The Final Goodbye.

So this is it, the final blog post. After the long fall semester, it's safe to say we're coming to an end. I don't really know how to feel about it. But, like they say, all good things must come to an end. & this blog post, will mark the end of my COM125 adventure. 

I never thought COM125 would be this hard to bid goodbye to. I've actually grown attached to blogging every week religiously and well, I actually enjoy posting a lot about things. Ok, maybe not alot of things but mostly really awesome gifs (which by the way, is my fav thing to see on the internet because it is that addictive) and pictures and well, I really hope whatever I posted have benefited those of you who have been visiting my blog. Thank YOU.

If 125 taught me something, it'd be that internet is full of potential. I probably said this over and over again but I think it's true. I used to think Internet was already quite a huge success and there wasn't a need for new development. But I was wrong. We're only using 20% of what the internet can offer us. The other 80% is a hugeeeeee potential. They do have the potential to further develop to something greater. In fact, so much greater that we probably won't be imagining about it right now. Somewhere, somehow along the way, someone will come up with a new innovation. Soon everybody will start using it.......Soon it'll be ubiquitous. Soon, we are probably not going to be aware we are using it. Soon......will come soon enough. I hope.

(looking good eyyy)

I have thoroughly enjoyed the videos presented in this class and it helped me to think about coolest things about the internet which I never would have bothered to see. Especially loved the video on education in Second Life and not forgetting, the video about having Google Internship. Sure, it's sort of promoting their own brands but they do it successfully. If I ever have the chance to work in Google, even for just a short while, I'll be so happy! (But of course, with bigger benefits, the bigger the responsibilities) But well, Google really has made me have high expectations of my future working place. Though, in my opinion, nothing can really beat Google....for now. Who knows maybe there will be a new work environment that offers even better standard work life balance, better than Google? I'm definitely putting my heart/body/mind/soul to that company. (hahahaha)

I think the presentation in class also helped me to widen my horizon. Different people explored different perspective of the Internet. From different applications such as IG, to wearable technology,  to even porn on the internet. Very interesting take I must say. I am more aware of the things they presented and become more observant in my usage of the Internet.

This semester has been quite a roller coaster but I'm enjoying it. Thank you friends, Dr Choy & everyone else involved in this sem with me. 

This is goodbye, but I also know it's a new beginning.

For the last time, Thank you.

XO,

A.

Week 12: The future, and beyond.

What's the future of the internet?

So many ideas, innovations and things that I can't even think of at the top of my head right now. But the future of Internet can be seen in this music video. Here's an amazing song by Placebo and it focuses specifically on augmented reality.

This video also talks about social networking in my opinion. The lyrics are "I've got too many friends/Too many people that I'll never meet/And I'll never be there for/I'll never be there for/Cause I'll never be there" In social network, there are several friends you know but you do not meet. There are several friends you meet online where you had great connections, but you can't be there for them in real life.Just being virtually there isn't sufficient, there is a need to be physically there for someone. it's like....we can be alone in a crowded place.

I think that's what the song meant. hahahaha. 

In my opinion, social network will evolve. As it is, it is already ubiquitous. It will go beyond the usual status updates, photos and videos. In fact, the next time we're going to use social network, we're going to use it on wearable technology perhaps! Wearable technology is the hype now and in my opinion will still continue to be the hype in the future. You can access your social media while you're moving.

Maybe it's not just you accessing your social media, it could be for various things such as fitness or even using it for daily use. Sort of like an accessory, probably.

(this system tracks your health staus)

(this system measures UV exposure!)

(A watch?)

(put up your hand like you're talking and you can answer anytime and anywhere without actually holding the device!)

ORRRRR maybe it could insert microchips in our body and using our brain functions we can do...things. WAHHHH

In my opinion, there's still so many potentials of the internet. We just have to continue to look and we will discover sooooo many things about the internet and what it can do for us. (instead of what we can do for the internet! hahaha)

But for now, looking at Ironman and his extraordianry powers will do. (i really hope they will all come true!) (oooh, that rhymes)

Here's the evolution of ironman!

Internet is an evolution and will continue to evolve to reach...perfection?

Well, you sure are Mr Ironman.

Before I take my leave, i found a quote on the future of social media (as part of the internet)

"The future of social media is the loss of the distinction between media and social interaction online.  Mass media and social media will be seamlessly integrated across devices and platforms to offer relevant, dynamic, personalized experiences for people anywhere.  Discoverability and the import of editorial curation will not be lost, but rather inherently incorporated into the environments for richer and more customized experiences." -Dae Mellencamp, CEO of Vimeo


Till then,
A.

Week 11: Giants of the Internet.

In class, we discussed about Google, Microsoft and Apples, being the innovators of Internet. We then went through different financial status of these companies, and also other companies such as Blackberry (who lost a lot for the past years) and also Facebook. There are many giants of the internet now and it's no surprise, it's probably the one you're visiting daily ;)

Anyway, I found out that the companies, Google, Microsoft and Apple were actually involved a controversy!!!!

More specifically, it was the NSA Prism Controversy.

What exactly is this NSA Prism Controversy? Ok, before moving on, NSA is the communications monitoring agency in the US. Although it has been in existence for about 20 years, it was only recently publicly known. It was tasked to monitor foreign communications BUT there are several accusations that the NSA was also involved on domestic communications as well.

The PRISM program is a US goverment Surveillance program for collecting internet data. It is able to access a wide range of private online information and no surprises here but these data can come from the internet giants. US had allegedly spend a total of 20M$ USD each year to fund this program.

Earlier this year, Edward Snowden, a former employee of NSA leaked out about this program to the journalists at The Guardian and The Washington Post. It was the most significant leak in US history up to date. Here comes the interesting part. On a few of the information that he leaked, it shows how different tech companies signed up to the programme over a five year period. This meant that the US govt had direct access to the systems of major tech giants. This included Microsoft who signed in 2007 and Apple appears to have held out until October 2012. (Shubber, 2013)

(they know what you're searching for.)

However, all these allegations were denied by Google, Facebook and the other major tech giants. According to them, private data was and can only be given based on specific court orders relating to specific individuals which is within the US law.

So what happened to Edward Snowden? He is currently living in Russia under a temporary political asylum and considered a fugitive by American authorities. Some called him a hero, others a traitor.

What's your take on this my friends?

"Individuals have a civic responsibility to fight the suppression of info regarding matters of critical public importance. Telling the truth is not a crime." - Edward Snowden

Well, we sure hope the giants of the internet are telling the truth. We sure don't wanna our privacy being breached unknowingly...(or has it already been breached...hmmmmm)

Hope y'all learnt something for today's post!

Till then,

A.