Throughout these topics, I have learnt a lot. There were some areas which I was not aware of the tools of Google, online politics and online journalism. No doubt the Internet will evolve in next ten years. But how?
It is hard to predict what we will do in the next 5 years let alone 10. We are constantly out-doing ourselves. 10 years ago nobody thought we would have 3D movies, let alone 3D TV, but now we have 3D TV!
It is really stunning that we have come such a long way from such inventions. Everything is given a lot of new meaning. For example, games.
All these devices have been mashed up with the Internet. I believe in 10 years our lives will be full of Internet. Whether it is our living, our food or all our basic needs, will have something to do with the Internet.
This begs the question: Will there be reality then?
Monday, April 25, 2011
What I can get online and not offline
I have always been a person who loves to watch the old shows over and over again. For example the movie, Initial D, even though i watched it in the cinemas, i bought the DVD and watched three times. When TV began airing it, I watched it two more times.
Of course there are some shows not available in DVD (at least not to my knowledge) or on TV anymore. That is why we have the Internet.
For example one of my all time favorites is the show, "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" The show was shown in Singapore many years ago but i could not watch because it was very late at night. Furthermore some of the content was censored. Therefore I missed out on a lot.
With the rise of video streaming websites, I managed to find someone who has uploaded a lot of videos on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". I was delighted and there were thousands of videos being uploaded. This is one of my all time favorites:
I watched most of the videos being uploaded and relived the good old times of the show. I saw many videos and parts that were not aired in Singapore. I got to say, without the Internet, I would never have had the chance to watch these videos again. It is no surprise that these videos have 800-900k viewers. This shows how popular the show is in USA
Of course there are some shows not available in DVD (at least not to my knowledge) or on TV anymore. That is why we have the Internet.
For example one of my all time favorites is the show, "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" The show was shown in Singapore many years ago but i could not watch because it was very late at night. Furthermore some of the content was censored. Therefore I missed out on a lot.
With the rise of video streaming websites, I managed to find someone who has uploaded a lot of videos on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". I was delighted and there were thousands of videos being uploaded. This is one of my all time favorites:
I watched most of the videos being uploaded and relived the good old times of the show. I saw many videos and parts that were not aired in Singapore. I got to say, without the Internet, I would never have had the chance to watch these videos again. It is no surprise that these videos have 800-900k viewers. This shows how popular the show is in USA
My COM 125 presentation
We were supposed to do a presentation on any Internet topic, my group chose to do a topic on online medical services. I had previous contact with this topic in my other COM classes, so it was not really new for us, but from this presentation, I did find out a lot about online medical services.
One of the major companies that involved itself in the area of online medical services was Microsoft. It had this HealthVault service where patients can access to their medical records online, this provided a quick way for the patients and the doctor to collaborate and help the patient.
One major website that has online medical services is WebMD. WebMD is one of the popular websites when one wants to check for medical information. It provides almost everything from medical advice to guides as to what disease one is suffering when symptoms appear. This information is also provided by doctors Therefore it is an excellent website to check for medical information.
However such websites have to be scrutinised for their reliability of information. While the symptoms may apply for most people, the disease contracted may differ. Therefore it is still important to see a doctor when one is really ill.
Here is a video on WebMD by collegehumor.
One of the major companies that involved itself in the area of online medical services was Microsoft. It had this HealthVault service where patients can access to their medical records online, this provided a quick way for the patients and the doctor to collaborate and help the patient.
One major website that has online medical services is WebMD. WebMD is one of the popular websites when one wants to check for medical information. It provides almost everything from medical advice to guides as to what disease one is suffering when symptoms appear. This information is also provided by doctors Therefore it is an excellent website to check for medical information.
However such websites have to be scrutinised for their reliability of information. While the symptoms may apply for most people, the disease contracted may differ. Therefore it is still important to see a doctor when one is really ill.
Here is a video on WebMD by collegehumor.
Internet Journalism
In my other class, COM 242, I have been doing a research paper on journalism. Therefore I do have some background knowledge on this topic of journalism.
As we can see, Internet journalism is the new form of journalism and many are turning away from newspapers to go online for their dose of news. One website to emerge is politico.com
Politico is a website dedicated to cover the politics in USA. It has the latest updates on the changing political scene in USA. It also has views from various analysts who give their take on the situation itself. Politico also covered the presidential elections in 2008, so this website is a source for the people to go to check the credibility of each candidates.
While more are turning towards online, the importance of print journalism cannot be underlined. Print journalism is still one of the main avenues where people can get their information. What online journalism offers is that people can get their news instantly on the go which cannot be done by the newspapers. Furthermore, the credibility of citizen journalism, a form of online journalism cannot be fully determined as it is written by bloggers who have no journalistic skills.
As we can see, Internet journalism is the new form of journalism and many are turning away from newspapers to go online for their dose of news. One website to emerge is politico.com
Politico is a website dedicated to cover the politics in USA. It has the latest updates on the changing political scene in USA. It also has views from various analysts who give their take on the situation itself. Politico also covered the presidential elections in 2008, so this website is a source for the people to go to check the credibility of each candidates.
While more are turning towards online, the importance of print journalism cannot be underlined. Print journalism is still one of the main avenues where people can get their information. What online journalism offers is that people can get their news instantly on the go which cannot be done by the newspapers. Furthermore, the credibility of citizen journalism, a form of online journalism cannot be fully determined as it is written by bloggers who have no journalistic skills.
Getting Involved in politics
The PAP has ruled Singapore for a number of years. In recent elections the opposition party has gradually increased its standing in the elections by increasing its number of votes.
With the elections nearing, each and every party has been campaigning using various methods. With technology improving, most parties are using the power of social networking and online media to boost its reach. With a new batch of voters being the late 80s generation, this method of appealing to them is easier and it connects to them too.
More and more candidates are setting FaceBook pages or Twitter accounts so that their supporters can follow them and they can also update them on their current statuses. This brings the candidates closer to the people and the people can also understand what is the viewpoint of the candidate.
Currently one of the hottest and most talked candidate in town is 24 year old Nicole Seah who is the youngest candidate in the opposition party. She too has a FaceBook page.
http://www.facebook.com/nicoleseahnsp
She is going to contest in the Marine Parade GRC where another candidate, Tin Pei Lin, who also had widespread publicity in various forms. This looks interesting as two of the youngest candidates go head-to-head in this upcoming election.
With the elections nearing, each and every party has been campaigning using various methods. With technology improving, most parties are using the power of social networking and online media to boost its reach. With a new batch of voters being the late 80s generation, this method of appealing to them is easier and it connects to them too.
More and more candidates are setting FaceBook pages or Twitter accounts so that their supporters can follow them and they can also update them on their current statuses. This brings the candidates closer to the people and the people can also understand what is the viewpoint of the candidate.
Currently one of the hottest and most talked candidate in town is 24 year old Nicole Seah who is the youngest candidate in the opposition party. She too has a FaceBook page.
http://www.facebook.com/nicoleseahnsp
She is going to contest in the Marine Parade GRC where another candidate, Tin Pei Lin, who also had widespread publicity in various forms. This looks interesting as two of the youngest candidates go head-to-head in this upcoming election.
My video-making experience
I was always impressed when people could make their own videos about themselves. You could always see it at weddings where couples made videos about themselves or how people displayed their talents in music or tricks.
Microsoft came up with a software called Windows Movie Maker where people could make their own movies. However I was not satisfied with that. I found a video where one could actually make their 3D movie.
When I saw this video, I thought it was an awesome idea to be able to create a 3D movie on your own. However I lacked the tools and time to be able to try out this new way of making movies. I would definitely have tried if I had the time.
Microsoft came up with a software called Windows Movie Maker where people could make their own movies. However I was not satisfied with that. I found a video where one could actually make their 3D movie.
When I saw this video, I thought it was an awesome idea to be able to create a 3D movie on your own. However I lacked the tools and time to be able to try out this new way of making movies. I would definitely have tried if I had the time.
You are being phished!
Technology is improving at such a pace where the cons sometimes outweigh the pros. There are many threats online with hacking and viruses being the most common ones. However there is one threat which has gone under the radar, phishing.
Here is a video on what is phishing.
Phishing is an equally dangerous crime as to hacking and spreading viruses. It steals your important information and you may lose your money and many other secrets. Therefore it is important to note the danger of such threats, especially to the elderly who are not exposed to such crime. It is also important to not click on any links that look suspicious or asking you to provide any important information. It is always good to check before clicking on any links, otherwise we may regret it.
Here is a video on what is phishing.
Phishing is an equally dangerous crime as to hacking and spreading viruses. It steals your important information and you may lose your money and many other secrets. Therefore it is important to note the danger of such threats, especially to the elderly who are not exposed to such crime. It is also important to not click on any links that look suspicious or asking you to provide any important information. It is always good to check before clicking on any links, otherwise we may regret it.
Google and More Google
The rise of Google has been well-documented. Google is involved in every possible component online. It has its own video-sharing site in YouTube, a social networking site in Orkut and many more. One of its applications that I use often is the Google Translate. Sometimes when I visit some websites where there is no English version of it, Google Translate comes to help.
Besides being able to translate in words, Google Translate has this function where it can read out the translated words. Here is a video of two girls who made use of Google Translate to help them order Indian food by phone.
I think Google Translate is an awesome tool. It helps us understand other languages and their meanings. Currently I am not sure whether Google has an app for iPhone (I do not have one) where it can translate language instantly when someone speaks. It would be a brilliant idea if Google can produce such an app because it would help many understand other languages.
Besides being able to translate in words, Google Translate has this function where it can read out the translated words. Here is a video of two girls who made use of Google Translate to help them order Indian food by phone.
I think Google Translate is an awesome tool. It helps us understand other languages and their meanings. Currently I am not sure whether Google has an app for iPhone (I do not have one) where it can translate language instantly when someone speaks. It would be a brilliant idea if Google can produce such an app because it would help many understand other languages.
A new way to learn online
With the improvement of technology, we are no longer restricted to learning in the classrooms. More and more schools are adopting the form of e learning to enhance the teaching in schools. Not only does it make use of the Internet to save time on certain aspects of learning, it also incorporates multimedia to aid the students in their learning.
However, one question has to be asked. Is this e-learning really effective? How many students actually benefit from this e learning tool? The effectiveness of the e learning tool has always been questioned from time to time.
University of New South Wales (UNSW) has actually come up with a new way to learn online. Here is a video to show for it.
from this video, we can see this e learning tool is much more effective as it adapts to the learner's ability to understand the topic. As mentioned by many lecturers in the video, it is sometimes hard to express certain concepts across online. With this new learning tool, it is probably easier for the learner to follow his or her own pace and understand the concept effectively.
However, one question has to be asked. Is this e-learning really effective? How many students actually benefit from this e learning tool? The effectiveness of the e learning tool has always been questioned from time to time.
University of New South Wales (UNSW) has actually come up with a new way to learn online. Here is a video to show for it.
from this video, we can see this e learning tool is much more effective as it adapts to the learner's ability to understand the topic. As mentioned by many lecturers in the video, it is sometimes hard to express certain concepts across online. With this new learning tool, it is probably easier for the learner to follow his or her own pace and understand the concept effectively.
Setting up a business online
There has been many success stories regarding online businesses. Many people have had little capital but have managed reaped huge dividends using the online medium. Most of them certainly has an idea of what they were going to sell. Using media such as blogs, social networking sites, even personalized websites, they manage to appeal to the masses with their ideas and items.
Most of the time, creating such online stores is rather hard. You need to have the expertise to create the website. Sometimes, using social networking sites may be ineffective as people regard it as spam or some bogus page or account. Using blogs is also ineffective as there are huge competition out there too. Therefore creating an website of its own may be the best option.
To create a website from scratch is rather hard, fortunately there have been websites around to guide us along.
Here is a video showing some ways to set up a online store quickly and efficiently.
From this we can see that setting up an online store is not that hard after all. With a brilliant idea, we can set up our own store online and start making profits from it.
Most of the time, creating such online stores is rather hard. You need to have the expertise to create the website. Sometimes, using social networking sites may be ineffective as people regard it as spam or some bogus page or account. Using blogs is also ineffective as there are huge competition out there too. Therefore creating an website of its own may be the best option.
To create a website from scratch is rather hard, fortunately there have been websites around to guide us along.
Here is a video showing some ways to set up a online store quickly and efficiently.
From this we can see that setting up an online store is not that hard after all. With a brilliant idea, we can set up our own store online and start making profits from it.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Google's FaceBook
As we know FaceBook is the worldwide phenomenon that has been engulfing the Internet in recent years. More and more people are using this social networking site. This site has become so lucrative that many companies such as Microsoft and Google are offering astronomical money to take over this golden egg. However, the company founder, Mark Zuckerberg has resisted all attempts over a takeover bid. This has certainly been frustrating for companies like Google who are trying to have a share of the pie in almost every industry.
Therefore they have came up with a "FaceBook" under Google. They have named the website "Orkut". This website was set up in USA in 2004 by Orkut Büyükkökten under Google. Since it was set up in USA, when the site was first up, the largest base of users came from USA. As time progressed on the user community shifted to users in Brazil and India. As of April 2010, 48.0% of Orkut's users are from Brazil, followed by India with 39.2% and United States with 2.2%.
Here is a video on how to use Orkut.
Certainly Orkut is no match to the social networking phenomenon that is FaceBook. However it caters to the groups specially in Brazil and India. There has been a lot of issues in FaceBook recently like spam and viruses. While FaceBook is easily the most popular social networking site around, but is it time to turn to a new site?
Therefore they have came up with a "FaceBook" under Google. They have named the website "Orkut". This website was set up in USA in 2004 by Orkut Büyükkökten under Google. Since it was set up in USA, when the site was first up, the largest base of users came from USA. As time progressed on the user community shifted to users in Brazil and India. As of April 2010, 48.0% of Orkut's users are from Brazil, followed by India with 39.2% and United States with 2.2%.
Here is a video on how to use Orkut.
Certainly Orkut is no match to the social networking phenomenon that is FaceBook. However it caters to the groups specially in Brazil and India. There has been a lot of issues in FaceBook recently like spam and viruses. While FaceBook is easily the most popular social networking site around, but is it time to turn to a new site?
It is all about YOU
In the past, the only place where we can see our friends' videos is when they send the actual video to you. There is no avenue where the video could be published publicly for everybody. Then came along YouTube.
YouYube made video-sharing easy for everyone. With a simple click, you could upload the videos onto the Internet and share it with everyone else. It is hassle-free and costs next to nothing. Furthermore you could have others to comment about videos. In no time, you could be famous all over the world.
Hence more and more people are publishing videos of themselves online, especially on YouTube. More people are becoming famous because the videos of themselves are being shared online. For example Lim Yu-Chun who become world-wide famous because of his singing at a talent show. He has since been Taiwan's answer to Susan Boyle. Here is a video of his singing.
Therefore YouTube has become an avenue for people to publish their videos online. However YouTube has also become an avenue where people create videos and has developed into a series. For example, the 'Annoying Orange' series. The first video of the Orange's conversation with Apple hit over 50million views. Here is a video of the "Annoying Orange".
In recent years, more and more websites of the similar format to YouTube has sprouted up. I believe this trend will be on the rise, but I believe YouTube will still appeal to the masses, because its easy accessibility and definitely the success cases that has happened on YouTube.
YouYube made video-sharing easy for everyone. With a simple click, you could upload the videos onto the Internet and share it with everyone else. It is hassle-free and costs next to nothing. Furthermore you could have others to comment about videos. In no time, you could be famous all over the world.
Hence more and more people are publishing videos of themselves online, especially on YouTube. More people are becoming famous because the videos of themselves are being shared online. For example Lim Yu-Chun who become world-wide famous because of his singing at a talent show. He has since been Taiwan's answer to Susan Boyle. Here is a video of his singing.
Therefore YouTube has become an avenue for people to publish their videos online. However YouTube has also become an avenue where people create videos and has developed into a series. For example, the 'Annoying Orange' series. The first video of the Orange's conversation with Apple hit over 50million views. Here is a video of the "Annoying Orange".
In recent years, more and more websites of the similar format to YouTube has sprouted up. I believe this trend will be on the rise, but I believe YouTube will still appeal to the masses, because its easy accessibility and definitely the success cases that has happened on YouTube.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
How Times Have Changed
Twenty years ago it was pretty hard to imagine the speed of progress of our technology. No one foresaw we would be able to make purchases at home without leaving our homes, communicating with one another instantly and many other functions of the internet today. We certainly have come a long way from the pre-computer ages of the early 1990s.
However this evolution of the Internet does not stop here. We constantly come up with more and more brilliant ideas which we thought was impossible. When the Internet started up, the information was often one way, there was hardly interaction. That was Web 1.0. With the improvement of technology we have evolved into Web 2.0 and into what we call Web 3.0 today.
What is Web 3.0? To make things simpler, here is a video on what is the difference in Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 by Google CEO Eric Schmidt.
Certainly Web 3.0 is a vast upgrade of what we used to have. Internet becomes more and human-based and more interactive. With technology improving daily we certainly have much more room for improvement. Here is another video on how the future of the Web will probably be.
Personally I feel we definitely can improve on the technology we currently have. With the inventions such as XBox Kinect where games are played virtually, we certainly are moving towards Web 4.0, which I feel will be ourselves being on the Web virtually
However this evolution of the Internet does not stop here. We constantly come up with more and more brilliant ideas which we thought was impossible. When the Internet started up, the information was often one way, there was hardly interaction. That was Web 1.0. With the improvement of technology we have evolved into Web 2.0 and into what we call Web 3.0 today.
What is Web 3.0? To make things simpler, here is a video on what is the difference in Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 by Google CEO Eric Schmidt.
Certainly Web 3.0 is a vast upgrade of what we used to have. Internet becomes more and human-based and more interactive. With technology improving daily we certainly have much more room for improvement. Here is another video on how the future of the Web will probably be.
Personally I feel we definitely can improve on the technology we currently have. With the inventions such as XBox Kinect where games are played virtually, we certainly are moving towards Web 4.0, which I feel will be ourselves being on the Web virtually
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