#12: Junior MasterChef Australia Promo

Since the last entry is a free entry, meaning, we are entitled to blog about whatever we want, I am going to talk about Junior Masterchef, as I was addicted to this show a month ago.

What Junior Masterchef is about, is a children's version of Masterchef- to find Australia's most talented amatuer cook. It marvels me to watch how children as young as these contestants, have such a passion and most of all flair for cooking.

These children plate up incredible and might I add, creative dishes, which is something that even I, as a twenty-one year old, cannot do- the best I can come up with is a scrambled egg and some overcooked sausages. Junior Masterchef is also very heartwarming to watch as all the little contestants genuinely support each other throughout the competition, which reminds us all of a childlike innocence we once had, as opposed to the "grown up" world, where we have to constantly be on our guard when others get competitive and catty.

#11: The Future of the Internet

3 Predictions 

1. Audio web surfing

With the importance of accessibility getting the recognition it deserves lately, I think screen readers will soon take a front seat as a common means for surfing a site for a much broader audience.

2. Web surf on any device

It seems the tech industry is eager to integrate the Internet into every device these days. Refridgerators and other appliances might create new opportunities and challenges for interfacing.

Content is king – no matter what. As seemingly redundant or over the top it might seem to have a screen built into the kitchen counter – if it doubles as a cutting board, all the better.

3. Input revisited

The recent boom in smartphone devices has shown us that tiny screens and suddenly awkward digits can sometimes make for a cumbersome user experience. Our traditional concepts of input applied to the next generation could be confounded more as the devices and environments change. 

#10: Internet and Journalism

The web's effect on news reporting is considered the most clear evidence that this is a revolutionary technology: news editors – and in some cases, the governments that they observe – are no longer the gatekeepers to information because costs of distribution have almost completely disappeared. If knowledge is power, the web is the greatest tool in the history of the world.

Though Singapore is quite stringent about the content we post on the Internet, we still have much leeway in posting articles and pictures of issues unrelated to the government. Stomp is one example of how the ordinary Singapore citizen can become a self-professed journalist. 

Like the screenshot showcases, people can issue warrants to commuters for inconsiderate behaviour, and garner support by conjuring a persuasive narrative online which either enrages, amuses or evokes feelings of empathy from readers. Stomp also does it the Singaporean way but allowing readers to vote articles according to Singlish terms like "Shiok" and "Bochup".

Another example is how fashion bloggers like the famous Rumi Neely (who won best personal style and blogger award at the bloglovin' awards-yes there is such a thing because of Internet Journalism), are able to be fashion journalists online and gather a large following. Other examples are Xiaxue and Nicole Then.

#9: Internet and Politics

I'm sure most Singaporeans would be familiar with the new rendition of "Home", originally performed by home grown singer Kit Chan. This new version encompasses the voices of 39 local singers, and to me, feels like one of those pre-election strategies/gimmicks.

While watching this on television for the first time, I was indeed overwhelmed with emotion. This song, reminded me of the value of my citizenship in this country; and being located in a good geographical location, free from natural disasters, made me grateful to be a part of Singapore as it is certainly a clean, green and relatively safe country.

I'm sure this song was released in a timely fashion, in hopes to remind us of our heritage and to rekindle feelings of loyalty and belongingness to this country.. to keep the order of our country the way it is (if you know what I mean).  Singapore, though steeped in Asian values, has also modernized to a great extent through the years. Our culture, to me, is more of a mish mash of Western and Asian influences, and so, does not have a distinct or dominant culture. Although greatly moved by the essence of this song, there was a pressing thought at the back of my mind which said "Do we only appreciate our country when such songs tug on our heartstrings?"

So if you'd ask me if Singaporean youths are generally apathetic towards politics, I would agree and disagree. Firstly I agree because of the issue of complacency- because youths are generally too caught up with their self-identities to be concerned with politics. Another reason is because, I feel that Singaporean youths aren't provided much information about politics for them to even be concerned with it in the first place. We have no opportunities to voice our thoughts about the government, and in this technology savvy world, even fewer opportunities to express our opinions on the Internet. "Big brother is watching", and he certainly is. We are constantly under surveillance and anything we publish that reflects negatively about our country is brought to attention, again in a negative light, via our newspapers- How many people have been embarrassed, made to pay penalties, or worse still, locked behind bars because of a negative comment made about the government or a certain race in our country? In a highly regimented society, it is no wonder youths are apathetic about politics. The bottomline is, we have better things to care about if we cannot express our thoughts freely.

My disagreeing point would describe apathetic as a word used too strongly in this context as some youths may very well be just... shy. I've recently found out that it is possible to thumb a text message to communicate with your MP, but I feel that speaking face to face would be a better approach as it gives both parties an opportunity to understand each other better. Politicians should spend time talking to their citizens year round, and not just doing so near elections.

#8: Multimedia- Samsung 3D projection mapping

Samsung ran three nights of an amazing 3D projection mapping installation in Amsterdam to promote their new range of 3D LED TV’s.

It was perfectly mapped to a historic building in Amsterdam; the projection realistically cracks the building in half, sending debris shattering down before it fills up with water and then drains into a rain forest revealing the new Samsung 3D LED TV. 

While I’ve seen other attempted 3D perspectives, this certainly has to be the best 3D experience I’ve seen from Projection mapping, and it definitely surpasses the standards of Sony and Nokia's advertisements as this was screened in real time. People were able to watch this "live" as opposed to from behind a television screen.

I feel that Samsung managed to capture the heart of the audience's attention as it was interactive, refreshing and a creative attempt at marketing via all aspects of multimedia. All five senses were engaged and the product was clearly represented. In all, I feel that this was a successful attempt at differentiating a LCD television manufactured by Samsung with other famous household brands. 

#7: Internet Security

Above is a video that warns internet users about the dangers of phishing. The reason why I picked this video is because it cleverly uses satire to educate viewers on an important topic.

The internet is a great tool for many things, but unfortunately it can also pose a security risk for your personal information and privacy. Everyone who is connected to the internet needs to be aware of and have a basic understanding of how to protect themselves. Here are 7 things you can do to keep yourself safe:

1. Firewall

Make sure you're running a firewall, either software running on your computer or a hardware-based device.

2. Multiple Users

If you need to share your computer with other people, make sure there are rules in place of what they can and can't do. This is especially true with kids - they have a tendency to download anything and everything, without any thought for how it could affect the computer and the information on it.

3. Backup

Backup your data on a regular basis - particularly anything you couldn't easily replace. If your computer is ever infected by a virus or some other security problem, you could lose all the information on it. Having a backup will save you from losing it permanently.

4. Avoid Unknowns

Avoid clicking links in unexpected email messages or downloading files or attachments that you weren't expecting. These things can lead to security problems and virus infections. Even if someone you know sends you something, don't click it until you verify they meant to send it and it's safe.

5. Avoid File Sharing Software

Programs like Kazaa that let you download music and other pirated files often include spyware and adware that can cause your computer to run very slowly or not work properly at all. Avoid the temptation of installing these things because they're just not worth the hassle.

6. Disconnect From The Internet

Most high-speed internet connections are "always on" - whenever your computer is turned on, your connection is active. If you're not using the internet, it's best to disconnect from it to keep your computer safe from unexpected attacks or infections.

7. Antivirus

Make sure you have a good antivirus program installed on your computer and - most importantly - you keep it updated. If your antivirus is not up to date, you might as well not be running one at all.

#6: Internet Tools (Movie Making)

Made a movie on my favourite outfits from Jil Sander, Celine and Chanel, whom I thought had the best Spring 2011 collections.

#5: E-Learning

This week, we learnt about how learning can be facilitated by the use of digital tools and content. This term is more commonly used to describe out-of-classroom and in-classroom educational experiences via technology, even as advances continue in regard to devices and curriculum. This brings back memories from when I was in Primary school, where we would have an e-learning day which comprises of learning via the Internet and in turn, complete assignments due on e-learning day itself. However, e-learning today is a more complex issue, and does not only comprise of schools making use of the Internet to educate their students. It is, essentially the computer and network-enabled transfer of skills and knowledge, which include web-based learning, computer-based learning, virtual classroom opportunities and digital collaboration.

We learnt in class today that the interactive game, Second Life, is coming up with its own e-learning program, which enables users to learn about almost any subject through the virtual learning environment. Named Second Life Education, it aims to provide the convenience of not having to travel but providing a richer, more effective and more enjoyable experience. Below is a video which gives us more information about the virtual education experience on Second Life.

After watching it, I am amazed at how educational content, about almost any subject can be covered through this program. From geography to business, to even architecture, Second Life provides us with a truly experiential opportunity for students as it has a 3D effect which helps better in illustration and explaining concepts. Mountains are not just flat pictures portrayed in textbooks anymore, but they come to life through Second Life. As an ex-geography student in Junior College, I would have much preferred a 3D experience when learning about geographical concepts as I can better visualize the landforms, rivers etc, formed by weathering processes. Learning will not be as mundane as reading from textbooks, but made exciting as it takes us through a virtual journey. I think it is a very clever idea to get students glued onto their seats instead of having them doze off during lecture.

Technology is advancing, and a lot has changed from our parents' time till now. Handphones are getting smaller and more compact, yet with more elaborate functions; GPS has enabled technology to replicate roads and put them on visuals to help us find our way around town. Having said that, technology is improving at such a rapid speed that even education goes beyond the classroom. Below are illustrations on what our future classrooms will look like.

Classroom with individual seats with a modern twist, with visuals/illustrations wrapped around the entire classroom, making education come to life even more.

Whiteboards will also be replaced with touch screens and, lecture material could also be connected to every student's ipad. To make the lesson more interactive, teachers could make students answer questions and log them in via their ipads. 

#4: E-Commerce: Online Blogshops

The Internet has become increasingly more sophisticated as technology becomes more advance. Just a few years ago, setting up an online business is considered a waste of time because consumers do not believe in buying online. Blogshops have gained a rise in popularity over the last few years, judging from the formidable numbers of online blogshops created each year. So what makes online blogshops so popular? In this entry I will explore the various advantages of setting up an online blogshop as well as share a little about some of my favorite "pit stops" while shopping online.


Convenience: One of the advantages of an online blogshop is that it is convenient. Unlike websites, it does not require any web creating skills in order to create a blogshop.


Cost-Efficient: Creating a blog is free and there is no need to purchase the domain name. During the process of creating a blog, you would be required to create your domain name which would then be included in the blog's domain. Unlike website, you would have to pay a certain amount of money to obtain the domain for your website. Not only that it is free to create a blog but you could earn income by allowing advertisements to be placed in your blogshop. (Advertisement companies would keep track of the PPM of the advertisement placed on your blog and payment would depend on how many visitors have clicked on the advertisement).


However it is also important to note that some blogshops eventually become websites because they have established some kind of reputation in the blogshpere or have managed to gather a large following. 


Easier communication between buyer and seller: This is because blogs allow visitors to leave comments on topics that have been posted. This would allow visitors to ask questions or make inquiries into the products that have been placed on the blogshop and the owner can easily answer them. With this function provided, customers do not need to call the owner of the blogshop to make inquiries which would be time-consuming and also allow owners to answer all the questions at a time.

Though communication is made easier by the comment function on blogs and livejournals, I feel that this mode of communication definitely does not take precedence over face to face communication. Face to face communication as we all know, is instant, and physically going down to the store to purchase clothes also gives us the opportunity to feel the fabric and try the clothes on to see if they fit nicely- as we all know again, pictures can be deceiving. 


However, online blogshops are still popular as they give ordinary people like us (without extraordinary skills in visual communications/design), to be our own entrepreneurs. 


Different blogshops have different themes and these themes are generally differentiated by the clothes they carry. Below are screen shots of some of the places I usually shop at (or should I say shop from) and the reason for shopping at these sites is because the clothes they sell are edgier, hence appeal to my style of fashion. 

THE SCARLET ROOM

LUCYDACYD

RIOTLOCO

#3: Social Networking: Facebook- "There's an online world where I am King"

Anyone who does not know about Facebook ought to be shot because, even my grandfather is on it. 

Already, the video encompasses the massive effects of Facebook through groundbreaking functions which surpassed social networking sites like Friendster and MySpace. Ordinarily, social networking sites allow people to profile themselves and share information visible to millions of people. However, Facebook is more than that. It is an online community on its own, and much of its success lends itself to its creative and one of a kind functions which makes Facebook stand out from the crowd. Yes, we may not be able to change the templates of our Facebook pages (unlike Friendster), but we are able to tag our friends in photos, opt for a more detailed profiling structure, update our statues and play games via Facebook itself! Of course, there are more features to Facebook that differentiates it from other social networking sites, but for the purpose of this blog entry, I am only going to focus on the following.

Photo-Tagging

With the development of API (Application Programming Interface) by Facebook, the site has photo tagging capabilities. 

How it works: The Tagging widget displays the tagging interface which prompts people to click on faces and start adding their names, enabling people to "put a face to one's name", literally.

Remember how photo-tagging exploded on Facebook? It all began with cartoon figures and a small description at the bottom of the caricature, where people could tag any of their friends who best represent these cartoon figures. 

Detailed & Interesting Profiling Options 

As Facebook is all about creating identities, its profile page provides one with many opportunities to list and flaunt their interests. Furthermore, what better way to illustrate one's interests than to have them represented in pictures? Little icons of one's favourite sitcom/movie/music shows up each time one lists them as their interests. That way, instead of plain and boring words, which sometimes are not even eye-catching, people jump straight to the pictures and thus are able to better identify with your interests and connect with you instantly. This promotes a much easier recognition of familiar ground, and it also makes one's profile page look more interesting and colourful! 

No need to enhance profile pages by writing out complicated HTML codes as Facebook already provides us with that "pimping experience."

(+++ Bonus points for everybody who faithfully update their profile pages!!!)

Facebook Games

 I don't know about you but there was a period of time, I was hooked onto Restaurant City that I played it continuously for two weeks at the expense of sleep and food. Though Facebook does not support LAN games, but the variety of games on Facebook (mostly through tie ups with apps) are already sufficient to meet users' needs. Moreover, such games are targetted towards people who are not into playing violent zombie slaying games but are more inclined to milder computer games like building one's own virtual restaurant haha

Reason for Facebook's success is none other than its myriad of user-friendly functions that keep users glued onto the site. 

With that, it sums up how Facebook beats Friendster or MySpace, hands down!!!!!

#2 Social Media and Egypt

Egypt has taken social media revolution to new heights when it shut down the Internet two weeks ago. The egyptian government battled to contain protests against President Hosni Mubarak who threw the country into an Internet black hole in hopes to curb political unrest. This took the world by storm as we wonder what the future of the Internet will be in times of political turbulence. Deadly protests also show the strong influences of social media, namely Facebook and Twitter, on the lives of people, and the lack of it stirring up much unhappiness in this Internet competent age.

The impact of social media is so profound, that although access to the Internet had been denied, citizens of Egypt still managed to tap on uncensored Internet and Satellite television to organize nationwide protests. Ongoing revolts over the last two weeks made President Mubarak succumb to overwhelming pressure, and ordered for the reactivation of the Internet, which again, made headlines on today's newspapers.

We can see from this that unless brainwashed (ref: the people of North Korea), the Internet has become a necessity to us, for the best and worst reasons. Social media has not only provided us with a huge platform for participating in news debates, and social interaction, it also increased the marketability of goods and services online, which aids tremendously to our convenience. Instead of the grocer being a stone's throw away, it has become a click away, and in all irony, turns tables around and condemns the issue. We then begin to wonder if too much of a good thing can really lead to a bad thing, and that social media has suddenly made us socially impaired-- We only possess the ability to communicate adeptly online.

In the case of President Mubarak, he was more concerned about the fact that people can discuss political issues online (just as how they ramble incessantly about the new celebrity in town), and disrupt current autocratic dynamics between him and his country, which made him call for the Internet shut down in the first place. This shows that the advantages of the Social Media offsets the disadvantages. Yes, there could be credit card fraud and identity thefts and they are increasing in number. However, there hadn't been uproars of protests about that issue unlike how Egypt lost possession of free speech through the closure of the Internet. For obvious reasons, we have evolved into a world of technology and confiscating technology will only spark off riots.

Luckily for the Egyptians, their Internet service has been resurrected from the dead and they no longer have to revisit stone age... at least for now.

#1: Introductory Entry- The Internet and how it influenced me

I was one of those kids who spent hours in front of the television, and suddenly, Spongebob Sqaurepants was my new best friend. 3.p.m, a timely slot after school where I was in the lap of luxury, watching my favourite cartoon in the comfort of my living room. You see, it was very easy to satisfy a nine-year-old in the past (apart from the evening pandemonium where the family gathers around the T.V set and fights over which programme to watch) because there were not many tools to work with in the first place. The only thing I fiddled with was a remote control. Hand it over, and immediately, you could hear a pin drop. In today's age and time however, television alone, will not suffice.

With the advent of the Internet and particularly Web 2.0 functions, television, the most elementary form of entertainment has been revolutionized. The median age where children are exposed to the Internet is evidently decreasing too. My virgin experience with the Internet, was at the age of twelve, and already, I thought it was commendable that I was chatting with my classmates on MSN, although our conversations frequently revolved around the same topic. "Study for PSLE already or not ah?"

Months ago, when my relatives came to visit, I saw my seven year old cousin surfing the net with so much ease, it looked as if she was writing her name. The ironic thing is, some seven-year-olds cannot even spell their names properly, yet are well equipped with the basic skills of web navigation. The mastery of the Internet could be easier than the mastery of the English Language itself. To think we thought the Internet was a complex pool of functions. Apparently not. It then flashes in your face, the cliche line from Martha Stewart or Rachel Ray. "If my cousin can do it, so can you!"

The Internet definitely made things more of an option than a choice in the following context. Hardly do we say "there was nothing interesting on T.V so I had no choice but to watch the documentary on the elephant giving birth to her child." In fact, we have so many options that we are often overwhelmed by them. The variety of television programmes made it possible for me to watch shows that would not have otherwise been aired on local television. I can also watch a full season of How I Met Your Mother in a day without having to be kept in suspense.

Online shopping has also never been more convenient than it is today, as we are able to make purchases in less than five clicks of the mouse. Without the Internet, sellers of online boutiques would be like people who lay mats along the roadside and take off immediately when they see a policeman on patrol. However, because the Internet is a public domain, anyone can be an entrepreneur without having to pay for rental costs, and the catch is.. they are able to sell products at a reasonable yet profitable price. It is thus a win-win situation for sellers and buyers, and a more attainable platform for budding entrepreneurs, or even fashionistas who want to clear their bursting wardrobe.

These are just two of the many examples on how people have become such Internet addicts. The question is, will people become so reliant on the Internet that they eventually feel handicapped without it?