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Social Networking: Tweeter Novels
@ 7:03 PM
I bet everyone knows what are social networking sites, like Facebook, Friendster, MySpace, Hi5 etc..
and yes micro-blogging.. TWEETER!  Something interesting caught my eye. And that's the trend of Tweeter Novels. Tagline: A slice of life (a slice everyday) Similar to the Japanese Handphone novels/fiction(keitai shousetus). Tweeter novellers update their tweeter novel with a sentence(since Tweeter character limit is 160) every day. I find that pretty interesting, sort of like adding a little bit of something everyday and finally something BIG is created. Plus it is pretty convenient since Tweeter apps can be downloaded and updates can be done ANYWHERE,ANYTIME!   Check out Slice - A novel put out by Penguin Books was the story of a girl and her parents and was delivered by serialized LiveJournal and Twitter postings. Here are some Twitter Novel Tips: 1. Throw Out The Manuscript Twitter is instantaneous. Serializing a manuscript may be easy, but trying to contract and make logical sense of it in 140 character bursts is not. By doing this, you limit the flexibility that Twitter grants in presenting your fiction. Start fresh. 2. Have A Plan Although there’s no need for a manuscript, you should know where the story is going. I found writing a scene for a play to be more helpful than translating a manuscript for Twitter. The formatting for a scene provides more freedom to work within the spaces you’ve created and allow the story to grow organically. Don’t hesitate to explore. 3. Manage The Clock What’s great about a Twitter novel is that your content is no longer static. Depending on how committed you are, you could have events happen in real time using services like Tweetlater. 4. Not Just Story. Events If a character is mugged at 6am, you could post a police announcement on the Twitter novel looking for the perpetrator. What are the characters listening to on the radio? Is someone calling them that’s important to the story? Use Twitpic to show a photo of one of your friends or an actor to show the reader who is calling or what the mugger looks like. The post doesn’t have to be from your outline, it could be something within the environment that adds to the story. 5. Don’t Bury The Lead More than five Twitter posts on any given day can be dangerous. You’ll induce reader fatigue, and new readers will get lost quickly. There’s an assumption that many of your Twitter followers will enjoy your work while on the go, so their time to take in a novel may be limited to short bursts. Focus on each post’s quality and … 6. Move It Forward Simply put: Each tweet should move the story forward in some way. If it doesn’t, cut it. 7. Newbies And Greenhorns Finally, you may have readers follow you after the novel has started. I recommend setting up a simple website that contains the story’s updates from where it began. Include this link on your Twitter page. Occasionally remind readers on days that you do not update that they can catch up at this website. Many Japanese Handphone/mobile novels(keitai shousetus) have been published and some even made into films. What do you think of your tweeter novel being on the big screens? Or if you are a writer (novels, scripts..) just tweet and see how people react or feedback on your work. After all tweeter is FREE! and I definitely think it is a great way to get comments and get ideas from other readers. hmm or if you are a budding writer, start tweeting! You never know when you get talent scouted! :) I am off to start my very own Tweet Novel.
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E-Journalism
Friday, March 26, 2010 @ 10:40 PM
E-Journalism.
The internet have empowered us common folk like you and me the power of voice. We are being heard. Also it gives us more opinions and perspective from different angles. Mr Brown is well known for his social and political commentary of Singapore. His podcast attracts 20,000 downloads per day! His witty interpretation of current affairs is commendable and yes it's funny too! Personally, I feel his take of local news is much more attractive than reading through the actual papers :X Because of his podcast, it does spark some interest for me to actually research and read up more about the issue. "Does Singapore have the politics of fear? Are voters afraid to vote who they really want?" However, whatever we say and write.. there are consequences. "On 30 June 2006, mrbrown wrote an article, titled "S'poreans are fed, up with progress!", for his weekly opinion column in Today newspaper concerning the rising costs of living in Singapore. [3] Three days later, on 3 July, an official from the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA) published a reply in the same newspaper calling mrbrown a "partisan player" whose views "distort the truth". [4] On July 6, the newspaper suspended his column.[5] Mr Miyagi subsequently resigned from his column. Later, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong responded to the unhappiness that resulted from MICA's handling of the incident. He stated that "mrbrown had hit out wildly at the Government and in a very mocking tone", and that the government had to respond to such criticisms lest they be taken by the public as true. He also stated that national issues should not be debated in such a fashion (referring to mrbrown's article). PM Lee maintained that Singapore was an open society.[6]" We see how influential e-journalists (like MrBrown) can be, and the government acknowledges that too as seen by the government's attention towards this matter. In April 2005, a blogger, Chen Jiahao, then a graduate student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, was made to apologise and shut down his blog containing criticisms on government agency A*STAR, after its Chairman Philip Yeo threatened to sue for defamation. In September 2005, 3 people were arrested and charged under the Sedition Act for posting racist comments on the Internet. Two were sentenced to imprisonment.[30] Later, the Teachers' Union announced that it is offering legal assistance to teachers who want to take legal action against students who defame them on their blogs, after five students from Saint Andrew's Junior College were suspended for three days for allegedly "flaming" two teachers and a vice-principal on their blogs. So yes we are given that voice; however it is important to be responsible. And of course one of the most important thing is being a PEOPLE JOURNALIST, accountable to the public. hmmm, personally yes i agree perhaps some stuff might be factual; however, whatever content is posted up on the Internet one must be read to be held accountable for it. Be it good or bad consequences. So if one isnt ready to bear the consequence... simply dont post it up. Despite the advantages of faster information, more perspectives and voice from the public, it is vital that readers evaluate the materials read too and not be blinded by the many opinions.
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Politics
@ 10:32 PM
We all know about how the Internet plays a huge role in the USA 2008 Elections. But why? How come? How different is the internet from traditional forms of campaigning? Traditional: -Get funding from some rich bloke or find sponsors. 21st Century Style: -However..80% of Obama's funds came from online, rising money at a faster pace then before Traditional: -Newspapers, Television, Radio. Yes, they do reach people.. but... 21st Century Style: -Obama through the internet got people INVOLVED..2-3million people are partially or fully engaged online. Mass-involvement, create events, use the application online -And Obama went where the masses are, online! Increasingly people are choosing the internet as compared to traditional forms of media. For instance youtube, it serves "well over a billion views a day". -Meaning At least 11.574 views PER SECOND and 694,444 views PER MINUTE! and 41,666,667 views PER HOUR. (http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/2009/10/y000000000utube.html). -In addition, online viewing/internet is eroding the culture of watching shows from the television and reading the papers (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6168950.stm). -Hype was created through youtube videos, gaining him much viewership and subscribers and supporters! - Here are some examples: How about Singapore? We have "REACH Singapore"- An acronym for “Reaching Everyone for Active Citizenry@ Home”, the agency was set up on October 2006 in an effort to go beyond gathering public feedback to engage and connect with citizens. According to Amy Khor, Member of Parliament, Mayor of Singapore’s Southwest District and Chairman ofREACH, the agency decided to use Facebook as a means to “reach out and connect with the youth, including young professionals, who are active in this network”. It is their plan to engage younger Singaporeans by leveraging on platforms with high youth presence. Also, by using a virtual network that transcends international borders, REACH hopes to connect with overseas Singaporean to help them stay rooted to the country. Singapore’s other attempts at Web 2.0 Early 2007, the IDA procured a small island on Second Life. This purchase is in line with the 2006’s 10 year infocomm master plan called the “Intelligent Nation 2015”. To use Virtual Worlds technologies in realising the iN2015 vision of establishing Singapore as a digital media and entertainment (DME) capital, IDAembarked on a collaborative project with a local polytechnic to experiment hands-on experiential learning in these cyber worlds. I personally think we arent anywhere near our western counterparts and the internet can be further utilized in terms of politics and gathering of citizens. 0 Comments: |
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Multimedia IPad
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 4:34 PM
Multimedia. What is multimedia? "Multimedia is media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. The term can be used as a noun (a medium with multiple content forms) or as an adjective describing a medium as having multiple content forms. The term is used in contrast to media which only use traditional forms of printed or hand-produced material. Multimedia includes a combination of text, audio, still images, animation, video, and interactivity content forms. Multimedia is usually recorded and played, displayed or accessed by information content processing devices, such as computerized and electronic devices, but can also be part of a live performance." Multimedia is not limited to usage in advertising, engineering, scientific research.. IT IS EVERYWHERE! and we use it everyday. Some high multimedia usage devices would be our cell phones and laptops. Multimedia devices has come a long way and I will be introducing to you something cool. It is none other than Apple's I-Pad. I feel that the philosophy behind the I-Pad is indeed revolutionizing or maybe it have already revolutionize how we see and use the internet us. Concurrently, the internet is constantly shaping how we use multimedia. Especially with the usage of internet growing exponentially(World Internet Usage Statistics), the impact is beyond our wildest thoughts. It is simply dynamic! Check this out.  "I don't have to change myself to fit the product. It fits me. " "It's completely natural.I don't even have to think about it. I just.. DO." That is the philosophy of IPad. and I feel that that is where the future of multimedia lies... Product customization. In addition, the I-Pad is able to download different Apps for practically everything. Be it shopping carts, checking product labels, music, games, maps, movie review. You name it, they got it! Everything is within a click. As of 20th March 2010, there are an estimate of 150,000 apps available and 3,000, 000, 000 downloads !!!! Indeed, this app craze has created a whole new industry and new jobs for people... Perhaps it even have shape how information is gathered, how data transmitted, how we as humans communicate with one another. Everything is readily available within seconds. See how the multimedia and the Internet can change lives? Sometimes I do think how scary that technology move so fast, which directly or indirectly changes the speed of our "lives". Do we control technology or does technology control us? 0 Comments: |
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Google Buzz
Thursday, March 4, 2010 @ 7:30 PM
Remember previously in class we learnt about Google Wave?
Nowwww.. there is Google BUZZ!! :) It's pretty cool, and it's something like the wave where we can share videos, share pictures, instant message and it is also linked to our inbox. ALL in real time! It also intergrates recommended sites/topics based on the buzz we are sharing with friends or working partners. Good tool to use especially during the research stage, as Buzz helps us to research while I am sharing my findings with groupmates. *Psst.. you can even use Buzz on your phone!!! Definitely a Buzz. So start buzzing today. It's fun! and I can forsee myself using the Buzz for project work :) Check it out at http://www.google.com/buzz 0 Comments: |
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Internet Security Ver1.0
Friday, February 26, 2010 @ 9:16 PM
TRAILER: THE NEW FACE OF CYBER-CRIME  Here are some tips on how to protect your computer :) Steps to help avoid viruses: 3. Never open an e-mail attachment from someone you don't know. 0 Comments: |
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Video Post
Saturday, February 20, 2010 @ 12:33 PM
I ♥♥♥♥ UP! So this is my video dedication to one of the best animations of all times! ENJOY.. p.s Give it some time to load, yah? Either use DROP.IO player.. or if if fails to load use the other player below. Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io
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E-learning ver1.0
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 @ 8:29 PM
E-learning. It is not something new for us students. It is a love-hate relationship. I vividly remember during the SARS period, the schools were phoning us students that school will be off until further notice. My native secondary school self (hey i bet you felt that way too back then! hahah) thought "wha-whoo.. FREE HOLIDAY!". Little did I expect my teacher to drop a "bomb-shell" via email, it went like this: DEAR CHILDREN, AS YOU KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE NO SCHOOL UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, HOWEVER WE WILL BE UPLOADING YOUR HOMEWORK VIA THE ONLINE PORTAL (IVLE). DOWNLOAD IT, COMPLETE IT AND I WILL BE COLLECTING IT WHEN YOU GET BACK TO SCHOOL. EMAIL, USE THE FORUMS OR MSN ME IF THERE ARE ANY PROBLEMS. FROM,YOUR NOT-SO-LOVELY FORM TEACHER. I was utterly devastated. I remember complaining to my classmates via MSN that the idea of e-learning was dumb. The homework required us to watch online lectures and some hands-on flash games/activities. After a while, I thought e-learning was fun as we had the freedom to surf the web and find alternative resources to get the answers. From then, I realized that it did not matter if I knew the "correct answer" on my teachers' answer sheet, rather it was HOW i got the answer and the tidious process of searching for my own answer made it more memorable; stored up in my long-term memory. E-learning opened up opportunities, it is definitely not rote learning. Only you YOURSELF define what you learn; becoming proactive in my pursuit of learning. That's cool! Even though i admit at times i am fustrated and get stuck of e-learning's lack of "formal structure", but that itself is a challenge. A challenge to myself to push myself to break out of the "structured-mindset" and explore to the sky's limit. hahhaha, yes so maybe i am raving too much about e-learning. After all, there are definitely some drawbacks. I feel that the increasing use of e-learning promotes multi-tasking. 1) Listening to itunes 2) Instant messenging your buddy via MSN, SKYPE 3) Doing research online 4) Updating Facebook and Twitter ALL THESE CAN BE DONE SIMULTANEOUSLY. If one cant multi-task, you might be considered an "alien" in this 21st Century! However, I did some research via the internet and found out that multi-tasking might be damaging to one's health. Interestingly, multitasking might also make learning new information virtually impossible (article cited: Stop the multitasking madness). In addition, research conducted in which volunteers took a series of tests in which they had to categorize words, evaluate on-screen red triangles (while ignoring blue ones), switch back and forth between classifying letters and numbers, or press a button when there was a match between two letters presented at different times.Results showed that heavy multimedia users were at a disadvantage. Compared with those who rarely used more than one type of media at a time, heavy multitaskers had slower response times, most often because they were more easily distracted by irrelevant information, and because they retained that useless information in their short-term memory. (article cited: Drop that Blackberry. Multitasking might be harmful) This information is important especially in everyday life, for instance driving. As it only takes a fraction of a second for you to take your eyes off the road and miss the guy making a right-hand turn into your lane. Therefore, what is e-learning building or rather taking away? A generation of multitaskers who can do everything within a short amount of time? or a generation who is a jack of all trades but master of none. 0 Comments: |
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E-Commerce Ver1.0
Friday, February 5, 2010 @ 8:53 PM
 Electronic commerce, commonly known as (electronic marketing) e-commerce or eCommerce, consists of the buying and selling of products or services over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks. The amount of trade conducted electronically has grown extraordinarily with widespread Internet usage. The use of commerce is conducted in this way, spurring and drawing on innovations in electronic funds transfer, supply chain management, Internet marketing, online transaction processing, electronic data interchange (EDI), inventory management systems, and automated data collection systems.Source:Wikipedia E-commerce is definitely booming, even during recession many consumers are turning to shopping online as an alternative source for goods and services. One of the main reasons for this trend, is cost effectiveness. Because buying a space on the virtual web may be cheaper than renting a physical shop. In addition, it is convenient for consumers as the website is available 24/7 and payment via paypal and I-banking is fuss free. E-commerce has definitely changed the way our generation spend money. Like how money transactions are done electronically and e-commerce perhaps even promotes the use of credit cards. Thus, changing the way "money" is defined today. Money used to be a physical item which our grandparents store away in their tins underneath their pillows; however, today money seems to exist "virtually"/non-physical. Many people of my generation are comfortable using electronic transactions, which cannot be seen, but this is not neccessary true for the generations before. E-commerce itself has evolved over the years, becoming more open to the common masses such as students and housewives. Dreams of starting your own business is just a mere click away :) One can start up by using blogspot, livejournal and other platforms which provides low-startup cost. Hence, benefiting consumers as products and services will be cheaper. E-commerce also provides the e-retailer the flexiblity of working hours. E-commerce has also brought changes to the relationship between consumers and retail-owners. With e-commerce, interactions are mainly done online via emails or comment boxes. The sense of human touch can be said to be diminished, as consumers need not ask enquries face to face and retailers are not able to provide their options on the products. hmm do you think that perhaps that is the trend of our society today? being more individualistic and having lesser desire to interact with people physically? Like how we tend to plug into our ipods and chat on IM rather than meet up face-to-face and have good old conversations like in the past. To say that e-commerce has totally destroyed the "human touch" is unfair. I know of some blogshop owners that share their lives with customers through their blogs, tweeter and facebook. In some ways, it makes the owners more "human" and customers can get to know the owners for who they really are. But the extent of the how true the information is, it is debatable. Sometimes the customers even follow the lives of these blogshop owners so closely like how they do with their pop-idols/celebrities. Thus, it makes it more than just buy a piece of clothing online, rather it is a lifestyle.
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Social Media Ver 2.1
@ 8:51 PM
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Social Media ver2.0
Monday, February 1, 2010 @ 7:02 PM
 Social media play part in Haiti's recovery effortsBy Thomas Frank, USA TODAY Article URL: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2010-02-01-haiti-monitor-social-media_N.htm WASHINGTON — The Homeland Security Department has joined the social-media movement and for the first time is reading Twitter posts, blogs and Internet forums to learn instantly about conditions in Haiti and send alerts to government agencies in the country. The department's Haiti Social Media Disaster Monitoring Initiative is designed to get information more quickly to people involved in recovery efforts by tracking up to 60 Internet sites including Google Blog Search, The Huffington Post and Twitter, according to a department report. "It's part of the way people communicate, so it should be part of the way we gain situational awareness," said Don Triner, acting director of Homeland Security's National Operations Center. The center was created after 9/11 to be the government's primary eyes and ears about potential security threats, and to share information with emergency workers after an incident. The center expanded after Hurricane Katrina and monitors news websites and TV for information. The social-media monitoring was used Jan. 21 when a center worker read a Twitter post about people buried under the Building Napolin in Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital, Triner said. The post read, "Let's save this life, someone is still alive under the rubble at Rue Centre, Building Napolin," and gave the building's latitude and longitude. The operations center forwarded the information to the State Department, which sent a rescue team to the building. Before monitoring could start, the department had to assess whether the plan complied with privacy rules. It found no problems because the center is monitoring only public websites related to the earthquake recovery and is not storing any information or identifying any individual. Homeland Security is not alone in using social media for rescue. The American Red Cross has received hundreds of posts about earthquake survivors on its Twitter and Facebook sites, said Wendy Harman, the department's social media manager. The notices originated from victims in Haiti who sent text messages or made phone calls to friends and relatives in the USA. "It was frustrating in the beginning to not really be expecting that kind of information to come in," Harman said. "After a couple of days we were able to figure out who was doing what on the ground (in Haiti) and route that information accordingly." Wow! :) The power of social media! Remember the old tagline of starhub? "Power to the people". Indeed social media empowers the people of today. Like in the article, normal people on the ground can just update via twitter and facebook. Time is not wasted waiting for government officials' reports and such. Hence, resources and relief efforts can be dispense out much quicker than before! Interestingly, while I was browsing through my subscribed feeds (via Google Reader) Fash-Eccentric had blog about getting funds for Haiti. There was also a site where we can get tweet updates from all around the world(including Haiti) with regards to Hope for Haiti. Check it out at https://www.hopeforhaitinow.org/map/default.htm (alternatively, click on the map below)
Besides using Twitter and Facebook, I have also recently picked up how to use RSS and Podcast! RSS feeds are really convenient to use, as updates for all the hundreds and thousands of sites(okay maybe I do not read that many sites :X) are shown in my reader. Plus, it is super fast as compared to slowly looking through my bookmarks and clicking on sites on by one, some are not even updated. However, I feel the joy of reading the blogs and sites that I visit daily is diminished as I am unable to see the design of the site. I am quite a visual and picture-based person, and I personally feel that the design of a site potrays its owner's taste and perhaps even some characteristics. The reader also does not allow me to use the tagboards and chatbox application which is on the site. So it kinds of lose that personal-touch. But I guess if you want news on the go and fast, for instance news/information from Channel NewsAsia Rss updates the reader is a great choice. Podcast. Download it from your itunes and listen to it whenever you want to! :) Love it. I especially enjoy listening to our very own Mr.Brown. Go listen to the latest post about the Apple fanatic world! Inspired by Apple's recent ipad. I find it really funny, hahhaha. Because I am not really an Apple fan, neither do I own any apple product except for itunes. So yup, I do not really understand the Apple hype, like the iphone,ipod,ipad. Social media is all around and I bet it's here to stay for a pretty long while! :)
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I didn't know that Twitter was used for relief efforts for the Hati's incident.. interesting read on it.
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Introduction ver1.1
@ 5:39 PM
 Internet: Inter-link of networks and that's right! Basically for me, I would summarize it as the network of my life :) or perhaps a platform that helps to manage my life. The Internet does connect me to my friends and even working partners both local and overseas,via MSN Instant Messaging, Email, Facebook, Blog, Skype etc ... I can even watch the latest dramas online which is currently not aired locally! In addition, it is definitely much more enjoyable watching online as other viewers all over the world can write their comments on the forums. When watching online, it feels as though i am watching with lots of new friends and better still they share a common interest with me :) The advantages of the Internet is endless... Here is my take on the TOP 5 Advantages of the Internet #1: LOW COST (which is quite important as i live on a low student-budget). So I can Skype all I want with my friends overseas at a lower cost compared to buying the calling cards. Best of all, I get to see them with a webcam and even play "Bejeweled" with them online! It is the next best thing to seeing my friends in person. #2: Information is simply a click away Maybe I do not understand this term my lecturer mentioned in class. Google it! *VOLA* Or maybe a new word I encountered when reading my novel. Well, I can simply check it up on the online dictionary instead of flipping through my dusty dictionary on the shelf. Call me lazy but since there are resources like the Internet. USE IT! hahhaa #3: Shopping Online No long and costly flights. No need to take leave from work. No hussle and bustle. All you need is a computer connected to the internet and perhaps a credit card. And simply a click, you have bought ordered a bouquet of flowers for your girlfriend who is currently overseas during Valentine's Day. The flowers will be sent right to her doorstep and to put your mind at ease, the website has a tracking system. pssst, not to mention there might be great discounts for shopping online :) #4: I-Banking Managing my finances can be quite troublesome, especially if I have to always update my bank book. But with the Internet, I can check my bank account anytime and anywhere in the world easily. So I can keep track of my daily expenses and savings. There is also a safety device upon registering for i-banking. In addition, there are other safety procedures such as the verification certificate when entering into the site. More importantly, do take note to clear your cache, history,cookies, forms and password after using the site. It is easy once you get the hang of it. #5: Checking my assignments and e-board Yes! The Internet has drastically changed the way we attend school or learn. Without the Internet, I will have no idea where my lectures will be and especially if I am running late I would not have the luxury to check the LCD screen in school(plus you know how slow the LCD screen changes the pages). The internet also allows disscussion online (like google groups) after school hours and uploading of information from the lecturers. However, to a certain extent I am not too sure if it is all benefical as this would mean we are sort of connected "24/7" and even during holidays lecturers can give us "bonus" homework. hahaha. Even though I feel that there are some disadvantages of the Internet and being connected 24/7, but I am quite sure I am an Internet junkie! Can't live with it.. but certainly can't live without it! What about you? Can you live without the Internet? :) 0 Comments: |
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Enpower your Sixth Sense!
Saturday, January 16, 2010 @ 9:23 PM
Pattie Maes and Pranav Mistry demo SixthSense Maiden post of this blog, so thought I will post up something interesting. Saw this TED video during one of my psychology classes in the early part of 2009 and WOW!! It is like those futuristic devices we see in the movies and it is really exciting to see it come to pass perhaps in the next couple of years, months or even days.
No doubt the internet will be a crucial component in governing our "Sixth Sense". Like by scanning a product,we can be connected to the internet and get information of the nutrient value or if it is a healthier choice alternative. Information will be much more acessible and available then ever before. Indeed, the world of Internet has come a long way from being part of a security procedure during warfare to being a indispensible part of everyday life. Looking at "Sixth Sense", it seems that the usage of internet and technology will definitely continue to expand in future too. True that the Internet can influence us and the society that we live in. However, we should also take note of how we humans also influence the Internet. Like who are these people who manages the information on the Internet? Who decides what should or should not be posted online? If power is only concentrated on a small group of people, would that mean that information/news on the Internet is not as extensive as we think it is but rather it is limited. 0 Comments: |
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