The Internet of Things(IOT), How would the future be like?

I remember back then, when mobile phone was only used to make a phone call and text other people, when game consoles uses cartridges and wired controllers, and cars that have no extra features. These are only a few things that have changed because of the Internet and not yet including transportation, medical use, security, etc .

It was discussed in our lecture that, by the year 2020, the number of things connected to   the Internet will be greater than the number of human population in the world. Think of it this way, there’s not a day where we do not get exposed to the Internet; cars with built in GPS, game consoles that allows you to play with friends through the Internet, smart phones that tells you the weather and have functions almost as many as a computer. The Internet now has become part of our lives. The Dutch uses wireless sensors on cattle to monitor their health, it can even sense if a cattle is pregnant. Just like the microchips we implant on our pet cats and dogs.

I have learnt that the Internet’s use is far greater then what anyone would expect it to be. At this point, almost anything can be connected to the Internet and only time would tell when we could interact and communicate with the things around us; asking our window to open by itself; shower heater turning on when you lift your towel; a cereal dispenser preparing your breakfast when you step out of your shower. All these ideas can now be a reality because the technology is already out there.

Take a look at this video about a forklift manufacturer,

Technologies connected to the powerful Internet is like a machine with its own brain, like Siri in iPhone 4s, you can ask it questions and it will give you suggestions. We cannot really tell what would come next, but what I can say is, the things that we are thinking about now, is already in the process of creation.

Reference,

CrawnEquiptment 2012, Forklift Design: Improving the Way People Work, accessed 5/11/2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5vqN2ACRgM&feature=plcp

Nafiz, F 2012, The Internet of Things, DIGC202, Global Networks, University of Wollongong, delivered 5/11/2012

 

Apple vs Android, Vendor control or User control?

When it comes to smart phone OS, I would say that it all depends on a user’s preference. Saying that one operates better than another would depend on the user as well. I use an Android smart phone OS, and when I try using an Iphone, I do not like it one bit, but this does not mean that Android has an upper hand.

Here, I am going to discuss a little of the compatibilities from what I see on both Apple and Android’s. First about I will go about with Apple. Apple has total control over the iOS, app market, and its developers. As I see it, Apple products kind of restricted. Why?

“Flash is a cross platform development tool. It is not Adobe’s goal to help developers write the best iPhone, iPodn and iPad apps. It is their goal to help developers write cross platform apps.”

by Steve Jobs on why Flash in not allowed in the Apple ecosystem

When you use an iPhone, the files you have in that very phone can only be shared with other Apple products. Even the bluetooth from iPhone does not allow other bluetooth from a different device of another OS to be scanned or visible. Apple is a brand where vendor control is practiced. Content in Apple products are shared and only compatible among Apple product.

As for Android devices, it works as an open source that allows developers’ independent app markets. Android, I believe, is much more flexible because Android apps are made differently depending on the devices’ manufacturer. User control is practiced whereby content can be shared to various brands that uses Android. Content form any Android phone can be shared to a wider range of manufacturers.

The up side of Apple is that, because Apple has total control of its products, iOS functions much smoother compared to the open sourced Android. Experiencing Android first hand, it gives much more freedom, but, my smart phone over heats and experience lags more often than an iOS. But is you were to compare the price between the two, it would be obvious which will have a better quality.

I stand by what I mentioned, it all depends on a user’s preference. Some would prefer a smart phone that has a better security, and some would prefer a smart phone that is much flexible.

Reference,

Nafiz, F 2012, Apple vs Google, lecture, DIGC202, Global Networks, University of Wollongong, delivered 29/10/2012

 

Facebook and Twitter, Activism Tool

The creation of social networking site has went beyond socializing, keeping in touch with friends around the world and meeting new people with the same interest. Facebook and Twitter has become so powerful that it is now used as a platform for a revolution movement. This week’s reading discusses just that.

I personally do agree that Facebook and Twitter has to power to make a change because of its potential to reach out to the mass. An essay by Maria Popova provided few historical proof that social sites helped make a change.

2008, public protest in Colombia incited and estimated 4.8 million people to participate in 256 protests against the FARC.

2009, the largest public protest in Bulgaria that resulted resignation of several Parliament member accused of corruption.

2008, A 13-year-old boy used the social web in organizing blood drives after Mumbai terrorist attack

“Adam Penenberg used Twitter in a fine piece of investigative journalism to uncover the details of a $131-million death verdict against Ford that traditional media had failed to access.”

Maria Popova

Another example would be our local BERSIH movement. According to their official Facebook page (2006), BERSIH is a coalition backed by 84 non-government organisation (NGOs) in the mission of advocating clean, free and fair electoral system. Up to date BERSIH has coordinated two demonstrations.

Popova pointed an interesting point where she wrote that “online communities broaden out scope of empathy. Traditional media may not provide people sufficient information that would create such impact, maybe it is because traditional media are often one sided being and having some influence by the government in some countries. Social sites allows people to share their point of view and sharing often raw information about an issue, like unedited self-recorded videos and pictures.

With that said, Facebook and Twitter actually gives people the power to make a change. But just by clicking a button does not make a difference, all the example above proved that what Popova said about the “domino effect of awareness, empathy and action. None of the above would have happened if any one of the elements were absent.

Reference,

About BERSIH 2.0 [Official] 2006, accessed 25/10/2012, http://www.facebook.com/BERSIH2.0OFFICIAL/info

Popova, M 2010, “Malcolm Gladwell Is #Wrong”, The Design Observer Group, Accessed 25/10/2012, http://changeobserver.designobserver.com/feature/malcolm-gladwell-is-wrong/19008/

 

Counter Network, Wikileaks

I believe that there is a need of transparency from a respected government from a respected country. The need to know what our government is up to that would affect our lives, the need to know what threats are upon us, and the need to know if our government is doing their job. Wikileaks does just that, created by Julian Paul Assange.

Assange’s mission was to expose injustice especially “highly oppressive regimes in China, Russia and Central Euresia” to expose secrets of government that conceals reality (Khatchadouran 2010). Information should not be kept from the public, and that the public has the rights to know. But would a country’s defence get potential threat of terrorism from the information available on the site? And is the creation of this site an act of terrorism itself?

This video might be lengthy, but it sure is worth watching.

[URL: http://www.ted.com/talks/julian_assange_why_the_world_needs_wikileaks.html ]

Why are the government afraid of this leaks? Traditional media these days, at least in some countries, are under the influence of the government themselves. WikiLeaks actually allows us to think critically, not having a narrow mind, and allowing us to open our eyes to what is really going on. The motive of the site serves as a platform for people around the world to know the truth that the traditional media cannot tell us. From the video, Assange mentioned that those information that people are working on to conceal, are the information that are worth knowing, and might make a change for the better for the society.

I personally think that WikiLeaks is one of the best thing that happened on the Internet today. No secrets hidden from the public so that the society would see the raw truth of their leaders actions. I believe that this would create an awareness globally, and the people would have the freedom to differentiate right and wrong.

References,

Khatchadouran, R 2010, “No Secrets: Julian Assange’s mission for total transparency”, The New Yorker, accessed 23/10/2012, http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/06/07/100607fa_fact_khatchadourian?currentPage=all

TEDGlobal 2010, Julian Assange: Why the world needs WikiLeaks, accessed 23/10/2012, http://www.ted.com/talks/julian_assange_why_the_world_needs_wikileaks.html

 

Twitter Changes the Way We Live

Who would have thought, that a 140-character word update to your followers idea could now have such importance to the social networking world? Who knew that updating about what is going on or what are you doing right now with such limited characters would be such a hit? I doubt that even the creators of Twitter would expect Twitter to have such an impact to how we communicate today.

Real time updates on Twitter allows your followers to know what you are up to at that exact moment. Johnson (2009) describes it as something like a phone call asking your friends how’s their day and Twitter allows that without having to ask. It is like you giving permission to your followers to stalk you with your knowledge.

Twitter has become a tool for open conversations, news feed, and even an advertising tool used by some companies. Twitter has even become an educational use as well. Take this subject for example (Global Networks), we use Twitter to give feeds about our topic each week, as updates to our assessment task by including #digc202 after every tweet. And if you were to search #digc202 on Twitter, everyone’s feed can be seen.

With that same concept, companies use the “#” function to update their followers (or customers) on the most recent updates on products; people with same interests use this function as a socializing tool; news are spread across even more faster than before, people are now able to know there’s an earthquake from another part of the globe while its happening.

Ironically, what was once a social networking tool that give a bad impression is the same tool that changed our ways of communicating. In a way, changed our lives as well.

Reference,

Johnson, S 2009, “How twitter will change the way we live”, Time Magazine, 5 June, p1-4, accessed 6/10/012, http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1902818-1,00.html

 

Weblog, Mass Amateurization

The rise of Weblogs creates a mass amateurization in the publishing field. With Weblogs, any ordinary person could share opinion about an issue or to even report about the most recent thing that is going on and this is where the mass amateurization takes place. What seems to be a profession – print publishing is now done by ordinary people.

The traditional media’s concept is seen as one-to-many, where one publishing company, caters to a mass audience. But the Weblog on the other hand, is many-to-many. More information can be found on Weblogs compared to a newspaper publishing. Print publishing come from one specific company, having assigned professionals to look for news in a specific area, which makes that particular piece only having one angle or direction to the story. Weblog allows readers to read about a specific topic from different Weblogs that have different point of views, and in a way also allowing readers to have their own thoughts.

Weblog crushes intrinsic value as well. Shirky says that “Print publishing acts as a filter”, If one would want to publish a piece for instance, one would need to convince a publishing company that his or her work is worth publishing. The fact is, no publishing company would publish a work of an author that does not have a quality. He added that Weblogs have “unlimited reproduction and distribution of the written word, for a low and fixed cost”. True enough, there is only the need of an internet connection and a computer or handheld device and you are good to go. There is no filter involved in Weblogging, only interest.

Though the majority of amateurs will always be amateurs as Shirky said, but in a way, Weblogs gives the power to express, share, and discuss our thoughts with one another.

 

Reference,

Shirky, C 2002, Weblogs and the Mass Amateurization of Publishing, Economics & Culture, Media & Community, Open Source, accessed 27/9/2012, http://shirky.com/writings/weblogs_publishing.html

 

The Cultural Logic of Media Convergence, Prosumer

The era that we live in now is where ways of communication is always changing in out contemporary life from how we learn, interact, create, and consume with one another (Jenkins n.d.). Let’s first start with defining the term “Media Convergence”. Media Convergence explains the fusion or merging of several media to operate as one. The best example would be the how companies from the traditional media utilized the unlimited use of the Internet.

“The digital revolution paradigm claimed that new media was going to change everything” (Jenkins 2006). Well, with having access to the Internet through the computer, TV series can be streamed online, movies can be downloaded, online newspapers and magazines are available, and we could even listen to the radio online. Then suddenly, traditional media has lesser demand.

But it just doesn’t stop there, with the rise of smart phones and tablet PCs, it would be no surprise if computers get outdated, having the power of a desktop computer in a handheld device and can be carried around in our pockets or handbags. Being able to perform any task a computer can along with the functions of a phone.

The ways of how we communicate with one another now is somewhat redefined. With the Internet, distance does not matter anymore. Social media and sharing sites connects almost everyone in the world together in the global village, allowing consumers to take media to their own hands, consuming the media and then producing their perception, then the media becomes consumer driven – in other words, a Prosumer -. Jerkins argues that “When people take media into their own hands, the results can be wonderfully creative; they can also be bad news for all involved.” True to that, it can be wonderful when several ideas of people form different parts of the world from an original song, are compiled to create something new. Here’s an example:

Bad news can be involved to, because the information in the Internet can be accessed by anyone that has connection. Valuable information maybe used against certain parties. Some irresponsible consumers might even make up a false news to create havoc just so they can. These issues are often seen done about political or government issues.

Media convergence is taking new forms in countless ways and it is almost impossible to foresee. My guess is, to think small where you can have more.

Reference,

Gotyemusic 2012, Gotye – somebodies: ayoutube orchestra, accessed 17/9/2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opg4VGvyi3M

Jenkins, H n.d., Media convergence, weblog, accesssed 17/9/2012, http://web.mit.edu/cms/People/henry3/converge.html

Jenkins, H 2006, Worship at the Altar of Convergence, A new paradigm for understanding media change, pp.1-24, accessed 17/9/2012, http://www.nyupress.org/webchapters/0814742815intro.pdf

 

Intellectual Property and The Creative Commons

For this week’s lesson, we looked into Intellectual Property and Content. Where we learnt how copyright laws back then differ from now. Back in the 16th century, property was only applied to scarce or physical things. These properties was to show the status of an individual. Meaning to say, intellectual property did not really exist. Knowledge, creativity, and ideas can be copied and sold freely without any asking for approval or acknowledgement.

Compared to now, if any of the above is done, you’ll either get sued for piracy, or educational wise, accused for plagiarism. Which brings me to our weekly readings by John W. Snapper “On the Web, plagiarism matters more than copyright piracy. Snapper talks about how piracy and plagiarism are often mixed up by web users.

“Piracy is  the infringement of a copyright, and plagiarism is the failure to give credit” (Snapper  1999). Snapper added that most people get mixed up between these two. For piracy, the best and most relatable example is the common downloading of movies or songs from the Internet for free. And in Malaysia, you’ll see lots of DVD sellers, selling latest movies, albums, and even computer software at a much cheaper price. These acts are taken as piracy.

For plagiarism on the other hand, is known as taking other people’s work and making it yours. Example? This is commonly found done by tertiary education level students in their assignments. Not giving proper citations on materials they used in reports and essays. In other words, taking contents from other authors and making it seem like it’s yours.

During the lecture, we learnt about Creative Commons as well. Because full copyrights are a little bit too restricted, Creative Commons was created to some how specify what can others use from a creator. It some how re-defines copyright. Here’s an interesting video on how it works.

“Creators here and everywhere are always and at all times building upon the creativity that went before and that surrounds them now.”

Lawrence Lessig (2004)

With Creative Commons, one is able to identify far a content or and idea of the creator can be taken to without the risk of crossing the copyright infringement. And because creativity is driven by the past.

 

References,

Lessig, L. 2004, Creators. In Free Culture: How Big Media uses Technology and the Law to Lock Down Culture and Strangle Creativity (pp. 21-30), accessed 16/9/2012, http://www.authorama.com/free-culture-4.html

Mindbank 2006, Creative Commons Video, accessed 16/9/2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTjpghGjjfo

Nafis, F. 2012 Intellectual Property and Content Control. September 11  [lecture] Selangor: University of Wollongong.

Snapper, J 1999, On the Web, plagiarism matters more than copyright piracy, accessed 16/9/2012, http://www.springerlink.com/content/l215064qj8kk1331/

 

Function Creep

While technologies becomes more advance, there no doubt the working environment of professional employees changes as well. Implied by Gregg (n.d.) “the location and time of one’s labour becomes a secondary consideration to the task of managing the expectation and/or possibility that one is available and willing to work. ” With gadgets like smart phones or tablet PC, employees are able to work from the comfort of their own home or at any given time.

This week, we learnt about the mobile workstyle where new technologies that enables employees to work where, when, and how they chose to. In which, employees are able to spend more time finishing their personal tasks, and even spending more time with the family.

“Designed and marketed as essential tools for the busy professional, such technologies are familiarly described in advertising copy as having revolutionized the working day, making the drudgery of the office a thing of the past. These representations depict the workplace as malleable enough to suit individual workers’ preferences. “

Gregg. M (n.d.)

But does such flexibility means that employees be less stressful with their work? Gregg argued that with such mobile devices available, keeping track of work takes place even in unpaid locations (non-working hours). And also added that ,”In the process however the accumulation of such practices appears to constitute a significant intensification of workload.” True enough? mobile devices are so handy that employees would check their work progress, replying emails, or even setting appointments during their off days. And eventually it just becomes a habit. Here’s where “presence bleed” occur. Presence bleed is common among mid to high level employees whereby their homes are interchangeable with their work place- home is just like their second office. Thus, not really spending quality time with family and loved ones. Not a surprise no? My father, at times, does that too, while at home during the weekends, he’ll be sitting in front of his laptop completing reports, sending emails, and busy talking on the phone with his colleagues. Not only at home but most of the time when we go out as a family as well. The only difference is when we’re out, he uses his tablet.

Gregg also discussed about the intense acceleration of work. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the work pace is intensified as well. As we learned from our lecture, machines can be shut down, but information doesn’t sleep. And because of that, employees would rather spend more time at work to read emails and keep themselves updated before coming in to work the next day and some may even come in early for work to get a head start.

Yes, mobile devices like smart phones and tablet PC allows work tasks to be done with ease, but doesn’t that mean employers can double up the work load? Base on common sense, I would say yes. Honestly, if I was an employer I would do that, to be ahead of my competitors, and obviously to gain more capitals.

Reference:

Nafis, F. 2012 A Global Nervous System. September 4 [lecture] Selangor: University of Wollongong.

Gregg, M. n.d., Function creep: Communication Technologies and Anticipatory Labour in the
Information Workplace. accessed 06/09/2012. http://homecookedtheory.com/wp-content/uploads/functioncreepnms.doc 

 

The Cyberspace

During the 20th century, there’s no doubt that technologies evolved rapidly. It changed the way the industry of almost all fields work, how we communicate, to even how we socialize. Dyson et. al (1994) mentioned that “socially, putting advanced computing power in the hands of entire populations will alleviate pressure on highways, reduce air pollution, allow people to live further away from crowded or dangerous urban areas, and expand family time.” Now in the 21st century, it doesn’t differ. With such technologies available now and making use of cyberspace, communicating with others don’t have to be physically done anymore. We do not have to travel far distance to keep in contact with friends, even though we live in the edge of the world, all we need is a mobile device or a computer with internet access and distance if no more a factor. I still do believe that having verbal communication with another person physically there would be more genuine but it would be ridiculous to spend hundreds or thousands, or to travel by car for hours to just have a word or two with friends or relatives. Using these technologies is the best alternative to keep them close.

Another interesting point that was mention by Dyson et. al (1994) is that “cyberspace will play an important role knitting together in the diverse communities of tomorrow, facilitating the creation of “electronic neighborhoods” bound together not by geography but by shared interests.” as mentioned before, distance is no longer a factor in socializing with millions around the world. Having social sites in the Internet or forums allow us to make friends with common interest easily. It both works almost the same way, register for an account, join a group of your interest, and start socializing, it’s that easy. As Marshall McLuhan defines the global network as a “global village”.

It is almost impossible to foresee the future of technologies and the cyberspace, but looking at how advance technologies are these days, whatever that comes next it wouldn’t be a surprise anymore. We are constantly looking for gadgets or machines that helps us work less but do more at the same time, so manufacturing companies or industries would stop at nothing to satisfy that need.

Reference.

Dyson, E, Gilder, G, Keyworth, G & Toffler, A 1994, Cyberspace and the American Dream: A Magna Carta for the Knowledge Age, accessed 30/8/2012,http://www.pff.org/issues-pubs/futureinsights/fi1.2magnacarta.html