In terms of technology, convergence is when technology is created which could not exist unless previous technologies came before it. Or technologies coming together to perform a similar task.
My first thought when this topic was brought up was modern day cell phones. These items could not exist if landline phones did not exist, or wireless, or the internet, or digital photography. And that's only naming a few of the technologies which reside within the default cellular phone.
The characteristics of this happening are usually data throughput, access, computational speed, and memory usage.
-Data Throughput: The measure of how many units of information can be processed in a given amount of time to a determined location.
-Access: How an individual is able to obtain this technology and be able to use it.
-Computational Speed: How fast information can be processed in an amount of time. Moore's law can apply to this section which states that every 2 years computational speed will double.
-Memory Usage: The computers ability to both store information and obtain information at one moment and then get rid of it or place it back in storage the next moment.
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
What Makes a Community? Can Tech Be a Community?
To me a community can be formed from a combination of those of a similar mindset, a place to gather, and the willingness to aid one another to name a few.
When you go online to a particular site such as Facebook, a forum or a game there are bound to be people who are there for the same reasons that you are. More specifically on a site such as Facebook you can search their website for officially made communities that range from several topic, in a forum based setting each individual forum is based on a specific topic which people of a like-mind communicate with one another.
Facebook, forums, and games can also serve as a place to gather. From personal experience however I view games as the better of the three examples provided. This is because I feel there is a better interaction between the players through their microphones which they use to talk to each other as well as the actions of their avatars. With games you can better see that everyone is in one place in a server.
The willingness to aid one another is a tricky subject for both a real community and a internet one. Mainly because on both cases the question becomes "Whats in it for me?" which to me still counts but to some may not. The willingness t aid someone can range from information gathering, obtaining an item of physically doing the task alongside the person in need of help which can be done online but through slightly different means.
When you go online to a particular site such as Facebook, a forum or a game there are bound to be people who are there for the same reasons that you are. More specifically on a site such as Facebook you can search their website for officially made communities that range from several topic, in a forum based setting each individual forum is based on a specific topic which people of a like-mind communicate with one another.
Facebook, forums, and games can also serve as a place to gather. From personal experience however I view games as the better of the three examples provided. This is because I feel there is a better interaction between the players through their microphones which they use to talk to each other as well as the actions of their avatars. With games you can better see that everyone is in one place in a server.
The willingness to aid one another is a tricky subject for both a real community and a internet one. Mainly because on both cases the question becomes "Whats in it for me?" which to me still counts but to some may not. The willingness t aid someone can range from information gathering, obtaining an item of physically doing the task alongside the person in need of help which can be done online but through slightly different means.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Classmate Presentation
Presentation: Bitcoin
By: Leif Fieldden
A form of digital currency which cannot be created and has to be found.
It is produced by businesses around the world and cannot be controlled by anyone. Because of this governments cannot properly tax Bitcoin and there are difficulties attempting to regulate it.
If an individual is unable to find their own Bitcoins they are able to purchase it. How it was explained in the presentation Bitcoin prices are not set in stone, a person who is selling Bitcoin sells it for a determined price and an another person from somewhere in the world who wants it for around that price can buy it. Bitcoin can be bought with normal currency.
In order to own Bitcoin you must have a Bitcoin wallet which can be bought online. Different wallets offer different levels of protection.
An individual who has been suspected to be the inventor of Bitcoin is a man named Satoshi Nakamoto, but this is not conformed and is suggested by the presenter.
Bitcoin at one point was used on secret websites selling questionable to illegal goods such as porn, drugs, and at times weapons.
By: Leif Fieldden
A form of digital currency which cannot be created and has to be found.
It is produced by businesses around the world and cannot be controlled by anyone. Because of this governments cannot properly tax Bitcoin and there are difficulties attempting to regulate it.
If an individual is unable to find their own Bitcoins they are able to purchase it. How it was explained in the presentation Bitcoin prices are not set in stone, a person who is selling Bitcoin sells it for a determined price and an another person from somewhere in the world who wants it for around that price can buy it. Bitcoin can be bought with normal currency.
In order to own Bitcoin you must have a Bitcoin wallet which can be bought online. Different wallets offer different levels of protection.
An individual who has been suspected to be the inventor of Bitcoin is a man named Satoshi Nakamoto, but this is not conformed and is suggested by the presenter.
Bitcoin at one point was used on secret websites selling questionable to illegal goods such as porn, drugs, and at times weapons.
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Guest Speaker Erik Hanberg
Not to long ago our class was visited by a man named Erik Hanberg, who is currently serves as one of the commissioners for the Metro Parks in Tacoma. Hanberg is also an author of science fiction novels, and has started up several small companies and web sites.
Part of his speech was dedicated to telling the class how websites such as Amazon and devices such as the kindle have made ECommerce easier to perform than ever before because everybody has an opportunity to sell goods, promote themselves online, and are able to publish their writings by putting them online. He also states hoe the internet is an opportunity for creative and self driven individuals that are willing to succeed in the world of technology.
He also mentions later on that the amount of online privacy we have today will most likely be the most we will ever have. This is surprising to me not because of paranoia, but because I thought we already had no privacy online.
He also talked briefly about the effects of disintermediation, which is the removal of the "middleman." In terms of publishing a book this may be a publishing or marketing company. He also stresses how one in this position needs to spend his/her time working and promoting oneself or else their work may go unnoticed by the general public.
Part of his speech was dedicated to telling the class how websites such as Amazon and devices such as the kindle have made ECommerce easier to perform than ever before because everybody has an opportunity to sell goods, promote themselves online, and are able to publish their writings by putting them online. He also states hoe the internet is an opportunity for creative and self driven individuals that are willing to succeed in the world of technology.
He also mentions later on that the amount of online privacy we have today will most likely be the most we will ever have. This is surprising to me not because of paranoia, but because I thought we already had no privacy online.
He also talked briefly about the effects of disintermediation, which is the removal of the "middleman." In terms of publishing a book this may be a publishing or marketing company. He also stresses how one in this position needs to spend his/her time working and promoting oneself or else their work may go unnoticed by the general public.
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Dot.com to Dot.bomb
The Dot.com boom began in the early 1990's, ends around 2001, and slowly recovers until 2003.
During the early 1990's many businesses wanted an online presence in order to stand out above the competition or wanted more exposure in the public eye. They were typically funded by venture capitalists due to the small sizes of many of these companies.
At this point the costs of creating these websites began to soar as well as the costs to hire people or companies who are able to build these websites.
During the period between 1997 and 2000 is when the Dot.bomb occurred. At this time the costs of websites and employees to maintain such sites reached the point that many businesses were forced to go bankrupt such as Pets.com and Marchfirst, or be bought out by another company.
Businesses were also forced to fire large portions of their workforce.
At this point InfoSpace is worth more than Boeing and the stock market goes down due to over-inflated stocks.
The web begins to make a recovery around 2002-03 with Amazon.com posting a profit and Expedia.com exceeding analyst expectations. In 2003 the job market begins to rebound, interest increases for technology o=in medicine, and InfoSpace begins to recover.
During the early 1990's many businesses wanted an online presence in order to stand out above the competition or wanted more exposure in the public eye. They were typically funded by venture capitalists due to the small sizes of many of these companies.
At this point the costs of creating these websites began to soar as well as the costs to hire people or companies who are able to build these websites.
During the period between 1997 and 2000 is when the Dot.bomb occurred. At this time the costs of websites and employees to maintain such sites reached the point that many businesses were forced to go bankrupt such as Pets.com and Marchfirst, or be bought out by another company.
Businesses were also forced to fire large portions of their workforce.
At this point InfoSpace is worth more than Boeing and the stock market goes down due to over-inflated stocks.
The web begins to make a recovery around 2002-03 with Amazon.com posting a profit and Expedia.com exceeding analyst expectations. In 2003 the job market begins to rebound, interest increases for technology o=in medicine, and InfoSpace begins to recover.
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
What 3 Things Would You Never Buy Online?
With the topic of web commerce being introduced and how a majority of people use it a question came up asking what we would not buy online. Here's my top 3:
1). Food. I would not buy this because you are unable to check the item to determine whether it is in good condition or not. If someone were to order food online it would need to function in the same respect as take-out or delivery or else the food would not last long.
2). Clothing. Though I do not have never done this before I always think of the scenario where I order clothing online and nothing is the proper size because I'm ordering from a company or even a country that uses a different size system for clothing.
3). Electronics. By electronics I do not mean video games, I mean things like televisions, gaming systems, appliances, etc., the reason for this is not because I feel like I might get ripped off or receive a "bootleg" product. I am afraid that what I ordered will get damaged in transit to its destination(s). This category is kind of hypocritical because with some of the electronics I buy it is fair to ask "how did they get to the store in the first place?" which the response would most likely be a form of transit whether it be by plane, car, or van.
4). A functioning human liver. First of all, don't judge. Second due to the common 5-7 business days it would take to ship anything it would most likely expire by the time it arrived making it unable to be "used" or perhaps consumed for nourishment. And don't get me started on the questions people ask once you obtain such a thing, asking stuff like "Why do you have a liver," and "Give me back my liver," and the most common "I'm calling the cops you freak."
1). Food. I would not buy this because you are unable to check the item to determine whether it is in good condition or not. If someone were to order food online it would need to function in the same respect as take-out or delivery or else the food would not last long.
2). Clothing. Though I do not have never done this before I always think of the scenario where I order clothing online and nothing is the proper size because I'm ordering from a company or even a country that uses a different size system for clothing.
3). Electronics. By electronics I do not mean video games, I mean things like televisions, gaming systems, appliances, etc., the reason for this is not because I feel like I might get ripped off or receive a "bootleg" product. I am afraid that what I ordered will get damaged in transit to its destination(s). This category is kind of hypocritical because with some of the electronics I buy it is fair to ask "how did they get to the store in the first place?" which the response would most likely be a form of transit whether it be by plane, car, or van.
4). A functioning human liver. First of all, don't judge. Second due to the common 5-7 business days it would take to ship anything it would most likely expire by the time it arrived making it unable to be "used" or perhaps consumed for nourishment. And don't get me started on the questions people ask once you obtain such a thing, asking stuff like "Why do you have a liver," and "Give me back my liver," and the most common "I'm calling the cops you freak."
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Online Scavenger Hunt the Movie 3000, the Prequel
On November 2nd our class was divided into several groups of 3 and instructed to search the web for items contained in a packet which each group was given. The group which won first place would receive extra credit and a gift card.
Once the assignment had started each group member became responsible for finishing a page of the packet. I was given the middle page.
Most of the information was not to difficult to find, only requiring a simple search question and five or so seconds of searching for a web page. If I were to gauge the difficulty of my searches I would place them in the middle but leaning a tad bit more to the 'easy' side.
Though I began the assignment wanting to win or at least reach 2nd place, one of my teammates was much more motivated and experienced than I was and it was because of her we finished around 30 minutes in and received first place.
This exercise was used to show us how easy it is not only to search for information, but also other peoples personal information with little to no effort.
Once the assignment had started each group member became responsible for finishing a page of the packet. I was given the middle page.
Most of the information was not to difficult to find, only requiring a simple search question and five or so seconds of searching for a web page. If I were to gauge the difficulty of my searches I would place them in the middle but leaning a tad bit more to the 'easy' side.
Though I began the assignment wanting to win or at least reach 2nd place, one of my teammates was much more motivated and experienced than I was and it was because of her we finished around 30 minutes in and received first place.
This exercise was used to show us how easy it is not only to search for information, but also other peoples personal information with little to no effort.
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