things that don’t make sense…and some that do.

Future of the internet…expansion?

This is perhaps what to expect for the future of the internet, expand expand expand! Bigger and better is what we are always looking for, especially in terms of capacity of the web, so improvements to the web would definitely include this aspect among others. A smart, faster and more fun web would be something to look forward to in the near future and it is bound to change the face of the already ever evolutionary internet.

But what about the unexpected? Anything could emerge from all these changes…

Powerrr of the internet

If you did not believe in the power of the internet and technology,

let this video convince you.

The web is so evolutionary that it is impossible to predict what could happen in a decade. Whatever that we have learnt in school or on other jobs could become obsolete the moment changes occur and we never know when that would happen. They could be instantaneous or take months or years.

The internet has its hold over us.

And it seems quite ironic that we constantly try to keep abreast of technological innovations only to find ourselves ever more entwined in this web of pursuit, such that we become trapped in it. It is a scary thought…that we are inside this invisible web that we cannot get out of and that it will continue to be part of us and play a big role in the rest of our lives as we await the future.

Who’s in favor of the internet?

Wikipedia

Like some people, I was never a fan of the internet.

Sure, I like that it is easy and convenient to access a wealth of information and resources online, not to mention the interactivity it has with a multitude of tools available. I can stay connected with friends by using applications like windows messenger or surf the web or simply check out other new applications.

All of these have become highly integrated and interconnected with our lives such that we cannot escape their extensive reach. It becomes increasingly difficult to live without them and I find myself and others alike spending too much time with the computer.

Without the internet, we are like lost souls, as though something is missing or taken away from us. That I need to spend hours at a time almost daily on the computer does not gratify me. That more people are doing the same just means that society is increasing its reliance on the internet for multifaceted tasks. It feels as if we are being more like robots than humans nowadays, sitting at a desk before a computer screen most times.

Sometimes, I think that if this is how it is with the internet, then perhaps I would rather not have it and regress back to earlier times where things were simple and sweet. But……it’s just a thought.

Citizen journalism

The 1st outlines some of the more prominent videos posted by others that made waves.

The 2nd is an example of citizen journalism itself and the views of some professors on citizen journalism vs. traditional journalism.

In the 3rd, Richard Sambrook from the BBC explains different types of journalism briefly. Pretty fascinating since I never really thought of journalism belonging to different categories!

Politics on the internet: a sensitive issue

For the upcoming general elections, it is interesting to see how the various parties make use of the internet to garner more support and votes. Apparently, all if not most of the parties are using the internet one way or another, either by means of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, their own party websites or personal blogs.

Besides those, videos on YouTube uploaded by others are also helping to make or break the reputation of the various parties and their members. The inevitability of the internet becoming a significant stage for politics today is not surprising, as it is bound to be used by someone somewhere somehow and it can be both beneficial and detrimental to the parties involved.

In addition, people can keep track of election related updates on the Straits Times - http://www.straitstimes.com/GeneralElection/Home/Home.html, where they have dedicated a special section on it.

The nature of politics is one that is highly sensitive, coupled with the nature of the internet that is highly versatile, what could happen? Is this tantamount to disaster?

What virtual reality brings to us

Imagine moving without actually moving.

Yes you got that right! Imagine being able to control movement in a virtual world or controlling other items connected to your brainwaves to move with your mind. Wouldn’t that be mind-boggling?

That seems possible in the future according to the 1st video below.

Thinking of escaping reality and having a more surreal view with more distinct audio? Sure, just put on the goggles that you see in the next video and go miles away without actually taking a single step.

And finally, lose yourself in online games like Left 4 Dead.

Why Multimedia is cool

Animation, Wikipedia.

Multimedia on the Playstation 3 – everything you need and want to entertain yourself. Music, videos, movies, animation, online gaming… You name it and PS 3 has it all! All of the above would not be possible without multimedia though, which lets users jump into another world and enjoy themselves there. If you actually think about it, the difference that multimedia makes to our enjoyment of the various forms of entertainment is significant. Because without it, what would entertainment be?

Internet Security: The dangerous web!

Most of us are unaware of how dangerous the web actually is or if we are aware, not many of us have taken enough precautions.

The 1st video below explains how internet security is a key issue and relates it to everyday issues so that people can understand why internet security is important, take notice and be prompted to take the necessary steps to protect themselves from possible threats. The other video explains the differences between viruses, worms and trojans and how they function.

To anyone reading this, I strongly urge you to ensure that your anti-virus software is working properly if you don’t already have it installed on your computer. Updating it regularly is essential! Also, take note of any unusual activity of the various accounts that you may be logged into online.

Some of my friends have become unfortunate victims of hackers and the whole experience has not been pleasant for them. They have had their entire email accounts wiped out, their Facebook accounts manipulated and it was difficult for them to gain control of their accounts again. When I heard of the extent of damage done to them, I was both upset and worried for them. It also prompted me to check to ensure that my security software was functioning properly and up to date.

Though clichéd, but I guess “Prevention is always better than cure!”

The next most fun thing, Google Maps

The videos below demonstrate another side of the Google Maps application that most of us may not know about. RELAX AND ENJOY!

The video above might be useful for kids learning their alphabets and it is accompanied with a rap that, if you listen carefully, also uses words from A to Z!

So if you are really too bored and still can’t find anything to entertain you, you might want to give some of the Google tools a shot some time! You never know what you might discover!

E-Learning

Wikipedia

I remember coming across several articles that talk about the internet for learning while I was doing a paper on technology and communication. The articles showed how learning could take place even across cultural boundaries with internet usage.

One article described a study of how children learnt another language through interaction with students native to that language via the internet. It was especially beneficial for the students as they got to learn in a virtual environment that was stress free with other students as their teachers.

The results of the study showed that most students adapted well to this mode of learning and thoroughly enjoyed this different process. This suggests that the physical classroom might not even be needed in future since students can collaborate online.

Another article was about how a virtual simulation map of Tokyo could be created in real-time to increase understanding of the place to potential tourists and existing tourists alike. In addition, locals could also use it to navigate around areas which they are unfamiliar of.

Information about a particular place could be provided in real-time with a click of the mouse and both tourists and locals alike can benefit as they can use it not only for navigation purposes but also to find out about other things like the weather. It is rather similar to Google maps.

I think that the internet is indeed a highly useful tool for learning as we can search for anything and everything as and when we wish to. Whenever I am unsure of a term or where to have a meal, all I have to do is search on the internet. Be it the weather, games, music, videos, products, information, all of which are available to us at our fingertips! And this was not possible a century ago…

However, I believe that an over reliance on the internet is detrimental to us as we will not be motivated to think of answers ourselves and could also become addicted to it. Social problems like isolationism and the inability to interact with others could also develop:[