In this practical, we are told to discuss about YouTube.



Why is YouTube so popular and what are the current problems which YouTube faces.



I think one main reason why YouTube is so popular is that YouTube is FREEEEEEEE!

If YouTube is not free, i think YouTube's popularity will go straight down as there are other popular social websites that are as good and free.



Copyright issue was dicussed by the class as it is the main issue YouTube is facing. Several companies have had already issued warnings and unhappiness towards YouTube due to copyright issues. It has been discussed that its possible for YouTube to lose popularity because of copyright issues. However, if we were to remove all the copyrighted materials, users may stop viewing their site.



One possible approach towards this problem is that we can put up warning signs before users load their videos to the internet or bann/suspend users who are caught for multiple acts of uploading copyright issues.



Well, regardless of how YouTube manages the copyright issues, as long as its free, i guess no one will mind viewing videos from YouTube!

Practical 9
Using Internet as a Research Tool is one useful and pragmatic subject which I thought was good and idiot-proof. Through this elective, I am introduced to the fundamentals of internet search tools and had to do an assignment. We had to apply the concepts learnt in lectures into our weekly practical and assignments, such as the 9 different criteria in the selection of sites and research strategy.

While doing this project, I encountered several problems, the first problem we faced was the writing of our reports regarding the comparison of search tools. Although examples and instructions were given to us, we were still unclear of how to. However, this was overcome by having meeting sessions with my tutor Ms Farida, where she patiently explain and guided me into the concept. Moreover with weekly informative feedback from my tutor, I was allowed to improve my report documents easily and manageably.

The things that were taught realistic and down-to-earth. It provided us with a lot of examples of the problems usually encountered while searching information and the solutions to managing all these problems.

One of the key learning points for me during this whole journey was the learning of research strategy. This practical really expand my understanding on searching good materials on the internet. I felt that this practical was a necessity. Furthermore, the practical and lectures not only taught me on how to identify different search facilities, but it also highlighted to us how each search engine works, the algorithm to find our materials, key words to use in our search and how to choose our search facility best for our type of query . To summarize as a whole, I’ve learnt the effective and efficient use of Internet facilities. It brought up topics and answers I’ve always wanted to know where search can be so easy and complicated.

With all the things that I’ve have learned, I can say that I’ve benefitted a lot. I will definitely carry out I’ve learned with me for further researches.
Indeed, this has been a journey of learning and discovery.

Practical 8

In practical 8, we were told to evaluate this http://www.talkingcock.com where our class was divided into 3 groups where each group will have a role to play- Singapore's Prime Minister, Singaporean, foreigner working or studying in Singapore. Using the criteria for evaluating websites, I think this website is not sustainable as the topics discussed in this website is highly opinionated and exaggerated although it is talking about the issues in Singapore. However, I feel this is one good entertainment site where it serves a platform for Singaporeans and people all over the world to talk about Singapore politics and national issues in a lightweight and entertaining manner, but bringing their points forward, encouraging the people to voice out. This is indeed one good site for Singaporeans looking from all perspectives, as the prime minister may know what the public is talking and concerned about. This website’s popularity and achievements has been proven through its high subscribership in the tens of thousands and the fact that it has been debated in Singapore's parliament, featured on the BBC and NPR and in Time Magazine, Wired and The Economist and the production of a comedy CD. One particular site that we are lacking in Singapore and is needed.

Practical 7
This week, we were told to access our UIR-Rawkz Wiki (www.uirrawkz.wetpaint.com to submit our individual summary of our research
findings.

This is my second time using a wiki to share and communicate the research that we’ve done, thus I’m still fairly new to how wiki works. Wiki is a piece of server software that allows users to freely create and edit Web page content using any Web browser, supporting hyperlinks and simple text syntax for creating new pages and crosslinks between internal pages on the fly.

Despite being the only second time of trying wiki out, I can see the potential of the use of wiki for projects and across organizations, where information can be distributed and edited for the sharing with other members or colleagues. One clear example for successful wiki is the best known online encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

Of course, through this sharing session, I’ve learned the latest trends in the music industry for teenagers, Cancers and even the Integrated Resorts in Singapore, all at one shot!

Amazing!

No wonder it is highly used now in schools, encouraging the democratic use of the Web and content composition by nontechnical users.

Practical 6

The most important criteria I have used to get information about my Dream Holiday is Authority.

To me, there is a link between authority and reputation. If the reputation of the source is good/better it practically means that the reliability and accuracy of the information will become higher. It is important for a visitor to understand (cultural background, politics, weather etc ...) the place he hopes to visit before he goes for his dream holiday and it would be great if the website can provide accurate and reliable information/news to customers about their destination place. However, in order to attract more visitors to come to their region, many websites are hiding much negative information about the area from the tourists. Only having tourists to go there and ‘understand’ the culture (negative aspect).

Hence, having authoritativeness is very important to me. It’s as if you are entrusting your life to someone is known as a trustworthy and dedicated person, taking care of your needs. Else, it is as if having your enemy taking care of you.

And hence I've chosen this website to check on my dream destination!

Huangshan

Why?

Why did I choose China’s Huangshan as my dream holiday destination was because of a documentary show which I watched a year ago. In this documentary show, it had shown many beautiful and mesmerizing scenes of Huangshan and the history and culture behind all these scenes. Huangshan is also only area to have two world heritage sites to be included in UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of China's most popular tourist destinations.

Being known as the loveliest mountain of China acclaimed through art and literature during a good part of Chinese history, it is renowned for its magnificent scenery made up of many granite peaks and rocks emerging out of a sea of clouds. Many who went viewing the Five sacred Mountains was awed by the beauty of Huangshan. It was said that after viewing the Five sacred Mountains, we will have no wish to visit any other mountains.

Because of this documentary show, I was too captivated by the captured beauty of Huangshan. Yes, even just from the TV. Ever since then, it was always in my mind to tour the place and it became my dream destination.

In this lesson, I’ve undeniably learned much more on how to evaluate internet resources. This is particularly useful as I will have a better gage on which sites to choose and rely on, and which sites not to choose and rely on, unlike the past when I just believed almost every web site which seems ‘’professional’’.

• Purpose

• Coverage

• Authority

• Accuracy

• Currency

• Accessibility

• Presentation and Arrangement

• Usability

• Overall Quality

With 9 different criteria, each taking care of minor and major details, it produced a huge difference in selecting of sites.

A “Wow” factor.

Practical 4 & 5 reflection

Before this practical was done, the only thing I knew how to search for my materials is to post the whole question up on the search textbox on search engines like Google/Live engine, Yahoo! Instant Answers and etc… Many of the times, many irrelevant links were given and I thought that the search engines are inefficient. I always wanted to know how to find materials relevantly and in an efficient manner. However, this question of mine is often left unanswered as the friends around me have not much idea about doing that, maybe just a reply “leave the word how/what/why out of your search query”.

It had never occurred to me that there is more than one type of search facilities and different search facilities work in different ways. This practical really broaden my understanding on searching good materials on the internet. All I knew back then was there is only one type of engine available (search engine), and every search engine has its own advance search.

I felt that this practical was a need for me. Furthermore, the practical and lectures not only taught me on how to identify different search facilities, but it also highlighted to us how each search engine works, the algorithm to find our materials, key words to use in our search and how to choose our search facility best for our type of query . To summarize as a whole, I’ve learnt the effective and efficient use of Internet facilities. It brought up topics and answers I’ve always wanted to know. A search can be so easy and complicated.

I think the most impactful part of this practical is the Research Strategy.

1. Define research topic
2. Locate background information
3. Decide where to look
4. Choose the appropriate search facility
5. Translate question into an effective search query
6. Perform search
7. Evaluate results
8. Refine search

It brought up the steps on which we can have a better search results for our own search. Search is not just about posting the whole question up into the textbox, but rather a strategy towards the searching of results, evaluating the results and refining the search. How awesome!

I believe this practical is one of the best and I hope that more is to come!

Practical 4 & 5 reflection

Before this practical was done, the only thing I knew how to search for my materials is to post the whole question up on the search textbox on search engines like Google/Live engine, Yahoo! Instant Answers and etc… Many of the times, many irrelevant links were given and I thought that the search engines are inefficient. I always wanted to know how to find materials relevantly and in an efficient manner. However, this question of mine is often left unanswered as the friends around me have not much idea about doing that, maybe just a reply “leave the word how/what/why out of your search query”.

It had never occurred to me that there is more than one type of search facilities and different search facilities work in different ways. This practical really broaden my understanding on searching good materials on the internet. All I knew back then was there is only one type of engine available (search engine), and every search engine has its own advance search.

I felt that this practical was a need for me. Furthermore, the practical and lectures not only taught me on how to identify different search facilities, but it also highlighted to us how each search engine works, the algorithm to find our materials, key words to use in our search and how to choose our search facility best for our type of query . To summarize as a whole, I’ve learnt the effective and efficient use of Internet facilities. It brought up topics and answers I’ve always wanted to know. A search can be so easy and complicated.

I think the most impactful part of this practical is the Research Strategy.

1. Define research topic
2. Locate background information
3. Decide where to look
4. Choose the appropriate search facility
5. Translate question into an effective search query
6. Perform search
7. Evaluate results
8. Refine search

It brought up the steps on which we can have a better search results for our own search. Search is not just about posting the whole question up into the textbox, but rather a strategy towards the searching of results, evaluating the results and refining the search. How awesome!

I believe this practical is one of the best and I hope that more is to come!

Practical 3

If i have $500...

I would shop for...

BLACKBERRY PEARL 8130!

Link

Description:

The BlackBerry® Pearl™ 8130 smartphone is designed to help you do everything you want with your life. It comes complete with advanced phone features, multimedia, digital camera, video recording, built-in GPS* and expandable memory.

And it offers the full BlackBerry® experience—email, browser, text messaging (SMS and MMS), instant messaging, organizer applications and more. Small, smart and stylish.

Price:
SGD $443.5463

Of course, i would like to have mine in PINK!

Why?
Reason being, I lost my phone last wednesday! Strangely, unlike others, I'm adapting well to the life without a cell phone for the last 7 days. However, it seems that my friends around me are not really adapting well to me not having a phone. =X Its like I've s gone MIA (Missing in Action) and I'm hard to be reached (except through emails and msn).

And so, if i have $500, i would buy a cell phone. It would definitely lessen my friends' misery and bring convenience to me!=D


Why Blackberry?
Having the tendency to forget my meeting dates, I've always wanted a PDA to manage and organize my schedule. The BlackBerry® Pearl™ 8130 features complete functionality which means it offers PDA experience—email, browser, instant messaging, organizer applications and more. =D

With $60 left, i would get a...

SanDisk 4 GB microSDHC / microSD HC

Link

Description:

The smallest memory card in the world and the newest standard SD flash memory format specifically designed for ultra-small mobile phones.

Advanced Features:
• High storage capacity for storing essential digital content such as high quality photos, videos, music and more
• Optimal speed and performance for microSDHC compatible devices
• Speed performance rating: Class 2 (based on SD 2.00 Specification)
• High Quality microSDHC card
• Built to last, with an operating shock rating of 2,000Gs, equivalent to a ten-foot drop

Price: $40.82

Why?
To add to my new BlackBerry phone. In today's cell phone society, without a good mobile memory card, the best iPhones would not be a good cell phone. You cant carry out much of its special/advanced features (music player, cybershots, video recording etc..) easily. Even if you did, you can only do so with a certain limit. Hence, with the new 4G memory card, i could easily download songs, record video, take pictures, store information without much of a concern on its memory.

Why ScanDisk?
ScanDisk is well known for its memory devices such as mobile memory cards, USB thumbdrive etc.. With its reputation of high storage capacity, quality, good seed performance rating and built-to-last technology, i feel that ScanDisk is worth to buy=D

HAHA!

I'm back!- for more updates.

For this practical 2, we were told to do the following things:

1. Update my blog with the links and brief description of the 2 resources my had searched during Practical 2.

2. Write a paragraph about my reflections on lessons learnt during Pactical 1 & 2.

And so, let me update my blog with the links!

Personal

• Interactive PR: http://interactivepr.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_archive.html

Description
Anything which affects the use of the web, mobile telephony, interactive TV, CDROM or any other new media for PR, or indeed the promotion of websites, the blogger talk about it here.

Organizational

• Businessweek: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_48/b3961031.htm

Description
An online Business magazine which publishes anything and everything, including technology reviews- podcasting

Reflections

In practical 1, we were told to select a research topic from a list provided in Ole. After spending some time surfing the internet for information and much consideration, I've chosen this topic:

• Discuss the impact of blogging/podcasts on businesses

Then, we were asked on research on the topic that we've selected from the Discussion Forum, Electronic Journal/Magazine and one WWW site.

Before we started on our research, Ms Faridah, briefed us about what we need to do for Portfolio. She also showed us two 'A' graders' portfolio and websites, there was a clear distinction of 'A' graders work and those who did not do well. Many of the ‘A’ graders’ work was well written and had included many screen shots of the engines they used with explanations of the things they've found out e.g. the difference between an advance search and a normal search in Google. They had very good and insightful reflections as well. From the work they had produced, it was clearly shown that they had put in much effort- which means the to get an ‘A’ in UIR, we need to put in loads of effort. So who says UIR does not need much effort? But it is true that UIR is an easy, idiot-proof project. HA!

Being my first UIR practical, there are definitely difficulties faced! To think that I actually spent two hours to find three different websites from different internet resources!

That was pretty long! However this taught me to use key words to search for the most relevant information. On the other hand, this is not good enough as I believe there are better key search terms out there and I’ve yet to know it, which I believe I am going to learn it from this subject. I have also learned the definitions and the differences between a Discussion Forum, Electronic Journal/Magazine and WWW site.

In practical 2, we were asked to search the Internet for one Personal and one Organizational website and create our blog.

Already a blogspot blogger, creating and writing an entry is not a problem for me. However, I realized that there are many expert bloggers around! Thus, I really want/need to learn from them! Like the blogskin etc... It is kind of interesting to see other students’ blog too!

When I saw the outline of search a personal website and an organization website, I thought I would be able to complete this exercise easily and quickly. Nonetheless, I’ve spent a long time on this practical. The differences between a personal and organizational website were quite clear and understood, but as I begin to search on the internet, I realized that many of the websites have blurred the line between personal and organizational. Let me take this website for example (which I’ve spent long time figuring this out),

Interactive PR

http://interactivepr.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_archive.html

It is unmistakably that this site is maintained by a group of people from a company. However, the articles were being uploaded and shared by individual users! At this instant it comprises the features of both personal and organizational website. I always thought that a website can only be either a personal or an organizational website- I was wrong.

I was told by Ms Faridah that a website can be both a personal and an organization website. The above website is one example.

We were also told to cite our resources and how are we suppose to cite them the correct way. This was learnt in CMSK class before and this practical show that I’ve to once again recap and learn what I’ve learnt previously into action. =X the lecture was useful and the slide came in handy. I will definitely need them in the future!

Hi peeps, welcome to lin @ UIR!

My life, My UIR class in Temasek Polytechnic!

Oh yes, talking about that, let me introduce myself ;)

About me
Koh Yang Lin

Temasek Informatics and IT school

Landed on earth on 27/7/89

Works part-time in body shop

Loves SPICY food and am not fussy

Description
I would love to describe myself using the chilli padi example due to the love i have for it.

Chilli padi-despite being unusually small and petite, it can produce the same or higher spiciness as those bigger ones.

With three other IT Temasek-ians, I've joined ImagineCup 2008 competition! This is our dream and thank god that our team, Mamagaia is among the top 3 teams and is in the midst of our competition.

The two websites which i often visit is mysoju.com and imeem.com. Hmm, it really depends on my mood.

mysoju.com is a website where i get to view my favorite Korean/Chinese/Cantonese/Japanese dramas and movies. Its awesome! They provide English subtitles too. =D

imeem.com -provides music and video entertainment, maybe more of a music side for me. With different types of genre and a huge database, i'll get to find my songs easily! HA!

Not forgetting to mention about UIR! I'm really pleased to get this CDS this semester. Hope it goes all well! HA!

Take care people!