Internet Usage

The internet generally defined as a global network connecting millions of computers. Internet or also known as "Net" first started being developed in the late 1960's and transmitted its first message on Friday, October 29, 1969. 

According to Internet Live Stats, as of August 12, 2016 there was an estimated 3,432,809,100 Internet users worldwide. The number of Internet users represents nearly 40 percent of the world's population. The largest number of Internet users by country is China, followed by the United States and India.

Usage of the internet has increase from time to time. People use the Internet to get a quick access and communicate with others through social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Skype. The internet also serves as a source of entertainment for people due to the relative ease at which one can download music and stream videos online. 

We carried out a survey to study the Internet usage in daily life. There are 100 respondents that took part in this survey. Most of them are the undergraduates students. A majority (57%) of them use the World Wide Web browser (WWW) every 6 hours per day. 85% of respondents primarily use the Internet foe education and work purposes. The survey is divided into five categories of Internet usage which are Online News/ Information, Education/Work Purposes, Online Shopping, Social Networking and Games and Entertainment. 

74% respondents chose to use the internet to inquire online news and information daily. The type of news that they read the most is the local-related news (34%). Instead of that, the other source that the respondents will use to find the information besides Internet is by going to the library (31%). Sometimes, people are more convenient to use the Internet to seek for the daily information because by using their mobile phone or any other devices, they will get everything they need with one click. 

Based on the research for education and work purposes, 79% of respondents use the Internet daily and 89% preferred online source to find their assignment materials. Besides, they are more comfortable to search the information online (58%) than brainstorming among friends. This research is acceptable because by using the Internet, the students can get all the information accurately and they can use less time to finish their assignments.

Next, in this research, a majority of 42% respondents use less that 2 hours to shop online in a day. Most of them chose Lazada as their shopping website (64.8%) but somehow, most of the respondents still prefer to do an outdoor shopping instead of online shopping (70.1%). In my opinion, the reason why they choose outdoor shopping because it is easier for them to look at the quality of the items that they are going to buy. 

In social networking, the respondents (49%) spend more than 5 hours in a day to use the Internet. From all the types of social networks that we listed in the form, 36.4% respondents used Instagram more often in their daily life. Nowadays, the technologies have already control our mind and our life too. As we can see from the survey, the respondents are tend and like to use the social networking application named WhatsApp as a way for them to do the discussion. By using the application above, they can easily connect to each other no matter where they are because everybody will receive the same information.

Other than that, 41% use the Internet for games and entertainment for less that 2 hours in a day. Although the Internet has become a disease that no one could avoid from it but somehow, 59 out of 100 respondents still prefer to hanging out with friends and family rather than play games or enjoy entertainment. Besides that, only 17% respondents are willing to sacrifice their sleep or delay doing chores in order to play more games and watch movies. Last but not least, 55 out of 100 respondents disagree that they would feel incomplete and lonely if they could not play games or enjoy entertainment.

As a conclusion, it is true that Internet has become a need in our daily life because it can make our life easier. But somehow, we cannot really depends on the Internet itself. There are still some people who could live without Internet and continue their life happily. The choice is in your hand whether to rely on the Internet or not. 

Please drop your comments below if you are agree or disagree with my opinion.
Thank you and have a nice day :)

Second Life

An escape to (second) life

Second Life is an online virtual world. It is a platform principally 3D-based user –generated content. The Second Life users or commonly known as residents, can create their own avatar, virtual representations of themselves. Well, with the avatar all set up, the residents are now can explore the world, meet other residents, socialise, and setup businesses and services with one another through its own virtual currency, the Linden Dollar. Linder Dollar is exchangeable with real world currency. With money in hand, the users are able to create their ‘world’ according to their own interest.

This online virtual world is totally legit. The users can spend their money for shopping and also can invest their money for property. Users can be millionaires if they know how to utilise their money.Those hard core users are even have their own private islands! What an interesting life isn't?   

Second Life is similar to massively multiplayer online role-playing games but the developer, Linden Lab insist that Second life is not a game. Online games usually involves manufactured conflict and game objectives. However, Second Life emphasizes free choice, just like our life we are living in, full of choices.Users are able to interact with each other in several ways. They can communicate through chat and instant messaging. Users can do almost anything that they can do in their physical lives.

Second life has developed so much since it is first launched in June 2013. Due to constant development, a number of difficulties have arisen around Second Life such as moral issues (pornography) and mostly technical stuff in the Second Life itself.

Now, enough with the brief explanation on second life. (Pardon me if what I have provided is not enough)

To be able to live in Second Life is amazing. Let’s take a second to stop and think deeper about this Second Life.There are cases where a couple going through a divorce when the wife found out that her husband has an affair with another women in Second Life. Quite surprising in my opinion. Click here for more details.

What will happen if fact and fiction started to collide? Write down your opinions and comments down below. You are welcome to share anything related to Second Life :)

for more information:

criticism of Second Life
Second Life impact on first life

Get a (second) life

Mobile Media & Everyday Life

Nowadays, people depend on mobile media in their everyday life. They go online just to socializing with friends at their personal social media such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The mobile phone or smartphone with high technology built in specifications enable us to use different types of media such a mobile music, mobile videos and more. 

The mobile media depends on the mobile specifications and connectivity. The latest mobile phone usually enables us to use high technology media such as video calling to friends and family inside or outside the country. Besides, a mobile phone is the combination of radio with a telephone. In the United States of America, the police used a phone to communicate within in particular area (walkie-talkie).

Do you know, the first people who invent the first mobile phone in this world are Martin Cooper? He is an American.

Until the 1980s, the official mobile phone was created. In the 80s, only the rich people and businessman have the mobile phone. This is because the price of the phone is too expensive and other ordinary people did not afford to have it. 

Here is the evolution of 1G to the 4G mobile phone.

1G

Motorola DynaTAC 8000Xm is the first analog telephone. They labeled is ‘The Brick’. During 1983, it is marketed to the world. It is the first analog telephone. It is invented by Martin Cooper from the US. 

2G

NOKIA

These 2G phone conversations were digitally encrypted. It is created to call other people within in a country. It is more efficient to use as a communication device. The power usage allows for smaller batteries. It also stated a text message that usually called SMS.

3G

It is invented in the early 2000s. It is made of optical fibers. This mobile phone is faster in term of speed and data capacity. It also provides more services such as digital photographs, MP3, Multimedia Text Messages (MMS).

There is also 3G mobile phone that used QWERTY keypad and it is very popular during this time. The famous phone brand that has QWERTY keyboard is 'Blackberry'.

4G
SAMSUNG

The 4G phone is more develop whereby it becomes quicker and easy to access wireless internet.  The 4G mobile phone user also enjoys stream video from the websites such as YouTube, Yahoo, and Google. 

In conclusion, the evolution of mobile phone will change and become more advance. It is being debated that mobile phone creator developing the features of it based on what people needs in everyday life. So, what do you think about it? Is it necessary for them to keep on upgrading software, apps and phone connectivity for us?   in your opinion, if you are one of the mobile phone creators in the future, what features that you want to make it and why?

Consumptions and Digital Divides

Digital divides, by definition, is the gulf between those who access to computers and the internet, and those who do not. Originally, it was describing a gap in terms of access and usage of information technology. As the years go by, with almost everyone on planet Earth has owned a mobile phone or two, it has become a gap of inequality in a way that who have more bandwidth or those who have less.

Research has shown that the digital divide is more than just an access issue. There are three determinants of digital literacy; information accessibility, information utilization, and information receptiveness. Even more so than accessibility, every user needs to know how to consume the information.

Do you think digital divide in Malaysia is diffuse equally? Does everyone have access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT)? The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) compiled a report on the internet usage of Malaysia in 2012. They stated that only 60.7% of the population had access to the Internet. This is approximately half of Malaysia’s population. In addition, a survey conducted by the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has shown that 42% of the Internet users are of age 20 to 29. Excluding students who were assumed to have no income, it was found that those earning less than RM1000 per month did not use the Internet frequently. From the survey, it could be concluded that wage, age, and educational level have the direct impact on the internet usage activity in Malaysia.

All in all, digital divides are real and exists globally and in Malaysia itself. My question to you are, how do we bridge the gap persists in digital divides? Rather, those who have access to the internet, how do you consume your everyday ICT? Are you aware of your online pattern(s)? Do all users behave the same way?

ONLINE NEWS

In the most recent decade news coverage has entered a phase in which news associations are less hesitant to put resources into online operations. Can online news replace traditional media? Or online news can actually complement it? What do you think?

 

There is good and bad everywhere in all aspect of life, not excluding the online news. Media bias; politically-speaking, lack of sensitivity, discrimination and many more are the examples of bad practices in online news. Those are happening because of the press freedom as well as the freedom of speech in online operations. Apart from that, the online news gives us no cost, unlike the traditional newspaper. There are also various factors of having online news such as the ability to give comments and opinions, continuous updates, different viewpoints as well as more of news choice. Of course, there are plenty of reasons and that’s what makes online news preferable, don’t you think?

News blog and online news are all news located in different medium and perspective. Based on the sites of news blog and online news that I have observed, the online readers are mostly free to comment or give an opinion on the topic discussed. They may sometimes be emotional and bizarre but most of the commentators are brave enough to give their very own stand, whether it is against the topic or vice versa. To the online counterpart from printed newspaper, most of the comments will be selected based on what is appropriate and so. They will mostly pick comments that give the very best description about the news topic discussed and somehow, it happens to be biased.  

I would highly recommend the Malaysian nations to read and absorb news from The Star; whether The Star Online or The Star newspaper. Of course, everyone has their own reason for choosing any particular news media but from my perspective, The Star can be categorized as the most un-bias news media. Other than that, chedet.cc is one of my favourite news blog (put aside the political part). The blog is run by the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir and personally, I like the content of the blog as he gives most of the things to be considered in life. Mind to share your preference?

Whatever we choose to live with, we can think of the pros and cons. It's on us to decide which to be considered as good and bad. Think wise :)

Nice day ahead, everyone!

The Trends of Digital Technology

The Internet has brought about a huge impact and changes the ways we do things and on many aspects of our society. During Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad era, he has implemented the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) as the concerns of development of ICT initiative in Malaysia. The Malaysia’s Internet initiative and development began in 1990 with the establishment of Malaysian Institute of Microelectronic Systems (MIMOS) and the subsequent launching of Joint Advanced Integrated Networking (JARING) as the main Internet Service Provider. 

Digital technology already penetrated the whole world impressively. However, what do you see the impact of the digital consumption brings either towards the use of mobile phones and laptops used by all users around the globe? Basically, social media showed a healthy growth especially in Malaysia because people nowadays can easily access the Internet due to the development of new media and digital consumption. The statistics from Malaysia Digital Association stated that Malaysians spends an average of 18 hours using the Internet each week, of which 7.2 hours a week are spent on watching online videos vs. 10.6 hours on TV. 42% of Malaysian netizen watch TV content and movies via the internet while 80% of Malaysian netizen stream or download online video content each month.

(2016 Malaysia Digital Landscape: Exploring The Digital Landscape in Malaysia - Boosting Growth For A Digital Economy, http://www.malaysiandigitalassociation.org.my/event/2016-malaysia-digital-landscape/ )

We can say that Malaysians are really depended on the internet nowadays. The diffusion of the internet in Malaysia makes us easier to assess and satisfy our needs. Meanwhile, Facebook recorded the top social sites accesses by Malaysians via desktop. 

(Source: comScore MMX Total Malaysia 6+, Home & Work Locations, Desktop & Laptop February 2016).

While for mobile phone, Carat Consumer Connections System 2015 mentioned that Malaysians cannot live without their mobile phones because it is essential for them to stay in touch with people. These are the trends of internet access through the social media via the digital media.

In a narrow scope, students’ life with their smartphones and laptops every day consumed the use of internet really make sense today when we talk about the role of digital devices. Most students tend to use their mobile phones to connect with the people around the campus, get in touch with their families and also for their sake of satisfaction of social life. So we can say here that the development of digital technology really makes a huge impact for all walks of life thus we must appreciate the good use of technology itself for the beneficial aspects.

'CMC' dan kehidupan + Social Presence Theory

'Computer-Mediated Communication' ataupun komunikasi yang menggunakan komputer sebagai perantara adalah satu komunikasi yang popular pada abad ke-21. Kemunculan laman sosial seperti Facebook dan Twitter,menjadi kan 'CMC' ini semakin popular. Secara amnya, semua manusia pasti akan terlibat dengan komunikasi atas talian seperti mesej secara talian, Instant messaging, dan Direct Messaging adalah jenis-jenis komunikasi yang menggunakan komputer.

Saya memang banyak terlibat dengan komunikasi sebegini. Pada zaman sekarang, masyarakat seolah ketagih untuk menggunakan komunikasi sebegini. Mereka lebih gemarkan komunikasi sebegini, kerana mereka bebas untuk menulis dan bercakap. Tetapi dalam kita melihat kelebihan komunikasi menerusi komputer ini, terdapat juga keburukan komunikasi sebegini.

Jika mengikut pada pengalaman yang pernah saya alami, komunikasi sebegini boleh membuat ramai rakan siber saya salah faham akan mesej yang cuba disampaikan. Sedia maklum, komunikasi sebegini amat berbeza dengan komunikasi yang secara berdepan.

Saya percaya bahawa En. Jamali (pensyarah saya di UNIMAS) ada menerangkan bahawa teori “Social Presence Theory” merujuk kepada tahap menonjol seseorang yang terlibat dalam berinteraksi dan juga boleh disebabkan oleh akibat yang lain. Teori ini diperkenalkan oleh Short, Williams & Christie (1976). Kiranya, teori ini menjelaskan bagaimana seseorang individu itu merasakan physical presence antara dirinya dengan orang lain. Dalam hal ini, saya ingin menjelaskan bahawa teori ini menekankan penglibatan media sebagai kayu ukur untuk kita kaji tahap social presence seseorang itu. Bagi pihak pengkaji juga, mereka melihat aspek-aspek sesuatu media itu dalam usaha menonjolkan kesempurnaan berinteraksi. Hipotesis yang dibuat adalah:

===============================================

                    More possible (according to the

physical, visual & audio of a media)

                                        |

                                        |

                                       ˅

                    More potential for “presence”

===============================================

Penyampaian interaksi yang sempurna adalah melalui bersemuka. Namun, jarak akan menjadi penghalang untuk bersemuka lantas kita menggunakan kaedah CMC iaitu dengan penggunaan alat-alat teknologi seperti telefon mudah alih, komputer, dan faks.

1.       Jika kita menggunakan faks atau emel untuk berinteraksi, maka kita hanya akan menggunakan tulisan. Oleh itu, potensi untuk menonjolkan seseorang itu secara fizikal (social presence) adalah sangat rendah. Hal ini menunjukkan bahawa penyampaian interaksi adalah sangat tidak sempurna akibat ketiadaan audio dan visual.

2.       Jika kita menggunakan telefon untuk berinteraksi, maka adanya audio dalam berinteraksi dan penyampaiannya adalah lebih jelas daripada menggunakan tulisan kerana kita mampu mengenal pasti dan menggambarkan orang yang ditelefon seperti bercakap secara bersemuka (namun tanpa visual) atas nada percakapannya untuk meneka emosinya. Oleh itu, potensi untuk melahirkan “social presence” adalah rendah namun lebih baik daripada penggunaan alat peranti yang mengharapkan pada tulisan sahaja.

3.       Potensi untuk mewujudkan “social presence” adalah lebih tinggi jika seseorang individu menggunakan alat peranti teknologi yang membolehkan visual interaktif seperti aplikasi Skype, Face Time, VOOV, dan sebagainya. Hal ini kerana kedua-dua aspek (audio dan visual) adalah terlibat semasa berinteraksi. Kita mampu melihat ekspresi muka dan juga mendengar intonasi percakapan orang tersebut. Oleh itu, kita mampu merasakan keberadaan orang tersebut lebih dekat di sisi berbanding dua contoh situasi yang sebelumnya. Maka, kadar “social presence” adalah tinggi.

Jika melihat pada teori Social Presence, komunikasi akan menjadi lebih efektif sekiranya kehadiran mesej itu difahami, dan komunikasi secara berdepan mempunyai kehadiran dan kefahaman mesej yang tinggi berbanding komunikasi menerusi komputer sebegini (menulis). Ini yang membuat rakan siber selalunya akan salah faham, kesunyian, dan mungkin akan timbul pergaduhan.

Bagaimana dengan anda? Adakah anda juga mengalami perkara yang sama seperti saya dalam konteks ini? Apa pendapat anda berkenaan komunikasi sebegini?

Does Internet really make us stay connected?

With the outburst of the internet growth, everything has become possible. By a single click in your search engine, it could bring you to different countries or different time zone. Undoubtedly, technology has make our life easier, especially in terms of communication. Technology has ease communication between two parties.

Computer mediated communication (CMC) is a "communication that takes place between human being via instrumentality of computers" (Thurlow, Legal & Tomic, 2004). CMC  allowing us to converse from different rooms in the same house as well as from opposites sides of the country. Compared from face to face communication, CMC have no limit in terms of time and place. CMC happen anytime and anywhere.

Also, social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram has prompted a more subtle revolution in the way we communicate.We share more personal information and also communicate with larger audience. This computer mediated communication indeed gives us more opportunity to know more people, have more access with the side of country and allowing us to stay connected 24 hours. But are this technologies or our smartphones actually getting in the way of socializing? Or could technology make us more alone?

For an example, while waiting for the next flight to depart, I see a group of family in a small circles. You would expect the family to be conversing and talking to each other. But to my surprise, no one is talking. They even not staring at each other. Instead, each and everyone of them is staring down at their little rectangular device in their hand that seems to give them more satisfaction than talking to their family. Nowadays, the same situation as above has become normal view or "norms" to us. Since the invention of texting and the ability for message to be sent at rapid speed, society seems has shifted from conventional conversational method to communicating mostly through emoji and texting. People are busy with their smartphones, getting fit in with the latest trend and frequently updating their social network till they seems to lost in their virtual world. Society happens to be more engaging with their smartphone rather than their partner or family.

To conclude this, I leave a few questions for yourself to ponder;

(i) Do you find yourself surrounded by people who are staring at their screen instead of having face-to-face conversation? Are you ever guilty of doing that, too?

(ii) Do you ever try to put your phone down to be more present with the people in the room?

(iii) Is our obsession with documenting everything through photograph and videos preventing us from living the moment?

End of note: This is not about giving up our phone but about using them with greater intention. Conversation is there for us to reclaim. For the failing connection of our digital world, it is the talking cure 💛

Globalization and New Media 2

The definition of globalization can be used to state that globalization is not a uniform process but it contains various context and has the different effect for different people. On the other hand, we can see that globalization has the tendency towards the synchronization, homogeneity, integration, unity and universal.

As the globalization of media has a big impact on the media sector, it also has the impact towards:

1)Cultural diversity

2)Economic aspects

3)Technological aspects

Cultural Diversity

 The media has become the main transmitter of culture. Where we can see that globalization has made new media become well known to the people and it has larger audiences and make the distribution of culture become broader. For example, we can see that Korean culture are now well known to the K-pop fans.

Economic Aspect

 As for economics aspect, globalization engage in various aspects like foreign transaction, investment and the diffusion of technology.

Technological aspects

 The rapid change in the globalization give impact to the technological changes. The use of new media in everyday life has made the interactivity among people become the fastest interaction.