Misunderstanding Web 2.0

WEEK 3 Introduction: What readily comes to the mind whenever Web 2.0 is mentioned is the Cyberspace. Web 2.0 is a platform for gaining knowledge via sharing of information between users and their contacts with continuous improvement.(Michael Platt). Tim Berners-Lee (2000) however, also bore his mind on the Web 2.0 and Web 1.0 to say ‘they are both the same in that all is geared towards interaction and networking’. Key Concepts: Barlovian Cyberspace. John Perry Barlow, the deputy chairperson of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) announces the sovereignty of the cyberspace as these engineers the America’s Wild West and individualism. Another example is that this concept seeks to generate a society where everybody might be a part of; not minding ones color, gender, financial status or place of origin and where freedom of speech, religion and other related matters are carried out. Gibsonian Cyberspace: In another instance, William Gibson exclaimed that Cyberspace is founded on information supplied by data that cannot be easily deleted even when user is long dead. Authority is usually vested on users who excellently utilize information. The bedrock of cyberspace is the World Wide Web (WWW) (Jari Peltola) Critical Thinkers: Theodore Raszack spoke extensively on Counter Culture. He pointed out how computer systems at community clubs brought awareness which in turns had adverse effect on society in the forms of political and traditional conflicts, campaign on gender inequality and the rise of student strikes on campuses. Simply put; Theodore added that it is a means of offering authority to the society. Steven Levy on the other hand concentrated on the Hacker Culture. He emphasized how that data accessibility should be unrestricted and that software is created to suit the display of arts which adds aesthetic values to better the lives of the people. Contemporary Issues: Despite the good sides of the Web 2.0, there are clear negative pointers of it as well: Research had it that ‘Technology is not a border line but only a modern backdrop for misunderstanding between traditional leaders and social/political authorities. (Jari Peltola). The use of bombs in the 20th century for cold war and the likes is another negative point to note. Examining more on the negative aspect of the internet, it is only obvious that the era of peaceful society and respect for community leaders is gone. Hacker Values rather broadcast uncertainties of people in power. Comparing the time of Old Media and now, it is no doubt that humans tend to rely more on technology in the place of developing perusal skills. Cultural Importance: The discovery of the Differential Calculus by (Newton) to analyze waves round the sun begat Industrial Revolution where several machines like the Babbage Different Engine, Knowledge Machines by Vannervar Bush and Memex (1934 ) were manufactured. More so, this was the era the US military engaged the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator machines(ENIAC) in place of human beings to calculate artillery range tables. This however did not only reduce human labor but also saves time. Examining the benefits of the internet still, Nicole Stenger, (1991) a cartoonist described the ability of the internet in preserving animate and inanimate objects forever That is to say ones impacts are preserved for eternity. Even though Dion Hinch Cliffe criticized the advent of the internet by saying ‘the old way of nosing and / or sourcing of information had long gradually eroded away’, that the internet rather presented new methods of limitless and uncontrollable access to information but Neil Postman instead, laid emphases on the fact that ‘cyberspace as a tool for entertainment’. (Comedy). Case study: The Advantages and Disadvantages of the internet: Its benefits in relation to free access and utilization of information, reduction of human labor, and avoidance of concentrated power at the centre as well as the beautification of the world via high-tech inventions cannot be over emphasized. Richard reiterated that ‘technology had brought and made social equality and communication regionalized and permanent’. (Richard Wise). More so, it is indeed very important to mention that in a society such as this, humor is highly needed to ease the daily stress, worries and anxieties facing mankind. (Neil postman: Amusing Ourselves to Death). The railway system to facilitate travelling without delays is also mind blowing. At this juncture, it is pertinent to say that the embrace of the internet also brought unwanted issues which if can be avoided will make the society a better place to live in. some of these issues can be seen in the forms of civil unrest, atomic bomb explosions, global warming, (the depleting of the Ozone layer, hurricanes, environment pollution, synthetic life styles which is rather causing more harm than good when critically examined. The awareness that at any point in time one is being watched somehow by some persons at some places is also quite alarming. In all, l recommend that in as much as information should be free especially for students carrying out researches but on the other hand, sensitive information as touching one’s personal health records etc should be treated as confidential. Another interesting side of the whole discussion is the answerability and work without supervision that de-massification seeks to promote at work places. (Stunkey 1995, p.43) should be adopted so as to boost human creativity. Attention of using technology to create harmful substance should rather be redirected towards advanced peace-oriented tools because the whole wide world need nothing but peace to be sustained. Critical Questions: Because of the drastic change in culture due to development of technology, it is only natural for one to question its authenticity of who actually controls the cyberspace and how much of authority is vested on the society and with what measures are breakers of the Law punished Possible Literature Search Avenues: UoB and materials outside UoB Books: Steven Levy, HACKERS: Heroes of the computer revolution, Theodore Roszack :Counter Culture, William Gibson: Neuromancer, Neil Postman: Amusing ourselves to Death, Richard Wise, Multimedia: A critical Introduction Journals: DEPOVER, Christian; QUINTIN, Jean-Jacques; STREBELLE, Albert. Education et Francophonie.2013, Vol. 41 Issue 1, p173-191. 19p. 2 Color Photographs, 1 Chart, 1 Graph. Language: French. , Database: Education Research ALLEN, R. C. Economic History Review. May2011, Vol. 6 Cailliau, Robert; Gillies, James. OECD Observer. 2012 4th Quarter, Issue 293, p32-33. 2p. , Database: Business Source Premier Braman, Sandra ; New Media & Society, Vol 14(4), Jun, 2012. pp. 721-723. [Review-Book], Database: PsycINFO Possible Multimedia: The Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator Machine ( ENIAC ), The HYPERTEXT (WWW ), Personal Computers, Babbage Difference Engine, UNIVAC, Microelectronics and Flight Stimulators References: Gibson, W.(1995). Neuromancer. New York: Harper Voyager. Levy, S. (2010). Hackers: Heroes of the computer revolution. California: O’Reilly Media. Postman, N. (2005). Amusing Ourselves to Death. London: Penguin Books Wise, R. (2000). Multimedia: A critical Introduction. London: Routledge. ALLEN, R. C. Economic History Review. May2011, Vl. 6 Cailliau, Robert; Gillies, James. OECD Observer. 2012 4th Quarter, Issue 293, p32-33. 2p. , Database: Business Source Premier Braman, Sandra ; New Media & Society, Vol 14(4), Jun, 2012. pp. 721-723. [Review-Book], Database: PsycINFO DEPOVER, Christian; QUINTIN, Jean-Jacques; STREBELLE, Albert. Education et Francophonie.2013, Vol. 41 Issue 1, p173-191. 19p. 2 Color Photographs, 1 Chart, 1 Graph. Language: French. , Database: Education Research