Final Entry! C:

SPRING 2011 COM 125: Introduction to the Internet

Blog Entry 10: Future of the Internet

So what's going to happen to the Internet after all we've seen now?

I was browsing the net and came across this article entitled, "6 Predictions for the Future of the Internet" written in December 2009. Link: http://sixrevisions.com/web-technology/6-predictions-for-the-future-of-the-internet/

Here are the 6 predictions this writer had in 2009:

1. Audio Web surfing - Voice-activated web surfing

2. Web surf on any device - Surf on your refrigerator? Microwave oven?

3. Input revisited - Types of input technology, like the universal mouse?

4. Mobile networking - Android? Apple?

5. The end of .com domination - No .com, just pl.ain.te.xt.lik.e.t.his

6. IE stops being used - Internet Explorer gone forever?

Right now, here we are in 2011, watching some of these predictions actually coming true. This is what I think about the predictions from 2009.

1. True. Some computers now use voice activation, like how mobile phones use voice-activation to call various contacts. Like if I want to call "mum", I say "call mum" to my phone and it would start dialing.

2. Almost true. Companies like Microsoft have developed a computerized table where you can do anything, like uploading pictures. Web surfing on any web device is really close to coming true as many companies have been trying to develop computerized "everythings".

3. Many types of input systems have been produced lately, and finding the one best input system is along the way.

4. Definitely happening now. With the advent of Android and Apple, we see everyone on their smart phones networking and surfing the Internet at any time of the day.

5. Hard to say. Not happening yet, though many would actually be for this idea when people start realizing that there are not enough .com addresses for EVERYONE. 16 to 32 bit?

6. Not happening in the near future. IE is the most used web browser at present, followed by Firefox and Google Chrome. Since IE was established first, it may be the case that many are still more comfortable with using IE than the other new and upcoming browsers.

In just less than 2 years, we are seeing so many changes to the Internet, that it is hard to keep track of the changes, and predictions of the future Internet probably has to be updated every month... or maybe even everyday. It's scary to think about it.

Of course, we can't blame developers for wanting to keep up with the needs and demands of the current tech-savvy generation. As we change and become more dependent on the Internet, so do the functions of the Internet need to change.

Here's my prediction: Web 3.0. The Internet that learns, and predicts a user's move. Not too far away I believe (:

Week 11 Entry: Using Social Media to get famous... or infamous

SPRING 2011 COM 125: Introduction to the Internet

Blog Entry 9: YouTube Exploits

Social media has become so prevalent these days that people don't just use it to check up on their friends. They use it to become famous... or infamous for that matter. While some individuals really make it BIG on YouTube, others can go hide their heads in a hole for ridicule.

Its amazing how people love to publish their talents, or lack of, on the Internet. Some music artistes have managed to become famous through the use of YouTube.

We will be looking at 2 cases where these YouTube users got famous (or not) just by RANTING: Luan Legacy vs. UCLA girl Alexandra Wallace.

Luan Legacy: (WARNING - Video/s is not for the faint-hearted. Vulgarities are spat out at machine gun rates.) This particular video has more than 360,000 views. Most of Luan's videos have more than 100,000 views per video.

Not bad for JUST talking.

So what made this guy famous? The humor? The squeaky voice? Or the insane talent of not needing to breathe when he talks?

The plus point here: At least, he does not refer to a specific person or group of people when he talks about them.

Now, here we have ex-UCLA student, Alexandra Wallace. A classic case of: INFAMOUS. Wallace posted up her video about 3 weeks ago, talking about Asians in the school library and how they talk so loud that she can't concentrate on her studies. (wow)

This video has more than 485,000 views trailed by tons of critique. As of today, people have made many videos to counter the content of this thoughtless video. (Some of these counters/spoofs have more than a million views. The makers must be really happy.)

Hey, if you want to post up a racist rant, that's your problem. But if you ruin your future because of it, is it really worth it?

Week 10 Entry: Internet and Journalism

SPRING 2011 COM 125: Introduction to the Internet

Blog Entry 9: Journalism and the Internet... Shall the two ever meet?

A.C. Quote of the Week: "The danger of truth is partial truth."

I am taking a course in Journalism now. What I know about the Internet is that it is promoting and killing journalism at the same time. Social media (LIKE THIS BLOG for example), encourages members of the public to write about anything they want, where ever or whenever they want. People no longer need to go through formal training in Journalism just to become a 'journalist' in a sense. Also, the Internet now provides news feeds, articles and pictures that can be searched anytime.

The most common example of citizen journalism is STOMP Singapore. People take pictures of basically... anything they want to post up online, and sometimes tag a silly headline to it. To an extent, whatever is reported from there seems highly sensationalized sometimes.

Recently, we saw the embarrassing case of a Singaporean soldier letting his maid carry his army pack. The picture which was sent in to STOMP, instantly became the talk of Facebook wall posts, and eventually, the front page of print newspapers in Singapore.

NSmen trained to be fit, strong soldiers -- yet this one makes maid carry backpack

However, there are implications of Internet news advancements. Our print journalism is suffering. With the Internet/Web 2.0 in place, coupled with smart phones, tablets, readers and iPads, people no longer need to hold a newspaper in their hands. Everything has gone digital. Even PDF files of print newspapers can be found on news sites like those of TODAY. News companies have also become members of social networking sites, like Facebook, Twitter and such. Of course, there are some who still enjoy holding ACTUAL paper in their hands.

In a way, you can see a parallel between the future of newspapers, and the future of books (no thanks to e-books now).

So, is the Internet shaping the future of the journalism?

Right now, it might seem that the Internet might just break the profession altogether, but we would have to look for any future trends.