Blogging Off: Reflections from an Online Community

Well, this is my last post.
It is a bittersweet ending and for me marks the conclusion of a chapter in an interesting foray into the world online. That is not to say I will stop using the internet (I don't think that would be possible), but it does mean my participation in this particular community is coming to a close. In a sense we have grown in our understanding and appreciation of the internet and now it is time to explore it further on our own. Gosh! That's perhaps all rather melodramatic isn't it.
All the same though, I have learnt a lot from this paper. It has given me a new perspective on my use of the internet as well as awoken my curiosity to the infinite amount of interest groups, information and procrastination tools present within the vast space of the world online. This paper has been different from any that I have done before. I have found the participation in an online community a very interesting experience and it is one i have enjoyed. Good luck to everyone in their exams. See you around,
Kat : )

ID Chip Me

ID chips are no longer a thing of sci-fi and futuristic movies and books. They are becoming a reality. I can see their benefits, it would mean that authorities would be able to monitor dangerous criminals after they were released from prison. People deemed a threat to society or conducting suspicious activities would be able to be tracked and prevented from acting illegally or to the harm of others. It could possibly make society safer.
However, in my opinion this is a massive violation of peoples freedom. It is also unnecessary. There is enough surveillance conducted by institutions as it is, I don't think authorities need to invade peoples lives anymore than they already do. In this day and age, authorities can already track down people's whereabouts if they really want to. China is one such example. I think that society is generally pretty safe and that ID chipping people would only serve to hinder and stunt societies progress. We may end up with a world of agoraphobics and that's not at all conducive to a productive and successful country and economy. I guess people would have to work and socialise entirely over the internet or with various digital devices, but if these are being monitored to would they do so freely? I'm guessing no. People would become reclusive and isolated. Human interaction is a basic need for most people, taking it away is just about the worst thing that could be done. ID chipping people is really not a way forward, perhaps technologically it is but socially it is a great step backwards and a form of oppression on a society that has begun to become more accepting and free. I really do not agree with ID chips, people are not dogs.
So would I ever get an ID chip?

The straight up and simple answer is no.

Internet, here , there, everywhere.

The internet is increasingly converging with reality. It can be accessed from almost anywhere and it has been suggested that it could become like electricity- everywhere and always on in the background. The internet is already something people have come to rely on and depend upon in their everyday lives. Perhaps in the future it will even become as important as electricity.
I think the idea of a ubiquitous/invisible internet is great. I already like the fact that i can access it from the comfort of my couch (as i am doing now). It would be great to be able to connect anywhere at any time, from any of the technological gadgets I carry around with me. Attributing the internet to a physical object could potentially restrict these endless possibilities. Internet television, whilst a seemingly good idea demonstrates the restrictions that embodying a particular technology in a physical thing can impose. Ultimately technology will only be used if the physical object it is hosted in is also geared to the mindset of the user and the purpose of the technology. The internet is arguably a technology that embodies the ideal of freedom of information and expression, I think it should also have freedom of form, at the moment it's form is generally that of a laptop, computer or cellphone. It would be cool if ipods could access the internet, you could download songs whilst you were shopping for example and then listen to them immediately. Rather than downloading them on your computer, transferring them to you ipod and then being able to listen to them.

I think it is a definite possibly that the internet will eventually be able to be accessed from anywhere. It needs to be easily accessible, from a wide range of objects so that as many people as possible will make use of it. If specialised device is needed to access it, it may not be successful, if it is expensive. However, if it is affordable for the majority of the population then more people will use it.

The killer app of going moblie? I cannot answer that. But as far as my tipping point goes regarding the cost benefit equation, I think that the benefits need to be quite a lot larger than the costs. I need to feel that a great expense to myself initially will be worth it in the future for the benefits i will receive. Where exactly the line is drawn depends on a case by case basis.

I think convergence is a positive thing, but needs to be approached with an open mind to make the most of the possibilities.

Digitally Privileged... Can I survive without digital technology?

The digital divide is something I have been aware of, but never really thought about in great detail. I am part of the digitally privileged generation. I have grown up having access to computers, telephones, cell phones, the internet, ipods etc etc etc. They are part of my everyday life, I use these things all the time. My laptop is usually on, my cell phone's always somewhere handy and the internet is a readily available world i can access easily from the comfort of my own home. How much do i use these technologies? Daily- definitely, hourly- yep, minutely- may be not quite, but certainly not far off. For me the one I use the most would have to be my cell phone. It is my primary way of keeping in contact with my friends and family, email comes a close second. Its a way of communicating with friends around the country and the world, that is free and easy. Having pondered whether I could go without these things for a day, I think I could, but it would be hard, very hard. Any longer than a day and I would be getting a bit edgy I suspect. I am a technological dependent. This is interesting considering these things are a relatively recent edition to my life. Up until the age of 13 I didn't have a cell phone, if I wanted to communicate with my friends outside of school I would ring them at home. Nowadays this seems like a thing of the past.

I realise I am digitally privileged, but if I didn't know any better, for example, say I had grown up in a remote village that had none of these things, I don't think my life wouldn't be any less fulfilling. My priorities would be different, cooking dinner, looking after my brothers and sisters and community life and duties would be what my day was filled with. I have to say I think that in this day and age technology is important, but it is not necessarily essential. The 'essentialness' in participating in it depends on the society one lives in and whether a person wishes to remain a part of that society. I believe Porush's law is correct in that aspect.

Are laptops as important as food? I am for OLPC, I think it is a great intiative. Sure laptops don't replace food, but if making these children technologically aware and skilled helps leapfrog these countries that are sorely lagging behind the rest of the developed world into a position where they can begin to have a relationship with wealthy countries that doesn't just entail them getting aid, then surely this is a good thing! Food is important to live, but technology is important in getting the food. Like the proverb 'give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime.' Giving these children technology will enable them to be on a more level playing field with those who are born digitally privileged. They will have greater opportunities in life and be able to provide for themselves. I know this is a very idealistic perspective, but I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing.