The Internet and New Technologies:

The Media Converge

Chapter 2

The Internet and Cell Phones

“A fresh approach to fostering innovation in the mobile industry will help shape a new computer environment that will change the way people access and share information in the future.”

— Eric Schmidt, Google Chairman

Of ALL Mobile cell phone users, this percentage are using their phones for Email and social networking?

A. 27%

B. 76%

C. 52%

D. 19%

The Internet’s History

Begun by the Defense Department’s ARPA (Advanced Research Project’s Agency)

Survivable communications in a post— nuclear war world

Nicknamed the “Net” No central authority, therefore no way to decapitate in wartime

This effort gave birth to the Internet.

Figure 2.1

Questioning the Media

2. What possibilities of the Internet’s future are you most excited about? Why? What possibilities are most troubling? Why?

Think – Pair - Share

Think:

On your own: Spend 2 minutes writing down what kind of content you think should not be on the World Wide Web.

Pair:

Turn to your neighbor and compare notes. Are you concerned kinds of Internet content?

Share:

Decide on a #1 and #2 Concern

Bulletin Boards Bulletin boards listed information.

Health issues Computer programs Employment services

As Internet use proliferated, entrepreneurs took notice.

The Net Widens

Microprocessors—miniature circuits that could process and store electronic signals—were the first signal of the Net’s marketability. Using microprocessors, the first personal

computers were created. By the mid-1980s, fiber optic cables were the

standard for speedy data transmission. By the time ARPAnet ended in the 1980s, the

foundation was laid for a new mass medium.

The World Wide Web

Tim Berners-Lee developed the World Wide Web at CERN in the late 1980s.

HTML (HypterText Markup Language): Allows computers to communicate

With Web browsers, users can navigate the Web.

Internet Structure Today Internet Service Providers (ISP) = big

business Connecting users to their proprietary Web

system Interpersonal communication

E-mail Facebook Twitter

Search engine reliability varies. Direct marketing dream come true

What Do you Know?

Media Convergence QTM #3: What are the advantages of

Media Convergence? Internet offers unprecedented

communication opportunities: Interactive content Hub for converging media Participatory media: People become

producers rather than just consumers of content.

Web 2.0

Web 2.0: a rapid and robust environment that has become a place where music, television shows, radio stations, newspapers, and movies coexist

QTM 4: Do you think Virtual Communities are genuine communities?

Has moved toward being an interactive and collaborative medium Instant messaging (IM) Blogs Wiki Web sites Social networking sites (MySpace, Facebook)

Dividing Up the Web

Four companies dominate Web 2.0. AOL: Once the industry leader, suffered setbacks

from merging with Time Warner in 2000 Microsoft: Dominated the Internet with the merger

of its Windows and Internet Explorer programs Yahoo!: Established in 1994 as the main Internet

search engine, now best known for its popular sites.

Google: Established breakthrough search engine in 1998, currently dominates search market

On your clicker:

Type in 2 of the 4 companies that dominate Web 2.0

The Challenge to Keep Personal Information Private

Everything you buy with a credit card Every Web site you search Every form you fill out

All can be combined into a database about you. Modern marketing relies on such data.

E-commerce’s popularity despite the risks Cookies Spyware Opt-in, opt-out policies

Digital Divide

Digital divide The growing contrast between “information

haves” and “information have-nots”

Digital Divide

The reality of the digital divide In the United States

Age and Education determine access 65+ 37% go online 50-64 72% 30-49 85% 18-29 92% 38% vs 67% vs 93%

Access Dial up vs broadband

Digital Divide

Between the U.S. and the rest of the world Surprise surprise…we are among the haves Have-nots are for various reasons

Economics Infrastructure Government control

Net Neutrality

Will the Internet’s promise be crowded out by commercial interests?