Money, money and money.

Technology nowadays is revolving faster than ever. The release of iPd has drwn a lot of ttention all over the world. Apple being a very valued international brand yet has done it again. However, a funny picture has been spreading over the internet for the past few weeks. So far apple has released new gadgets about once every two years. When they release these gadgets they don't only release them once. With minor alterations they tend to add a number at the end calling some the 2nd generation, the 3rd generation and so on, encouraging consumers to purchase the latest model out there. This photo however, criticizes the iPad. People have stated that at this rate by 2012 Apple will release an iBoard, by 2014 an iMat. These functions do not vary much in technical sense, but just alterations of size.

Although the world had been drawn to the release of iPad with excitement, if we own an iPhone or an iPod touch, how much does it really differ? Is it worth all the costs? Owning an iPod Touch myself, the iPad didn't seem new to me at all. The functions were very similar, and having bought my iPod touch not long ago, I just couldn't see the point of buying an iPad, which has very similar functions to the gadget I already have. Some argue that producers are just infor it for our money. That they are constanly in the race to release new products and fooling us into buying new gadgetes every few months. How far are these people willing to go? What new inventions will emerge in the next few years? How are these people manipulating us to purchase new goods when the old ones work just fine?

you are 5 and you have a cell phone? whom do you call?

“you are 5 and you have a mobile phone”, is a very common statement used these days by many adults and even teenagers. But there is nothing to be surprised about. These days, young kids own a mobile phone and they know how to use it including operating very complicated functions like operating a GPS or sending emails through phones. But is it meant for them?

Children own phones not because they have to make real use of it like make important phone calls or text messages containing important information. It is merely to show off to their mates that they own a mobile phone and use it as they like. However, it is very unsafe as children are exposed to a lot of information which they aren’t supposed to be exposed to at a tender age. For example, children are prone to giving their cell numbers to many people who in turn send them text and multimedia messages having sexual content which affects the mental health of children. Moreover, the personal and private nature of mobile phones makes parental supervision almost impossible.

Moreover, children are addicted to mobile phones. It has become an integral part of their life. The EMC world has published a report which says that children are addicted to cell phones more than toys and they can’t live without it and parents often cannot keep a check on what do the children do with mobile phones.

It is not only harmful to the child’s mental health but also to their brain. A research proves that children at the age of 10 or below are prone to ear tumors by 4 times compared to adults. The radiations from cell phones can also affect their DNA. To prevent the misuse of cell phones, a special mobile phone was devised in UK but was withdrawn from the market because it encouraged children at that age to buy a mobile phone.



Cell phones are necessary to an extent when parents want to contact their children or for use in emergency but children aren’t mature enough to decide what is right and what is wrong for them. Parents should be careful while giving cell phones to children and should take it back when the need is over. Also children should be made to understand what they should do and what not in order to maintain their privacy and safety.

New Media: Master or Slave.

New Media is becoming an increasingly integrated part of everyday life, with the internet fast becomeing a basic human right and fast replacing both postal mail and most forms of print media in terms of popularity, the question of whether new media is our master or our slave becomes all the more important. New Media is master only to the extent that we allow it to be.

Email can often be peoples master as most people check their email daily even though everyone knows that the vast majority of their mail will be junk that they dont want or need, be it spam, chain letters, or communications from people we are trying to ignore.

SEX. Do I have your attention now? Good. Read on.

If you have ever ventured into the land of Chat Roulette, chances are that you will have seen a dude in a really compromising position.

With the birth of the Internet came the invention of a million and one ways to access sexual content. Whether it's photographs, Mills & Boone for the Net Geners, or letting anyone with a webcam watch you engage in some serious self-loving, as a community the Internet has exposed the truth about humans: they think about sex a fair amount.

As a new form of community, the Internet has also forced the invention of new ways for the people of its community to interact with one another and their new environment. One of these interactions which has made the transition from physical to digital space is sexuality.

Sexuality is the human desire to be intimate with others, and to express this intimacy physically. Often this can be difficult, as the propensity to trust another human is not something that one can force. Trust boundaries between people can be something of an obstacle for intimacy to be achieved.

In the Digital Age, however, these boundaries are broken down when people interact over digital space, as they are removed from the physical presence of the person they are trying to create intimacy with. There is an argument that intimacy is only imagined when people are not in the same physical space, as the element of touch is missing, but cybersex is a stress on the importance of fantasy and the independence of a person created by, ahem, a little 'self-love'.

Cybersex could be a viable solution to many problems of 'actual' sex. Often the most difficult part of any sexual act is the mutual anxiety about anticipating how the other person will respond to certain things, which breeds an atmosphere of worry and fear- the exact opposite of what sex is supposed to achieve.

Cybersex also removes the potential for STIs and unwanted pregnancy, not to mention the Awkward Morning After Dance, or person-shaped hole in your bedroom wall/car door.

And the best part would be that the other person can't see the funny faces you might make.

As long as you're anonymous, huh.

The Good of Second Life

Since we so often focus on the sleazy side of technology and the harm it can do, I'd like to dedicate a post to some advantages of virtual worlds, specifically Second Life. I am by no means a proponent of Second Life. In fact, I dislike it as a social network for many reasons, but there are definite educational and work advantages to it.

In a previous course at my home university I had a term project that required me to create a Second Life account and participate in the world. The goal was to become an expert on all things Second Life and report back to the class on my experience. Naturally I came across the dodgier side of the world, often being engaged by less than savory characters. However I learned a lot about the innovative uses of virtual space for educational and business purposes. Many institutions have created “islands” for their students and employees to meet in. Both universities and businesses can hold in world conferences and classes for people who normally would not be able to attend such functions. For classes specifically, Second Life offers individuals opportunities to not just learn about their subject, but to experience it. Of course the experience is still dampened by the fact it is not actually hands on but it definitely is a step in the right direction.

A really good example of the use of creative space in Second Life came from the University of Sydney. The island incorporated areas where Greek mythology students had recreated scenes from different myths. Near each scene was a brief write-up about the myth. On the other side of the island was a hospital. This was particularly interesting, because it integrated action functions where avatars could take on the role of patient, nurse or doctor. It allows med students to apply their knowledge in virtual role-playing created and moderated by educators (Sanchez, 2009).

So there you have it! A lesser discussed topic of virtual worlds, but it is important to remember that legitimate steps forward in the use of virtual technology are happening alongside the sketchier bits.

Sanchez, J. (2009). Pedagogical Applications of Second Life. Library Technology Reports, 45(2), 21-28. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

Wikileaks and Privacy

There has been talk about privacy on the internet with individuals. This has been discussed about what apple's contracts do when apple gets hold of information about you and spreads it to marketing compaines or possibly some actually dangerous hands on the net.

This is all very fine and well for individuals but what about what is happening with Wikileaks releasing documents on the Afganistan war and the public safety at large?

These documents contain various things including drones attacks that can be discribed as war crimes. Bradley Manning, Julian Assange (the Wikileaks founder), Wikileaks itself and others who support what Wikileaks is doing condone these war crimes and want the right to publish these documents to the world public. Yet others say (including the American government) that this can lead to bad things in America and around the world to the public safety and that the people listed above are the crooks.

When the issue of privacy is put in a situation like this it gets very contenous. The American government here seems to be like the individual who signs up to something on apple or creates a profile on facebook. They want to front a certain image of themselves, and yet could have a darker side that could be expressed on the internet. The internet is in a sense a stage for war, between the private and the public side of life and that these political notions are not just at the individual level but are at the levels of bigger bodies.

You're my friend, right?

I found myself consumed with questions surrounding what is a friend in the last lecture. Is it because we have never seen a friend physically in 'real life' that they can't be a 'friend'? I admit I have judged friends for having a text 'relationship' when they haven't met the other person. I mean, how can you call someone your boyfriend if you haven't even met them anyway?? O_o It's my belief that although one may share quite a bit of intimate information about them with another via txting or chat etc that the relationship may not be as successful when it comes to real life. A common downfall of these relationships I've found is trust or the lack thereof. But there is also the chemistry, that spark experienced virtually that falls short when it comes to physical companionship. Even when it comes to just plain old friends from school, people find it easier to relate to them online since they know their conversation would be filled with silence if held in person. I know I do.

In being a pessimist of online/txt friendship, I have to err 'give credit where it is due'. Explanation; The friendship and intimacy achieved virtually cannot be deemed any less important and meaningful to people involved. It's just a type of relationship that may not be as successful in the physical world.