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SelfSelf--made Mediamade MediaRegular people creating digital contentRegular people creating digital content

Risto SarvasRisto Sarvasristo.sarvas@hiit.fi

OutlineOutline1.1. Background: tools & technology for the massesBackground: tools & technology for the masses

2.2. When users/people/consumers create contentWhen users/people/consumers create content

3.3. Is this something new?Is this something new?•• Example: Snapshots since 1888Example: Snapshots since 1888•• Photo sharing in privacy: From MobShare to KuvaboxiPhoto sharing in privacy: From MobShare to Kuvaboxi

4.4. Questions for social mediaQuestions for social media• Will there always be tagging?• Role of paper in self-made media?• Heterogeneity an issue• Where are the boundaries of media?

5.5. Comments, questions, etc?Comments, questions, etc?

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Digital Content CommunitiesDigital Content CommunitiesResearch Group @ HIITResearch Group @ HIIT

Research on media content and communities since 2003Research on media content and communities since 2003• mobile gaming & social gaming• photography (mobile & snapshot) as a techno-social system• hosting the MUPE open source platform• focus on metadata and media as an enabling tool in socializing• expertise on hybrid self-made media• virtual consumerism

Our speciality: close coOur speciality: close co--operation with industryoperation with industry

Web communities (very) familiar to us:Web communities (very) familiar to us:

+ ~40 acamedic publications & 7 theses

Media Tools for PeopleMedia Tools for People

•• Digital cameras Digital cameras (40% West European)(40% West European) and camcordersand camcorders•• Broadband Internet connections at homeBroadband Internet connections at home•• Professional & personal media formats the sameProfessional & personal media formats the same•• Professional tools available for useProfessional tools available for use•• Skills to use computers and softwareSkills to use computers and software•• Web services to distribute contentWeb services to distribute content

•• Blurring the consumer Blurring the consumer –– amateur amateur –– professional axisprofessional axis•• What is digital media?What is digital media?

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When people create mediaWhen people create media

•• people / consumers / users / amateurs …people / consumers / users / amateurs …•• few examples of web services from our researchfew examples of web services from our research

Modding games, modsGeocachingHabbo HotelIRC-galleriaFlickrLuluComeksJaiku

ModdingModding

•• modifying the game content, customizationmodifying the game content, customization•• making whole new games (e.g., Counter Strike)making whole new games (e.g., Counter Strike)•• skins, level editors, fan stories, machinimaskins, level editors, fan stories, machinima•• Neverwinter Nights was a game for modding Neverwinter Nights was a game for modding •• distirbuting mods for free (or selling them packaged)distirbuting mods for free (or selling them packaged)•• secondary industry around “usersecondary industry around “user--generated content”generated content”

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GeocachingGeocachingGame ran by gamers• No game purchased• Very different from computer games

• Requires GPS & web• outdoor treasure hunting• website community• logs, discussions, pictures

• Strong physical part• hiking, biking, driving• physical caches, treasures• physical log

• Commercial or not?• website maintained by a company• advertisements, product links

• Mods are easy (are they mods?)• multi-caches, locationless caches, virtual caches...

Habbo HotelHabbo Hotelpurposepurpose

•• meet old and new friends, funmeet old and new friends, funplaceplace

•• virtual hotelvirtual hotelplatformplatform

•• web browser, flashweb browser, flashpopulationpopulation

•• Finland: 280000Finland: 280000•• globally: 7Mglobally: 7M•• children and teenagerschildren and teenagers

profitprofit•• no monthly feeno monthly fee•• micro payments in the game (virtual furniture)micro payments in the game (virtual furniture)

Slide provided by Mikael JohnssonSlide provided by Mikael Johnsson

•• Own room and furniture (collecting, trading, decorating)Own room and furniture (collecting, trading, decorating)•• Friends (school, hobbies, new friends, dating, distant friends)Friends (school, hobbies, new friends, dating, distant friends)•• Play (beauty contests, TV shows, games of chance, HabboPlay (beauty contests, TV shows, games of chance, Habbo--sports, sports, playing with spatiality: furni traps, teleplaying with spatiality: furni traps, tele--running; VIPrunning; VIP--clubs, role play)clubs, role play)•• Career (celebrities, getting rich, popular room, in a game or gCareer (celebrities, getting rich, popular room, in a game or gang, ang, fansite author)fansite author)•• Testing boundaries and rules (expressing self, technical ‘hackiTesting boundaries and rules (expressing self, technical ‘hacking’, ng’, treating others: cheating, bullying)treating others: cheating, bullying)

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IRCIRC--galleriagalleriaPersonal photos for friends (school friends)

50% of Finnish teenagers use IRC-galleria daily

Often used parallel with IM or SMS etc. Hardly any emailing.

Public discussion on the dangers of photo sharing (drugs, violence, sexuality, and harassment)

Generation gap in media:

FlickrFlickr

Personal photos for communities of interest (e.g., amateur photography, or hobbyists)

Personal photos for private use (traiditional uses)

Personal photos for public recognition

Tagging as the prime means of organization and attraction (metadata for representation & communication)

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“More than 91,000 professionally bound books were published through Lulu in January 2006 alone, nearly three times the 35,500 paper tomes the site produced last August. Sales are running at about $1 million a month but growing at an extraordinary clip of 10 percent monthly, said founder Bob Young. “ The Washington Post

““More than 91,000 professionally bound books were More than 91,000 professionally bound books were published through Lulu in January 2006 alone, nearly published through Lulu in January 2006 alone, nearly three times the 35,500 paper tomes the site produced three times the 35,500 paper tomes the site produced last August. Sales are running at about $1 million a last August. Sales are running at about $1 million a month but growing at an extraordinary clip of 10 month but growing at an extraordinary clip of 10 percent monthly, said founder Bob Young. “ percent monthly, said founder Bob Young. “ The Washington PostThe Washington Post

Comic Story CreatorComic Story Creator

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JaikuJaikuTagging and presenceTagging and presence

A presence network serviceA presence network service• name + presence line + location + phone context• “overrides” the address book• mobile + web interface• tagging = location naming & presence line• visibility to public or contacts only

Is this userIs this user--generated content? Media?generated content? Media?• Other people customize my phone• I create text content, location content

SummarySummary

People create and share digital contentPeople create and share digital content

•• photosphotos•• video clipsvideo clips•• messagesmessages

•• games and as a part of a gamegames and as a part of a game•• books, calendars, cardsbooks, calendars, cards

•• virtual objectsvirtual objects

… but why?… but why?

Let’s look at Let’s look at snapshot photographysnapshot photography to understand to understand selfself--made media.made media.

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Snapshot PhotographySnapshot Photography

Photographs taken by nonPhotographs taken by non--professionalsprofessionalswith consumer cameras. with consumer cameras.

• born in 1888 with Eastman’s cameras• pictures for personal purposes• a media creation tool for consumers• “You press the button, we do the rest”

• genres for snapshots (1888-1939)• People: family members, friends• Leisure• The seaside• Townscape • At work (!)• Interiors• Events

Snapshot PhotographySnapshot PhotographySelf-made media since 1888

•• DocumentationDocumentation, , where the purpose is to store events and important people in family history.

•• ConnectingConnecting, where social relationships, togetherness, and shared values are strengthened by photographs.

•• InteractionInteraction, such as the interaction at photo capture, the implicit message that the people being photographed are important to the photographer, and the way how photos often start or facilitate conversations.

•• Creation of selfCreation of self--conceptconcept, such as a channel for creativity or to enhance experiences, and to create one’s own visual history.

Musello (1979)

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Digital and Networked PhotosDigital and Networked Photos

Photographs in digital formatPhotographs in digital format• people take more photos than ever before• photos take little physical space to store• photos can be seen right after capture• photo editing is relatively easy

Digital photographs in the InternetDigital photographs in the Internet• photo sharing to distant locations• photo sharing independent of time• new audiences previously impossible

Major technological change due to Major technological change due to digitalization and the Internet in the turn digitalization and the Internet in the turn of the millennium.of the millennium.

Snapshot photography has become a Snapshot photography has become a part of the Information and part of the Information and Communications Infrastructure.Communications Infrastructure.

MMMMMM--11@ UC Berkeley@ UC Berkeleywith Futuricewith Futurice

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Mobile Content Mobile Content CommunitiesCommunities@HIIT@HIITwith Futurice

ImmortalidadImmortalidad@HIIT@HIITwith KCL, Futurice, with KCL, Futurice, YliopistopainoYliopistopaino

User-centric mobile phone photo sharing system.

Metadata-centric mobile phone photo system.

A more commercially oriented version of MobShare.

A full-blown commercial service with MTV3.

Mobile Content Mobile Content CommunitiesCommunities@HIIT@HIITwith Futurice

What do people photograph with camera phones?With whom do they share them?What social activity emerges around the media?Measuring the social in mobile media.From private to public media and vice versa.Future products & services (digi/paper hybrid).

What do people photograph with camera phones?What do people photograph with camera phones?With whom do they share them?With whom do they share them?What social activity emerges around the media?What social activity emerges around the media?Measuring the social in mobile media.Measuring the social in mobile media.From private to public media and vice versa.From private to public media and vice versa.Future products & services (digi/paper hybrid).Future products & services (digi/paper hybrid).

60 users studied qualitatively

87 users studied qualitatively

~4000 users studiedquantitatively

10 users studied qualitatively & ~12 000 quantitatively

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MobShareMobShare

1.1.

Create new Create new Album “Band”Album “Band” 2.2.

Share “Band” with:Share “Band” with:•• ristoristo•• timotimo•• anttiantti

3.3.4.4.

Check out “Band” in MobShare

Check out “Band” in MobShare

Check out “Band” in MobShare

Check out “Band” in MobShare

Check out “Band” in MobShare

Check out “Band” in MobShare

5.5.www.mobshare...

www.mobshare...

6.6.

““Front row?”Front row?”

“That’s a great photo!”“That’s a great photo!”

7.7.www.mobshare...

www.mobshare...

8.8.

““Front row?”Front row?”“Yeah, as always…”“Yeah, as always…”

“That’s a great photo!”“That’s a great photo!”“Thanks”“Thanks”

9.9.

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User StudyUser StudyA user study of the mobile photo sharing system MobShare

• 5 core users and 48 additional users• group of friends (4 female, 1 male, 25-26yrs)• test perdiod 5-6 weeks• three interviews per core user• access to all pictures, discussions and logs

• similar to photo blogging (from phone to a web server)• capturing images is separated from transferring / sharing• pictures are shared in galleries, not individually• access to photo galleries managed from phonebook• notification of shared picture galleries by SMS• discussions on photos throught the web interface

Results Results –– captures & sharingcaptures & sharing

Capture:Capture:• 589 pictures taken (avg 118 pictures / user)• Pictures had: people (70%), objects (21%), locations (13%), dogs (12%).• 90% pictures captured during weekend

Gallery creation:Gallery creation:• 74 galleries created• Galleries about: Events (53%), Themes (16%), Travels (11%), Exploration of system (9%), Other (11%)

Sharing:Sharing:• 89% of pictures shared with 53 recipients• 60% of galleries shared in the evening (19% Friday, 14% Sunday).• Shared with: friends (64%), relatives (24%), colleagues (12%)

••Dynamic Creation of GroupsDynamic Creation of Groups

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mother

SaTe

father

M H

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M B

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Josister

Je

Ma

Sr

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V P

Mi

spousee

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Dynamic Creation of GroupsDynamic Creation of GroupsOne user’s sharing of picture galleries to individual people

petu

riikka jennimari

Jari

Mervi K

Ann-LizAsko

Henkka

Liina L

Tiia

Isi (eija)

Mervi

Maaret

Anna V

Laura W

Anne S

Saara T

Äiti (eija)

Anna

peturiikkaeija

mari

Jari

Janin Mari

Tomi K

Ulla R

Maaret

Jani GSM

Miskan känny

Tomppa L

Äiti (jenni)

Kari P

riikka jenni

eijaAntti

Tiia Jatta H

Kalle

Mervi Maaret

riikka

jenni

eija

Inari

Teo S

risto

Vellu

Jari

Mimu

Vellu

äiti (riikka)

SallaTea

isä (riikka)

Markus H

Tero K

MariB

Outi

Jouni M

Heikki H

JonnaMimu

Jessica

Maaret

Saara

Henna P

Ville P

Minna

petueija

mari

jenni

Jesse 3

harri

Erosen

Siru

bansku

jami

japeroni

Laura L Tate

Siru

jami

jape Roni 10

anne

harriTate

jesse

Laura L

Siru

jape

anne

miku

susa

jari

anssi

hemmo

Jussi P

jesse

kyle

Timo A

Henkka VMikko K

PGSM

Hintsanen

Hannu K

RystiToni

SiruTate

UllamaijaPiia

Seitsu

Miku

Janne Y

Laura

Tero Vesa

Henna H

harriisä

Siru 4

jami

jape

Ani

Päivi

TiinaMiku Manna

Anssi

Laura LTate

PiiaKarita

roni

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Results Results –– lifecyclelifecycleViewing:Viewing:• Each gallery visited 8 times on avg (918 total visits)

• 95% of comments written within 6 days of sharing• 98% of visits within 10 days of sharing• Gallery LifecycleGallery Lifecycle

Gallery Lifecycle# of galleries = 74, # of pictures = 525, # of visits = 918, # of comments 196

0 %

10 %

20 %

30 %

40 %

50 %

60 %

70 %

-15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25

Days before/after sharingt = 0 is the time the gallery was created (97% captures, 97% visits, 100% comments)

Perc

ent o

f Act

ivity

CapturesVisitsComments

Gallery Lifecycle# of galleries = 74, # of pictures = 525, # of visits = 918, # of comments 196

0 %

10 %

20 %

30 %

40 %

50 %

60 %

70 %

-15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25

Days before/after sharingt = 0 is the time the gallery was created (97% captures, 97% visits, 100% comments)

Perc

ent o

f Act

ivity

CapturesVisitsComments

Discourse: Discourse:

• Storytelling through narrative-like accountsstories, boast, gossip, joking…

• Reports and self-documentingreporting of new dogself-documenting travels

• Greetings and thankssimilar to postcardsmini-albums

• Questions and opinion formationsinvitation to response, turn-taking

Results Results –– DiscourseDiscourse

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Consumer photography Consumer photography realitiesrealities• time metadata not reliable

• support for all photos• support for all devices• support for all uses?

• social awareness

Social Activity in Galleries(Galleries, n=2755; Gallery creators, n=1243; Visitors, n=2223)

0 %

10 %

20 %

30 %

40 %

50 %

60 %

70 %

80 %

90 %

100 %

0 30 60 90 120

Days after gallery creation

Cum

ulat

ive

% Posts (n=41805)Comments (Self, n=3576)Comments (Others, n=2582)Daily visits (Self, n=555)Daily visits (Others, n=18831)

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www.kuvaboxi.fiwww.kuvaboxi.fi• part of MTV3 TV-channel portal• circa 50 000 users• circa one million photos• business in phot prints and ads

Future?Future?• how to leverage the sociality?• how to leverage the networks?• photo books?

Paper Media in SnapshotsPaper Media in SnapshotsPaper’s advantages:• physical object• not a device• portable & compatible• no external energy• individuality• less IPR issues• movable in real space• long lasting• easily editable• a good gift• tradition, culture• ubiquitous

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HeterogeneityHeterogeneity Role of paperRole of paperMetadata,Metadata,Context,Context,and Tagsand Tags

A heterogenous environment of• devices• software • services• standards

How to integrate new design into this environment?

Paper’s advantages:• physical object, not a device• portable & compatible• no external energy• individuality• less IPR issues• movable in real space• long lasting• easily editable• a good gift• tradition, culture• ubiquitous

• adding relevant information to media• organization• new uses for media• user-generated information

Questions for snapshot mediaQuestions for snapshot media

Lessons from SnapshotsLessons from Snapshots

•• Strong tradition in private use for selfStrong tradition in private use for self--made mediamade media•• Functions for paper snapshot photosFunctions for paper snapshot photos•• Huge potential in variety of users (e.g., the elderly)Huge potential in variety of users (e.g., the elderly)•• New technology builds on top of old usesNew technology builds on top of old uses•• Short term “ephemeral media” vs. long term “immortal” mediaShort term “ephemeral media” vs. long term “immortal” media

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private publiccommunitysocial network

family photographyhome videospersonal media

fan cultureweb publishingonline gaming

not fully privatenot fully privatenot fully publicnot fully public

media creation& communication

publishing &broadcasting

role of trad. media?public services?paper media?

What is media?What is media?