Episode 0036, 02/15/2008
Title: CourseCast 36: Citizens, Phones, and Neutrality
Description: Citizen Journalism Blooms on CNN, Modular Cell Phones, Net Neutrality Is Back in the News, and other topics
Welcome to Course Technology's CourseCast of the week, Episode 36, recorded February 15th, 2008.
This is Ken Baldauf bringing you this week's technology news and information. This CourseCast is brought to you by Course Technology. Check out www.course.com for innovative textbooks and creative electronic learning solutions.
Story 1 - Citizen Journalism Blooms on CNN
With so many camera phones on the streets, it has become common place for passersby to capture photos or video of news events as they occur. Sometimes those photos and videos are passed along to television or newspapers where they are incorporated into the daily news. The convenience of digital media, and the freedom to publish on the Web, has inspired many ordinary folks to take on the role of journalists. Known as citizen journalists, these individuals are able to provide the public with more wide-spread coverage of news than traditional main stream media can manage. They publish their stories through blogs, YouTube, and other Web sources. Unfortunately, many citizen journalists are not formally trained in journalistic practices, and may mislead the public with stories that are biased or unsubstantiated. For this reason, citizen journalists have developed an adversarial relationship with main-stream media which is often critical of the practice.
In August of 2006, mainstream media giant CNN extended a hand to citizen journalists by creating an online tool called iReport. Citizen journalists could use iReport to upload photos and videos to CNN, which might then be used by CNN in its news programming. Unfortunately, due to high standards and a rigorous screening process, only about ten percent of the photos and videos uploaded by citizens ever made it to the CNN screen. Now CNN has opened iReport.com. Like YouTube, iReport.com allows citizens to upload user-generated news stories in the form of video, photographs, and drawings (cartoons) for the world to view on the Web. Unlike the previous edition of iReport, these uploads are not screened for journalistic integrity, however, some of the content is chosen to for CNN's news programming. Through iReport.com, CNN is highlighting the positive aspects of both mainstream media, and citizen journalism.
Sources: CNN launches Web site for citizen journalists (Reuters), www.ireport.com
Story 2 - Modular Cell Phones
One of the world's premier mobile phone events, the Mobile World Congress, took place in Barcelona last week. Many new and exciting mobile phones were unveiled at the event, but the one that garnered the most attention is a tiny phone, only slightly larger than a domino, called the Modu. Modu Mobile is an Israeli startup that believes the world is ready for a new kind of phone. Like many of today's phones, the modu supports voice and text messaging, contacts, and media. It's large capacity 16 GB flash drive can store ample amounts of music, video and other types of files. While the Modu has impressive capabilities, its small form factor is much less impressive -but that's the idea!
The unique feature of the Modu is that it is designed to slip into a variety of different types of "jackets". The jackets are designed to provide different functionality and appearance. For example, a business person may select a conservative black and silver jacket that includes additional business features. A student might choose a more flamboyant jacket with additional media features. The Modu could be slipped into a port in a car dashboard to connect with the car's sound system for hands-free operation. It might slip into a picture frame at home to provide music, slide shows, and large text messages. Or it might slip into an elastic armband to provide ultra-mobile use while running and exercising.
The idea is that rather than having to purchase expensive new cell phones every couple of years, Modu users would only need to buy new jackets to access new functions. The basic functionality of the phone is contained in the small primary module. It's unclear whether or not the modular approach to cell phones will catch on. But, many tough critics are writing positive reviews of the Modu set to be released in Italy, Russia, and Israel, this year, and the rest of Europe and the US next year.
Sources: Rethinking the Cell Phone (Technology Review), Modu unveils flexible phone with jacket range (Reuters), www.modumobile.com
Story 3 - Net Neutrality Is Back in the News
Comcast is being investigated by the Federal Communications Commission for limiting, or throttling, certain types of Internet traffic. Last week, Comcast admitted to limiting certain types of P2P traffic in its efforts to "ensure a high-quality, reliable Internet experience for Comcast High-Speed Internet customers". The investigation was launched after users complained that video uploads over Comcast's network slowed to a crawl or stand-still.
Meanwhile, Representative Edward J Markey of Massachusetts has introduced a bill to prevent Internet service providers from interfering with consumer's use of the Internet. The idea behind network neutrality is to keep an open Internet, by preventing service providers from filtering Internet packets and prioritizing some types of Internet traffic over others.
Sources: Comcast Admits and Defends Network Throttling (News Factor), Rep. Markey offers net-neutrality bill (Reuters), Comcast Defends Internet Practices (Wired)
New Briefs
That's it for this week's CourseCast. Links to this week's stories and many more news and information resources are provided at the CourseCast Web site at www.course.com/coursecasts. E-mail us with your suggestions for the show at course.coursecasts@cengage.com. Until next time have a great week and be sure to take advantage of the Power -- of Technology!