Authenticity Identification Code

Identity, which makes an entity recognizable and definable. People perceive a person by his/her given identity in society. In fact identity of web users is caught between two worlds, virtual world and one with real-life demands. Would the virtual world be able to meet the identify requirements as per originally used in a real world? Would the authorities be able to keep track of authenticity of identities in the virtual world despite increasing cyber traffic? In near future with increasing use of Internet and people using it being unsure of what real identity a person holds behind the screen; would this situation change the perception of the work 'identity' and its meaning as we have been consuming it for centuries? The virtual world, which almost seems like real world once a person delves into it; but is it feasible to trust a person of his/her stated identity on the other side of the screen? Sherry Turkle states in the article "How Computers Change the Way We Think?" that some people who gain fluency in expressing multiple aspects of self may find it harder to develop authentic selves. A documentary called Catfish dealt with the issue of authenticity of the identity and possibly how could it affect a person in the real world. The trouble usually arises when one embeds virtual world excessively into their real life, which further starts tinkering with their minds when the line between real and virtual gets blurred. As depicted in the documentary Catfish, having online relationships could be one of the worst scenarios of investing in faith to an online silhouette, which might disturb a person emotionally. As found by researchers, the feelings, emotions, the psychology of a person in the virtual world affects a person same way as it would in a real world, besides physical presence. But with the progress in technology and as the use of social media is increasing, the authorities should come up with authenticity identification method. A special identity code should be granted to each web user. Each individual has to have it in order to log into the web world, with no loop-holes for anyone to create a fake identity. The service of authenticity identification would not only keep people from being hoodwinked by fellow web users but also would provide a person security of dealing with anyone online without doubting their identity, which could make future dealings on the web much trusted.

Is Social Media Revolution Effecting the WHOLE World?

All the information provided in the “Social Media Revolution” presentation is about the individuals residing in developed countries, where the Internet is easily accessible to all classes of people. The information given in the video is not familiarizing us with the world statistics, it is only about the population in the developing and the underdeveloped nations. Half of the world is still on the developing stages, and Internet use is not as prevalent. There are still places in Africa, Afghanistan and South Africa where there is not even access to clean drinking water, what to say of computer and Internet access, this would be the case in underdeveloped nations. In the developing ones, such as the countries were basic life amenities are present but it is still not at a position to provide all basic resources to all the citizens, in those countries Internet is mainly consumed by middle class and higher class people. Point being that for half of the world Internet is still not a part of their everyday lives. The question that emerges at this point is that the anticipated effects of the meticulous web usage, how would that affect the interactions and the standard of living between the people in the different parts of the world?

Right when Industrial Revolution took place in Britain, that was the moment when it created a large gap between the Britishers and people in the other parts of the world who still used the methods for generation of good that were obsolete in Britain. The Industrial Revolution played a significant role in changing the everyday routine of people in the countries where it took place and bringing up their standard from the rest of the world. The Industrial Revolution also created a deep gap between the nations, which is still taking its time to get filled. The issue that arises here is, would increasing Social Media Revolution, taking place in developed countries and partially in developing ones, would create an all pervading gap between the web wired nations and the unwired ones and possibly how could different lifestyles of people affect the world itself?

As the digital natives generation are debated of being adroit at multi-tasking and switching tasks, some theorists come to the conclusions that having those web idiosyncrasies would make the current and coming generations terrible at analytical reasoning, staying on singular task and having short-term attention spans. But wait this only apply to the youngsters in developing nations. What about the people living in the developing and under-developed nations, where the web is not embedded into the youngsters everyday lives and they have no such habits? The youngsters in developed countries as criticized by Mark Bauerlein, in this book The Dumbest Generation, for the dis-affects of web usages. But the title 'The Dumbest Generation' only applies to the youth in the developing nation according to the statistics provided in the book. More than half of the world, not being able to access the Internet is still untouched of its dis-affects. So, does that conclude that the youth today that has either a little or no access to the Internet would be better off in future mentally (until they get exposed to Internet 24/7)?

Introducing MASHABLE and Social Mouths

Mashable is the top source for news in social and digital media, technology, and web culture. Its primary focus is social media news. 

Founded by Pete Cashmore in July 2005, Mashable is the most abounding news site reporting breaking web news, providing analysis of trends, reviewing new websites and services, and offering social media resources and guides. It allows users for the social network, gadgets, videos and marketing integrations. Also, allows users for custom tailoring the topics they care most about and follow those.

Social Mouths

As the web is expanding and becoming mainstream, there are websites/blogs that help the web users expanding their web presence. SOCIAL MOUTHS claims that it helps people become successful online. Getting coached by to build an online audience, and establishing effective business advertising. It focuses on the strategies of effective online marketing. The Social Mouths is operated by Francisco Rosales. Having a web presence is not the only thing that matters, being known online is another significant virtual industry.

Internet Addiction

 A quick summary of Internet Addiction:

• Internet Addiction Disorder [IAD] is the name given to this disorder by psychiatrists.
• Internet Addiction is an addiction like any other. It produces euphoria or relief as well as dovetail symptoms of withdrawal.

Symptoms of Internet Addiction:

• One forgets to eat and sleep.
• One loses track of time when online
• One needs more advanced/complicated technology or more hours on-line as they develop “resistance” to the pleasure given by their current system.
• If one is deprived of their access to the Internet, he/she experiences genuine withdrawal symptoms and becomes restless.
• Procrastination of tasks at home or work and isolation from friends, family and society becomes common.

Reasons of Internet Addiction:

• To relieve unpleasant and overwhelming feelings such as boredom, stress, loneliness, depression, and anxiety.
• Using the Internet can temporarily evaporate these feelings
• But agitate the overwhelming feelings in a long run and make them intense, as a result, they become addicted.
• People with symptoms as depression, feelings of isolation, stress or anxiety, may "self-medicate" by using the Internet in the same way that some people use alcohol or drugs of abuse to self-medicate the symptoms of their mental disorder.

Class of 2011: If Social Media Were a High School

 LINK: Class of 2011: If Social Media Were a High School

The link provides a very interesting approach to the social media we consume in our everyday lives. This link sees the different media websites as a high school class and illustrates what role particular page plays. Twenty-two of the most commonly encountered wed pages it illustrates. The five most frequently browsed and interesting ones are as follows:

1. Twitter is stated as the gossip girl: Twitter provides microblogging service, enabling its viewers to tweet in no more than 140 words. The tweets are publicly visible by default.
2. Google as the Prep for the future endeavors: Google is a multinational public corporation invested in Internet search and advertising technologies. It generates profit primarily from advertising.
3. Facebook as the athlete, the jock: Facebook, a social networking services, had affected the social life of people in various ways, it reunites people in different parts of the world.
4. Wikipedia as a nerd: A web-based multi-lingual encyclopedia supported by nonprofit Wikimedia Foundation. The articles can be edited by anyone who has access to the site. It provides the largest source for general reference work on the Internet.
5. Youtube as A/V nerd: A video sharing website where people can upload, share and view videos. Youtube has turned video sharing into a very important component of Internet culture.

“Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants” by Marc Prensky

Article: Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants

The article “Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants” by Marc Prensky highly supports the ways 'digital natives' generation are effectively adopting technology in their everyday lives. Replacing a legacy content of the course material, for future education with digital technology. Prensky disregards the teaching methods used by 'digital immigrants' generation. Prensky talks about digital natives generation finding the current education system slow and boring since it is a generation that craves for instant gratification. I disagree with Prensky's idea and feel that the education system should be carried on the way it was before. Although no doubt that technology is embedded in everyone's everyday life whether it be digital natives or digital immigrant, but not each and every bit of knowledge for digital natives should be presented in technological savvy manner. Since, in order for a human to develop his/ her brain, stimulation is necessary, which cannot be granted by sticking with one method for both acquiring educational knowledge and entertainment. In an attempt to present all the reduced, minimized version of information and in order to keep students from 'possibly' getting bored, the attention span and ability to stay focused on one task for long of the digital natives generation will be compromised. The 'traditional' educational methods not only provide the theory of course material in a broad manner but also keeps brain on the track of efficiently absorbing theory material, remaining focused, helping build cognitive performance. Although technology should be embedded into the education system, as it is currently, in order to keep up with society, but adding more to every part of it as suggested by Prenksy would take away the hidden or unhidden advantages provided to us by 'traditional' educational system.

Digital Distractions Cost Vigilance

Do virtual worlds bring us together with others, or do they just make being utterly alone a little more bearable? There is a very thin line between us managing interface and interface managing us. It is when we start using virtual world to substitute our loneliness and use it as a source to meet our emotional and psychological needs that our interface starts interfering with our task managing abilities and further takes control of it. The fact is that the distraction by an interface and virtual worlds is actually making the generation of ‘digital natives’ less vigilant in their general dealings. Blabbering on social networks such as facebook and twitter gives its users an urge and direction for knowing minor details about other people every second of the day. Marshall McLuhan also rolled the concept that the price of eternal vigilance is indifference. When applied to the technological generation, the essence of the quote is that vigilance is not attained by multitasking practiced by most of the ‘digital generation’. Spending more time online and less time with real people is not making people indifferent; rather they get insignificant bits of information about others’ personal life. Being constantly hooked with the social network is making people lose their ability to concentrate. Slackness is the consequence of using social networks and distracting oneself with online games and videos.

An article called, 'Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction' in New York Times on November 21, 2010, discusses the digital native generation being caught between two worlds, a virtual one and one with real-life demands. David Reilly, the principal of Woodside High School in Silicon Valley, California, says that the unchecked use of digital devices can create a culture in which students are addicted to the virtual world and further lost in it. Mr. Reilly also adds that social butterflies tend to be heavy texters and Facebook users while students who are less social might escape into games. Those who are drifters or prone to procrastination might surf the Web or watch videos. Mr. Reilly furthers that technology amplifies who you are. (Growing up digital, wired for distraction, November 21, 2010, New York Times). No matter what level of social involvement a person has, he or she ends up finding the kind of virtual involvement that suits his or her personality.

Marshall McLuhan coined the idea that media and technology are extensions of the human body’s limbs and senses. It was R.W. Emersion who originally wrote in 1870 that all the tools and engines on the earth are only extensions of human being’s limbs and senses. For some people, entering into the virtual world is a way of escaping from the real world and its problems. A lot of people in digital era use Interface to distract themselves, but the fact lies in another era: they could have been distracted by the TV or the radio. Interface and the Internet are just another way of escapism. Distraction, from either the Internet or TV, devoid a person from his or her ability to focus on a certain thing for longer periods of time, and consequently, affects the quality of the work. The constant use of an interface is causing the digital generation to become adroit at multitasking, which leads to less focus on certain work rather than consistency. The virtual world has made immediate gratification a need for its users which ultimately causes the interface to control us.

References:
Marshall McLuhan, February 24, 2011, http://marshallmcluhan.com/mcluhanisms/
Marshall McLuhan, February 24, 2011, http://marshallmcluhan.com/common-questions/

Word Processing vs. Thinking

Word processing is a very effective tool which help facilitate thinking and acts as a buffer for the thought process. Writing long research reports is now not as tedious for the non-professionals with the help of word processing tool in contrast to writing on paper and keeping records. Word processing gives one the opportunity to go back to the document in order to review work and change information which is not possible when using paper and pen. According to the famous sayings, ‘a writer's pen is more powerful than a warrior's sword’ but in today’s digital world the pen has been replaced by the keyboard.

The possible advantages of using word processing tool over handwriting.

Although the chosen web link counts the advantages of word processing, such as accelerating speed, editing, and copying. It also criticizes the 'personality' of the given word processing tool that causes the loss of personal touch and humanity. Both handwriting and typing triggers different thoughts while delivering the same message. Handwriting has a personal touch to it while word processing seems monotonous, regardless, however it sets the criteria for professional formatting worldwide.

The author Turkle emphasizes that “The idea of thinking ahead has become exotic.” Word Processing has made thinking and jotting down ideas a simultaneous process. Although, using paper and pen gives one the chance to create a mind map and flow charts to brainstorm ideas. By the innovation of the digital notebook with handwriting recognition, it is now possible to create mind map, flows charts and handwritten notes on the laptop screen itself, although the final writing is always formatted in word processing. A lot of universities do not accept handwritten formal assignment submissions. For the modern day book writers, paper and pen are obsolete in the presence of the word processing tool which further improves the sentence structure and acts as a catalyst for articulation. In addition to the benefits of Word Processing tool, it is now one’s personal choice to hold on to paper and pen. Not using word processing is not an option in today’s high paced fast tech world, where it has become a basic office tool where even the informal messages are typed. The Internet networking is only possible through the use of keyboard and typing, which makes it even harder to avoid the typing tools for formal writing purposes. One may choose not to use Word Processing tool,  however, the fact cannot be denied that he/she is part of a society that greatly relies on Word Processing tool for formal and informal writing. The Word Processing tool has provided thought process, a smooth platform for its expression and articulation into words while having an opportunity to constantly proofread it.