Posting a video on Youtube

3D Chat Rooms vs Instant Messaging Programs

Todays task was to examine the differences between instant messenger programs (such as Skype and MSN) and 3D chat rooms. Instant messaging programs are simple, convenient and allow users to communicate on a very relaxed basis. However it is evident from exploring 3D chat room sites that there is a much higher degree of communication. This is highly due to the fact that users create a virtual person known as an avatar. This gives users better ideas of who they are talking to. The possibilities on 3D chat worlds are much broader. Not only can users type to eachother, but they can also dance, walk, flirt etc.

New Communication Essay

Has Virtual Reality gone too far?

The Internet is the fastest growing type of technology on the planet. Therefore it is no surprise that with the increased interaction over the World Wide Web, alongside the rising popularity of social networking websites, that virtual reality is the next big phenomenon operating in the cyber world. The first applications that spring to mind are websites such as Google Earth and Online Poker. But there are much larger, diverse programs out there, known as ‘Virtual Worlds.’ These are places where real users create avatars that virtually live in a digital utopia.

Arguably the most popular and successful virtual world is known as Linden Lab’s ‘Second Life.’ Where users create cartoon human figures that respond to keyboard commands and socialize with others' characters. The probable reason for its success is widely due to the fact that unlike other virtual worlds, the game has no specific objective, very much like the real world. The similarities do not stop there. Millions of dollars of actual money is passed around each day through buying, selling and trading almost anything. This open-ended digital environment is a second home to over 6 million registered users. These include a vast array of citizens such as Former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina and a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination who has opened a virtual campaign headquarters. Countless numbers of companies such as IBM, Reuters and even Adidas have jumped on the bandwagon reaping the rewards of widespread digital publicity. Even countries such as Sweden and Maldives have created virtual embassies in the game.

The fact that real people are making real money in a pretend environment shows that interactivity has reached a new level and no longer must someone work 9 till 5 to make a living. From clothing and accessories, to land and property, anyone is now able to create something in a pretend world, sell it to a pretend person and earn real money in real life. It is clear that the boundaries have been broken and there now lays a parallel world, the only difference is that it is a cyber world. Whilst most view this as an exciting break through, others aren’t so accepting. There are issues that need to be raised such as a moral behavior in the virtual world, copyright laws and even a person’s rights.

A fact of life is that when there is money to be made, people will be there and they will fight to get it. Therefore it seems logical to bring in copyright laws after there have already been countless conflicts of people stealing another persons virtual creations. Lawsuits include cases of someone breaking into a virtual house, a case of alleged rape, where a character supposedly raped another character and even someone accused of stealing ideas for clothing that another user designed and sold.

Copyright laws are probably the easiest and least complex law to enforce in Second Life. It is common enough in the real world to sue someone if they stole an idea off someone else for money. Therefore it should be understandable enough that rules and laws should be enforced for Second Life. Since there is money involved, copying is a money killer. Just like in the real world, it should be illegal for someone else to profit over somebody else’s ideas. Recently, a downloadable program called ‘copybot’ was designed for the Second Life game. This obviously created uproar due to the fact that now any user had the resources to duplicate any other item, accessory or house in the game. When something is scarce it has a high value, however creations are pointless if users can easily clone it instead of buying it. This resulted in Second Life merchants going on strike and shutting their stores until action was taken.

The reason that defining other laws are so difficult to deal with in the game is largely due to opinions believing that it would be ludicrous to fine or potentially send someone to jail all over a video game. Mixed feelings are evident when asked if the law enforcement should patrol the digital frontier. Another problem is that each country has different treatments for breaking certain rules. For example, it becomes unclear of what to do when a 34 year old male from Australia has virtual sex with a 19 year old female from the United States. The issue is that in Australia the man is not committing a crime, yet in the United States he is virtually having sex with a minor. Virtual renderings of child abuse are not a crime in the United States, but are considered illegal pornography in Germany. There is also the issue of charging the avatar or the player. For instance, if a male avatar was seen having sex with a female child avatar, despite both players being middle aged men. Even if charges could be laid, it would be hard to determine whether this was statutory rape or child pornography.

I believe that behavior in the virtual world of Second Life should be treated with the same moral ground of someone in the real world. Disgusting online acts should not be seen as digital fiction, considering that too many other elements of the game have the same regulations as in real life. It should not matter whereabouts in the world that the user controlling the avatar is from, nor should it matter how old the user is. There should be an official, prosecutable and consistent virtual justice system used by Linden Labs to ensure that proper conduct is strictly adhered to in the virtual world. Whilst meantime, the users of Second Life should all see themselves as citizens of a new place, not their individual countries.

Reference to Academic Journal Articles:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1570708,00.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/01/AR2007060102671_pf.html

http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/34598/118/

http://secondlife.reuters.com/stories/2008/02/07/virtual-retailers-decry-second-life-crime-wave/

http://thinkorthwim.com/2006/11/16/copybot-copyright-issues-in-second-life/

http://www.wired.com/gaming/virtualworlds/commentary/circuitcourt/2006/11/72143

Reference to Websites:

http://www.secondlife.com

http://www.worldofwarcraft.com

http://www.sciencedaily.com

http://searchcio-midmarket.techtarget.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b72CvvMuD6Q

Microsoft Excel Task

The Microsoft Excel task was considered as a lot more complex for me, due to the fact that I have had very little experience with the software. However I believe I did a good effort at entering and presenting data and using basic formulae. This was mostly due to the fact that I am familiar with computer toolbars in other Microsoft office programs. I had much more trouble when it came to using macros. This was too complex for me and I was unable to complete the task. However all in all, I learnt a lot about using Microsoft excel from the task and will be much more confident using it in the future.

Wikipedia

Wikipedia Article 1: City Beach

City Beach is a beach side suburb in Perth that I spent most of my teenage years growing up in. Therefore I figured it would be worth seeing if the information on my home town is correct.

Is this an accurate article?

The article is very accurate containing extensive information that is factual. Every topic discussed is very useful and helps the reader understand it more.

Does it cover all the basic facts that you'd need to understand this topic?

The article does cover all the basic facts that are needed as far as describing a suburb goes. It includes the location in relation to other cities and suburbs, whilst informing the reader of activities to do in the suburb, as well as attractions, features and a brief history of the place.

Does this article follow the wikipedia guidelines for useful articles?

Yes it does, it starts off with a brief introduction and then leads into more detail as all other wiki-articles do.

Is this article fair and balanced, or is it biased towards a particular side or argument?

This topic is not biased because it is very descriptive and only states facts. This is important because it is easy for the writer to be biased towards certain issues. One of the users wrote down that he was famous and he lives in the suburb, but it is evident that he is not serious.

Wikipedia Article 2: West Coast Eagles

The West Coast Eagles are my favourite AFL team and I have been supporting them for 12 years now. They are a relatively young team compared to other Victorian based teams, however over their short period have been very successful.

Is this an accurate article?

Everything in the article was correct as far as I could see. There was extensive details into results, previous players and sponsors. However one error that was made labeled the leading goal kicker and best and fairest as 2008 winners, when in fact they were 2007 winners of the awards.

Does it cover all the basic facts that you'd need to understand this topic?

The article covers a lot of information and I found it hard to not find all the information I wanted on the topic. The only fault with the article would be that it is not up to date as much as it could be.

Does this article follow the wikipedia guidelines for useful articles?

Yes it does. There are clear sections and is easy to navigate to find the information needed.

Is this article fair and balanced, or is it biased towards a particular side or argument?

The article is not biased because it also contains bad stories from the football club. It tells of controversial information about players involving drugs and assault. If biased was used, there would be no mention of this behaviour.

Microsoft Word Task

I found the Microsoft word task relatively basic and simple throughout exercises 1 and 2. This was due to the fact that I had already had prior knowledge from previous experiences. This included text adjustment, copy and pasting, saving documents and inserting bullet points.

However in task 3 and 4, I ran into a bit of trouble. I firstly read how I had to add text into the header and footer of the document. I had no idea at first but after some common sense kicked in I was on my way. Double spacing was another technique I was unaware of until I played around with some different options for a while.

Track changing and mail merging were a different kettle of fish altogether. I had no idea these tools even existed, but thankfully due to the clear tutorial instructions and the practical Microsoft Word usability, I was able to figure it out.

In the future, these new skills will definitely come in handy and it is easy to see how they are useful in everyday tasks such as writing letters.

Walter Benjamin's Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction and Contemporary Digital Media

In the eyes of Walter Benjamin, ‘Aura represented authenticity.’ His idea being that anything perceived to be replicating original art form, lacked authentic value. Nowadays, contemporary digital media such as, music, film and television would be viewed by Benjamin as unauthentic as well. An example of this would be viewing a movie. This is replicated due to camera and would only be considered authentic if an audience were to watch it as a live performance. Walter Benjamin believed digital things were not genuine forms of art, due to their lack of ‘aura.’

In this day and age, it is possible for anyone to digitally produce “Art.” This will no doubt continue on into the future due to the progression of technology, and due to the inevitably of this being the trend, it is crucial to distinguish the two types. Therefore when keeping Benjamin’s ideas in mind, the line can be drawn at digital technology in terms of when art loses its authenticity.

With this in mind, I firmly believe that “Art”, whether it be in the past, present or future, has its place in society. History represents change and will continue to do so as long as the earth keeps revolving. Yesterday’s artist is today’s graphic designer. Who knows what tomorrow’s artist will be???