CCT205-Lab-Assignments

My changecamp would be called MusiCamp, and I would give underprivileged children the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument. Because music lessons and instruments can be very expensive, and sometimes public school music programs do not teach instruments like guitar or teach the type of music that children would like to learn, at MusiCamp they would have the ability to do so. Children could learn to play the piano, violin, guitar, drums or bass guitar, and even learn how to use turntables for DJing. MusiCamp doesn't have to just be for children who can't afford instruments; it could be for children who would like to try out an instrument before making an expensive purchase and regretting it later.
 * Assignment 1** *

I would ask local music stores and musical instrument manufacturers for either donations, discount rentals or free rentals of musical instruments, in return for promotion of their brands and stores. A company like Fender guitars would probably jump at the opportunity to be the only brand to provide guitars to MusiCamp knowing that their guitars would be the only ones ever played by a child. Local musicians and music teachers would be on hand to teach, meet the children and hand out their information for those who want to pursue their interest in music further. It is a known fact that musical knowledge in children leads to improved academic performance, and not only will these children be helping their brains, they will also be making their dreams come true; and MusiCamp will be there to help them.

The organization One Laptop Per Child might miss the boat on its mission statement; giving a laptop to a child doesn't mean that child will use the laptop for educational purposes. While giving a laptop to a child who needs it helps to reduce the digital divide, and a laptop will mean they can access libraries and books and knowledge from all over the world, it does not necessary mean it will be used to access such knowledge.
 * Assignment 2** *

The laptops need to be guided by a teacher or guardian of some sort who can make sure the laptops will be put to good use. If the laptop usage can be supervised then the social effects of having laptops to underprivileged children can be seen. Children in the third world could have the opportunity to access the same resources that children from the West would have.

The iPad is not a revolutionary gadget; it will not change society the way the Internet or World Wide Web has. The BlackBerry changed the way phones are used, but it was not revolutionary either. Just because Steve Jobs releases a new product does not mean that it will change information society, and until Apple can come up with something featuring technology that hasn't only evolved from previous technology, but is completely brand new, the iPad or any product from Apple will not be revolutionary.
 * Assignment 3**

Connected or disconnected?
 * Assignment 4** *

There are pros and cons to Facebook. In the connected category, I can keep up with friends who have gone away to different universities and I don't get to see in person except during holidays. I can browse their pictures to see if they've changed their looks, and I can find out if they're dating anyone. Basically, Facebook lets me cyber-stalk girls from my high school to see if they've gotten gross or ugly or if they have a boyfriend.

In the disconnected side, I find that people rely too heavily on Facebook. I know I for one have sat at my computer the day after a party waiting for pictures to be uploaded just so I can browse all the pictures of myself. This feature is certainly something I can live without, but I like the luxury of being able to see myself on the Internet.

Sometimes hiding something can be a good thing; for example, I've hidden what I'm doing for Valentine's day from my girlfriend. It will certainly make for a pleasant surprise for her. There are other things that I can hide that I wouldn't want everyone to know; how much money I make in a year, what kind of income my parents have or my personal information.
 * Assignment 5** *

I think that with the Internet nowadays people are beginning to share things more freely, and sometimes without care, and they forget who could be looking at that information. Personal information is posted way too often on Facebook, for example, and that's how things like identity theft happen; by giving out unnecessary information via mediums that you shouldn't be sharing that information on.

Web 2.0 is the interactive web; the ability for anyone who has access to the Internet to voice their opinion or post their own content to the World Wide Web via multiple mediums. A great example of Web 2.0 is Myspace.com (though it's fallen out of disuse with most people who had previously used it). People can upload content to their own website, network with others, and even change the look and feel of their profile. With Facebook, a person has to use the boilerplate profile, but with Myspace, you can use HTML to change the look of your profile.
 * Assignment 7** *

Users can look up friends and interact with them online, or they can make new friends with users on the website. There are also profiles for bands, artists and other types of services, which bring those services closer to the users of Myspace, and make them easier to find. Myspace also features a blogging ability, so a person does not need to have a blog and a Myspace profile, when they can incorporate their blog into their Myspace. Myspace is a great example of Web 2.0 with its user-driven content and popularity.