Open Internet

 Cyberspace, Internet, Open Internet  No Responses »
Nov 042011
 

When the Internet became publicly available and became mainstream, the key benefit was its “openness”. The “open Internet” as we know it has always been free with access for all and the ability to choose what content to view online without restrictions This promotes not only freedom of expression and communication but innovation and growth. It is this “openness” which is said to encourage developments and growth of the Internet and business related industries.

To some degree, however, the concept of an “open Internet” is being challenged. More and more, governments are looking at ways to block certain types of traffic (I will discuss this in a future post) as well as curtail the power of technology and media giants.

Governments have their own reasons for doing this and most of it is not for the benefit of the public. Any attempt for Governments to exert influence over the Internet is heading in risky territory for the public. The Internet is now fundamental to content access and distribution and therefore it could be argued extremely important to our democracy.

A recent article “Britain, US Warn on Cyber Restrictions” about the “London Conference on Cyberspace” states that governments in developing countries must refrain from restricting the Internet so that it is free from censorship so innovation can thrive. This should equally apply for developed countries where the Internet has been growing for many years and is coming under increasing pressure to be regulated.

How the Internet will be in the future is up for debate. There is no doubt it will be more mobile and we will use it more and more. The free exchange of knowledge and information which promotes freedom of expression and communication plus innovation are all important for our society. Although, governments face unique challenges in balancing the positives and negatives of the Internet, any attempt to interfere must be seen as restrictive on the public. Therefore we must always promote the “openness” of the Internet as a key fundamental of democracy in our modern world.

What do others think? Should the Internet be “open”?

 Posted by on 4 November, 2011 at 8:20 am

Is Technology Changing the Way we Conduct Business?

 Communication Technologies, Internet, Technology shifts  No Responses »
Oct 292011
 

It is argued that fundamental shifts in technology are activating massive changes in business particularly how information is accessed, captured, managed and shared.  The following article “Shifts in Technology are Driving Professional Changes” covers the issues quite well.

These changes have implications for everyone in all aspects of our lives.  We are now wired 24 hours a day with everything at our finger tips.  The Internet connects us like never before and hand held devices means we are constantly blurring the lines between personal and business.  Due to increased mobility, emails can be responded to from home or the local coffee shop.  Information travels faster and workers are expected to respond in an instant.  We are so far away yet so close as barriers of distance disappear.

Some changes for business due to technology:

–    Online bookings, surveys & other information gathering techniques

–    Outsourcing – i.e. telephone customer service

–    Databases, electronic diaries, schedules

–    Accounting practices

–    Administration – i.e filing

More businesses are setting up online so their target audience becomes global instead of local meaning that their market share can grow.  However, competition becomes increasingly more intense with additional competitors.  The rise of cloud computing (still at its early stages) has much growth and innovation to occur and will affect business in terms of IT capacity and capability.

What does this mean now and for the future?  We will be learning and adapting for many years to come.  Nothing really different than previous generations – only the technology is diverse!

I would love to hear from people about how they think technology is changing business.

Leave me your thoughts.

 Posted by on 29 October, 2011 at 5:03 pm

Anonymity Online

 Internet, Online Anonymity, Online Identity, Privacy, Social Media, Social Network Sites  No Responses »
Oct 252011
 

A recent article “Death of Anonymity Online Has Net Users Fuming” was an eye opener for the future of being anonymous online.  Another article by Lauren Fisher delves deeper into the complexity of the online anonymity debate, “Should We Allow Anonymity Online?”  and is also great reading.

It seems that anonymity on social network sites may be changing.  Users of Google+ (Google’s new social network site to rival Facebook) seem to be having difficulty in being able to using pseudonyms or mononyms (one word names) when signing up.  This is a controversial issue that is becoming more significant as we increasingly hand over our data to these sites.

There are reasons for and against anonymity online.  Being anonymous allows all to communicate freely, which may not occur if identities have to be revealed.  It promotes the right to free speech particularly for those who are afraid or who can’t be open and honest by using their real name.  There is also an element of privacy to be able to contribute to conversation without people knowing who you are.

On the other hand, there is the issue of law enforcement.  It is argued that less criminal behaviour would be committed online if individuals had to use their real names.  This is slightly unconvincing as in the offline world people still engage in criminal behaviour using their real names.  This occurs because not all people are law abiding.  Law enforcement agencies are still able to track down people using pseudonyms as technology is able to support this.  Anyone with the right skill set can trace someone through their IP address (if they are not using Internet cafes) so it is not as difficult as it seems.

There is a school of thought that says having anonymity online is dangerous and everyone needs to reveal his or her identities.  This assumes that people who want to remain anonymous online want to engage in criminal activity otherwise why would they what to be anonymous.  There are valid reasons why some people want to remain anonymous.  It also, however, presumes that people only have one identity which is not the case.  How people behave at home is not how they act at work.  There is a distinction and individuals would ideally still like to keep these identities separate.  Forcing people not to have a choice may mean that the move to have no anonymity online may backfire.

It seems to me that the Internet is becoming less about having choices and more about giving up our information to technology giants such as Google and Facebook.  It is in the interest of Internet companies for there to be no anonymity online.  This way they are able to collect and match our information much more easily.  So is having a “real identity” online basically about exploiting our information for more advertising dollars?

I would be interested to hear what your thoughts are.

 Posted by on 25 October, 2011 at 4:39 pm

The Internet – is it Changing our Brains?

 Internet, Research, Science, Social Media  No Responses »
Oct 212011
 

An article on the BBC website yesterday “Internet may be Changing Brains” made for interesting reading.

The article says that a study published in the “Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences Journal” shows that social network sites may be changing people’s brains and social lives.

It is still early days so it is not exactly clear what this all means although it is exciting times for researchers involved.  This study will allow further research to continue to pose scientific and well-designed investigations to explore the brain and whether it adapts to social network sites.

There is no doubt that the Internet is impacting on our lives.  The way we communicate is so much different to what it was 15 years ago.  Everyone is reachable regardless of where they are.  We do things differently because of new technology.  We live in a society where everything is at our fingertips and we want everything now.  It is not surprising that research is emerging which shows that our brains may be changing.

What do people think? Have you noticed any changes in the way you think, research or write?

Would love to hear your thoughts.

For those who want to find out more, there is a great book by American writer Nicholas Carr “The Shallows: How the Internet is Changing the Way We Think, Read and Remember”.  Worth the read if you are interested in Carr’s claim that the Internet is not only shaping our lives but also physically altering our brains.

 Posted by on 21 October, 2011 at 1:20 pm

Modern Communication Technologies

 Communication Technologies, Internet, Social Media  No Responses »
Oct 192011
 

There was an article in yesterday’s The Sydney Morning Herald “Faster Than A Speeding Bullet: Generation Wi-Fi is Changing the World” which looked at those under 30 and the communication technologies of their generation.  It made for interesting reading in respect to communication in the 21st century.

A lot has been written about the Internet and social media and how it is being used in the world today.  Not all of it positive.  Some suggest that modern technologies are narcissistic and destroying social cohesion as we know it.  Others believe it is inclusive and positive.  These comments are not new and similar comments can be attributed to previous generations with emerging technologies of that particular era.

Modern platforms allow us to be connected wherever we go.  One small device can be a phone, allow us to check our email or Facebook and book a restaurant all within minutes of each other wherever we are.  This is a vast difference to face to face communication not that long ago and as such mobile communication could be considered disruptive.

However, whether modern communication platforms are positive or negative really misses the point.  These technologies are here to stay and we must adapt to them and we will.  Each generation eventually adjusts to what is placed in front of it although most of the time there is resistance.  Change for most people is difficult.  The status quo is always preferred and individuals feel comfortable with what they know.  But society does adapt and before long we will have something else to fuss over!

Some argue that technologies today are built on the skill and knowledge of previous generations and as such are not new but rather further developed with current knowledge.

Would love to hear what you think.  Are modern technologies frustrating or are they simply the development of society?

 Posted by on 19 October, 2011 at 5:13 pm

Online Data Collection and Privacy

 Data Collection, Internet, Online Marketing, Privacy, Surveillance  No Responses »
Oct 172011
 

 

Today, online tracking technologies are so sophisticated that the amount of information they collect could be considered Orwellian.  Numerous amounts of data is collected on an individual’s browsing habits.  This may be combined with other information gathered from public records or social networks sites to build customer profiles.  A great blog article provides more information: ‘Online Privacy Concerns with Data Collection’.

There may be legitimate reasons for companies wanting to collect data.  They want to gain a competitive edge and being able to use this customer information for selective purposes is to a degree not surprising.  However, the key issue is that most consumers on the Internet may have no idea what information is being collected or by whom and whether this is passed on to third parties.

The debate of online data collection versus privacy concerns is a fairly complex one.  The technology is here to stay and is part of business innovation.  Users have embraced and adopted the technology openly and positively.  However, is the balance geared towards the benefit of businesses?  Due to the sophistication of the technology and the introduction of location-based information, companies are able to fairly accurately pinpoint a user’s real time physical location.  Historically, identifiable information was considered protected information when it came to privacy.

There are some individuals who don’t care but for those that do they need to be able to have choices.  Individuals need to have a say in when sensitive and personally identifiable information is collected and shared.  Policy makers need to be active in this debate to allow consumers more control over their data particularly data that makes them identifiable.

Consumers need to have the option to withdraw if they do not what to participate in online data collection, for example similar to the ‘do not call register’.  The privacy statements, which do exist, are usually hidden away and if individuals do bother reading them they are far too complicated.  There needs to be visible and transparent statements if online data is being collected, why it is being collected and what will be done with it.  This way consumers can make an informed choice whether they want to take part or not.  A rebalance with individuals having more say in what is collected about them needs to occur.

I would be interested to hear what you think.

Are you concerned that your information is being tracked or is this the reality of the current world we now live in?

 Posted by on 17 October, 2011 at 5:26 pm

Search Engine Scamming

 Hackers, Internet, Malware, Scammers, Search Engines  No Responses »
Oct 142011
 

A recent article “Web Users Warned of Search Engine Poison” suggests that Internet users need to be wary of search engines and not blindly trust them.  This trust is allowing scammers to take advantage of a technique called ‘search engine poisoning’.

It is widely used to spread malware and if you are a victim you may not even know it. Malware is short for malicious software and includes things such as worms, computer viruses, Trojan horses and spyware.  The malware can be delivered through different ways and is targeted at browser vulnerability. It can take advantage of third party websites and intermediaries between search engines and the malicious site that has been attacked.

Read more about search engine poisoning here and here.

So next time you search via search engines be aware before you click a link.  Be responsive to pop ups that appear on screen saying that your computer has been infected.  It is probably best not to click on the link offering to clean it up. Seek professional technical support instead.

 Posted by on 14 October, 2011 at 10:09 am

Facebook

 Cyberspace, Data Collection, Internet, Privacy, Surveillance  No Responses »
Oct 112011
 

Facebook has been in the news quite a lot lately.  Whether it be ‘tracking cookies claims’ or a story on ‘Facebook’s power’ they seem to be the story of the moment.

There is no doubt that Facebook is a powerful organisation.  It knows a lot about us.  It collects and stores massive amounts of data on the daily interests and behaviour of its users.  Obviously there are concerns with Facebook.  However, the way some people talk about them, you think that they are forcing us to give up our information.  They are not.  It is information that we willingly and easily give up without thinking twice about it.  Whether this is a good or a bad thing is up for debate, although some people think it is negative.

Privacy in the 21st century is being fractured.  Walk along most CBD streets and you will be filmed through CCTV; use an ATM and you leave an electronic footprint; connect to the Internet and you leave another footprint.  Each action creates a link to your electronic profile.  Use your Woolworths Everyday Rewards card when you shop and information on what you buy, when you buy and how much you spend is stored.  No one is up and arms about this information being collected.  Why is this the case?  What is it about Facebook that creates so much negativity and moral panic?

The privacy debate is a complex issue.  However, I must say I am more concerned with organisations that store my personal information that I don’t know about.  With Facebook, at least I have a choice not to participate or control the information I post.

 

What are your thoughts?

 Posted by on 11 October, 2011 at 11:52 am

Rules of Behaviour for the Internet

 Cyberspace, Internet  No Responses »
Oct 072011
 

 

London is hosting a Cyberspace Conference which is a world-first.  Britain wants to start discussions on developing principles on how we should behave on the Internet – that is governments, corporations and individuals.

This is an interesting proposition.  But will an agreed set of principles really solve the negative issues that come with the Internet?  To me it seems a bit silly that we have to be told how to behave online.  There will always be individuals who don’t conform to society’s standards.  For those that don’t follow rules now, these principles will not suddenly make them behave more appropriately.

So what will a set of guidelines achieve?  Probably nothing.  The Internet is a vast network that is part of society.  It shouldn’t be viewed as something that is creating society’s problems, it isn’t.  We need to adjust to the Internet as something that is unique, fluid and dynamic.  Blaming it for our problems shows we haven’t yet grasped the changes that are occurring in society as a result of the Internet.  Producing a set of guidelines won’t alter that.

 

Would love to read your comments and thoughts.

 Posted by on 7 October, 2011 at 6:35 pm
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