#immt727

RoadChap is an app that will be developed for commuters to share and discover road conditions which gives them ability to plan their routes through images. Unlike other image sharing platforms, the RoadChap app is striving to keep up its standards as the best place to share opinions and help others. If any post that does not visualize a road condition is found on the platform, it should be reported and taken down.

Terms of service and community guidelines are essential information important for users to understand the consequences of using a community app service like the one undergoing development, RoadChap. Since the evolution of community image sharing platforms, there have been cases of misuses which prompted the developers and users to come up with rules that must be obeyed if a media platform is to be utilized.

The most popular platform out there is Imgur which has billions of pictures hosted with rules backing its usage. Often, users don’t read these guidelines and break the rules which results into further actions taken like ban, suspension or legal interference. After taking a look at the guidelines and terms of use of imgur which is similar to the app that is going to be developed, I discovered some interesting facts that could be overlooked but integral to the user experience on the platform.

THINGS TO DO & THINGS NOT TO DO

Reading through the imgur community rules, I discovered that they highlighted the things which are expected from every contributor (things to do) and what also violates the platform labeled as things not to do. Clearly stated on the page, users are not expected to upload content which they do not have a full copyright ownership of.

I find this fact interesting to consider while developing the RoadChap app because users are required to posts pictures of the road conditions which may involve billboard ads, road signs and vehicle plate numbers. Private information is highly recommended not to be shared or visible on any post a user uploads. It would be a good idea to consider an option for users to censor any copyright elements that may cause their post to be down voted or reported. Just like snapchat, a feature could be introduced to let user cover signs or posts in their pictures without totally disrupting the image.

GOOD SHARING PRACTICES

The last part of the Imgur rules states the good sharing practices which I think helped the platform again a reputation for user credibility. They value transparency and respect which are vital in the creation of the Road chap platform which will build trust relationship between users on the platform. Below is the quote from the page:

Value

Good sharing means posting content which brings value to the community. Content which opens up a discussion, shares something new and unique, or has a deeper story to tell beyond the image itself is content that generally brings value. Ask yourself first: is this something I would be interested in seeing on Imgur if someone else posted it?

Transparency

Imgurians expect that the original poster (OP) will be explicit about if and how they are connected to the content they are posting. Trying to hide that relationship, or not explaining it well to others, is a common feature of bad sharing.

Respect

Good sharing means knowing when the Imgur community has spoken through upvotes and downvotes and respecting that. You should avoid constantly reposting content to User Submitted that gets downvoted. This kind of spamming annoys the community, and it won't make your posts any more popular.

TERMS OF SERVCICE

Every platform that involves people interaction should have a contract which binds the users together and serves as the conditions for making the best use of it. It is well explained in the imgur terms of service that content on the platform should not be used for commercial purposes but can be used for research and journalism.

Here’s an unfortunate truth: people often don’t consider accessibility in gaming. I say this not as a bold generalization, but as a recognition of a fact and issue that needs to be dealt with. I myself have only rarely contemplated the subject. I remember playing some games and suddenly realize “Wow, it must be really confusing to play this game as a color-blind person”. I can, off the top of my head, remember one game that did offer alternatives for people who are color-blind: Nintendo’s amazing online third-person shooter Splatoon allows players to change the color palette of the paint guns used in the game to make it easier to distinguish the colors of opposing teams. And color-blindness, obviously, is merely one example—what about hearing impairment, or physical disabilities? The fact is that the majority of games being produced and released don’t seem to deem this issue relevant enough to receive considerable attention, which unfortunate when you discover how simple it is to implement accessibility in the development of a game.

The colorful Splatoon offers in-game alternatives to color-blind players

Enter projects like includification.com, a website dedicated to spread awareness of this issue. In it you can find several alternatives to implement accessibility in game development, and many of them are so simple you wonder why they’re no more common. For instance, allowing third-party access, that is: allowing players to use non-standard input devices other than mouse and keyboard, such as headmice, which is a system for users who cannot rely on their arms to manipulate the mouse cursor. Many computer games block the use of third-party devices in an attempt to curb cheating and the such, but, obviously, this ends up being a real problem for people who depend on those tools to play games. That is a sizable public that wants to buy and play games but is constantly excluded even though the solutions are often surprisingly simple.

This is, of course, an issue much bigger than the gaming industry. The reality is that disabled people are ignored by the media and industry in general, and it’s great that the internet is allowing people to spread this message further and more effectively than ever before.

As mentioned on previous posts, I’m currently working on the project of a game for my senior project on Interactive Media Management, and after reading this and other websites this topic has been swirling in my head and I’m already thinking about my game in terms of accessibility. Since it’s a point-and-click adventure game, implementing the suggested alternatives is so easy that I have no excuse for not doing so.

 Sources:

http://www.orin.com/access/headmouse/

http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/05/dont_worry_colour-blind_gamers_splatoon_has_got_your_back

http://www.includification.com/

Close your eyes and imagine your favourite place. Now imagine you are standing in the middle of the space; now turn around, look up, look down. What do you hear? If you have tried any type of virtual reality technology, by now you would have reached out and tried to touch the things around of you. You may have even stepped forward if you weren’t sitting. Most of my experiences have been with the Samsung Gear VR but anyone who has $25 they can spare can try this with the right content, their smartphone and a Google cardboard. Virtual reality is immersive. My first experiences with virtual reality actually frightened me – disclaimer: I frighten easily. Nonetheless, the experience is the closest thing I believe we have to existing in an alternate reality. These simulations can offer a spectrum of emotional experiences, which is why I believe virtual reality can elevate storytelling.  However, the growing ethical battle and genuine concern with emerging virtual reality technology and its place in storytelling and journalism is a fine line between truth and intrusion.

Storytelling is a retrospective experience with the power to change real world behavior.  Storytelling with the power of VR is journalism that serves the public. It is honest and truthful with minimal harm nevertheless, critics have argued against the safety of the experience.  The experiences can provoke emotions that are triggering and damaging because it appeals to low-level thinking.  Some have even argued that it can cause PTSD and the creation of false memories because of that. 

In regards to my senior project - #passionproject - I have my own mental distress about creating raw VR content that places users in the center of domestic abuse for the sake of cultivating empathy. What is it like to be angry, but actions prevail louder than words? Is the benefit of immersive experiences worth the triggering or inflicting emotional damage? Is it possible for viewers to passively engage with VR like they would a traditional movie in the cinema? Should users fear these experiences? Understandably our social locations will alter the ways in which we handle real world experiences. Everyone’s story is different, and everyone has a unique emotional threshold. For example, the way one handles the passing of a relative will differ from the way I would. Or even the way individuals handle bullying will differ.  I can’t argue against the development of the technology for a few reasons, including that it has already emerged and captured interest.  Samsung, Sony, HTC are just a few big names placing VR in the consumers hands this year alone.  I also believe that the technology is empowering and not just for entertainment purposes. VR has a place in education, as well as rehabilitation just to name a few purposes.  

Moving forward… treading the line between truth and intrusion…

There is a need to set guidelines before it touches the hands of the consumers. Although I don’t feel we should fear the way real experiences challenge our existing notions, I think it is important that users understand the consequences of their engagement. Similar arguments are made for gaming experiences that involve violence because they fear the influence that type of aggression can carry over into real life. Furthermore, experiences can be a trigger for victims – this is not a new concept.  Content creators have to be transparent about the content they are producing by providing the appropriate disclaimers and trigger warnings. They should understand what it means to create safe spaces by offering the appropriate resources. Consequently, this means now their content has to be produced with a degree of localization. For example, VR projects exploring sexual violence will need to offer local resources for those who are triggered by what they are viewing whether it is the local community centre or a web link that connects them to more resources in their area.  Furthermore, VR content creators will ultimately need to pay closer attention to the user experience.  Think about the user before, during and after their VR experience.  What predispositions do they have? How will this experience affect them? How will this impact them after the fact? Matt Waite touched on the intrusive nature of VR journalism.  Is it ethical to send drones in the middle of war in order to give viewers a front seat to the destruction of lives half way across the world? Will this just enable the voyeuristic nature of the privileged? Will this actually provoke change? Can this promote a stronger global community? While we have explored the intrusive nature of technology since the emersion of social media, virtual reality amplifies exposure while simultaneously breaking down geographical barriers.  Being able to see bombs crashing around you can be life changing, but knowing you have the ability to remove the headset at the first inkling of discomfort is not a privilege those in fear half way across the world possess.  Seeing is believing, but with so much at our fingertips can it translate to action? Can it provoke change?

There is no telling what virtual reality in the realm of storytelling and journalism can do. While the technology is emerging, the content is limited.  As the demand increases, it will be more accessible – Moore’s law; and as content creators, we have a responsibility not only to our projects, but to our audience. As we continue our exploration, remember to tread lightly as the thin line between truth and intrusion will surely diminish.

References

http://www.thememo.com/2016/01/08/taphobos-virtual-reality-coffin-experience-vr-ethics/

http://www.poynter.org/2016/virtual-reality-the-next-frontier-in-journalism-ethics/390280/

 https://medium.com/@tjrkent/an-ethical-reality-check-for-virtual-reality-journalism-8e5230673507#.e24yj2f71

https://medium.com/thoughts-on-media/the-ethics-of-virtual-reality-storytelling-7ff84b2a5812#.5wzen1vmr

The terms and privacy sections of webpages and apps are usually lengthy and overlooked.  But if you stop and read what is included in these sections, you might be surprised and/or shocked about some of the clauses.  I know I was.

These are my key takeaways from reading the following legal considerations:

MilkVR

For content creation, Samsung is extremely thorough in ensuring that the content is original and abide by all their specific terms.  One term that I thought was interesting and subjective was that the content cannot be “in poor taste or is otherwise objectionable”.  There is no further breakdown of what “poor taste” means, which may confuse users.  All the other requirement terms appear to be more objective and straightforward.  

They also provide no guarantees in terms of content distribution, and that they “have the right, but not the obligation, to monitor submissions of Content, and [Samsung] may remove Content for any reason whatsoever without notice to You”.  Not surprisingly, this gives Samsung the free reign to upload or remove your content at any time.  Definitely something I would also include within my senior project legal considerations.

Another thing I found interesting was that as part of user’s continuing obligations to Samsung, “should there be any request for Maintenance from a user or Samsung, [users] shall perform any Maintenance necessary by no later than two (2) business days from the receipt of the request”.  This is a rather short time window for a response for anyone that is out-of-town or unavailable to provide maintenance.  I would have liked to see more detailed descriptions about what happens to the content in the event the user is not able to meet the 2-day deadline.  Will it be removed?  Does this impact the user’s account status?

Vrse, Inc.

The collection of personal information has always been a tricky area and most organizations struggle to find the perfect balance.  In the case of Vrse, their terms for the personal information collection on mobile application comes across as quite aggressive/intrusive.  Here is an excerpt:

“Our mobile application may collect certain additional information automatically, including, but not limited to, the type of mobile device you use, your mobile device's unique device ID, the IP address of your mobile device, your mobile operating system, the type of mobile Internet browsers you use, and information about the way you use the application. We may also use GPS technology (or other similar technology) to determine your current location.”

While there is the option to turn off location services, the rest of the tracking appears to be mandatory.  I would definitely be more cautious in terms of the extent of personal information I would track for my senior project.  The more personal information the user knows is being tracked, the more concerned they are with their privacy.

One section that I thought was extremely well written was “How We Use Information and When We May Share and Disclose Information Generally”.  It categories all the different scenarios (e.g. surveys, contests, questions, service improvement, order fulfillment) in which the information may be used and provides detailed descriptions for each.  This is a great format to reference and is easy for users to follow.

An area that surprised me was in the “Advertising” section, where advertising companies “may place or recognize a unique cookie on your computer or use other technologies such as Web beacons”, and that Vrse’s “Privacy Policy does not cover any use of information that Advertisers may collect from you or that you choose to provide to them”.  I didn’t realize web ads had the capabilities to do that!  Although this isn’t specifically relevant to my senior project, this is something I would be cautious about including in my legal considerations.