Also, there is a plethora of free software and tools available, either web based or as a download. A lot of these tools are under utilized, not used to their full potential. An example would be using a Google account. Aside from using Gmail, this account allows you to have a lot of features, such as using Google Docs, it contains a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation and forms. This is ideal for someone that wants a minimalist approach to computing, or simply just lack the resource and funding to purchase an office suite of application. Any computer can be loaded with just a web browser and it can do a majority of the tasks. It can be run on older generation of computers with a small harddrive, because all the files are stored in the Google account. As long as the user can access the Internet with reasonable speed, then it is sufficient for basic computing needs. This is one of the major differences of using a web based application versus application that runs on the computer. The user is dictated by Internet connectivity. Check out this Youtube video on Google Docs.
But one must caution with the use of free software and programs, you have to wonder what the provider is gathering from your data and usage. What are Google and Microsoft really using your data for? What are they data mining? Will you be "sold out" to other corporations in the future? May be your information is sold already and you would never even notice.
Nielsen Online research found that on average, 3 hrs 10 mins per month is spent checking and updating Facebook, which remains the most popular social networking site in the world. The study states that more time is spent on social networking than on email. What medium or platform will replace social networking in the future? What's the next "in" thing?
Facebook could be used for different reasons, both good and bad. Students could use it to cyber bully their teachers (insulting comments, etc) But then again, one could look at this as their channel to express their opinion about their instructors. Is it any different then a political forum or discussion board where citizens come and express their anger towards politicians? Burning a George Bush effigy is a bit extreme, and what about drawing devil horns on Steven Harper's picture or degrading him by drawing a political cartoon? It seems it is okay for a political cartoonist to mock our prime minister in national publications such as newspaper or magazine, but it is not okay for a student to mock a teacher by posting a sketch on a Facebook group? There are many grey areas in these issues, and there will never be an answer that will satisfy all parties.
Last year there was a controversy at Ryerson where a student faced expulsion from school for running a Facebook group, on the grounds of academic misconduct. My personal opinion is that this incident was blown out of porportion and was unjustified, a waste of administrative resources. It is no different then students gathering in a library study room and trading notes. Facebook is just a different medium and platform for them to share their 'knowledge' and help each other for homework assignments. I don't agree with the school's prosecution of this student on the grounds of "academic integrity".
I agree that the availability of free software raises important issues of privacy. What does Google do with all of the information they search in our emails, anyway? I remember the first time I noticed the “customized” advertisements that appeared in my Gmail account. I was quite surprised and a bit dismayed – not that I hadn’t considered that I’ve signed away certain ownership rights to corporations when I accept their terms of service, but rather because Gmail was so obvious in letting me know they analyze my emails. Even though I was somewhat disheartened at the thought of Gmail using my data for marketing, I quickly became accustomed to seeing tailored advertisements and my anxiety about privacy issues quickly went away because I figured there is nothing in my emails that is really THAT interesting. In retrospect, this experience shows me that it may be fairly easy for consumers to accept or disregard the possibility of weakened privacy because we have a certain amount of trust that corporations, governments, and organizations ethically follow rules, policies and laws. As we have learned from Facebook’s recent clandestine change in their terms and services policy this cannot be assumed. Thankfully consumer watchdogs and privacy advocates as well as many FB users noticed the change in policy that stated that all content on someone’s FB page could be used by FB for any purpose the deemed appropriate, forever – even after you’ve closed your account.
ReplyDeleteWith new laws such as the U.S.A.’s Patriot Act superceding constitutional rights, and granting the government access to any and all information about a person on the pretense of suspected terrorism, it is crucial that we become aware of the ways our personal information is being collected. Should governments be allowed to collect personal data as long as it’s for national security? How much access should a government have to citizens’ data and should this use be monitored? I believe these questions will become more and more relevant in the future as advancements in information technology continue and more people are connected to the Internet. As I think of these issues I also consider how crucial it is for citizens to raise questions of privacy as issues relevant to all and discuss them as a community – whether they’re virtual, place-based or both. Ultimately, we need to remind ourselves not to become accustomed and complacent to the possibility of our privacy being compromised and potentially misused just because we don’t know the significance of weakened privacy in our current everyday lives.
I am always paranoid about the possibility for information stealing; that being said, I haven't really done much to protect myself ... I have a facebook account in which I post tons of photos and I am an avid user of gmail, which I've heard means your emails can be found in a google search if someone really tried (but why would they be trying?)
ReplyDeleteThe other thing that freaks me out on facebook are the advertisements tailored to my interests. For example on facebook I constantly see "Win $1000 in Poetry Contest 'X.' I attribute it to the fact that I have poetry listed as one of my interests in my profile, which means facebook is actively monitoring account profiles and catering advertising to each user. This is a VERY smart way to operate, but also very sneaky...many young people are on facebook and they may be tempted by "Win a free iPod" advertising, only to fill out a short survey and then get endless unwanted spam sent to their email.
Also, you mentioned the possibility of someone using one of your photos in an ad halfway around the world and making tons of money off of it. How would you ever know? What kind of rights do you have? The short answer is: not many! This is one definite negative point about the amount of free flowing sharing happening on the internet today.