So when I first started this course I thought that it would be much like my other courses, a little mundane, and involving a lot of work. But I soon learned that this class was different and better than I had first thought it to be.
My other classes, which include Effective writing, Cultural Perspectives and Marketing do teach me things, but i sometimes find it hard to use these recently learnt skills in my everyday life. since I am on the computer and the Internet, I have learnt many new things in this class, which will hopefully help me to do be a better employer when I attain professional employment.
Such as how to use Web blogs, how to search more effectively on search engines (and not to only use one type of search engine ie Google, or Wikipedia), how to find more reliable sources, how to perform basic Photoshop functions, the Macro function on Microsoft Excel, Mail Mergers, interactions with 3D environments, and a few other helpful new skills.
I think that in the future I will be able to use these skills in what I hope to do with myself, which is work for (or run) an automotive enthusiast's magazine.
Now...the matter of Feedback on the course Lectures and Tutorials. I liked the different concepts that were brought up during the lectures, such as the gaming theory, which really opened my eyes regarding the theory and concepts behind gaming ( Ludology and Narratology) , as I never thought too much about games, other than if I was enjoying them or not.
I also liked the talk in one of the lectures about anonymity online, and online security and privacy. I had never before thought about how I was being monitored. This interested me not just for my own purposes, but also for the possibility furthering of online global democracy (where some countries are censored and restricted from certain information, IE true historical information, ideologies regarding democracy, etc,)
The movies included in the Lectures were also interesting and revealing. Movies such as Alphaville, EXistenZ and the others, are not exactly my 'type' of movies. But after watching them, and being a little confused, i was able to find the main meanings of the movies, and their concepts, and now understand how a somewhat minimalist movie can say a great deal about a certain topic or philosophy ( La Jetee was quite bohemian, yet still had a good message)
The one thing i would change if i could would be the amount of theories thrown at us in one lecture, and change this so that the tutorials and tutorial tasks reflected more on these theories, as it is quite difficult for me to retain these newly learnt theories (even though they do interest me) and a topical activity would help me to remember these.
This is not saying that I did not find the Tutorials helpful and interesting, I did, it is just that I find it hard to remember things i have just learnt without revising them.
But in Closing, I would have to say that I loved this class, and it has made me want to take more media-related classes. Thankyou Adam, for an awesome class, and Thankyou steve for the interesting lectures.
Regards, -Matthew Dart
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Week 10: Using Microsoft Word
This week, I used Microsoft word for something that i had done many times before, to write a cover letter for a resume, but with a twist. never before had I used the Mail Merge function, and I now understand it's functionality and potential.
This activity was relatively simple to complete, and I did not have any problems with it. This was relatively straight forward process, the most difficult, but still achievable part, was the Mail Merge.
I can see that this function of Mail Merge can help you if you are in a business, or if you are sending off a resume to a few companies.
This activity was relatively simple to complete, and I did not have any problems with it. This was relatively straight forward process, the most difficult, but still achievable part, was the Mail Merge.
I can see that this function of Mail Merge can help you if you are in a business, or if you are sending off a resume to a few companies.
Week 11: Excel Activity
For this activity I had to construct a list including Clients (Peter, Julia, James), Hours, Rates, Benefit, Cost, and Total. I then had to enter these into a series of cells, and then enter a series of formulas, make a graph, and then use macro to record the functions regarding gain, loss and gainsandlosses. I then recorded these layers into macro and was able to view easily which clients would provide the most gain, and which would infact cause a loss in profit.
This use of excel would surely benefit a business owner (wether small or large business). I did not have any idea these functions were available on excel, and if i ever needed them in the future, or know anyone who did, i would certainly use this or recomend this program to them.
I didnt encounter many problems, but the only real problem was when trying to enter a formula that seemed to not work, wether I typed it out, cut and pasted it, I have no solution. I ended up having to enter in the answers without the use of the formula.
This was a good activity in my opinion. It exposed me to things that were previously unknown to me, and I like it when this happens, as I know that I am learning. It was a little confusing at first when I had to try the Macro activity, but it all turned out well, after I recieved help from Adam.
This use of excel would surely benefit a business owner (wether small or large business). I did not have any idea these functions were available on excel, and if i ever needed them in the future, or know anyone who did, i would certainly use this or recomend this program to them.
I didnt encounter many problems, but the only real problem was when trying to enter a formula that seemed to not work, wether I typed it out, cut and pasted it, I have no solution. I ended up having to enter in the answers without the use of the formula.
This was a good activity in my opinion. It exposed me to things that were previously unknown to me, and I like it when this happens, as I know that I am learning. It was a little confusing at first when I had to try the Macro activity, but it all turned out well, after I recieved help from Adam.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Online Essay: Privacy on the Internet
Privacy on the Internet-Matthew Dart
At present, the greater majority of the Western population has access to a computer and the Internet (Miniwatts Marketing Group, 2007). It is almost synonymous that if a person has access to the Internet, then they will surely have access to an email account. Wether this account is run through the chosen Internet provider or a separate provider is entirely the choice of the user. Although the Internet seems to provide an abundance of choice, the major connotation of choice, freedom, is often under threat from companies that take to constant monitoring and regulating of all parts of the web.
One of the most prevalent online companies at present is Google. Initially only associated with web searching browsing, it has developed and grown into a huge conglomerate company. Now comprising of many programs, including Google image, YouTube, Picasa Picture Viewer, Blogger, Google Earth, Google Talk, Google Toolbar, Google Translate, Google video and G-mail (Google, 2007a). This ensures that Google has a large market share in online activities, and has gained almost unwavering trust amongst users, offering a solution to any needs that most users might have.
One question has to be asked of the online giant, “Is this trust unfounded?” Is one of the biggest problems on the Internet, the invasion of privacy, being perpetrated by one of the largest companies on the Internet?
Google was founded in California in the late nineties, by two Stanford University PhD Students, Sergey Brin and Larry Page. Initially the site was an investigation and development into the improvement of search engine functionality, and soon branched off into many different companies, numerous have been mentioned above (Google, 2007b). But by far the most controversial addition to its line up is Gmail.
When introduced in 2004, Google Email (Gmail) offered users a free email account with over 2850 megabytes of storage (and growing) (Google 2007c). Compared to Yahoo’s $59.99 offering, Gmail is free and offers one hundred times more storage than Yahoo (The Register, 2004) and was at the time clearly the more cost effective option.
After its introduction in 2004, an act was passed in California that clashed with some of the intrinsic operating features of G-mail. This act, California’s Online Privacy Protection Act (2004) was concerning the privacy of users of Internet facilities and programs and the regulation of informing users of identity information collection on said program. When and if items such as first and last names, Address (both Postal and Email), phone number and social security social security (ibid, 2004) are collected, this act makes it mandatory for the website to create a link to their privacy policy on its homepage alerting users to the fact that these pieces of information have been collected, and also displaying the companies privacy policy. It was these conflicts with the new act that necessitated a change in Google’s main privacy policy the same day that the new act was passed. When evasive actions such as these are taken, it is obvious that although adjustments were made to legally comply with the new act passed, the Google knew they were on the verge of breaching regulations, and this only further weakens Google’s negative actions and image related to the subject of Privacy.
The Oxford Dictionary defines privacy as a state in which one is not observed or disturbed by others. Gmail privacy is somewhat lacking, as when an email is sent, keywords or key phrases are picked up by Google’s system and through their program and its operators AdWords and ADSense (Google, 2007d), and an individual advertising portfolio is created for each user. While this may not seem to be too invasive of the users’ privacy, it does allow a great deal of potential for abuse of the system. The main ‘loop-hole’ delivering Google and their systems from more attacks is the statement made by a Google Representative, which was:
Google scans the text of Gmail messages in order to filter spam and detect viruses, just as all major webmail services do. Google also uses this scanning technology to deliver targeted text ads and other related information. This is completely automated and involves no humans. (Google 2007e)
Here, Google makes the true statement that it is not actually humans who are viewing the content of people’s emails, it is a machine, and that it only uses this scanning technology for security from viruses and spam, and to target specific users through AdWord, to tailor advertising to these users. It is the last part of the phrase: This is completely automated and involves no humans, that states that there is no room for abuse, as a machine will only do what it is programmed to do, a machine can not be malicious. This statement, made in a Public Press release, stated that:
… a computer system, with its greater storage, memory, and associative
ability than a human’s, could be just as invasive as a human listening to
the communications, if not more so. (Privacy Rights Clearing House, Cited in Article Chopra and White)
Combine this theory with the fact that the programmers, the people who created these programs, are undoubtedly human, and as such there is a chance of abuse and corruption to occur, especially when these programmers are supported and payed by Google.
Due to the vast amount of Internet monitoring and recording of activity and behaviour, know as ‘Traffic Analysis’ (Berthold, Federrath, KÖhntop, 2000), it is getting more and more difficult to retain any concept of anonymity on the Internet. There are however, some companies on the web that believe in and support the fight for civil liberties, privacy and anonymity online. One such company is Tor. Concerned with the construction of a distributed, anonymous Network (Tor 2007a) the IP address of its users is distributed around a number of different computers and users, effectively re-routing the IP address of its many users so that an unclear path is constructed for Traffic Analysis or Eavesdroppers:
Tor hides you among the other users on the network, so the more populous and diverse the user base for Tor is, the more your anonymity will be protected. ( ibid 2007)
In countries where censorship is a big issue, for areas including Cuba, North Korea and some of the Middle Eastern countries (CPJ 2006), the anonymity offered by Tor gives the internet users of these censored regions the access to previously non-accessible web sites, possibly containing negative views of their country, or websites featuring pro-democratic and liberal messages.
Privacy over the Internet is becoming more and more limited. But what Internet privacy is available should not be taken for granted, because when this matter of privacy and security is handed over to others, it is often used or misused for their benefit, and not with the secular users privacy in mind. This necessitates a pro active stance regarding security to be taken, through the use of programs such as Tor, to help not only the users personal privacy from Traffic analysis, but to further support the spread of freedom, civil liberties and human rights to those under a cloud of censorship.
References:
- (1) – Google Programs, (2007a). More Google products [Last date accessed 3/5/07] :http://www.google.com.au/intl/en/options/
- (2) - Google Company Milestones, (2007b). Google Corporate Information: Google Milestones [Last date accessed 3/5/07]
http://www.google.com.au/intl/en/corporate/history.html
- (3) - Miniwatts Marketing Group, (2007) World Internet Usage Statistics News and Population Stats [Last date accessed 3/5/07]
http://www.internetworldstats.com/index.html
- (4) - CA Business and Professions Code 22575-22579, 2004, California's Online Privacy Protection Act Goes into Effect July 1, 2004, [Last date accessed 10/5/07]
http://www.privacyrights.org/ar/CAPrivProtAct.htm
- (5)- Definition of Privacy, Oxford Dictionary Online, Oxford University Press, 2007, AskOxford: Privacy, [Last date accessed 10/5/07]
http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/privacy?view=uk
- (6)- Information regarding Gmail, A Google approach to email, (2007c), Welcome to Gmail [Last date accessed 10/5/07] https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=mail&passive=true&rm=false&continue=http%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com%2Fmail%3Fhl%3Den%26utm_source%3Den-et-more%26utm_medium%3Det%26utm_campaign%3Den%26ui%3Dhtml%26zy%3Dl&amp;ltmpl=default<mplcache=2&hl=en
- (7)- Information regarding Gmail’s privacy flaws, Andrew Orlowski, 2004, Google mail is evil-privacy advocates [Last date accessed 10/5/07] http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/04/03/google_mail_is_evil_privacy/
- (8)- Information on advertising methods, keywords, (2007d) Google Corporate Information: Business Overview [Last Date Accessed 3/5/07] http://www.google.com.au/intl/en/corporate/business.html
- (9)- Questions and Answers regarding Gmail Privacy, (2007e) About Gmail [Last date accessed 10/5/07]
http://mail.google.com/mail/help/about_privacy.html
- (10)- Journal Article: Samir Chopra and Laurence White, 2007, Privacy and Artificial Agents, or, Is Google Reading My Email? pg3/6 . Article found through Google Scholar Search engine. [Last date accessed 10/5/07]
- (11)- Journal Article: Oliver Berthold, Hannes Federrath, Marit KÖhntopp, Project "Anonymity and Unobservability in the Internet", 2000, Pg 9/10. Article found through Google Scholar Search engine. [Last date accessed 10/5/07]
-(12)- Overview of Tor, 2007, Tor: Overview [Last date accessed 10/5/07]
http://tor.eff.org/overview.html.en
- (13)- Committee to Protect Journalists, 10 Most Censored Countries, 2006, North Korea Tops CPJ List of ’10 Most Censored Countries’ [Last date accessed 10/5/07] http://www.cpj.org/censored/index.html
At present, the greater majority of the Western population has access to a computer and the Internet (Miniwatts Marketing Group, 2007). It is almost synonymous that if a person has access to the Internet, then they will surely have access to an email account. Wether this account is run through the chosen Internet provider or a separate provider is entirely the choice of the user. Although the Internet seems to provide an abundance of choice, the major connotation of choice, freedom, is often under threat from companies that take to constant monitoring and regulating of all parts of the web.
One of the most prevalent online companies at present is Google. Initially only associated with web searching browsing, it has developed and grown into a huge conglomerate company. Now comprising of many programs, including Google image, YouTube, Picasa Picture Viewer, Blogger, Google Earth, Google Talk, Google Toolbar, Google Translate, Google video and G-mail (Google, 2007a). This ensures that Google has a large market share in online activities, and has gained almost unwavering trust amongst users, offering a solution to any needs that most users might have.
One question has to be asked of the online giant, “Is this trust unfounded?” Is one of the biggest problems on the Internet, the invasion of privacy, being perpetrated by one of the largest companies on the Internet?
Google was founded in California in the late nineties, by two Stanford University PhD Students, Sergey Brin and Larry Page. Initially the site was an investigation and development into the improvement of search engine functionality, and soon branched off into many different companies, numerous have been mentioned above (Google, 2007b). But by far the most controversial addition to its line up is Gmail.
When introduced in 2004, Google Email (Gmail) offered users a free email account with over 2850 megabytes of storage (and growing) (Google 2007c). Compared to Yahoo’s $59.99 offering, Gmail is free and offers one hundred times more storage than Yahoo (The Register, 2004) and was at the time clearly the more cost effective option.
After its introduction in 2004, an act was passed in California that clashed with some of the intrinsic operating features of G-mail. This act, California’s Online Privacy Protection Act (2004) was concerning the privacy of users of Internet facilities and programs and the regulation of informing users of identity information collection on said program. When and if items such as first and last names, Address (both Postal and Email), phone number and social security social security (ibid, 2004) are collected, this act makes it mandatory for the website to create a link to their privacy policy on its homepage alerting users to the fact that these pieces of information have been collected, and also displaying the companies privacy policy. It was these conflicts with the new act that necessitated a change in Google’s main privacy policy the same day that the new act was passed. When evasive actions such as these are taken, it is obvious that although adjustments were made to legally comply with the new act passed, the Google knew they were on the verge of breaching regulations, and this only further weakens Google’s negative actions and image related to the subject of Privacy.
The Oxford Dictionary defines privacy as a state in which one is not observed or disturbed by others. Gmail privacy is somewhat lacking, as when an email is sent, keywords or key phrases are picked up by Google’s system and through their program and its operators AdWords and ADSense (Google, 2007d), and an individual advertising portfolio is created for each user. While this may not seem to be too invasive of the users’ privacy, it does allow a great deal of potential for abuse of the system. The main ‘loop-hole’ delivering Google and their systems from more attacks is the statement made by a Google Representative, which was:
Google scans the text of Gmail messages in order to filter spam and detect viruses, just as all major webmail services do. Google also uses this scanning technology to deliver targeted text ads and other related information. This is completely automated and involves no humans. (Google 2007e)
Here, Google makes the true statement that it is not actually humans who are viewing the content of people’s emails, it is a machine, and that it only uses this scanning technology for security from viruses and spam, and to target specific users through AdWord, to tailor advertising to these users. It is the last part of the phrase: This is completely automated and involves no humans, that states that there is no room for abuse, as a machine will only do what it is programmed to do, a machine can not be malicious. This statement, made in a Public Press release, stated that:
… a computer system, with its greater storage, memory, and associative
ability than a human’s, could be just as invasive as a human listening to
the communications, if not more so. (Privacy Rights Clearing House, Cited in Article Chopra and White)
Combine this theory with the fact that the programmers, the people who created these programs, are undoubtedly human, and as such there is a chance of abuse and corruption to occur, especially when these programmers are supported and payed by Google.
Due to the vast amount of Internet monitoring and recording of activity and behaviour, know as ‘Traffic Analysis’ (Berthold, Federrath, KÖhntop, 2000), it is getting more and more difficult to retain any concept of anonymity on the Internet. There are however, some companies on the web that believe in and support the fight for civil liberties, privacy and anonymity online. One such company is Tor. Concerned with the construction of a distributed, anonymous Network (Tor 2007a) the IP address of its users is distributed around a number of different computers and users, effectively re-routing the IP address of its many users so that an unclear path is constructed for Traffic Analysis or Eavesdroppers:
Tor hides you among the other users on the network, so the more populous and diverse the user base for Tor is, the more your anonymity will be protected. ( ibid 2007)
In countries where censorship is a big issue, for areas including Cuba, North Korea and some of the Middle Eastern countries (CPJ 2006), the anonymity offered by Tor gives the internet users of these censored regions the access to previously non-accessible web sites, possibly containing negative views of their country, or websites featuring pro-democratic and liberal messages.
Privacy over the Internet is becoming more and more limited. But what Internet privacy is available should not be taken for granted, because when this matter of privacy and security is handed over to others, it is often used or misused for their benefit, and not with the secular users privacy in mind. This necessitates a pro active stance regarding security to be taken, through the use of programs such as Tor, to help not only the users personal privacy from Traffic analysis, but to further support the spread of freedom, civil liberties and human rights to those under a cloud of censorship.
References:
- (1) – Google Programs, (2007a). More Google products [Last date accessed 3/5/07] :http://www.google.com.au/intl/en/options/
- (2) - Google Company Milestones, (2007b). Google Corporate Information: Google Milestones [Last date accessed 3/5/07]
http://www.google.com.au/intl/en/corporate/history.html
- (3) - Miniwatts Marketing Group, (2007) World Internet Usage Statistics News and Population Stats [Last date accessed 3/5/07]
http://www.internetworldstats.com/index.html
- (4) - CA Business and Professions Code 22575-22579, 2004, California's Online Privacy Protection Act Goes into Effect July 1, 2004, [Last date accessed 10/5/07]
http://www.privacyrights.org/ar/CAPrivProtAct.htm
- (5)- Definition of Privacy, Oxford Dictionary Online, Oxford University Press, 2007, AskOxford: Privacy, [Last date accessed 10/5/07]
http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/privacy?view=uk
- (6)- Information regarding Gmail, A Google approach to email, (2007c), Welcome to Gmail [Last date accessed 10/5/07] https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=mail&passive=true&rm=false&continue=http%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com%2Fmail%3Fhl%3Den%26utm_source%3Den-et-more%26utm_medium%3Det%26utm_campaign%3Den%26ui%3Dhtml%26zy%3Dl&amp;ltmpl=default<mplcache=2&hl=en
- (7)- Information regarding Gmail’s privacy flaws, Andrew Orlowski, 2004, Google mail is evil-privacy advocates [Last date accessed 10/5/07] http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/04/03/google_mail_is_evil_privacy/
- (8)- Information on advertising methods, keywords, (2007d) Google Corporate Information: Business Overview [Last Date Accessed 3/5/07] http://www.google.com.au/intl/en/corporate/business.html
- (9)- Questions and Answers regarding Gmail Privacy, (2007e) About Gmail [Last date accessed 10/5/07]
http://mail.google.com/mail/help/about_privacy.html
- (10)- Journal Article: Samir Chopra and Laurence White, 2007, Privacy and Artificial Agents, or, Is Google Reading My Email? pg3/6 . Article found through Google Scholar Search engine. [Last date accessed 10/5/07]
- (11)- Journal Article: Oliver Berthold, Hannes Federrath, Marit KÖhntopp, Project "Anonymity and Unobservability in the Internet", 2000, Pg 9/10. Article found through Google Scholar Search engine. [Last date accessed 10/5/07]
-(12)- Overview of Tor, 2007, Tor: Overview [Last date accessed 10/5/07]
http://tor.eff.org/overview.html.en
- (13)- Committee to Protect Journalists, 10 Most Censored Countries, 2006, North Korea Tops CPJ List of ’10 Most Censored Countries’ [Last date accessed 10/5/07] http://www.cpj.org/censored/index.html
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Week 8, 3D worlds and socialising on the internet
There are many ways in which 3D worlds on the Internet and more traditional forms of socialising on the Internet are similar, but also many ways in which they are different.
I use MSN messenger, and feel that it is one of the best ways to maintain my friendships with people that I already know. It helps (a lot!) if i have met the person previous to the conversation that may ensue, as we know what each other looks like, and some background knowledge.
Three dimensional worlds however, are something relatively new to me. I have played a lot of the Rockstar Grand Theft Auto Series on PlayStation 2, but I have never used any of these interactive communal-type programs before, and this week I used active worlds.
I feel that it was in some ways a good medium for people to meet, as the people who use the program would be of similar mindset to the others in that they are wanting to take part in the activity of virtual interaction. It is in these places such as active worlds that a user can communicate, but may not actually be truly representative of their real self. In their virtual life, they are able to live in their ideal setting, and can change their life drastically when they chose to do so(something that they possibly cannot do in their real life).
It is in these 3D worlds that this ideal society, almost a utopia is created. That allows for the user to determine their actions, and socialise free from any restraints (physical or otherwise) that may have elsewhere been the limiting factor in their social interaction in real, Physical life.
I use MSN messenger, and feel that it is one of the best ways to maintain my friendships with people that I already know. It helps (a lot!) if i have met the person previous to the conversation that may ensue, as we know what each other looks like, and some background knowledge.
Three dimensional worlds however, are something relatively new to me. I have played a lot of the Rockstar Grand Theft Auto Series on PlayStation 2, but I have never used any of these interactive communal-type programs before, and this week I used active worlds.
I feel that it was in some ways a good medium for people to meet, as the people who use the program would be of similar mindset to the others in that they are wanting to take part in the activity of virtual interaction. It is in these places such as active worlds that a user can communicate, but may not actually be truly representative of their real self. In their virtual life, they are able to live in their ideal setting, and can change their life drastically when they chose to do so(something that they possibly cannot do in their real life).
It is in these 3D worlds that this ideal society, almost a utopia is created. That allows for the user to determine their actions, and socialise free from any restraints (physical or otherwise) that may have elsewhere been the limiting factor in their social interaction in real, Physical life.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Week 6 Photoshop Manipulations
This week I had to play around with Images, this is my first time at this , here goes:
Friends: these are my mates at my eighteenth Birthday Party, i then put them in a beautiful Sunset Setting on a beach, instead of in my garage where the party was held.
Communication:
This Picture is Representing Communication (sometimes Strained) Between Males and Females. sometimes, Communication brakes down over the years, but initially it seems quite strong(in this case).
Newsworthy:
I thought it was strange coincidence that there seems to be so much news about drought, yet also an increasing amount of natural disasters such as tsunami.
Australian
i thought that for this section i would incorporate some of the larakin aspects of australian culture: Beer, and fighting in public. then used the kangaroo and the harbour bridge to display them in an australian form.Popular
This image of members of the Maroons Steve Price and Petero Civoniceva. here i have tried to make it look like they were standing on each others shoulders.
Games
This is the Resident Evil Game cover for PS2. I have Chosen to put a baby face onto the main character, as when you see a baby, the last thing you think of is Evil.
Celebrity
This is a picture of Britney Spears and K-Fed, i have changed the image to give her K-Fed's Beard.
Thats it for this Task. catch you later,-Matt
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Week 5:Photos
For this weeks task, I have chosen to grab some of my photos off my Myspace Sight, and also from image search engines, as I do not have a digital camera at my disposal.
Friends:
This Photo is of the back Roll Cage assembly and chassis stiffening on Nobuteru Taniguchi's Drift Racing Toyota Aristo. This Roll Cage is not only for safety purposes, it also ties the whole car together, allowing it to act 'as one' through the bends, minimizing chassis flex. I think that this is a good representation of Technology, as the assembly of the cage has been highly researched ( Type of metal used) and calculated (strength) and has been made to exacting specifications.
Image was taken from: http://www.superstreetonline.com/featuredvehicles/130_0508_toyota_aristo_drifting_car/photo_07.html
Although this is incredibly sad, the first thing that comes into my mind when I think of News is Televisions sometimes brutal slaughtering of Current Stories. In particular Today Tonight's Naomi Robson's face pops into my head.
This Image was Taken from:
http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/enews/Networks_swarm_to_Crocodile_territory_060906.html
This picture is what I immediately think of when I think of university life-being stressed out and still having a lot of work to do!
Friends:
This photo I feel is a good representation of Friendship. This particular photo was taken on my Eighteenth Birthday Party, these are some of my Friends.-
From left to right: Zac, Scott, Rob, Nathan, Luke, Liam, Myself and Melita.
Technology:
This Photo is of the back Roll Cage assembly and chassis stiffening on Nobuteru Taniguchi's Drift Racing Toyota Aristo. This Roll Cage is not only for safety purposes, it also ties the whole car together, allowing it to act 'as one' through the bends, minimizing chassis flex. I think that this is a good representation of Technology, as the assembly of the cage has been highly researched ( Type of metal used) and calculated (strength) and has been made to exacting specifications.
Image was taken from: http://www.superstreetonline.com/featuredvehicles/130_0508_toyota_aristo_drifting_car/photo_07.html
News:
Although this is incredibly sad, the first thing that comes into my mind when I think of News is Televisions sometimes brutal slaughtering of Current Stories. In particular Today Tonight's Naomi Robson's face pops into my head.
This Image was Taken from:
http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/enews/Networks_swarm_to_Crocodile_territory_060906.html
Summer:
This picture is what I think of when I think of summer. A beach with people sunbathing, people swimming and just relaxing in general. This particular beach is Cable Beach in Broome.
This Image was taken from:
Unconventional:
This is Slipknot. They look quite unconventional. they dress in elaborate costumes for every concert they perform, and didn't have a public persona as such until recently. This is also quite abnormal, as most people who are that famous and successful would be eager to get the fame and exposure that comes with the fortune.
This image was taken from:
http://www.dbmagazine.com.au/349/iv-Slipknot.jpg
Uni Life:
This picture is what I immediately think of when I think of university life-being stressed out and still having a lot of work to do!
This image was taken from :
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
What is a Search Engine? Part 2b
A search engine is a mechanism that allows for pieces of information from many different parts of the Internet be retrieved once a specific Word or phrase had been entered, and searches have found results that match the criteria that the user has entered.
Firstly, a device called a Web Crawler is used to search the entire World Wide Web, and goes through and stores every page that comes up with the entered search criteria. The search engines then rank certain items of info or sites relating to the entered criteria by a few different ways. The first is to save a Cache (part or all of a source page) and then organises the index of pages in order of relevance. This is the way that Google's search engine works. Others , such as Atavista, takes every word of every page that relates to the search, and then index all the words, and this means that their cache always holds the text entered, or search criteria.
when one page comes up before another, alot of the time this is due to the cache being more relevant, and this is due to there being more key words that match the entered criteria.
Although some pages are more relevant than others, in that the caches that they hold contain more relevant search outcomes, some search engines are funded and supported by Advertising, and as such allow for their higher paying customers to receive a higher index rank in exchange for payment. this is not always the case though, as some search engines, such as Google, open up a separate results section for their contributing clients.
My favourite search engine is Google. I like it because it is easy to use, I am familiar with it, and it has a lot of new and useful software under its company and site. some of these extra programs include:
-Google maps
-University search
-Image search
-online Documents and spread sheets
-Google Earth
-Google Translate
-Google News
and Blogger.com!!
Recently, Google has been in the news for a few reasons.
One is that they are including three new software updates; , PC Tools Spyware Doctor Starter Edition, Symantec Norton Security Scan and Google Photos Screensaver.
Link to the site: http://www.informationweek.com/software/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=198700381
This will allow for increased security online, which is the most important recent addition, and protecting your computer from spyware that can be picked up on sites you frequent on Google is also another important feature.
Firstly, a device called a Web Crawler is used to search the entire World Wide Web, and goes through and stores every page that comes up with the entered search criteria. The search engines then rank certain items of info or sites relating to the entered criteria by a few different ways. The first is to save a Cache (part or all of a source page) and then organises the index of pages in order of relevance. This is the way that Google's search engine works. Others , such as Atavista, takes every word of every page that relates to the search, and then index all the words, and this means that their cache always holds the text entered, or search criteria.
when one page comes up before another, alot of the time this is due to the cache being more relevant, and this is due to there being more key words that match the entered criteria.
Although some pages are more relevant than others, in that the caches that they hold contain more relevant search outcomes, some search engines are funded and supported by Advertising, and as such allow for their higher paying customers to receive a higher index rank in exchange for payment. this is not always the case though, as some search engines, such as Google, open up a separate results section for their contributing clients.
My favourite search engine is Google. I like it because it is easy to use, I am familiar with it, and it has a lot of new and useful software under its company and site. some of these extra programs include:
-Google maps
-University search
-Image search
-online Documents and spread sheets
-Google Earth
-Google Translate
-Google News
and Blogger.com!!
Recently, Google has been in the news for a few reasons.
One is that they are including three new software updates; , PC Tools Spyware Doctor Starter Edition, Symantec Norton Security Scan and Google Photos Screensaver.
Link to the site: http://www.informationweek.com/software/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=198700381
This will allow for increased security online, which is the most important recent addition, and protecting your computer from spyware that can be picked up on sites you frequent on Google is also another important feature.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Task Three, Scavanger Hunt. Part 2a
.1:What is the weight of the world's biggest pumpkin?
-using altavista.com-
URL: http://www.pumpkinnook.com/giants/record.htm
according to the above source, the worlds largest Pumpkin is 1502 pounds (681.295kg) and this was grown by Ron Wallace of Greene, Rhode Island. it was weighed on the 7 oct, 2006.
2: What is the Best way (quickest, Most reliable) way to contact Grant Hackett?
-using icerocket.com-
-http://granthackettonline.free.fr/-
This is Grants Site, and you can leave messages for him on this site.
3:What is the length of a giraffe's tongue?
-using a9.com
-http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-giraffe.html
according to the above source, the length of a Giraffe's tongue is 18-20 inches, 46-50cm.
4. How would you define the word 'ontology'
- using altavista.com
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontology-
Ontology as i understand it is in the branch of metapyisics, is the study of the nature of existence or being as such in the world. It has one main question which is "what really exists?"
5:What was David Cronenberg's first feature film?
-using altavista.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lynch
-Eraserhead, 1971
6. When was the original 'Hacker's Manifesto' written?
using Wikipedia.org-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacker_Manifesto
- 1986, January 8th
7. Why do all phone numbers in Hollywood films start with '555'?
-using metacrawler.com
found on http://www.freefilmschool.org/ffs/06more/6-2-100.shtml
- So that people dont get an actual Persons number if they try to ring the number on screen, it wasnt until recently that it became a phone number. it is possible if you use a real persons phone number, that can be considered an invasion of privacy.
8. What is the cheapest form of travel from Crete to Rhodes?
- using metacrawler.com-
- http://www.greecetravelpage.com/aboutgreece.htm
apparently Ocean Travel is the cheapest of all options.
9. What song was top of the Australian Pop Charts this week in 1965?
- Using Alstavista.com
-http://www.popculturemadness.com/Music/Pop-Modern/1965.html
The Beatles, Eight days a week
10. Which Brisbane band includes Stephen Stockwell on keyboards and vocals?
http://www.brisbanewritersfestival.com.au/2005/content/standard.asp?name=StockwellS
-The Black Assasins
-using altavista.com-
URL: http://www.pumpkinnook.com/giants/record.htm
according to the above source, the worlds largest Pumpkin is 1502 pounds (681.295kg) and this was grown by Ron Wallace of Greene, Rhode Island. it was weighed on the 7 oct, 2006.
2: What is the Best way (quickest, Most reliable) way to contact Grant Hackett?
-using icerocket.com-
-http://granthackettonline.free.fr/-
This is Grants Site, and you can leave messages for him on this site.
3:What is the length of a giraffe's tongue?
-using a9.com
-http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-giraffe.html
according to the above source, the length of a Giraffe's tongue is 18-20 inches, 46-50cm.
4. How would you define the word 'ontology'
- using altavista.com
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontology-
Ontology as i understand it is in the branch of metapyisics, is the study of the nature of existence or being as such in the world. It has one main question which is "what really exists?"
5:What was David Cronenberg's first feature film?
-using altavista.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lynch
-Eraserhead, 1971
6. When was the original 'Hacker's Manifesto' written?
using Wikipedia.org-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacker_Manifesto
- 1986, January 8th
7. Why do all phone numbers in Hollywood films start with '555'?
-using metacrawler.com
found on http://www.freefilmschool.org/ffs/06more/6-2-100.shtml
- So that people dont get an actual Persons number if they try to ring the number on screen, it wasnt until recently that it became a phone number. it is possible if you use a real persons phone number, that can be considered an invasion of privacy.
8. What is the cheapest form of travel from Crete to Rhodes?
- using metacrawler.com-
- http://www.greecetravelpage.com/aboutgreece.htm
apparently Ocean Travel is the cheapest of all options.
9. What song was top of the Australian Pop Charts this week in 1965?
- Using Alstavista.com
-http://www.popculturemadness.com/Music/Pop-Modern/1965.html
The Beatles, Eight days a week
10. Which Brisbane band includes Stephen Stockwell on keyboards and vocals?
http://www.brisbanewritersfestival.com.au/2005/content/standard.asp?name=StockwellS
-The Black Assasins
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Me and New Communication Technology, Week 3
I think that if I didn't use the amount of new communication technology that I do at present, then I would not have nearly as much connection with my friends and family.
I don't live very close to any of my friends, and so in order to keep in touch with them, I use means and methods other than face to face communication.
Take my mobile phone, for the first example. Without this seemingly small object, I would lose contact with my friends if they wanted to meet me somewhere, and more importantly I would not be able to call anyone if in the case of an emergency.
The reason I got a mobile in the first place was because I felt the need to keep in contact with my family when I started driving by myself, just in case I had a crash, or needed to call for help if I found someone in a serious state after an accident. For this reason I think that it is extremely important to have my mobile on me, at least when i am driving.
Another form of new communication technology I use quite regularly is the internet. Wether it is talking to my friends on MSN messenger, or posting on Myspace, this consumes a lot of my 'online-life'. Although I don’t use the internet to meet people in the sense of randomly talking to new people, I do get to notice 'regulars' on certain forums I am on. This means that I get to know people from what they post up, but I don’t actively seek these people out.
I have been using MSN messenger since I was 15 years old, and still use the same account. This is an easy way for me to chat with my mates when they are online, and organise up coming activities. It helps to keep me in touch with people, where ever they are, local to me, or on the other side of the country (in this case it saves the cost of a long distance phone call).
My Friends were the biggest influence on me using the internet based Communication, and the purchase of my mobile phone was most influenced by my parents, perhaps to make sure they could always get a hold of me.
I don't live very close to any of my friends, and so in order to keep in touch with them, I use means and methods other than face to face communication.
Take my mobile phone, for the first example. Without this seemingly small object, I would lose contact with my friends if they wanted to meet me somewhere, and more importantly I would not be able to call anyone if in the case of an emergency.
The reason I got a mobile in the first place was because I felt the need to keep in contact with my family when I started driving by myself, just in case I had a crash, or needed to call for help if I found someone in a serious state after an accident. For this reason I think that it is extremely important to have my mobile on me, at least when i am driving.
Another form of new communication technology I use quite regularly is the internet. Wether it is talking to my friends on MSN messenger, or posting on Myspace, this consumes a lot of my 'online-life'. Although I don’t use the internet to meet people in the sense of randomly talking to new people, I do get to notice 'regulars' on certain forums I am on. This means that I get to know people from what they post up, but I don’t actively seek these people out.
I have been using MSN messenger since I was 15 years old, and still use the same account. This is an easy way for me to chat with my mates when they are online, and organise up coming activities. It helps to keep me in touch with people, where ever they are, local to me, or on the other side of the country (in this case it saves the cost of a long distance phone call).
My Friends were the biggest influence on me using the internet based Communication, and the purchase of my mobile phone was most influenced by my parents, perhaps to make sure they could always get a hold of me.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Introducing Myself
Hello!
Firstly I would like to introduce myself. My name is Matthew Dart, I am eighteen years old, and currently live in Cabbage Tree Point, 30 minutes from the Gold Coast. I attend Griffith University on the Gold Coast, and thus I spend most of my time on the Coast. I have a part time job at MacDonalds where i work a few hours a week.
My main interests are cars and the beach. I think the reason that i like cars so much is that there are so many different types of cars (makes, models, variants, special editions), and then when you modify a car, it is possible to make it entirely your own creation, a four wheeled representation of yourself if you will. I love the beach because it is a cleansing feeling to go into the water, excercise and have fun.
I have only just started my studies at Griffith Uni, and I am liking it so far. I seem to have made good choices in my enrollments, as I am starting to make connections with topics in my lectures, and getting settled into my tutorial classes. This class in particular (New Communication Technology) is appealing to me because I find it really interesting to see how different forms of technology combine to create or connotate a certain feeling or idea.
Thankyou for reading so far, and I hope to develop this space in the coming weeks into a more interesting and informative space.
-Matthew
Firstly I would like to introduce myself. My name is Matthew Dart, I am eighteen years old, and currently live in Cabbage Tree Point, 30 minutes from the Gold Coast. I attend Griffith University on the Gold Coast, and thus I spend most of my time on the Coast. I have a part time job at MacDonalds where i work a few hours a week.
My main interests are cars and the beach. I think the reason that i like cars so much is that there are so many different types of cars (makes, models, variants, special editions), and then when you modify a car, it is possible to make it entirely your own creation, a four wheeled representation of yourself if you will. I love the beach because it is a cleansing feeling to go into the water, excercise and have fun.
I have only just started my studies at Griffith Uni, and I am liking it so far. I seem to have made good choices in my enrollments, as I am starting to make connections with topics in my lectures, and getting settled into my tutorial classes. This class in particular (New Communication Technology) is appealing to me because I find it really interesting to see how different forms of technology combine to create or connotate a certain feeling or idea.
Thankyou for reading so far, and I hope to develop this space in the coming weeks into a more interesting and informative space.
-Matthew
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