are you doing on Cinco de Mayo?  The NMI is hosting its annual New Media SLAM with over 26 different student projects.  Crazy stuff.  iBooks.  Apps.  Personalized Facebook videos.  All of it live and awesome.  We are going to be showing off the projects in the New Media Institute on the 4^th floor of Journalism starting at 1:30P.  You don’t want to miss it.

3. Get the Certificate on your Transcript

Are you an NMI student?  Have you almost finished the New Media Interdisciplinary Certificate? Yeeeeee hawwww!  Now let’s make sure you get it on your transcript.  You must complete this form completely.
http://bit.ly/eE4JZX

Then after the semester is over and all of your grades have cleared, we will write the registrar and tell her to put the Certificate on your transcript.

Remember, you must have completed all of your Certificate coursework to request the Certificate to be added to your transcript.  And if you have filled this form out this semester BEFORE, do it again!

4. Positions available in Fall’s NMIX 4310 Rich Media Production.

The NMI will be offering a section of Rich Media Production (NMIX4310) on Tuesday and Thursday at 11A in Fall of 2012.  Clate Sanders is going to be doing some wild stuff in there — mainly building cool apps.  If you are interested in taking the class, fill out this form
http://bit.ly/rME6Gj

We will let you know soon if we can give you a POD.  Hurry and sign up now — it will fill up quickly.

The AthFest Music Festival is an event that has been held in downtown Athens for the past 15 years. The festival showcases regionally and nationally recognized Athens-based bands at a variety of different popular music venues as well as multiple outdoor venues.

In 2011, the New Media Institute first formed its partnership with the AthFest Music Festival. NMI graduates Marisa Negri, Matt Evans, Jesica Lorin, and David Cherof conceptualized and created the first ever smart phone application for the festival. It was the first NMI app to be picked up by the Apple App Store. The original app featured an interactive map, multi-view lineup, band info pages with the option to purchase music directly, and a “My Schedule” page where users could drag and drop must-see bands and would later be alerted of their set time.

This year, a new team of NMI Capstone students is creating a new mobile application for the 2012 AthFest Music festival, which will be released in summer 2012. Users will be able to download the application online or from the iPhone App Store for use before and during the AthFest Music Festival.  The application will have a variety of informative features including a lineup, map, and personal profile section. These features are in place to enhance the experience of those attending AthFest.

The lineup feature will display the schedule for the music festival and provide information about specific bands and venues. The map will allow users to navigate the festival and will highlight different venues and display the specific schedules of each venue. The personal profile section allows app users to create a personal schedule based on the different events they plan to attend during the festival. There will also be a group texting feature that will allow AthFest attendees to connect with others at the festival.

The application will feature a career portal and discussion forums. The goal is for students to use alumni as a source for information about how to reach career goals as well as internship and job opportunities. There will also be a feature of matching students and alumni based on goals and experiences. This has the possibility of being an extremely helpful and widely used tool among newly graduated students and alumni looking to hire them.

The New Media Slam is an event the department puts on each year to showcase all of the student-made applications. This year the event will be May 5^th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m on the fourth floor of the journalism building.

The New Media Institute’s Capstone Program is changing the way people approach health through innovative usage of new media outlets.  Many people wish children could have instructive fun to help them learn healthy eating habits.  Now, that wish is a reality with the New Media Institute’s implementation of Apple’s iBooks technology. Children will be able to enjoy a story with interactive animation, all working to send positive messages about healthy eating habits. With this technology, children have the capabilities to touch certain illustrations, which will prompt educational facts to appear.

The students of the Capstone Program are excited to be working to develop this new technology for the health education of future generations. We hope to see a trend of improved health habits among youth using this application.

On April 3rd, Michelle Suttle and Sabrina Nooruddin of Studiocom shared some valuable job and internship seeking tips with the Digital Brown Bag class.

Studiocom is a full service digital agency, founded in 1998 and headquartered in Atlanta, with additional offices located in Boston and Bogota. Their goal is to “connect consumers and brands through digital experiences.” Studiocom has created campaigns for Barilla, Dunkin Donuts, Ferrari, and Coca Cola. Most notably, Studiocom developed and launched the My Coke Rewards program – Coca Cola’s first portfolio-wide marketing campaign and one of the most successful global loyalty programs.

Ms. Suttle is the VP of Business Development for Studiocom, which involves “open[ing] doors” with new brands and companies. A graduate of Indiana University, Ms. Suttle has a BA in Telecommunication and participated in the National Advertising Student Competition – which ultimately helped launch her career.

Her key tip for finding a job or an internship? “Get your foot in the door!”

Ms. Suttle encouraged students to take the initiative in creating our own opportunities, rather than waiting to receive assignments. Ms. Suttle earned an internship with MGM Studios in entertainment marketing simply from attending networking events while she was in school and making connections.

Sabrina Nooruddin graduated in December from UGA and is an NMI alum. Ms. Nooruddin started at Studiocom as an intern and is now fully employed as a member of the Business Development team. She recalled meeting with Ms. Suttle over coffee in Atlanta – then reminded students that no matter what, you’re always in the area to meet face to face when pursuing an internship or a job!

Ms. Nooruddin further urged us not to “sell something that you don’t have” when describing skills to interviewers. Rather than trying to sell yourself as something you’re not, answer questions honestly and provide examples of things you’ve done that are similar to what an interviewer is asking for.

As a closing thought, Ms. Suttle stressed the importance of following up with interviewers. Ms. Nooruddin left a handwritten note in Ms. Suttle’s office after a second meeting at Studiocom – a bold and thoughtful move that secured her internship and began the foundation of a strong working relationship at Studiocom.

The New Media Institute would like to thank both Ms. Suttle and Ms. Nooruddin for taking the time to share these valuable tips and everyone who attended their seminar.

Congrats to the NMI for the successful launch of their first-ever digital newsletter! The monthly newsletter features the best content from the NMI Update and important reminders about upcoming events and speakers. Best of all, the trees can rest easy for now, because the newsletter goes straight to your email!

The NMI digital newsletter is for everyone: students, supporters, or folks who are just curious to see what it is we do. So be sure to check your inbox, and if you want to subscribe to the NMI newsletter, send an email to nmi@uga.edu!

By Dr. Scott Shamp

Next time you are watching the “Dukes of Hazzard” pay close attention to the scene in the opening credits where Daisy Duke is waiting tables in a bar. You’ll see a long-haired patron wearing a denim jacket with his back to the camera. Yep, me.

In 1978, the call went out in Covington (next to my hometown of Conyers) and I spent an afternoon sitting in a fake bar with a mug of beer in front of me — that I couldn’t touch. Needless to say, being in that show heightened my interest in the important issues highlighted in this landmark show. I learned about political corruption from that infamous Boss Hog. I studied the safe driving techniques practiced the Duke boys driving the General Lee. And, overall, I derived important lessons in the nuances of southern culture from watching the resolution of each week’s hijinks. I didn’t just watch “The Dukes of Hazzard.” Being in the show meant I was “The Dukes of Hazzard.” For me, that mass mediated experience was personalized.

Personalization has been an unfilled promise of new media since its inception. Digitization and individualized distribution meant that we didn’t all have to get the same message. Why couldn’t we just get what we wanted – the way we wanted? Only things reflecting our particular set of tastes and interests. We didn’t all have to get the identical newspapers online – we could get our own paper. A lot easier said than done.

At its inception, the problem with new media was that it didn’t know what we wanted. Early attempts at personalization required lengthy surveys. We had to explicitly tell the content producers what we wanted. First, we don’t want to take the time. And even when we do, we don’t do a good job of describing our desires. The metrics we provided and the data in our user profiles both lacked internal validity – those checks marks on the survey aren’t really what we want. They are what we wish we wanted or what we think others want us to want.

But in the last two years, things have changed – because of Facebook. With over 850 million users, it is a behemoth. It isn’t just the place we go. We are all building Facebook. With every photo tag, wall post, status update, and “Like” we are creating a database of ourselves. No longer do we have to fill out a survey. Facebook doesn’t ask us what we like – it stores our behavior. It watches. And what we do is what we like. Bottom line, Facebook knows us better than we know ourselves.

And Facebook isn’t your father’s database. New policies and technologies have allowed it to become a new type of database. In 2010, Facebook created Open Graph. Your Graph contains everything you have done since that day you created your Facebook account. With a little know-how, it is fairly easy to create a website or app that uses Open Graph. If the users grants permission, the site or app can access what you have done on Facebook (and even sometimes what you do on sites that partner with Facebook). In essence, Facebook has become a Permeable Data Source – kind of like a data locker. You “contribute” your data by using Facebook. And you decide how that data will get used by giving apps permission.

This new type of Permeable Data Source makes personalization a reality. If I want to
develop a digital product or service just for you, I connect my website to Facebook and use your behavior on Facebook to create a unique, customized and personalized experience.

This new level of personalization changes everything. Beyond targeting you as part of a group based on demographics, now you can have personal content. Yeah, I hear the theme music from “Minority Report” in the background, too.

And personalization won’t just be in the content we read. Video experiences will be different as well. Check out these sites if you want a taste of what is possible.

• Barcadi’s “Upwrap The Night” created your own party.
• Schweppes “Unexpected Future” has predictions about the ‘future you’.
• “Take this Lollipop” This one is just scary.

All these sites use Facebook Open Graph information to craft a unique video experience for every user!

This technology won’t just change what we see online – it has the potential to change the way we feel about what we do online. Our relationship with content will undergo radical shifts. Think of it. If I see myself in an ad for Bacardi, does that create a new level of identity and affinity for that product? And will that make me more likely to buy it Forget product placement. The future is going to be about personal placement.

In the NMI this semester, we are experimenting with Facebook and Open Graph in what we are calling the “Really Gets Me” initiative – websites, companies, organizations, and causes can use this technology to show they really get the people who are using them. At our annual SLAM and show-off on Saturday, May 5th. We will demonstrate at least 12 Really Gets Me projects. We think it is the next big thing. If you want to see what we are talking about, request an invitation to the event – space is limited.

On March 27th, Digital Brown Bag was proud to host NMI alum Lizzy Nephew.

Ms. Nephew is currently the Social Media and Emerging Technology Specialist at Porsche Cars North America, and she had a lot of great tips for New Media students searching for jobs and internships.

Ms. Nephew graduated from UGA with a BA in Public Relations and a New Media Certificate. She utilized social media in order to get both of her jobs after college, and talking about her NMI project in her first job interview definitely helped her secure the position. Her Capstone project consisted of developing a mobile application for Sharpie involving augmented reality, and the app essentially allowed the user to create virtual graffiti.

Prior to working at Porsche, Ms. Nephew worked as a senior account executive for Converseon, a social media agency in New York City. Her current job at Porsche consists of managing, monitoring and updating ALL of the brand’s social media outlets, including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, the Porsche blog, and more. Her job allows her travel to many of Porsche’s events across the nation, where she is responsible for live tweeting, producing videos and creating blog posts.

Ms. Nephew could not have achieved such success in the social media industry without a few key pieces of advice, the first of which is to always research. She reads trusted, reliable blogs constantly in addition to attending seminars on emerging technology in order to learn as much about the ever-changing industry as possible.

She also advised students to always be proactive and use their resources. Students shouldn’t be afraid to tweet at potential employers and ask them what they do or set up an informational meeting. This will benefit students looking for employment in the long run, because they will come across as ambitious candidates who take initiative.

For students who were wondering if a company’s size and prestige should factor into their future job searches, Ms. Nephew instructed her audience that “the work you do and the people you meet will always be far more important than the name of company you work for.”

As for the NMI’s favorite subject, technology, Ms. Nephew also had an opinion about that as well. She advised that any project involving new technology must have a business goal in mind. According to Ms. Nephew, project should not simply be done just because a technology is “new and shiny.”

Being well-researched, industrious and goal-oriented has served Ms. Nephew well in her professional life, and students looking to get involved in the social media industry would do well to heed her advice.

The New Media Institute sends a special thanks to Lizzy Nephew and everyone who attended her seminar for making the event a successful and insightful one.

If you want to see more of Lizzy Nephew’s professional involvement at Porsche Cars North America, check out the Porsche blog, now on the NMI Blogroll! You can also find her on Linkedin and Twitter.