Convergence - iPhone

Convergence: Google

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-a_ZunqXhA

Follow Up to my Blog Post

So to answer the question: what social and economic forces shape the telecommunication infrastructures, lets look at Skype again. Economically, since Skype makes use of telecommunication systems that are already in place, Skype makes use of existing technology and therefore they can provide their service much cheaper than traditional phone systems. Skype will beat competitors international rates just about every time, because it has lower overhead and thus can pass that savings on to the user. Social, people want convergence. We see this and know this is true because of products like the Apply iPhone. People want devices and software that can do "All-in-One" features. Skype meets this demand by offering many features that it customers can take advantage of. The network infrastructures that provide Skype the ability to work will keep up with the demands of users as more and more products seek to be on the web and as Moore's Law continues to play out. People have push for more bandwidth and the infrastructures have grown accordingly, look at 3G and 4G technologies and how far they have come along since the smartphone was invented not that long ago.

One of the questions that was asked that I left thinking about was internet regulation and how that might affect Skype. I don't for see any major regulation affecting Skype, even though it is a heavy bandwidth application, it uses no more resources up than what Netflix's might use as it streams movies or to its customers. I don't believe that Skype is a Monopoly, nor will their be any regulation against it, like I mentioned tonight there are several other companies that can provide their services just as well and I don't think Skype will get themselves in that situation. Also, Skype gets around alot of possible regulation as the government does not consider them as true VoIP service provider, since they can not provide 911 emergency calling.

All in all, I thought my presentation went very well tonight and I enjoyed learning about Skype and hopefully teaching others of its many benefits.

-Jeremy Carter

What social and economic forces shape communication infrastructure?

Skype is a revolutionary modern technology that is at the forefront of shaping telecommunications. We see people and businesses need for a more connected society. A society where cost truly matters to business and corporations. Global Markets are here more than ever. People need to be able to communicate and collaborate easily and cheaply with people on the other side of the plant. Economically, businesses that choose not to stay ahead of the curve will be swallowed up. Too many new businesses are out there ready to fill old businesses shoes. Communication Infrastructure is shaped around these needs and wants. The technology has come so far from where it began that it integrates into almost every aspect of our lives. The networks that power these data-intensive digital signals and software have to increase in capacity to meet the demands of its users. Skype is the future if the telecommunications industry. IP based telecommunication systems provide a lot of features that users really like. Convergence is King! People want easy of use and flexibility of applications to meet their everyday needs all within a single application. Skype not only empowers people, but also empowers business to make a smarter choice about how they communicate. In these economic trying times, Skype provide cheap alternative to expensive telephone networks. The Skype system is smart in the fact that it is based on a peer-2-peer type networking system. Little overhead is placed on Skype’s infrastructure; they simply just establish a connection and are done. I will ask the class what are some disadvantages to the using Skype. I believe that with every technology comes a downside. A Few ways that I can see Skype being and issue are: 1) Bandwidths needs for a company to have lots of users using the application at once 2) Constant connectedness with work phones being forwarded to cell phones. And. 3) People placing personal calls at work more because they are on Skype with their friends as well as co-workers.

- Jeremy Carter

Follow up of Google

After presenting my case study of Google to the class, I feel like the class was left with just a better understanding of the sort of monopolistic control that Google has on the internet. Although I failed to generate a lasting discussion throughout the class, it did seem however that most students were interested in what I had to offer about the company. I hoped that the class left the round table discussion with the thought of how powerful and overwhelming the corporation can be and how that can have many negitive and positive side effects. We all know of Google's easy ability to use as well as finding quick information by "googling" on the internet. This can also be dangerous as anyone who has the time to use the website may be able to uncover a lot of personal information about one person. I hoped I opened the student's eyes and made them wonder to themselves what sort of control Google has on the network that is the internet and if they feel this is beneficial or harmful to society as a whole.

Response to: ICANN Can Control

After giving my presentation in class on Wednesday I feel that the class was left with a better understanding of the opposing views on who actually controls the internet. Discussions that were brought up in class included the U.K.'s view on Internet governance as well as the U.N.'s view on the Internet governance. The key topic for discussion was that of third world countries which are being left behind due to advancing internet technology and increased user costs that the individuals are not able to afford and replace older pre-established signal relaying devices. Do these countries that have very limited access to the internet and lesser ability to pay for internet usage deserve a say in who is governing the internet as well as what method is used to govern the internet. From what i picked up during the group discussion, leaving these countries out of the actual decision making process would be more beneficial however it would be expected of us to make an effort to include such countries in surveys and internet usage statistics. The question of who controls the internet can be answered that it is the U.S. that controls the internet. More specifically it is the not for profit organization called ICANN that actually controls and monitors the World Wide Web.

ICANN Can Conduct Control

The not for profit Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is the group that currently monitors and distributes gTLDs. That is a global Top Level Domain system that allows users of the internet to create web-sites for business, informative, as well as group support. It was established in 1998 to ensure that websites were inter-operable and accessible from locations all over the world. I will be covering the current topics of the creation of new gTLDs as well as the multi-stake holders business model that ICANN is proposing. I will touch base on the other nations opinions about the current control of the internet. We will discuss the oversight of the GAC as well as the US DOC. The controversy over the establishment of the most recent new TLD being the .XXX will also be discussed. I will provide evidence that the corporation is a well developed and stable organization that is conducting the control of the internet.

Cory Hodges

Who Owns the Internet

Today I am going to be trying to answer the question who owns the internet? Although there are many companies or services that could claim that they own the "internet" I am going to go over the basics of Google and how Google has used multiple platforms to expand its ownership of the web. I am going to look at some eye opening stats to help explain my point. I hope to convince the class that although there are many entities on the web Google by far has the vast ownership. I am also going to point out many things Google is apart of such as Blogger, Youtube, Myspace and even Yahoo!

RESPONSE TO: HBO case study old media informing new

After presenting my case study to the class it appeared to me that the class understood the main point that I was trying to get across which was that HBO has learned from older forms of media in both the technological and programming aspects. I was a little surprised that not very many questions were raised about the Programming of HBO now in regards to how the company divides it programing between mini-series and films, other than the question Dr. Campbell asked there were none. From this project I discovered that most major media companies try to be on the leading edge of technology so they can provide the best viewing services available to their customers. They also listen to the wants and concerns of their viewing customers and when necessary adapt their programing to fit changing popular opinion. In short, to answer the discussion question assigned in class, I believe that older forms of media inform new media markets by being role models showing the importance of being on the leading edge of technology as well as listening to the wants of paying customers so that the company can change when necessary.