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.

Week #7 - Internet Security

Our lives are becoming increasingly intertwined with the Internet. Our day to day lives are documented in the vines of social media. Confidential information such as our financial information are encrypted within the codes every time we shop online.

The thought that someone can easily bypass firewalls and whatnots to gather such information is scary. While we imagine the people who possess such skills are highly-trained sophisticated geniuses of the Bond and Bourne calibre. The truth is, hackers can be anyone with a computer. In the video below you can see for yourself who are some of the more infamous hackers and what kinds of security they have breached. Top sites, governments... Evidently, it wouldn't take the best hacker to succeed in getting you into your network and manipulate or steal information.

However, it is not difficult to take the first step to defend yourself against hackers. The first step is to install an antivirus software so your computer can detect any viruses that may threaten your computer. The next is to enable firewalls as they help control the traffic, deciding what gets to come through your network. Of course, then you would have to secure your home network. That is done simply by setting up a password on your router, so others cannot easily access it and steal information.

It is also sensible to practice good habits while on the Internet. The first habit everyone should cultivate is to not divulge too much on social networks. Facebook and its band of friends have managed to coax the exhibitionists out of even the most private of people. Indulging in such behaviour will come at a price, especially when the whole world can view who you are, where you have been and what you have done. Facebook is constantly in controversy over its privacy issues. It is a good habit to take time to read the privacy notices and adjust the privacy settings. Above is an extremely comprehensive video that will help you protect yourself from information miners and stalkers.

Lastly, the age old advice we have all heard to death - do not open dodgy emails. While a little old-fashion, it is an effective way for cyber-criminals to set viruses free into your computer. 

Week #6 - My Video

Week #5 - Why e-learning is Awesome

Considering that we live in this high-tech modern age, I’m surprised that I still have to wake up in the morning and drag myself to school. Especially since e-learning is such an accessible platform for learning. e-Learning has many advantages which I believe can benefit students and lecturers in ways the traditional school system cannot.

For one, e-learning is self-paced. This is especially important to me since I suffer from dyslexia, which means I learn at a rate much slower than others. Growing up, I always had to be the student taking remedial lessons or extra private lessons because I could not catch up in class. Not only did it cause me to question my own intellect, it made me waste so much time. With e-learning, students with disabilities would be able to go over material again till they were comfortable with the topic. Thus, eliminating the need for stupid remedial lessons that waste so much time.

Being self-paced also means it allows students to move faster. Sometimes I sit through a lecture completely zoned-out because I already have pre-existing knowledge about that lecture. With e-learning students would be able skip topics or modules they are already familiar with.

I know many friends who forsake getting a university education because of financial reasons. With e-learning, it makes it easy to save cost on education. Not only will the institution be able to save on operational costs, students can also save on travel and food by staying at home to complete modules. Also, assuming tuition is paid per topic, students can also opt to skip topics they are familiar with (as mentioned above) and save costs on that.

Sometimes school may not be the most conducive environment for learning. There might be distractions such as other students chattering or uncomfortable seating. The best thing about e-learning is that it is portable and you can access it at any time. You could be going through your online lessons at home, or even on holiday overseas, just as long as you have an internet connection. And if you’re the sort of person that prefers studying through the night, you can choose to access your learning material then.

e-Learning not only develops one's independence, it is also great because it gives the student more freedom to decide how he or she would like to study. Coupled with the different interactive media, there is great potential for e-learning to be the next step in the learning revolution.

Week #4 - Introduction to Bitcoins

I was going to do an in-depth analysis on Bitcoins and their advantages and their pitfalls. Unfortunately, after a week of research, I still am not confident that I will be able to accurately explain the intricate ideas behind Bitcoins. Instead, I will give an introduction to Bitcoins and hopefully help you understand this revolutionary invention better.

At the core of it all, BitCoins are essentially a digital file that lists a bunch of accounts and how much each account has, just like a ledger. A copy of this ledger is sent to the BitCoin network, and all computers linked to the network will have the same copy. 

Basically, every time someone sends or receives BitCoins, the 'ledger' is updated, ensuring the money was actually sent and received. For example, if Cavin sends 5 BitCoins to Brian, the ledger will update itself, showing that Cavin has 5 BitCoins less and Brian has 5 BitCoins more.

Are you still with me? Well, it this isn't the confusing part yet.

BitCoins don't really have any value, BUT there are people willing to BELIEVE it has value and are willing to trade goods and services for it. It is no different from fiat currency - this digital, decentralised currency only has value because we believe it is valuable.

An interesting thing about the BitCoin system is how it is designed so that no trust is needed. As you may have to deal with completely anonymous people in the network, a special algorithm was created to protect people from forgeries. A special password is needed to prove at the rightful owner has authorised some of the unspent funds to be sent. This password is called a digital signature. You can't copy a digital signature as a mathematical algorithm prevents that. Also, every transaction's digital signature is different so it cannot be re-sued.

At this point of time I would like to add that the BitCoin system is not flawless. In fact, I find it to be rather dodgy at times. Firstly there is the issue about anonymity. In my research I have found that it is possible to create different, for a lack of a better word, 'personas' and make it impossible to link a persons different transactions together. The danger lies in the fact that this ability makes it very difficult to regulate and keep track of.

Another thing I've come across in my research is that BitCoins can be lost when someone inputs a wrong code or if the computer's harddrive crashes. Not only will the money disappear from your bank account, it will also disappear from the BitCoin economy. As there will definitely be someone out there whose harddrive will crash, it is likely that this currency might become a deflationary one.

I point these problems out as there are many videos and articles out there that only explain the advantages of digital currency. For example, the most popular one out there would be the fact that it is decentralised and not governed by any bank or institution That sounds great, but I'm sure there are not so great parts (well, you call me a skeptic.)

I hope I have given you a better understand of the BitCoin and how it works. It is an extremely difficult notion to grasp well in a short time, but I hope this is a good introduction. I'm sorry if I have made an errors in this post, I have truly tried to understand to the best of my ability and all mistakes are unintentional and though I hate to say it, rather ignorant. I leave you with a video about how BitCoins are created, or mined, so you might have a even better understanding of this new fangled creation.

Week #3 - Why I Quit Facebook

Social Networking sites have changed the landscape of how we socialise. There are a billion-and-one ways we can rave about Facebook and its counterparts... I find it difficult to say much about social networking because I believe everyone has already given their two cents worth.

In an attempt to jazz things up a little here, I'm going to list down 10 reasons why I said hasta la vista to Facebook.

1. I lost control of my wall. My wall wasn't mine anymore. ANYONE could post on it without my consent and clutter it up with junk!
   
   
2. I googled my name and all my FB pictures showed up. If you don't think this is creepy, you are creepy.
   
   
3. My grandmothers got on FB. Once, my Mama Lily asked me about my life based on my FB activity.
   
   
4. I was addicted to scrolling through the home feed. So much stupid on FB feeds, but I simply couldn't look away. It was pure voodoo.
   
   
5. FB told all my friends what I was up to, and I lost loads of conversational starter material. I'm a storyteller, and I hate it when FB ruins my tales by giving my friends spoilers through stuff like pictures OTHER PEOPLE posted of what I've been up to.
   
   
6. Potential employers now look-up your FB page aka a history of your life since you were a stupid teenager. Baaaaaaaddddd idea.
   
   
7. I kept getting invited to Farmville. My godmother & my aunt ordered me to join so they could get cabbages or something :(
   
   
8. I was 'friends' with people I didn't want to be 'friends' with. Those said 'friends' had the most annoying FB posts.
   
   
9. No matter how I fiddled with the privacy & notification settings, SOMETHING would end up bothering me. I don't know if it was because the privacy settings and such weren't that refined yet, but some notification or another would end up slipping through the net.
   
   
10. I was so convinced that all my information would end up being used against me. Wisdom from Sun Zi's Art of War - "To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself." I'm not going to be the provider of my own doom.

Week #2 - The Not Too Distant Future of Social Media

In the past decade, social networking has rapidly taken over our lives. I remember my first encounter with Facebook when I was 16; I had no idea that I was actually taking my first few steps into the future.

Now at 21, just five years after I signed up for my Facebook account, my life pretty much revolves around social networking. Mobile data on my phone is essential, I need to be connected 24/7. My Internet-abled smartphone is my gateway to the world. Personally, Twitter is my favourite social network. These days, news is already passé by the time you pick up your morning newspaper. With Twitter, I don't have to worry about be ill-informed, I don't even have to look for news, it comes to me. Sometimes, I even get to repurpose news to my friends and start a discuss from there.

My pal Luke & I discussing Star Wars VII news -
Not only can we receive news, we can also share it along with our thoughts.

We may think that we already know all there is to know about social networking and its functions, but I believe that this is just the beginning. What will the landscape of social media look like in the future? I believe that the human population has already taken its first few steps into that future.

As a huge science fiction fan, I don't have to spend too much time imagining what the future of social media will be. One of my favourite movies of all time is Steven Spielberg's Artificial Intelligence. The movie depicts a world where robotic A.I.s called Mechas walk among the human race. No, I'm not saying that Twitter and Instagram will evolve into our robot friends (what would be the point of that?). The future that I firmly believe in is that artificial intelligence will be implanted into social media. The fact of the matter is, it's already happening. Sites like YouTube actually learns your likes and dislikes in order to recommend videos to you. It sounds simple, but can you imagine what that can evolve to? 

The future of Social Media?
Courtesy of Warner Bros Studios

Let's imagine a scenario: Say your boyfriend just proposed to you. Let's be honest, what's the first thing you do? No, you won't call your parents, not in this day and age. Instead, you'll Instagram a picture of you new engagement bling with the hashtags #imengaged #mynewring #soblingitsblindingme.

As your friends are learning of your engagement (and liking your picture), your A.I. program goes to work. In the matter of minutes you will receive notifications from your A.I., recommending the best days for you to get married, possible locations to hold your reception, and even selecting the best wedding blogs for you to reference and get ideas from.

That's not all. You could program your A.I. to plan the wedding for you. After all, it knows your tastes better than any wedding planner would. All you have to do is wait for it to notify you when it has made the appropriate arrangements.
You won't have to be Tony Stark to have a Jarvis.

Social media is already a powerful tool. What will happen once we make it intelligent as well?

Week #1 - Limitless?

As the human population grows, we struggle to compete for  s  p  a  c  e. In Singapore, we never forget the importance of land because we have so little. Every Singaporean is reminded of the struggles of being a tiny land mass everyday, be it through our HDB flats, reclaimed land or sky-high property prices.

This is what makes the Internet so magical, its infinity. It is something that exists, yet doesn't exist physically. On the Net, there is no struggle for a place, a space, or a piece of land.

Or so I thought...

Video: How Does Facebook Work?

The Internet is often illustrated to us less tech educated as a cloud - a gigantic cloud that is able to contain all of the infinite World Wide Web. However, the truth is fairly simple (and less magical): the Internet requires physical storage. REAL storage that takes up space and land.

The above video gives us insight on how social media giant Facebook is run, and also clues us into how and where Facebook stores the information of its billions of users. Its mammoth-sized Data Centre of 300,00 square feet consists of servers, memory banks and back up power generators, all essential to the smooth operation of the social media giant.

If that isn't enough, Facebook's need for memory grows larger and larger everyday. Not only are people posting more status updates and pictures, the social networking site continues to receive 100 million new users every six months. This in turn causes Facebook to add 'thousands' of new servers everyday in order to store all this information. The rate in which Facebook is growing has also prompted them to construct a new and even larger Data Centre.

This is just Facebook. What about Google? Yahoo? Twitter? Amazon?  eBay? Tumblr? Wordpress? Blogger?

If physical space is what the Internet needs, does it mean it has a limit? Is it just one more thing that competes for  s  p  a  c  e?