Internet and Technology at UNCG

The Internet is vital to college students and professors at UNCG alike.  Every day we check our emails, log in to Blackboard for assignments, and in the course that I am writing this blog for, we make new posts and update our features regularly.  So it makes sense that the campus provides students with computers and technology in many places.  Some places I like to frequent include the physics library, Jackson Library's superlab, or the 15-minute computers on the first floor when I am in a hurry.  Below is a picture of the front desk in Jackson Library, where you can check out laptops, camcorders, headphones, calculators, and even iPads.

This is a scanner that library patrons can use to make copies of documents.  You can either print or save your scanned images to a USB flash drive.  I often see many people at the library who are not UNCG students, so it is a valuable resource for anyone who lives nearby, not just college kids.

This is a workstation for Unix computers that run SunOS.  As you can tell from the empty seats, not many people use these computers since most are better accustomed to user-friendly Windows.  I personally do not use these, because I have only minimal experience with Unix-like systems--mostly Linux.

This is one of many print stations in the "Superlab."  Default printing is double-sided to save paper, and there are specific centers for printing documents in color.

Well, there you have it.  My school is not the most highly technological place in the world, but we have everything we need, all at an affordable tuition price.  Jackson Library is one of my favorite places on campus, and it's easy to see why, considering the number of non-student patrons it attracts.  But when I choose to study in my dorm instead, I've always got my trusty ASUS U35F-X1 (in shiny black!) as my study-buddy. :D

- Heather

(Pictures taken with written permission from Jackson Library.)

Facebook Interview

I wrote my last class paper about Facebook and have also discussed its use (and misuse) in my blog, so it's obvious that I've developed a fascination with the subject.  That's why I decided to interview two friends about their Facebook habits.

Fast facts:

• The average user has 130 friends.
• Around half of all users access Facebook via mobile devices.
• Average user's age is 38-44!
• Going global--only 30% of users are from the US.

- Heather

Finding true love

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."  --as quoted by a seven-year-old when asked the famous question, "What is love?"

Aww.  Everyone wants to be loved.  It is a basic human need, as dictated by Maslow's hierarchy of needs (look it up) and just common sense.  So, like other life requirements that we need and may have trouble obtaining, where do we go to find it?

The Internet!

You can buy your house and your groceries here, so why not get yourself some sweet lovin' during your visit as well?  Of course, even though I personally have nothing against online dating, since this is my blog I will do my best to pick apart the negative aspects and make fun of them.  So here's a list of not-so-great things you may encounter if you decide to take this route for romance.

1.  Complainers

I have to point out the whiners, first and foremost, because these folks will always be around to fuss when things don't go their way, both on the Internet and in real life.  When these guys and gals can't make the most of their cyber-dating experience, they'll no doubt blame everyone else before examining themselves for error.  Such examples include regularly posting things like "omg, I created TWO IDENTICAL PROFILES, but used different pictures (see below), and the second one got more responses!!  Wow, women/men/etc. are soooo shallow!"

 

Whoa, when given two options, random people on the Internet pick the more attractive one?  Shocking!  That pretty sums up the whiners.

2.  Boring profiles, unrealistically high expectations

In my many days of amateur Web research, I have found that people are very generic in their descriptions of themselves ("I like movies," "I like to have fun," etc.) while sometimes giving very specific guidelines for what they seek in a partner ("no fatties," "at least 6'0").  I swear that I once encountered a list with at least 100 specifications for a potential mate, which is simply ridiculous considering that the young lady who posted it probably wasn't such hot stuff herself, resorting to impersonal dating tactics and whatnot.  I mean, I'm no looker either, but at least I don't go on websites asking for only 6'4" Swedish underwear models who love collecting ships in jars when they're not at work making a six-figure salary, all whilst I lie in bed watching cartoons with last week's Doritos crumbs stuck to my shirt.  Next topic.

3.  Posting inappropriate photos

Oh, c'mon!

4.  Any sort of solicitation

Prostitution is illegal.  Everyone knows what you people are offering/buying, and we can see past the cleverly calculated slang terms and codewords that are being used these days, so don't flatter yourselves into thinking that it's some big secret.  I could go on about my feelings on prostitution and the sex trade, but gender dynamics and all that fun stuff isn't really the aim of this blog.  I will just say that I think the Internet has a much shadier side than what most people are used to seeing, and it has been used for exploitation, crime, and other generally bad behavior for almost as long as it has existed.  This is why we have shows like To Catch a Predator and the documentary Talhotblond.

(Not about prostitution, but something actually much worse.  If you've never seen it, check it out.  It will blow your mind.)

Well, this blog has interestingly drifted off topic, from merely annoying Internet happenings to illegal and deadly ones.  To sum it up, love and cyberspace usually don't mix well.  The mere anonymity gives people even more opportunity to tell lies than they already have, and I didn't even include lying on the list because it's such a common thing.  When two people have misrepresented themselves, though, they have a lot of explaining to do once they meet in person.  "Um, I accidentally typed 30 instead of 40.  You understand, those two numbers are really close together!  ...right?"  "Heh, that's an old photograph, yes, but I'm working on losing the weight!"  "Just kidding--I do want kids!  How about that."

I'm not saying the Internet is full of liars, or that it is impossible to find true love here.  It's just more difficult when you factor in certain inherent qualities of the Internet that hinder the building of trust and connections.  It is far from impossible.  You just have to be extra careful.

- Heather

A quick word about piracy

This is going to be a relatively short one, but I feel the subject needed to be approached at least once in this blog.  Here's a question that requires some honesty to answer:  Are you a pirate?



No, not that kind of pirate--although this hilarious song from the gem of a children's show Lazytown spawned a bit of a joke among Internet geeks and pirates of all kinds.  Laughing matters aside, do you think piracy is wrong, or is it okay?  An episode of South Park that aired some years ago poked fun at the issue when the boys got in trouble for downloading music in a dramatic scene that involved the RIAA's police force busting in through the windows, armed to the teeth to bring the young transgressors to justice.

Obviously this is not the most accurate depiction what happens to pirates, but many do feel that the Recording Industry Association of America and its crusading partner, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), are taking things too far, such as prosecuting disc jockeys who have paid for the music, but have not paid the royalties required to play the music in the club.  A lot of people believe that the need for excessive royalties and copyright claims that get videos taken down from YouTube are simply spoiling the fun for everyone involved.  I mean, if I post a video of myself dancing to Michael Jackson's "Beat It," does anyone actually think that I am trying to take credit for the song in any way, shape, or form?  Of course, there is also the prominent issue of profit, but Michael Jackson is dead!  People who played no part in the creative process of writing and performing "Beat It" want to collect money for the song's popularity, while I would be expected to pay thousands of dollars or more just so the world can watch me dance around the living room in my socks to an old pop song.  And yes, I know there are more complicated things besides a bunch of talentless hacks trying to make extravagant livings from a dead man's music, like contracts, documentation, other boring paperwork and 'showbiz,' but I have an idea.  YouTube, continue to only offer profit from advertisement to users whose videos contain just original content, if the idea of Average Joe making a penny off of someone else's music is really rubbing the RIAA the wrong way (mmm, what's that?  Smells like hypocrisy).  But ultimately, let them keep up the videos!  If Average Joe gets a million hits dancing to music, but he still makes no personal profit from his video, then what is the problem?  This sort of thing is what makes the public wrinkle their noses at the RIAA.

So this is my conclusion:  The RIAA has the right idea...in theory.  Artists need to make a living just like the rest of us, no matter what anyone says.  The big players in the music game are rich beyond the wildest dreams of others, but that is no excuse to download their music without paying for it.  Saying "who cares, Lady Gaga has, like, a zillion dollars and doesn't need my 99 cents" is like going into Wal-Mart and stealing a TV because you think Sam Walton's family already has all the money they'll ever need.  The talent of these artists entitles them to any money they have earned, regardless of what some jealous kid thinks.  However, the RIAA swooping down to destroy videos on YouTube that feature a song and its lyrics, videos that are merely uploaded for the pleasure of others and not profit, is rightfully considered obnoxious.  If the music has already been paid for and doesn't make Average Joe any richer, then who cares if we listen to it for free?  We also listen to music on the radio for free, which is paid for by someone else who intends to make money.  Ordinary people uploading silly videos to YouTube for fun or for others' listening pleasure is a victimless crime.

Music downloads, when not under the watchful eye of the RIAA, also have their place on the Internet--particularly for the promotion of new, independent bands who haven't yet been signed to a record label.  Many of these bands offer free music to get their work out to the public, so check some of these folks out if you like the idea of adding new artists to your MP3 player at no cost.  Overall, I would say there is a time and season for everything, a fact that the RIAA could stand to learn someday.  To return back to where I started, this post ended up not being so short after all!

- Heather

Facebook fiiiiiight!!! Errybody gather 'round!

And it goes something like this!



Well, not really.  But sometimes I do wonder if perhaps people give too little thought to what they are writing about others on public forums.  The Internet, contrary to what some would prefer, is not a secret clubhouse for the most "l33t" (that's 'elite,' for those who weren't hacking around prior to the '90s or haven't read this comic) members of society.  In the year 2011, it is understood that about half a billion people have Facebook pages, and a user's wall can be accessed by anyone on said person's friend list.  So why do we insist on starting drama where everyone else can see it!?

http://fbfights.com/

This website documents various Facebook fights / tiffs / arguments / disagreements / brawls / et cetera, all while protecting the identities of innocent chumps by swirling their images and blurring out last names.  Besides providing us with entertainment, the contents of the site raises the obvious question:  Why would you want to air your dirty laundry on the Web?

One reason that comes to mind is the simple fact that the Internet allows us to be aggressive, even if we are naturally passive (a common cause of 'Internet Tough Guy Syndrome').  When we have the luxury of an audience who always listens and the power of anonymity, we are free to do and say as we please without persecution or consequence.  I don't know about you, but I have read some pretty outrageous and offensive things online that I guarantee the authors probably would never have the guts to say in front of their peers.  The Internet, though, gives them a fine opportunity to express their views--no matter how absurd--to the masses.

An alternative theory is that Facebook and the Internet itself are integrating into the mainstream and simply becoming new methods of communication for us to use at our own discretion.  In the "real" world, there are people who start loud arguments shamelessly in public and verbally slam others, the latter of which most people ignore instead of confronting.  But what if it had happened on Facebook?  If someone complained about you there, would you still ignore the derision or would you threaten and swear in all caps since they can't reach through the computer to throttle you?  Would you be more likely to start a fight?  I think a lot depends on the individual person, but sometimes our reactions can be different when there is no one directly facing us, thereby opposing and censoring us.  So...have you ever been in a Facebook fight?

Social Networking and Security

Upon returning to college after a (very) brief visit home, I experienced something in the real world that also has relevance in the computer world.  First of all, my fiancé drives, and I do not.  He agreed to take me back to Greensboro on Sunday, and we used the parking deck here so that we could have ample time to carry my bags upstairs without being harassed by campus police.  Well, to make a short story shorter, we accidentally locked the keys in his car and had to call Pop-A-Lock to get them out.  Admittedly, I was wondering what would happen if someone with malicious intent had such tools to access your car...well, obviously, it wouldn't be good, so the company gets your insurance information which verifies your identity as the vehicle's owner and not some guy who steals radios from cars.  The Internet is a little trickier.  If I use someone else's ID to buy alcohol, which I am forbidden from purchasing due to my age, the store clerk can clearly see from the picture that I am not who I claim to be.  In cyberspace, all you need is a password...or sometimes less than that.

We've all seen this, but have you ever stopped to think, "Wait, maybe other people know my dog's name too!  Gasp!"  So-called security questions can actually making hacking email accounts easier than ever, due to the simplicity of their nature.  Whether you're just some schmuck or a high-profile celebrity with a Wikipedia page, there are undoubtedly other people in the world who know your mother's maiden name, and a quick, free Google search can help an attacker find out where you went to school without question.  Because of this fact, I usually give an obscure answer that other people would not be likely to know, such as Philip the Caterpillar who I kept in a Mt. Olive pickle jar at the age of seven (for the pet question, also not his name), or I just type in something like asdfasdfasdf.  Do whatever works best for you.

Fortunately, other sites have adopted additional security measures to help thwart hackers' efforts.  I recently experienced one such measure when I tried to log onto my Facebook account using a mobile device over spring break.  I was in another state, so the activity appeared suspect, and I was greeted with a message asking me to log on with a computer because of my "unusual location."  Ultimately, I ended up having to changing my password, which was annoying at the time.  In retrospect, however, I am happy to see that Facebook is concerned about the privacy and security of its users, regardless of other qualms I may have with the site and others of its kind.  Ah, but that is another topic for another time!  Good day, all.

- Heather

A personal experience!

After spending approximately two hours today on saving my computer from malware (that is, malicious software), I must confess that I am very annoyed, and I found myself wishing very bad things upon those who create and distribute this software in the hopes of destroying my expensive copy of Windows 7 and collecting my passwords and credit card numbers, potentially causing me financial ruin.  So I don't think I was being overly dramatic when I reacted in a somewhat Samuel L. Jackson manner:



In all seriousness, I was pretty furious at whatever idiot allowed that advertisement to grace his or her webpage.  And before someone suggests that perhaps it was my fault for not recognizing a fake Windows warning, I might add that I was in a hurry to get to class in thirty minutes and I did not notice that the stuff had popped up in my browser.  So I thought, what the heck, better get rid of those 38 (yeah right) Trojan horses!  And in fewer than ten minutes, my computer starts attacking itself, even in Safe Mode.  Eventually I repaired the problem by restoring the system back to last night's status, when I downloaded Quicktime so I could watch a video as I enjoyed my Taco Bell dinner, but that is beside the point.  Anyway, doesn't this look at least halfway legitimate?

I'm certain that this fake ad and others like it have fooled many old people, inexperienced computer users, and absent-minded college kids like myself.  The last thing these kinds of folks need is a scammer sapping their money and resources, what with the cost of Cialis and Lipitor...and textbooks.  For the record, the name of the program that I fell for like a dummy--yes, I will continue to hassle myself over this--is "MS Removal Tool," and if the cyber-criminals who steamed this one up ever get caught and prosecuted, you can be sure I will be mailing them a few bags of various animal waste products when they get settled in the state pen.  Jerks.

- Heather