Last blog!!!

Self and Cyborg...my thoughts...

It is probably unstoppable that technology is going to develop so far that yes we will have ‘chips’ or ‘cards’ installed in us that information can be instantly taken from. When I first read the lecture notes I did ponder on Privacy...surely this could be easily breached if the chips existed readily in society, but after reading Dana’s recent blog about Thursday’s seminar, I believe that such issues could be somewhat overcome! I think that the idea of having a ‘cheque’ and ‘savings’ account within these devices in a good idea. I do however have to question what I would actually put into these categories! Yes name and date of birth, drivers license etc are important pieces of information but imagine these being in the ‘cheque’ account and being readily available to the public. Imagine walking into a shop and the shop assistant saying ‘Hello Michaela’ ... Some people may like the personal touch of it but I think it would freak me out. Maybe if I had formed a relationship with the shop assistant it would be ok for her to address me by my name but a stranger? No thanks! A similar example could be used for medical information...surely someone with epilepsy wouldn’t want to be walking along the street and having every man and his dog knowing of their medical condition! But then I suppose on the other hand if emergency struck and the individual had an epileptic fit then it would help emergency staff or any public assisting them to know of the condition! Possibly there could be a switch or remote? To turn off the chip or change over information from one account to another when it suits you!!

I have found in this class I have been thinking very futuristically (is that a word)...so many what if’s, what if this technology developed, what would happen here, there and everywhere! So many pro’s and con’s...things to toss and turn over! It’s been fun...stimulates the mind 

Thanks for reading guys and I’ve enjoyed reading all of the different posts and comments. Good luck for the exam, and Erika, I hope it’s not too hard!

Convergance culture: my experience!

My parents have a family video of my brother and I, aged 2 and 4, standing in our hall way talking on our ONE family telephone to our grandparents. The phone was mounted on the wall and was one of those oldies that you have to turn to dial a number. 18 years later, I carry around a small cellphone which not only enables me to call people, but access the web and take pictures! It’s scary to think in this small amount of time how technology has changed. I’m pretty sure at age 12 I was still using a manual disposable camera. And maybe I was 13 when the internet entered our household. To think back then that all of these things would one day converge and become one little mobile device would have been absurd to me! Devices such as Blackberrys and ‘iphones’ mix the standard phone, camera, internet, mp3 player and electronic diary together all in one! If this technology has been developed in the last few years then what else is to come? My question is...will different technologies continue to converge so that one day soon they will be too intricate to operate? How far can it really go? I suppose our technological skills and ability advance as new technologies are developed. But then one has to ponder...will the world ultimately be just one big technological society where computers do the thinking for us. I personally don’t want to exist like that! For me at the moment technology assists in my daily life – it doesn’t rule it!

Blogging

In week 6 we looked at Blogging. I thought therefore it was fitting for me to offer some of my own blogging experiences – I’m not an avid participant in posting, but I’ll often read!

I have a really strong interest in fashion and often frequent fashion blogging sites or magazine websites such as U.K’s ‘Glamour Magazine’ to read the weekly blog that the editor releases. I find the exercise of ‘blogging’ handy. For someone deeply interested in the industry and ultimately seeking it as a career I find blogging to be a leading service for the fashion and clothing industry. Those with a passion AND opinion can come together and release thoughts, give tips, and debate! Yes, I do read fashion magazines, but reading blogs regularly keeps me up to the season, not the commercial release season – trust me they are VERY different. For someone aiming to edit a magazine one day, I find Jo Elvin’s (editor of Glamour U.K) blog very insightful. No other way would I be able to gain such insight into the job and industry that I desire!

Something else I have been tracking through blogs is the American Candicy race. For some unbeknown reason I have a real interest in this upcoming election...could be something to do with a woman running for presidency? Anywho, you’ll often find me snooping on ‘The Spectator’ – US Election blogging site. The vast variety of opinion and strong points debated are crazy! No where else could people from such different backgrounds with different life experiences come together and not only give their side of the story but consider different opinions. It’s also a great way to keep up to date with the most recent election info! Someone always seems to be updating!

Catch up: Communities and Communication

I have been sooo busy lately that I’ve wound up sick in bed...Doesn’t it always happen at the most crucial time in the semester..right when you have 100 assignments due and exams in 2 weeks! My blogs are in dire need of an update..Although I’ve been publishing about once a week (sometimes every 2weeks..my bad!) sometimes they aren’t always on the topic of the week...I tend to go off on my own tangent sometimes! So I’m doing some catch ups.

Today I wanted to talk about week 4’s topic, Communities and Communication.
I wanted to touch on my own personal experiences in this topic. So here goes...
I have never really been big on chat rooms or virtual games etc. As I’ve said in previous blogs, I tend to use cyber communities as a way of keeping in touch rather than making new friends. I tend to be more reserved online...In conversation I am not so open and don’t like to leak REALLY personal information, I’m quite weary of who can read what I am writing. Being an emotive person I find it really hard to express myself totally. There are however the little pictures and things that have helped people express their feelings but more often than not I find that people are always using smiley faces and those little cheesy tongues sticking out or big grins (bebo is renowned for these!)...it seems in every conversation everyone includes 10 cheesy little faces and ‘love you xxxx’ at the end, regardless to who they are writing to! And yes, I am guilty of doing this sometimes too but It all just seems a bit fake to me...I personally feel that interactive communities limit expression and emotion...It is all compacted to fit the icons that are available. I’m really big on intuition and reading people’s faces, body language and tone of voice...Something that I find I can’t do with cyber communication; I think I am more open and express myself differently in person. Everyone for themselves though! For someone who is being quite critical of cyber communication, I do use the interactive programs very regularly. Perhaps it’s that nosy streak in me...being able too see what other people are up to! I think we all have it in us...

Food or Laptops?

A question arose in our digital divide lecture that I thought was really interesting...What needs to be done to boost the under privileged in our world up the societal ladder? The OLPC Project is a fantastic example of this and raises such questions. The projects developers wanted to use a laptop as a vehicle in the education system of developing countries. The $100 laptops fit into the textbook budget and are designed to bring the poorest children in the world internet access. HOWEVER, response to the project comes in two different forms. One side is pro the concept, whilst the other scrutinises the project. The debate comes down to ‘food’ or ‘laptop’. Pro argues that the project is facilitating education and propelling kids up the socio-economic ladder, basically giving students a jump start to that next level. Against argues that the project doesn’t fit into the curriculum and wonders why food and other such things that will aid the children’s present lives aren’t distributed instead. They say that there is no supporting info structure and no need in the curriculum for technological advancements such as the laptop. OLPC says that there first must be the technology to enable an info structure to be created. Two opposing thoughts. So this brings me to my question, what do these people need to escape these ‘poor’ underprivileged lives and propel into higher streams of society? It is evident that technology is a HUGE part of the western world. It surrounds us and affects all parts of our lives. By giving these children access to technology, they are not only being prepared for, but are given access to other areas of society. Many of these children are not even aware that life exists outside their own environment. The laptop can open their eyes to the world. Not only does it immediately affect the child but it affects all those who the child is associated with...their parents, teachers, brothers, sisters. Yes maybe food will help these children’s immediate lives and aid the present starvation, but the OLPC project opens gates to later life... it unlocks a door to a better future. With education, starvation may not even be a future issue in these kids’ lives.

ECHELON...Mystery Surveillance

I never really think about the fact that all my cyber footsteps can be tracked…I usually just go about my usual business of writing emails to friends and family, buying things online and checking my facebook with no clue or worry that all the while someone or something could be monitoring my every move…

I was just having a flick through Sophie’s new blog about Echelon and wanted to touch on one thing in particular… Echelon's success in catching criminals comes from the fact that 'criminals' aren't aware they are being monitored and don't know the 'keywords' that the surveillance device is tracking. The program has an air of ambiguity about it; the predominant users (U.S and U.K) don’t even admit to using it! If laws were enforced on Echelon and we all gave our permission to be monitored on the program surely we would be much more subtle with our cyber activity! If you know you are doing something wrong, you go to all lengths to no get caught. Look at drugs for instance. Police can monitor digital devices to track words such as ‘weed’ ‘E’ ‘Acid’ etc… suppliers are frequently caught out through such mediums. However, because suppliers know that such systems are in place the clever ones dodge being caught by using other words in texting and emails etc. Instead of dealing with the word ‘ecstasy’ the supplier will use the word ‘bickie’ or something as such.. Same goes for dealers that get a text message or phone call saying ‘hey can we have some weed’…if they are intelligent they will ignore the text message or not answer the call! Although it is known that Echelon does exist, the fact that some Governments don’t acknowledge using it, that keyword’s aren’t exposed and that there are no laws covering it means that criminals don’t have something to ‘dodge’…if they don’t know when or what they are being monitored, surely they are bound to slip up! Hence why it’s effective!

Facebook to find criminals...

My apologies for being 'blog vacant' for the last 2weeks...last week of term saw me snowed under with work and then had a nice relaxing holiday at the beach where we have no internet connection...actually quite nice for a change, dabbled in other activities, even attempted a puzzle! Anyhow... Was reading an article on the BBC website "Facebook to track Darfur suspects." (To view it go through the magnolia Feed on my page)... Crime authorities are now resorting to the internet, in this case Facebook, to spread awareness and gain information about criminal whereabouts etc. I find this every interesting because I think it highlights the extent at which the internet engrosses our lives. Nick Donovan of the Aegis Trust, the organisation behind the "Wanted for War Crimes" list states "Wanted posters can only be seen by a few hundred people at most - the internet is used by billions." I think he hits the nail on the head...so many of us use the internet, be it as a social means or for information. By using facebook, authorities are able to alert a large and diverse group in society with minimal effort. Quite effective if you ask me!