This is the end...

My overall experience with this class was positive. I took this course based on what was available for a major elective. It was not a course I signed up for due to an interest in technology or computers. However, through the readings, blogs, and discussion board activities I learned a lot about myself, technology, as well as the culture we are living in. I never realized how dependent our society has become on technology. As I am somewhat skeptical of technology, computers, and the internet it was refreshing to see other people in this class share similar feelings. I found it interesting that a majority of the other students in this class had a "not so positive" outlook on technology and where it is taking us. I thought that I was in the small minority of people making up the resistance.

When I started this course eight weeks ago it was discouraging to see that I would have to read two different text books for an online class. After reading Wood and Smith in the first week and Postman in the second week I came to appreciate both books. Reading both texts was helpful in seeing both sides of the technology spectrum: one that Wood and Smith tend to favor and embrace and the opposite which Postman seems to resist. I soon learned that both texts were crucial to understanding the concepts covered in this class. It would be inappropriate for us, as students, to make claims and arguments about technology without seeing both sides of the issue. At points it became frustrating switching back and forth between the two. This led to a feeling of being bombarded with information from each side. As soon as a I started to grasp what Wood and Smith were claiming, I would follow up with Postman who contradicted everything the former had argued. Despite the somewhat present confusion, reading both of the texts was an enjoyable experience and helped me to make more informed decisions.

All of the weekly blog assignments were enjoyable for the most part. In the first week we all had to abstain from the internet for twenty-four hours. This exercise taught me the more than any other assignment. It was an excellent first activity as it showed me the dependency our culture has on the internet and technology. What I thought would be a relatively easy task turned out to be one of the more difficult things I have recently had to do. I also took a lot away from the interview assignment. Conducting three interviews with people from different generations was informative and let me see different perspectives. I was surprised to see how much my mom embraced and used the internet while my girlfriend could easily live without it. This taught me that not all young people embrace the internet and technology just the same way there are older people who are technically inclined and adept.

I had the most difficulty with the week six assignment. This assignment demanded that we join an internet group or community. The last thing I wanted to do for this class was sign up for something that I would never use after the week's assignment was completed. This is not a huge problem but becomes frustrating when you continue to get email from this website or organization long after you terminate your account. This is the one activity from this class that I would look to change, substitute, or modify in some fashion.

Now this class is finished and I am glad to have shared and received insight with fellow classmates. The assignments done in the class ultimately showed me how much, and to what extent technology runs our lives. This says a lot about our culture. As this has been the path we have chosen to follow it must be acknowledged that technology is here to stay and will continue to complicate our lives.

Cyber Scamming and Identity Theft

I spent some time thinking about this week's assignment and tried to reference a positive communication exchange that occurred in the realm of cyberspace. It was important to find something unique that did not fall into the everyday category of email exchange. I struggled a great deal and came to the conclusion that communication online was not something that had been an overly positive experience for me. As nothing stuck out in my mind I thought back to a time five or six years ago when I had my identity stolen online. I learned this through reviewing my monthly bank statement to find that someone other than myself had charged a great deal of money to my visa for various memberships to japanimation websites.

I knew these charges were incorrect right away as I viewed my monthly bank statement but I was unsure how this person got a hold of my credit card information. I thought back to recent purchases and my activity online. I had recently purchased some merchandise on ebay but was under this impression that my credit card information was secured through PayPal. This obviously was not the case as I became a target of identity theft. I am fairly hesitant to make online purchases and give out any private information online. This situation could have been avoided if I did not give out my credit card information to a complete stranger in cyberspace. This situation was exacerbated due to the fact my transaction took place online. When people give out information online they become easier targets for identity theft and scams. Identity theft can happen offline but it is far more difficult. When transactions occur online it becomes much easier to fall victim to scamming and identity theft.

The lesson I learned from this was that it is important to use caution and be responsible in giving out your credit card online. This may seem like a "no brainer" but I was misinformed to believe I was using a secure website in which my information would be kept private. Just because a website claims it is secure does not mean this is necessarily the case. Computer hackers are extremely intelligent as they can navigate through cyberspace and obtain very personal information from anyone or any organization.

Wood and Smith discuss race, class, and internet usage in chapter 8 of their text. Internet access has become a key component to public life for most Americans according to a research study conducted of September of 2001. During the time the research was conducted it was concluded that over 2 million more Americans will go online every month. It was also concluded that internet usage nearly doubled for users of all races between 1998 and 2001. With more people using the internet everyday it becomes easier for cyber-theft to occur. Identity theft can happen to anyone and crosses all boundaries of race, age, and sex. With more Americans putting themselves in cyberspace it is important for us all to use caution and be careful of our activities online.