Reflection

Many of us think we know the Internet inside out, just because we are on it 24/7 watching Youtube and stalking people on social networks. However, our knowledge of the Internet is just barely what it is all about. From this module I've learnt about the different aspects of the Internet (I didn't really know there would be so many).

I really enjoyed researching revolutionary new innovations such as BitCoin, which both amaze and terrify me. The concept that money could me made out of relatively nothing has caused me to realise how powerful the Internet is.

I consider myself a person who is aware of the harm the Internet can cause. I disabled my Facebook account for that very reason. I didn't want to be a slave to a website, and I wanted my privacy. However, as much as I can try to push the Internet away, this module shown me that my life will always be gravitated to it, whether I like it or not.

Take the Internet of Things for example. Life is going to be connected to this imaginary cloud sooner or later. Even if I have my misgivings, it will still end up intertwined in my life.

I guess that's the main thing I took away from this module, that the Internet is a double-edged-sword and I will have to rely on myself to be discerning and cautious in order to protect myself from the potentially harmful wonders of the Internet.

Week #11 - The Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) - "virtual representation of uniquely tagged objects that allows for a transfer of data over a network without the need for human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction."

The future of the Internet is here. Imagine a world where everything is linked to your smart device or computer. The possibilities are endless. You could control your home at work, or even on holiday. Your fridge would be able to order groceries for you, even tell your oven how to bake you cake. Though most of these innovations are currently works-in-progress, it is a concept that will definitely be the norm in the foreseeable future.

The Internet of Things has its roots in Radio-frequency Identification (RFID) Tags, which were mostly used in retail and in warehouses. A product would be tracked from manufacturing to check out. In the future, it would probably tell you who bought the product, allowing marketers to track the purchasing behaviours of consumers

Cool IoT innovations that I can't wait for:

Bluetooth Trackers

Away-from-home Pet Interaction

Smart Refrigerators that tell your oven how to cook

It is evident that IoT will end up being the new normal, enriching the quality of life itself. However, it is not without faults. With so much more personal information being stored in the Internet cloud, it makes it easier for our privacy to be breached. It will also cause us to become overly-dependant on technology. Like every Internet innovation, it is a double-edged sword, however I am looking forward to the future of the Internet of Things.

Week #10 - Journalism on the Internet

News on the web has resulted in bite-sized, almost instantaneous mobile news that society has the pleasure of enjoying. Along the accompaniment of social media, news is now more readily available and more interactive than before.

Among all these advancements in the field of journalism however, there is a more complicated side to online journalism. IN 2010, Julian Assange were in the media spotlight for publishing confidential US military and diplomatic documents on his site, Wikileaks. This caused a panic among the nation's government, condemning Assange for endangering national security. Others however, lauded his sacrificial role as the whistleblower who was doing right by the people.

It is here that the ethics of journalism comes into play. Unlike print, news on the web can avoid being subjected to gatekeeping, editing or eternal demands of a(an) shareholder/advertiser. However, it is my opinion that such news is journalism in its purest form. It is one tell can tell the truth without as much compromise a publishing house would be subjected to. Online journalism has the potential to publish only the truest form of a story.

The world of journalism, especially in countries like Singapore, is tainted by red tape and advertising power. How sure are we that we can believe everything that is published by our newspapers or aired by your networks? Most of the time we can trust that what is published is to shape our perceptions rather than tell us the truth.

The beauty of online journalism is that it is harder to regulate the web and freedom of speech is actually possible. With the help of the Internet, news is now able to return at a more grassroots level. However, that in itself has its drawbacks. Not all online news or citizen journalism is on Assange's level. Grassroots journalism has caused a rise in petty, crude content that really should not be considered news. A good example of this is ST's Stomp.

Stomp is a mockery of journalism. Any monkey can take and upload a picture, but it takes a real journalist to know if a story is important and timely enough to be worthy of becoming news (Straits Times, if you're listening, how can a respected paper associate themselves with and allow such vulgar content?).  Stomp is nothing but a place for people seeking 15 minutes of petty fame, indulging in voyeurism. Such crude 'journalism' should not be considered as journalism and published at all.

The Internet has levelled the playing field by giving back the ability to publish news. However, we should hope to see more revolutionary journalism such as Wikileaks rather than tabloid fodder such as content on Stomp.

Week #9 - Internet & Politics

As the Internet plays a larger role in our lives, the debate continues about how it is changing the landscape of the political arena. Like J.F.K. had the television, Obama had Social Media to aid his victory in the presidential elections.

With the Internet, political figures can reach more people from more levels through means of social media. It is not just people of affluence or influence that can get their views and opinions heard anymore. This means a broader set of voices can be heard, and the Internet gives them a platform to find like-minded individuals and form a community. This way, with more people, they will be able to get their views heard more effectively and it will be more likely to raise the status of some issues.

The Internet can also aid politics by garnering awareness and support, be it financially or physically. The Obama-Biden campaign famously used the Internet and social media to raise funds for their campaign, which helped them a great deal in making Obama the most powerful man in the world. The Internet also gave the Obama-Biden campaign the media coverage they needed by engaging celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Matt Damon. Celebrities naturally attract the attention of the media and public, in turn making politics more mainstream.

Then again, is politics really about who has the fanciest campaign and the most well known supporters? This brings me to my point about how the Internet has caused the glamourising of political involvement. Though mainstream politics has helped make it more easily understood, it also, in a way, degraded politics.
In the case of Sarah Palin and Singapore's very own political joke, Tin Pei Ling, the Internet had a huge role in amplifying a controversy. In the end, such scandals distract many people from the real issues of nations and governance.  

Week #8 - Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality (AR) has always been this futuristic concept that the Discovery Channel occasionally ran features on. Recently, continuing my long line of handheld Nintendo consoles, I purchased a Nintendo 3DS. Packed along with the new console was a pack of cards I threw aside thinking it was just one of those useless gimmicks.

However, after a class presentation on AR, I got thinking about the little AR icon on my game console and the little pack of cards I was quite sure I threw away. Fortunately, I did find the cards and spent a good deal of my afternoon immersing myself in another reality.

It was nothing at first, just the screen on my console showing my table top and the lone card resting in the middle. Then, Super Mario popped up, on my table! I could even reach out to 'touch' him. What really fascinated me was I could pick up a feeble little card and Mario would come along with me, in my hand. 

"Augmented reality (AR) is a live, direct or indirect, view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input."

How will AR be able to benefit us other than entertainment-wise? Volkswagen has come up the Mobile Augmented Reality Technical Assistant App (MARTA) to help mechanics service cars by showing them the car's parts and even offering them advice on fixing problems. The app also allows car owners to see their car in different paints jobs or with extra accessories. AR can also work as a simple tool, like a business card, from the video below you can see how a business card can be transformed into a mini portfolio, just like carrying your resume or website in a pocket.

The concept of AR is indeed breathtaking. It will revolutionise life as we know it, changing everyday life, entertainment, healthcare, education etc. However, it is not without shortcomings as it will cause people to end up relying too heavily on AR, crippling them once the technology fails or malfunctions.