Extra Credit

Not only VoIP could be useful from personal home, but it seems that companies or businesses could have great benefits from it. Especially the ones that are always calling abroad. It would be a lot cheaper for them to use VoIp than regular phone lines.

VoIP

I feel that it is hard to tell how VoIP will impact on cable and telephone. This new technology will probably work on some people but not necessary on everyone. I think that people might have a hard time to switch from the phone to the computer. But again, it doesn't concern everyone.
For me, it is a great technology since I call a lot overseas. I have been starting to use skype and for me it is a great deal, a lot cheaper than buying phone cards all the time. I can't wait to see the evolution of VoIP and see the reaction of the cable and telephone networks.

extra credit

I found this article very interesting on the comparison of the usability of Bush and Kerry's websites. It made me realized the importance of the design of a website and how the little details can change everything. It is very important for a campaign to have a clear organization of the site and to make nice and friendly for anyone to navigate on it.

public space and accessibility

wow! I feel bad by saying that but I never really though about disabled people, especially blind people, using internet. Everyone should be able to use the internet and it doesn't seem fair that disabled people can't. The meaning of public space is that anyone should be able to use it, to benefit from it. If the disabled people can't, then we can't really say that it is a public space since some are discriminated from it. I think it is important to have a universal design on the webpage so the disabled people can have accessibility to internet. I know that they say that those standards are very difficult and expensive, I really think they should all do it. It is important that anyone be part of this great way of communication. Hopefully, one day, they will find an easier way, and also chipest, for the webpages to follow the requirements.

Internet technology and political activity

I do think internet technology has an impact on political activities like it has an impact to our everyday life. The reading about Joe Trippi, the organization man, we see how of a great impact the internet has on the political activity. During Howard Dean's campaign, Trippi was in charge of organizing it and he spend hours using e-mails and blogs to raise support. He found it easier to communicated with the supporters. The internet makes it easier to interact with people and answer their questions that to go doors to doors.
Concerning the electronic voting, I will say that they are facing many issues. Like we saw during the campaign, the technology of voting, ended up being a total mess and didn't help at all. They are now talking about e-voting but they are going to face issues such as security. Also, they need to make sure that everyone is comfortable using the e-voting and to be very clear in the instructions.
I don't know if one day the electronic voting will be without any issues but I hope that they will found a secure system that will work for everyone.

Extra Credit

It is crazy how much we are bombared by advertisements everyday. I found interesting the point that the most ads we see are usually from the big companies with a lot of money. They want to give ads space to smaller ones so people could have a variety of choices. I still think that there are way too many advertisements and they should be limited.
The children are the most influencable and I kind of like what Sweden and Norway did by not allowing ads on children TV programs.
When I first got in the US, I was so surprised to see commercials every 10 minutes on TV. I found it very annoying when you are trying to watch a program and you are constantly interrupted by ads.
I don't think that all ads should be banned because it is part of the society but I definitelly think that they should limit them.

cyberspace

I never realized before reading those articles that they were countries where the gouvernment censors sites. I was not that surprised to read about the governments of Soudi Arabia and Iran and their restrictions to the internet to the citizens since they are strict governments but still, I was shocked. Anyone, anywhere should be able to read, see and say what they want. I am glad that they are groups like Hacktivismo that are fighting for "Human Rights and the freedom of opinion and the freedom to seek". The great benefit of the internet is this easy way to communicate around the world and try to connect everyone in some ways. By restricting web sites, the governments of those countries don't give the chance to the citizens to have an opinion ans that is against the Human Rights. I thought the purpose was to reunite people but what they are doing is dividing. I hope that one day those countries will have the chance to navigate on websites without being blocked.

Mid term report

For this first part of my final project, I have to say that I first felt a little overwhelmed. But by doing the queries and then the searches and read more about my topic, I felt more comfortable since I was learning more about it.
I think it is interesting to explore web browsers and their security since it concerns all of us. We are all using them everyday and it is important to know the risks and to be able to avoid them.
I definitely need to do more researches to get more information and examples. I also know that I need to work on my APA citation so here are the corrections.


Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Web Browser. Retrieved April 24, 2005 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_browser


David Kirkpatrick. Fortune Should you join the browser wars. New York: Nov 29, 2004. Vol.150, Iss 11; pg. 204. Retrieved April 24, 2005 from Proquest database.
http://proquest.umi.com.ez.sccd.ctc.edu:2048/pqdweb?index=18&sid=3&srchmode=1&vinst=PROD&fmt=3&startpage=1&clientid=3953&vname=
PQD&RQT=309&did=743563751&scaling=FULL&ts=1114392545&vtype=
PQD&rqt=309&TS=1114393121&clientId=3953


Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Mozilla FireFox. Retrieved April 24, 2005 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozilla_Firefox


Swart, J. (2004, July 2) Security risks swell for Microsoft’s Explorer. USA Today. Retrieved , from Lexis-Nexis database.
http://web.lexisnexis.com.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/universe/document?_m=01b3f26b91712c01846f540151966dbe&_docnum=3&wchp=dGLbVlb-zSkVb&_md5=787fc2f4a4dc9509853b501584daddf2#know_base


Vamosi. R. (2005, March 21) Hackers reach beyond Windows, IE. ZDnet.com. Retrieved , from http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-5628404.html

Wednesday 5/4

I do see a relationship between the ideas in this readings and the open source software movement. David Kirkpatrick talks about the fact that social networking has been improving and that people are using it more and more for either business or simply pleasure. Not only people are using it to become part of a network community, but they also use it to find a date, to find a babysitter or to find a job. It is a great way to connect people.
James Moore talks about a worldwide networking for a peace campaign. We can see that the social network can easily connect people from all around the world and be able to create a movement where anybody can join. The second power is a group of activist with concerns about the social development, environmentalism, health and human rights. The social network brings people together and give the opportunity to anyone to give their opinion about issues and it is easier for them to stay connected and communicated.

Social software

Oups, I am late on that one. Got confused.
Blogging software definitely facilitate community because the communication among the people is a lot more flexible. You don't need to gather people at the same time, at the same moment. You can be chatting with your neighbor like you can be chatting with someone from another country. The blogging software is a great way for people to have the opportunity to express themselves and comment on some news article. I think it is important to give your opinion on things.
The challenges are that it is such an open software that everyone can say anything they want. They are no barriers. So, some people feel the need to go out of line and write disrespectful comments. They are no censorship really and I think they should think about doing it to avoid any bad comments. At least start by taking out the "anonymous" option.