Summary about Web 3.0

THE SEMANTIC WEB

Web 3.0 is known as "The Semantic Web". It simply means,  a group of methods and technologies that allow machines to understand the meaning – or "semantics" – of information on thefor the reason being In essence, the Semantic Web is a place where machines can read Web pages much as we humans read them.

In my own terms, it is a technology so effective that it can

1. Understand human lingo 

2. Learn what we are interested in

3. Help us find better in what we want

We started off with Web 1.0, which is about searching for online viability, Web 2.0 is about understanding the power of networks, collaboration (Wiki), content and research (Youtube) and friends (Facebook). The social change it has caused in our time is substantial and significant.

Today's web is about written documents mainly HTML, read-write such as the platform of Web 2.0. But, Web 3.0 is beyond this, it is not documents, but it is things. It recognize places, people, companies, products, movies. It can even understand the relationship and linkage between all these things! Thus, you are not interacting with a dead web, but in fact, communicating with the web to get specific information you require for anything. It is like a big bookshelf and you can find different categories and endless data on any topic!

Social Media Revolution

Hullo, yet another week in COM125.

Well, this week we learnt something more interesting and relatable to us I guess? And to me, this topic which we have learnt about is by far the most powerful media tool widely used today. Even by typing this blog right now, I'm practicing this tool. And if you are good, you may even big earn money from it. Not just $1000, or $100K. It's $1M for your information.

An article I have stumbled upon today:

Not bad huh? They actually earn money by sitting down comfortably, listen to music, and just type away on their laptop. It is a plus point for you if you become a Celebrity Blogger. You don't just gain the money, you gain the name.

So what exactly is this money making tool?

Social Media Participatory online media that utilizes the group to write and direct content, rather than a read-only media. Allows for direct contact between participants. Listservs were early examples of social media and are still used by millions, but more rapid response forms like Twitter and Second Life have become popular as laptops have gotten cheaper. Social Media is now the trend. While the majority of brands and companies are just starting to get into the phenomenon, others still ignore the power of social media because they are afraid of how to handle the impact if they get negative feedback. For example, opinions on how you view things, how your lifestyle is not approved by some. There may be some risks, but if you know how things work it won’t be a problem. If you are authentic, and you really want to engage and converse, then social media is the way to go. Personally for myself, I enjoy Social Media. A lot. Because firstly, it is free. Secondly, you get to learn more about people and their lives. Thirdly, you get to know a lot of gossips and it's really entertaining sometimes. Lastly, it makes you less "sua-ku". For example, when my friends begin to talk like that. "EH, you know about the recent fight between Dawn Yang and Xiaxue?!" or maybe like, "Did you see Celestina exposing all her sexy pictures on the internet????" and the most common one, "Do you know that XXX's boyfriend cheated on her and they just break up last night?!' Haha I call this the Don't Know Who But Want To Kpo talk.

But that is the influence which social media posseses, it forces people to sit down for hours to look at these photos, videos, opinions, experiences and perspectives of another person. And the more real and candid you are, the more hits you will get. And how exactly do they earn money and priviledges from practicing Social Media? When they get more views on their site, they will, 1. Have advertisers who are willing to invest a space in their blog. Hoping that readers will click these ads and eventually expand customer base. And another way is to ask the blogger to review their products. For example, a newly launched skincare product - they will send the range of product to the chosen blogger to advertise and do a write-up of how their product works. 2. Have sponsors who are willing to pay for the blogger's needs like, taking care of their hair, skin and pedicure/manicure. (Usually female bloggers get this) Then, the blogger will write about how nice and how good their services are, and eventually, people reading their blog will visit these parlours - expand customer base. But, there are many skeptics regarding Social Media though. Susan Greenfield thinks that social networking is in fact, 'turning us into babies', shrinking our attention spans, our ability to empathize, and eroding our identity. Also Westminster suggested that social networking causes increasingly “transient relationships,” is “dehumanising” community life and, as a consequence, we are “losing social skills.” I beg to differ because with Social Media, the myth of global village into reality, so that the people from the different geographical location can meet at the single point and express their views. And, Social Networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Blogspot etc act as the store houses for huge traffic. This gives us the opportunity to identify people which will be targeted as the potential customers for businesses. Communication is made easy and businesses can try to understand their customer's flavor; this will help in manufacturing the products that matches the customer needs. Lastly, some Social Networks are good opportunities to find a job- Nowadays the big companies have specialists on human resources that search for profiles in these kind of sites to recruit new collaborators. If you´re looking for job you can create a profile (a serious, professional and complete profile) and you might be discovered and recruited by a company. You can describe your capabilities and publish some of your works - and with a little luck you can find a job. I will leave you guys with the most recent Social Media I have viewed (in fact, just yesterday). It is the 24/7 life of a Drama Queen, Pearlyn Koh. She films herself from the time she wakes up to when she close her eyes to sleep. It is quite entertaining actually.... Haha. If you are feeling bored, you can take a look at this. It is quite crazy how anyone is so willing to expose their daily life in such a manner. And she lives up to her name - Drama Queen. http://www.clicknetwork.tv/watch.aspx?c=1&p=26&v=392



Welcome the New Spice

The term Internet is known by many but understood by few. Even I personally do not fully grasp it's concept and mechanism behind this word. Thus, when I'm introduced to this course COM125 - Introduction to the Internet, I am glad that finally I can come to a deeper knowledge and hopefully understanding of this unfathomable virtual world.

In the dictionary, it is:

In·ter·net

/ˈɪntərˌnɛt/ [in-ter-net] 

–noun

a vast computer network linking smaller computer networks worldwide (usually prec. by the ). The Internet includes commercial, educational, governmental, and other networks, all of which use the same set of communications protocols.

And so to speak, the dictionary term actually spells it all. The Internet is a collection of countless computers connected to form a global networked environment. Like a global village in that sense. At any corner of the'world, the user accessing the Internet is liken to a 'village'. And the link is the Internet connection formed between all these 'villages'. For example, sending a message doesn't just stop at the snail mail option, in the modern times now, Email, Internet Chats (MSN, Facebook Chat, SKYPE etc) and even Facetime (If you own an iPhone 4) have already broaden the meaning of 'sending a message'. I have always thought this instantaneous interactivity is extremely fascinating and effective! It is really cool how Internet has even created it's own language known as 'NetLingo'!

NetLingo basically means, the Internet language. For example, LOL, BRB, Cu, B4N, lylas, IDK, GR8. For the youths, chatting is like learning another new language! Since it is an online language, it is global in nature and is quickly becoming a global form of English. I won't be surprised if one day these lingo becomes a definition in the dictionary itself!

Besides this, the Internet can also bridge people of different cultures together, which I feel is the most beneficial of all the advantages of the Internet. It harbours the potential to become the primary tool for helping people of the world understand each other and view citizens of other cultures as real individuals living similar lives, while in different ways. Learning about other cultures via the Internet is one step towards tolerance and acceptance of all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or national heritage.

Not forgetting what we have learnt in COM225 – Understanding Interpersonal Communication, the Internet is a one-stop reference source for information about nay country! It prepares you mentally and physically what to expect when you visit a foreign country for business or pleasure. You will know how many sweaters you should bring or what should you always do when you have first contact with a client of totally different background.

To sum it up, the Internet brings people together. It is like the Doraemon Magic Pouch where not just endless but useful information can be found.

Just like how the quote says it,

'...the Web might be better than sex...'

- Bob Metcalfe, InfoWorld, August 21, 1995, Vol. 17, Issue 34