What determines the structure of a folksonomy and why? The code, the content or the social process?
Firstly, to being with, with a basic Wikipedia explanation of what folksonomy is that it is basically a system of classification derived from the practice and method of collaboratively creating and managing tags to annotate and categorize content; this practice is also known as collaborative tagging, social classification, social indexing, and social tagging. All in all, folksonomy is an easier way of accessing information, even through a mere keyword. A folksonomy brings life to a network, without network folksonomy wouldn’t exists and vice versa. It is the mere acknowledgement of social processes through popularization. Folksonomy represents information/ knowledge provided by the tagger e.g. in terms of a picture, the content provided is the form of folksonomy. Thus, content and social processing are the basic structure determinant of folksonomy serving its purpose and not the code .
I believe, social processing is a factor that occurs because of folksonomy. Facebook, Twitter, IGoogle and perhaps in some cases even yahoo chats are networks where social processing takes place. Facebook for example is a very popular network that displays pictures, information, interests and many more user approved information. Pictures for example, when tagged if provided by the user display who, what, when, where, why and even how in some cases. This display of information through tags (folksonomy) when viewed by other users is the means of popularizing that specific content. Thus, this increases social processes because of folksonomy and folksonomy because of social processes. Overall, justifying that social process and content are the actual determinants of folksonomy.
A useful way of understanding folksonomy : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8Q7_ifGpFg&feature=related
Do post a comment and leave your thoughts ! =)
Monday, October 26, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Wikis and effective means of communication?
Are wikis an effective means of communication? Why or why not? Include a link to your entry.
Wikipedia is an online encyclopaedia and, as a means to that end, an online community of people interested in building a high-quality encyclopaedia in a spirit of mutual respect .Wikipedia and Wiki answers are useful for finding information that can in turn lead you to more reliable sources of information. The good thing about Wikipedia is that it can provide you with all sorts of information within seconds. Depending on the word you chose to explore, you may view different types of information such as definition, history, symptoms, theories or even cause and effects of the term. The truth about Wikipedia is that it does not publish original research or original thought. This includes unpublished facts, arguments, speculation, and ideas; and any unpublished analysis or synthesis of published material that serves to advance a position. No reputable educational establishment will accept only wiki as a reliable source of information. This is so because; Wikipedia and Wiki answers are not the best to rely on because anyone can edit the information. For example if you look at a page on Wikipedia you will see where it says discussion then you will see edit this page someone could easily go there and type in wrong info. Even Wikipedia’s founder, Jimmy Wales, says he wants to get the message out to college students that they shouldn’t use it for class projects or serious research. It is most definitely not an effective means of communication since the information can be easily altered by anyone !! post a comment, and tell me what you think!? =)
Wikipedia Article Link:http://istb-tuesday.wikidot.com/internet-governance-and-polices
Wikipedia is an online encyclopaedia and, as a means to that end, an online community of people interested in building a high-quality encyclopaedia in a spirit of mutual respect .Wikipedia and Wiki answers are useful for finding information that can in turn lead you to more reliable sources of information. The good thing about Wikipedia is that it can provide you with all sorts of information within seconds. Depending on the word you chose to explore, you may view different types of information such as definition, history, symptoms, theories or even cause and effects of the term. The truth about Wikipedia is that it does not publish original research or original thought. This includes unpublished facts, arguments, speculation, and ideas; and any unpublished analysis or synthesis of published material that serves to advance a position. No reputable educational establishment will accept only wiki as a reliable source of information. This is so because; Wikipedia and Wiki answers are not the best to rely on because anyone can edit the information. For example if you look at a page on Wikipedia you will see where it says discussion then you will see edit this page someone could easily go there and type in wrong info. Even Wikipedia’s founder, Jimmy Wales, says he wants to get the message out to college students that they shouldn’t use it for class projects or serious research. It is most definitely not an effective means of communication since the information can be easily altered by anyone !! post a comment, and tell me what you think!? =)
Wikipedia Article Link:http://istb-tuesday.wikidot.com/internet-governance-and-polices
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Digital Divide..
Should we be worried about digital divide? Why or why not?
To start of with digital divide is the gap that exists between those who own and have easy access to internet and computers in comparison to those who do not. Author Jeffery James states in his article that the global digital divide is widely measured by international institutions in terms of the number of persons with individual access to those technologies. Yet, while this measure makes sense in the rich countries, where individual ownership is widespread among the population, it makes very little sense in poor countries. I believe that we should be worried about digital divide due to various reasons. Digital divide is a gap on its own but it also is one of the many leading reasons that differentiate between the rich and the poor. We as UTSC students, as Canadians, as a first world nation are able to have access to computers, internet and many new technological inventions. We have easier and faster access to educational programs and games, research information for school projects and business, the opportunity to communicate with people from all around the world, the opportunity to share resources and ideas with people that have the same interests and even shopping around the world without leaving your computer. These are just some of the benefits we enjoy just because we have access to the computers. This geographical difference between Canada and any Third World country makes a huge difference in our lives. In the 21st century there are at least about ten million people in Third World countries who also have access to computers. But ten million is nothing in comparison to the total number of people that reside in third world countries, which exceeds 2.8 billion people! (Facts, 2009) Yes, its true there’s MORE then 2.8 BILLION PEOPLE in Third World countries.
Digital divide is a complexed phenomenon, when looking at what the access to computers provides other then its benefits. One of the drawbacks of having easy access to the information provided on the internet is that not all information is locally or internally produced, instead it mainly is retrieved from outside sources. Even though, its possible to translate the most common language English into the desired language through which the internet is usually accessed, it still doesn’t provide the protective factors against the internet. I believe even though having internet access is an amazing factor in all our lives, I think for the young ones it doesn’t serve a purpose. Children today are introduced to the internet at very early ages such as 2 yrs of age. A 2 yr old doesn’t “Need” an internet service. The international agencies should focus on providing internet to those who really “need” it. For instance, a poor man, who has the potential of working and providing for his family, having access to internet, would make searching for a job easier for him rather then not knowing how and where to apply. The internet can categorize jobs according to location and convenience. Who knows, maybe that one man who has the potential of providing for his family might have been able to if he had the access to internet. I guess that’s something we will never know unless or until access to those who really need internet services is made easier for the poor in Third World countries. The digital divide is an issue which should be taken into consideration. It can be the source of good “change” in the Third World countries. It’s a source of education, since news and all sorts of information is all just one click away. I feel that even though there are many issues the Third World countries are facing, the digital divide should certainly be one that should be put into the queue for getting ahead. Progression is one click away.
Here’s a link for better understanding of the digital divide in the third world in clipped within 1min and 10 seconds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpAt1lLDXBg&feature=related
Please post a comment, on your thoughts!
- M.M
To start of with digital divide is the gap that exists between those who own and have easy access to internet and computers in comparison to those who do not. Author Jeffery James states in his article that the global digital divide is widely measured by international institutions in terms of the number of persons with individual access to those technologies. Yet, while this measure makes sense in the rich countries, where individual ownership is widespread among the population, it makes very little sense in poor countries. I believe that we should be worried about digital divide due to various reasons. Digital divide is a gap on its own but it also is one of the many leading reasons that differentiate between the rich and the poor. We as UTSC students, as Canadians, as a first world nation are able to have access to computers, internet and many new technological inventions. We have easier and faster access to educational programs and games, research information for school projects and business, the opportunity to communicate with people from all around the world, the opportunity to share resources and ideas with people that have the same interests and even shopping around the world without leaving your computer. These are just some of the benefits we enjoy just because we have access to the computers. This geographical difference between Canada and any Third World country makes a huge difference in our lives. In the 21st century there are at least about ten million people in Third World countries who also have access to computers. But ten million is nothing in comparison to the total number of people that reside in third world countries, which exceeds 2.8 billion people! (Facts, 2009) Yes, its true there’s MORE then 2.8 BILLION PEOPLE in Third World countries.
Digital divide is a complexed phenomenon, when looking at what the access to computers provides other then its benefits. One of the drawbacks of having easy access to the information provided on the internet is that not all information is locally or internally produced, instead it mainly is retrieved from outside sources. Even though, its possible to translate the most common language English into the desired language through which the internet is usually accessed, it still doesn’t provide the protective factors against the internet. I believe even though having internet access is an amazing factor in all our lives, I think for the young ones it doesn’t serve a purpose. Children today are introduced to the internet at very early ages such as 2 yrs of age. A 2 yr old doesn’t “Need” an internet service. The international agencies should focus on providing internet to those who really “need” it. For instance, a poor man, who has the potential of working and providing for his family, having access to internet, would make searching for a job easier for him rather then not knowing how and where to apply. The internet can categorize jobs according to location and convenience. Who knows, maybe that one man who has the potential of providing for his family might have been able to if he had the access to internet. I guess that’s something we will never know unless or until access to those who really need internet services is made easier for the poor in Third World countries. The digital divide is an issue which should be taken into consideration. It can be the source of good “change” in the Third World countries. It’s a source of education, since news and all sorts of information is all just one click away. I feel that even though there are many issues the Third World countries are facing, the digital divide should certainly be one that should be put into the queue for getting ahead. Progression is one click away.
Here’s a link for better understanding of the digital divide in the third world in clipped within 1min and 10 seconds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpAt1lLDXBg&feature=related
Please post a comment, on your thoughts!
- M.M
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