Review of Google Blog February 5, 2008

This past week I have been following Google’s official blog. I kind of have an addiction to G-mail and anything Google related, so I thought it might be an interesting read. It actually ended up not talking about what I expected (although I’m not really sure what I expected…) but the topics it did cover I found interesting.

February 4, 2008 Super Tuesday on YouTube

Google has created a central location to follow news, by means of a virtual map. This is the first presidential election in which YouTube has given voters the same power to broadcast in the same magnitude as large broadcasting agencies. Google will select videos from around the country, and update them on a regular basis. The viewing will be very interactive, where users can select different regions of the country to view highlights.

February 3, 2008 Yahoo and the Future of the Internet

Microsoft is currently trying to buy Yahoo! which Google is not too excited about. They claim that the underlying principle of the internet is openness and innovation. The monopoly that Microsoft employs would in their opinion destroy the foundation in which the internet is built. Google believes the the interest of the internet users needs to come first, and Microsoft is not partaking in this.

January 31, 2008 International Science and Engineering Fair

The International Science and Engineering Fair will take place in 2010, sponsored by Google. Around 1,200 students will be able to compete in this intense competition for over three million dollars in scholarship.

This article excited me because in High School I was a HUGE Science Fair nerd. I worked on a project for over 4 years, and if I had time, I would continue to build on it.

January 30, 2008 Google Finance UK Open for Business

Google’s UK Finance website is now live. Those living in the UK can now enjoy Google’s site that provides access to stock prices, mutual funds, financial news, blogs, and charts. This is expected to be a huge success.

Well that sums up a week in the life of Google. I wish my life was that productive.

PBS Video: Growing Up Online January 30, 2008

The video PBS aired, Growing Up Online, brought to focus a lot of the aspects of the internet that I am very interested in.  The aspects of social networking and how it impacts people on a day to day basis absolutely fascinates me.  I found that watching the documentary that I have encountered more of these issues than I had thought. 

One thing that I found particularly entertaining was the the 8 year old using club penguin.  The idea itself made me laugh and I want to look it up when I go home later. 

The use of the internet as a means for cutting corners in class, specifically sparknotes, cliffnotes, and essay help websites, I feel has truly had a negative effect on the education system.  It has encouraged people not to read and to cheat themselves of a truly hands on education.  However, I do get annoyed with sites such as turnitin.com that try to catch plagiarism by comparing papers turned in to a huge database of online and print publications.  In high school I had to turn in several research papers to turnitin.com for AP English and wanted to strangle the computer half the time.  Even though I had not intentionally copied anything, it always came back that I had plagiarized any where from 5-15% of the document.  But seriously, there are only so many ways you can write “Robert Frost was born March 26.”  I found that the most difficult task was not in writing the paper, but how to convince turnitin.com that you were creative enough to write a sentence that someone hasn’t written in all of history. 

Now that I’m through with that rant… another part of the documentary that amused me was the parent that wanted her childrens’ passwords, at least in a sealed envelope.  My mom made me do this when I was about in 7th grade and I thought it was the most ridiculous thing ever.  I wasn’t trying to hide anything, but I didn’t want her looking through my stuff.  I put my password in an envelope, and then duct taped the hell out of it.  It is funny how times have changed, because now on my mom’s computer all my passwords are saved and I know she has access to whatever she wants of mine.  I trust her, so it doesn’t bother me, and I know there have been times when I’ve asked her to check my mail for me if I couldn’t access a computer and was anticipating an email. 

I agree that a lot of things get published online about people without their knowledge.  I work with a woman at a hospital during the breaks that I absolutely love, and her son works there part time as well.  He mentioned to me that he had posted a video of his mom on YouTube and to search for “mom” and “jedi master.”  I looked it up and sure enough, Rosalie was front and center in a hilarious video of her dancing around the living room with a jedi laser thing.  But when she found out she was horrified.  Eli still thought it was hilarious and refused to take it down. (I highly suggest you check it out.)

I thought the phrase “why tell your parents when you can tell the whole world” was really interesting.  I feel like the internet has provided a good source for group support in many cases but has been detrimental in some cases. For instance, there are support groups for parents who have children with similar learning disabilities where they can communicate with each other and provide resources and support.  But on the opposite side there are sites that provide encouragement for those who are anorexic (proAna, proMia sites) or those who are depressed and are considering suicide.

What I overall got from the PBS video was that the internet is so vast, and place a label on it as socially good or bad is too complicated and not possible.   

My Mom’s First Internet/Computer Experience January 28, 2008

I interviewed my mom about her first experience using a computer and the internet to compare to my own experience. She first used a computer in 1993 when she was working at a hospital as a nurse; she was 40 years old. The hospital had just initiated computerized Nurse’s Notes and it was mandatory that they all learn to chart on the computer. What she found most difficult at first was the usage of the mouse. For about the next ten years she didn’t use the computer for much more than charting, so she didn’t gain experience until she took a job in research. It was when she started working with databases and took a computer skills class that she started to feel comfortable with the computer, and enjoyed using it. Other than the transition to research, she credits email and Ebay with helping her learn how to better navigate the computer. She didn’t jump into the internet sensation until the past few years, but since then has been fond of it. The only problem she really faced with the internet was website navigation. Since she has increased the amount of internet usage she feels more comfortable, but still finds it tricky.

It is interesting to me that even though my mother started using the computers at an age 30 years older than I began, that we felt uncomfortable with the same things and had difficulty with the same elements. She and I both struggled with the mouse. I know my grandma did as well. It still pains me to watch my grandma use the computer, because she is so slow with the mouse and typing. I think the ability to perform well on the computer really depends on how old people were when they began and how much need there is for them to use it. I think my mother would still struggle with the computer if she wasn’t forced to use it constantly at work. We both have enjoyed the same benefits of the technology: from storing photos to email to quick information retrieval and communication. Although there are generational gaps in the agility in learning how to use the computer, I think it safe to say the mouse tripped everyone up.

My First Internet/Computer Experience January 23, 2008

What is your earliest memory of using a computer or the internet? How has your computer use changed since then?

In first grade, the “GT” students were separated from our regular classes and were taken to a special room where we were taught extra stuff, which usually included the most recent technology or something creative. I believe that it was in either first or second grade when I first used a computer, but I do not have a clear memory of that time. My first experience with a computer that I truly remember took place when I was in third grade in my GT class. We had to write a book paralleling the book When I Was Young in the Mountains. We had to type it and illustrate it on the computer. I remember thinking the computer was the coolest thing in the world, but really complicated. I am not artistically inclined by any means, and the computer allowed me to use stamps instead of having to free hand draw a cat. Once I got the hang of how to use the computer, I found it very easy. However, those first few uses were overwhelming. The mouse was hard for me to navigate, especially because it was the kind with the ball that always would get stuck on the mouse pad. I probably could only type three words a minute, and it most likely took me forever to find the keys. I would have never imagined that my life would eventually depend so on a computer. I finished the project, and created what I thought was a masterpiece of literature. I still have the book on a shelf at home, and every time I see it I am reminded of how my computer world began. I wish whatever program we used for illustrations was still around… I quite liked it.

I remember using the internet at school in the years following my first computer experience, but what I remember the most is when I got the internet at home in 5th grade. AOL was the second coming of Jesus as far as my friends and I were concerned. Looking back, that horrible dial up connection took forever to load and was so unreliable. I remember that my mom would always know when I getting on-line, because when AOL would connect, the connection noise was so loud that it could be heard throughout the house. I get frustrated now when a page doesn’t load in a matter of seconds, but in 6th grade, if a page loaded in a couple of minutes I was happy.

My use of the computer has obviously increased significantly since third and fifth grade. I type all my notes, take my laptop to class, type all my papers, research on the internet, talk to my friends and family via email and instant messenger, and store all my photos and music on the computer. I cannot imagine my life without my computer. I can type quickly, and no longer have to look at the keyboard to find the letters like I did for so many years. I love the computer, but I do miss the simplicity of some things like snail mail. I LOVE getting real mail. But I feel like that’s a small trade for all that the computer has done to improve the quality of my work and ease in which it is done. And plus, the computer is just so darn entertaining. A little too distracting at times though.

Blog #1 January 22, 2008

1. What do you know about the internet?

The internet is a network of networks and connects millions of people world wide.  I know that it allows mass amounts of information to be transmitted quickly and easily while being easily accessible to those who seek it.  I know that my roommate spends hours upon hours watching YouTube videos and playing World of Warcraft on the internet. 

2. What do you think about the internet?

I think the internet is a wonderful tool in increasing communication world wide.  Through email people are easily connected and able to communicate quickly.  Social networking aspects of the internet are extremely interesting to me because they have changed the face of socializing significantly.  Now if one desires, they could communicate freely with someone they have never met in a country different from their own with ease and privacy.  This secretive nature of the internet however causes a lot of controversy.  So having said that, the problem that I have the most with the internet is within how creepy people can be on it while maintaining a secretive identity.  I also think the internet is fabulous for relaying news stories quickly.  Today I found out via FaceBook that Heath Ledger died approximately 30 minutes after his death.  I find that slightly disturbing, but it is a prime example of how quickly information can be transmitted. 

I also feel like the internet is very distracting.  It always seems to be successful in distracting me from my homework.  Between FaceBook, CNN, and random websites, there is an endless amount of distraction available.

3. What do you wonder about the internet?

I wonder how the internet is monitored, if much at all.  I wonder where the future of the internet is, and what interesting new additions will come about in years to come. Additionally I wonder what the psychological and social impacts from online networking (via FaceBook, MySpace, etc) have risen and will come in the years to come.

Hello world! January 22, 2008

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