Prac 10: EIR Journey

My favourite metaphor is "not to judge a book by its cover".

In the past similar to the metaphor, my thinking towards research was that it does not matter. During the process of searching for relevant research materials, I did not pay much attention to the search query and just depended solely on the keywords of my research topic. I also did my research for assignments blindly on the Internet by taking the information by face value, the most I did for evaluation was just to check the currency of the materials to make sure that the information provided was recent.

However after going through this subject, I learnt that research is extremely important and that it requires techniques to allow for effective research. Other than using keywords in the search query, others such as keyword variations, Boolean operators (AND, OR, AND NOT), power search, stem (*) and "Advanced Search" features are important things to consider. This is because they can help the research process become more efficient and effective such as limiting and narrowing down results to ones that are most relevant or expanding the search area if too little results are provided. As for evaluation, others such as evaluating the source's purpose, coverage and authority are also important. This is to ensure that the information provided is provided by sources which have the expertise pertaining to that particular subject and that the authors are qualified to post the information.

After the EIR journey, I have understood the importance of research and not to take in information at face value (not to judge a book by its cover). If it is done in a slipshod manner, it will affect the progress of the rest of the work such as the need to spend more time to research again or resume research. This takes away time needed for the actual work itself which then leads to having insufficient time.

iExperience Site Visit

*~Just 1 more step to a magical experience~*

Just outside iExperience, the site we are to visit......

1. Which features/facilities are more interesting to you? Why?

Two exhibits which I like the most are the Internet Protocol (IP) TV and the Next Gen(eration) Classroom.

*~Huge screen + fantastic visuals + Internet = Best thing ever~*

The IPTV allows a number of benefits:

• Has ultra high-speed bandwidth
• Option to browse the Internet while watching TV with extremely crisp images
• Able to operate up to 7 home automation devices (E.g. lamps, blinds, lights) with smart battery switches using 1 setup box which makes it convenient
• Possible to integrate with hospitals (E.g. watching the same TV program with the patient, having tele-conversations with the patient as well as the doctor) which makes taking care of the patients much easier

*~Classroom of the Future~*

*~Computer Desk Type 1~*

*~Computer Desk Type 2~*

The Next Gen Classroom has desk-like computers which aids the learning of students. These computer desks make use of touch screens which can accomodate up to 4 persons and is useful for group activities. It interests me because the exhibit makes me realise that technology has improved a lot from the past and is being weaved into education to make the learning experiences of students much more fun and engaging. The video below shows us using the computer desks:

2. Compare this site visit e-learning activity with attending physical EIR classes in TP.

When attending classes, we mostly get feed with information and usually absorb them without giving much appreciation. However for the site visit, we need to actively participate and explore so that we take advantage of the opportunity to learn new things. Due to this enthusiasm which we need to have during the site visit, we learn to better appreciate the things which we have learnt, not only during the site visit but also during lessons.

For e-learning activities, it usually means doing quizzes for attendance grades. But this e-learning is different being a learning trip and has kept e-learning activites both fresh and interesting.

3. Briefly describe ONE ethical issue covered in EIR lecture notes 11 & 12.

One ethical issue is security in terms of the Internet where there are concerns that security flaws can lead to theft of important user information and details such as credit card numbers.

4. Comment on how this ethical issue can be applied to the exhibits that you see, hear and experience at iExperience. Use examples from iExperience to explain.

Internet security can be applied to the IPTV and Near Field Communication (NFC) exhibits.

*~Tour guide demonstrating the IPTV's functions~*

The IPTV allows Internet access and this makes it no different than any other desktop PCs or laptops out there which can do the same thing. Thus, it is vulnerable to having important user information being stolen by hackers if payments are made through the IPTV when making online purchases.

*~Near Field Communication (NFC) Exhibit~*

The NFC exhibit features a "Next Gen" method of making purchases in the supermarket where the price tags of products can be scanned with your smartphone by using the smartphone like an EZ-Link card to tap on the price tags. The information of the products including the cost then appears on the smartphone and payment can be made later on as well as stating whether you want to deliver it to your home or workplace. This makes important user information such as credit card number and addresses of home or the workplace to be vulnerable to hackers which could be misused and have those actions traced back to the user instead of the hacker.

*~Tour guide demonstrating NFC with a scene at the supermarket~*

*~Checking out some recipes using NFC~*

*~Select credit card for payment~*

*~Enter the address for product delivery~*

*~Select date for delivery~*

*~Select time for delivery~*

5. Suggest how the issue can be handled and what can be done in future.

I think this issue lies more with the consumers than the organisations who come up with these technologies. It would definitely be good if the organisations can come up with a good solution in the near future to handle the issue with Internet security on top of current technology such as using fingerprint identification softwares and authentication keys. The best thing to do as of now is to take up precautionary measures to prevent facing this issue. If you must make an online payment for a product, the best solution is to find an authoritative and trustworthy site in order to better secure your personal information or else it is better to just stick to the old fashion way of shopping - going down to the store yourself!

6. Photos of iExperience exhibits

*~Stop 1: Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network (Next Gen NBN)~*

*~Stop 2: Tour guide introducing IPTV~*

*~Stop 3: Next Gen Classroom~*

*~Stop 4: Home Area Next Gen NBN~*

*~Stop 5: Converting image to augmented reality~*

*~Stop 6: Next Gen Office~*

*~Stop 7: Samsung Smart Digital Signage (SDS)~*

*~Stop 8: Smart Work Centre~*

*~Stop 9: NFC Shopping Area~*

*~Last Stop: Augmented Reality Screen~*

......the trip ends here but the fun memories are here to stay.

Prac 6: Impression of the Invisible Web

a. Do you think it is more effective to search the invisible web (databases) than using search engines, meta-search or subject directories? Why?

In my opinion, searching the invisible web is more effective than using the other 3 methods. Search engines can only find information on the visible web but the invisible web contains content that is much larger (500 times larger) than the ones provided by search engines which includes newspapers, journals and magazine archives. This means besides getting more material for the research, there are also more reliability in the material obtained from the invisible web as we can cross-reference with a wider variety of materials.

b. Name ONE database which you will use for your research topic. Why?

EBSCOhost. I find that this database saves my time by giving me the Advanced Search once I enter the database. It also gives me Result Limiters where I can put in options to limit the search range and obtain the materials that I require for the research topic. At the same time, EBSCOhost allows and encourages the use of Boolean operators during the search process and also lets me choose the publication date range of the materials I am looking for which makes the materials I find more reliable and up-to-date.

My Expertise

The one skill that I think is helpful would be taking down notes. It means to make use of a homework diary and to take down important stuff such as deadlines for submissions or assignments and important event dates etc.

I recommend this to everyone because it helps you to remember the things you need to do and the events you need to attend much more easily. If you have 10 tasks on hand and you do not have this skill, most likely you will just try your best to remember it. However, there is no guarantee that you will continue to remember it after lets say 1 week as you may forget them due to other on-hand activities. However by taking them down in a homework diary, it will be easier to remember those 10 tasks because instead of remembering the 10 tasks, you only have to remember that 1 homework diary that has those 10 tasks written down inside. Thus, the chances of you forgetting the 10 tasks is reduced.

A homework diary will not cost a bomb for anyone as it can range from a simple exercise book to one which includes calendars, measurements and pages with a weekly basis to write on. At first, people who are not used to having a homework diary to help them take down notes may feel that it is troublesome and even a waste of time. However, I am here to tell you that it is a skill that will be extremely useful in the long run and it needs to turn into a habit through using the homework diary constantly. Another example to show the usefulness of a homework diary is that if you are tasked to do a project which is due 6 weeks later, the diary can not only help you to remember the deadline but also help you plan on how you want to go about completing the project week-by-week.

Therefore, having a homework diary is something essential and worth the money as you no longer have to overload and stress your head with the tasks you need to do. Instead you just have to remember 1 and that is your homework diary.

Self-Introduction

Hi, my name is Oh Swee Jie. Although my name is not that long or complicated, people tend to say it in a way that makes me feel awkward. If it makes it any better, calling me Jie is fine since my family calls me that way.

I am currently studying in the School of Informatics and IT (IIT) of Temasek Polytechnic (TP) under the course called Game & Entertainment Technology (GET). The name itself implies that it is related to games and includes teaching us the process of making games by having us learn programming languages such as Java, C# and C++. Although it is quite tiring and troublesome during the game-making process, you feel a sense of achievement at the end of the day for creating a game that runs successfully as well as to show better appreciation for the hardwork done by other game developers on their great game titles which are out there in the market.

Although I am spending most of the time in school, I do have some hobbies. Before I came to the polytechnic, I used to collect Trading Card Game (TCG) cards such as Pokemon cards. I think the hobby started when I saw my brother collecting them first. At that time, I was fascinated by the wide range of cards and the unique look that each of them had to the point that I decided to start my own personal collection. I remembered myself going to the nearest card store on a weekly basis just to buy a packet of those cards and add them to my collection. Sometimes, I get a multiple of the same card while other times, I get a rare one. No matter what, I still collected them all.

After enrolling into TP, I stopped my card collection as more time needed to be given for my school work and soon it stopped completely. Even though that is the case, I still keep the cards with me even till today and I also found a new hobby of playing computer games which is the reason I entered GET.

I also enjoy watching movies but mainly funny ones and those that are action-packed. I like watching funny movies because life is so stressful and these type of movies allow me to de-stress. The action-packed movies I am referring to are the ones with comic superheroes and I loved this movie genre after watching Spiderman. To date, I have watched almost if not all the movies of this genre such as Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and Captain America. I guess the next movie that I am looking forward to would be The Avengers.