In this week’s readings, Manovick describes the internet as a database with no beginning, middle and end. Databases store data that is utilised in the digital space for organisation and ease of retrieval via search engines.
I tend to agree that the internet in itself does not follow traditional narrative structure as a book would. The internet does not follow a story. It is made up of a collection of various websites, that contain their own stories and narratives within.
Databases stored in print form, such as encyclopaedias, still have a narrative structure, as they are arranged for example alphabetically by topic. This can be true to the internet too, as stories within the overall database are arranged in their own narrative sequence. It may not be the overall internet that is a narrative, but there are narratives within the big database.
Despite being told from a young age to be aware of internet hoaxes, sometimes they can be scarily convincing. I found myself in a situation earlier in the year where I nearly fell for an internet hoax.
I received an email from the “Australian Taxation Office” notifying me that I had unclaimed tax to my name, as my last tax return was calculated incorrectly. The ATO letterhead and font and the wording of the email was very convincing. There weren’t any obvious signs of a scam such as send us your credit details to receive your money.
I was almost convinced to sign up for my free money, until my boyfriend suggested I double check with the ATO over the phone that the email wasn’t a hoax. When I called the ATO, they confirmed that the email was a scam.
I was lucky that proactive thinking and actions were taken before a serious problem was created. So how do we know what is valid and what isn’t on the internet? We don’t, but one thing I learnt is it is always best to double check.
All rights reserved: Asheboro Public Library
Adrian raised a point in the lecture today about authors. He stated that authors are not actually considered authors unless they are published. More specifically, he suggested that being published meant having writing featured in print form. He then went on to say that anyone who is not published however has written something, is a wannabe writer and author and nothing more. Although I strongly disagree.
With the new technologies that have allowed for network literacy to be established, there have been new forms and ways that writing can be published. Websites have allowed for authors to publish their work online, blogs allow for new authors and writers to express their thoughts and even Facebook and Twitter have allowed for ordinary people to publish their writing online.
Network literacy and the creation of the online world has enabled a different kind of expression and a new way to get work published. It allows for writers and authors to self-publish online, and in some cases this has lead to being published in print. Print phenomenon Fifty Shades of Grey was initially published by E.L James online, and then printed after the traction it had online.
Bottom line, there is more to publishing than simply having your writing in a book. In a world that is increasingly becoming more network literate, it is essential to consider publishing beyond print.
All rights reserved: g4ll4is via Flickr
Sponsored posts and advertising are becoming frightening on social media. Today I was researching the Fitbit Flex Wristband, reading reviews and checking numerous online stores to compare prices.
Later when I went on Facebook and my favourite AFL Blog, I noticed that there were advertisements for the Fitbit Flex staring at me! Was this a coincidence? Absolutely not. It is frightening how the Internet can retain this information and slowly gather a portfolio of information about our lives.
