Week 2 - Response to Content

Week 2 - Tutorial Task

a) Refer to blogroll

This video by the creators of the television show 'Mythbusters' gives a quirky insight in to Moore's Law.

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The web application, or group of applications, I have chose to examine is referred to as 'Auction Sniping'.  I found this through the imaginative method of listening to my tutor as she used it as an example.  This is the process of posting the winning big on an auction at the last possible moment, achieved either manually or with the assistance of a wide variety of software accessable online.  Whilst auction sniping is frowned upon and is often the source of great fustration, it is not illegal and programs such as 'AuctionRaptor' are very readily available for a small fee and are sometimes even free.  Whilst I think this program is obviously beneficial, I think it is something that should be used sparingly, if at all.  This is because although it is not illegal, it does take advantage of the system in with a method that is only used by few, leaving the other less computer savvy people at a disadvantage.

For more information, refer to https://www.auctionraptor.com/?source=adwords&gclid=CObAuOS0sqoCFYVLpgod5hQF8A

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Facebook -

• How long have you been using this communication technologies?
• For about two years now, give or take.
• What influenced you to start using this particular technology?
• I created a Facebook account mainly in response to the fact that most people I knew were already using Facebook to do such things as organise social events, and if I didn't have access, I would be at a disadvantage. 
• Is privacy an issue for you when using new technologies?
• Not really as I am of the view that unless the information in question is being obtained illegally, you are responsible for the posting of any personal information online.  There are certain exceptions to this, such as Facebook changing its privacy settings without notifying their users which results in all posted information being visible to the public regardless of what settings the user previously had enacted. 
• What do you think about companies like Facebook and Google who collect information about their users? 
• I am of the opinion that it is just intelligent business, as long as the 'data mining' does not delve into grey areas, such as the story about the man's search records directly effecting his health insurance.

I use programs and services such as Facebook and Skype to keep in touch with family over long distances, for example, my sister currently living in Japan.  I am happy to email and IM my sister, but I know that the experience of face to face talking, provided by Skype, is greatly valued by my parents.  When that telltale sound of a phone call over Skype goes off, my house turns into a mad rush to talk to my sister!

Week 1 - Response to Content

• What are the main issues in new communications technology?
• Two of the more pertinent issues involved with the development and usage of new communications technology are Health, Privacy and Hacktivism.  With the continual advancement in technology and its increasing presence in our daily life, several new health issues have arisen.  The extended exposure and proximity of mobile phones to our heads has been thought to increase the risk of several brain related conditions, mainly Brain Cancer.  Although this has not actually been proven, scientists have not ruled out the possibility of a small risk.
• The second issue is that of Privacy.  With the development of social networking websites such as Myspace, and more recently, Facebook, has come an increase in online privacy violation.  While websites such as these are used by millions of people world wide and are seen to be harmless, there have been cases where the personal details posted by the user have been used with malicious intent.  One such case occurred in December 2005.  "Two Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) students were able to download, using an automated script, over 70,000 Facebook profiles from four schools (MIT, NYU, the University of Oklahoma, and Harvard University) as part of a research project." (Wikipedia, 2011).

•  How do we distinguish between old and new communications technologies?
• When we consider the idea of 'old communications technology' the obvious examples would be cave drawings, story telling, the study of history.  While these things are indeed classified as such, any form of communication up to the use of Analog systems can be classed in the same way.  It is at this point that a distinction is made between these technologies and technologies produced by and functioning with the fairly recent digital system.

• Under what circumstances will new communication technologies become old communication technologies?
• With the advent of a new communication technology, such as the internet, invariably comes the slow decline and ultimately the demise, of an older, less advanced technology.  This is largely due to the new technology having several advantages over the older.  These advantages are commonly, but not limited to, accessibility, affordability and most often, speed.  

Reference List:

1) Criticism of Facebook. (2011, July 31). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 00:17, August 3, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_Facebook&oldid=442292375

Week 1 - Tutorial Task

Hello! My name is Matt.  I just started my first semester of University at Griffith studying a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Journalism.  I am 18 years old, live on the Gold Coast and am studying full time.  After I finish my degree I plan to begin a career as either an investigatory or geo-political journalist.  I enjoy reading however am very picky as to what I will read.  I play tennis socially and go to the gym with friends 4 or 5 times a week. That is all for now, stay tuned for more riveting posts!

Matt