Homework #7: FTP Basics

FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. Protocol is the agreed upon method of communication used between computers. Most specifically FTP is a network form of protocol in which you can transfer folders/files digitally between computers. Note: In order to use FTP as a means to transfer data, one must download FTP file sharing software to connect to an FTP server. FTP connects over port 21.

FTP is useful because it is a way to "store" files over the internet. Software organizations/companies in particular utilize FTP because they want users to be able to download their products.

As I mentioned above in order to use FTP file sharing, a user must download FTP software to connect to the server and essence become a "client." It is not something as easily accessible as folders/files that utilize hyper-text transfer protocol or http. Some examples of FTP programs include: FTP Commander Pro or Winscp Net.

The connection information needed to utilize an FTP server is initially a web browser. You need to load in your IP or Host name and with most company connections, you can sign on with the user name "anonymous" which allows you to connect. The anonymous set up allows new clients to download, not requiring a pre-existing account on the server.

Homework #6: Second Life - Basic Impressions

Getting started in the Second Life virtual reality program was, for the most part, self-explanatory and not much different than set-up/registration for any other online application. The system prompted you for basic account information such as email, password etc. However, there were two very unique registration requirements. The first being the users need to choose from a list of 12 avatars. You are also asked to type in a first name. On instinct, I typed in my real first name and the application immediately populated a list of about 20 last names to go with it. I then decided that I would play around and have fun with the naming – since it is virtual reality and in essence my “second life,” I decided to choose a different name. Interesting to note is that when I tried typing in some celebrity names, “Eva” being one of them – all the last names were already assigned. I finally chose a random name and last name, confirmed my email address and was ready to navigate through the virtual world.

Once I launched Second Life, I was surprised to note that my avatar landed in the middle of Orientation Island bald and naked. As I started to get my bearings, the physical attributes of my avatar began to take shape. There were a few other people making their way around the island, one who immediately approached me to begin dialogue. Being the amateur that I was, focusing solely on making my way around the tutorials, the gentlemen soon saw me as rude and stopped talking to me. (I discovered all this after I was able to open the small IM-like dialogue box that was hidden in the bottom toolbar.)

There are four main tutorials that a user must complete to help you move your way through the virtual world. Walking (steered traditionally by the arrow keys), chatting (IM style pop-up box), searching (using a map to locate objects and/or friends, and lastly Inventory. Inventory I found to be the most unique and interesting application specific to your avatar. Inventory lists all items that you acquire in your second life in an easily organized file listing. (Clothing and appearance altering attributes being of the most interesting to me.) Directed by a dialogue box located in the top left corner of the screen, a user knows that they have successfully completed a tutorial when they hear a “chime” and their avatar jumps up and kicks their heels together with glee. (It reminded me of the Lucky Charms Leprechaun.)

After completing my tutorials I was at a bit of a loss as to what to do or where to go. I also was immediately put off by that gentleman almost immediately starting a fight with me over the dialogue box when I first arrived. I understand that Second Life, is in essence a networking tool, however his immediate rudeness turned me off.

Second Life was much less user friendly then I had expected and as I am not very technologically savvy as it is, I aimlessly wandered around Orientation Island for a bit, completed more advanced tutotrials and then signed out. I know that many companies are moving towards posting products on Second Life and universities are now posting classes and seminars. I am a bit anachronistic in my learning style, as I believe that technology should supplement interpersonal instruction, not replace. I was curious about the Second Life application from our class discussions, however having now used it, it is not something that I have the desire to continue to explore.

Homework #5 Mozilla Open Source Model

Prior to our class, I had only ever heard of Mozilla Foxfire, and had actually never used it. Based on our discussions and my own reading, I have discovered that Mozilla is not only an alternative to more widely popular internet browsers; but it also operates on a unique business model - the Open Source model of operation and management. Open Source is of particular interest to me due to my past work experience. Having worked in Financial Services and now for the federal government, Open Source is the antithesis of the type of management model I have grown accustomed to. An Open Source organization such as the Mozilla Foundation is seemingly unique in that its decision – making and goods and services are the synthesis of full-time employees and volunteers.

It makes sense for an internet based company such as Mozilla to thrive in an open source business platform, because the internet is an open forum. Recently we have seen the influx of proprietary companies in the software industry because there is so much value in producing specialized software. With that expertise, comes the ability to generate lots of revenue. Open Source companies such as Mozilla make their money through advertising (with omnipresent capability on the internet.) Mozilla is the combination of employees and volunteers who equally participate (or so says Baker based on this article) in product development, decision making, coding, distribution and promotion. Mozilla emphasizes collaboration within its community structure by having a public Quality Control process and also “scaffolding” their coding and products. Scaffolding, allows designers/coders employee and volunteer alike, to build off of already existent products and codes. They do not have the onus of trying to reinvent, but rather improving what is in place. This type of structure seems to promote collaboration and innovation within the Mozilla family, as opposed to the competition, which is seen in many other businesses. While there is merit to competition, it seems as though the collaborative nature of Mozilla, supported by its open source model, has lent itself to its success.

There are two points in particular that I found the most interesting about the operation of the Mozilla Foundation. The first interesting point being that its business model (as stressed and supported by its Chairman Baker) is representative of a community. Within the community structure, I found it even more intriguing that Mozilla keeps both employees and volunteers motivated. One very important uniquely Mozilla model is how they address both successes and failures. With successes, as typified by most American companies, management gives credit where it is due. Baker says that at Mozilla when a perceived failure takes place, upper management, employees and volunteers alike deeply examine/analyze what took place. Rather then necessarily shoot something down right away, they look to see if what is “wrong”, needs to truly be corrected, or if it is a new way of doing things that is uncomfortable; but actually better for the company in the long run. I feel that analyzing perceived failures this way, is a true testament to Mozilla as an open structure company. There is no "status quo" so to speak, what is "correct" or "accepted" is dynamic.

I realize that in America’s Capitalist society, in most instances, the Open Source business model will not succeed. As most companies are driven by the bottom line, Mozilla seems to be motivated by innovation. However, it is a model that has proven successful for this company. There are the more traditional Microsoft and Apple, however as the article points out, Mozilla is gaining a great share of the internet browser market, and the numbers keep growing. As the internet is an open forum that is rapidly changing the world in which we live, it is only fitting that internet based company remains open and dynamic.

Homework #4: Hardware Encrypted Biometric USB Drive

Since September 11, security has been one of the hottest topics in America. Many companies are capitalizing on the new trend towards increased security that has manifested itself in various forms. Working for the Federal Government, I am especially privy to the constant security protocol changes and updates. Though I personally do not work with top secret clearance information, there is a lot of personal and private information that I handle based on various bidders on my properties. One new piece of hardware that I found particularly interesting is the new RingCube and MXI Hardware Encrypted Stealth Biometric USB Drive.

RingCube Technologies and MXI Hardware are two established software companies that are leaders in technological security. RingCube is best known for their MojoPac secure platform which allows users to securely access their personal profile (docs/settings) from any computer in the world by signing into their Client Portal. MXI Security is a software company that specializes in user authentication, digital identity and data encryption. These two security companies have combined with a biometric component to develop a new highly secure USB drive, which allows a user to carry their PC with them anywhere.

The Biometric USB drive is a mobile virtual desktop that allow users to securely carry their computer (identity, all applications - personal profile) with them and plug it into any computer and access anywhere in the world. The USB drive plug-in works to pull a user's unique profile information from their computer both on and offline. This is a tremendous convenience for workers who travel a lot (myself being one of them) and have to constantly carry their laptops from location to location - (a huge pain if you have to go through airport security.)

These drivers are fairy user friendly, as they resemble a flash drive. A user's workspace settings etc. is securely loaded on the drive, the user plugs in the USB portable device into a computer, swipes their finger across the biometric reader and is automatically logged into their Mojopace workspace. Once they are logged in, all applications and settings that are saved on their computers are accessible. The intention is to have secure yet seamless accessibility of all your applications.

Since someone at the Veteran's Administration lost a laptop with valuable information a few years ago, the Feds have been heightening security protocols and requirements for each Federal Employee with a computer. We are moving towards biometric platforms because the amount of user names and passwords we each have is onerous. (I am personally up to 12 with the requirement to change my password every three months.) To access our building and computers we use our smart/card biometric chips. My agency is one of the leaders in utilizing non-defense technology for the government, and it will be interesting to see if we start to integrate this type of hardware in the near future.

Homework #3: Second Life - Navigating the Virtual World

As I had stated in my previous about Second Life in general and also in class, I did not find Second Life very user friendly- once I had finished my basic tutorials, I was a bit at a loss about how to continue. Had you not listed specific tasks for us to complete (requiring a screenshot) I most likely would have wandered around aimlessly stumbling upon certain components. Prompted by your task of driving, I set off across the bridge where I noticed empty cars and scooters. I chose to drive a car. Driving, though not as exciting as Mario Cart, was pretty easy and required you to again utilize the arrow keys as you do while walking. However, I could not drive as well as I had hoped – running over a bunch of rats that littered the ground. I drove slowly around to the Flight Learning Institute – which I thought was the most fun. Human flight has been a subject of interest from as far back as Ancient Greece and I think it was interesting for Second Life's creator's to utilize flight as a major transportation component. Thus proving the point that this virtual world truly is the platform to do anything and be anyone. I spent the remainder of the game in flight. Again, due to your call for specific tasks I flew to the center of the island to figure out where I could purchase my free stylish chain mail shirt.





All in all I am still undecided about how I feel about Second Life. Not really much of a gamer, although highly sophisticated, this is not something that would appeal to me right away. Though I’m sure as I made my way through each function I would become more intrigued. I can understand how this application is practical and very useful for businesses. In watching that introductory video you had provided, Second Life provides a nice platform for retailers to test products, advertise and conduct market research. (I did not know that the game Slingo was first tested and developed through Second Life.) However, from an anachronistic standpoint, I feel as though this new outlet will provide more “cyber networking” problems. Just as we are seeing new crimes and sociopolitical issues being raised through the use of such platforms as Myspace and Facebook, I feel as though Second Life has the potential to exacerbate that problem. Ultimately, it was hard for me to sit inside in a virtual world on a beautiful summer night when I could be outside in the real world enjoying the actual heat, sights and sounds of summer.

Homework Assignment #2: Non-traditional uses for Nintendo Wii

I will admit I am not someone you would consider technologically savvy. I use only the basic features on my cell phone, and I still have a rather “retro” IPod Nano. (The version that only supports audio files!) My lack of technological sophistication is to blame for my research of a relatively well known topic – the Nintendo Wii. I have heard of Wii for years and my brother even has the system, however it never struck me as a product that I would desire. Based on our discussions in class, and also after researching the internet using Google News, I have discovered like many users, there is a lot more to Wii than initially meets the eye. Yes, Wii is a gaming console released by Nintendo; however its unique interface sets it apart from PS3 or Xbox360. The “Wii - mote” requires a player to actually move while playing, which has led to nontraditional uses for the gaming system. Namely – Wii for weight loss and Wii integrated therapy.

I have only played Wii once for a few precious moments at a friend’s house. Nonetheless, all it took was one tennis match and I soon came to realize why Wii has universal appeal. The Wii-mote, is pretty self-explanatory in its use, as it actually requires a player mimic movements while playing such sporting games as golf or tennis. Due to the fact that this video game requires physical exertion, one of the most “organic” (if I may say that while talking about technology) uses for Wii is weight loss. Mickey Dilorenzo from Philadelphia noticed that after playing Wii continuously for a half hour a day he had begun to lose weight. He decided to test his hypothesis and religiously played the game for at least a half hour a day. Currently marketing himself as the “Jared” of Wii – he has recently released a Wii weight loss book. Nintendo quickly capitalized on the physical exertions and subsequent weight loss that Wii has for continuous users. They have recently released Wii Fit a “video” game that features a balance board on which the player stands up to act out the movements. The Wii Fit pack includes a variety of games including yoga, running, strength training, and hula-hooping to name a few. Because users are “playing” a game and not consciously exercising, many have found the Wii systems to be a success in aiding their weight lose. However, it is interesting to note that a recent study revealed, of those gamers who bought Wii fit, only 22% have actually stuck to the game. An interesting fact that goes to show that once you coin something as “work” as opposed to “fun” the enthusiasm drops precipitously.

Working on that same premise, Wii has also found a home in many rehabilitative hospitals and doctor’s office. The physical component of the game has proven useful in helping patients recovering from traumas or other debilitating conditions. The system promotes hand-eye coordination and promotes weight bearing and increased coordination. Again, because the patients are not focusing on grueling “therapy,” and instead are playing a game, they find it easier to stick to the program. Wii is also something that can be taken home; so many therapists are integrating it into their out-patient therapy as well. One huge benefit the Wii has shown from a rehabilitative standpoint is that is helps the psyche. Many patients go into rehabilitative hospitals feeling bad about what they have to re-learn. Wii puts them in a different mentality.

There were numerous articles both for and against the use of Wii for both weight loss and physical therapy. What I found to be most interesting was Nintendo’s stance on the Wii being used in non-traditional formats. When users initially began complaining about the physical soreness they were feeling from playing the game and named their ailments, “wii-elbow” Nintendo spokeswoman Perrin Kaplan downplayed the affect of Wii’s physical exertion. She asserted that any user who finds themselves sore needs to exercise more. The company was quick to point out that the game should not be used instead of traditional forms of weight-loss such as diet or exercise. However, as reports substantiated the weight loss claims of Wii users, Nintendo quickly and smartly changed their view. Two short months later Kaplan was quoted as saying, “One of our hopes was that people would find a way to enjoy the Wii sitting on the couch or getting up and moving their body around…this huge fitness craze was more than we had anticipated.” ( “Is the Wii Really good for your Health?” http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1584697,00.html, July 8, 2008.)

Homework Assignment #1 : Video Format War

I am too young to remember the specifics surrounding the VHS/Betamax "war" of the eighties, however; as I have grown, I have witnessed the simultaneous growth of various forms of technology. Over the years our VHS tapes and cassette tapes were gradually replaced by DVD's and CD's. Our CD's have gradually been replaced by a revolutionary format of audio technology. Instead of producing a bigger device with more accessories, Apple Ipod moved in the opposite direction to an almost intangible format of audio technology - the Itunes library. The move to the MP3/Itunes library format along with the compact and sleek Ipod device, has proven itself more user friendly and thus widely popular. Apple also revolutionized the music/audio file purchasing platform through the Itunes Music Store. The Itunes library allows a user to purchase/store/manage/organize all audio files (including those ripped from CD's) condensed into one "folder" on your computer. The advent of the Ipod has led to the obsolescence of the CD player and all the required accessories. This new purchasing format places music in the hands of the user in a matter of seconds. As Ipod revolutionized the way users access audio files, so too is Comcast and other internet-cable providers changing the way users access video files. Comcast with the anticipated release of their new "Wideband" technology will provide an even faster speed of Broadband Internet service to millions of American homes. This new technology allows for the faster download and better quality of high definition movies, all from the comfort of one's couch. This new interface, just as with the Itunes/Ipod, is more convenient and user friendly. The ability to download high quality movies from your home is trending to replace the DVD player and DVD discs that currently clutter many American living rooms.

Regardless of the trend leading to their demise in the near future, it is interesting to delve deeper into the HD - DVD/Blu Ray "war" - one that has seen Blu Ray pull away in the past few months. Technologically speaking, there are a few differences between the two products. Both use blue laser technology which provides for higher quality pictures. Both provide much higher GB storage capacity, far exceeding the traditional DVD format. (Blu Ray however, does offer more capacity.) And where HD DVD sells itself as an improved version of the traditional DVD format, Blu Ray is a newer albeit more expensive form of technology. What I found to be the most glaring difference in the debate, one in which most decidedly determines who wins and who loses, is the corporate sponsorships that have formed around each side. Blu Ray owned by Sony has more powerful backers buying into their platform. Names such as Dell, HP, LG Electronics, Hitachi, Panasonic and Samsung to name a few. Sony also owns Colombia Pictures and MGM, two large movie studios that will support its format. Recently, Sony received another huge studio endorsement when Warner Brothers Inc. stated that they will stop selling movies in HD-DVD format. On the retail side, Toshiba HD DVD received a critical blow when retail giant Walmart stated that it will stop selling HD DVD products and instead sell Blu Ray. It seems as though the biggest determinate of winner/loser in this "technological" debate is not the technology at all, but rather the corporate sponsorships behind each product. If we have learned anything from the previous VHS/Betamax debate (in which Sony was the loser), it is not the better technology that wins.

What I found most interesting in my research/reading about these new products is that they are all interconnected, even if not ostensibly so. In the past, most households had different devices in which to play various forms of technological entertainment. In our house in particular, we had our television along with our cable box and DVD player on which to view video files. Also connected to our TV. was our game console for video games. Our computer was housed in a completely separate room, and is used for generally "computer" type applications such as word processing or searching the internet. And then we have our CD stereo systems along with our personal Discman on which to access our audio files. Generally speaking, we have four sets of devices to deliver different technology. What we have seen over the past few years is that technological advancements have integrated these different interfaces - which in turn has lead to the obsolescence of many devices. For example, as we saw in class, game consoles now have the capacity to play games, play DVD movies and also allow a user to search the internet. Ipod has integrated video files into their devices allowing a user to view movies/television shows bought off the Itunes library right in their "audio" device. And with the release of the Xdock HD, users can hook the device up to their televisions. What is interesting to note is that one device in particular seems to be the anchor around which all these other forms of technology are evolving to serve - the television.