CTVA 100: Chapter 2: The Internet, Digital Media, and Media Convergence

What elements of today's digital world are part of the Semantic Web?

Semantic Web: about creating a more meaningful and organized Web. Voice recognition (Siri) is best example.

Why is net neutrality such an important issue?

Services want to offer faster connection/priority to those who will pay more for it. Also gives priority to their content or content of those who pay them more. Not fair to those with less money.

What are the democratic possibilities of social media? How can social media aid political repression/restraint?

Share thoughts and opinions, update Wiki entries/share info, start petition or fundraising, post video, explore virtual world. Certain things can be blocked on social media (like in China).

How does the World Wide Web work? What is its significance in the development of the Internet?

***WWW provides link to data no matter where you are. HTML - all computers can read same hyperink (Windows, Mac). ***Lead to browsers.

How can the Internet make democracy work better?

Allows a lot of people (from all over the world) to have access to information and keep updates so they can participate and make more informed decisions.

What are the six main types of social media?

Blogs (Wordpress, Tumblr, Wix). Collaborative Projects (Wiki Websites, Google Drive). Content Communities (Youtube). Social Networking Sites (Facebook, Pinterest). Virtual Game Worlds (World of Warcraft). Virtual Social Worlds (Second Life, Sims?).

What is the digital divide, and what is being done to close the gap?

Digital Divide: growing contrast between "information haves" (those who can afford computers and Internet services) and "information have-nots" (those who can't afford a computer and Internet services). Rising use of smartphones.

What conditions enabled media convergence?

First phones, radio, TV, PCs, video games. ***Mainly, the Internet.

What are the key challenges to making the Internet itself more democratic?

Increasing commercialization (ppl just want to sell stuff). Not free, limited access for lower class. Predators are on the Internet.

Why did Google become such a force in Web searching?

Is an arithmetic search engine. Became popular for mathematically ranking web pages by popularity on how many other pages link to it.

What role do mobile devices play in media convergence, and what significant mobile milestones can you think of?

Mobile devices provide quick and easy access to emails, instant messages, the Internet. Blackberry: email. Apple: music, phone, Internet, touchscreen, apps, GPS. Smartphones using Google (Google Apps). iPad: better for reading and videos.

How has convergence changed our relationship with media and with the Internet?

Mobile, flexible, quick, easy-access. Same news formats on all devices. Live blogs in Twitter. Netflix and rewinding available. Closed Internet/walled garden: more managed/organized Internet. Facebook = closed. Google = open. Apps for everything.

When did the Internet reach the novelty (development), entrepreneurial, and mass medium stages?

Novelty: 1960s Started as military communications network. ARPAnet, email. Entrepreneurial: 1970s Allowed immediate 2-way communication & one to many communication. Marketable medium; microprocessors; PCs; NSFNET -> increase in Internet use; fiber-optic cable = speed; ARPAnet ended. Mass Medium: 1993 Multimedia source for information and entertainment. World Wide web; browsers; ISP; broadband connections; digital communication; IM; search engines.

What are the major alternative voices on the Internet?

Open-source software (openly share codes). Digital archiving (digitizing books).

Which of the five major digital companies are most aligned with the "open Internet," and which are most aligned with the "closed Internet"?

Open: Amazon, Google. Closed: Facebook, Apple, Microsoft.

What is the role of data mining in the digital economy? What are the ethical concerns?

Role: gathering users' location, browsing and purchasing habits (and specializes adds); consumer surveillance. Concerns: Internet security and privacy; exposed to spyware.

How did the Internet originate? What role did the government play?

Started as military-government project. US Defense Department ARPA developed Internet for researchers to share computer processing time sharing.