We have finally come to the end of a whirlwind semester! Firstly, I would like to thank Mr. Choy for making COM125 engaging and enabling us to look at the Internet from a broader perspective. Just last week, a question that was posted to us in class was what do we want to see happen in the Internet 10 years into the future.
Well, I think it will be really cool if we could command our computers with our minds and 'surf' the Internet with our brain power. I used to think that this was really stuff that will only happen in science fiction movies but apparently, Intel is already one step ahead and they are in the midst of developing a microchip that can implanted into our heads for this very purpose. Can you imagine how revolutionary that will be? All I need to do is think about something and it can happen on my computer. That sure beats all the technology that we have out there hands down.
I was just flipping the papers recently and it dawned on me how cheap computers, mobile phones and other gadgets that allow us to connect to the Internet have become. Technology seems to be refreshing itself every 6 months now. The launch of the iPad in the US was a big hit, and people are commenting how this will change the face of how we use computers and also opening new possibilities at the same time. Mr. Choy called this destructive technology and I agree with him. With a featherweight device that might eventually surpass the processing power of a computer someday, we have just introduced another gadget that allows us to connect to the Internet with ease. I am personally waiting for this product to hit Singapore and I hope it is as good as people make it out to be!
With its potential threats and untapped functions the Internet continues to grow daily. The term 'information superhighway' no longer does justice for such a powerful invention, because it has become a way of life. To live in the 21st century is to be connected. The Internet has convenienced us, connected us halfway across the globe and even enriched us. That is why I am optimistic about the future of the Internet. I hope that I will still be able to keep up with technology as it advances rapidly.
Having said this, it has been a pleasure writing about my thoughts on the Internet and I hope my sharing was insightful and worthwhile to people reading this! Take care and have a great day ahead!
Friday, April 9, 2010
Social Networking and Online Communities
With the eventual arrival of web 3.0, businesses are starting to explore social networking tools like Facebook and LinkedIn as part of their marketing strategies. The power of such online communities enables online users to give feedback to sellers, ratings to products and also to get in touch with business partners 24 hours a day.Social networking sites are definitely useful for businesses and I believe that the business landscape will continue to evolve.
When we look at social networks in businesses, 2 questions come to mind.Firstly, how effective are platforms like Facebook for businesses, and what are some of the other functions that can be done other than marketing.At present, companies that make use of such tools are able to attract the targeted amount of eyeballs they need to their web page just by sending out their advertisements to the users. If the user is interested, they can click into the advertisement and find out more about the product or service that is offered by the company.Two-way communication is also further enhanced as users can leave questions or comments on the social networking page and the rate of response will be quick.
Social networking sites can also be used to handle public relations issues. Granted, it may not be as effective as holding a press conference for the company, but social media might come in handy when you need a quick way of doing crisis management. Although this area has not been fully utilized by companies,I feel that it is worthwhile.Secondly, social networking tools might serve to enhance the corporate ties within an organisation as a more light hearted way of communication. Although it might seem alien and even unacceptable now, I feel that is possible that your boss might write on your profile page to inform you about the meeting later, or you could have team building games played on Facebook to improve relationships within the office.
The possibilities of social networking are endless, and if businesses are able to harness the power of the Internet, I am sure that we will see a new trend rise in our generation.
When we look at social networks in businesses, 2 questions come to mind.Firstly, how effective are platforms like Facebook for businesses, and what are some of the other functions that can be done other than marketing.At present, companies that make use of such tools are able to attract the targeted amount of eyeballs they need to their web page just by sending out their advertisements to the users. If the user is interested, they can click into the advertisement and find out more about the product or service that is offered by the company.Two-way communication is also further enhanced as users can leave questions or comments on the social networking page and the rate of response will be quick.
Social networking sites can also be used to handle public relations issues. Granted, it may not be as effective as holding a press conference for the company, but social media might come in handy when you need a quick way of doing crisis management. Although this area has not been fully utilized by companies,I feel that it is worthwhile.Secondly, social networking tools might serve to enhance the corporate ties within an organisation as a more light hearted way of communication. Although it might seem alien and even unacceptable now, I feel that is possible that your boss might write on your profile page to inform you about the meeting later, or you could have team building games played on Facebook to improve relationships within the office.
The possibilities of social networking are endless, and if businesses are able to harness the power of the Internet, I am sure that we will see a new trend rise in our generation.
Internet & Journalism
Having discussed about the Internet for the past few weeks, another aspect that we can look into is journalism and how it links to this medium. For a very long time, journalism was associated with the printed press and news media. However, at the turn of the century it has become clear that the traditional way of viewing news is no longer applicable as information relay has become so rapid that I can know about a plane crash halfway across the globe even before some of the members of the country hears or reads about it. Such is the power of the Internet.
Online journalism has definitely become a strong presence in our society. In this day and age, it is very hard to keep much information under wraps because all it takes is a click of a mouse button in order for someone to upload information on the Internet, and once the message is sent, communication is irreversible. It is exciting yet terrifying at the same time, where so much power has shifted into the hands of the public.
One such example that I wish to discuss is the idea of Stomp. To me Stomp was probably started with good intentions of spreading interesting new quickly and also giving the people a channel to relay news that is taking place in everyday life and allowing them to share their views on the particular issue. However, in recent times I feel that the platform is being abused by people, and it also shows the hypocrisy of some people during criticism because they are more concerned with the act of videoing an event and posting it online rather than taking constructive action.Let me cite a few examples.
For example, people have been filmed littering or not offering seats in the public transport in Singapore. However, people hiding behind their camera hand phones and blacklisting these people by putting their faces online for all to see to make an example of them is not exactly the most civic minded thing to do. Things like giving up seats for the disabled or elderly, or a couple's private quarrel are not issues that people should pry into. I feel that with the option of Internet journalism so readily available to the common person on the street, this power is misused. We should take some time to reflect where the line should be drawn, before the situation gets out of hand.
In view of online journalism, I think the use of blogs and social media tools also need to be further analyzed because with misappropriate use it could ruin a person's life if certain information is spread through this powerful medium. Personally, I feel that journalism is one of the grey areas of the Internet, and we would probably need another 10-20 years before we can find a balance in finding what is the most ethical way of utilizing it. Until next time, signing off!
Online journalism has definitely become a strong presence in our society. In this day and age, it is very hard to keep much information under wraps because all it takes is a click of a mouse button in order for someone to upload information on the Internet, and once the message is sent, communication is irreversible. It is exciting yet terrifying at the same time, where so much power has shifted into the hands of the public.
One such example that I wish to discuss is the idea of Stomp. To me Stomp was probably started with good intentions of spreading interesting new quickly and also giving the people a channel to relay news that is taking place in everyday life and allowing them to share their views on the particular issue. However, in recent times I feel that the platform is being abused by people, and it also shows the hypocrisy of some people during criticism because they are more concerned with the act of videoing an event and posting it online rather than taking constructive action.Let me cite a few examples.
For example, people have been filmed littering or not offering seats in the public transport in Singapore. However, people hiding behind their camera hand phones and blacklisting these people by putting their faces online for all to see to make an example of them is not exactly the most civic minded thing to do. Things like giving up seats for the disabled or elderly, or a couple's private quarrel are not issues that people should pry into. I feel that with the option of Internet journalism so readily available to the common person on the street, this power is misused. We should take some time to reflect where the line should be drawn, before the situation gets out of hand.
In view of online journalism, I think the use of blogs and social media tools also need to be further analyzed because with misappropriate use it could ruin a person's life if certain information is spread through this powerful medium. Personally, I feel that journalism is one of the grey areas of the Internet, and we would probably need another 10-20 years before we can find a balance in finding what is the most ethical way of utilizing it. Until next time, signing off!
Internet & Politics
Politics... one of the topics that has been the bottom of my interest list for a very long time. Somehow, I feel that belonging to this generation and living in a comfort zone like Singapore, political discussion has been rather minimal because the youth are preoccupied with many other things. These things could range from the crazy rat race of pursuing their education, or hanging out with their friends that they get so caught up with their pace of life.Hence, in my opinion politics tends to take a backseat.
However, I do acknowledge that the Internet is a powerful medium for a politician to reach out to people in this age, especially to the younger generation. In the most recent US presidential elections, Mr. Barrack Obama was wise in making use of the Internet to publicise his campaigns and it received very positive feedback. It would be interesting to see our very own political candidates use the Internet for campaigning later this year, as this might spark a larger interest in the younger generation.
With the rapid relay of information made possible by the Internet, I think that this is a new avenue for politics to grow and it might give rise to newer and more creative methods of campaigning by political candidates.However, one of the risks that is involved with this method is actually related to public relations as well because once information is put up on the Internet, it is very hard to control the flow of information. Hence, if the wrong message is sent out to the public, dire consequences will be faced by the candidate.
Caution should be exercised when utilizing the Internet for political agendas, but if one can fully harness its potential their chances of success will definitely increase through the use of this powerful medium.
However, I do acknowledge that the Internet is a powerful medium for a politician to reach out to people in this age, especially to the younger generation. In the most recent US presidential elections, Mr. Barrack Obama was wise in making use of the Internet to publicise his campaigns and it received very positive feedback. It would be interesting to see our very own political candidates use the Internet for campaigning later this year, as this might spark a larger interest in the younger generation.
With the rapid relay of information made possible by the Internet, I think that this is a new avenue for politics to grow and it might give rise to newer and more creative methods of campaigning by political candidates.However, one of the risks that is involved with this method is actually related to public relations as well because once information is put up on the Internet, it is very hard to control the flow of information. Hence, if the wrong message is sent out to the public, dire consequences will be faced by the candidate.
Caution should be exercised when utilizing the Internet for political agendas, but if one can fully harness its potential their chances of success will definitely increase through the use of this powerful medium.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Multimedia
Ah! The power of multimedia. This week, i would like to talk about multimedia in gaming consoles like Playstion 3, Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Wii.Since young, I had the privilege of owning console games at home and I had my fair share of fun in it. Since taking this course, I have also become more aware that technology is rapidly changing and the way we interact and play video games will gradually evolve as well.
This week in class, we were shown the trailer for Microsoft natal, a trial system for the next generation of the xbox series. It was such an intense experience just looking at it when you see the user interacting with the software. Games are played on a totally different environment as well because your user specifications, movements and facial features are all captured by the system and integrated into your virtual avatar. Looking at such technology, it makes consoles like the wii I just bought look trivial.
However, that is for the future. Currently, the wii is probably the most interactive console you can find in the world. With advanced motion sensor technology it really makes you move around to play your games. One of the games that I am currently anticipating is this sword and cowboy fusion game called red steel 2. The graphics are breathtaking and I have been waiting for this game because it has the Wiimotion plus add-on which is supposed to make the game play even more realistic as you wield your sword or use your gun.
Here is the video for the game! Enjoy!
Isn't it cool? The face of Multimedia will continue to change and in order to keep up with the times we will have to learn about newer technology in the years to come. The future of games is surely exciting!
This week in class, we were shown the trailer for Microsoft natal, a trial system for the next generation of the xbox series. It was such an intense experience just looking at it when you see the user interacting with the software. Games are played on a totally different environment as well because your user specifications, movements and facial features are all captured by the system and integrated into your virtual avatar. Looking at such technology, it makes consoles like the wii I just bought look trivial.
However, that is for the future. Currently, the wii is probably the most interactive console you can find in the world. With advanced motion sensor technology it really makes you move around to play your games. One of the games that I am currently anticipating is this sword and cowboy fusion game called red steel 2. The graphics are breathtaking and I have been waiting for this game because it has the Wiimotion plus add-on which is supposed to make the game play even more realistic as you wield your sword or use your gun.
Here is the video for the game! Enjoy!
Isn't it cool? The face of Multimedia will continue to change and in order to keep up with the times we will have to learn about newer technology in the years to come. The future of games is surely exciting!
Internet Security
Internet security is a issue that should be close to our hearts. If it isn't yet, you should make it a priority on your to do list.Many users online often take Internet security for granted, putting them at risk to cyber crime and other potential online threats. Hence, here's a short list on what you can do to protect yourself and keep your computer safe from a potential threat.
1. Have anti-virus software on your computer. This is the first step in protecting yourself even though its not a sure proof method against viruses or phishing programs. Try to conduct regular scans on your computer even though it can be annoying, and at least run a full system scan once a month even though your system seems to be running fine. This is the first step in ensuring that you have the bare minimum of protection.
2. Next, now that you have some form of safety measure against those pesky worms or people out to cheat you of your money and information, you have to learn how to 'BE SMART'. Do not go around on the website blindly clicking links that might lead you to suspicious sites. Do not accept random invites from strangers on your instant messaging accounts as well. With the Internet being so large, you never know who might be out to harm you!
3. Finally, do not be greedy! Often, people are always excited about lucky draws and freebie giveaways. A lot of the online scammers make use of such pulling tactics to get you to pay money to them in order to receive a 'larger reward'.Many people have fallen prey to such scams and you wouldn't want to find yourself to be the next victim.
Hence, Internet security is a very current topic and we should be alert when using the Internet.
1. Have anti-virus software on your computer. This is the first step in protecting yourself even though its not a sure proof method against viruses or phishing programs. Try to conduct regular scans on your computer even though it can be annoying, and at least run a full system scan once a month even though your system seems to be running fine. This is the first step in ensuring that you have the bare minimum of protection.
2. Next, now that you have some form of safety measure against those pesky worms or people out to cheat you of your money and information, you have to learn how to 'BE SMART'. Do not go around on the website blindly clicking links that might lead you to suspicious sites. Do not accept random invites from strangers on your instant messaging accounts as well. With the Internet being so large, you never know who might be out to harm you!
3. Finally, do not be greedy! Often, people are always excited about lucky draws and freebie giveaways. A lot of the online scammers make use of such pulling tactics to get you to pay money to them in order to receive a 'larger reward'.Many people have fallen prey to such scams and you wouldn't want to find yourself to be the next victim.
Hence, Internet security is a very current topic and we should be alert when using the Internet.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
E-Learning
E-learning in today's context is no longer as novel a concept as it used to be back in the past. I remember the first time I used e-learning was in secondary 2 back in 2001. We were asked to do and submit assignments on an e-portal, and our subject teacher would be online to take any questions that was posted on the class forum for a certain period of time. The whole hype of e-learning was infectious and soon many schools in Singapore were jumping onto the e-learning bandwagon.
Presently, e-learning is almost mandatory at institutions teaching tertiary level and above. Technology has become so essential to aid our learning that traditional book learning is no longer as effective now. Let's take COM125 as an example. Part of the requirements of the module is to create this blog and find out more things about topics relevant to the course. After every class, we are encouraged to go online and find out more from the weekly discussions. By making blog postings and commenting on our classmates ideas, we are able to develop our thinking and add value to the overall learning experience.
I believe that e-learning will continue to change in the future. We might even have computer avatars that function as a teacher and are able to communicate actively with the user. The brick and mortar institution known as 'school' might need to be changed as learning might be more independent. With the power of the Internet, knowledge is at our fingertips, and we can learn from the comfort of our home. Now that would be really cool right?:)
Presently, e-learning is almost mandatory at institutions teaching tertiary level and above. Technology has become so essential to aid our learning that traditional book learning is no longer as effective now. Let's take COM125 as an example. Part of the requirements of the module is to create this blog and find out more things about topics relevant to the course. After every class, we are encouraged to go online and find out more from the weekly discussions. By making blog postings and commenting on our classmates ideas, we are able to develop our thinking and add value to the overall learning experience.
I believe that e-learning will continue to change in the future. We might even have computer avatars that function as a teacher and are able to communicate actively with the user. The brick and mortar institution known as 'school' might need to be changed as learning might be more independent. With the power of the Internet, knowledge is at our fingertips, and we can learn from the comfort of our home. Now that would be really cool right?:)
Monday, February 1, 2010
E-business through Game websites
Hi once again! After discussing about e-businesses online during lecture I thought I would like to touch on a gaming website called Viwawa. With online gaming being the latest trend, many smaller firms are also adopting this model to capture a fraction of the market share and run their businesses.
Basically, Viwawa is a casual online gaming portal where you can play traditional games like, mahjong, bridge and other group games via their web page. The concept of the company is to allow friends to play these games through the web, providing a brand new experience for users. To spice things up, they allow users to create virtual avatars known as 'wawas' and you have to use points or cash to dress up your character. Monthly competitions on who has the nicest wawas or who is the top seeded player in a particular game also yields monetary incentives for players and is a pull factor.
This is a picture of the avatar I use in the game
The company was set up in Singapore, and at peak period, we see as many as 10,000 people at one time playing games in the server. This might seem like small numbers compared to big Multi player online games like World of Warcraft, but for a local initiative I think this is a good effort and my friends and I enjoy a casual game of bridge once in awhile. Being the typical Singaporean, I must admit I play this because I do not need to spend a single cent as I can accumulate virtual points. (although it takes longer) However, that being said I would like to touch on how Viwawa sustains their operations online.
In order to draw in revenue, the company allows banner advertisements to be posted by companies on the sidebar, and also from game cards that can be bought online or physically at the convenience store. Recently, with a growing fan base they have also branched out into producing physical merchandise like ez-link stickers and t-shirts which can be purchased online. The forum on the site also allows interaction with the game designers and the users feedback are taken into consideration. Hence, we can see how their business model works through the website.
I hope to see more interesting e-businesses develop in the future and I believe the next decade has more surprises installed for everyone!
Basically, Viwawa is a casual online gaming portal where you can play traditional games like, mahjong, bridge and other group games via their web page. The concept of the company is to allow friends to play these games through the web, providing a brand new experience for users. To spice things up, they allow users to create virtual avatars known as 'wawas' and you have to use points or cash to dress up your character. Monthly competitions on who has the nicest wawas or who is the top seeded player in a particular game also yields monetary incentives for players and is a pull factor.
This is a picture of the avatar I use in the game
The company was set up in Singapore, and at peak period, we see as many as 10,000 people at one time playing games in the server. This might seem like small numbers compared to big Multi player online games like World of Warcraft, but for a local initiative I think this is a good effort and my friends and I enjoy a casual game of bridge once in awhile. Being the typical Singaporean, I must admit I play this because I do not need to spend a single cent as I can accumulate virtual points. (although it takes longer) However, that being said I would like to touch on how Viwawa sustains their operations online.
In order to draw in revenue, the company allows banner advertisements to be posted by companies on the sidebar, and also from game cards that can be bought online or physically at the convenience store. Recently, with a growing fan base they have also branched out into producing physical merchandise like ez-link stickers and t-shirts which can be purchased online. The forum on the site also allows interaction with the game designers and the users feedback are taken into consideration. Hence, we can see how their business model works through the website.
I hope to see more interesting e-businesses develop in the future and I believe the next decade has more surprises installed for everyone!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Social Media: Cheer or Tear?
With the advent of social media, online interaction between people are taking on a new dimension. Whether it is poking a friend or liking a person's status, this fluid exchange of comments and online activities bring people together with just a few keystrokes or mouse clicks. I would like to take this opportunity to share my personal experience with social media and how it has changed.
I remember jumping onto the social media bandwagon when Friendster was still the 'in' thing. It was a very simple platform that allowed my friends and I to share pictures and leave simple messages on each other's virtual walls. The in thing when I was in back in junior college was to add many friends and it was strange because I started talking to strangers and meeting people of similar interests. It was only after national service that I realised perhaps I was sharing too much information with random online users that I limited my Friendster information and even considered 'deleting' it. Oh well, its still out there collecting cyber dust as I'm typing this entry and I have not checked it out in a very long time.
About 2 years back I started to use Facebook when there weren't that many applications and the concept of interaction through online applications developed for social media was fairly new. One of the first applications I tried was a text based game which involved me raising my pet dragon and training it to combat other users. This was new and exciting to me, and I remember being very engrossed in that game. It was around this time when freelance developers saw a niche market on Facebook and started bringing things like Texas Hold Em, word puzzles and a myriad of other applications to spice things up on Facebook. The added chat feature allowed users to also chat with their friends or interest group pals directly, incorporating the instant messaging platform onto this social media platform. As we discussed in class about the semantic web 2.0, I can appreciate the potential for such platforms to continue adding new inputs that contribute to an enhanced user platform.
Social media has started to make its move to virtual avatars through the use of the platform called 'Second Life' and I wonder if this will be the future of social media platforms. Until then, I am contended to enjoy Facebook for the time being and only time will tell when I 'hop' onto the next platform that entices me. Signing off!
I remember jumping onto the social media bandwagon when Friendster was still the 'in' thing. It was a very simple platform that allowed my friends and I to share pictures and leave simple messages on each other's virtual walls. The in thing when I was in back in junior college was to add many friends and it was strange because I started talking to strangers and meeting people of similar interests. It was only after national service that I realised perhaps I was sharing too much information with random online users that I limited my Friendster information and even considered 'deleting' it. Oh well, its still out there collecting cyber dust as I'm typing this entry and I have not checked it out in a very long time.
About 2 years back I started to use Facebook when there weren't that many applications and the concept of interaction through online applications developed for social media was fairly new. One of the first applications I tried was a text based game which involved me raising my pet dragon and training it to combat other users. This was new and exciting to me, and I remember being very engrossed in that game. It was around this time when freelance developers saw a niche market on Facebook and started bringing things like Texas Hold Em, word puzzles and a myriad of other applications to spice things up on Facebook. The added chat feature allowed users to also chat with their friends or interest group pals directly, incorporating the instant messaging platform onto this social media platform. As we discussed in class about the semantic web 2.0, I can appreciate the potential for such platforms to continue adding new inputs that contribute to an enhanced user platform.
Social media has started to make its move to virtual avatars through the use of the platform called 'Second Life' and I wonder if this will be the future of social media platforms. Until then, I am contended to enjoy Facebook for the time being and only time will tell when I 'hop' onto the next platform that entices me. Signing off!
Friday, January 15, 2010
The Internet, our way of life?
A new semester and a new beginning. The Internet empowers us to access a wide array of services online that make our lives more convenient. This can range from simple things like ordering food online to bigger scale transactions like e-commerce. For many of us, the Internet serves as a platform for us to stay connected to our family and friends through email, instant messaging services and recently social networking sites.
Gone are the days when the Internet was known as just the 'information superhighway'. Its evolution has been startling in the last 10 years, and the digital age that we live in is rapidly changing the way we operate in our daily lives. The Internet is considered indispensable for daily activities in the modern world, and I believe one will feel some uneasiness if they are disconnected. While I was doing my national service, I remember the missing presence of the Internet left a void in me.
So here I am for the third time running using this form of online medium to aid my learning. I must admit that I did not blog before coming to UB as I found it tedious to place my thoughts online.
Having said this, I am happy that I am taking this COM125 course as it might help to further my interest in blogging and I also hope to gain valuable insight on the Internet and its greater impact on society.
Gone are the days when the Internet was known as just the 'information superhighway'. Its evolution has been startling in the last 10 years, and the digital age that we live in is rapidly changing the way we operate in our daily lives. The Internet is considered indispensable for daily activities in the modern world, and I believe one will feel some uneasiness if they are disconnected. While I was doing my national service, I remember the missing presence of the Internet left a void in me.
So here I am for the third time running using this form of online medium to aid my learning. I must admit that I did not blog before coming to UB as I found it tedious to place my thoughts online.
Having said this, I am happy that I am taking this COM125 course as it might help to further my interest in blogging and I also hope to gain valuable insight on the Internet and its greater impact on society.
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