Hacktivism is the nonviolent use of illegal or legally ambiguous digital tools in pursuit of political ends.
Lets say that there is a group of people who find nuclear weapons very unsympathetic and who have bigger knowledges about computers and digital world than general user. Lets say they discover that some countries are making some tests to improve the power of the nuclear weapon and they start to fight for it. They are hacking into the system and deleting some data or start to use emails which contain information hackers like. They add some content into organization website and according to this they may ruin some relations.
For example: Three teenagers broke into computer systems at India's Bhabha Atomic Research center in Bombay for a reason to protest against two nations recent series of nuclear weapons tests. They deleted some data, send emails and changed web page.
Monday, December 8, 2008
CHapter 18 - The business of science
Our lives are moving more and more into the Internet: chatting with friends, keeping diaries (blogs), learning (e-learning), watching videos, listening music, doing business and also making science. Countries who are using and owning better technical equipment in any arbitrary area have advantages over the people who have less.
Let's say that scientists discover some sort of new technique how to cure specific cancer and they invent special tool for it which also assume that you have some other parts before you can start using new invention. IF poorer countries/areas/hospitals can't afford these expected parts, then they do not have the opportunity to help people.
There are systems in the hospitals, where are listed illnesses one person have had in one database. Whoever doctor one is visiting, then the data is always accessible. But if poorer countries/areas/hospitals can't afford the databases and everything that comes with it (management, service providers.. ) then again the quality (in this case the doctor's awareness of illnesses) is not so good.
Let's say that scientists discover some sort of new technique how to cure specific cancer and they invent special tool for it which also assume that you have some other parts before you can start using new invention. IF poorer countries/areas/hospitals can't afford these expected parts, then they do not have the opportunity to help people.
There are systems in the hospitals, where are listed illnesses one person have had in one database. Whoever doctor one is visiting, then the data is always accessible. But if poorer countries/areas/hospitals can't afford the databases and everything that comes with it (management, service providers.. ) then again the quality (in this case the doctor's awareness of illnesses) is not so good.
Link portfolio for ethics and law
Ethics in Turbulent Times
Rid the fools of their money: the online world of crime and fraud
Social networking, social engineering
- Four videos about Global Dignity. It is an an autonomous non-profit, non-criticism and non-partisan initiative, which mission is to implement every human being's universal right. (Global Digniy Co-Founders, Crown Prince Haakon, John Hope Bryant, Professor Pekka Himanen)
- Handy's iterview
- Towards the Information Society in the Central and Eastern European Countries: Twentyseven ideas for European initiatives - It was written 2001 and there can be seen how Europe tried to go towards the information society.
- Yochai Benkler is giving an interview - The download of the invisible hand broadcast which talks about management and strategy
- What is cyberspace?
- "The Many Forms of Internet Censorship" by Tino Bruno
- "PPC Censorship Propaganda and Free Speech" by Brian Hack
Rid the fools of their money: the online world of crime and fraud
- This article is written by David MacGregor: Scams, Gambling & Investments: How to spot the difference? This article is talking about some scam schemes and also some tips how to recognize the difference between the real thing and fraud.
- Tips how to find the honest broker while trading.
- This article is talking about one online fraud parts: phishing.
- This article is talking about digital divide and the fact that it contains tree main stages: economic divide, usability divide and empowerment divide.
- In January the Inderscience's International Journal of Knowledge and Learning published new report about digital divide. And according to this sub-Saharan Africa will miss technical opportunities if the digital divide between developed world and Africa is not closed soon.
- Doris Lessing: “How are we, our minds, going to change with the new internet, which has seduced a whole generation into its inanities so that even quite reasonable people will confess that once they are hooked, it is hard to cut free, and they may find a whole day has passed in blogging and blugging etc.”
- There is a video about ubiquitous computing. It defines it and makes some good examples and explanations: For example in year 2017 you are unconscious and leading to the hospital, nobody know who you are, but you have a cheap which tells all the necessary information..
- Google is building an ubiquitous web.
- Ubiquitous computing: An interesting new paradigm by Marcia Riley
- This wikipage was created during one school project and I find it good for the introduction.
- This aricle is written by Nicholas Tan: Computer Security Ethics and Privacy. Article is talking about ethical and privacy matters with specific examples.
- Hear the lecture by Dr Genevieve Bell who is an anthropologist and ethnographer with an academic and industry background. She is talking about future of digital world and digital lives.
Social networking, social engineering
- What is social engineering ? It gives a short review about social engineering.
- Social Engineering Fundamentals, Part I: Hacker Tactics by Sarah Granger
- Description of copyright
- This article is explaining the difference between hackers and crackers and also talking about how to keep passwords safe.
- There are higher demands to the road users due to increased mobility. Their safety is endangered. Solution is the Innovative Digital Enforcement Environment, which is a system which can measure speed, both on location and over sections, and red light infringements.
- Why Free software is better than open software? Find out.
- Dual Licenses and open source: Best of both worlds?
- Homepage for the artists and creators who would like to spread their work without strict copyright laws.
- Guick and easy guide to creative commons licenses
- "The Secret of Google juice?" - see the slideshow about Google strategy and business model.
- Perfect example which shows that music can be sold via Internet: Leona Lewis song was downloaded for money approximately 69 244 units with first two days.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Chapter 20 - Copying resrtictions
I think it's good that there are copy restrictions, otherwise we would end up in the world of lies. Many people would tell or write something which is not their idea, as their idea by not referencing to any source. IF sources are mentioned then everything is normal and this kind of situation also gives some credit to the source owner, has his/her work has been highly evaluated and worth to refer.
Referring and mentioning the source in the Internet also gives us more connected links. If one is looking something and clicks the referred link, one can find again some other links and in this way find the original source or many other interesting information about the same subjects.
So I think restrictions are good if there are as much and as less of them as possible. Too much restrictions is not good, too much freedom is not good as well - so there has to be the golden middle ground!
Referring and mentioning the source in the Internet also gives us more connected links. If one is looking something and clicks the referred link, one can find again some other links and in this way find the original source or many other interesting information about the same subjects.
So I think restrictions are good if there are as much and as less of them as possible. Too much restrictions is not good, too much freedom is not good as well - so there has to be the golden middle ground!
Chapter 17 - GNU GPL
I start with the title of the first part of the chapter: "Information wants to be free". This is really strong argument. As Matthew Lesko is saying in his article that information is the currency in the world today and those who owns it are the richest; What will happen if something so powerful would be totally free?
We have the Copyright law which protects the owner of an original work of authorship. We also have trademarks, patents, industrial design rights, trade secrets and etc. Contrary to this we have Copyleft which gives bigger opportunities and freedom to the users to spread and change the piece of work by removing restrictions on distributing copies and works witch are modified for others and requires the same rights to the works which are done after the original.
The first Copyleft license is called GNU GPL - General Public License and its goal is to protect the freedom of the user, not to limit it. It is developed by Richard Stallman and his colleagues in 1989 an according to this user have rights to:
If huge amount of information would free, then we would live in more developed world than we do now.
I like the idea of GPL, because it gives the freedom where all the good things can start.
We have the Copyright law which protects the owner of an original work of authorship. We also have trademarks, patents, industrial design rights, trade secrets and etc. Contrary to this we have Copyleft which gives bigger opportunities and freedom to the users to spread and change the piece of work by removing restrictions on distributing copies and works witch are modified for others and requires the same rights to the works which are done after the original.
The first Copyleft license is called GNU GPL - General Public License and its goal is to protect the freedom of the user, not to limit it. It is developed by Richard Stallman and his colleagues in 1989 an according to this user have rights to:
- use, copy and distribute the work for any purpose (including business)
- study the work - for software, demands inclusion of the source code
- modify the work and develop new works based on it
- distribute the derived works under the same conditions
If huge amount of information would free, then we would live in more developed world than we do now.
I like the idea of GPL, because it gives the freedom where all the good things can start.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Review of '3some' wiki page
The main page of the wiki is very clear and nice. Picture have a create effect and also say a lot about the subject, which is “Hacker Ethics in Web 2.0 and 21st Century Content development”.
The '3some' team had four members and from main page is possible to view who has done which part of the work.
The upper links in the right corner doesn't contain any links, but actually it doesn't bother much because all the needed links are provided in the left column and also before every member name in the main page.
I started with hitting the link in front page and assume that this is the introduction page. It was. From introduction page I was able to read about the influence of web 2.0 on society, hacker culture and how hacker ethics are applied. I was also able to see many variants of hackers definitions and a bit of advance information about hackers. Interesting to know that word 'hacker' was nothing to do with computers at first, and this word could be applied to anybody who had skills and motivation to go beyond of expected limits.
There is also very precisely described the essence of the hacker. There is said that a hacker is a person who enjoys exploring the details of programmable systems and like to program himself/herself; appreciates the hack value and is quick in thinking; is expert or enthusiast of any kind; enjoys intellectual challenges or is somebody who is poking around to discover sensitive information.
Hacker is the person who is called hacker by others not called by oneself. And if one claims he/she is hacker but isn't, then this will be soon discovered.
There are also mentioned some of the most famous hackers: Linus Torvalds, Dennis Richie, Ken Thompson, Stephen Wozniak and Tim Berners-Lee. Interesting to read about them.
There is also mentioned one very nice metaphor for hackerdom - gift culture. That hacker gives away the time, creativity and results of ones skills. Sweet - it sounds like Christmas time, when Santa is handing out the presents. :)
Provided also the list of things one should do to be respected by hackers. This would be very good knowledge for beginners.
Applicability of hacker ethics - it is written that hacker ethics has remained the same since MIT times, just environment have changed. And also that new hackers know traditional hacker rules, but just add some innovation for them because of changes in the society. Specially I liked: self defense and trust, but test. These were so contemporary.
When I am in the middle of reading it I suddenly realize that this introduction page is the hole work together and when clicking on the title, then I will be lead to each part separately. Very clever. :)
I am also able to read about the term web 2.0 and its history. It is mentioned that web 2.0 key feature is the development of software which allows mass participation in social activities like sharing pictures , video or information or just networking, bookmarking or tagging. There is also the list of popular web 2.0 websites.
In conclusion they are saying that: "Ideally Hacker Ethics will be better understood, perhaps even the term 'Hacker' can lose it's negative connotation in the future - and be less misunderstood."
The list of references is quite long and includes some of the names we have gone through in this course.
Also I like the forum idea. Discussions are always available to everybody and very easy to communicate.
This team managed to do their work well and would evaluate them with expression: very good.
The '3some' team had four members and from main page is possible to view who has done which part of the work.
The upper links in the right corner doesn't contain any links, but actually it doesn't bother much because all the needed links are provided in the left column and also before every member name in the main page.
I started with hitting the link in front page and assume that this is the introduction page. It was. From introduction page I was able to read about the influence of web 2.0 on society, hacker culture and how hacker ethics are applied. I was also able to see many variants of hackers definitions and a bit of advance information about hackers. Interesting to know that word 'hacker' was nothing to do with computers at first, and this word could be applied to anybody who had skills and motivation to go beyond of expected limits.
There is also very precisely described the essence of the hacker. There is said that a hacker is a person who enjoys exploring the details of programmable systems and like to program himself/herself; appreciates the hack value and is quick in thinking; is expert or enthusiast of any kind; enjoys intellectual challenges or is somebody who is poking around to discover sensitive information.
Hacker is the person who is called hacker by others not called by oneself. And if one claims he/she is hacker but isn't, then this will be soon discovered.
There are also mentioned some of the most famous hackers: Linus Torvalds, Dennis Richie, Ken Thompson, Stephen Wozniak and Tim Berners-Lee. Interesting to read about them.
There is also mentioned one very nice metaphor for hackerdom - gift culture. That hacker gives away the time, creativity and results of ones skills. Sweet - it sounds like Christmas time, when Santa is handing out the presents. :)
Provided also the list of things one should do to be respected by hackers. This would be very good knowledge for beginners.
Applicability of hacker ethics - it is written that hacker ethics has remained the same since MIT times, just environment have changed. And also that new hackers know traditional hacker rules, but just add some innovation for them because of changes in the society. Specially I liked: self defense and trust, but test. These were so contemporary.
When I am in the middle of reading it I suddenly realize that this introduction page is the hole work together and when clicking on the title, then I will be lead to each part separately. Very clever. :)
I am also able to read about the term web 2.0 and its history. It is mentioned that web 2.0 key feature is the development of software which allows mass participation in social activities like sharing pictures , video or information or just networking, bookmarking or tagging. There is also the list of popular web 2.0 websites.
In conclusion they are saying that: "Ideally Hacker Ethics will be better understood, perhaps even the term 'Hacker' can lose it's negative connotation in the future - and be less misunderstood."
The list of references is quite long and includes some of the names we have gone through in this course.
Also I like the forum idea. Discussions are always available to everybody and very easy to communicate.
This team managed to do their work well and would evaluate them with expression: very good.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
"Introduction and theoretical foundations to new media" - essay
Digital culture
In this essay I would like to give a short review of digital culture. What and who creates it and what kind of influences can 'the creation' have to the society?
People use Internet every day. It is quite hard to imagine life without computer, far from Internet. While interacting in the web sharing thoughts, playing games, blogging, learning, listening music and doing more than that people are creating and also taking part of something incredible, which can be called digital culture. Behind every click there is a story - why this particular person is looking for this particular thing, why people interact in web not in real world..
What is digital culture?
It is hard to define it one-for-one, but it can be said that culture is the mix of people learned behavior patterns, attitudes and artifacts. It involves traditions, habits and customs, peoples feelings and interactions. It is like the total sum of the ways of life of people in the Internet[1]. It is like mass collaboration where people together create something big.
I am going to talk about some opportunities in digital culture: using and creating social softwares and networks, blogs, computer games, Second Life and search engines.
Social softwares and networks
Social software is a web-based software systems, where people can upload their pictures, share their information and interact with other people. Now very popular sites Orkut, Flickr, MySpace, Facebook or Rate in Estonia have quite a big influence to the society. Beside the fact that these environments helps to manage friends and show pictures to them, there is also back side. For example in the Estonian news there were recently under consideration a story about the young 14 year old boy, who committed suicide. Young boy's ant has gathered information and is quite sure that there is something to do with Internet pervert, who is manipulating with young boys by asking them to take pictures and show themselves naked in the camera. Afterwards he/she starts to blackmail youngsters until their life is ruined or there is no life any more.. (M. Kärmas, 2008).
Blogs
Blogs or time webs are interactive environments, where a word has the strongest power. The word ‘blog’ which has lately become very popular in Estonian media, was implemented in 1999 September. This word is derived from a phrase ‘logosphere’, which means ‘world of the words’ in creek [2]. For what and to whom are blogs? Blogs are used by people who find it interesting, who wish to share thoughts with others, to advocate some product, service or view of life, to promote business and many other reasons.
But blogging has also its fare share of social affects. Some months ago one girl’s experiences of blogging were discussed through journalism. She opened herself to people not realizing what effect this had to the blog readers. This case took to actual money payments, but bad things gone worse, the money did not fulfill its initial purpose by the opinion of blog readers. It led to the disappointment and accusations of deception. This example shows how readers intrude bloggers personal life, but with their own permission. When writing a blog one should always consider the consequences (D. Lomp, 2008).
Computer Games
Starting from earliest days of networked computers, games have always been part of the culture. A game is a structured activity which is usually undertaken for enjoyment and is often used as an educational tool [3]. The reason why people often play them is that they have some sort of mental stimulation and people can test themselves through the games components (goals, rules, challenges and interactivity), which are also the components of life.
There are many types of computer games: puzzle games, racing games, strategy games, card games, casino games, shooting games and so on.
Games can have very positive influence to the people. Gaming gives lessons which can also be used later on in life: problem solving, thinking skills and skills to know how to loose or win (Gamesworks, 2007).
But games can also have some negative impact - addiction. Addiction is a situation when a person feels obsession or compulsion to do something specific and reduces the interest of outside of the activity. In this case playing video games. There was a panel on game addiction in January 2003 where game addiction problems where discussed quite detailed.
Second life
Second life is a 3-D virtual world, which is created by its residents. Slogan: "Your World. Your imagination. " tells already quite enough. It means that in Second Life there are no limits, one can have there a house, can have business or even marry with some guy, can have anything which exists also in real world, but can own it virtually, at least at first.
Steven Morris is writing in his article about a British couple who are divorcing because man-side had 'second life' in Second Life. Woman told that although it was in virtual world, it impacts to the real world as well (Steven Morris, 2008). This article shows very well that virtual feelings and virtual thoughts can influence real life and change it forever.
Search engines
Web search engines are designed to find information from World Wide Web. Information may be of every description: web pages, images, information, videos, or any other type of files. As search engines have already born, people are used to use them every day and cant imagine their life without them. At least I do. James Thomas wrote an article about his experience not using Google search and any Google service at all. Although it seems impossible to me, it seems he has managed to do so - one just have to get used to the other services ( Yahoo, Msn, Ask).
To sum up it can be said that digital culture is in its own way the same as real culture - same problems, same opportunities, same patterns of actions. One thing that is different is that in digital world it is easier to create content.
There is one great video about Machines are Us/ing Us by Michael Wesch. This video shows how easy it is to create digital content and how everything is connected. The author also points out one important idea about acting in Internet: "We should rethink a few things ... copyright, authorship, identity, ethics, aesthetics, rhetorics, privacy, governance, commerce, love, family ourselves.. " [4].
So one should always consider before the 'click' in the Internet, what are the consequences and does the action influence the digital world.
Who are behind digital culture?
Don Tapscot and Anthony D. Williams has spoke out in "Wikinomics" quite well:
"Blogger and media consultant Jeff Jarvis points out that even a simple act of consumption in this new world is now an act of creation. Small acts like tagging bookmarks, sharing photos on flickr or searching on Google creates collective benefits as much as private and yield a richer Web experience and "the wisdom of crowds" which can help people to discover content and improve search results. He asks: "Who owns that collected wisdom of crowd?" Obviously, the crowd does."
References:
Dagmar Lamp, 2008 -
„Blogi andis mulle pulmakleidi, aga viis ära peigmehe” [http://blog.tr.ee/post/481624]
Tapscott, Don & Williams, D. Anthony, 2008 -
Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything
Gamesworks, 2007 -
http://reviews.ebay.co.uk/Games-Improve-Thinking-Skills-Problem-Solving-and-Fun_W0QQugidZ10000000000827899
Steven Morris, 2008 -
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/nov/13/second-life-divorce
James Thomas, May 2007 -
http://www.centernetworks.com/my-life-without-google
Mihkel Kärmas, 2008 -
http://www.ekspress.ee/2008/11/20/eesti-uudised/5446-missi-ajujaht-netiperverdile
[1] - http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/culture
[2] - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogosphere#cite_note-0
[3] - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game
[4] - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE
In this essay I would like to give a short review of digital culture. What and who creates it and what kind of influences can 'the creation' have to the society?
People use Internet every day. It is quite hard to imagine life without computer, far from Internet. While interacting in the web sharing thoughts, playing games, blogging, learning, listening music and doing more than that people are creating and also taking part of something incredible, which can be called digital culture. Behind every click there is a story - why this particular person is looking for this particular thing, why people interact in web not in real world..
What is digital culture?
It is hard to define it one-for-one, but it can be said that culture is the mix of people learned behavior patterns, attitudes and artifacts. It involves traditions, habits and customs, peoples feelings and interactions. It is like the total sum of the ways of life of people in the Internet[1]. It is like mass collaboration where people together create something big.
I am going to talk about some opportunities in digital culture: using and creating social softwares and networks, blogs, computer games, Second Life and search engines.
Social softwares and networks
Social software is a web-based software systems, where people can upload their pictures, share their information and interact with other people. Now very popular sites Orkut, Flickr, MySpace, Facebook or Rate in Estonia have quite a big influence to the society. Beside the fact that these environments helps to manage friends and show pictures to them, there is also back side. For example in the Estonian news there were recently under consideration a story about the young 14 year old boy, who committed suicide. Young boy's ant has gathered information and is quite sure that there is something to do with Internet pervert, who is manipulating with young boys by asking them to take pictures and show themselves naked in the camera. Afterwards he/she starts to blackmail youngsters until their life is ruined or there is no life any more.. (M. Kärmas, 2008).
Blogs
Blogs or time webs are interactive environments, where a word has the strongest power. The word ‘blog’ which has lately become very popular in Estonian media, was implemented in 1999 September. This word is derived from a phrase ‘logosphere’, which means ‘world of the words’ in creek [2]. For what and to whom are blogs? Blogs are used by people who find it interesting, who wish to share thoughts with others, to advocate some product, service or view of life, to promote business and many other reasons.
But blogging has also its fare share of social affects. Some months ago one girl’s experiences of blogging were discussed through journalism. She opened herself to people not realizing what effect this had to the blog readers. This case took to actual money payments, but bad things gone worse, the money did not fulfill its initial purpose by the opinion of blog readers. It led to the disappointment and accusations of deception. This example shows how readers intrude bloggers personal life, but with their own permission. When writing a blog one should always consider the consequences (D. Lomp, 2008).
Computer Games
Starting from earliest days of networked computers, games have always been part of the culture. A game is a structured activity which is usually undertaken for enjoyment and is often used as an educational tool [3]. The reason why people often play them is that they have some sort of mental stimulation and people can test themselves through the games components (goals, rules, challenges and interactivity), which are also the components of life.
There are many types of computer games: puzzle games, racing games, strategy games, card games, casino games, shooting games and so on.
Games can have very positive influence to the people. Gaming gives lessons which can also be used later on in life: problem solving, thinking skills and skills to know how to loose or win (Gamesworks, 2007).
But games can also have some negative impact - addiction. Addiction is a situation when a person feels obsession or compulsion to do something specific and reduces the interest of outside of the activity. In this case playing video games. There was a panel on game addiction in January 2003 where game addiction problems where discussed quite detailed.
Second life
Second life is a 3-D virtual world, which is created by its residents. Slogan: "Your World. Your imagination. " tells already quite enough. It means that in Second Life there are no limits, one can have there a house, can have business or even marry with some guy, can have anything which exists also in real world, but can own it virtually, at least at first.
Steven Morris is writing in his article about a British couple who are divorcing because man-side had 'second life' in Second Life. Woman told that although it was in virtual world, it impacts to the real world as well (Steven Morris, 2008). This article shows very well that virtual feelings and virtual thoughts can influence real life and change it forever.
Search engines
Web search engines are designed to find information from World Wide Web. Information may be of every description: web pages, images, information, videos, or any other type of files. As search engines have already born, people are used to use them every day and cant imagine their life without them. At least I do. James Thomas wrote an article about his experience not using Google search and any Google service at all. Although it seems impossible to me, it seems he has managed to do so - one just have to get used to the other services ( Yahoo, Msn, Ask).
To sum up it can be said that digital culture is in its own way the same as real culture - same problems, same opportunities, same patterns of actions. One thing that is different is that in digital world it is easier to create content.
There is one great video about Machines are Us/ing Us by Michael Wesch. This video shows how easy it is to create digital content and how everything is connected. The author also points out one important idea about acting in Internet: "We should rethink a few things ... copyright, authorship, identity, ethics, aesthetics, rhetorics, privacy, governance, commerce, love, family ourselves.. " [4].
So one should always consider before the 'click' in the Internet, what are the consequences and does the action influence the digital world.
Who are behind digital culture?
Don Tapscot and Anthony D. Williams has spoke out in "Wikinomics" quite well:
"Blogger and media consultant Jeff Jarvis points out that even a simple act of consumption in this new world is now an act of creation. Small acts like tagging bookmarks, sharing photos on flickr or searching on Google creates collective benefits as much as private and yield a richer Web experience and "the wisdom of crowds" which can help people to discover content and improve search results. He asks: "Who owns that collected wisdom of crowd?" Obviously, the crowd does."
References:
Dagmar Lamp, 2008 -
„Blogi andis mulle pulmakleidi, aga viis ära peigmehe” [http://blog.tr.ee/post/481624]
Tapscott, Don & Williams, D. Anthony, 2008 -
Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything
Gamesworks, 2007 -
http://reviews.ebay.co.uk/Games-Improve-Thinking-Skills-Problem-Solving-and-Fun_W0QQugidZ10000000000827899
Steven Morris, 2008 -
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/nov/13/second-life-divorce
James Thomas, May 2007 -
http://www.centernetworks.com/my-life-without-google
Mihkel Kärmas, 2008 -
http://www.ekspress.ee/2008/11/20/eesti-uudised/5446-missi-ajujaht-netiperverdile
[1] - http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/culture
[2] - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogosphere#cite_note-0
[3] - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game
[4] - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Chapter 13 - Against intellectual property
In 1998 Brian Martin published a book "Information Liberation". Man from Australia is trying to analyze corruptions of power in information society by being a provocative to put people to discuss it, not just going with the flow[1].
In the third chapter 'against intellectual property' he is describing the situation in marketplace of ideas and is explaining why there should not be the opportunity to own the ideas. In his perspective we should have a chance to use ideas like we use language every day.
Alternatives:
Change thinking - I like the idea about changing the way of thinking. This would not be helpful only in this matter, but this would also help in any other field. Reorganizing way of thinking will definitely help to have a different approach while talking about intellectual property.
Expose the costs - I agree with this idea as well. Everything costs money, especially such a big system and its operations.
Openly refuse to cooperate with intellectual property - power of masses - if there are too many people who are refusing to be law-abiding, there would be too many people to punish and intellectual property system could be challenged.
Promote non-owned information - I am in favor of using and promoting freeware or any other information where restrictions are eliminated.
Develop principles to deal with credit for intellectual work - I think that crediting is almost the same as copyright problem - still somebody wants to get the rights/fame ... dont know the good word for it:)
"A majority would probably be better off financially without intellectual property, since they wouldn't have to pay as much for other people's work."
I agree with this statement, but also think that while trying to change something in 'owning intellectual property issue' it should be done in a little at a time - then there is time to get used to with new laws?.
In the third chapter 'against intellectual property' he is describing the situation in marketplace of ideas and is explaining why there should not be the opportunity to own the ideas. In his perspective we should have a chance to use ideas like we use language every day.
Alternatives:
- everyone should have the chance to use ideas exactly when they want and how they want ( language, scientific knowledge)
- Plagiarism - copyrights provide very little protection.
- Royalties - should be done some changes in economic system. Those, who are dependent on royalties should get a salary. This would reduce income for many successful creative persons, but more money would be available for other creators. And also in many cases the money will go to the corporations and creators get only few percent..
- Stimulating creativity - he acclaims that rewards will not reduce the quality of innovaters work, because of their natural interest to certain topics.
Change thinking - I like the idea about changing the way of thinking. This would not be helpful only in this matter, but this would also help in any other field. Reorganizing way of thinking will definitely help to have a different approach while talking about intellectual property.
Expose the costs - I agree with this idea as well. Everything costs money, especially such a big system and its operations.
Openly refuse to cooperate with intellectual property - power of masses - if there are too many people who are refusing to be law-abiding, there would be too many people to punish and intellectual property system could be challenged.
Promote non-owned information - I am in favor of using and promoting freeware or any other information where restrictions are eliminated.
Develop principles to deal with credit for intellectual work - I think that crediting is almost the same as copyright problem - still somebody wants to get the rights/fame ... dont know the good word for it:)
"A majority would probably be better off financially without intellectual property, since they wouldn't have to pay as much for other people's work."
I agree with this statement, but also think that while trying to change something in 'owning intellectual property issue' it should be done in a little at a time - then there is time to get used to with new laws?.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Chapter 12 - Social engineering
Social engineering is skill to manipulate with the people to get the confidential information or to get people do things the way one like it.
Lately there has been quite many stories in Estonian newspapers and in the news about one woman called Liis Haavel who is manipulating people to get money or any other asset from them.
She has studied law and know all the necessary terms to talk very convincingly. Her main victims are old men who are living alone in the house or apartment and who doesn't have wife.
Here is one candidate version how she is doing that.
She is meeting her victims in random places (near the victims home) and starting to have conversation. She is asking all kind of things about their lives, what they are doing and so on.
She is very kind and warm and very soon men start to think that this woman is the love of their life. She is young and beautiful and everything one could ever dream of.
When one victim sold the summerhouse he bought her a car and gave her rest of the money, and also most of the salary went to the Liis's hands. As Liis was very smart she convinced the old man to get the mortgage to the apartment and get some loan to 'earn' money. He did. Later on he also sold the house to pay the loan and again rest of the amount went to Liis.
Like this she is playing and manipulating with older people and this is not the only case. There is more of them..
Lately there has been quite many stories in Estonian newspapers and in the news about one woman called Liis Haavel who is manipulating people to get money or any other asset from them.
She has studied law and know all the necessary terms to talk very convincingly. Her main victims are old men who are living alone in the house or apartment and who doesn't have wife.
Here is one candidate version how she is doing that.
She is meeting her victims in random places (near the victims home) and starting to have conversation. She is asking all kind of things about their lives, what they are doing and so on.
She is very kind and warm and very soon men start to think that this woman is the love of their life. She is young and beautiful and everything one could ever dream of.
When one victim sold the summerhouse he bought her a car and gave her rest of the money, and also most of the salary went to the Liis's hands. As Liis was very smart she convinced the old man to get the mortgage to the apartment and get some loan to 'earn' money. He did. Later on he also sold the house to pay the loan and again rest of the amount went to Liis.
Like this she is playing and manipulating with older people and this is not the only case. There is more of them..
Chapter 4 - Blocking software - Net Nanny
First I was surprised how easy it was to configure. Few clicks and everything is under control. Is it?
I am sure this software can be used for some other purpose (blocking some sites at work ..), but I am looking the case where parents want to forbid their children access to certain information in the web.
First I was blocking following possibilities: pornography, gambling, intimate apparel, adult/mature, drugs/alcohol, hate/violence, illegal activities, proxy.
I was trying to search with the following words: vodka, Pina Colada, flirt, sex, adults, shooting, lingerie and etc.. Nothing suspicious appeared.
* When I was looking for words gun in different versions I was able to read 'How to choose a handgun', How to use gun sights for target shooting and etc. I was surprised. I blocked 'violence'..
* When I was looking for word 'pleasure' - then there were some pictures which was quite surprised, that i could see, for example 1, and I was able to see some small pictures of woman in lingeries, when I clicked on them the blocking window appeared. After some time I didn't see these pictures anymore, although I didn't change anything in the settings. Weird.
* I was looking 'drunk', 'how to get drunk fast' and etc.. Seems that everything is working there..
* I was looking 'erotic and all the Web content was blocked, but I was able to see pictures. .. Its because I didn't block the images. But its weird. Parent has to block the images and videos, because otherwise child can see the inappropriate content. But if child is looking for flowers, dogs, cats, he/she is not able to see pictures at all. Some development needed there..
If child is trying to look something forbidden from Internet and overrides the request, parent gets the notice via email or can just look it themselves without any notices. And also there is possibility to make reports of web page uses.
I think this is worth to buy as it really limits the access to the certain pages.
I am sure this software can be used for some other purpose (blocking some sites at work ..), but I am looking the case where parents want to forbid their children access to certain information in the web.
First I was blocking following possibilities: pornography, gambling, intimate apparel, adult/mature, drugs/alcohol, hate/violence, illegal activities, proxy.
I was trying to search with the following words: vodka, Pina Colada, flirt, sex, adults, shooting, lingerie and etc.. Nothing suspicious appeared.
* When I was looking for words gun in different versions I was able to read 'How to choose a handgun', How to use gun sights for target shooting and etc. I was surprised. I blocked 'violence'..
* When I was looking for word 'pleasure' - then there were some pictures which was quite surprised, that i could see, for example 1, and I was able to see some small pictures of woman in lingeries, when I clicked on them the blocking window appeared. After some time I didn't see these pictures anymore, although I didn't change anything in the settings. Weird.
* I was looking 'drunk', 'how to get drunk fast' and etc.. Seems that everything is working there..
* I was looking 'erotic and all the Web content was blocked, but I was able to see pictures. .. Its because I didn't block the images. But its weird. Parent has to block the images and videos, because otherwise child can see the inappropriate content. But if child is looking for flowers, dogs, cats, he/she is not able to see pictures at all. Some development needed there..
If child is trying to look something forbidden from Internet and overrides the request, parent gets the notice via email or can just look it themselves without any notices. And also there is possibility to make reports of web page uses.
I think this is worth to buy as it really limits the access to the certain pages.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Chapter 10 : How minority groups can make use of Internet?
When I started to write the blog, I didn't know exactly how to start. As there can be all sort of minority groups, I didn't know which one of them to take as an example.
Finally... I decided to choose disabled and handicapped people.
According to the Statistics Estonia research in 2007 there are approximately 2000 children age of 0-24 who are disabled. 1200 of them are under 16 years old. This number is quite huge and its quite hard to be aware of them if there isn't that much information and if one don't look this kind of information specially by themselves.
How could they make use of Internet?
* Create/join forums, where they could meet people with similar thoughts, origin, problems, disabilities or ..
* Blend in normally to any other community, club ..etc
* Chat in communities, use communication tools via MSN, Skype, e-mail
* Read interesting materials and get and impression what is going on outside (if they are not capable to go out and experience everything on their own - they at least have the opportunity to read/listen what others feel/know/do).
* Start blogging and sharing their thoughts -> make people more aware about their situation.
* Educate themselves/learn to have better jobs/better jobs in the future.
* Look for the information what life can offer when something like this have happened (Para Olympics , training clubs,...)
* Read other people advice with whom have happened the same accidents/ who have same disability - support group.
* Be more aware about their situation by themselves.
* Enjoy life.
...
But as in general there are some basic things all minority groups can do to make use of Internet, and some of them I already mentioned.
Finally... I decided to choose disabled and handicapped people.
According to the Statistics Estonia research in 2007 there are approximately 2000 children age of 0-24 who are disabled. 1200 of them are under 16 years old. This number is quite huge and its quite hard to be aware of them if there isn't that much information and if one don't look this kind of information specially by themselves.
How could they make use of Internet?
* Create/join forums, where they could meet people with similar thoughts, origin, problems, disabilities or ..
* Blend in normally to any other community, club ..etc
* Chat in communities, use communication tools via MSN, Skype, e-mail
* Read interesting materials and get and impression what is going on outside (if they are not capable to go out and experience everything on their own - they at least have the opportunity to read/listen what others feel/know/do).
* Start blogging and sharing their thoughts -> make people more aware about their situation.
* Educate themselves/learn to have better jobs/better jobs in the future.
* Look for the information what life can offer when something like this have happened (Para Olympics , training clubs,...)
* Read other people advice with whom have happened the same accidents/ who have same disability - support group.
* Be more aware about their situation by themselves.
* Enjoy life.
...
But as in general there are some basic things all minority groups can do to make use of Internet, and some of them I already mentioned.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Digital Divide and Internet Availability in Estonia
Digital divide is the economical difference of individuals, households, companies and geographical areas while using information- and communication technology opportunities and Internet. It is the gap between the people who have effective access to communication technologies and Internet and those who don't.
In February 2008 GfK Custom Research Baltic made a research in Estonia which reveals that people with lower income don't have access to some e-services although 69% of Estonians have computers at home and they use Internet.
Actually it sounds quite logical. People who have lower income may not be able to buy computers or can't afford regular access to the internet. And due to this some e-services are not 'there' for them 24/7. Of course its not necessary to have these services available all the time and there is always opportunity to go to library or any other public internet service, but even these places may be hard to tap in, specially in the countrysides. While using public internet services the risk that someone can have access to your personal data is much bigger (if one forgets to log himself/herself off from email or bank account..) and going to library one need to make some extra efforts.
For example those students who don't have Internet at home, can't do their homework when ever they want, they have to make plans to go to the library or to friends place and their time is often limited. Students who have internet have vantages in studies.
Although percentages show that we have digital divide in Estonia, it is not so big and I personally can't feel it. I think its because I am not one of them who dont have access to communication technologies. Most people with whom I communicate have Internet access at home and have access to basic communication technologies. We use mobiles, skype, msn and Internet every day.
In Estonia there shouldn't be a problem finding WiFi areas - cafes, restaurants, gas stations and bigger malls. Not only in big cities, but in smaller as well. There is a page called wifi.ee which says that at the moment there is 1174 Wifi broadcast area per 45 000 km2 and there are lists of every county wifi areas separately.
I think while talking about wifi, Estonia is a really good example to any other country!
In February 2008 GfK Custom Research Baltic made a research in Estonia which reveals that people with lower income don't have access to some e-services although 69% of Estonians have computers at home and they use Internet.
Actually it sounds quite logical. People who have lower income may not be able to buy computers or can't afford regular access to the internet. And due to this some e-services are not 'there' for them 24/7. Of course its not necessary to have these services available all the time and there is always opportunity to go to library or any other public internet service, but even these places may be hard to tap in, specially in the countrysides. While using public internet services the risk that someone can have access to your personal data is much bigger (if one forgets to log himself/herself off from email or bank account..) and going to library one need to make some extra efforts.
For example those students who don't have Internet at home, can't do their homework when ever they want, they have to make plans to go to the library or to friends place and their time is often limited. Students who have internet have vantages in studies.
Although percentages show that we have digital divide in Estonia, it is not so big and I personally can't feel it. I think its because I am not one of them who dont have access to communication technologies. Most people with whom I communicate have Internet access at home and have access to basic communication technologies. We use mobiles, skype, msn and Internet every day.
In Estonia there shouldn't be a problem finding WiFi areas - cafes, restaurants, gas stations and bigger malls. Not only in big cities, but in smaller as well. There is a page called wifi.ee which says that at the moment there is 1174 Wifi broadcast area per 45 000 km2 and there are lists of every county wifi areas separately.
I think while talking about wifi, Estonia is a really good example to any other country!
Monday, October 6, 2008
Frauds - lottery scam
People are different. They have different characters and different views of life.
These behaviors and differences are carried over the Internet. There are people who are just having fun (playing games, reading gossip pages etc), people who are looking information or working and there are people who try to make profit in illegal way.
For example they are "earning" money through some fraud schemes: credit card fraud, "lotteries", debt elimination, identity thefts and etc..
There are many possibilities how one can cheat via email, for example lottery scam letters. These are sent thousands every day, hoping that somebody will believe it and do what ever letter is telling to do.
Actually I was thinking that there cant be so silly people who would just one day receive the letter announcing the win of 10000$ or some other amount and believe they have actually won it, even if they never purchased any lottery tickets ?
Although some letters may claim that winner were selected through visiting some webpage, but still.
I know one person who got this kind of lottery letter many years ago, where "they" announced her about the winning. I don't remember exact amount, but she was asked to send approximately 3000 eek for taxes and bank fees. And she did!
First she didn't tell about it to anybody, but when she realized she will never get this money back, it just came out..
Scam:
1. Lottery scam letters are posted - Something like: Congratulation!
This message is from the World leading Email Lottery Organisation. Results have been released for 2008 and your email address is among ten selected lucky winners of one million each. etc.. - letters are usually really official form, then they are more believable.
2. People receive these letters
3. Some people fall for it, some delete/ignore it.
4. Fallen people send their personal data or money or ...
5. They find out that it was a scam
6. Maybe! they turn somebody for help.
back to point 1.
My first thoughts would be what kind of pages I visited, where they got my email, if amounts are big, then this kind of information is never discussed via email?
If I win something why I have to pay for it, can't they just subtract the tax amount from the sum I won and etc..
And about this scam page.. I think that it is good from one side - people can see and read what kind of scams there have been and they would never fall for it? In the other hand some frauds who are beginners can have "great" thoughts from there.
These behaviors and differences are carried over the Internet. There are people who are just having fun (playing games, reading gossip pages etc), people who are looking information or working and there are people who try to make profit in illegal way.
For example they are "earning" money through some fraud schemes: credit card fraud, "lotteries", debt elimination, identity thefts and etc..
There are many possibilities how one can cheat via email, for example lottery scam letters. These are sent thousands every day, hoping that somebody will believe it and do what ever letter is telling to do.
Actually I was thinking that there cant be so silly people who would just one day receive the letter announcing the win of 10000$ or some other amount and believe they have actually won it, even if they never purchased any lottery tickets ?
Although some letters may claim that winner were selected through visiting some webpage, but still.
I know one person who got this kind of lottery letter many years ago, where "they" announced her about the winning. I don't remember exact amount, but she was asked to send approximately 3000 eek for taxes and bank fees. And she did!
First she didn't tell about it to anybody, but when she realized she will never get this money back, it just came out..
Scam:
1. Lottery scam letters are posted - Something like: Congratulation!
This message is from the World leading Email Lottery Organisation. Results have been released for 2008 and your email address is among ten selected lucky winners of one million each. etc.. - letters are usually really official form, then they are more believable.
2. People receive these letters
3. Some people fall for it, some delete/ignore it.
4. Fallen people send their personal data or money or ...
5. They find out that it was a scam
6. Maybe! they turn somebody for help.
back to point 1.
My first thoughts would be what kind of pages I visited, where they got my email, if amounts are big, then this kind of information is never discussed via email?
If I win something why I have to pay for it, can't they just subtract the tax amount from the sum I won and etc..
And about this scam page.. I think that it is good from one side - people can see and read what kind of scams there have been and they would never fall for it? In the other hand some frauds who are beginners can have "great" thoughts from there.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Echelon
Echelon is one of the largest and oldest (over 50 years) information sharing mechanisms in the world. It is part of a global communications tracking and surveillance systems which can be used to intercept any electronic communication across the globe.
"It is the end of our right to privacy. We are placed under suspicion from the moment we start to communicating with other people."[1]
Its not possible to talk with friends/family/police/businessmen over the phone, to send private emails or chat in the web without "somebody" listening - this mystery "something" is always there.
What if one day Echelon have power to lead airplanes (by sending some signals into the airplane system), power to influence nuclear power plant or have a power to influence traffic by changing the traffic lights or just switch them off in any place around the world.
Maybe its not dangerous until this kind of information is in the right hands ( if so, it may even help to keep the world the safer place), but what if some day some people steel this information and use it in their own favor, in negative manner.
There would we chaos in the streets, people would be afraid because of unawareness, "accidents" can happen, maybe even something bigger than 9/11 - this would have devastating influence to the economy.
Data is the power not only in the web, but as a whole. Beside it everything else becomes less valued.
Is there anything we can do to protect our privacy?
As Benjamin Poole claims, there are still some possibilities how protect ourselves from listen in[2].
Of course its not 100% protection, but just messing with the system:)
1. Talk in code - use ordinary words instead of keywords, Echelon systems has difficulties noticing hidden data.
2. Change your voice or speak different language - change speech patterns and intonations.
3. Use VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone lines - it do not protect you from monitoring, but it is significantly more secure.
4. Use anonymous proxies
5. Use redundancy & concurrent communications.
6. Use encryption.
Echelon systems influence is two sided. It's great until the information stays where it belongs - influence is positive. If it spread out to third parties, we never predict the consequences.
"It is the end of our right to privacy. We are placed under suspicion from the moment we start to communicating with other people."[1]
Its not possible to talk with friends/family/police/businessmen over the phone, to send private emails or chat in the web without "somebody" listening - this mystery "something" is always there.
What if one day Echelon have power to lead airplanes (by sending some signals into the airplane system), power to influence nuclear power plant or have a power to influence traffic by changing the traffic lights or just switch them off in any place around the world.
Maybe its not dangerous until this kind of information is in the right hands ( if so, it may even help to keep the world the safer place), but what if some day some people steel this information and use it in their own favor, in negative manner.
There would we chaos in the streets, people would be afraid because of unawareness, "accidents" can happen, maybe even something bigger than 9/11 - this would have devastating influence to the economy.
Data is the power not only in the web, but as a whole. Beside it everything else becomes less valued.
Is there anything we can do to protect our privacy?
As Benjamin Poole claims, there are still some possibilities how protect ourselves from listen in[2].
Of course its not 100% protection, but just messing with the system:)
1. Talk in code - use ordinary words instead of keywords, Echelon systems has difficulties noticing hidden data.
2. Change your voice or speak different language - change speech patterns and intonations.
3. Use VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone lines - it do not protect you from monitoring, but it is significantly more secure.
4. Use anonymous proxies
5. Use redundancy & concurrent communications.
6. Use encryption.
Echelon systems influence is two sided. It's great until the information stays where it belongs - influence is positive. If it spread out to third parties, we never predict the consequences.
Monday, September 22, 2008
First 'ToDo' in ethics and law
A mind-quake is a concept by Robert Theobald, which is like flash in head, where some point of views or thoughts will loose their old meaning or understanding and according to this new ones have to be born.
One very good example is the film “Raising Helen” (2004) by Garry Marshall. The film is about Helen Harris, a young woman who has achieved much: she is working in the top model agency and she is having parties and time of her life – this is exactly everything she has been working for. Her two sisters live exactly the opposite life. They are married and raising children and their interests are focused on family.
When Helen’s older sister Lindsay and her husband died in the car accident – it changed everything for Helen. She found out that Lindsay wanted her to raise the children instead of Jenny, like everybody expected. It was a little shock for her, because she was used to live alone and decide and be responsible only for herself.
But Helen still decided to try to raise the children. After some time problems occurred at work, because she couldn’t be in the other side of the world for one day notice, or couldn’t be any more in clubs late at night or running model shows. So, she got fire! She was disappointed - everything she was working for were just flashed away. After some time she gave up and children moved to Jenny’s.
When Helen was home – alone, thinking and analyzing recent events, she realized that children are exactly what she needs. The missing part to be happy! She started to see the bigger picture by analyzing small.
She changed her beliefs – work, clubs and being out late at night wasn’t priority number one anymore. She was now a mother for three children! She changed her point of view in life.
As Charles Handy’s paradox of time says, that while using modern technology less time is needed to make and do things and as there is a saying that “time is money”, then these modern technologies will be definitely used. But while using these technologies people will have less free time.
John is working in marketing business and his main duty is to meet customers and fulfill their needs. While doing this he needs to drive from customer to customer every day and same time he has to be online. So he has a 3G mobile phone where he can read his emails and surf in Internet if needed. Also he has a Bluetooth integrated in the car, so when he is driving he can talk without taking the phone. He also have laptop where are presentations and other important information for customers.
While using these modern technologies he saves a lot of time. But with modern technology comes also bigger demand. And by the will to be competitive, more work need to be done.
One of the network society descriptions by Manuel Castells’ is a ‘timeless time’.
As we live in the Internet-time, one can have business meetings in real time with people who are situated in different coordinates.
Chris and Jevgeni have an international company called ‘Step&Go’. Chris is in
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