Week 8- Multimedia on the Internet (Virtual reality)

Today’s topic is:

Virtual reality seems like a new and expensive technology.

However, the idea of virtual reality is not new at all! The history of Virtual reality starts in 1950s(!). 

1. Sensorama-Morton Heilig

Sensorama was the earliest known examples of virtual reality. The machine is a theatre that consists of all the senses in an effective manner; therefore bringing the viewers into the onscreen activity.

Features include: stereoscopic display, fans, odor emitters, stereo speakers, moving chair and head mounted television display (for user to experience the movie in 3D).

2.  “Ultimate Display”- 1965 Ivan Sutherland

The display can have people look into virtual world that look as real as the world that we are lived in.

I am quite surprise that the web (internet) develops faster than virtual reality! Since virtual reality starts like 50 years ago?

Then, another concept associated with virtual reality is EXPENSIVE!

1. GOOGLE Cardboard Virtual Reality Kit

 (https://cardboard.withgoogle.com/)- go to the website! It’s quite cool!

 Here’s a video on how to make it!

You can even make your own by downloading the format and follow the steps.

Now that the technology world is focusing on VIRTUAL REALITY AND AUGMENTED REALITY, these two elements are most likely to develop in speed.

Social Problems of virtual reality is quite worrying. Of course technologies bring in a lot of convenience and heighten experience in life.

1. Indulge in the virtual world- I DON’T WANT TO BE IN THE REAL WORLD

What if people prefer the virtual world more than the real world? The gaming industry has caused many to be addicted in the world that the creators created. Thanks to the heighten experience, people will be even more unable to pluck themselves out from the virtual world.

Furthermore, the virtual world is perfect for us to be in.

Would we become like inception?

Why would we want to go back to the world where there is pain… boredom… and stay at a world where we can build anything with our imagination and live a life without negative incident? 

Week 7-Internet security or Internet insecurity

I am aware that there are viruses (in fact many different kinds of virus), hackers, online cheaters... But there is one thing I am shock to know is that ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE CANNOT ELIMINATE MOST OF THE VIRUS! And the companies might release some virus to BOOST THEIR SALES!

ALL THESE YEARS I TRUSTED THEM…I felt like…cheated. Haha

So I went to search for more information about the internet security!

Here it is:

1.  EVERYONE KNOWS YOUR WIFI PASSWORD!

Usually when you sign in to the WIFI in your house or outside, you would click “connect automatically”. If it is a loooooooooooooong or complicated password like à oouihkhu^7GHu, you would not want to type it another time!  Therefore, it is very convenient and time saving. Cause the next time you don’t need to type the password again!

BUT! If you back-up your phone through GOOGLE/APPLE/ANDRIOD........ And they are storing those information in the cloud…… Who can access all these information? Who are taking care of hose information?

 2. Our password is not strong enough

When choosing password for an account, we are always advice to choose a strong one. However, a lot of people still choose a password that is easy to guess. Worst! That password will be reuse and reuse and reuse. So when hackers do their work….

 

They will know all the passwords you have

Here’s the top 5 password used:

1) password (#1 in 2011 as well)

2) 123456

3) 12345678

4) abc123

5) qwerty

Even though all of us know that we need a strong password, we still using password that are easy to guess.

3. MALWAREEEEEE

Major web Browsers shares their information (like which URLs to flag) on the malware sites and threats. Firefox, chrome, internet explorer… … however, with the advancement of the technology, TONS of new malware that the anti-virus software cannot solve. Fortunately, a 64-bit malware is WAY more difficult to write than 32-bit malware. So we are protected (a little).

Since most of my classmates are talking about how to prevent OR the different types of virus we have…… let me share on how to create a computer virus prank

A harmless one! hahahahh

I tried it myself. And it works...so….next year April’s fool?

Week 6- Internet tools

This is not the first time I use movie maker to do a video. For me, it is STILL a very difficult task because I am a very bad with internet or technology stuff. I did my best for the video. So I hope all of you will enjoy it! The video is on a family trip back to Indonesia (my mum’s hometown). Met a cutie pie there~ his name is Ahlong. 

Nonono! Is this cutie pie

 He is so CUTEEEEEEEEEEEEE. He just keep eating and eating and eating NONSTOP! Furthermore, my family and I did things which we do not really do in Singapore. Like fireworks. It is so exciting! I am so scared that I might be hurt by the sparks.

While doing the video, I met a problem. How to link them together? To a internet idiot like me…. … It is difficult! In the past, when I make the video for my project, I had my friends to help me. Therefore, I did the basic cut and paste. This time round I have to add music, caption and animation.

(That is how I look like when I do the video)

hope you enjoy the videoooo!

When I do the video, my friend reminded a point that I need to follow. So I shall share it here. In case anyone needs it!

• Selection of music

We CANNOT use any music as we want. There are legal issues. There are a few websites where we can get free music. Unless you own the music; for example, you buy the disc or from website (iTunes). 

Previously I had shared a few internet tools like the APA citation websites. Now, I am going to share a few tools where you could use for videos/pictures.  They are all FREEEE!

1. https://infogr.am/

This website allows you to create infographics for free! And it is another interesting way to present your ideas or facts. 

2. Picmonkey

The website allows you to edit not only for free but even better than those paid ones!

ALL IN ONE!

You can do different effects, add filters and beautify your face. Like “erasing” wrinkles.  You could even do collage! For so many different functions… You will need to download a lot of apps. So this tool is very convenient!

Besides doing a video, you can have more options to capture your memories or do work-related stuff. Have fun with the tools in the internet! 

Week 5- Power of internet for learning

Education

Education has become something which all of us tries to goes through; climbing higher and higher for the qualification.

But if we think about it, is education important? Or we made it became something which all of us need.

Everyone will agree that education directs a path to our future. The higher the qualification you have the brighter your future is.

For me, education is not everything.

That is not the way we should think about education.

It is important for us to learn but not learning for the sake of learning.

We should let our creativity fly.

We can’t blame the educators for thinking that education is the most important thing. They have live through their education process bombarded with that mindset.

But...What had we exchanged for, for education?

 Empathy. Compassion. 

Now, everything is about going to the net

Okay…not that kind of net

We should be thinking about how to “save” our generation. 

I have worked in a kindergarten and childcare for a period of time. I really LOVE kids. 

I feel a lot about education especially educating kids from young. I want to be a teacher but the traditional methods of teaching drives me away. We should be catering to them. Not them catering to our traditional education.

They are living in a world where internet is all over the place…SO….

                                  How can we use internet to enhance education?

(Instead of telling you all what you all might have known)

Let me talk about how internet WILL help in educating our nation’s future (the next generation of children)

In the near future, everything will be on the internet. Teachers are going to be on the screen with 4D effects.

You can use all your senses to learn-not just memorizing the textbook

We can use our senses to help us learn. In that way, we will learn better.

To make experience real!

In addition to the 4D effect, the e-learning will be personalized to the individual. Even in psychology, we cannot perfectly study human beings. We cannot confirm anything about human beings despite the effort in making psychology a scientific-based. Why we can’t?

Because every human being is unique; we can’t find a replication of a human being.

Therefore, e-learning (in the future) will cater to the students based on their capability and level of knowledge. If the student does not have the foundation, the internet will have notes for them to learn. Furthermore, based on their interest, they learn what they like. At the same time, student will be learning those subjects that are essential for living.

We can make internet a better place to learn. Let us make the internet work for us. Not us working for the internet. 

We can make use of the internet to educate our future generation. 

Week 4- Doing business on the internet

I seriously don’t know what ecommerce is before I went through the classes this week.  

(Even though I always use it) HAHA

I always do online shopping often to shop. It is SO CONVINIENT! Everything I need is all there and it is CHEAPPPPP. I can spend like the whole day just to shop.

Let me give a comparison about the traditional business and ecommerce

Firstly, you can use all your five senses on the product when you go to a shop. However, when you shop online, you only can use your eyes. (PHOTOGRAPHY)

So what is the problem with photograph then?

PROBLEM:

THE ITEMS AND THE REAL PRODUCT IS DIFFERENT

Secondly, ecommerce is troublesome.

We have to pay through bank transfer, 7-11 shops, visa, paypal…………… unlike shops, we just pay or sign.

I have to click this click that….type this type that.. what is the size what color what product what code WHAT WHAT WHAT! 

Lastly, we can’t enjoy our products right away! 

Sometimes it takes TOOOOOO long to get the things you want. Some products are from overseas or owners set a deadline before sending the orders. That’s why it’s taking so long.

Unlike shopping in a shop, you get the shop immediately.

SOOOOO, why are we using ecommerce?

 

Familiar? Met this before?

Furthermore, we have WIDE variety of selection all around the world. And we can buy at any time at anywhere!

So ecommerce brings in lots of convenience and time saving!

Week 3- Internet as communication media; Social Networking Marketing

Social marketing feels irrelevant to me. Social marketing seems like a word for business and not for us. I am sure all of us can link social media with business but might not link it with daily life.

However, after going through the class, I felt that as long as you are on the internet, you are working on your social marketing.  We are building a profile to our friends, to the public and to our potential managers.

WE NEED SOCIAL MARKETING TOO.

So for today’s blog, I am going to convinced you all that social marketing is important and essential for us. 

Embarrassingly FAMOUS

We can easily ruin our reputation by posting photos, status or liking/reposting a post which is seen as inappropriate. 

PEOPLE ARE LOOKING OUT FOR YOU! 

THEY DON’T CARE WHETHER THEY KNOW YOU ANOT! 

Do not make mistakes where the corrected ones can be easily found through the internet. 

We need to “sell” ourselves even though we are not a company that are trying to sell a product or service. 

(After researching) Let me give you a few tips on how to be an expert for social marketing. 

1. DON’T LIE! BE HONEST

Not only would you be unhappy, we can tell. 

2. Don’t keep posting unnecessary things

People don’t care about where you are, unless you are going overseas or places which are worth to talk about. 

3. Choose the right platform 

The same topic needs alterations to suit different platforms.  

Don’t make silly mistakes! We all can be expert in social marketing. Hopefully all these information are useful to all of you!

Week 2- Internet as media; impact and strategy

Before we discuss about the impacts of social media, lets see what happens if we do not have them.

“Social media is a bad idea- the rise of social media has more and more problems like internet addiction, social isolation, and invasion of privacy- especially with the young generation. “

This quote sparks my interest in digging deeper on the issues about the use of social media. I totally agree that social media is bad but I cannot deny that social media changed many peoples’ life. A lot of us has become dependent on the social media and could not live without it.

We gain a lot due to the invention of the social media but we have also lost things that we cannot get back.

What we have lost:

1. Power & rights

When we decide to post something in social media, we are empowering others to comment and judge. Even if we receive negative comments, we have lost the rights to fight back. 

 If you do not want people to judge, then do not post. Simple as that. However, why is it so difficult for us to not post? Because….. Addiction towards the social media is a huge cause that invokes so many problems. Massive research about the issue of addiction yet it could not bring stop to the usage of social media.

2. Connecting to disconnect 

Yes! Social media is not just about technology. It has the power to disconnect people in real-life interactions. This disconnecting people will gradually become ostracize. 

The problem now is how we portray ourselves in social media platforms. Problems can be serious when you do not do it well. Singapore is the Second Highest Nation of Cyber bullies.  It has become such a stressful environment to be in. I would not be surprised if we have a course on how to portray ourselves in the social media as a course in university.

If you look closely into these problems, they are all related.

Couldn’t resist postingà allowing others to criticiseà allowing others to access your information.

Social media is a powerful tool. If we misuse it, it becomes a weapon of destruction. If we use it well, it becomes a weapon for reform.