SixthSense is a wearable gestural interface device that augments the physical world with digital information and lets people use natural hand gestures to interact with that information. It was developed by Pranav Mistry, a PhD student in the Fluid Interfaces Group at the MIT Media Lab. It is similar to a neckworn projector+camera system developed by Media Lab student Steve Mann which Mann originally referred to as "Synthetic Synesthesia of the Sixth Sense".



Basically, Sixth Sense is a mini-projector coupled with a camera and a cellphone—which acts as the computer and your connection to the Cloud, all the information stored on the web. Sixth Sense can also obey hand gestures, like in the infamous Minority Report.

However, instead of requiring you to be in front of a big screen like Tom Cruise, Sixth Sense can do its magic—and a lot more—everywhere.

The camera recognizes objects around you instantly, with the micro-projector overlaying the information on any surface, including the object itself or your hand. Then, you can access or manipulate the information using your fingers. Need to make a call? Extend your hand on front of the projector and numbers will appear for you to click. Need to know the time? Draw a circle on your wrist and a watch will appear. Want to take a photo? Just make a square with your fingers, highlighting what you want to frame, and the system will make the photo—which you can later organize with the others using your own hands over the air.

But those are just novelty applications. The true power of Sixth Sense lies on its potential to connect the real world with the Internet, and overlaying the information on the world itself. Imagine you are at the supermarket, thinking about what brand of soap is better. Or maybe what wine you should get for tonight's dinner. Just look at objects, hold them on your hands, and Sixth Sense will show you if it's good or bad, or if it fits your preferences or not.

Now take this to every aspect of your everyday life. You can be in a taxi going to the airport, and just by taking out your boarding pass, Sixth Sense will grab real time information about your flight and display it over the ticket. You won't need to do any action. Just hold it in front of your and it will work.

The key here is that Sixth Sense recognizes the objects around you, displaying information automatically and letting you access it in any way you want, in the simplest way possible.

Clearly, this has the potential of becoming the ultimate "transparent" user interface for accessing information about everything around us. If they can get rid of the colored finger caps and it ever goes beyond the initial development phase, that is. But as it is now, it may change the way we interact with the real world and truly give everyone complete awareness of the environment around us.

Or just make a few people look like dorks. It can go either way, really. Whatever it is, I want to try it.

The first Facebook benefits that I have found is that I am able to find some of my old friends from all my previous schools that I have fallen out of contact with. I know that if you're like me, some of your close friends stay in contact with you, but others just fall away and see you only on rare occasions.

The second Facebook benefit that I know of is that Facebook has many groups on the site that you can join. So if you are interested in America's Next Top Model (ANTM) you can research ANTM in the groups section and you will be able to find friends on there that like the programme just as much as you do. Now that is just one example that I can say right away, but I know that you can join groups for being a fan of your favorite football team, television show, or whatever you want for the most part. Another Facebook benefits is that even if you are unable to find the group that you are looking for, but think that an interest would exist you will be able to start your own group!



The third Facebook benefit that I have found is that you are able to chat with your friends just like you were able to on some of the original Internet programs. I know that some people do not like talking online to others, but if you do not have free long distance or are unsure of peoples phone numbers that are your old friends you can talk to them on Facebook and manage to save yourself a long distance phone call. However, at times you will still want to get that personal connection and call someone up.


With such wonderful benefits from using Facebook, it is no wonder nearly everyone I know, including my aunties, parents and little cousins, all have and use Facebook. Now if only they come up with a software which can limit our time on Facebook so that youths like me will not be able to be distracted by it and be able to complete our homework in no time. (instead of a few hours because someone just changed their status and you had to read and comment on it, or because somebody just uploaded a bunch of new photos)

Our teacher showed us this blog in class and after looking through quite a few other videos, I still find this to be the most comprehensive (and cute) video explaining what blogs are. So here it is. ((:



I also found another video! But this is on trends in online journalism.

So is journalism on the internet here to stay? Well the majority thinks so.

"Citizen journalism and social media also have important roles to play, and in one form or another they are here to stay. The power of social media to spot and report news in real time is well illustrated by the Austin airplane incident. Beyond news, social media and blogs provide a deep reservoir of information and a wide range of opinion that we could not have imagined even 10 years ago. Citizen journalists and commentators enhance the richness and diversity of expression and keep professional journalists on their toes. Tools like Twitter promote free expression and make it available to people who would otherwise be heard. Finally, social media have demonstrated an amazing ability to engage and motivate large numbers of people, as we saw during the recent Haitian relief effort."

"It was citizen journalists using new media who directed mainstream news organizations to [the plane's pilot] Joe Stack’s anti-government note, which turned the story from a local tragedy to one of national and international importance. Our news policy prevents us from spreading information we haven’t confirmed, so we sat on the note until we confirmed Stack owned the [website on which the note was found]. And even then, we talked about how to report on the note’s contents. With everything we tweeted, we stayed committed to being respectful, factual, and sensitive."

"Aggregating and curating content with attribution should become part of a BBC journalist’s assignment; and BBC’s journalists have to integrate and listen to feedback for a better understanding of how the audience is relating to the BBC brand."

The fact that I am now blogging for my school assignment should also be indicative that blogging news or twittering it, will be here to stay in future.

The 2008 U.S. presidential campaign drew the attention of the world. In the aftermath, the Obama campaign's use of Facebook, YouTube and Twitter were widely credited with helping secure the historic victory of President Barack Obama.








Mr. Obama used the Internet to organize his supporters in a way that would have in the past required an army of volunteers and paid organizers on the ground. Mr. Obama’s campaign took advantage of YouTube for free advertising. And those videos were more effective than television ads because viewers chose to watch them or received them from a friend instead of having their television shows interrupted.

I then read from the New York times that:

“The campaign’s official stuff they created for YouTube was watched for 14.5 million hours,” Mr. Trippi said. “To buy 14.5 million hours on broadcast TV is $47 million.”

There has also been a sea change in fact-checking, with citizens using the Internet to find past speeches that prove a politician wrong and then using the Web to alert their fellow citizens.

The John McCain campaign, for example, originally said that Governor Sarah Palin opposed the so-called bridge to nowhere in Alaska, Ms. Huffington said. “Online there was an absolutely obsessive campaign to prove that wrong,” she said, and eventually the campaign stopped repeating it.

“In 2004, trust me, they would have gone on repeating it, because the echo chamber would not have been as facile,” Ms. Huffington said.

The Internet also let people repeatedly listen to the candidates’ own words in the face of attacks, Mr. Huffington said. As Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s incendiary words kept surfacing, people could re-watch Mr. Obama’s speech on race. To date, 6.7 million people have watched the 37-minute speech on YouTube.

So since the internet has been changing the way politics works in America, perhaps one day soon, Singapore would be in the same position. Political candidates will upload their campaign videos on youtube, set up facebook and twitter accounts, instead of a few "meet the MP" sessions where they shake some people's hands (preferably some old couple and then some little kids), and ask them (and thank them in advance) for voting for them.

Using the internet has been proven effective in aiding ones political campaign so I sincerely hope that the Singapore government might start to allow a little more freedom in this area to allow the various political views to be aired, shared and commented on.

For many people in the technologically savvy crowd, fantasy role-playing has evolved from D&D-style board games to "Might & Magic"-esque linear narratives to immersive virtual worlds like "EverQuest." The number of subscribers to online computer games like "World of Warcraft" has skyrocketed over the past couple of years. There's an entire underground economy where people can buy and sell the in-game currency and items. The graphics and artificial intelligence have reached exciting new levels. It's all enough to get people hooked on paying that monthly fee. But when does that passion for simulated adventure turn into an addiction?



I do not want anybody I know turning into that boy. So i checked it out and if you have the following symptoms, you, I am afraid, are addicted to online gaming.

Signs of Online Gaming Addiction

1. Inability to stop the activity
2. Neglect of family and friends
3. Lying to employers and family about activities
4. Problems with school or job
5. Carpal tunnel syndrome
6. Dry Eyes
7. Failure to attend to personal hygiene
8. Sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns
9. Feeling empty, depressed, irritable when not at the computer
10. Craving more and more time at the computer

But all is not lost! As i read up on online gaming addiction articles online, most websites actually state the causes of this addiction and how to help one get out of it.

So if u ticked off most or worse, all of the above symptoms, please try to stop playing so much. Go and make more friends, enjoy an evening walk with your dog, take up a sport or a hobby like cooking!

In the past, online security meant passing my laptop and computers over to my dad to install some software. I did not know exactly what it was and what it could do.

So I found a cute video on what a virus could do to ones desktop.



So after that I went online to check out what I could do to prevent such a malicious attack on my computer. I did not want to ever face a situation where my homework, songs and pictures just get deleted from my laptop.

Some steps to take to help prevent nasty viruses would be:

1. Avoid Unknown Attachments. Nowadays, most viruses are spread via e-mail attachments which, thankfully, can only become active when the attachment is opened or unzipped. While you cannot contract a virus just by receiving e-mail, it is a good idea to delete messages containing attachments if you do not know the sender, or if the subject line includes a tempting phrase like “Here is the file I promised you.”

2. Avoid Bootleg or Pirated Software. With popular software packages running upwards of $200, it can be hard to resist the lure of the bootleg versions freely available on Internet file sharing utilities such as FreeNet and Gnutella. Virus writers take advantage of the insatiable market for bootlegs to disseminate their creations across the Internet and around the world.

3. Treat Floppy Disks and CDs With Suspicion. Prior to the mid-1990s, most computer viruses were spread via infected floppy disks. While floppy disks aren't inherently evil, as they pass through many hands and many computers, they have an increasingly greater chance of becoming infected by a virus - one that will then infest your system. New technologies such as CD burners (recorders) also open new doors for viruses to slip through.Homemade CD-RW disks (CDs which can be re-written using a burner) with unknown pedigrees can also be a source of infection.

4. Back It Up. Along with hardware failure, theft and acts of God or Nature, the possibility of viral infection is just one more reason to back up your data regularly. For Windows users, once you have chosen a backup medium (floppy disk, zip disk, CD-RW, tape drive), you can set up the Task Scheduler in Windows 95/98 to perform automatic backups on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Still, you should always keep the last and the next-to-the-last backups in case you need to restore files that have been corrupted.

5. Purchase Antivirus Software. Most antivirus software packages offer an automatic background protection mode, which will detect and clean out infections as they appear. If you don’t have this option, be sure to use the software to scan any and all Internet downloads, e-mail attachments and foreign disks before you open or run them. (More information on antiviral software is coming up in the next sections.)

6. Check System Requirements. The last thing you need is to trek out, buy the software, trek back, try to install it and get a nasty error message saying "Unable to install program. You need Windows version XYZ." For example, the Windows 98 version of Symantec's Norton AntiVirus may not work on an NT 2000 system. Make sure you check the minimum system requirements and platform on the package before you buy to make sure you get the right version.

7. Scan All Drives. Once you've purchased and installed the software, schedule regular scans. Most virus scan programs are set to automatically scan the C: Drive first. It's easy to think you're home free when no viruses are found. Make sure you set the program to check all drives, including e-mail programs, as many viruses are delivered through e-mail attachments and Internet files, and spread through shared documents.

9. Update Often. For optimum protection, antivirus software must be updated on a monthly basis so that it can recognize and eradicate new bugs as they make the rounds. The updates can usually be found on the software company’s Web site, but if you need reminding, many packages will allow you to schedule automatic updates. Still, you should never assume that your antiviral software offers complete protection from infection, and you should continue to take basic safe computing precautions.

HEY!! For my 125 project this semester, my group did it on the online travel agency company, Travelocity! Travelocity is an awesome site because it is a one stop place for you to book not only your plane tickets and accommodation at the cheapest prices, but also car rentals and itenaries (such as to Disneyland or that rockstars concert).

So in this video I will be explaining some unique features of the Travelocity website.

First thing in the morning and my friends and I are all cursing and swearing on twitter, "Why is the stupid traffic jam not moving!", "Where is the damn bus? I have been waiting for 20mins already!", "I am going to be late for class and miss taking my attendance, AGAIN!!!".

Welcome to the woes of a student who cannot wake up on time every morning for class. Having spent a few hundred on cab fares last month in a feeble attempt to get to class on time, imagine my delight when I found out that this semester, I have to take an online module!

This semester, I am taking Ntr 109 and Ntr 110. Ntr 110 is an online course (because apparently our lecturers here are not qualified to mark our labs, or so I heard...)I am usually still late for 109 because the class is at 9 on friday mornings... NINE. IN THE MORNING. Just emphasizing... But 110 is a course where I just have to hand up my labs by 9 every friday morning!

So this is how it works. Every week I go for my 109 lecture and the lecturer will go through with the class what we are supposed to do for our lab that week. We go home, or out, or anywhere, because all we need is a laptop and internet access to download our assignments. All we have to do is complete the assignment and make sure we submit it through the blaackboard's digital dropbox (on UBLearns) to our American lecturer (who is qualified to mark our labs...) before the dateline. THAT IS IT. So simple.

Reasons why i prefer this to attending a conventional class in school.

1. I save a lot of money from not having to cab to school.
2. I do not need to wake up early, I just need to submit my lab by 9 every friday morning. Beauty sleep is very important too!
3. I have no trouble with falling asleep/getting distracted/daydreaming in class because THERE IS NO CLASS. (unless you choose to count 109 as the lecture...)
4. I can do my assignment whenever I want, where ever i want, so long as it is before the dateline given.

So maybe I should consider taking more online modules...

Here are some websites I read up on to learn more about e-learning:
http://www.articulate.com/blog/the-19-best-elearning-blogs/
http://www.downes.ca/post/31741
http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Review/EDUCAUSEReviewMagazineVolume39/EducationalBlogging/157920

I LOVE SHOPPING. Which girl doesn't? But living in Singapore means shopping habits adding up to costly astronomical sums if you don't keep yourself, and the bank account, in check.

And then you discover the joys of shopping online!!! Many school going girls have been setting up online shops on social media sites such as livejournal and blogger as the cost of starting up and maintaining the shop is not very high (low overheads). The clothes they sell are popular with their peers because they cost a fraction of what we usually pay at shops in the malls as the girls get them straight from wholesalers. This business model would then be a consumer to consumer (C2C) business model.

I favor the C2C model simply because the girls know what kind of styles I like, and sell them at a much lower cost than most other places. Being consumers themselves, they know what trends and looks are popular, and therefore brings in more of those items to sell. Also because of the low overhead costs, these get translated into increased cost savings for us, the consumers.

So now instead of only being able to buy one dress for $100 at shopping centers, I am now able to purchase three or four dresses with the same amount!

$$$$$$$$$$$



A list of some online shops I check out frequently:
http://bonitochico.livejournal.com/
http://hollyhoque.livejournal.com/
http://www.therobotninjas.com/
http://hervelvetvase.com/
http://loveandbravery.blogspot.com/

After using my old half croaked Nokia phone for THREE whole years, my dad finally got me a blackberry in dec! As expected I was really elated and over the moon about it. Sadly, I must admit I am not a tech junkie, in fact I think I am quite the opposite, I think I am a tech noob...



So anyway being the tech noob that I am, it took me quite a while to figure out all the functions of my new NEARLY-smarter-than-me smartphone. So while having fun discovering and playing with my new toys functions and applications, I stumbled upon the blackberry messenger (BBM) service.





-side track- some background information about myself, I hardly ever use my MSN whenever I am on the computer because I did not see a need to use it.

Initially while I added my friends to my BBM contact list, I was skeptical and thought to myself "Why am I going through this whole huge hassle, trying to get my friend's PINs and adding them when i can simply just send them an SMS? After all my new student plan allowed for unlimited SMSs."



BUT IT WAS ALL WORTH IT. BBM has got to be one of the coolest applications on a blackberry! I love using it because:

1. Format: I can easily view the entire thread of the conversation I was having. I tend to have the bad habit of forgetting what I just asked the person and hence when the person replies, the replies makes no sense unless i slowly scroll through my sent messages and inbox to find out where I left off in the conversation. So using my BBM totally eliminates this problem! Little things like that make me so happy, life's gooood!!! Haha..

2. The little D and R in the corner: Ever wondered if the person you sent a message to has read it but chose to ignore it, thus making you wait only forever by the phone for a reply? HA. With the BBM, one can now know if the recipient has read your message and chosen to reply, or not. Once a message is sent out through the BBM, a little nondescript D will appear on the top left hand corner. This means your message has been delivered and your friends blackberry's light is flashing nonstop in an attempt to get the owner's attention. Once your friend has read the message, the D will change into a R! So you will know if someone has chosen to ignore/reply you later/is busy/has more important things than reply your just as important message. Heh heh.



3. Sharing files and pics: BBM allows you to do this! No guys allowed in the changing rooms? No problem, just snap a picture of yourself in that new dress you are thinking of getting and send it to him. As everything is in real-time, he will be able to receive the picture straight away and let you know if you look fat or not. Hence helping you make that all important decision on if you should get another $100 dress which you know you don't really need...

4. Talking/sharing with multiple contacts at once: So much easier to organize events and pass messages around now! Just type once, click send, and everyone will receive the message and be able to see each others comments.

5. FREE: And the best part is that it is all FREE. (don't count the data plan charges la)

So being curious (and wanting to make sure the smartphone is not smarter than me), I checked out the blackberry website to find out all the cool functions of the BBM.
Here is the website for you to check it out (and then also get a blackberry so that my BBM contact list doesn't look so pathetic). Go to this page to find out more about the BBM features and system requirements.
http://na.blackberry.com/eng/devices/features/im/blackberry_messenger.jsp

SO WHAT'S YOUR PIN? ADD ME.

This week i took away from class all about the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP). HTTP is the Internet protocol used to transfer web pages and was developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). It runs in the application layer of the TCP/IP model. A HTTP session begins when a clients browser requests a resource, such as a Web page, from a remote internet server. When the internet server responds by sending the page requested, the HTTP session for that object ends.

Below is a sample conversation between an HTTP client and an HTTP server running on www.example.com, port 80, taken from wikipedia.

Client request

 GET /index.html HTTP/1.1
Host: www.example.com

A client request is followed by a blank line, so that request ends with a double newline, each in the form of a carriage return followed by a line feed. The "Host" header distinguishes between various DNS names sharing a single IP address, allowing name-based virtual hosting. While optional in HTTP/1.0, it is mandatory in HTTP/1.1.

Server response

 HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Date: Mon, 23 May 2005 22:38:34 GMT
Server: Apache/1.3.3.7 (Unix)  (Red-Hat/Linux)
Last-Modified: Wed, 08 Jan 2003 23:11:55 GMT
Etag: "3f80f-1b6-3e1cb03b"
Accept-Ranges: bytes
Content-Length: 438
Connection: close
Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8

A server response is followed by a blank line and text of the requested page. The ETag (entity tag) header is used to determine if a cached version of the requested resource is identical to the current version of the resource on the server. Content-Type specifies the Internet media type of the data conveyed by the http message, while Content-Length indicates its length in bytes. The HTTP/1.1 webserver publishes its ability to respond to requests for certain byte ranges of the document by setting the header Accept-Ranges: bytes. This is useful if the client needs to have only certain portions of a resource sent by the server, which is called byte serving. When Connection: close is sent in a header, it means that the web server will close the TCP connection immediately after the transfer of this package.

A video on the history of the internet I found!