Wishlist for the future

1. Someone to give computer/laptop lessons to all the children in primary schools. Like how do anti-virus programs work? Why does the laptop shut down randomly. (THIS HAPPENS TO ME ALOT )): WHY. ITS SO ANNOYING. i've tried googling for answers but there isn't a solid answer) How to ...etc etc. I'm pretty sure i would have benefited alot from such programs if there were any..

2. Faster/better internet connection please! The wireless i have at home is atrocious! ): It disconnects me every now and then so much so that i can't have a proper conversation on MSN. I'M LOSING MY FRIENDS!!!! My friend choobs (cute nickname right!), suggested that he form a facebook group to unite all my friends who have given up on talking to me online. ultra depressing really..

3. That technology wouldn't develop TOO quickly. Honestly speaking, when Mr. Choy showed us the video about the future possibilites, it scared me quite abit. I kept thinking, i really need to get out and see the world before it is all gone and replaced by a technological equivalvent! ): Perhaps there should be some sort of balance between how fast technology develops and how much technology are we ready to handle. I mean, there are all sorts of ramifications to society if too much technology was unloaded onto us and if it were to be abused.

4. BETTER VIDEO STREAMING!!! I hope to one day, hook up my laptop to the television (im sure its possible now,i just am technologicall inept. anyone want to volunteer to teach me?) and watch the latest episodes of my favourite TV serial in HD for free!! Quite shiok no? Like home theater! Lots of websites currently face technical and financial difficulties in trying to provide quality videos to its viewers, i hope that something can be done about this soon! Local television leaves a bad taste in my mouth, i haven't watched a local drama in like 4 years??

5. Last but not least, a pocket travel guide! It could be like a combination of how to get there maps with varying difficulty for the people who can't read maps. The best places to stay and to eat with different categories to choose from. Latest and updated times of transport in the countries, translator so we can communicate effectively!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q41HJTsCoI4! Watch this video, short summary of how europe views the future!

Travelling the world one couch at a time

Recently, an ex-classmate of mine (boyfriend to one of my close friends) embarked on a backpacking trip to europe. I'm sure this is a common story, eurotrips are frequently planned and embarked on especially at this period of time where the ord boys have nothing better to do. However, what was different about my ex-classmate's trip was that he actually enlisted the aid of a social networking website to help him on his trip. I first heard about it when he hosted 2 foreign girls at his place not too long ago.

Couchsurfing as stated on their website is a worldwide network for making connections between travelers and the local communities they visit. http://www.couchsurfing.org/ It is a non-profit organization therefore, registration is free and they do all that they can to ensure a safe enviornment for people to travel the world. So how does it work?

1. Create a profile! Besides basic information, include photos! They could be of your country, house-accommodation visitors will live in, favourite places to hang out. You can even set some basic ground rules.
   
2. Learn how to read a profile. Look out for details and references that might clue you into the person's habits and character. It pays to be safe! More importantly, look at the icons on the page!

• The couch shows if a member is excited to host, able to host, sometimes able to host, can't host, can't host but wants to meet, or currently traveling
• The verification bar shows if a member is fully verified, partially verified, or not verified. You can also recognize verified members by the check next to their profiles in CouchSearch or on their pictures in other places
• The hands show that a member has been vouched for. The number shows how many vouches he's received.
• The flag shows that a member is a CouchSurfing Ambassador.
• The currency symbols show that a member has given back to the community by making a donation.

3. Start connecting with people! Try to make friends online before you embark on your journey! You can contact your local Ambassador to ask for advice. Ambassadors are active CS members who have volunteered to act as community resources. Or, you could contact a nearby traveler. Find someone you'd like to get to know and offer to show them around your city, or invite them for a coffee.

4. Start couchsurfing prior to your trip!

5. Plan your schedule to be flexible, some couchsurfers might have unexpected business that could crop up and thus not host you for as long as possible.

6. Communicate your plans clearly

7. Couchsurf!

8. Give well-written/thought out feedback! (reference)

Safety issues! I'm sure many people, especially Asians are appalled at the thought of having an unknown stranger in their house and vice versa. What are the security measures put in place by Couchsurfing to ensure the safety of the members?

• Personal references, which hosts and surfers have the option to leave after having used the service.
• An optional credit card verification system, allowing members to "lock in" their name and address by making a credit card payment and entering a code that CouchSurfing mails to the billing address. This also allows CS to recuperate some costs by requiring a fee for verification. For fairness, the verification fee is based on a sliding scale, taking into account the Purchasing Power Parity and Human Development Index of the country of residence.
• A personal vouching system, whereby a member that had been vouched for—originally starting with the founders of the site—might in turn vouch for any number of other members he or she knew or had met through CouchSurfing, and trusts.

Above all, personal judgement is important as well and one can't be too worried about everything. If so, you wouldn't be able to enjoy your trip fully! That said, i would immediately sign up if i had space in my house! :/ Wish i did, i sure wouldn't mind making some international friends. Oh, remember to let your parents know! It's their place not yours! (:

DO YOU KNOW...

Journalism: the profession of reporting or photographing or editing news stories for one of the media (most common medium: newspapers)
With the advent of the Internet age, blogs and major search engines such as Google and Yahoo hopping on the news bandwagon, how will the future of journalism look like?

According to Chris Ahearn is President, Media at Thomson Reuters, journalism will thrive as creators and publishers embrace the collaborative power of new technologies, retool production and distribution strategies and we (media) stop trying to do everything ourselves. While journalism is not synomous with newspapers, it is undeniable that the Internet has made this traditional form of journalism obsolete.

Firstly, with bloggers jumping onto the bandwagon, there will be a new wave of citizen journalism. I cannot imagine how much further this will go but seriously, just look at STOMP.sg
It actually horrifies me that everyone, literally, has the ability to be a reporter. All there is to it is to take a picture of the offending party and then write 1-2 lines about how it annoys you and post it there. A flurry of comments will soon follow. It bothers me firstly, because it is a total invasion of PRIVACY. Some people take the most mundane and stupid pictures on earth. Case in point: Students kissing on a bus. Why can't they just leave them alone? I mean, the government does want babies.....i jest..but surely there can be nothing harmful in some romance?
[ click if you want to read the most stupid stories ever: http://www.stomp.com.sg/ ]


Another example of citizen journalism is local blogger XiaXue who first informed her readers about her suspicions of the romanian diplomat's involvement in the hit and run accident. At the point of time when i read her blog entry, i had no idea what happened but she very succiently provided us(her audience) with the necessary information.
read: http://xiaxue.blogspot.com/2009/12/wah-being-diplomat-is-so-shiok.html and

Secondly, GoogleNews! Well, i do love google but lets face it, i am kind of a traditionalist in the way that i'd feel uncomfortable reading news online. I mean, i really like flipping through the pages with my fingers and sipping a cup of hot tea while i'm at it. (tell me how does that not sound appealing to you at all!) All i can say that while it might not necessarily be a bad thing, i do forsee lots of eyesight problems in the near future. Virtually (haha) everything is moving onto the internet and staring at a bright screen for an obscene amount (i think the latest statistics go up to about 8hrs and more for youth, according to one presentation in class - i pay attention!!) of time will definitely cause eyesight problems. An advantage would be that the internet will be a one-stop destination: you can get everything you want or need there. It is particularly useful when it randomly informs me of certain news when i dont have the time to pick up the newspaper or when i'm lazy (most of the time,haha)

Lastly, the Internet can change the future of journalism by opening up the newsroom and news gathering process (citizen journalism?) to allow the highest quality and valuable content to flow better from creators to publishers. This new network of syndication will serve the needs of publishers and their audiences – not what one organization or another simply wants to produce. This open platform can help publishers to save money and resources, for example, they don't have to write about the same topic since it has already been written and is easily available to their audience. With the saved money and resources, they can then focus on the unique needs of their audience. For example, perhaps more articles on fashion or cooking can be written for those communities.

With that said, i'm excited for the new face of journalism to emerge (although i like my newspapers, i'm all for saving the environment!) and i'm going to go blog about something newsworthy now! (:

Politically correct

Why are the youth of today apathetic towards politics? This question has been on the lips of most politicians for the past 5 years. The more pressing underlying issue that they have with this is that what will happen in the future since these apathetic youth are the ones who will lead the nation!

Well, firstly, I'd like to say that although most of the youth today are apathetic towards politics not all are. I suppose a reason as to why the younger generation are apathetic is that most of the issues discussed are irrelevant to their lives. Many of us depend on our parents for our basic needs and we are not too concerned or bothered about the latest health care bill passed or COE prices. When reading the newspapers about political issues, many are not well-informed enough to understand what is happening and might just accept whatever the newspapers give at face value. Ultimately, there is no connection between the politicians and the youth or the politicians do not address issues relevant to them. This gives rise to the following topic on how the Internet has changed the political landscape.

It is undeniable that the Internet is a powerful weapon, the question is, what do we get when we combine this medium with actual ruling power in the world? I suppose the answer has not been defined but there are certainly notable changes occurring. For example, the Internet has revolutionized the campaigning process. Ever since President Obama's win, media theorists and the like have been deconstructing his entire campaign in efforts to figure out how he effectively wielded the Internet as an instrumental tool in his campaign.

The power of the Internet for political campaigning is clearly illustrated in President's Obama rise to power; he went from a small time politician (known only in his area) to the most powerful man (or so they say) on earth! So what exactly about the campaigning process has changed?

• It has allowed the campaigns to target the younger generation who are IT-savvy. As a result, there is a potential for more votes to be given! This includes the use of social networking sites such as Facebook to connect with the youth.


• There is a constant news update and any speeches or statements that the politicians have made is recorded (through blogs or an official website) and ever present for anyone who wants to review it.


• It can raise funds easily. Online donations are made available and the fact that politicians can easily connect with their supporters allows them to solicit donations.


• Low cost! Connection to the Internet today is fast becoming free and it usually does not cost anything to set up a blog account or an account with any other website. (therefore, profits or rather funds also increase substantially.)

However, there are also certain limitations to the use of the Internet though powerful it may seem. For example:

• Not everyone in the country can have access to the Internet due to socioeconomic reasons, hence it is also important for politicians to get out and have social interactions with everyone.


• Another point to note could be that because the Internet today is primarily made up of prosumers (IE. consumers who also produce information), one can easily hack into a website and change the information on it. Thus, official websites and accounts are susceptible to hacking and misinformation.

Nonetheless, the most important thing to remember is that while the Internet is a powerful tool that can secure votes and money, both crucial to the campaign process, it must be emphasized that it should be use in tandem with the traditional methods of campaigning.

In multiples

While i may not have an apple product, i am certainly no stranger to its marketing strategies. Videos proclaiming the greatness of Apple products can be found everyone on the Internet, this has certainly embedd into the minds of people, especially the younger and more impressionable minds that Apple has the most awesome products. Many hardly give a thought to Nokia or Sony or Samsung, thinking them as old-fashioned or outdated. Today, i'd like to give some attention to these "old" heroes and highlight use of certain multimedia that impressed me.

The LG chocolate touch. Sure,its an old model but it still has good advertising! First up, a picture:Next: A video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyaLAXKoHT4 Not too sure why i can't upload/embedd the video ): anyhow, click on the link, its quite funny.

Last but not least, Lg employed a famous Asian blogger: Kenny Sia (who is really hilarious, i like him!) to advertise for them! Click here to read the blogpost: http://kennysia.com/archives/2006/05/lg-chocolate-ph.php

Locked behind windows defender

I must confess, when Singapore had some television drama about the Y2K bug in 2000, i swear i thought it was real! I lived in fear that it might actually invade everything, i think i had nightmares. In retrospect, i've wondered why i was so underinformed..i mean, sure,i was 11 then but it would have been nice for someone to tell me about the reality of it!!

Speaking of which, something as scary as a bug invasion would be the pressing issue of cybercrime in Singapore. Cybercrime is traditional crime such as fraud, theft, extortion, and the like in which the computer is used as an instrument of the crime. Since Singapore is a very affluent country, this makes her the prime target for cyber-crimminals. Singapore faces a fast-developing threat in the shape of web-borne malware. On average, MessageLabs blocked visits to 15 malicious domains for every one of its Singapore clients from April to August 2009 – three times the APAC average and four times the global average. This appears to show that businesses based in Singapore face an unusually wide variety of web threats. Futhermore, based on the collected computer crime cases in Singapore, it has been found out that the top three computer crimes categories were hacking (32.4%), fraud (29.5%), and intellectual property theft (17.1%).

So what steps are the Singapore government taking to tackle this problem then? Some of the steps include the following:

• According to Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, the former Deputy Prime Minister in Singapore, a total of S$38 million had been set aside by the government to beef up Singapore’s cyber-security defenses over the next three years and he announced this at the unveiling of the Infocomm Security Masterplan, which aimed to help Singapore expand its capabilities in cyberspace security.


• There are also various regulations and acts for computer related crime in Singapore. For example, Singapore adopts four approaches in combating computer crime. These are:

1. Passing new legislation that creates crimes where activity warrants it


2. Imposing severe penalties as punishment and as deterrents


3. Providing law enforcement agencies with additional powers, granting them extra-territorial jurisdiction, and creating new agencies with specially trained experts to deal with this technological crimes ( eg. Computer Crimes Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department, the Computer Forensics Branch of the Singapore Police, and the Singapore Computer Emergency Response Team)


4. Making it a crime to abet or even to attempt to perpetrate computer crimes

On a more personal level, it is also important to protect our own computers. A plethora of protection and risk-prevention tools against virus, worms, spyware and phishing exist online and sometimes, it is really hard to distinguish between them. More often than not, i'm sure that most of us just go for the free ones! (I'm definitely guilty of this..) While i may not be an authority on this subject, my best advice would be to

1. Find someone (preferably an IT geek) to help you with the anti-virus what not, make sure that you can trust the person (sorry, i like to state the obvious..)


2. If number 1 fails, i guess you have to rely on the WWW itself, for example, according to TopTopTenReviews, the top ranking anti-virus software in 2009/2010 is BitDefender. (I honestly have no idea what it is..)
   

Sources:

http://www.mediabuzz.com.sg/asian-emarketing/november-december-2009/718-singapore-a-prime-target-for-online-cyber-crime

http://www.las.org.sg/sjlim/SJLIM2009NaCrime.pdf

http://www.crime-research.org/news/01.04.2008/3286/

http://xkcd.com/

Dance!

A video i made to remember the fun performance i had during dec08! (:
Blogger refuses to let me upload the video so boo ):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91XELd-pI1Y