A Cyberspace Experience: Final Project

A Cyberspace Experience: Final Project

For most individuals in their teens, twenty-somethings and thirty-somethings, the computer holds very few brand new experiences. They’ve grown up in a “techy” world and with few exceptions, the computer and its various components reign supreme as an integral part of their entertainment system. Most people in this age group have experienced, or will, at some time in their lives, tap into many of the diverse facets that the Internet of today has to offer. This experience is referred to as: Web 2.0.
In the beginning, there was Web 1.0. It was characterized by “pages” which displayed text or an image—one image. To change the page, the user clicked. No click, no change. There was email. In the very beginning, it was used by the military to transfer data. Paul Baran, the originator, and the RAND Corporation introduced the system which was used as an emergency communication system in case of nuclear attack; surviving communities could keep in touch without enemy forces tracking the survivors. At this time the system was known as ARPANET (Sterling, 1993). The system was also used to transfer data from place to place and computer to computer. It was simple and faster than sending messages through the post office (Snailmail).
As the messaging system grew in popularity, the public discovered it and began using it to send more than the originally intended work-related messages. People found that personal data could be transmitted faster and easier than having to write-and-send or even to use the telephone. Voile—email was born. As ARPANET grew and evolved, it was given a new name in 1989: the Internet, as it came to be known by its users, grew at an astounding rate; no longer just a conduit of data between three or four computers but a complex system connecting thousands of computers and their users together. (Origins of the ARPANET, 2006). This was Web 1.0, and it was characterized by viewing, book marking, and printing—fun, informative, and communicative for web visitors in the 1980’s and 90’s. (Carmean, 2008).
Entering the Web 2.0 era (Web 2.0 is a Web 1.0 on steroids!), everything that was, is now bigger, better, faster, glitzier. Web 1.0 users paid for software products to enhance their web browsing experiences while Web 2.0 paid for the services which the browser provided. This was much easier and users didn’t have to rely on installing anything or getting past glitches which might occur between their computers and the software programs. Also, with websites giving users the same type of information, it freed the site visitors to make personal changes that accommodated individual preferences. Social networking to the Web 1.0 user was logging on to a BBS (Bulletin Board System) or the Usenet where a group or individual poses a topic or question and fellow site visitors can post comments; on the Web 2.0, social networking takes the form of blogging where users establish personal web pages that profile the page’s “owner”, and its content run from insights, to personal grievances, to blowing off steam at whatever or whomever, to scholarly dissertations with cited resources; whatever “tweaks” the page owner’s proverbial “whistle”; virtually, anything goes. These blogs can contain images, videos, and even links to other blog sites. (Wikipedia, 2008). Unlike some Usenet groups or particular BBS’s, a potential site visitor does not have to be approved in order to post comments to a blog. Some examples of sites where bloggers can set up their pages are Blogger.com, Blogspot, and many other specific sites which offer blog spaces such as MySpace and FaceBook.
In addition to “blogging” on the Internet, Web 2.0 also introduced a spin-off service in which users could transfer blogs, information, thoughts and feelings to other users’ cell phones (mobile blogging). Current activities, updated information on blogs, and other types of messages can be transmitted through services such as Twitter. Activities associated with services such as Twitter are known as mini- or micro-blogging and utilizes the instant messaging system. My personal blog is: http://tinyurl.com/3mbg2q.
Email was an element of Web 1.0 that initially drew people to participate in online activity. In Web 2.0, browsers such as MSN added “Live” to their repertoire of services (Windows Live Hotmail); with this feature, users sign up for the service, make a lists of other user friends who also belong to the service and are notified when these friends/members are logged in (on the Net and may be available to converse). Through a process called IRC (Internet Relay Chat), members can chat—reply and respond, instantaneously to each other, just as they would in real/face-to-face dialogs. This is one of the most popular facets of Web 2.0 technology; it was one of the main reasons why Web 2.0 flourishes today. (Learnthat, 2004).
Web 1.0 offered users a tool which enabled them to remember which sites they visited and wished to re-visit again by “book marking” it; some such sites were Mosaic and Opera (now, rarely used). Web 2.0 now offers its users a tool called the “weblog” so that they can “pool” frequently used websites of a common interest. These shared book-marking sites such as del.icio.us, Ma. gnolia, Reddit, and FURL enable users to view sites that other members have stored and can access websites that pertain to their interests or needs without having to research the sites for themselves. I have a FURL account which is:
Another Web 2.0 feature that goes hand-in-hand with these social book marks is a tool known as a “tag.” Tagging involves assigning personal words to describe a site or file which will enable the user to recognize it later when they want to re-visit or need the information which the file or site contains. When these “tags” are linked together with other sites such as other blogs or webpages, it is referred to as a “folksonomy classification. Web tools such as Flickr teach users the use of tags and how to apply them to their files and pages. Other sites such as del.icio.us have tagging tools within the site to help members utilize the tagging process. (Wikipedia, 2008).
Web 2.0 is also known for a synchronizing feed which allows information and webpages to be automatically and periodically updated. This is an irreplaceable feature from Web 1.0’s static pages. This feature has unlimited uses in the Web 2.0 environment. The feed is known as RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed and its function is to update and replace information on constantly changing sites such as news web pages, business sites, and weblogs. Users can subscribe to various sites that contain an RSS feed, knowing that the information that they receive will be current and up-to-date as much as is possible. For all of the above mentioned features, there is a fun, entertaining side of the Web 2.0 technology.
Virtual role playing is a common and popular activity in the Web 2.0 environment. Though not for everyone, sites such as 2nd Life, IMVU, and Teen 2nd Life, take visitors on a trip into a virtual reality community where they can be anyone or anything that their little hearts desire; they are only limited by their imaginations. They create their own personas and can wander anywhere in the world, universe or unworldly place that they can imagine. They can shop in retail stores, purchase items with imaginary money (Linden Dollars) which have to be earned, or purchase items with real money (credit card must be on file with the service). “Residents” may own property, their own residences, and even businesses (where, just like in real life, there is money to be made). Created personas are known as “avatars” and can walk, drive a vehicle, or fly. They can travel to exotic places and meet other “residents.” It is a social community and conversation utilizes the RSS feeds so individuals can interact much as they would in a real-life situation. There are some situations that may not be appropriate for everyone, however so be warned.
Another verb that might describe Web 2.0 is “sharing.” If any word appropriately fits this technology, it is “sharing” because the entire environment has been designed around the social aspect of user communities. Powerful tools designed to enable users to view, share, upload/download images and videos produced for exactly that purpose, fill web spaces. (Wikipedia, 2008). Websites such as YouTube, Google Video, eyespot, ourmedia, and others allow users to view and share images and videos. Members may upload or download these images and videos to keep in their folders or share with others. Videos are produced to share opinions or make statements or just to be entertaining. (DVgurus, 2006 ).
“Enterprising” is definitely a word that can be used in the same context as Web 2.0. This technology was actually designed to accommodate e-commerce on the Web. Advertisements line browser pages and no one seems to be exempt from the banners and pop-ups which appear relentlessly on most web pages. The only places that seem void of advertisements are blogs and other personal pages such as YouTube.
All-in-all, Web 2.0 is growing exponentially year–by-year. Its popularity has not diminished but continues to increase, improve, and evolve. Who would have believed that a simple message-transferring system could one day have billions of users, worldwide, and become the very foundation for global commerce around the world. This, then, is the Web 2.0 technology.
References
DVgurus. Ten video services compared.http://www.dvguru.com/2006/04/07/ten-video-sharing-services-compared/
Introduction of second life. (2007). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b72CvvMuD6Q
Learnthat. (2004). IRC definition.http://www.learnthat.com/define/view.asp?id=104
Origins of the ARPANET., 2008, from http://www.geeks.com/techtips/2006/techtips26nov06.html
Sterling, B. A short history of the internet by bruce sterling.http://www.library.yale.edu/div/instruct/internet/history.htm
TechWeb Network. (2007). Twitter.http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=Twitter
Wikipedia. Blog.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog
Wikipedia. Internet bookmark.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bookmark_manager
Wikipedia. Second life.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Life
Wikipedia. Tag (metadata).http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tag_(metadata)
Wikipedia. Web 2.0.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2
Wikipedia. YouTube.22 April 2008