FUTUREEEEEEE

Hello! For my final Blog post, I've decided to use a video from YouTube to illustrate more about the future of Internet. Basically, it's about web 3.0. And I really like this video because of the animation, like it uses the form of sketches and I just tend to like this kind of animation because it entices me on how creative people are when they draw.

Anyway, do enjoy this video! :D

And goodbye to COM125 - Introduction to Internet. It was a great semester. See you Mr Abel Choy!

INTERNET IN MY FUTURE SEMESTER IN BUFFALO

This Spring 2011 semester is actually my last semester in SIM Campus. I'll be doing an internship in Summer 2011, thus I'll not be taking any courses. Then, I'll be heading over to Buffalo for Fall 2011, to complete my last semester before graduating.

So, in this post, I decide to write about how Internet will play a role in my life when I'm at

Buffalo during Fall 2011.

Although I'll only be staying in Buffalo for a period of 4months or so, I think I'll definitely be missing my family and friends in Singapore. So, with the wonderful Internet, I'll most certainly be able to Skype with my Mom, my boyfriend and friends. I guess it'll help lessen home sickness.

Also, the Internet will allow me to stay connected to Facebook. So I can just upload any photos or update my statuses to keep those who are interested posted on my situation there. Besides, I think I'll be cooking more often there. And so, I'll use my all time favorite Google to search for more recipes, or perhaps Email my Mom so I can cook some of the dishes that she usually prepares for me.

I guess Internet is probably the link for me to stay connected to the people who I'll miss when I'm in Buffalo.

THE NETIZENS ACTING AS JOURNALISTS

Citizen journalism has become a huge phenomena in the role of journalism. However, I believe that there is still a huge difference in citizen journalism in comparison to professional journalism.

Citizen journalism comprises of netizens acting the role of a journalist. However, unlike professional journalism, these netizens are probably unable to provide solid and essential facts, where mostly, their posts are probably their opinions, or perhaps facts that are skewed to their personal standpoints.

However, netizens do play an important role in today's journalism as well. I would say that they are an addition to the journalism family. For example, netizens are able to publish posts immediately using an iPhone for example. Allowing other netizens to share their first hand experiences regarding an event. In this way, netizens may be able to spread the latest news faster than a news coverage since it requires time for journalist to reach a current event to report the situation.

I think the recent tsunami in Japan is probably a great example of netizens acting as journalists. Although it's definitely a devastating situation which shocked the entire world, the victims during the tsunami were able to post videos and thoughts regarding their experiences during the tsunami. And some, perhaps was a last video of them before they got swiped away by the tsunami.

Therefore, as much as netizens may not be the best journalists, they are however, a great addition to the role of journalism.

INTERNET INSECURITIES

The Internet has caused many to feel secure to sit behind the screen and build their lives in a virtual world. However, there are actually many insecurities when using the Internet. Lets keep shopping online out of this topic.

I'd like to talk about the insecurities of Google. Almost every one has a Google account. However, do every user know that if Google ever falls, all our account information will be sold to other companies? This means that anything that have been secured on your Google account is not very safe at all. So that is one thing to feel insecure regarding the Internet.

Next, Facebook. Facebook allows all of us to literally link our daily lives to the Internet. We are even able to capture tons of memories using a Facebook account. Photos from years back are tagged to each others accounts, statuses updates reminds us of the things that we were going through years and years back.

But how secure is Facebook? Like Google, we do not own anything that is posted on our Facebook account.

Thus, if Facebook is ever bought over by another

company, we can jolly well lose all our information as well. This also means that no matter how 'private' we have made our account to be, our Facebook account is never really private since we don't own those information once it is on Facebook.

What about posting comments on the Internet? Due to the illusion of sitting behind a screen, many of us feel that we are able to voice any thoughts that we'd like to say since nobody really knows who we are. And if nobody on the other side of the Internet knows our identity, we can always say whatever we want right? No! That is absolutely wrong. Our identities aren't a secret. Even if we are the best technology geek, there are people out there who can still track us down using the IP Address. Say you're a technology geek, and you managed to bounce off and deter people from searching your IP Address. It's just a matter of time before others find out about your true identity.

So is the Internet really safe? Nope. There's tons of insecurities in the virtual world.

INTERNET AND POLITICS

We all know that the Internet allows a global reach. So how does Internet play a part in politics?

I think that the Internet has enabled politicians to spread their ideologies to the public better and transmit their thoughts and reach a wider group of audience easier.

Say for President Barack Obama, he made use of Internet to its fullest potential, where he came up with a campaign to reach out to the American public during the presidential elections period, and became the president of United States with the help of Internet.

President Barack Obama came up with a campaign before the voting period and made used of YouTube for free advertising.

I believe that politicians will definitely make use of the Internet more often to reach out to their public audience.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Oops. Apparently, I've forgotten to blog about Social Media. So here it is.

First, the definition. It sounds pretty boring. But here, social media are media for social interaction, which uses highly accessible and scalable communication techniques. Basically, social media is the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into interactive dialogue.

So, to put it simply, social media is just another form of

interacting with people, but in the cyber world. And we make use of our computers, mobile phones, and any gadgets to just connect with others. For example, we can just tweet immediately through our mobile phones to interact with every other one who's following us.

I guess social media is just another part of our lives.

THE MUSIC LAB STUDENT CONCERT PERFORMANCE

Okay. During one of the weeks, one of the Blog Assignments was to make a video. And it just so happen that on Sunday, 6 March 2011, The Music Lab was having a student concert.

And since I work part-time every Sundays, I went down to the Crazy Elephant at Clarke Quay to help record the videos for the student concert. So here is one of the videos out of the 3-hour long gig of the students' performances. And because the instructors also took the chance to showcase their skills, I'm going to upload the video I took of them instead.

For the first performance, 7 of the instructors started the night! There was Corey on the Saxophone, Fugene on Electric Guitar, Liang Hong on Drums, Yazzit on Bass, Fathul also on Guitar, and Vene on Keyboards.

GOOGLE THE INTERNET TOOLBOX

I've been using the Internet almost every single day for my school assignments, and personal materials. But what exactly are the Internet tools?

As I've said in one of my previous post, claiming Google to be my professor, I just Google-d "Internet tools". Guess what came up first? A table of summary for Internet tools! So I happily took a print screen of it.

But to be truthful, more than half the words that have been listed in the table gave me a blank mind. I mean, I've completely no idea what they're referring to. Perhaps we've been using these Internet tools every single day, but we probably do not know the name that is linked to these tools.

However, I've learnt in class that Google is definitely one awesome tool. I'd say that Google is like a toolbox for the Internet. Say for example you need to fix something, and you've no clue or whatsoever on how to go about doing the fixing of a problem. Just Google it! Answers will come flooding you. Or perhaps you'd like to keep track of a trend, and you'd like Google to update you on it. Just go to the setting, click and type the necessary things, and there you go, Google Trends will update you on the latest trends that interest you. Or perhaps you'd like Google to update you on certain issues, use Google Alert.

Well, I really have no doubts pertaining to Google being the most awesome tool in my life. It has definitely cleared many queries that I didn't used to know, it saves tons of my time, and allows me to get answers, entertainment, news, everything in a split second.

WILL E-LEARNING SUCCEED IN FUTURE?

While E-learning has become more popular as the Internet advances, I haven't really enjoyed E-learning. Call me a laggard to accepting E-learning, but I'd rather attend lessons in a classroom environment, have my professor talking at the front of the classroom, my friends sitting beside me, and the silence that run through the lesson only to hear the voice of the educator.

However, I do agree that E-learning has it's useful times. Take for example the portal that all tertiary students use, it allows students and teachers to communicate even after class hours.

Perhaps E-learning will definitely become a huge part of students in future. Because the current generation that I grew up in, were the one who have Internet introduced into our lives during growing up years. While the future generation will have Internet in their lives once they take their first breathe.

Therefore, I'm certain that E-learning will definitely succeed as educators and students become more accustomed to using the Internet as a new platform for passing on knowledge.

10 REASONS TO BLOG FAILURE

While Blog has become way common, and almost everyone owns a Blog or have read a Blog, there are many Blogs who failed to attract readers. But why is that so?

1. PATIENCE

Why is patience important in preventing a Blog failure? Without patience, you would not be willing to spend huge amount of time in creating an attractive Blog design, that is simple for others to navigate, yet entertaining. Because ultimately, people visit Blogs to be entertain.

2. WRONG SUBJECT

It's not that you've chosen a subject that does not interest others, but because you've chose to Blog about a subject where you have little knowledge or interest on. Readers are definitely able to sense that you're not interested in the subject that you've chosen to write on. As such, with your lack in interest, you're unable to inspire others to enjoy reading.

3. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BLOG & WEBSITE

You must realize that a Blog is totally different from a Website. You have to create a Blog that is able to relate to your readers personally, and tell a story. Even if you're writing a post on food, write it in a manner that will relate to your readers. Perhaps describing the smell with things everyone know.

4. CREDIBILITY

Remember that credibility is extremely important. If you have created a Blog to sell products, you main purpose is not to sell the products itself, but your Blog's credibility. Why so? If you're able to establish credibility with your readers, they will not be a one-time customer to your Blog. Instead, they would introduce others to your Blog, or come back for more products. Because they know that they can trust you.

5. CLUTTERED SIDEBAR

Do not have a Blog that is too elaborated with trying to pour in as much details at the sidebar as possible. Only put the necessary aspects. With too much cluttering, you'll turn your readers off. They would be so distracted, they wouldn't be paying as much attention as you'd like them to give on your post.

6. TRAFFIC

You must always remember that nobody started off a Blog with a ton of traffic. Instead, they slowly gain traffic. Traffic increases when more people come over visit your Blog. So think of ways on how you can increase traffic.

7. ASSUMING EVERYTHING

Never ever assume because it makes an ASS of U and ME. And yes! That's how assume is spelt. Continue researching, gaining more knowledge as you establish your Blog.

8. CONCENTRATE

Do not put your concentration on advertising but concentrate on your Blog post. Do not concentrate on the wrong things.

9. LONG-TERM GOALS

Plan long-term goals with baby steps. This means, know the little steps you're taking to reach your ultimate goal. If you're selling products through your Blog, your ultimate goal is profiting. But what are the baby steps in between?

10. ENTERTAIN

Keep people entertained! Even if you're talking about serious matters, find ways to keep your readers entertained. For example, why do we choose to watch some documentaries on animals instead of others? Because there's an aspect in a particular documentary that keeps us interested and entertained unlike the others. Same goes for Blog.

SOCIAL NETWORKING

Social networking has become a huge part of our lives. Everywhere we are, we social network. But what is social network service? Social network service is a platform which focuses on relationships, friendships, or getting to know others through the use of Internet. But if it's through the internet, why would I then claim that we are social networking almost every single second of our lives?

While the Internet is advancing, so are social networking services. Since almost everyone nowadays own a smartphone or have a really portable device such as an iPad, we tweet the things that we're currently doing, gossip about strangers, upload photos instantly on interesting happenings, foursquare our whereabouts, spy on other's ongoing by stalking Facebook as an when we want to. Even while we are out enjoying ourselves with our friends, we can't seem to be apart from the Internet.

There are currently so many social networking sites that provides entertainment features such as instant chat, games, and even video and photo sharing. Some social networking sites such as foursquare allows us to check into our location and allowing others to know our whereabouts. To make things more interesting, foursquare created badges to encourage their users to check in their whereabouts more frequently, or fulfill tasks such as finding and introducing new locations.

However, one thing I personally love about social networking sites such as Facebook is that it allows us to keep track of events or people around us. Such as reminding us about upcoming events or birthdays, and even updating us on our "friends" lives.

Oh wells. But do social network services help us become more sociable? Or more anti-social since many of us are more engross with updating our social network profiles? Only we have the answer to that. Perhaps we can all try to find and equilibrium to being sociable in reality as well as through the Internet.

IN-tro-TERNET

The meaning of this blog name (IN-tro-TERNET) basically

means Introducing the Internet. You may think what's there to know about the Internet? Why do we even need to know the Introduction of the Internet? I have no idea as well. But I do know that it is a required course that I'll have to complete - COM125 a.k.a Intro to the Internet.

The thing is, the Internet has become a necessity in our daily lives, but what exactly is the Internet? According to wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn, the Internet is "a computer network consisting of a worldwide networks that use the TCP/IP network protoco

ls to facilitate data transmission and exchange."

All the definition is giving me a little headache. All I know is, the Internet has enabled my life to be so much easier - keeping in contact with friends through the most awesome Facebook, having Google as my professor, sorting out whatever mails I

have, and even letting me live in a self-denial world where I think everyone out there is interested in my life by Tweeting. The Internet has so many things to provide us with and gives us a nonstop entertainment without leaving our screen.