Internet Studies

I started searching for resources for my second essay for NET12 unit yesterday. It was the first time I didn’t even touch Google for my search. Instead I used the following:

• National Library of Australia
• Wiley InterScience
• Technorealism
• Internet Public Library
• Communication, Cultural and Media Studies
• CorpWatch
• Project Muse
• ProQuest

A couple of the above websites, asked me to purchase my selected articles, which I can understand but I didn’t plan on paying this time. The last two, Project Muse and ProQuest asked me to login before I could use their services. I logged in with my Curtin student login details. I appreciated this ability to allow me to use these resources. I also loved the abundance of academic articles I was able to search. There are some advantages of being a part of an academic institute, even if I’m only their student.

I had a very hard time trying to read Marcuse’s essay and even struggled with Feenberg’s. Here are some sentences I underlined while reading:

“Value neutral technology turns out to contain a value in itself after all, and that value is pure domination.

“How can merely neutral means favour domination over liberation? Isn’t the neutrality of the means a guarantee of its indifference with respect to end?

“The modern approach, since Machiavelli, focuses exclusively on the machinery of coercion and consent without regard for the purpose of the whole… ambition is now taken no less seriously than true public purpose since both are regarded as merely subjective.

“Marcuse concludes that science and technology need to be reformed at the most fundamental level, the level of technological rationality itself.

“The new technical logos must include a grasp of essences, and technology must be oriented towards realizing inherent potentialities.

“Like Heidegger he [Marcuse] sees technology as more than technical, as more even than political; it is the form of modern experience itself, the principal way in which the world is revealed.

“All this hangs together at the level of pure theory, but concretely, what would a modern techne be like? Marcuse argues that it would incorporate values in its very structure, that it would be essentially oriented towards the good.

“Who is going to invent those principles, and what will they be like?… Marcuse did not believe it possible to replace technology with some sort of mystical unity of man and nature.

“Perhaps Marcuse had more modest ambitions and merely hoped that technology as we know it would be used to enhance rather than destroy life.

“From that standpoint, his [Marcuse] concept of technological rationality cannot be identical with the formal concepts of efficiency and control, but must have a social content as a socially specific pattern of goal orientation.”

I am aware I’m not doing justice to the essay by selecting just these few sentences but these are the ones I was thinking about as I was reading through. I read Machiavelli a few years ago and it is a good example of today’s western essence. Our view of the world and how we choose to live our lives is very subjective, self-centred, oriented about the self. It is an individualistic view where I’m the most important object and I will use whatever I can for self-actualization and advancement. But I digress. Marcuse’s aspiration to have some rationality in technology might be as feenberg says “merely hoped”. How can you reconstruct an already existing concept?

In Langdon Winner’s “Who will be in Space?” we see some similar concepts but also many others. Winner talks about the “end of work” and “end of career”. It is not a new concept. Ten years ago I learnt that there is a good chance the common person will change jobs at least four times during his working life. The concept of one job for life doesn’t exist anymore. People get bored with what they do and go looking for a new endeavour but mostly, we need to keep up-to-date with current technologies. We keep learning new skills all the time.

“People’s orderly role in production was to be rewarded with an equally orderly role in consumption”.

Isn’t the equivalent phrase is “keeping up with the Jones’s”? One of the causes of current society’s many problems is material gain. Because we want stuff, we have to work to be able to get it.

“The ultimate promise of modern society was held to be individual, material satisfaction. Missing from this picture was any attention to collective good and problems.” [emphasis is mine]

Sounds like a concept raised in the previous essay. Western society is built on individualism. Looking after me. What’s in it for me? How high can I climb so everyone could see me? me me me.

“How can people recreate selfhood when everyone is expandable, could become a more serious issue then even the decline of real wages”.

I disagree. Everyone is expendable—now and before. The opposite can create much bigger problems when people think they are indispensable.

Winner also talks about the inevitability of technology and the campaign announcements on decisions that were made for the consumers without asking their opinion. I think it would be great if many of these choices when optional to be decided by the consumer and I think society will benefit from such a thing. But I also think that in some (not many) cases, the consumers help shape what technology becomes dominant.

And for a closing line, here is a sarcastic sentence from Winner I liked:

“How reassuring; evidently the right design is headed our way and again we have not had to lift a finger”.

References:
Andrew Feenberg, Can Technology Incorporate Values? Marcuse’s Answer to the Question of the Age (1998)
A re-assessment of Marcuse’s theory of technology, which might help you put his work in context.

Langdon Winner, ‘Who Will We Be in Cyberspace?’, from The Network Observer 1995

Module 1—Internet and Protocols

Coyle K., (1998), A Primer on Internet Privacy, (Accessed on March 06, 2007)
Reference: Karen Coyle discusses how our activities on the web are monitored and raises questions on privacy as a choice. Coyle introduces the Internet Protocol and how computers communicate. She explains how advances in computing technology provide an ability to collect and aggregate information of the user’s activities. Coyle then continues to review server logs, clickstream and cookies. In her summary paragraph Coyle concludes by saying that education and responsibility are the key to our freedom of accessible information. This article relates to two concepts with the first one being Identity and Location. Fundamentally the Internet is a network of identified end points and communication is achieved by passing data packets between locations of known identities. This concept also raises the notion of Privacy and Security. Advanced Internet users should be aware of privacy and security concerns that are implied by the nature of the network.

Maslen P., (October 1996), Control, Change and the Internet, (Accessed on March 06, 2007)
Reference: In this four-chapter work, Patrick Maslen examines the history and development of the Internet from three aspects: physical, logical and social. In chapter one, Maslen explores the competition of the Internet protocols, mainly the American TCP/IP versus the European ISO protocol. Chapter two reviews the major operators in the eighties that influenced the spread of the Internet. In chapter three Maslen explains the developing ideals that contributed to the Internet culture. And lastly, in chapter four, Maslen discuses the ways in which the Internet Protocol helped with internationalisation of the Internet as well as the problems it created in the process. This article’s concept is the Persistence of History. In order to fully understand the Internet today, it is critical to first look into its past. It provides context to the present and supports any future development.

Module 2—Net Communications

IT Security Staff, (November 2006), Hacking Email: 99 Email Security and Productivity Tips, IT Security, (Accessed on March 06, 2007)
Reference: As its name suggests, this article provided 99 practical guidelines and recommendations for using email from etiquette, how to communicate, considerations when sending emails to mobile phones, productivity tips, how and what attachments to send, to privacy and security issues we should be aware of. This article also includes links to further readings specific to each subject such as a post about further five fast email productivity tips which in turn leads you to a tutorial on how to set up an email template. This article relates to many Internet concepts such as Email, Privacy and Security, Asynchronicity, Effective Internet Communication Combines Technical and Communicative Competence and Netiquette to name a few.

Office of Privacy Commissioner, (March 2003), Guidelines on Workplace E-mail, Web Browsing and Privacy, (Accessed on March 15, 2007)
Reference: An invaluable article to workplace and government organisations and employees as one. Staff at the workplace might be under the impression that their online browsing activities and emails are private when in fact these activities can be monitored. Furthermore, their actions might compromise the organisation’s security systems. This article discusses the privacy concerns of emails and web browsing in a workplace and is designed to assist with the development of good practices. Its purpose is to help organisations understand the legal issues involved and develop a policy that will be provided to its employees with clear instructions of proper use of email and web browsing while at work. This resource relates to two concepts. First concept is Permanent Emphemerality. Staff should concede that their electronic communications could be easily stored and accessed for future reference thus be aware of the inherit implications. Second concept is Privacy and Security though in this instance this resource examines issues of privacy and security in the context of the workplace.

Module 3—e-Writing

Sheerin P., (October 2001), The Trouble With EM ‘n EN (and Other Shady Characters), (Accessed on April 10, 2007)
Reference: Peter Sheerin covers the subject of bad practices of web typography and their alternatives—proper Unicode characters—for specific situations such as punctuation, analphabetic symbols and spaces. He also touches on some grammatical rules and browser bugs to be avoided. By following Sheerin’s advice, your work will improve immensely and will be regarded more professional. Even though this article’s subject is not about frames, the concept that can be applied to it is Information Display Challenge. The challenge of displaying information correctly and consistently across various computer platforms with various encoding systems can be alleviated by the use of proper Unicode characters. Following this practice assists in further globalisation and reach of information across the Internet.

Rutter R., (2005), The Elements of Typographic Style Applied to the Web, (Accessed on April 10, 2007)
Reference: The Internet began as a medium to share information. For many years the syntax that was meant to present information was exploited for presentational purposes. With improvements in technology of the underlying markup, web browsers, screen resolutions and text rendering capabilities, the ability to create compelling web pages is now hindered only by lack of know-how. Richard Rutter relies on Robert Bringhurst’s book “The Elements of Typographic Style”, which is an excellent resource by itself, as a guide to translate typography principles from the print to the web. He introduces the concepts of rhythm, proportions and motion that are good and valid subjects, even for newcomers to typography in general. Rutter offers practical advice and examples that reinforce his guidelines to better web typography. You should also check his bibliography—“How to size text using Ems” on Clagnut in particular.

USC Annenberg Online Journalism Review, How to write for the Web, University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication, (Accessed on April 10, 2007)
Reference: The Internet in itself is a publishing medium. Its readers’ attention is one of the most sought after commodity. Most Internet users skim the web page looking for the next place to click. Most likely advanced Internet users will not only be passive readers but also active participants. In this how-to-write guide, we are presented with a few basic tips to help writers and readers as one. The tips covered are separated into short sections suitable for various mediums of writing online such as blogging, wikis, discussion boards, as well as general tips. They provide a concise introduction to writing online. This resource relates to Information and Attention concepts, where online content is accessed and processed efficiently.

William Strunk Jr., (1918), The Elements of Style, Bartleby, (Accessed on April 10, 2007)
Reference: The art of writing comes natural to some but many others could use some practice of composition. In this classical book, William Strunk Jr. aims to provide a brief introduction to essentials of writing English literature. Even though this book is intended to use as a resource to English courses, it can also be an invaluable resource to current online contributors. Subjects covered are elementary rules of usage, elementary principles of composition, a few matters of form and commonly misused and misspelled words and expressions. The book covers only a small segment of English style writing but concentrates on the essentials. Relating concept is Information and Attention where clear and proper writing would help our readers especially when reading off the screen.

Module 4—Web Search and Evaluation

Barker J., (March, 2007), Finding Information on the Internet—A Tutorial, UC Berkeley - Teaching Library Internet Workshops, (Accessed March 15, 2007)
Reference: The Internet is a host of countless resources, some useful and some maybe not. Finding quality resources on the Internet is a vital acquired skill. This tutorial on how to find information on the web was prepared by Joe Barker for Internet Workshops offered by the Teaching Library at the University of California at Berkeley. Barker structures this tutorial in an ascending complexity order starting with an introduction to the Internet, things you should know before you begin searching, types of search tools, recommended search strategy to methods to evaluating and citing your results. This tutorial relates to two concepts: Information and Attention and the challenge of ‘Fast’ Data. Information on the Internet evolves continuously. Advanced Internet users should hold appropriate skills to find information on the Internet and evaluate its worth.

Smith C., (December, 2006), Searching and Evaluating Web Resources, Warwick- Centre for Academic and Professional Development, (Accessed March 15, 2007)
Reference: As advanced Internet users, we might use the Internet as a medium for research. Our research can only be as good as our search queries. Christine Smith starts with an overview and examples for effective process to deciding on powerful search queries. She then continues to summarise strategies to searching and evaluating online resources in summary points that are succinct and easy to understand. It is an excellent brief and at the same time a thorough resource to using search engines including practical tips to searching and analysing your results. And again, relating concepts are the challenge of ‘Fast’ Data and Information and Attention.

Missing Subjects

RSS Feeds

Concepts: Asynchronicity, The challenge of ‘Fast’ Data, Information and Attention

Nottingham M., (2005), RSS Tutorial for Content Publishers and Webmasters, (Accessed on March 06, 2007)
Reference: Even though this tutorial includes an introduction to feeds syndication, it is aimed at web developers who are already familiar with XML. Mark Nottingham produced a simple tutorial to start webmasters on the right track to creating RSS feeds.

RSS Reader
Reference: An RSS aggregator application for Windows platform that is available for free. It is a simple feeds reader that comes with no pre-subscribed feeds. It is so intuitive that it even lacks a help file.

Time Atlas, RSS Tutorial—How to Add RSS Feeds to FeedDemon, (Accessed on March 06, 2007)
Reference: A seven-minute Flash demonstration provided by Time Atlas that provides an interactive orientation to RSS feeds. It shows how to easily find RSS channels and how to add them to your newsreader. FeedDemon application is used for this demonstration.

Microformats

Concepts: The Relationship of Data to Meta-Data, The Mobility of Electronic Digital Data

Costello R., (2007), Tutorials on Microformats, (Accessed on March 06, 2007)
Reference: Roger Costello starts these series of tutorials by introducing Microformats, which are specific HTML markup constructs that many web services can understand and therefore reuse the data provided helping these applications to work smarter. Costello includes an overview of Microformats, their purpose, Microformats examples and their syntax.

De Bruin R., (2006), Tails Export Extension for FireFox, (Accessed on March 06, 2007)
Reference: Robert de Bruin developed an extension for Firefox that detects currently available Microformats constructs on a web page and allows you to reuse them by exporting them to various applications.

Social Bookmarking

del.icio.us, (Accessed on April 10, 2007)
ma.gnolia.com, (Accessed on April 10, 2007)
Reference: The primary use for social bookmarking web sites is to store your bookmarks online, which you can access the same bookmarks from anywhere. This system’s advantages are many including efficient research and collaboration. You can add notes and tag your links, which helps you to remember your bookmarks as well as share your link collection with others. Another advantage of social bookmarking is the ability to find the best resources through people and not machines. In social bookmarking, you find the bookmarks that other people think are worth keeping.
Concepts: The Relationship of Data to Meta-Data, Virtually a Library?

References

Bell D., (2001), Storying Cyberspace 1: Material and Symbolic Stories in An Introduction to Cybercultures, London, Ruthledge

Dery M., (1996), Escape Velocity: Cyberculture at the End of the Century, Hodder & Stoughton

Thomas S., (2006), The End of Cyberspace and Other Surprises, The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies

I’ve selected my resources for the annotated bibliography assignment and even finished writing my annotations. Next step is to select what concept each resource relates to.

I’ve been reading each concept and so many of them relate to so many of my selected resources. How do I select which conceot to attach to which reference? I think I will chose the ones that are most prominent but then again so many of the concepts are interconnetced. Hence my hardship in selecting them.

According to Wikipedia:
Cyberpunk is a science fiction genre noted for its focus on “high tech and low life”. Its name was originally developed as a marketing term and coined by Bruce Bethke in his short story “Cyberpunk” written in 1980, so that his novel would have more appeal to readers…Cyberpunk plots often center on a conflict among hackers, artificial intelligences, and mega corporations. They tend to be set in a near-future Earth, rather than the far future settings or galactic vistas found in novels like Isaac Asimov’s Foundation or Frank Herbert’s Dune. The settings are usually post-industrial dystopias, but tend to be marked by extraordinary cultural ferment, and the use of technology in ways never anticipated by its creators…

According to CybrPunk:
Cyberpunk is a genre that could be attached to alternatively the Science Fiction side of fiction or the horror side of fiction. Additionally, many people consider cyberpunk culture to merely represent the culture that is attached to the Internet and computers. In essence, there is a difference between the cyberpunks of today and the cyberpunks of the future.

Cyberpunk, essentially, is a form of speculative fiction that deals with a high-technology future. Cyberpunk is almost never happy, and usually leaves the reader in a ‘life sucks’ mood. The reader should not want to enter the little world that you create. Cyberpunk is a warning as to what might happen in the future.

Required reading material for people who want to know more about cyberpunk is:

• Neuromancer, by William Gibson
• Count Zero, by William Gibson
• Snow Crash, by Neil Stephenson
• Mirrorshades, a cyberpunk anthology, edited by Bruce Sterling

According to CyberPunk Review:
Brief Definition of Cyberpunk: created by Illusivemind, here is a single sentence definition of cyberpunk:

Cyberpunk is about expressing (often dark) ideas about human nature, technology and their respective combination in the near future.

While some see cyberpunk to be a long-since dead relic of the 80s, I consider it to be alive and well. There are many aspects of “cyberpunk-ness” but these are what I consider the most important cyberpunk themes:

• Negative Impact of technology on humanity
• Fusion of man and machine
• Corporate control over society
• Story focuses on the underground
• Ubiquitous Access to Information
• Cyberpunk visuals and style

With my current studies, the mailing lists I’m signed to, all the feeds that I follow, before even mentioning work and social life, I’m just not interested in joining any specific newsgroup.

With chatting and instant messaging, I’m signed up to MSN Messenger and Gmail Talk. In the past, I used to also use Yahoo, AOL and ICQ. I even still have my ICQ number: 222234966. Don’t know if it’s still valid. I used to use Trillian as the IM user agent to help with all the different accounts.

Since then, I gave up most of accounts and just stuck with MSN-not because it’s better but because I had a Hotmail account as many of my friends. Hence, even when I changed my email from Hotmail to Gmail, I stayed with MSN Messenger. And I have been IM with a few of the other students lately.

I now use Adium as my IM application. It is set up with my MSN account. Should set it up with my Gmail one as well. I also have been thinking of getting an imac email account but haven’t made up my mind. Why should I bother with yet another email? Furthermore hardly any of my friends use a mac. Maybe. Maybe not.

With my essay for NET12 submitted, I turned my attention again to NET11.

Many of the resources that I am considering to use in the Annotated Bibliography for Advanced Internet Users assignment are ones that I knew beforehand. What I found interesting while I was working through this assignment is that for a couple of the subjects, I had more than enough resources. With others, I had a hard time finding resources to use. Maybe, I couldn’t decide whether they are suitable and good enough as a resource because I was new to them. Maybe my search terms were not specific enough. I don’t know which one is the case.

With the subjects I was familiar with and already knew what resources I wanted to use I had a different problem. How many should I include? The assignment asked for a minimum of two resources but did not specify a maximum. So, I thogut I could basically include all. But what if my instructor will think that I can’t judge a good resource and therefore try to play safe and include more than the necessary? Or maybe I’m just seeing things that are not there.

I wonder what my instructor will think about the resources I chose for subjects I believe are missing from the course curriculum?