UWB radio transmissions

2. What might you do with access to UWB radio transmissions if you had a receiver in a car?

Ultra wide band radio transmissions use very low energy levels for short range high-bandwidth communications. I do not know much about the technology, but it might be a technological revolution if perfected. To me it sounds like the technology would be useful for sending digital information. UWB could be useful for the wireless transmission of music from a computer directly to a car. This would eliminate or decrease the use of CDs, iPod, and satellite radio in the car. It also seems like it would have the potential to access almost all the uses the Internet from the car. It would be pretty cool to write an email by just using your voice, and have that transmitted immediately while driving. The possibility of future technology seems endless and I can’t wait to see what the world will be like in ten years.

Ken Zeran

1. What might you have done differently if you were in the position of artist Ken Zeran, mentioned in this chapter?

Before I dive into my response I think it is important to recognize that Ken Zeran’s story occurred in 1995, which was long before Web 2.0 emerged. Basically, Zeran was thrown into an online story outbreak that contained falsified information. He did almost everything he could to protect his reputation by containing AOL, KRXO, and trying to personally relay his story to phone callers. He also stuck by his innocence and pursued a deformation suit against the companies. I would have done the exact same process as Zeran, given the time period; however, if this happened today then it would be important to take advantage of the valuable resource known as the Internet. Zeran could have fought back by creating an online blog, or posted his accounts on a social network. He could have accessed other media outlets to make his side of the story more public.

DRM-protected content

What’s the value of a bit? It seems that going after folks who have traded songs or movies online is a huge expenditure of effort and money. Is DRM-protected content the way to go? If you don’t agree, propose another method for the distribution of digital multimedia so that content creators can still be compensated.

To prevent infringement many companies have turned to digital right management (DRM). DRM is digital content controlled by restrictions, limiting the use of the information. DRM-protected content, like everything else, has its advantages and disadvantages. I believe that DRM-protected content has helped prevent infringement and illegal downloading; however, I believe the restrictions leave users with little options.

According to Abelson the cost of illegally downloading a song could range from a minimum of $200 to be as high as $150,000. Personally, I did not know until after reading chapter 6 that the costs associated with a bit could be that substantial. I believe that these cost deter some people from illegally downloading songs, but in reality a lot of individuals will still take the risk of illegally downloading. The DRM-restrictions placed on media downloaded from iTunes or say from a CD prevent some users from playing the files, or transferring the data. I think DRM is a current solution to prevent users from illegal downloading and sharing media files. Though, I believe there will we new technologies that find away to get around DRM-protected material. I do not believe there will ever be a system that could not be hacked. I think DRM-protected material is a good thing for the market, since it helps reward file creators. I also, believe that it places to many restrictions on files. For example, the invention of iTunes allowed downloader’s to pick and choose what songs they want, and to customize playlist. The invention of the Napster and the recently shut down Limewire offered users to download similar files for free. The difference is iTunes downloads are protected, which prevents infringement and viruses. The bad thing is that iTunes downloads have restrictions on the files can be transferred. Overall, I think DRM-protected material has been a good thing, but I believe it may restrict how users use files that they rightfully own.

FOAF-style network

2. What professional benefits do you see by investing some time in a FOAF-style network?

Social networks allow users to connect with one another. Sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, can be considered FOAF-style networks. These forms of networking create many benefits in the business world. It allows many professionals to find job applicants through word-of-mouth, and personally see their qualifications. There qualification can be based on personality and professional experience. By using a FOAF-style networking in the hiring process companies can decrease ROI and recruiting cost. For example, a LinkedIn account is a form of marketing oneself through an online profile that demonstrates who you are and what you could offer an employer. In many cases these sites have more personal than professional benefits, but I believe personal connections can help land you a professional benefit. By using these networking platforms users can stay connected with various individuals on a regular bases, which increases the chance for professional benefits to occur.

 


"I Pledge" - KES

Prisoner’s Dilemma

1. Considering the Prisoner’s Dilemma in this chapter, provide your own insight on how sites such as eBay “work” for most participants of this popular online auction site. Do they really work? Or is there too much risk?

Shirky outlines the Prisoner’s Dilemma on page 189 of his book. He states that there are different outcomes, which depend upon two parities that lack the ability to communicate or trust each other. Basically these two parties might not cooperate with one another even if it is in their best interests to do so. This relationship is very similar to how sites like eBay operate.

Since there is no way to read other individual’s minds there are four possible outcomes to a Prisoner’s Dilemma. In terms of an eBay transaction the outcomes would be as follows:

The buyer and seller both complete the transaction as expected.

The buyer rips off the seller.

The seller rips off the buyer.

The buyer and seller both rip or take advantage of each other.  

Sites like eBay give users access to a lot of products or services that would other wise not be available to them; however, eBay transaction are hit or miss. eBay allows email communication between buyers and sellers. This lack of direct communication increases the chance of rip offs, and untruthful transactions.  If a user is buying, say a watch for example, on eBay they are running the risk that this watch might not be what they were expecting. The seller is also running the risk of the buyer not providing adequate payment. As an eBay user is it important to always read product descriptions and buy from top rated sellers. By doing so a buyer reduces receiving a defective product and the seller receives payment (and hopefully a higher star rating).

            In my opinion, eBay is a create resource. I believe that most users are looking for the same end result, satisfaction. eBay is a user friendly tool that offers its services with a few clicks of a button. There maybe some users out there that are looking to rip off people but by taking purchased products, and using PayPal or credit cards to place orders most people receive what they are looking for. Overall, I love eBay and do not consider it a risky resource.


"I Pledge" - KES

Information Cascade

Look deeper into the concept of a “information cascade.” Can you cite an example of where following the actions of others was a sound idea? Where doing so ended up being a poor choice?

The phenomenon, information cascade happens when people observe the actions of other individuals and then rationally make the same choice that others have made. A good example of an information cascade would the 1989, protests in Leipzig, Germany. Protestors would conduct weekly meetings, in which the number of attendees grew rapidly. After reaching over 400,000 members the protestors marched the streets of Leipzig, until the Berlin Wall collapsed (162). The Tiananmen Square Massacre in China represents bad example of an information cascade. The protests lacked a definite cause, and leadership that resulted in Hu Yaobang and an unknown number of other deaths.

I pledge - KES

Technology Behavior

Based on the quote from this chapter, “revolution doesn’t happen when society adopts new technologies--it happens when society adopts new behaviors,” do you agree or disagree? Cite examples to support your position.

When new technologies emerge in our society we are invisible to their impact. I believe that as a whole our society desires technology and change; thus we are always looking for the newest and the best. I believe that the television, the Internet, cell phones, social networks, and other technologies are changing how we communicate as a society. Overall, it seems that our society continues to adjust to communication technology, making it harder for individuals to track exactly how technology actually impacts daily life. The reason why society doesn’t adopt new technologies is because our behaviors for that technology make the technologies’ impact happen. In the 1990s, Tim Berners-Lee discovered the Internet, which has become a major aspect of daily life. The Web is technology but society has made it modifiable, accelerate, and fit into modern society (Shirky, 158). In other words, people make technology then societal behaviors reform the technology to a better social fit. I agree with the quotation above.

I pledge - KES