How could mashups serve international governance? Would mashups serve to make government more effective?
In order to answer this week’s question, we first need to know what mashups are. Mashups can be a website or application that combines externals sources from two or more locations, creating a new application with different experience. I would believe that mashups can serve international governance, because government can collect information from other private sources, such as public surveys and questionnaires done by private corporations. In the article “Governance in the information age: building E –government in Hong Kong”, the author explained 2 types of applications, which will affect internal public sector management and affecting government external links with citizens and business. Which uses bulletin boards, promotion materials and e-services to deliver government information and services to citizens. Mashups does serve to make government more effective, because it improves the attractiveness of government homepages. For example, Hong Kong’s government site is designed so that it promotes business programs such as Mandatory Provident Fund, the Employment Ordinance and tax reserve certificates, etc. Besides, it allows government to promote and provide better electronic securities by transmitting electronic knowledge to citizens.
Links that uses mashups:
www.facebook.com
www.twitter.com
www.mapbuilder.com
www.youtube.com
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Tutorial 8
What does global civil society look like? Where are the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ forces located, and how do they achieve their ends?
Global civil society is a non-governmental group or organization that influences the society and government by social movements. Civil society usually focuses on issues such as civil rights, legal framework, and human rights. There effectiveness is usually based on their group size, and their representation within governmental players.
I have read an article “Globalization, social welfare and society in India”, by Sahoo. he talked about a cement company called Ranakpur Cement was planning to built a cement factory on a land between two villages. The chosen land was an important agricultural land, which supported crops to villages and families. 269 families were required to rehabit if this project was established. Unfortunately, the Government of Rajasthan was trying to help this cement factory, and it was discovered that the land was declared as wasteland in the government records. Ranakpur Cement was too powerful that authorities were not able to do anything to solve the issue. As a result, the local tribal people formed a Cement Factory Struggle Committee to prevent the owners and government officials from entering the land for experiment and sample testing. Astha Sansthan was one of the local NGO that provide legal and administrative support to the committee, which helped the tribal people to stay on their land. In the end, the landowners searched for an alternative site for the cement factory. It demonstrates the power of civil society and the relationship between the society and NGOs. However, I believe the size of the NGO is an important consideration when it comes to legal and administrative struggles, as the larger the group, it is more influential to the public. Therefore, civil society plays a role in supporting the public and opposes the government, which weakens the power and domination of the state.
According to the example, I will agree that the good force of civil society is to oppose corrupted governments and large corporation from bullying small and powerless groups or individual. The bad force will be that some of these civil society may intervene with government policies and regulation. For example, if the government were to deforest an area for development, global civil society such as environmental groups may oppose theses government decision. Making it harder for the government to approach with social development. With the same example, civil society achieve their ends by researching laws and other legal documents to defend their argument and position. With current ICTs, it is much easier for global civil society to communicate and research legal documents. Especially when laws and regulations are publicly established in many government websites.
Activity:
My map - http://mapbuilder.net/users/royroy
Global civil society is a non-governmental group or organization that influences the society and government by social movements. Civil society usually focuses on issues such as civil rights, legal framework, and human rights. There effectiveness is usually based on their group size, and their representation within governmental players.
I have read an article “Globalization, social welfare and society in India”, by Sahoo. he talked about a cement company called Ranakpur Cement was planning to built a cement factory on a land between two villages. The chosen land was an important agricultural land, which supported crops to villages and families. 269 families were required to rehabit if this project was established. Unfortunately, the Government of Rajasthan was trying to help this cement factory, and it was discovered that the land was declared as wasteland in the government records. Ranakpur Cement was too powerful that authorities were not able to do anything to solve the issue. As a result, the local tribal people formed a Cement Factory Struggle Committee to prevent the owners and government officials from entering the land for experiment and sample testing. Astha Sansthan was one of the local NGO that provide legal and administrative support to the committee, which helped the tribal people to stay on their land. In the end, the landowners searched for an alternative site for the cement factory. It demonstrates the power of civil society and the relationship between the society and NGOs. However, I believe the size of the NGO is an important consideration when it comes to legal and administrative struggles, as the larger the group, it is more influential to the public. Therefore, civil society plays a role in supporting the public and opposes the government, which weakens the power and domination of the state.
According to the example, I will agree that the good force of civil society is to oppose corrupted governments and large corporation from bullying small and powerless groups or individual. The bad force will be that some of these civil society may intervene with government policies and regulation. For example, if the government were to deforest an area for development, global civil society such as environmental groups may oppose theses government decision. Making it harder for the government to approach with social development. With the same example, civil society achieve their ends by researching laws and other legal documents to defend their argument and position. With current ICTs, it is much easier for global civil society to communicate and research legal documents. Especially when laws and regulations are publicly established in many government websites.
Activity:
My map - http://mapbuilder.net/users/royroy
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Tutorial 7
Does Internet Democratize the Consumer? Is privacy a concern?
I do believe Internet democratize the consumer, because Internet creates a virtual platform for consumer to purchase their goods and services online over the Internet. People use the term e-shopping a lot. E-shopping means that consumer can shop online for their specific goods and services, also, it reduces the transportation cost for consumers. In fact, the Internet diversifies the amount of goods and services online, along with massive competition in the market, prices on some products can be very cheap. A perfect example will be the Dell production system shown in class. Consumer are able to personalize the specification of the computer through Dell’s online website. Once the consumer place the order, Dell will immediately process the order, and build the personalize computer for the consumer.
I believe privacy is a minor concern. It is much more safer to shop on well-known corporation’s online store, because our personal information such as name, address and credit card information will be secure. Therefore, corporation will protect consumer’s information from other competing firms. People should be aware of where they are shopping online, because there are many “scam” websites and “scammers” on the Internet that tries to steal personal information for their own benefits. 3rd parties are able to use this information and sell it to other people, or use it to do illegal activities.
Weekly activity: iPhone Apps
As an iPhone user myself, there is one application i love a lot. It is called "Whatsapp". Whatsapp is a SMS application where you can send text messages to other iPhone users locally and internationally for free if you have a 3G data plan or wifi. With this application, i was able to text messages and picture to my friends and family who lives in other parts of the world =)
I do believe Internet democratize the consumer, because Internet creates a virtual platform for consumer to purchase their goods and services online over the Internet. People use the term e-shopping a lot. E-shopping means that consumer can shop online for their specific goods and services, also, it reduces the transportation cost for consumers. In fact, the Internet diversifies the amount of goods and services online, along with massive competition in the market, prices on some products can be very cheap. A perfect example will be the Dell production system shown in class. Consumer are able to personalize the specification of the computer through Dell’s online website. Once the consumer place the order, Dell will immediately process the order, and build the personalize computer for the consumer.
I believe privacy is a minor concern. It is much more safer to shop on well-known corporation’s online store, because our personal information such as name, address and credit card information will be secure. Therefore, corporation will protect consumer’s information from other competing firms. People should be aware of where they are shopping online, because there are many “scam” websites and “scammers” on the Internet that tries to steal personal information for their own benefits. 3rd parties are able to use this information and sell it to other people, or use it to do illegal activities.
Weekly activity: iPhone Apps
As an iPhone user myself, there is one application i love a lot. It is called "Whatsapp". Whatsapp is a SMS application where you can send text messages to other iPhone users locally and internationally for free if you have a 3G data plan or wifi. With this application, i was able to text messages and picture to my friends and family who lives in other parts of the world =)
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Tutorial 6
What are the main arguments in the two readings for this week? What version of historical change do you believe in and why?
In Manuel Castells’s article, “Toward a Sociology of the Network Society”, he identifies the movements of sociology with globalization and new technologies. Castells is concerned in the relationship in different combinations, such as the negotiation and conflict between workers and corporations. Manual argues that sociology requires a lot of time and observations, in order to study the relationship within social networks. The new tools of communication have also complicated the relationship and social network between individuals.
In Allison Fraiberg’s article, “Of Aids, Cyborgs, and Other Indiscretions: Resurfacing the Body in the Postmodern”, she compared the different approaches other authors would argue in different cases regarding to the problem of AIDS. Fraiberg studies the relationship and reaction of AIDS and cyborgs with different individuals.
I believe Castell’s historical change, because I believe that new technologies have deepened the relationship between people around us and apart from us. For example, people used to write letters and it will take 3-4 months for the other person to reply. In the 21st century, it only takes seconds for the other party to reply, hence allowing a more smooth conversation type of communication, as a result, the relationship and network between people are much stronger compared to the past. I oppose to Fraiberg’s article, because it was really hard to understand his positions when he is comparing with different authors.
Tutorial activity: Translating article
Original Phase:
Charles Hamelin helped Canada to the Olympic 5,000m relay gold medal on Friday ahead of defending champions South Korea and the United States in the finale of the eight-event short-track competition.
English -> Chinese (Traditional)
在卫冕冠军南韩和八事件短軌道競爭的結局的美國之前的星期五查爾斯Hamelin幫助了加拿大對奧林匹克5,000m中轉金牌。
Chinese (Traditional) -> English
Has helped Canada before defending champion South Korea and eight event short track competition's result's US's Friday Charles Hamelin to the Olympics 5,000m relay gold medal.
In Manuel Castells’s article, “Toward a Sociology of the Network Society”, he identifies the movements of sociology with globalization and new technologies. Castells is concerned in the relationship in different combinations, such as the negotiation and conflict between workers and corporations. Manual argues that sociology requires a lot of time and observations, in order to study the relationship within social networks. The new tools of communication have also complicated the relationship and social network between individuals.
In Allison Fraiberg’s article, “Of Aids, Cyborgs, and Other Indiscretions: Resurfacing the Body in the Postmodern”, she compared the different approaches other authors would argue in different cases regarding to the problem of AIDS. Fraiberg studies the relationship and reaction of AIDS and cyborgs with different individuals.
I believe Castell’s historical change, because I believe that new technologies have deepened the relationship between people around us and apart from us. For example, people used to write letters and it will take 3-4 months for the other person to reply. In the 21st century, it only takes seconds for the other party to reply, hence allowing a more smooth conversation type of communication, as a result, the relationship and network between people are much stronger compared to the past. I oppose to Fraiberg’s article, because it was really hard to understand his positions when he is comparing with different authors.
Tutorial activity: Translating article
Original Phase:
Charles Hamelin helped Canada to the Olympic 5,000m relay gold medal on Friday ahead of defending champions South Korea and the United States in the finale of the eight-event short-track competition.
English -> Chinese (Traditional)
在卫冕冠军南韩和八事件短軌道競爭的結局的美國之前的星期五查爾斯Hamelin幫助了加拿大對奧林匹克5,000m中轉金牌。
Chinese (Traditional) -> English
Has helped Canada before defending champion South Korea and eight event short track competition's result's US's Friday Charles Hamelin to the Olympics 5,000m relay gold medal.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Tutorial 5
What are the main arguments in the two readings for this week?
Which one do you prefer and why?
In Ronald V. Bettig’s article, “The Enclosure of Cyberspace”, he argues that the evolving of communication technology have changed the political economy, information ownerships, and the extension of corporation information through new medias. Bettig argues that it is the large communication corporations that developed the information highway, hence this allow large corporations to have great influence within the economy and policymaking. Therefore, policies will tend to favour the interest of these large corporations. Large corporations can strike against the government or policy by rejecting their funding or investments, as a result, a project or policy may collapse. Bettig also mentioned how large corporations are advertising new sort of information through new media, such as online services. In order to protect their intellectual information, these corporations are protected under copyright laws, so their information will not be used by anyone else.
In the article “Cosmopolitan Ideal or cybercentrism?”, Charles Ess argues that the communication technologies are tools to broadcast western ideology across the world. Since the U.S controls majority of the Internet, they promote democracy and western culture through these communications. He argues that communication is changing the social culture of other countries. For example, Asia countries tend to promote their air-time services by charging a fee based on the minutes used. However, in the western nation, they promote air-time services with unlimited air-time strategies.
I prefer the article written by Charles Ess, because I believe that communication technologies are somewhat influencing other cultures. In Charles’s article, he compared the western democratic system and the Asian traditional profit maximizing system. Especially with new types of communication platform such as facebook, twitter, youtube, photobucket and other information sharing platforms, it is certainly demonstrating democracy. Which allows individuals so share their idea and thoughts over the Internet to audiences around the globe. Countries that fear to lose their nation’s culture may decide to block off some of these platforms from their citizens, this way, it will protect their culture by other influences. A great example is China, where some of these platforms are blocked nation wide, and the only way to access them is through other mirroring websites, which will redirect the user to these sharing platforms.
Podcast link: http://www.howstuffworks.com/podcasts/stuff-from-the-science-lab.rss
Which one do you prefer and why?
In Ronald V. Bettig’s article, “The Enclosure of Cyberspace”, he argues that the evolving of communication technology have changed the political economy, information ownerships, and the extension of corporation information through new medias. Bettig argues that it is the large communication corporations that developed the information highway, hence this allow large corporations to have great influence within the economy and policymaking. Therefore, policies will tend to favour the interest of these large corporations. Large corporations can strike against the government or policy by rejecting their funding or investments, as a result, a project or policy may collapse. Bettig also mentioned how large corporations are advertising new sort of information through new media, such as online services. In order to protect their intellectual information, these corporations are protected under copyright laws, so their information will not be used by anyone else.
In the article “Cosmopolitan Ideal or cybercentrism?”, Charles Ess argues that the communication technologies are tools to broadcast western ideology across the world. Since the U.S controls majority of the Internet, they promote democracy and western culture through these communications. He argues that communication is changing the social culture of other countries. For example, Asia countries tend to promote their air-time services by charging a fee based on the minutes used. However, in the western nation, they promote air-time services with unlimited air-time strategies.
I prefer the article written by Charles Ess, because I believe that communication technologies are somewhat influencing other cultures. In Charles’s article, he compared the western democratic system and the Asian traditional profit maximizing system. Especially with new types of communication platform such as facebook, twitter, youtube, photobucket and other information sharing platforms, it is certainly demonstrating democracy. Which allows individuals so share their idea and thoughts over the Internet to audiences around the globe. Countries that fear to lose their nation’s culture may decide to block off some of these platforms from their citizens, this way, it will protect their culture by other influences. A great example is China, where some of these platforms are blocked nation wide, and the only way to access them is through other mirroring websites, which will redirect the user to these sharing platforms.
Podcast link: http://www.howstuffworks.com/podcasts/stuff-from-the-science-lab.rss
Friday, February 5, 2010
Tutorial 4
What determines the structure of a folksonomy and why? The code, the content or the social process? What does your answer to this question suggest about how we should understand globalization?
Folksonomy is a system that classifies a particular content on a website by creating and managing tags. The word “Folksonomy” is a combination of Folk and Taxonomy. Folk is referred to information gathered by one individual, and Taxonomy is the system that classifies each of these individual information with compiled keywords. I believe that social process determines the structure of a folksonomy, because the social process is the key motivation to all the tagging. Folksonomy involves with gathering information and tags by groups of individual, without this kind of social process, tagging will not happen. Hence, information on a specific topic will not be easily found without people tagging labels, pictures and video. The Internet provides us a platform that allows everyone around the world to access information easily, which also make communication between individual to be very effective and efficient. The social process of tagging labels, pictures and video will allow everyone to experience a different scale of communication. Tagging will allow information to globalize in a way that everyone can access information easily through other people’s tags. As long as one-person tags an article related to a particle topic, other people who are researching on this same topic would also be reveal to the same article. In the end, information will be broadened and nothing can be hidden between individuals on the Internet.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Tutorial 3
Are wikis an effective (be sure to define this term) means of communication? Why or why not? Why does it matter?
Wikis are websites that allows people to easily create, change and edit on a specific term or vocabulary based on any information and knowledge they know. I think that wikis are an effective means of communication, because it provides quick and basic knowledge and information on a subject. Anyone can access to these information to get a basic understanding of the things they are looking up. Although wikis are only people’s knowledge and ideas, it does not have a legitimate source of backup, which means the information may not be correct. However, some of these ideas are referenced by some type of sources on the internet. In order to tell if the information is correct and legitimate, we should also verify the author of the reference. It is also effective because it provides a global platform for people around the world to share their knowledge and ideas, hence some wikis sites such as (Wikipedia) provides these information in different languages. The current Wikis are based on keywords or a specific term, however, I believe that people will soon be able to ask questions on Wikis and other people around the world may help answer the questions. It seems to me that wikis lies between the Web 2.0 and Web 3.0, where it changes the learning of people around the world with broad information.
OLPC Wiki - http://istb-winter2010.wikidot.com/example-item-1
Wikis are websites that allows people to easily create, change and edit on a specific term or vocabulary based on any information and knowledge they know. I think that wikis are an effective means of communication, because it provides quick and basic knowledge and information on a subject. Anyone can access to these information to get a basic understanding of the things they are looking up. Although wikis are only people’s knowledge and ideas, it does not have a legitimate source of backup, which means the information may not be correct. However, some of these ideas are referenced by some type of sources on the internet. In order to tell if the information is correct and legitimate, we should also verify the author of the reference. It is also effective because it provides a global platform for people around the world to share their knowledge and ideas, hence some wikis sites such as (Wikipedia) provides these information in different languages. The current Wikis are based on keywords or a specific term, however, I believe that people will soon be able to ask questions on Wikis and other people around the world may help answer the questions. It seems to me that wikis lies between the Web 2.0 and Web 3.0, where it changes the learning of people around the world with broad information.
OLPC Wiki - http://istb-winter2010.wikidot.com/example-item-1
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)