ARIN6902 Internet Cultures and Governance

Apparently the showdown between Adobe and Apple might result in a lawsuit in the weeks to come. Adobe has 95% Web browser market penetration, whilst apparently Apple has a monopoly on mobile applications, to the tune of 99.4% of downloads. It seems like some sort of synergy must be reached between the two companies.

This articles mentions the major highlights of the Australian Communications and Media Authority's Communications Report 2008-2009. Among the differents findings, are available some data about mobile service, mobile network, suscribers, wireless broadband, dowloadings, online advertising , expenditures, revenue, etc. It's all about the digital convergence, the Digital Economy and a demand for flexibility.

FTTH is a technology that encounters success with more than 6 million new subscribers added just in the second half of 2009 in the world. One of the major highlights is that Japan, China, South Korea, USA and Taiwan represent more than 90% of all FTTH/B subscribers in the Global Ranking. Moreover, they also have in common that they are the only countries in the Global Ranking with more than one million households connected to FTTH/B. Australia has a long way to go.

Last Australian statisitcs available about Internet suscribers and types of connexions. Main evolutions are pointed out. For instance, mobile wireless is the fastest growing technology in internet connections, increasing to 2.8 million in December 2009. This represents a 40% increase from June 2009.

A transcript of a presentation given by Richard Stallman at the WSIS. He introduces in a fairly clear way the concept of free/open source software? He proceeds by explaining the concepts of freedom it relates to and how important this concept is in the developement of countries.

This article is a case against the FCC and the broadband plan as it doesn't support the building of an extensive network accessible to all. The author however shows how the private sector could come up with solutions to that problem. It is a very interesting point of view on the digital divide as well as on internet governance issues.

There is a widening gap in the digital divide, especially in minority communities in the developed world.

The digital divide is being decreased - but there are still widespread inequalities. Within one continent there are countries with radically different percentages of citizens online. There are great benefits from once isolated communities in terms of sharing their heritage online, as well as accessing healthcare.

A BBC article that provides us with international data and figures about the digital divide.

Linda Hugues examines how different digital natives and digital immigrants are. She puts forward how digital natives can be impaired in the way they focus on issues and how these differences can induce a bit of a culture clash at work. All in all, both "immigrants" and "natives" have assets but how stressfull it can be for people not used to these new technologies.

The author puts forward that giving access to computer to children from developing countries is a remarkable opportunity for them but could alsobe a threat as they are not being familiarised with the dangers of the Internet.

Gary Kim is referring to a survey made by e-marketer to point out that in the US the disparities in Internet usage between "Asians", "Hispanics", "Afro americans" and "white americans" will have almost disappeared, mostly because of the expansion of mobile phones giving access to Internet.

Joanna Goode is emphasizing the effects of the Digital Students among college students. She acknowledge that unprepared students, not familiar with technology will struggle to succeed in Uniersity and later in their careers

A coalition of internet companies are pushing for the US federal regulator responsible for communication industries to reassert control over ISPs by seeking to have internet services re-classified under the same rules as telephone services.

A conversation between two leading authorities about how governments are using the internet and ICTs to advance their political agendas and policies.

Blog Post 1 - Online Safety

Follow up article to Ambassador Bleich's appearance on Q&A last night, where he said the "internet has to be free" and that there were other means of combating nasty content such as child pornography. "We have been able to accomplish the goals that Australia has described, which is to capture and prosecute child pornographers ... without having to use internet filters" Surely a strong American stance against the MISP means no MISP?

Developers are not thrilled with Apple's new rules. The restrictions imposed affect the work of developers like Jack Freeman, who here declares himself as a "former loyal developer"

My blog post outlining the highly-publicised suicide of a student after being subjected to "schoolyard" and cyber-bullying.

This is my blog post about cyberbullying, it also addresses how to counter cyberbullies by reporting their violation of any EULA, and Terms of Service to the provider.

My third blog post regarding online safety of victims of black hat hackers.