Computer and I in the Future

Now, I am being surprised to know that I am writing the very last brog assignment. I have posted 10 articles, and the class is going to finish! (Although two more quizzes and the final exam have still left.) Could I learn about computer enough to finish the class? I would like to say yes. Because I knew I was bad with machines, my improvement must be great!


Then, what do I want to learn more? Well, the next thing to learn is how to use excel, for I have not learned yet. However, after finishing this course, I would like to know other features, like editing pictures. I am thinking of making my own web page so that my family and friends can know what I am doing when I get abroad. I want to put many pictures that I take in campus and with new friends; therefore, it will be nicer if I can edit pictures and use them.


Another thing that I would like to learn is how to protect my computer from virus. My father often teaches me how to take care of my computer and formatting or something like that, but I could never understand them. Although I can deal with a little difficult situation now, there are much more difficult troubles to cope with alone. I will not be able to relax even though I completed this course!


Furthermore, I would like to use the Internet fully to communicate with others. There are many famous web sites such as mixcy, but I have never used it. If I have enough time to visit these sites, I will be able to enjoy communicating with my friends or hopefully make new relation. The Internet is becoming another society; thus, I do not want to be late!


The computer will continue developing, and new functions will be made over time. It might be hard to catch up with, but I would like to use computer efficiently. It will enrich my life to learn the proper way to get along with the computer.

What is Viral Video?

Viral video is a video clip, which is now spreading in an amazing speed all over the world. YouTube is the most popular example of it, containing more than 40 million viral videos. Surprisingly, few people knew about YouTube one year ago; on the other hand, I am sure that there is no one in our class who have never visited there. It has become one of the most visited site.


The containts of viral video are often humorous comedy or parody; however, sometimes there are serious one. Websites like YouTube give us variety of choice. In addition, every users can contribute their own video clip by using special tool, which is not so difficult now. Recently, there is a new site in Japan, and the users offer interesting clips, from the way to makeup to the way to use Nunchaku.


The growth of viral video is so rapid that it has caused many problems, whose solutions are not found yet. The biggest problem is copyright: YouTube is said to contain the viral video that are copyed from other professional works. In the Japanese company that I mentioned before, the stuffs try to check all of contributed videos. However, what should YouTube does for the huge numbers of already up-loaded videos?


There is another problem. It is really easy to access viral videos, and we can watch them wherever and whenever we want. It causes problem because it allows workers to watch during their work! Also, once they have become the slaves of viral video, they would not be able to part from them.


In the future, these sites will increace even more. We must be selective, and concern about the problem such as copy right. If we become good audience, they will be useful and enjoyable for all of us.

The Computer in the Future

Our lives have changed dramatically since the spread of the computer. Ten years ago, I guess college students have to read a lot of books to write a research paper;of course, they do not have to type their papers! However, many new features of the computer are natural today. In the future, computer will connect more to every aspects of our lives.


First, computer will be used more by students. In addition to being used to make papers or researches, all classes will conducted with computers. Teachers and students no more use textbook, notebook, or blackboard. Class will be complete paperless.


Second, the use of the Internet will spread every business, including trading and shopping. Dealing will be connected to the on-line meeting, and the Internet shopping will the main means of getting things.


Third, everything will be controlled by computer in the future. For example, company can do nothing without computer. Computer will be used for scheduling, report, meeting, management, account and so on.


Of course, there are many tasks to overcome. The new types of crime is one major problem. Even today, many people are tricked on the Internet. Also, machine is always dangerous: we do not know when our computers will stop working. Since the memory is made from chips, it is easy to disappear or be erased by mistake. The computer will develop, as it deals with the new problems little by little.

News!

Today, the computer progresses in an amazing speed in both good and bad directions. Let's look at some of recent news related to the computer.


First, I am going to introduce horrible news: The Internet Fraud. Common way of fraud which we can be victims of is one-click fraud. This temps us to click their advertisement, and they charge unbelievable pay for this. These sites have been found mainly in illegal sites such as porno sites, where ordinary people (at least we) will not visit. However, a research shows that they have started appearing in the common web sites, such as entertainment related ones. They are likely visited by young people; besides, the rate of case from entertainment sites exceed 50 % last month! We must be careful about that, for the crime is no longer foreign for us.


Now, positive news!


I found really interesting new product by Sanseido, Japan. It is called "Densi-Jiten," whose sound is the same as electronic dictionary; however, actually it means "electronic and paper dictionary" by a unique use of kanji. As you can guess from the name, it is the set of the electronic dictionary on the web site and paper dictionary. The cost is 3300 yen for English- Japanese dictionary and 8190 yen for Japanese dictionary. They are less expensive than I expected, and the company explains that they succeeded to reduce the cost by making both electronic and paper dictionary from one master at the same time.


In my opinion, this attempt sound pretty good, because this is the evidence that the good points of paper dictionary is reconsidered. It will be more useful and profitable if we can use new functions that only computer enable us to, while keeping using paper dictionary. Of course, this new product still have issues to overcome, and I am not sure whether it can survive competition among paper, electronic, and electronic-paper dictionary industries; however, it has just begun.


I do not think I will buy it because I already have one, yet it will be interesting to keep an eye on the future of the new product.

Network Neutrality

Network Neutrality is the concept that is essential to operating the Internet. This term describes the state that there is no favor in the world of the Internet; therefore, it allows the Internet users to access whatever applications and web sites they like. It is a fundamental concept that exists since the beginning of the world wide use of the Internet.


However, this concept is under threat by some companies that try to dominate the whole Internet service by money. Some providers may invent better technology and let only a big company that pay well for them use it. Others can ask the provider to make rival companies' or organizations' web sites do not work well in order to obstruct their business. They affect not only minor providers or competing companies but also the Internet users! As a result, perhaps it becomes impossible to choose web site by our own decisions: our right to access the information equally can be violated.


Net neutrality is necessary for the future of the Internet service. The users should be aware of the threatened situation and realize the intend of some companies. We must protect our right to access to any information and decide which one to use. The Internet should not be controlled with money.

My Favorite Websites

The Internet is really, really useful. I can broaden my knowledge, get the newest information, and research information for my papers easily! Today, I would like to introduce three web pages.


Wikipedia (http://www.wikipedia.org/)
Everyone must know and have used this page. Actually, I cannot do without this page! Although we cannot use the information from Wikipedia for our papers or essays, it is useful for getting overview information or to get started. In addition to getting information, I often use links to get more information.


Travel Adventures (http://www.traveladventures.org/)
My big, big dream is to travel around the world! I want to visit, see, and feel other countries. However, I have no money. I have no time. Thus, what I can do now is to view guide books or visit web sites. This site provides with many photos taken in most of countries in the world. It includes beautiful scenery, interesting building, and lively people. It also has short stories, so I can enjoy as if I were visiting the country! Looking this site and the huge number of pictures, I am planning my future dream, around world trip, in my mind.


THE JAPAN FAQ (http://www.thejapanfaq.com)
This site is about Japan, from the non-Japanese point of view. It includes basic information about Japan, Japanese culture, how to live in Japan and so forth. What makes this site interesting is of course the fact that the author is not Japanese (I guess that the author dose not expect Japanese to visit his pages!). It is not easy to read this page because there are much information, and he does not divide the body stories---however, it contains many interesting information. He analyzes very well, and I, Japanese will have to admire many of them. The most interesting part for me, or Japanese, is Japanese Culture: The Primer for New Comer, where he argues about the "truth" of Japanese culture. How they think? How they feel? It is interesting to know foreigner's feeling; besides, it makes me reconsider deeply about Japanese' behaviors.

If I could...

What Computer Gift I Would Buy?


If I could buy a new computer for me, how nice it is!!! However, I have to think of a present for someone, not for me. Someone who is close to me, and someone whom I think of precious... OK, I decided to give a special gift for my dear, dear, disturbing brother, Yusuke.


The special gift is a whole set of computer for his own, for I and Yu have shared one notebook computer for a long time. I have craved my own computer (it does not have to be a new one), and so has Yu. It is too inconvenient to share one computer; as a result, we are often in conflict. I need to computer to do my research, essay, and other assignments! Yu, you are just playing, aren't you?! No, you use it more than two hours! And we are scold by my mother...


I am thinking of buying new computer for him, because I want to give a desktop computer that will have less problem than notebook computer as I learned at school. Our computer is about three years old and has already become old; thus, it cannot move quickly and needs frequent rest. However, I will not have so much problem, for what I will use is only simple programs. On the other hand, Yu often play games, music, and other relatively complex programs that I won't use. I am satisfied if I can do basic things for now, so I will give him desktop computer!


Of course, it contains another intention. The only and the biggest shortcoming of desktop computer is that it cannot be moved easily. Because of another problem of our notebook computer that it can access the Internet only from the living room (no one knows the reason), we also share the only television in my house. If Yu gets a desktop computer, it means that he will stay his own room while using the computer. He can keep his privacy, and I can watch television without any disturbance!


If I buy Yu another computer, it will bring a lot of benefit for both of us. However, I will keep this annoying situation a little bit more, for I will not be able to quarrel with him after going abroad. Anyway, this is just a story about "if," not real.

Social Engineeing

WHAT IS SOCIAL ENGINEERING??

Social engineering is the act of stealing important information for security such as ID or password, and it is also called social hacking or social cracking. As well as managers of the systems, normal users are often aimed, for they do not have enough knowledge and consciousness of the danger.

The methods to collect information are different from normal hackers who enter systems secretly: they use "social" or physical method. For example, they try to steal a look at proper users typing password over shoulder or eavesdrop on them in a public situation. Another way to get information is to talk to the user directory pretending to be a system manager, another member of the group, or a customer. Also, the trash from office can be the information source, for it is easy to restore the paper with important information even if they are broken up by shredder.

It is required for users to be aware of the danger of social engineering to protect their precious information. First, be careful not to tell such information easily if you asked, for others, including the managers of system do not have to know users' password. Second, if you have to inform such information, make sure that the person you are talking is the person you think. Finally, control important information strictly! These are necessary to survive this highly information-oriented society, without being caught up in a crime.

To Overcome My Weakness...

Then, what do I want to learn in this class? Actually, this course was my second choice, so I really wanted to take it.

First of all, I want to learn how to use the computer programs efficiently. As I mentioned last time, it is impossible for me to master the computer without being taught. I do use the computer; however, there must be a lot of useful way to know. I believe that I can improve my works by learning such information.

However, the second and third purposes are more important for me.

The second purpose is to make my own computer. I am going to buy new one for studying, and I want to choose my new computer by myself rather than rely on my family. Therefore, I need to learn basic and wide information about existence choices.

The third thing I want to learn is how to maintain my computer. I live with my family, so I do not have to worry about maintenance so much so far (I even bring back problems often, for example virus, but my father repairs it or gets it repaired in a computer shop). However, I will have to control my own computer by myself after going abroad. I do not know what format is. I do not know what I have to do to keep computer healthy. What I can do is just use a few programs. I think it is needed for maintenance to know how computer works deeply. Now, I have to learn the mechanism of the computer, which I have ignored since I started using it.

In fact, I started to understand the basic knowledge that I should have known at last. In addition, this course recommends me many useful programs or machines, so I am thinking of deciding which computer I will buy through this course.

I am looking forward to learn new things about computers every time.

My First Blog!

I am really bad with machines. For example, I gave up using VTR. It was mystery for me that everyone could use such a complex machine without any troubles. Why can everyone use it without any troubles? How do they distinguish "reward" and "fast-forward" ? The indications were too unkind to decode.

However, the computer was different. It had detailed information about the functions; thus, I could do everything by only following directions that programs gave me. I do not have trouble with using most of programs that I need everyday life, although I still cannot use VTR.

The first computer that I used was my grandfather's. He sometimes let me use a drawing program, which was really amazing. When I was a junior high school student, my mother, who once worked as a keypuncher, taught me her way to type (but it was for hiragana input, so perhaps I had better learn the right way...). I took third grade of a qualification related to word processor. I liked the computer because it was fresh, and using it seemed fashionable.

The problem is that even if I can use the computer, it dose not mean I understand it. Thus, I can do nothing when my computer freezes; also, I cannot use it efficiently. After entering NIC, the opportunity to use the computer, especially the Internet, Microsoft Word, and PowerPoint, increased; however, it seemed that my own way took more time. Another problem is my part time job at library. People who have trouble with computer come to ask me! I started feel the limit of doing by my own way.

Now that I am taking the computer class, my history with machine, mainly the computer might change. I believe that learning computer skills will affect on my academic life in the US and help my studying. I am making drastic change in my history with the computer, as I am being brainwashed to choose Mac computer for my partner.