Saturday, April 17, 2010

The Internet: A Great Tool...or a Dangerous Weapon?





Privacy. Does this word still exist? Does it hold just as much value and respect as it did 20years ago? 10 years ago? Or 5? Hell, what about 2? With the endless help of the Internet corporations people can find personal information on individuals. This means your boss can google your name, find your facebook page, and see pictures of you getting drunk and dancing on a stripper poll in Cancun, Mexico. And this goes beyond risky pictures, people can find addresses and phone numbers of whom ever they desire. So ladies that guy that you don't want to give your number to can easily obtain it through the Internet along with your address and all your last month purchases. Yikes! Although the Internet is identified as a great tool, it can also be used as a dangerous weapon.

This topic reminds me of the movie Mr. Brooks (awesome movie!). It told the story of a man that had an obession with killing people, played by Kevin Costner. The character went about stalking his victims by using what? You guess it...the Internet. By doing so he gathered enough information to determine when and where his prey would be, what they like, what they purchased, and most importantly where they lived. Soon after Mr. Brooks would kill his victims, take pictures of the scene, then move on to the next set of victims. Just imagine a real life Mr. Brooks walking down your street. I don't mean to scare anybody, but this is definitely a matter many need to consider. According to an article, Google states that "privacy is still alive" and they are doing everything to protect it. Well thanks google for being so considerate, but what about the websites that are found through "your" search engine people can go to find personal information about me? Those websites can not be blocked...or can they?

So of course I did what many of you would or have already done, I googled myself. What came up was all of the sites I am affiliated with, and off to the side of the search engine it read "want to know more about Cierra Mooney?". I clicked on the link and it took me to a page that display my name, my relatives, and if a fee is paid the site will disclose my address and other personal information.
Along with privacy we must also consider censorship. Three executives at Google were prosecuted in Italy for not taking down a YouTube video of a young autistic boy who was being physically abused by a couple of bullies. Two out of the three was convicted of privacy violation and the other was acquitted. Many believed Google should have taken the footage down as soon as they were aware of the video. Although they video helped people to identify the bullies, who were later convicted to Juvenal, it was still identified as an invasion of privacy. I believe this was a far trail. The executives at Google should be cosiderate of our privacy and censorship. One should not be expose to the world. Some should take the fall, why not the ones that out us there.





I believe we have to protect ourselves in cyberspace, we cannot depend on Google, Yahoo, or any other site to protect us. Some of the steps we can take is becoming more conscious what we put on our social networking site like Facebook. For instance i do not disclose my family members, address, or phone number on my page. Also i do not post any pictures that I would have to explain later. Plus whether we like it or not our boss CAN access our facebook page without our consistent. My dad is executive at a very known company and he has no problem accessing his employees blocked pages if he desired. Fortunately he respect privacy so he does not do that, but whose to say his fellow colleagues would. I've personally have spoken to an executive who admitted to viewing potential employee's pages. They said it gives them insight on their character and whether they seem reliable. I found that to be unfair and critical. Just because someone enjoys having a little obnoxious fun on the weekends does not mean they can't be a reliable employee.

As for the young generation that is growing up in the mitts of privacy and Internet, they may have different expectations. Due to the fact that they have not experienced pre-Internet privacy, they will be a accustom to the little privacy they will have. However, I do believe with the help of their guardian and/or mentor, they could be educated on possible necessary precautions that could be taken in order to not only protect but also value their own space.

The world was never a safe place, but with advance technology it is becoming even more dangerous. Some of you may feel as though this particular post is a bit harsh and pessimistic, but we need to always consider the disadvantages as well as the advantages of the Internet. Do not rely on Google or any other site to protect you. Take the necessary steps to secure your safety, identity, and privacy, because at the end of they day no one is responsible for well-being but you. Go forth and prosper with precaution. TO INFINITY AND BEYOOOOOND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Source:
SuperNews Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLoVtbKL1fk


Australian News Report: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lSkY4X3yNA

Thursday, April 15, 2010

OMG! Did Internet Just Kill T.V.?


I remember when I was a child. I use to visit my grandparents in my home town Racine Wisconsin. What i remember most was their television. A big box with no remote and only three channels...gawd! i love that T.V.lol. I'm sure most of you can relate to this story but lets fast forward twenty years later. Times have definitely changed. Instead of having a big hunky box for a television now you can have a sleek plasma flat screen; and instead of three channels to choose from, your selection has increase to 800. WOW! Now couch potatoes can indulge in the many flavors that T.V has to offer. Allot of this is possible due to the digital convergence of television and Internet. Major networks are teaming up with Internet sites in order for their viewers to enjoy popular shows off the web and on to their laptop or television screen. Not all major network are participating. HBO and other movie channel have decided not to participate. They believe their viewer should pay to see the final episode of the " Sopranos" or the first season of "True Blood." Besides the movie channels, other individuals believe the merger is not the best idea for the public. View the debate panel:


One may ask. "How can i get free Internet television in my home ?" Providers such as Playon, provides Internet content on your television. In other words Internet viewers can watch YouTube, Hulu, Amazon VOD, along with other related sites on their television screen. In order to access this technology one must have a Xbox, Wii, Playstation3, or another service supported box. With that one can have vast amount of viewing pleasure without having to pay $60 a month. Check out this commercial from the new HULU, an Internet television company.


This will definitely change they way we watch TV. Now we have the luxury of choosing what we watch and when. Viewers will no longer have to wait for their favorite shows to come on at their regularly schedule time, and forget about paying a monthly bill, it's free and legal. So I guess you can say viewers are taking control of what they watch and when without the help of TV stations such as CBS, NBC, or even FOX. Well it just so happens that some of these major cable networks have partnered with Internet sites, offering shows such as Lost, Ugly Betty, NipTuck, Family Guy, and so on to Internet television viewers. These cable networks are beginning to recognize the importance and advantage of the Internet, and they want in. So how much control are they really losing when it comes to supplying their shows over the Internet? Not much I say. Although the viewer is picking and choosing when and how they watch these shows, the shows are still governed by the networks. These big wigs is the hand that feeds us. Now if we consider sites like YouTube, which provides major TV shows but also independent content produced by individuals that are not affiliated with major networks, then that hand that was feeding is no longer the TV networks but our own. Sites like these can give opportunities of exposure to independent film makers, producer, writers, and so forth to an even wider audience. In other words one can watch a music video from creative commons Josh Woodward on their television or a Greenovation TV show without it being distributed by a major TV network. Therefore the control that CBS, NBC, and FOX once had would not exist because viewers can watch content for the people and by the people. In this case control will no longer exist for these networks.
Overall I believe Internet television can be very useful for those who are independently creating their own content with out the help of distributor. As many are doing now, one can broadcast their own political opinions through film, or one could expose harsh combat across seas on their camera phone for it to be displayed on 48 inch flat screen. Under these circumstances, Internet television is a very useful too. Yet on the other hand, I rather pay for my cable than use a program like HULU. Yea its convenient and free, but we must also consider advertising. Marketing firms rely off of paid networks to sell their client's products and services. Without commercials, company can not sell, if they don't sell they don't make money, and if they don't make money, people loose their job. Therefore people should continue to be mindful of the possible outcomes. When products and services becomes easier and cheaper, someone becomes unemployed because they are no longer needed. Everything has a cost and at the end of it all...we are all paying for it one way or another. As you go forth continue to maintain prosperity for all men. TO INFINITY & BEYOOOOOOOND!!!!!!!!!!


Source:
Homeless TV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDKQVoVlo7k

T.V. vs Internet Debat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJOFJWoR8wg

Hulu Commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CMWkesiVD4

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Newspapers v.s. Internet: a Fight to the Death

Oh No!!! What will the world do with out newspapers...what about the loons?!



Growing up my parents encouraged me to read the newspaper. They believed it would expand my vocabulary and allow me to be more socially aware. Now with the emergence of the Internet, people no longer have to pay a $1.50 to read the current events, they can log online and read for free. I wonder if the young people today will gain the same social awareness and advance vocab that I gained form printed newspapers.
The argument we face today is as newspapers decline, Internet journalism increases; it that a good or bad thing?
This can be argued from both sides, with advance technology and digital convergence, Internet journalism seems practical. Today people don't have time to sit at the kitchen table every morning and read the newspaper. People are always on the move, they need it quick and convenient. One of the advantages that Internet journalism has is instant notification. When an event occurs it is quickly upload on the web. One does not have to wait the day after an occurrence before he/she is informed. The Internet supplies instant gratification to its readers. In addition, individuals have the opportunity to became journalist themselves without the hard labor of school or the stress of a bossy editor breathing down your neck. The Internet gives readers infinite sources that supply information on current events...and it's free. No subscription required.

With the easy access to facebook, twitter, self-building website, and of course...blogs, people are easily informed on issue that may or may not reach newspapers or television. People now have the tool (Internet) and ability to create their own news website, voicing their own opinion and allowing others to comment on the stories they chose to talk about. This is referred to as Citizen Journalism. And as i set here and criticize this new wave, I too have taken a dive. Besides this one, I have another blog. On my blog I highlight and discuss situations and events that interest me and i allow people to comment on their feelings as well. Overall, my purpose is to inform others of what I feel is important to ME in society. I am no different than a high paid journalist from New York Time, except I'm not highly paid and i don't work for a legitimate magazine. Yet I am responsible for articles I have researched and written and I have loyal followers/ readers who rely on me to inform them about news that interest them....just like a high paid journalist from New York time. Everything they do I can do to, just on a smaller scale, that has the potential to be a big scale. In addition, Internet journalism can relate to the Long tail effect and creative commons, because this is another way citizen can share information among other fellow citizens that the t.v and newspapers will not disclose. On my blog I cover artist, fashion, and art that is not discuss by mainstream media, and for that reason I have people who follow me because they are interested in non-mainstream media content.

On the contrary, the Internet is robbing readers of detailed information. Although newspaper articles have to go through a process before its published to the public, the public is guaranteed a more secure, accurate, and elaborate description of events. Following the news on the Internet runs the risk of misleading information. And with more people engaging in the reporter's aspect on the Internet, there is a less likely chance individuals would be penalized for the mishaps. With newspapers, journalist are held accountable for their articles, and for that reason, what they put out there for the public to read is taken very seriously.
As I said before, the Internet is becoming this increasingly used tool, and it seems as though journalism isn't going anywhere. With in the next ten years readers are going to be informed electronically. Paper itself will no longer be a useful source (maybe we'll save more trees). Although people will continue to be notified and informed on current events, the lack of quality will rise. As of now newspaper companies are shutting down and many Internet news companies are opening up. In some cities, right next door to each other. Check out this video for example.






Human culture is changing day by day. In 1661 the first newspaper was published and the world was introduced to a form of communications media. Now people are given multiple outlets and opportunities to obtain information. Newspaper journalist use to embodied a certain level of power. Although they were the voice of the people, they too expressed there point of views on different events, creating propaganda. Now they are losing that sense of control because many of their readers took it upon themselves to create and developer their own news source. Either way it's not about how the news is given, its about they way we receive it, digest it, and apply it to our everyday lives. News shape our thoughts; consciously and sub-consciously so whoever is doing the typing, know you are shaping people's thought and point views. As you go forth and prosper consider who you impact along the way. TOOOOO INFINITY & BEYOOOOND!!!!!!!!!!!!


Sources:
Newspapers and loons: TheOnion.com; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFFGW8DLBrw

Superman cartoon: http://www.coneinc.com/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/2092/view_type/950050/findby/cone

Newsy Exclusive: Newydotcom; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuGRGqHYTj0