TWC Thoughts, Week 5

Before the lesson, I was actually quite excited about this topic as I have a particular interest in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). I feel that endless possibilities are possible with the internet and social media today. Information from the whole world can just be a mouse click away. Also, I’m quite glad that from this lesson on, we’ll be covering one topic per lesson as I feel that this will give us more time for deeper discussions and also to internalise the key points raised.

ICT and World Change (Mass Media, the Internet, Wireless, Interactive Telecommunications) - Past, Present and Future

We started off the discussion with some forms of ICT, namely mass media, internet, social networking, crowdsourcing, gaming, wireless technology, interactive telecommunication, information systems, cloud computing and data management. For me, the more interesting ones would be the internet and cloud computing.

The internet evolved tremendously over the past couple of decades. It started around the early 90s with web 1.0, which is basically the internet presenting one way information to its users without any input from the user. Gradually, web 2.0 came about with mediums like Facebook and Youtube where users can post content on the internet and also interact with other users. Currently, we are at the brink of web 3.0, the internet of services. It can be described as a personal assistant who personalises content that we are exposed to. One such example in its infancy stages would be the Google assistant in smartphones. Based on our previous Google searches and internet activity, it can actually identify our location(country), hobbies, etc. Thereafter, the Google assistant will regularly feed us information such as the location’s time, weather, traffic, and even the match results of our favourite football team. This personalised touch is what is so unique about web 3.0. Like what Prof mentioned, it would be an internet that is working behind you to design your itinerary details(time of flight, places to visit, who to visit, etc) when you are going overseas. This is truly breathtaking.

However, with this comes the issue of privacy. Just how secure is the internet? Will others be able to know our location, hobbies, taste and preferences?

Another exciting form of ICT will be cloud computing. It is a shared data centre that basically allows users to access their data from anywhere with internet connection. For businesses, this will do away with the need to have a technical support team for their data servers. Companies will only need to pay a nominal monthly subscription compared to huge costs needed to maintain huge data servers. When the individual misplaces his/her device, there is no loss of information as all data is still in the cloud. The individual will also be able to access the data in the cloud anywhere with just a simple device (tablet/smartphone) with a web browser. This brings about great convenience.

As usual, critics will point out that the security of classified business information in a shared data centre is a cause for concern. I do not see it this way. Cloud computing companies such as Dropbox will not want their painstakingly built up reputation to take a beating now, just as they are having some success in converting users to cloud computing. Thus they will take extra measures to secure the shared data servers. Information there might even be safer than the traditional data servers. There is also no credible evidence that using shared data servers will compromise classified information. It’s as good as saying that keeping our money in the bank is dangerous and we should keep it with ourselves wherever we go. Hence, this form of conventional thinking has to go for us to progress.

Key Take Away Points 

For me, the key take away point of the lesson would be the need for developing countries to have access to these ICTs so as to solve their poverty issues. Like what Previous Secretary-General of the United Nation said “Today’s real borders are not between nations, but between powerful and powerless, free and fettered, privileged and humiliated.” Hence once we are able to get such forms of ICTs to them(and there are countless policies to do so), they’ll have a much better chance of closing bridging the borders and alleviating their problems.

There is also another observation I made with regards to interactive telecommunication. With just our smart phones and free applications such as Skype and Whatsapp, we can easily make video calls and communicate with anyone across the world who has the same application. Now this changes the playing field for telcos who can no longer rely on calls to make their profits in the long run. They would then have to reinvent themselves and come up with new technologies and strategies (such as data services). But it remains to be seen if their reinvention would be enough. This is another example of how companies would be left behind if they do not change.

Personal Ratings for Session

I would rate the lesson 9/10. I really like the fact that we covered all parts of the topic rather comprehensively.