the end od web

there are two web pages which i have found. They all have the name of "the end of web". I belive there must be a lot more of them. it shows that there are a lot of people are thinking about the affects hypertext and webs.

the end of web 1

the end of web 2

Hypertext: the killer of author?

In this lecture, we have talked about the hypertext. Compare it to the traditional text, it is more flexible, with links and give readers their own chooses. (Given’s lecture notes) Books normally have the characterizations of durable; bounded; fixed; and finished. On the other word, they all have an ending of the story. In hypertext story, it is almost impossible to find an ending, because there are always links which can bring more information.

Therefore, people believe that readers would never follow authors’ directions. They can create their own new story by adding links and information. However, some people argue that, hypertext improve the development of reading. Reader can easily found useful information without reading the whole story.

In my opinion, hypertext may kill the original author or author’s original intent, but it creates more and more new authors. Because by using links, every reader can add their new stories and intents to the original story, there would be new stories come out.

good-bad copys

good copy,bad copy

When talking about internet, we would directly think about download, online movies, and music. They can all be related to a Intellectual Property Right issue: piracy. Generally understanding, piracy is to use other people’s intellectual property without any permission. On internet, the music, movies which can be easily downloaded for free all belong to piracy. However, sometimes people just do not realize they are actually doing pirate.
Such as in the video “good and bad copies”, the people can easily remix the music to their own style. They thinking this is their proper job, but they do not know that their behaviors are already become piracy. People believe that piracy will destroy the society and development because if the intellectual properties can be used for free, there would be no more inventions or technology development. Nobody would like to do thing for free.
On the other hand, some people arguing that the purposes of making music or movies are not only for making money. Free sharing on internet is advancing the development of information and technology

video2

the importance of internet for business

In this lecture, we have talked about the change of world economy and how internet works in this now economic environment. Nowadays, the globalization of the world is the hottest topic in our society. It happens in culture, economy and our daily lives. The development of internet is one of the most important reasons. It is because of the mean features of the internet which are fast information sharing, world wide area and distance reduce.
It is barely to find a business which are running without an own website. Obviously, the internet is one of the most important tools for businesses to represent and develop themselves. The changes are only effect on businesses, but also on the working forces. For example, more flexible working times, part-time and contract jobs. More over, there is more and more companies use internet to recruit new stuffs. It gives more opportunities to personal development and also the development of technology.

web 2.0

In this lecture, we have talked about the web 2.0. Generally, web 2.0 can be defined as a website platform which can be generated and distributed by its users. Thus, web 2.0 often allows their users to share and reuse the resources easily. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0 ) It also rise the economic value of the web. For example, the online shopping websites allow users to sell and buy stuffs easily and much more convenience, the successful websites such as eBay and Amazon.

Another popular word about web 2.0 is “Citizen Journalists”. Some people think that the characteristic of web 2.0 allow every user to represent their won ideas and information on websites, such as WIKI, Blogger, myspace. Thus, the idea that every one who use the web 2.0 can be journalists. On the other hand, some people argue that web 2.0 is a terrible thing which is happening on the web and our society. There are many people are losing their jobs because web 2.0, and the real journalists may disappear in the future.

video1

Thinking the relationship between human and robot

in this lecture, mainly we talked about people's life, Alife(artificial life) and robots. Of course, life is a very complicated issue, everyone could have their different definitions. Alife is the system which similiar as life and built by human. For example, the website called "second life" is the artificial life. when you register on the website, you can build your new identity and living in a new cyberspace.
personally, I am more interested in the topic of "the relationship between human and robot". There is a video（video1） which shows some nowadays robots. They are programed to floow human orders. some of them can even sence the enviroment around them. However, they are still programed by human and unable to think by themselves.
Human build robot to make life easier and more convenience. Robot can do some dangerous things which human can not do. Generally, more inteligent the robot is, more help it can bring. On the other hand, when robots are more clear than human, why should they listen to human. I think the Movie "I, robot" point out the issue which between human and rebot. In the beginning of this video2 , there are Three laws of Robotics which were wrote by Isaac Asimov in 1942. these are :

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

These laws shows hunman's ambivalent mind with the relationship bteween robot.

The birth and death of web

In this lecture, we first discussed if people’s mind and body can be separated. This question has to link to the meaning of cyberspace. If cyber is the communication between animal and machine, cyberspace can be explained as the space or environment which supports the communication between animal and machine. Of cause, only the human mind can communicate with machine, so when human’s mind works together with machine, they are working in a special place which is cyberspace.

The movie is a very good example of the idea of human mind and body can be separated. In my opinion, the movie more like people plays some kind of video game. The difference between the video game we play is that when you die in the game, you also die in the real world.

The death of cyber does not mean cyber disappears. On the contrary, the using of cyber in our life is become more and more common, it already become every part of our lives. Thus, people are used to living in this environment, and do not talk too much about cyber.

There is a questions, “where are you going in your head when you talking to your friend on mobile?”
Obviously, when people talking on mobile, their mind are not totally exist in the real world or current real situation. For example, I saw a lot of people when they talking on mobile they are wave their hand and show a lot of motion, it is looks like the people they are talking with are actually standing in front of them. So, I think when people are talking on mobile, their mind are going to a special situation which they imagine their friend are together with them.

About new and old media

In this lecture, we talk about that media can reduce the difference which are come form geography, religion, living styles between people. For example, trough TV, people who are living in china and England can watch the world cup football match at the same time. Also, media allow people all around world share information, technology. For example, by using internet, people can get and share the latest news, idea and technology.

However, the media help people built up new identities and communities. Such as you can have many different identities when u using internet and join into different online communities, such as movie communities, music communities. So, in another hand, media rise the differences between people.

To measure the media is old or new, we have to use the yardstick model. Its include 5 points which are systemic, technical, aesthetic, logical and political. In my opinion, the media is old or new, it is depend on how people use it. There is an good example in the first lecture. the picture of people use CD to scare birds. CD is a quite new media, but when you use it in different way, it can be become very old thing.

understaning the meaning of media and cyberculture

In the first lecture, we talk about the meaning of "media" and "cyberculture". By understanding Gavin talking about media in the lecture, I think the media is the thing which is carrying message communicate between producer and audiences. For example, TV, radio, newspaper, film, internet and phones. I also find the explanation of media in M Paul and T Sue's .

Media are technologies each of which extends a perticular human sence or faculty, and the real “message” of any medium or technology is the change of scale or pace or pattern that it introduces into human affairs……the medium is the message

In my opinion, the word “cyberculture” can be devided to two words which are “ cyber” and “culture”. First, we have to understand what is mean “cyberspace”. The explaination in B,David book <>, cyberspace is “a medium that intersects with everyday life in ways both strange and omnipresent” It is not only relate to the Web, but also the webs of production and consumption. So the study of cyberculture is the analysis of the social power of cyberspace, also the inpact of internet to people’s daily life.

Referance:

1 M Paul and T Sue's (1996), Media Study, Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press Ltd.

2 B, David (2001), an Introduction to Cyberculture, London, Routledge.