Thursday, May 31, 2007

Well. New Communication Technology course is almost over. Actually I suppose it is over as soon as I finish this concluding blog. I am relieved all assignments/tests are done with. That said, this subject I found to be one of the more enjoyable of my first selection. Although it was compulsory to my degree, I'm glad i took it. I did find my self learning useful information about technology and other things- for example I’ve always been interested in knowing how the internet actually works. I enjoyed the films, nice change to the usual lectures. I'm glad I got introduced to the whole blogging concept too. I quite liked doing this blog task. It seemed a more relaxed assessment item. This was definitely refreshing in this first stress filled semester of uni. So overall, I'd rate this course fairly high. Although. This is being said before I have received my marks...which could change my opinion completley..lol

Saturday, May 26, 2007

WEEK 11- Microsoft Excel

To be honest when viewing this week’s task I wasn’t all too excited. The thought of Microsoft Excel conjures up nightmarish images in my mind of grade 10 math assignments. But I persevered through it and didn't find it all that excruciating.

Again...here is the result of my efforts if you wish to look...




Week 10 - Using Microsoft Worddddd

When I first saw this tute task i thought, wow how easy. And i guess the first three steps were extremley simple.

Then I started to learn some m.w skills. which is a good thing, it deffinetly made the text look more professional.

Well here is the final result. Pretty impressive huh?

Thursday, May 10, 2007

The internets effect on the youth of today

By Ruby Winter

Student Number: s2576956



Our computer-driven society demands that the children of today develop the ability to operate in a technological environment, acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary to be productive. These skills are becoming as essential as reading or writing. Reasons for this are said to be the result of such things as the increase of globalization, which has contributed towards creating a wider spread connection of the internet. While this rapid increase of internet usage has definitely had advantages for today’s generation, such as an increased opportunity to learn about the world around them and to be more accessible to information to learn, increasing recent reports have been connecting psychologically addictive characteristics to Internet use, along with speculation of its negative influence on social functioning.

Current internet usage is wide spread and growing. Current estimates indicate that 149 million people are online worldwide, and that number is increasing at the rate of 12% a month. (Goldberg 2007). According to a survey report from the U.S. Census Bureau, 22.2% of the 76 million American computer users aged 3 and above use the Internet and one fifth of children with home computers use them to access the Internet on a daily basis. (Greenfield 1999). With these staggering numbers, there is little doubt as to the popularity of Internet use.

While our culture heralds the internet as a technological wonder, there are suggestions that internet use has a negative influence on individuals and their social skills. A recent study conducted by Carnegie Mellon University concludes that internet use leads to small but statistically significant increases in depression and loneliness and a decline in overall psychological well-being. A study called ‘HomeNet’ project studied a group of 169 people during their first two years online. Statistics showed that the more a person used the internet, the more they reported in losing interest in social activities and meeting friends in real life. (Greenfield, D.N. 1999). They also showed that they were spending less time talking with their families, had an increase in daily stress levels, and felt more isolated and unhappy on the whole. These results occurred even though communication with other people via the net was their main use of the web.

An American survey conducted claimed that a majority of parents were worried about their children’s increased need to be able to have access and use the internet on a more frequent scale. However they still believed that the internet was essential to their children’s learning. The ill effects of internet usage were seen to dramatically increase in secondary school. In a New York university, the dropout rate among first year newcomers rose as students had direct individual access to a personal computer, which in turn increased their internet usage. Officials learned that 43% of the dropouts were staying up all night on the Internet (O’Shaughnessy 2002). In another survey conducted by the Australian bureau of statistics, regarding the effect of technology on interpersonal relationships and communication showed the most frequently mentioned potential problem dealt with electronic communication in the forms of e-mail, discussion groups, and chat rooms. Many respondents spoke of a sense of isolation when using these applications as well as the lack of face to face contact as a contributing factor to feelings of alienation and loneliness .A small, but significant amount of people even blaming excessive online use for the break-up of their marriage. (Egger 1996).

With this information in mind there is much debate among psychologists as to the risk of a psychological disorder being associated with online use. Dubbed "Internet Addiction Disorder" research suggests the existence of addictive behavior being found common in heavy internet users. Some conditions detected in internet addictions include: (a) using the computer for pleasure, gratification, or relief from stress; (b) feeling irritable and out of control or depressed when not using it; (c) spending increasing amounts of time and money on hardware, software, magazines, and computer-related activities; and (d) neglecting work, school, or family obligations Some heavy internet users surveyed have also described experiencing a cocaine-like "rush" when using the Internet. On the flipside to this argument, other medical professionals claim that this is not an actual ‘internet addiction’ but more of a personality disorder. In a lighter view, some have taken a more humorous approach to identifying the characteristics of Internet addicts. In a site entitled You Know You're Addicted When (click to veiw), the viewer is greeted with a seemingly endless list of warning signs. At the moment there is no actual scientific disease classified as ‘internet addiction’. (George Rodman McGraw-Hill 2006)


It was found that teenagers are much heavier Internet users than their parents. While adults tend to use the Internet as part of their jobs and to get employment-related information, teenagers were more likely to use the Internet to play games, to listen to music, and to meet new people. This particular appeal has caused further concern among educators. Michael A. Weinstein, a professor of physiological science, stated that users will "lose the savvy and skills and patience to conduct social relations in the corporeal world," and that “the Internet will intensify the negative effect television has already had on our social skills”. This is certainly a negative outlook. Combined with these matters, the internet also carries an issue of safety. From internet stalking, porn sites, issues such as the Columbine shootings and pedophilia are just some that have raised concern when dealing with the internet. Like Weinstein, many have taken the view that the media and technology -- including television, movies, and CD recordings -- have demoralized the values and social functioning of our children. (Goldberg 2007). This point of view believes the internet is a prime culprit for this affliction with its proneness to addictive game-playing capabilities, and sexually inappropriate temptations.


Although this may seem like a grim situation, further research confirms, at the moment a majority of youth do not have a serious problem. Computers are certainly engrossing and the internet is most assuredly alluring with its research and communicative capacities. But overall, this technology can be considered a positive enhancement to society. As an example, here are just some of the opportunities the internet offers:

- Instant Communications: email, chat, school, club and company web sites

- News and Reference: every major newspaper is now online

- Encyclopedias

- Entertainment

- Movie guides

- Music

- Online videos

- Commerce: shop, transport schedules, sell and buy via the net.

-

(http://www.coedu.usf.edu/internetsafety.htm)

These benefits, more than justify the negative aspect of internet use. Like with a lot of things in society, the internet can be used effectively, and it can be abused. With proper monitoring for children and a balanced lifestyle, it is fair to say the internet is most certainly an asset to everyday life.





Bibliography:

http://www.coedu.usf.edu/internetsafety.htm


Media and Society: an introduction: 2nd edition, Michael O’Shaughnessy, Oxford University Press, 2002


The Media, Politics and Public Life: Geoffrey Craig, Allen and Urwin, 2004


Mass Media in a Changing World; George Rodman; McGraw-Hill, 2006


Davis, R. (1999). Is internet addiction real? Victoria Point Multimedia [On-line]. Available: http://www.victoriapoint.com/Addiction%20or%20not.htm


Egger, O. (1996). Internet behavior and addiction. Available: http://www.ifap.bepr.ethz.ch/~egger


Fainaru, S. (1998). Experts fear video games breed violence. The Boston Globe, October 19 Available: http://www.adn.com/stories/T98110984.html


Goldberg, I. (1997). Diagnostic criteria. Internet Addiction Disorder Available:http://www.cog.brown.edu/brochure/people/duchon/humor/internet.addiction.html


Greenfield, D.N. (1999). Virtual addiction. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.


Young, K. S. (1998). Caught in the net. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Peaks/6944/orignet.html

Sunday, April 8, 2007








'FRIENDS'

Lawl. This is a picture of my friends before formal. Kerry (the girl) is actually in our new communication technology course. and yes if you were wondering the birth went fine and she now has a beautiful baby boy.

'NEWS'
ummmm because my photoshop skills arnt exactly elite i just did whatev. by blurring the eyes/news text i guess im trying to be as deep and 'arty' as i can be with limited skills and say that after awhile this is what happens when reading basically the same types of stories over and over

'HIGH TECH'
This car looked pretty high tech to me...so i enhanced it with a glow...making it seem god like its so high tech. right?

'UNI LIFE'
basically coffee is a big part of my uni life.

'SUMMER'
Summer reminds me of sufers...which is full of metre maids rounda bout this time. Lol im pretty sure this picture displays exactly how gross they are....whilst making me feel better at the same time

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Question One:
What is a search engine

Internet search engines (eg Google, AltaVista) help users find web pages on a given subject. The search engines maintain databases of web sites and use programs (often referred to as "spiders" or "robots") to collect information, which is then indexed by the search engine. Similar services are provided by "directories," which maintain ordered lists of websites, eg Yahoo! (www.liv.ac.uk/webteam/glossary)

Question Two:
How do search engines rank the stuff they find on the internet?

Search engines use automated software programs knows as spiders or bots to survey the Web and build their databases. Web documents are retrieved by these programs and analyzed. Data collected from each web page are then added to the search engine index. When you enter a query at a search engine site, your input is checked against the search engine's index of all the web pages it has analyzed. The best urls are then returned to you as hits, ranked in order with the best results at the top. (http://www.monash.com/spidap4.html)

Question Three: what are some of your favourite search engines? why do you like one more than others?

My favourite search engine is probably the one most often used- google. Very rarely do I stray from using google, it seems to have worked well for me so far.

Question four: Can you find some current news stories about search engines? (for example, Google has been in the technology news a bit lately).

Google cleared of search 'conspiracy'
Lawsuit alleging political & religious bias dismissed
Jon Brodkin

A US District Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed against Google by a company that accused it of dropping websites from search results for political and religious reasons and skewing results in favour of companies that compensate Google financially.


The lawsuit was filed by KinderStart, a parenting information website that claims it was illegally blocked from Google search results.

Judge Jeremy Fogel of San Jose, California, not only dismissed the lawsuit but granted a motion by Google to sanction KinderStart and one of its lawyers.

Fogel said Google can now seek "reasonable compensation" for attorney fees because KinderStart lawyer Gregory Yu filed claims that were factually baseless and did not perform an adequate investigation before filing the lawsuit.

Yu's claim that Google gives higher search placements to companies that pay for that privilege "should not have been made based upon the limited information identified by Yu," Fogel wrote in the ruling. "Yu's purported evidence is either double hearsay or hearsay speculation as to the 'mysterious' causes of improvement in a website's position in Google's search results. Yu provides no evidence that would support KinderStart's broad attacks on the objectivity of Google's search results."

Judge Fogel said KinderStart's allegation that Google removes websites from search results based on political and religious reasons was also baseless.

"KinderStart does not appear to allege that KinderStart itself suffered any discrimination by Google for political or religious reasons," Fogel wrote. "It is true that Yu spoke with a number of people who believe that Google engages in religious or political discrimination, but a reasonable, competent investigation requires more than suspicions or belief. Yu had a professional responsibility to refrain from filing such allegations if he did not have appropriate supporting evidence."

In response to the ruling, Google released a statement from Hilary Ware, the company's litigation counsel: "We always felt these claims were unjustified, because courts have consistently rejected complaints over search engine rankings, so we're pleased that Judge Fogel promptly dismissed this case."

www.networkworld.com
Tutorial Task Scavenger Hunt:

Q. The World's Biggest Pumpkin

A. The world's largest jack o'lantern was carved by Scott Cully (USA) from the world's largest pumpkin on October 31, 2005 in Northern Cambria, Pennsylvania, USA. The pumpkin was grown by Larry Checkon (USA) and weighed 666.32 kg at the Pennsylvania Giant Pumpkin Growers Association Weigh-off, on October 1, 2005.

(http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com) via yahoo search engine

Q. How long is a giraffes tounge?

A. 46 to 50 centimeters. It also is a blue-black colour (from the Animal Planet website- having been to this website prior to the tute task I knew it contained the desired information)

Q. What is the best way (quickest, most reliable) to contact Grant Hackett?

A.http://granthackett.on-4.com is his homepage is a somewhat effective way to contact him. His online yahoo club is probs the quickest way to contact him though it would mean becoming a member first.

Q. How would you define the word 'ontology'? In your own words, what does it really mean ?

A. This one was easy peasy cuz i didn't even have to look it up via Yahoo search. www. dictionary. com - use it alll the time. mostly for the thesauraus.
-on·tol·o·gy - the metaphysical study of the nature of being and existence

soo im guessing the means it is the study behind various theorys and philosphies dealing with human existance, why things are...ect.

?

Q. What was David Cronenberg's first feature film?
A. Cronenberg's first effort was a 1966 short film called "Transfer," about a psychiatrist being stalked by a patient (www.wikipeida.com- unreliable I know but i backed it up with a 2nd website (http://www.salon.com) about science fiction movies and it checked out ok.

Q. When was the original 'Hacker's Manifesto' written?
A. The Conscience of a Hacker (also known as The Hacker Manifesto) is a small essay written January 8, 1986 by a hacker who went by the handle (or pseudonym) of The Mentor (born Loyd Blankenship). It was written after the author's arrest, and first published in the underground hacker ezine Phrack in Volume One, Issue 7, Phile 3 of 10. Today it can be found on countless websites.

It is considered a cornerstone of hacker culture, and it gives some insight into the psychology of early hackers. It is said to have shaped the hacker community's view of itself and its motivations. The Manifesto states that hackers choose to hack because it is a way for them to learn, and because they are often frustrated and bored in school. It also expresses the satori of a hacker realizing his potential in the realm of computers.

To this day, the Manifesto acts as a guideline to hackers across the globe, especially those new to the field. It serves as an ethical foundation for hacking, and asserts that there is a point to hacking that supersedes selfish desires to exploit or harm other people, and that technology should be used to expand our horizons and try to keep the world free.

courtesy of wikipedia.com

Q. Why do all phone numbers in Hollywood films start with '555'?

A. FOR MANY years, 555 was unassigned as a dialling code in the US and could thus be used to prefix fictional numbers with impunity. Due to expansion, the code has recently been assigned, but scriptwriters and others maintain the use.

- http://www.guardian.co.uk- brittish newspaper source website

Q.What is the cheapest form of travel from Crete to Rhodes?
A. According to a few travel websites, flying seems to be the cheapest form of transport. none really had the exact prices. (cretetravel.com)

Q.What song was top of the Australian Pop Charts this week in 1965?
A. March 13 March 26: Eight Days A Week -The Beatles ....yay I love them- http://www.popculturemadness.com

Q.Which Brisbane band includes Stephen Stockwell on keyboards and vocals?
A. Brisbane punk band Black Assassins....LOL. (http://www.brisbanewritersfestival.com)

that just makes him even more likeable