Future of internet

The future technology always boasts of all the cool stuff like having touch screen mirrors to having everything remote control operated. All these benefits are in the end going to benefit those who can afford. Just like now internet is only available to those who can pay. One thing that my lecturer did not go through in his slides is the benefits future internet can bring for the whole world as a community.

This is my dream internet.

• More people can access internet. It will no longer be limited to those lighted in the picture below. But there will be a higher density of populations using it. This would mean that education can reach more places and also information can be passed to even remote places.

• People using it for the correct purposes. Although this seems seemingly impossible, I do hope for a decrease of this and an increase in corrective measures. I mentioned this in my earlier blog post about cyber bullying. Cyber bullying is difficult to handle because the internet connects everyone and the perpetrators are international. It's a start that Singapore has implemented the Cyber harassment law which helps a part of cyber bullying. I hope the future internet has a strong hold on this crime.

• Identity theft would be harder to commit and have harsher laws. Again very hard to be true, but identity theft is as bad as defamation. 

• Internet of things.

This will make life SO MUCH EASIER. 

Electronics and technology will revolve around our movement and needs. Auto switching off and on things. Telling us what we need to know. Just everything catered to our needs.

Read this! Interesting read by Forbes.

TEAM APPLE?

Google
Google has provided it's users with many tools such gmail, google maps and google adsense. But for social and application store, it is not really popular.

Google has site called GooglePlus which works as a social networking site. But it is not as popular as other social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Google also owns blogspot (the domain I'm using for this blog). It has many users and some users actually earn from blogging. Google has it's own application store: play store. It is available on Android phones. It uses your existing Google account. It's amazing how your Google account for various things including as a backup!

Apple 
Apple focuses on products and programs. It has products such as MacBook, iPod, iPhone, iPad and iTouch. It's design focuses on being sleek and clean. Like it's design, it's pretty much easy to use as it is non-customisable on most things such as themes. Having iTunes, it can backup all your information. The downside is if you are unfamiliar with iTunes it maybe a hassle to transfer everything. Also, their system requires Mac exclusive softwares.

Though they have basic applications to help users with communication, work and entertainment. Some engage third party users. For example, you need an email host like gmail to the Mail or you need an email and credit card to have an iTunes account. They also do not have any social media application. Like some people would say it, there's an App for it.

They are always trying to create something new. For example, the upgrade of the iPad air and iPad with Retina displays.

But with completing competitors always upgrading and creating something Apple does not have, Apple's hype might die out and someone may "eat" Apple.

For now I am team Apple until some others are able to convince me to jump wagon! Personally, it's the simplistic theme of Apple is what I love. But on a less biased note, Apple have many avenues they can venture on. 

Online Journalism

Online journalism has been a platform that always garner a lot of attention. It is probably because of the perspective it brings. Most of the time, many would disagree with the post that was being put up and question it's ethics. It is a way for one to voice out their opinion with that wall of protection; the internet. 

To me, it brings out the honest opinion, the meanest and the judgemental side of a person. Many posts are about actions that the public would disagree with. For example, these post on Stomp by members of the public. Often they aim with the NS men. 

 

And nowadays, people are angry that this group of people are often targeted for all the wrong reasons. They get secretly captured on film or photograph then posted online for things that people could just go up and tell them. 

This brings the question, "People are given the freedom of speech even on the internet, but are people behaving responsibly with this freedom? Are we safe from this?" Everyone can be a victim of this because posting things online is so easy and also without the victim knowing. The world is becoming more vicious because of this. Everyone turning each other against each other. 

At the end of the day, we must remember "they are humans too".

keeping up with times, connecting

Social media give a whole new meaning to connecting to the masses. With one click on the status button, you instantly connected to your followers or the masses. This holds a very significant way of reaching the masses. In addition, almost all are on at least one social media sites. 

Just to mention some cool dudes that are use social media

on Facebook ...

our Prime Minister has Facebook which allows connecting to Singaporeans on a more personal level... and he's just like us he posts things that what you and I would post! a random owl! who gets that in their office? way cool! oh and he takes selfies with people too! 

.... and Twitter

Presiden Obama has a Twitter account which is managed by his team and himself (his tweets are signed of OB). Though it is not really personal, but it is more of what his visions or what he wants to do for the country. It's good because it reinforces, encourages and also shows what he wants to do. And also there's updates. I'm sure you have heard about the Oscar selfie and Ellen beating him in the number of retweets.. 

     here's his post...

and here's Ellen's!

watch the video to hear his comments about it! gosh, always love his witty replies! it's witty and packed with humour! witty humour!

Using social media to connect to the citizens, makes everything more personal. Nowadays, there's Facebook pages for everything including initiatives or groups that are government related or also citizen related. With this platforms, it is easy for citizen to view and be updated with the happenings because of the constant update posts and also photos!

Update:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=695519820510727

Here's a video from PM Lee sharing his experience on Social Media!

AUGMENTED REALITY

                                                   Just imagine in the near future..... 

We may have come across augmented reality but not know that it is called that. Augmented reality (AR) is a live, copy, view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented (or supplemented) by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data. The surrounding real world of the user becomes interactive and digitally manipulable. Artificial information about the environment and its objects can be overlaid on the real world.

They used it for advertising purposes too! Some are in Singapore.

In the Marvel drama series, Agents of Shield, they also used it to film and add AWESOME effects.

Another awesome example is this glasses that uses this fabulous technology. 

Something similar to Google Glasses. 

Something my group mates and I presented but sadly have to rush through it due to time constraints, the Nintendo. Nintendo over the years created trendy games and also trendy game consoles. They brought gaming to the non-gamers and catered it to factors why they would shun away for games. Usually it's because of the game console buttons. But that aside, Nintendo 3DS has this function that makes use of Augmented Reality. And this is how you use this function! 

 I know, this makes you want to go out and get one now! so.... here's some augmented reality games for you to check it out that is available on your smartphones! 

😏just be sure of your surroundings before you play them! 

CYBER BULLYING

Last week my group and I presented on Cyber Crimes and I touched on Cyber Bullying. While researching on it, it just hit me how much real this is. Okay, maybe we may not experience the full brunt of it but we definitely may have heard or scroll past a post on tumblr about it.


Worst part?
THERE IS NOTHING MUCH THE AUTHORITIES CAN DO ABOUT IT UNTIL NOW. Yes, now, recently, a week ago, that the Singapore Government came up with a law (Harassment Law please notice the part that it is CYBER HARASSING) to deal with parts of cyber bullying.

But question is how much people (mainly teens and tweens) are educated about this? Moreover, about cyber-bullying itself. Or will there be a specific law to cater to this. Though there will be factors like "it may be just a phase for the perpetrator" or "the cyber bullies are spread across the world how are you going to act on it".

As cyber bullying has become a huge part of society, some filmmakers decided to make a film about it starring Emily Osment from Hannah Montana. Its called Cyber bullying and shows the emotions and consequences of Cyber Bullying. ** BRING OUT THE TISSUES PLEASE**

When a victim reads about the messages about him/her, definitely they would feel something negative. Therefore, killing their self-esteem/confidence and subsequently, making them abstain from any forms of social media and slowly withdraw socially. Because of their emotions, they may act with aggression and be moody. With all this distracting them, it affects them academically in school or how they behave in school. This picture below are the signs of a victim.

In some cases, cyber bullying takes on lives. Amanda Todd is one such example. She had several suicide attempts which failed and people further taunted her.
***REALLY PEOPLE???***
Later on, she created a video with flashcards telling her story which shortly after she took on her life.
Watch here to know her story.
But her parents took it well and created a website to create awareness
about this pressing issue.


To those who are facing this issue here's a song dedicated to you.


UPDATE:
I used reblog a lot of post on Tumblr... and this is one I came across years ago...

Read more about this girl here and her video here.

IF you know someone or is now faced with cyber bulling, please take action. You should

Stop- do not attempt to do anything. It is important to have a clear mind before you act.

Block- restrict or block communications with the cyberbully.

Keep- Keep evidence

Tell- inform someone.


...now what would you do?

XOXO,
Lou

tools of the internet

GOOGLE has EVERYTHING... EVERYTHING...

We use it for mail, maps, blogging and even to search for journal articles.

It is so common that we would just use 'google' as an adjective. Also, we are dependent on it daily. For example, work (email) or finding a place (google maps/earth). There so much about google that some tools we don't know about. The engineers work so hard to create internet tools to make our lives easier and also with their creativity more interesting and connected with each other.

Besides this, there are also other companies that create internet tools or applications. One example is the company Apple. They created iTunes and Apple Application Store. With this stores, you can download application that help you create things, communicate better or even have entertainment on the go. They are either free or you have to pay. One such application you can use to create things is iMovie which you can create movies on your iPad, iPhone or Macbook. 

Not very good at it (like me)? Google it or search a tutorial on Youtube. Foolproof videos. 

I did one. First ever in my life. And this is the outcome.

p/s: there's something wrong with the uploading... trying on different platforms.... ahhh....

hopefully youtube accepts it! LINK >>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve7M4tkDaJY&feature=youtu.be

For first time users, creating videos can be a nightmare. Being unfamiliar with the buttons and functions that are in the application can easily make one feel confused and frustrated.

But you need not only use this application. There are many more that you can use even on your smartphones. They allow you to edit the filters, add words or make photo collages.