The End of Future of Internet

I have shared about the future of Internet in the first post. I talked about how the different possible scenarios that the Internet would transform to be.
In this post, I will discuss about the factors that affects the future of Internet. The telling of what can contributes to the downfall of the future of Internet and how future internet may look like.

Hindering the future of Internet (THE DOWNFALL)

1. Governments are stating their power and authority
   They have the power and ability to shut down Internet as they want or even decides what their citizens can gain access to.
   
   EXAMPLE: Issues surrounding blackberry in India
   
   

2. Big corporations and network owners are having more authority in setting boundaries
They play a huge role in deciding which countries can have connections or not have connections.

So,

Censorship is the result of all powers

Will it create more problems? Does it come in conflict with the cornerstone of Internet? Does countries have the rights to do it? Is it creating a information gap, depriving people of what they should have and human rights?

Here's a tour on international censorship!! (This is a must watch.)




The INNOVATIVE road to success

1. Your Voice: Using voice to surf
It is possible that in future we could use voice to surf. Speech recognition had been used in many other technologies. So in the next 10 years, we should not be surprised to be able to surf with other voice!

2. Surfing on any kind of device
With interface, anything is possible. The only downside is that it will be expensive.

3. Mobile Networking: Networking on the goal.
We could chat with friends on the go now, but how about interacting with the advertisement or even multi0user interaction!




Net Neutrality. Everyone should have the SAME access to internet.
No RESTRICTIONS.

Imagine if this does not happen.




And you will understand that

no matter how fanciful the future of Internet can get, we have to work towards Net Neutrality.

It's about Anything

So we can write about anything this week. I decided that I'm going to share some websites that I often go to which I, personally think is interesting and some of them are examples of some materials cover in class.

Here is my top 5.

5. Music: http://the-music-journal.blogspot.com/

This is a music blog which introduces indie music as well as promote new artists. The site is maintained by 2 blogger who through blogging had gained certain degree of fame in the indie music scene (no RSS though). What they offer on the site:

• Opinions on new acts, reviews,etc
• Sample clips
• Links to other sites that you maybe interested in

4. Photography: http://www.myglasseye.net/

Amazing photos

You can purchase if you want, just simply contact the photographer, Owen Billcliffe, who is based in London. RSS, Twitter and Facebook can be found on the site which makes it very easy to get updates.

On the site, you can also find his collection of photos which are taken by his iphone and using a popular app called: Instagram.

3. Whatever you want: http://gawker.com/

It provides any news that you want. It covers everything and after the revamp, it is more interactive which is a shift away from the traditional blogging. You can access to any stories that you want and comment as long as you have a Twitter or Facebook account.

The motto is actually: Today's gossip is Tomorrow's news.

Readers can also tip the editors through email or a tipline. This is site is definitely an essential.

2.The Art of Non-conformity: http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/

It is a blog maintained by this guy called Chris Guillebeau. He blogs about his journey around the world. He planned to visit every country in 5 years. As of 2011, he is left with two years to complete his journey.

The blog is rather inspiring as he discusses about country that he traveled to and talks about how to change the world. His website also provided ways and links in which readers can contribute and change the world.

Interesting read especially you do not get to travel to inaccessible countries.

1.Top 10 lists: http://listverse.com/

It updates with various top 10 lists of almost everything on Earth. Very interesting website.

Often you might come across interesting facts that you do not know.

To me, this is the best and essential site.
There are many categories that you can choose from depending on your interests. Overall, the site might actually make you more knowledgeable.
RSS, Twitter, Facebook, ect... everything is on this amazing website!

Citizen Journalism

Birth of a new genre in journalism: Citizen journalism

Citizen journalism is taking off when the rise of the Internet. This post will discuss more about citizen journalism- CNN iReport as compared to Al Jazeera's Your Media

CNN iReport


What is it about?

• A platform which allows anyone from around the world to share news or post pictures, which is solely reader generated content.
• Started on 2 August 2006
• Once they submit the stories, it will be vet through and determined if they should be used
• No ireporters are paid for their stories or photos even though they do hold the copyrights

Problem/ Controversy?

• AN incident when one ireporter reported the a false story on Steve Job's health, which then led to Apple's stocks temporarily drop

Al Jazeera's Your Media

What is it?

• It is also citizen journalism efforts where you can submit photos or stories and selected ones will be featured in the website or on the news station
• Uses this software called: Ushahidi, to collect information

The MAIN difference

• Al Jazeera's Your Media website is hard to access. You will need to sign up for it before viewing any content. WHILE for CNN iReport, you can access any content and you only need to sign up only if you want to contribute.
  

This video explains why we need citizen journalism. This is a MUST WATCH.




References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Jazeera
http://yourviews.aljazeera.net/
http://ireport.cnn.com/

Creating politics with Internet

2008 White House Election changed the face of politics in United States. We see the rise of Internet campaigning, made famous by President of United States of America Barack Obama. This area has been covered by most newspapers around the world. During the election, we constantly see the fight between Obama and his competition through the use of Internet in campaign. It is noted that he had used the internet to reach his audience. Most importantly, the use of Internet closes the gap between him and all the citizens of United States.

In this post, we discover what they Internet can do to change the face of a country.

Successful Political Change With Internet

The influence of Internet in politics is undeniable. Take for example the uprising of Egypt. Below are the flow of events.

• Failing countries under the rule of Hosni Mubarak
• Demonstrations inspired by calls on social media websites and happenings in Tunisia
  
• Revolutions: Protests and call for democracy
  
• Shutting down of internet: shows the power!
  

Role of internet in politics: This revolt came after call for democracy in Tunisia. It is the power of internet that made known to the Egyptians that they can have the power to change their country for the better. Their knowledge of the outside world is through internet. It is from they that they understand that deserve better. This is the power of internet in politics.

Results: Influenced demonstrations in other Arab countries like Bahrain, Jordan and Libya




Unsuccessful Political Change with internet

Back in 2009, when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won the presidential election, the country broke out in protest against his victory. Soon after that, he cracked down on protesters and international news media. However, this did not stop the news of protest spreading saround the world. The role of internet became a messenger. All over twitter, facebook and other social networking sites were reports by Iranians. They uploaded all that they could get onto the Internet, trying to help the world understand what is happening in their country.

As the stories in Iran went international, it did not achieve any political change in Iran. Ahmadinejad is still the president till this day.

Traditional media turns to Internet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3vHYNVY8bg

The Glass Industry: Vision with Multimedia

The glass industry is a very competitive one. And now, with technologies, glass is part of the future. So companies must have an edge over one another. Using multimedia, the below 3 companies tries to win over their potential customers with their vision and they can offer. Their marketing communication is different as the difference among the 3 videos shows the direction that the company is heading towards (beneficial for clientele). The videos shows their vision of glass technology. All videos show the future: MADE IN GLASS.

1. Corning Incorporated



In their vision, they can transform everyday life with glass. Physical items are gone and replaced. It seems that everyday life is made easy. Very futuristic.

2. Saint- Gobain SA



A pity that the video is in french. But it is understandable by just looking at the videos. It is not as futuristic as the video by Corning. It simply showed the possible replaceable things in our life now.

3. Schott AG



This company's video is similar to the one by Saint- Gobain SA. We can see that the video is not as futuristic as certain things are happening now or could happen in the near future.

COMPARING

It is clear that all the 3 videos clearly showed what the company is capable of. They showed their expertise and what they can offer to their consumers. However, there are definitely major differences between these companies.

Target Audience.
We can see that Corning's target audience could be you and me and certain industries. As we can see from the video that it's focus is on the everyday life of a family. From the household to the life of each family members, the company managed to show the possible aspect of replacing everything with glass for convenience of day to day activities.

For Saint- Gobain and Schott AG, they go beyond the household and displays what they can offer to the the various industry such as engineering and biomedical. Huge part of the videos are seen showing the possible contribution in various industries, this implied that their target audience are the industry players. The videos are also more realistic as I believe that some of the possible technologies are slowing making their way into those industries and all of the scenarios can happen with next 50 years or so.

My personal favorite video is the one by Corning. It clearly shows their vision and not just following the trend. Of course, for marketing communicating, Saint- Gobain and Schott AG are more possible to be successful in reaching those possible clientele. Depending on what potential customers wants, these 3 companies definitely have an edge by using multimedia in their marketing communication, clearly showing their vision and the services they provide.

And to end off, below is a short commercial on WHY GLASS.

Zooming on Symantec: Computer Security Concerns You and Me

What is Symantec?

• Protecting against cyber risk is the first priority!
• Creating solutions to virus, worms, cyber crimes,etc
• Informing people of the danger of the cyberworld

Symantec came out with a series of software where consumers can use to protect themselves. From class, we know that we are very vulnerable to these cybercrimes, risks, virus or worms. With companies like Symantec, with extensive research and expertise in internet security, it has became one of the successful companies in the industry with leading products.

This page provides a VERY detailed pages of all the potential dangers of the cyberworld, helping us to understand more about each type of risk that we are exposed to. It is definitely a page worth the time to read!
http://us.norton.com/security_response/secureemail.jsp

A testimonial.

I'm not promoting for but just mentioning my experience with virus and worms. When I was in my first semester in UB, during com101 project, we downloaded videos to be showed during presentation. The next day, I found out that some weird virus had attacked the laptop and all the files kept on duplicating itself. Only then did I realize the threat of virus and worms. No choice, I had to reformat my laptop which caused me to lose everything all software. The moral of the story is that the risk is HUGE even what you downloaded was something so insignificance!

Ever since there, I was paranoid. I installed Norton360 (and also versions from UBIT!) in all my computers to prevent something similar happening again. I guess, it is really important to have protection on your computer to not only ward against virus and worms, they educate you on cybercrimes which you and I may fall prey to.

This article below should serve as a kindly reminder to be careful in whatever we click on the internet. We should be aware of our actions and behaviors while on the internet. This is concerning most of as with the rise of everything E. From e-banking to online shopping, we put ourselves in danger every time we engage in such activities.

http://community.norton.com/t5/Ask-Marian/Romanian-Cybercrime-Rings-Busted-Massive-Coordinated/ba-p/219810

PICASA

I only started the use of PICASA 3 slightly a year back. I used to store all my pictures in a hard drive or burn them into a disc. I realized that that is too cumbersome. So, I tried out PICASA. So below, are my opinions.

What does it do for you (BASIC)?

• Organize your pictures
  
• Store them in your online Google account (share it on the web!)
  
• Edit, create montage, etc

BAD side

• Take a LONG time to upload the photos
• Payment needed if you exceed the limit
  

GOOD!

• Free download
  
• Add caption
• Name tag: Face Recognition
• MAC compatible
  
• Geotagging: Shows the location of the photo taken

Here a video introducing PICASA!


Basically, PICASA is really is easy to use and rather idiot proof. As long as you understand most of the basics. If not, there are many other available videos on Youtube to teach you about it.
NEXT

Creating a video. This video is made using PICASA.It took me around 45mins to create it, so you guess that it was rather simple. You can add caption and songs to it. Enjoy!

Digital Everything

I remembered that when I was in Junior College, digital media were used in our classrooms and around us all the time. I was in this CCA called: New Media Arts, which helped us to learn more effective through the use of digital media. There were courses that we could take in our classes where we have to create videos and each video are done based on lessons in sequence. Then, our videos will be used to be taught as part of the course. In my CCA, we are taught to use various software where we could use the same technology and digitalized our learning materials and aid us in learning effectively.
www.adobe-eduapac.com/issue15/pdf.pdf

I think it is really important to have a well-designed digital media experience for effective learning.

Here are some ways that we can enhance the learning experience:

• Make use of technology around us : Gadgets, such as ipad, which appeals to us can provide innovative learning opportunities. Attraction and interest can boost our learning.

• Interactive learning: Powerful channel of 3D animation videos to explain concepts- We can't bring concepts such as formation of volcano, so creating it can help students understand better and allow students to see thing differently than just words

• Incorporate learning in student's world: The virtual world appeals attracts the most students than boring books. Second life in Innova Junior College in Singapore.
  

Ideas such as digital whiteboard is possible with the developments such as Microsoft Surface Technology. Such technology is common but using it to teach is not an easy task. No doubt that it does make lessons interesting and enhance learning, but the call for an effective teacher is important as well. No point in having technologies in classroom but the absences of teachers who are will to venture and create and design lesson that work well with the technologies. It's like simply calling e-learning, reading notes online.

Another idea that could be used in the classroom could be the audience response systems where students can response to the teacher instantly and data could be collected to evaluate the understanding of the lesson. This could enhance learning and teachers could address the problem as soon as possible.


Here's a video to the future:

E-marketing is NOW!

Success in E-marketing plays a huge part in the success in business. It is important to have a good web design, web coding, pushing relevant visits as well as easy to navigate. To ensure the success of e-marketing, one must also take note of the rising trends around us. Below are 2 important factors that affects E-marketing.

1. Taking note of trends: Take for instance social networking sites.

• Fastest growing online marketing development- 13% a year
• Facebook, MySpace, Youtube,etc
• Online word of mouth networks can spread rapidly
• However, there is no control over what is said, regardless good or bad

2. Know your audience better

• Based in book by James Surowiecki: The Wisdom of crowds
• Is it that large groups make better decisions?
• We also need to rebrand in order to reach out to lost audiences and potential new audiences
  
  

With the rise and wide access to Internet, marketing has changed over the years. From marketing comes a new sub genre called, E-marketing. E marketing makes use of Internet to create awareness or advertise for products or services. It has been gaining popularity Internet Age and had changed how businesses work. Below are some examples methods of e marketing which is commonly seen.

• Affiliate Marketing: paying another website for new business opportunities it refers to the site ( eBay Affiliate's program)
• Search Engine Marketing/ Display Advertising: banner advertisements based on your behavioral data (DoubleClick)
• Blog Marketing : advertising on blogs, especially popular ones (Technorati links the advertisers to the blogs
• Email Advertising: Most people considered it spam, it requires mailing list

Email marketing is one of the methods where it affects people the most. This method is cost-friendly and it reaches a large group of potential customers. Instead of the conventional way of advertising through direct mail, email marketing is not really welcomed by people. Majority doesn't even read those adverts and just simply refer it as spam. Here's a story from TIME which tells of excessive spam: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1005018-1,00.html

Other resources:

http://www.emarketingmatador.com/the-4-pillars-of-internet-marketing-success

CouchSurfing: Travelers' Networking Site

Couchsurfing (http://www.couchsurfing.org) is a social networking platform where travelers and the locals of the community that they visit socialize. Membership is free but you are welcome to make donations to CS to maintain its survival. The main function of this website is to provide travelers with potential hosts in foreign countries and traveling info or any tips. The members provide most of the information (Web2.0) on the web through forums and testimonials. Members can decide if they are interested in hosting or meet up, which allow them to socialize with people from all over the world. The survival of this site is based on the donation made by members when they verify their addresses.

Main Concern: Security
Members will have to verify their address by doing it online (optional but lack of credibility if you don't) and make a little donation, which is how the company profits. At the end of the process, a postcard will be received and you will have to verify your address. However, not everyone might be comfortable to provide his or her address online. Other than that, there are not many concerns except for the character and reliability of members, which is impossible to judge given the existence of anonymity in cyberspace.

What can CS do for you?

• Find ways to surf or host
• Inform you of social events that are nearby
• Allow you to find people whom has the same interests as you
• Provide you with opportunities to meet new people, broaden your social network beyond your home country
• No more socializing through a computer screen
  

It is not as sophisticated as what Facebook offers but still, basics are there, targeting a specific group of people. Those basic functions are good enough to facilitate any arrangements between the hosts and the travelers as well as information that any traveler would need to ensure their safety or enhance their traveling experience.


Overall, it is a rather useful website as it allows people from all around the world to meet and give a whole new experience to travelers as well as the locals. It helps to make people feel home as they travel and see the different countries from the perspective of a local rather than a tourist. It is definitely a whole new experience where you actually meet people and socialize face to face, which is not what many sites can offer.

Social Media Empowers Us

In my opinion, social media is one that allows 2-way communication. It has the ability to empower individual. There is no prerequisite needed in order for one to be involved in the social media web community. Anyone, regardless of their education qualifications, financial status or networking, can be part of the community where their participation is valued.

As the Internet becomes more accessible, it allows the development of freedom of speech, where individuals are able to leave a free expression of their own in the cyber world. Such platforms or social media websites are popular and there are plenty of them in the cyber world catering to the varying needs and expectations of individuals. We may even find ourselves frequent users of the websites!

With social media, we find ourselves expressing, communicating and learning more as we get more involved in the social media sphere. Hence, it makes everyone that participates in the social media sphere relevant and influential. In 2006, Time’s Magazine Person of the Year turns out to be ‘YOU’. (See the article: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1569514,00.html) This was when social media was on its way to the peak. The social media sphere is made up of us. We are the contributors, responders and the on lookers that form the fundamentals of social media. We are empowered by social media for we know we are the ones who have developed the culture of social media, where participation is what counts as.

Here’s a few websites that became so successful because of us:

•Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/
o Socializing: Groups, comments, discussion

•YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/
o They make people popular in their own right
o User generated content

•Wikis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki
o We add articles, create the content and hold the power to edit the content as and when we want
Therefore, it is indeed true that social media is empowering us! We are moving towards a culture where free expression is very much sought after. For starters, it might be impossible in Singapore but there are definitely platforms in Cyberspace that allows that!

Internet Society

In Friday’s class, the Internet Society or ISOC was briefly mentioned in class. So, I thought I would find out more and share it here. From the class I learned that the ISOC provides Internet related standards, enabling more sharing around the world. However after checking up, I realized that there is more.

The ISOC is a nonprofit organization, which began in 1992, providing leadership to Internet related issues such as standards, education and policies. The organization’s main aim to allow make sure that Internet is accessible to everyone and does benefit everyone in the world. By putting in place standards and policies, they can ensure that the Internet is continuously progressing.

While browsing through their website (http://www.isoc.org/), I chance upon some videos and literature regarding the future of the Internet. According to the website, they have came up with 4 possible scenarios of the future of the Internet in the next 10 years.

4 scenarios (The Videos: http://www.isoc.org/tools/blogs/scenarios/)

1. Common Pool Scenario: Internet continues to be built on open technologies and processes, fostering permission-less innovation, economic growth, and social development. This future also means that more and more technology becoming open, and more and more services integrating user-generated content. This is one of the most possible one in my opinion as part of it can be seen in the technology of ipad.

2. Boutique Networks Scenario: Tells us about the Internet dying, taken over by government. Connection would not be as easy as before.

3. Moats and Drawbridges Scenario: The Internet is fractioned, controlled by those who have power over us. Profits precede freedom of speech.

4. Porous Garden Scenario: The Internet still is a globally connected network; however, large corporations still control the Internet. Technologies are closed and exclusive, creating greater barriers of entry.

Technologies and services are growing at such a rapid speed that it is almost unthinkable when we first started the millennium. Nobody knows what will happen to the Internet 10 years from now. Given the past record, anything could happen, good or bad, the future of the Internet is definitely worth given a thought.