Lab+work

LAB RESPONSES

LAB EIGHT

Originally, the word classroom refers to a room where classes are conducted, hence the physical aspect resides within the word itself. It is imperative to consider the location settings of this educational learning space i.e classes. Physical classroom provide the sense of feeling of having a physical one-on-one interaction with the professors. Going to classes adds a sense of obligation or more so a responsibility that a student 'should' do. Students also get to network with individuals in person hence interacting and talking is much easier.

On the other hand, virtual communities allow students to be as expressive as they want since their identity is not revealed. Individuals might participate in online discussions more so compared to a physical learning ground. However, students might take online classes as serious as a physical classes since a higher authority figure ( a professor) is not watching them hence they are free to browse unrelated content or so. Virtual learning is also more convenient for students who live far from campuses and commuting is a hassle for them. All in all, professors should integrate most type of classroom communities in courses or conduct classes as per the results of the consensus

= Lab 6 =

"rules for radicals" saul alinsky

7 bucks for domain name - youtube page that woman for health insurance - one woman's desperate quest

eX: georgre clooned - celebrity phone banks

= Lab 5 =

Statement: "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place"

This statement holds the contemporary issue regarding privacy on the internet (i.e the world wide web).

It is evident that if one publishes information on any website, it is publically available to everyone around the world. IF one was to object to this statement, it could reflect that they are trying to hide something, hence that very content should be published in the first place. However, lets consider if one posts information about themselves ( such as their picture, address on facebook which is available to their friends only) and someone uses that information in the wrong sense. That scenarios deals with privacy of a guilty individual, hence putting personal information should be not publically available.

It is vital for all individuals using the web to understand that we are being watched at all times and every little action of ours is being recorded via cookies or our IP address. Every website tracks our usage and uses it for various reasons. For example, e-businesses such as amazon track our purchases and use that information to provide us with products that match our likes. However, I do not believe that this infringes our privacy rights since the usage of our tracking information is not ‘affecting’ us literally in any way.

Furthermore, Facebook monitors the groups we join, the fan pages we are a part of. They take use of this information and interrelate it with similar advertisements that may come of our interest. Even thought our every click is being monitored, if one doesn’t have anything to hide, they should not be worried. The “social” web is not the place to lay out your personal life.

LAB FOUR = = =Connected or Disconnected?=

It could be clearly said that social networking tools (including websites) focus on individuals being able to connect with the virtual society around the world. Even thought it connects to people that we would ‘like’ to be connected to, it could also lead to us being less disconnected with the ‘physical’ real world. It is necessary to consider that websites such as Twitter, Facebook and msn are on the web where there is no physical connection or meeting.

One can feel more connected since they can re-connect with friends that they have unintentionally lost touch with. Facebook offers a feature as “Mutual friends” or “suggested friends” where one can find friends ‘through’ their own friends. Also, with the “status updates” feature in Facebook or similarly the tweets on twitter provided constant updates about your friend’s lives. This eliminates the anxiousness or the physical meeting of friends to sit down and discuss their lives, hence one could be disconnected from having a physically networking opportunities with their friends. Since it is easy to stay connected online with no effort, one might not find it important to have a face-to-face conversations anymore. Furthermore, the social networking websites allows us to stay connected to family or friends around the world at no charge. One can engage in chat, email, talk (via Skype) effortlessly. On the other hand, the information that one provides over the web could not actually reflect their ‘real’ self/identity. One might publish information to make themselves fit in the ‘norm’ of Facebook, hence information can be fake.

OTher infromation: -online vs real life : how this differs - addition of online "communites" -online branding - online constructive identity - linkedin - business community

LAB THREE January 28 - Ipod revolutionary? -

Apple has been known to come out with products that have gained postive and negative responses. With the revolution of the ipod, it was confirmed that the ipod is the first unique music player device in the industry. It gained tremendous recongintion in a short period of time The iPad is not released yet, hence it would not be accurate to make judgements on whether or not is it really that revolutionary as stated. Most importantly, it is vital to define in what terms are we defining revolutionary in. Are we comparing in terms of hardware, design, software, functions or how it affects the inidviduals who use it, hence the society itself.

In terms of the Ebook, this might eliminate the use of books and storage where as it can also provide eye strain due to the screen. In terms of the software, it is simply the same one as the iphone. Hence, why woul dinidviduals spend another 500$ plus taxes and other wanted accessories on a device that they already have or can get or cheaper (i.e the iphone). However, the ipad does add user experience in terms of the applications that they emphasize on. The video gaming experience especially will be enhanced since playing a game on a big screen will give more of a virtual feeling. In addition, watching movies or youtube videos on a larger screen results into a higher resolution and better user experience in comparison to watching it on a smaller screen (i.e iphone).

In addition, I would consider it revolutionary in terms of design since it does incldued that "cool factor" which is what apple products target towards. However, it does not come to my understanding why individuals would prefre purchasing a smaller screen (i.e ipad) compared to their existing laptop's screen. It is understood that a larger screen provides better resoltion hence better user experience, hence why would people want to switch over to a small screen. This is similar to viewing images as well.

Furthermore, if the ipad included all the features and capablitiles of a latop, then it would be considered tremedously revolutionary since it is virtually having your laptop in the palm of your two hands. It would add to the user experience to be able to touch screen your "laptop" which is now your ipad. The addition of a tablet experience where one could write on their ipad would add to the user experiene as well. However, if one was to consider the uses users make on their computer, an ipad could be a great tool. It would not be ocnsidered revolutionary due to its similar pieces of the iphone which is already launched in the market. Essentially, products such as ipad will be considered revolutionary by some viewers since that size of a screen with all apple's applications with photos, music, ebook with the touch screen capablities is new. I do strongly believe that there will be an ipad2 or ipad3 (i.e second or third generation) which will be revolutionary since as a consumer apple has exceeded my expectations in terms of design for this product.

LAB TWO


 * LAB ASSIGNMENT - January** 21 -

Question - Response to the statement : “One laptop per child is a neo-colonial Trojan horse”

Answer : This statement states that concept of OLPC is produced by countries that hold power and are solely making communication technologies like that for merely gaining control (i.e participating in neo-colonialism), instead of for being used to increase development. In terms of developed countries, the statement signifies that the developers (which are from developed countries) use their economic and political means to extend their influence over underdeveloped nations. However, it would be an understatement if individuals would perceive this technology as that since it has been truly created to provide educational opportunities for children. OLPC main mission is to provide education by means of a laptop that integrated essential functions which is designed for empowered learning.

In addition, I believe that there are many ways to alleviate poverty and education is the key for many individuals in rural areas. In our contemporary developed nation, many believe that technology is inherently good, however for developing countries, technologies like a laptop per child should not be considered as an advancement but yet as a step towards equality which is education that should be provided to all regardless of their financial or cultural situation.  LAB ONE January 21

Journal for Guest speaker

My integral focus would be on the most recent disaster that has affected not only the vicitms but everyone around the world - Haiti's earthquake. Even though individuals around the world are collaborating to raise money for all the vicitims that have lost their life, and much more, it is important to bring to attention that individuals arond the world die everyday. May it be from a earthquake, or a shooting or a suicide - it is still death. Raising money to help individuals that die everyday in rural countries is important on regular basis.

To do so, change camp meetings are a great way to start. I would like to host a conference that brings individuals together that have a great concern about world issues like that. An example of raising awareness regularly about these matters could be done by having booths (non-profit ones) in malls, superstores, etc. The goal of this conference would be not to just collect money but to raise awareness which is the key. I have considered the fact that everyone is aware of the extent of poverty in the world, however it is not taken seriously by the everyday public which will be the major concern of this conference.