Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Entry 7. - Essay.
Comprehensive Essay:
Is Email Dead? ... Sadly YES!
Do people have email accounts? Yes. Do they login to them semi-regularly? Yes. Do they use it as their primary source of communication for talking with their friends? No. One question that has been brought to many Internet users attention, is Email dead? In today’s society it is clear that the once famous form of online communication is losing its luster. Since the first home personal computer or PC, by IBM arrived in 1981, computers were seen as the leading edge of communication, as almost anyone could now send messages electronically. It is fair to say that email was never invented, but evolved from very simple beginnings, and now with the advances in communications over the web, the so-called ‘death of email’ has arrived.
When email was at its peak in the late 90’s more than 600 million people internationally were a user, and back before ‘MySpace’ and ‘Facebook’, many people felt sending emails was like sending postcards from the future. Now more than ten years later, e-mail is obsolete. As more mobile phones and sites like ‘Facebook’ become increasingly popular, those old Hotmail and Yahoo accounts forever lie dormant especially amongst teenagers; for people who believe kids are the future email is not looking well.
Over the last few years’ statistics have proven that the number of people using email has plummeted. According to a 2005 survey taken by ‘Pew Internet Research Center’ almost half of teenagers that use the web rather communicate with friends via instant messaging (IM). The survey also indicated that email use amongst teenagers was down 8%. Not only is email dead to most teenagers but also to some business firms who cannot control email inbox’s and are deleting many of their email accounts. To many corporations those email days are now over. The average corporate email account receives 18 MB of mail and attachments each business day, and that figure is expected to grow up to 28 MB a day, by 2011. The Union Bank in California is one business that cannot handle the constant flow of pointless emails filling up their inbox’s. "They are crucial for some people but irrelevant to the majority," says James Penn, the bank's VP of marketing. Today many companies are finding solutions for this by replacing broadcast emails with targeted RSS Web feeds. This is to help send memo’s to specific staff member’s rather then constant unnecessary emails to everyone. It is becoming clearer that email users are now finding different solutions and different forms of communication to get past the out of date emailing system.
To many email users ‘spam’ is what killed email, and when email is dead for spammers only then will it be useful again. The latest statistics show that over 80% of all email traffic in the US alone is ‘spam’. So, it is now safe to say that email has ultimately turned into junk mail. Being a free and open system is one of emails biggest advantages but also its biggest downfall as it allows junk to fill up almost every account inbox globally. This has sadly made users turn to alternative email accounts that actually allow the user to confirm or deny all mail that is sent, but this has also become a huge hassle. The main reason spammers have taken over the system is because email is not a paid service, if spammers were charged for every email they sent, the millions that are dispatched daily would certainly drop.
This entire situation is almost unbelievable. Compared to instant messaging, programs like Skype, even mobile phone texting, email is dismal. And to many people, they are still finding this extremely hard to believe. With the publicity ‘MySpace’ has received since it became a worldwide hit in 2005, other sites are constantly coming up, providing newer ways to communicate via the web. "Sometimes I say I e-mailed you, but I mean I Myspace'd or Facebook'ed you," (Butler, M 2007 – Host of teen podcast). It is obvious that mobile phones, ‘MySpace’ and instant messaging is the faster and easier way to communicate, and if you were to take these away from your children they would whinge “you have ruined my life”, and this is because you have taken away their main source of communication with their friends. Now with the tens of millions of members on these social networks such as ‘MySpace’ and ‘Facebook’ it wields a lot influence over the generation who constantly live online, now through both cell phone’s or the Internet. Just like mobile phones, as technology advances newer phones become available, with better quality and features. This same principle has fallen upon email as newer and better ways to communicate are constantly becoming available via the web, email is simply not the favourite anymore.
Over the years more and more reasons as to why email is no longer the best form of communication, has filled the brains of nearly every Internet user over the world. In reality, the recent shift towards instant messaging and other social networks was inevitable. Because of 'spam' and the newer forms of communication the death of email is now apparent. Of course email hasn't gone anywhere but it can be classed dead in the sense that it is no longer a site for emotional passion as it once was for millions of web users. Sure many people still have their email accounts, just like they still have mailboxes, but their place for social communication is now elsewhere.
References:
Olsen, S 2007, CNET News, Digital Kids, ‘Kids say e-mail is, like, soooo dead.’
pp. 1-3.
http://news.cnet.com/Kids-say-e-mail-is,-like,-soooo-dead/2009-1032_3-6197242.html
Heinz, T 2008, Email is Dead, ‘How Spam Ruined Email’.
pp. 1-2.
http://email.about.com/cs/spamgeneral/a/email_is_dead.htm
Ingram, M 2007, ‘Is email dead? No, but it’s not well’, THE INTERSECTION OF MEDIA, TECHNOLOGY, BUSINESS AND THE WEB.
pp. 1 of 1.
http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/11/15/is-email-dead-no-but-its-not-well/
Anon. 2006, ‘email is dead, in reference to teens’, Youth Culture.
pp. 1-2.
http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2006/11/07/what_i_mean_whe.html
Ahmad Humeid. 2005, COMMUNICATION | Email is junk mail in Ahmad Humeid’s dictionary.
http://www.360east.com/?p=196
Is Email Dead? ... Sadly YES!
Do people have email accounts? Yes. Do they login to them semi-regularly? Yes. Do they use it as their primary source of communication for talking with their friends? No. One question that has been brought to many Internet users attention, is Email dead? In today’s society it is clear that the once famous form of online communication is losing its luster. Since the first home personal computer or PC, by IBM arrived in 1981, computers were seen as the leading edge of communication, as almost anyone could now send messages electronically. It is fair to say that email was never invented, but evolved from very simple beginnings, and now with the advances in communications over the web, the so-called ‘death of email’ has arrived.
When email was at its peak in the late 90’s more than 600 million people internationally were a user, and back before ‘MySpace’ and ‘Facebook’, many people felt sending emails was like sending postcards from the future. Now more than ten years later, e-mail is obsolete. As more mobile phones and sites like ‘Facebook’ become increasingly popular, those old Hotmail and Yahoo accounts forever lie dormant especially amongst teenagers; for people who believe kids are the future email is not looking well.
Over the last few years’ statistics have proven that the number of people using email has plummeted. According to a 2005 survey taken by ‘Pew Internet Research Center’ almost half of teenagers that use the web rather communicate with friends via instant messaging (IM). The survey also indicated that email use amongst teenagers was down 8%. Not only is email dead to most teenagers but also to some business firms who cannot control email inbox’s and are deleting many of their email accounts. To many corporations those email days are now over. The average corporate email account receives 18 MB of mail and attachments each business day, and that figure is expected to grow up to 28 MB a day, by 2011. The Union Bank in California is one business that cannot handle the constant flow of pointless emails filling up their inbox’s. "They are crucial for some people but irrelevant to the majority," says James Penn, the bank's VP of marketing. Today many companies are finding solutions for this by replacing broadcast emails with targeted RSS Web feeds. This is to help send memo’s to specific staff member’s rather then constant unnecessary emails to everyone. It is becoming clearer that email users are now finding different solutions and different forms of communication to get past the out of date emailing system.
To many email users ‘spam’ is what killed email, and when email is dead for spammers only then will it be useful again. The latest statistics show that over 80% of all email traffic in the US alone is ‘spam’. So, it is now safe to say that email has ultimately turned into junk mail. Being a free and open system is one of emails biggest advantages but also its biggest downfall as it allows junk to fill up almost every account inbox globally. This has sadly made users turn to alternative email accounts that actually allow the user to confirm or deny all mail that is sent, but this has also become a huge hassle. The main reason spammers have taken over the system is because email is not a paid service, if spammers were charged for every email they sent, the millions that are dispatched daily would certainly drop.
This entire situation is almost unbelievable. Compared to instant messaging, programs like Skype, even mobile phone texting, email is dismal. And to many people, they are still finding this extremely hard to believe. With the publicity ‘MySpace’ has received since it became a worldwide hit in 2005, other sites are constantly coming up, providing newer ways to communicate via the web. "Sometimes I say I e-mailed you, but I mean I Myspace'd or Facebook'ed you," (Butler, M 2007 – Host of teen podcast). It is obvious that mobile phones, ‘MySpace’ and instant messaging is the faster and easier way to communicate, and if you were to take these away from your children they would whinge “you have ruined my life”, and this is because you have taken away their main source of communication with their friends. Now with the tens of millions of members on these social networks such as ‘MySpace’ and ‘Facebook’ it wields a lot influence over the generation who constantly live online, now through both cell phone’s or the Internet. Just like mobile phones, as technology advances newer phones become available, with better quality and features. This same principle has fallen upon email as newer and better ways to communicate are constantly becoming available via the web, email is simply not the favourite anymore.
Over the years more and more reasons as to why email is no longer the best form of communication, has filled the brains of nearly every Internet user over the world. In reality, the recent shift towards instant messaging and other social networks was inevitable. Because of 'spam' and the newer forms of communication the death of email is now apparent. Of course email hasn't gone anywhere but it can be classed dead in the sense that it is no longer a site for emotional passion as it once was for millions of web users. Sure many people still have their email accounts, just like they still have mailboxes, but their place for social communication is now elsewhere.
References:
Olsen, S 2007, CNET News, Digital Kids, ‘Kids say e-mail is, like, soooo dead.’
pp. 1-3.
http://news.cnet.com/Kids-say-e-mail-is,-like,-soooo-dead/2009-1032_3-6197242.html
Heinz, T 2008, Email is Dead, ‘How Spam Ruined Email’.
pp. 1-2.
http://email.about.com/cs/spamgeneral/a/email_is_dead.htm
Ingram, M 2007, ‘Is email dead? No, but it’s not well’, THE INTERSECTION OF MEDIA, TECHNOLOGY, BUSINESS AND THE WEB.
pp. 1 of 1.
http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/11/15/is-email-dead-no-but-its-not-well/
Anon. 2006, ‘email is dead, in reference to teens’, Youth Culture.
pp. 1-2.
http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2006/11/07/what_i_mean_whe.html
Ahmad Humeid. 2005, COMMUNICATION | Email is junk mail in Ahmad Humeid’s dictionary.
http://www.360east.com/?p=196
Entry 6. - Excel & Word exercises.
Microsoft Word:
Were there any problems?
After completing the exercise on Microsoft Word, i didn't find it complicated at all.
Each of the steps told me exactly what i needed to do.
Did you find it too simple or confusing?
I guess the exercise was fairly simple only because i frequently use Microsoft Word. The steps indicated exactly what needed to be done so there was no confusion in completing the task.
Can you see how this software might be useful to you?
After the completion of the exercise it is clear that Microsoft Word is one program that almost anyone could use as it provides many functions that arn't too confusing to get the hang of. It is one program that is very useful to me.
Microsoft Excel:
Were there any problems?
There weren't any extreme problems i had with this exercise, but when comparing it to the Microsoft Word exercise the steps are a little more detailed and take a little bit more time.
What were your solutions?
I just re-read many of the steps that i found a little bit confusing, and after taking the time to re-read them i figured out exactly what i needed to do.
Did you find it too simple or confusing?
Unlike Word, Excel is a little more involved. Unless you have used Excel regularly it might take a little time to figure out all its functions and how they work. The steps told you exactly what needed to be done, so i guess it was fairly simple.
Can you see how this software might be useful to you?
When you are needing record specific data there is no better program to use rather than Excel. Like Word, Excel is a good program for mathematical purposes. When needing to make specific graphs Excel would be very useful to me.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Walter Benjamin. - "Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction"
How do the ideas from Walter Benjamin's "Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" apply to contemporary digital media?
In Walter Benjamin's "Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" he states that art has always be able to be replicated through new digital media. Thanks to technology, the use of computers and other digital programs anyone is now able to create or revamp artwork that is either new or old. The poses the question weather new digital art is considered new or plagerised and copied artwork.
There was a time when "Art" was made by artists who were skilled professionals. Now that anyone with a computer can create things digitally (music, images, videos, etc), what does that mean for "art"?
It is clear that anyone who owns a computer can now digitally create art, with the use of music, imagery and videos. The fact is that, yes, digital technology today has broadened the boudaries for 'Art', but those professionals real artwork is still recognised today. It is clear that digital computerised art does not hold the true and realistic qualities of those real artworks. This could be a positive or negative aspect for either digital artists or real artists who rely on free hand to make art. This just shows as technology advances many things can change. Compters give people with no artistic background the chance to create digital art.
"...the unique value of the “authentic” work of art has its basis in ritual, the location of its original use value." - W. Benjamin.
Is a photoshopped image "authentic"? & Do digital "things" have an "aura" (in Benjamin's terms)?
From Benjamin's point of view a photoshopped image is not 'authentic'. In his terms digital things have no 'aura' because the original subject and original existence of the production is no longer there. In other words once it is digitalised and edited using digital programs the image etc. does not hold its atheticity.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Entry 4. - When Wikipedia Gets it Wrong...
"Wikipedia is a kind of collective brain, a repository of knowledge, maintained on servers in various countries and built by anyone in the world with a computer and an Internet connection who wants to share knowledge about a subject. Literally hundreds of thousands of people have written Wikipedia entries." - KATHARINE Q. SEELYE
Personally, ive always thought wikipedia was an accurate way to receive information. It breaks my heart to know that false information is posted on such a well known(worldwide) site that provides everyone with articles on just about anything. So, my task this week is to find two articles on topics im an expert on, and watch out for any false information.
I figure the easiest way to do this, is to search for a movie i have watched over the weekend and judge if the information is correct.
After searching the movie 'The Eye' (2008) Wikipedia gives a rather indepth overview about the movie. To my knowledge all the information about the movie is accurate. After only watching two days ago, it even gives me a better understanding of the movie. All the information provided would inform the everyday viewer with all the information they would need about the film. It follows the wikipedia guidelines for useful articles.
The next topic is something a bit different from a movie. After searching 'Dogs' in wikipedia, straight away it gives information about where Dogs originate from, different breeds of Dogs even the large variety of sizes and colours of different Dogs today. After scrolling down the many pages, it provides physical characteristics, the evolution, behaviours, and intellegent facts. For anyone that didnt know alot about dogs, this page is very useful. The information provided gives a great understanding of Dogs in general. The information seems very accurate and follows the guidelines for useful articles.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Entry 3. - Questions that need answering.
Search engine – www.yahoo.com
1. Who was the creator of the infamous "lovebug" computer virus?
The Love Bug virus destroyed computer files, stole passwords and e-mail addresses, and replicated itself.
Onel de Guzman, 24, a computer school student, has admitting writing a password-stealing program as a school project.
source: http://archives.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/06/29/philippines.lovebug.02/index.html
2. Who invented the paper clip?
Although, the claim has been disputed, most sources cite Norwegian Johan Vaaler as the inventor of the simple yet effective paper clip.
source: http://ask.yahoo.com/20031120.html
3. How did the Ebola virus get its name?
Ebola was first recognized in 1976, and since then it has appeared sporadically. The virus gets its name from a river in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it was first recognized.
source: http://ebola.emedtv.com/ebola-virus/from-what-place-did-the-ebola-virus-get-its-name.html
4. What country had the largest recorded earthquake?
The honor of greatest earthquake of all time goes to the 1960 Chile earthquake because scientists were able to 'catch this one on tape'.
source: http://www.extremescience.com/GreatestEarthquake.htm
5. In computer memory/storage terms, how many kilobytes in a terabyte?
1000 kilobytes in a megabyte
1000 megabytes in a gigabyte.
1000 gigabytes in a terrabyte.
actual number: 1073 million ???
source: http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071022065226AAI8zxw
6. Who is the creator of email?
Ray Tomlinson is credited with inventing email in 1972
source: http://www.nethistory.info/History%20of%20the%20Internet/email.html
7. What is the storm worm, and how many computers are infected by it?
......
8. If you wanted to contact the prime minister of australia directly,
what is the most efficient way?
Letter, email, phone. Although these ways are not exactly efficient.
9. Which Brisbane-based punk band is Stephen Stockwell (Head of the School
of Arts) a member of?
The Black Assassins were a vital part of the Brisbane Punk scene which developed in the late 1970's and early 1980's. They played at every major venue at one time or another. Sometimes they got banned for outrageous behaviour.
source: http://members.optusnet.com.au/~toxicoh/blackas.htm
10. What does the term "Web 2.0" mean in your own words?
Web 2.0 is now a trend used in World Wide Web technology and web design that aims to facilitate creativity, information sharing, and also increase communication among its users. The web is now a platform that we can all contribute to.
1. Who was the creator of the infamous "lovebug" computer virus?
The Love Bug virus destroyed computer files, stole passwords and e-mail addresses, and replicated itself.
Onel de Guzman, 24, a computer school student, has admitting writing a password-stealing program as a school project.
source: http://archives.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/06/29/philippines.lovebug.02/index.html
2. Who invented the paper clip?
Although, the claim has been disputed, most sources cite Norwegian Johan Vaaler as the inventor of the simple yet effective paper clip.
source: http://ask.yahoo.com/20031120.html
3. How did the Ebola virus get its name?
Ebola was first recognized in 1976, and since then it has appeared sporadically. The virus gets its name from a river in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it was first recognized.
source: http://ebola.emedtv.com/ebola-virus/from-what-place-did-the-ebola-virus-get-its-name.html
4. What country had the largest recorded earthquake?
The honor of greatest earthquake of all time goes to the 1960 Chile earthquake because scientists were able to 'catch this one on tape'.
source: http://www.extremescience.com/GreatestEarthquake.htm
5. In computer memory/storage terms, how many kilobytes in a terabyte?
1000 kilobytes in a megabyte
1000 megabytes in a gigabyte.
1000 gigabytes in a terrabyte.
actual number: 1073 million ???
source: http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071022065226AAI8zxw
6. Who is the creator of email?
Ray Tomlinson is credited with inventing email in 1972
source: http://www.nethistory.info/History%20of%20the%20Internet/email.html
7. What is the storm worm, and how many computers are infected by it?
......
8. If you wanted to contact the prime minister of australia directly,
what is the most efficient way?
Letter, email, phone. Although these ways are not exactly efficient.
9. Which Brisbane-based punk band is Stephen Stockwell (Head of the School
of Arts) a member of?
The Black Assassins were a vital part of the Brisbane Punk scene which developed in the late 1970's and early 1980's. They played at every major venue at one time or another. Sometimes they got banned for outrageous behaviour.
source: http://members.optusnet.com.au/~toxicoh/blackas.htm
10. What does the term "Web 2.0" mean in your own words?
Web 2.0 is now a trend used in World Wide Web technology and web design that aims to facilitate creativity, information sharing, and also increase communication among its users. The web is now a platform that we can all contribute to.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Entry 2. - The Luxury of Having New Communication Technologies.
Getting straight into it, I guess the first thing I would like to say is...without new communication technologies, my life would be very simple and very different. For the past 4 years i have pretty much lived on myspace, making it the main source of contacting my friends, keeping in touch with my sister and meeting a bunch of new people. In a way, it is my second mobile phone. I wouldnt go as far as to say I am a myspace junkie, but I do enjoy using it to communicate. With everything else that is available in this day and age for example blogging, email, downloads basically everything on a computer, where would we be without it? For me thats is one thing I hate thinking about.
But on a serious note, who doesnt have a myspace, facebook or hotmail account? Anyone who is reading this must be someone who either enjoys reading blogs or is a blogger themselves. It only proves that technology these days has virtually taken over our lives.
Basically since I have had my myspace account I have met a bunch of new people, people who live locally to me, even people from overseas. For those select few i have met on myspace from either overseas or from a different state in Australia wouldnt necessarily be classed as a friend of mine (personally). For sure myspace has introduced me to people i would of most likely never of spoken to before, which i think is awesome.
Myspace was definately a craze back in the day when i first got one, all the cool kids had one, so of course i had to have one too.
Anywho, sitting here in my 'new communication technologies' class, i can hear the keyboards typing and the mouses clicking, i would go as far to say that alot of people these days rely on their computer to get them through. Of course there are distinct social connections between my family and friends with ' new communications', heck! i don't know one person who doesnt have a source of communication on a computer. When used in the right way, these communication technologies are an effective way to keep in touch with people.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Entry 1. - Me in a Nutshell.
Hello, whoever may be reading this blog. This is the first of many entries i will be making. For those who are interested i will be writing about how i feel, particular topics that interest me and basically my life in general.
I have recently started University, and i must say, it is a huge step for me. Personally i wanted to take a year off, just to give my brain a break of study overload, but i have realised if i were to have that break i would of never wanted to study again. Being here has definately opened my eyes, just meeting different people, and seeing people from all walks of life. Anyway enough of the boring stuff...
I guess when it comes to writing a blog you all of a sudden have nothing to write or talk about. And i know i have many things floating around in my brain that i would like to type, but finding just one topic for now, is the hardest part.
Right now i feel like i have the world at my feet. I am so happy in a relationship with my boyfriend, my sister is home from overseas for three months, and my parents, well i don't think i could ask for better ones. But like everyone else, i still don't know what is around the corner. And as soon as i find out i will im sure you will too.
That is all for now.
All Smiles.
I have recently started University, and i must say, it is a huge step for me. Personally i wanted to take a year off, just to give my brain a break of study overload, but i have realised if i were to have that break i would of never wanted to study again. Being here has definately opened my eyes, just meeting different people, and seeing people from all walks of life. Anyway enough of the boring stuff...
I guess when it comes to writing a blog you all of a sudden have nothing to write or talk about. And i know i have many things floating around in my brain that i would like to type, but finding just one topic for now, is the hardest part.
Right now i feel like i have the world at my feet. I am so happy in a relationship with my boyfriend, my sister is home from overseas for three months, and my parents, well i don't think i could ask for better ones. But like everyone else, i still don't know what is around the corner. And as soon as i find out i will im sure you will too.
That is all for now.
All Smiles.
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