Nicole's Com 300 Blog

Week 9 Blog

2006-02-27T08:18:00.000-08:00

How do you expect VoIP to impact cable and telephone networks (both are regulated infrastructure industries)?

I knew little about VoIP or voice over Internet protocol before reading this article, now I know that it is a new way to basically make phone calls via the Internet. This service would allow people to make long distance calls for free and will eliminate various other charges for features that many people have on their home phones.

I think that VoIP will not heavily impact current cable and telephone networks at least not anytime soon. Free long distance is most likely a big selling point for VoIP however many people get that option with their cell phone providers. Also, the kinks or setbacks of VoIP will have to be worked out before it can come close to impacting current cable and telephone networks. Some of the problems with VoIP are that if the power goes out there is no way to make a call, 911 will not be able to locate the household if there is an emergency and the phone would be just as susceptible as your computer to viruses. The problems with VoIP must be solved, if they even can be in order for it to even begin to compete with the current service providers.

3 Discussion Questions:

1) Can you see yourself using VoIP as your primary telephone?

2) How can the issue of 911 calls and VoIP be solved?

3) How will phone companies try to compete if VoIP becomes dominate?

Week 8 Blog

2006-02-22T07:57:00.000-08:00

What is the relationship between cyberspace as a public space and accessibility standards?

Cyberspace is a public space although it is not accessible to many rural communities outside of the United States and primarily in third world countries. I think that cheaper access for Internet connections would make it much easier to bring the Internet to poorer communities. It is commonly argued that by making the Web available to rural areas and therefore making communication and information more accessible, these communities will become better educated and this will lead to more prosperity for everyone involved. This does have some truth although the costs and benefits and motivations must be weighed.

Exposing rural communities to the Internet is something that I believe to be inevitable, it will happen because technology is how the world is adapting and transforming. I think that people in these communities should have the option and should have the opportunity to be a part cyberspace although with the accessibility these now rural communities will without a doubt change and certain values will be compromised.

Discussion Questions:
1) Who controls WiFi connections?
2) How will current Internet providers such as Qwest and other phone companies react when free WiFi connections become standard?
3) How will rural communities change if the Internet is accessible? Is it worth it? Why or why not?

Week 7 Blog

2006-02-13T05:37:00.000-08:00

How does Internet technology impact politics? Do you agree with the premise of these articles?

Internet technology impacts politics by helping to organizing a campaign as well as helping to simplify a candidate’s views and give ways to support a campaign to potential voters. As mentioned, online technology is a major organizational tool, voters can be directed to sites that show them how to donate to a campaign, get information about candidates and policies, and obtain information about volunteering. Internet technology also impacts politics because it is a huge source for research. Potential voters have the ability to search any subject that a candidate may speak on and is able to get a wide range of opinions that may not be covered on mainstream news.

I agree with one of the articles in that those who frequent the Internet may use online sources as their primary news reference. Personally, I think that more people are online and therefore find it easier to read their news then rather than make a point to turn on the television for it when they get home in the evening. Therefore I believe that the Internet has great potential to surpass mainstream news, especially in regards to politics.

Discussion questions:
1) What are the pros and cons of Internet voting?
2) What are the pros and cons of Internet campaigning?
3) How can candidates help their campaign by monitoring negative information regarding their view online? Is it possible? Will it ever be?

Week 6 Blog

2006-02-08T12:33:00.000-08:00

What are the implications of blogging technology on established media?

One of the articles stated that consumers, "actively and intentionally make choices about the kinds of media they use to find news and information about different topics", and I believe this to be true therefore I do not think that established media will be "taken over" by blogging technology. Speaking for myself, I do not typically consult blogs to obtain my news however I do not discount that blogs may be an important reference when researching a news worthy topic of interest.
Blogging allows anyone to be a publisher and post their thoughts and ideas to the world; this is a great tool to utilize the first Amendment. I truly think that people who blog or people who read blogs understand that anyone has the opportunity to post and with that in mind the credibility of a blog is always questioned. This is not the case for known news sources, those who read mainstream news generally believe that the facts are checked and credible.
The implications of blogging technology will not be negative for established media, if anything blogs will give insight to mainstream news about topics of interest and maybe provide reporters ideas of what is known about the topic and what some of the misconceptions are. In other words blogging may provide leads for mainstream stories.

Discussion questions:

How will advertising effect the future of blogging, if at all?

How popular will podcasting be in the future, will it gain popularity?

Week 5 Blog

2006-01-30T06:42:00.000-08:00

Why should communication scholars study the open source software movement?

Communication scholars should study the open source software movement because not only is any major movement in the field of communication worth studying for scholars in the field; but the open source software movement has the potential to alter the way we communicate as a whole. This movement invokes the idea of open, honest and positive communication, eventually leading to communication being the key aspect in policymaking and with open and honest communication in technology will come a greater and more influential society. Also, mentioned in the reading was the idea that text, being the way we communicate to others online today should be a thing of the past. Suggested instead in order to make the movement more powerful and in order to aid in open communication in technology would be to substitute audio and/or voice recording in place of the text we use today. Communication scholars should study this movement in technology to weigh the likelihood of the movement becoming a realistic success.

3 discussion questions:

Because the Internet is not controlled by any person, organization or group, do you think there will ever be a way to police it? If so how? And by whom?

Week 3 Blog

2006-01-17T15:20:00.000-08:00

My life is affected by the Internet but most likely not as much as many others who use rely on it more that I do. I use it primarily for research but also to connect with my friends and family via Instant Messenger and of course Email. Occasionally, I will get my news off various news sites but usually I just tune into the television for that.
For research purposes I use the Internet to research school projects, to get directions, phone numbers, movie times or to "google" anything I simply feel an impulse to know about. In these cases I feel the strain of information overload and the Internet begins to affect my life. In these instances it costs me time and effort. Only when I know exact websites to go straight to, am I not bombarded with information.
According to the reading I feel information overload because I do not understand all of the tools available to me when navigating for information and this is true. Also, I am just overwhelmed by the amounts if information to be understood. This is also true. I feel that there is so much information and sometimes it is difficult to decipher the credibility of what is out there, this concept also overwhelms me when attempting to do research. However, I cannot complain because the Internet is much more helpful to me that hindering and I would most likely put a lot more effort into researching a topic at a library.
The Internet actually simplifies my life. While information overload is at times frustrating and time consuming, for me and my minimal researching it is a small price to pay to have a wealth of information accessible from home.

Week 2 Blog

2006-01-08T10:58:00.000-08:00

Two points from the assigned reading that I found interesting were one, early predictions of television and two, aspects of McLuhan's global village. I had never given the concept of visions of the first televisions much thought and was amazed that it begun as early as 1879. The late 1870s cartoons illustrated families together in their living rooms gathered around the first ideas of a television and this vision holds true today. The television is a gathering place for many present day families and I found it remarkable that the idea that families will join in their living rooms to watch this "live" form of technology was taking place so long ago.
The second point I found interesting was a few concepts of McLuhan's global village. I especially enjoyed the idea that with live TV and immediate news coverage comes an altered sense of the 'real' world as described by McLuhan. This concept is becoming increasingly observed today as reality TV shows remain popular and control many television line-ups.
Vannevar Bush's 1945 description of "memex" compares with today's personal computers and the Internet in strikingly similar ways. For example, the "memex is an device for personal use as today's computers. The "memex" has a large amount of storage space to hold and file personal communication records, books and the like. The personal computers of today store almost any personal records imaginable from bills, tax information, private emails, im conversations and personal banking. The description of the "memex" that most compares with today's Internet is the idea that V. Bush discussed as "inserting a page of longhand analysis of his own. Thus he builds a trail of his interest through the maze of materials available to him." This is almost a direct comparison to today's Internet where anyone can add something to the millions of ideas already posted somewhere in the Web.
It is difficult for me to envision the Internet in 2045 because to me it seems that there is nothing we cannot do. However, I know that I am wrong and that the future will bring much more to what we can achieve on the Internet. The next 39 years could bring automatic integration from what you do in your home to your computer. For example, as you locate your car keys and head off to work for the day you promptly receive a traffic report for your assumed route. I think that the 2045 Internet as it will be a jumble of information will have a more intelligent system on its search engines to decipher credible works from the not credible. Also, spam will be a thing of the past!

1st Blog

2006-01-04T12:46:00.000-08:00

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