What More Would You Like To Learn?

I have learned a lot through this computer class so far, and I have more confidence on my computer skill compared to the past. I could learn basic skills or knowledge about computer, so I would like to learn what I did not learn in the class. I said that I wanted to learn photo editing software before, and I have learned myself with guidebook and tried to get used to it (I use Photoshop). However, I often forget what I should do to add some effects, and I’m confused about the procedure for capturing pictures from my camera (unfortunately, I’m poor at not only computers but also other electrical equipments including digital camera). I have many things that I want to learn, for instance, movie or sound editing, drawing pictures with particular software, but what I would like to learn first is how to edit pictures with effects, and I’ll continue learning to improve my skill for the purpose.

Viral Video

Viral video is kind of commercial messages that are provided on the Internet and run over by word of mouth. There are some advantages about Viral Video. It is inexpensive to make a video because the process differs from that of TV commercial. Moreover, any representations are allowed because of no limitation of a code. No limitation of area or type of business is also good point for viral video. People can make commercial messages that are difficult to be broadcasted on TV or local commercials that are broadcasted to limited areas because of high cost, and broadcast them to all over the world. Viral video which have great expectations with the low cost are used by major companies in the US such as Microsoft, Volkswagen, and Renault, and many types of industry including music, on-line games, food, machinery, etc.
Finally, I introduce some website for viral video;

Viralchart.com
ifilm.com
Viral Walker

You can visit and find many attractive videos here. I watched some videos and they were really interesting!

What Will Computers Be Like in the Future?

Computers have been becoming the center of our life, and I think people will depend on them more in the future. First, the function would be developed greatly; now people generally use the computer and other equipment such as an electronic dictionary, an audio player, a cell phone, TV separately. In the future, perhaps these functions will be put together in one computer and no other machine whose function in the computer is necessary. In addition, another expectation is that students will not have to bring their heavy textbooks to the school. All classes will be based on the computer; microchips replace as textbooks, teacher’s explanations on the board appeared to each display, students type the lecture instead of taking notes with their notebooks. Second, the size and the appearance will change depend on the purpose. Although computers will become smaller and lighter, some people might need a dynamic screen for some reasons. In addition, computers will be completely wireless. People can use their computer anywhere and anytime they want to, and they will not be annoyed with cables near the outlet. …Is it only me?

Recent Computer News

On October 31, Openwave Systems announced that Openwave Mobile Browser Mercury Edition was elected as service for EZweb from KDDI. KDDI advances to make platform/software for mobile common to reduce the lead-time and the cost for development. Openwave Mobile Browser Mercury Edition is a product whose function was improved, and its speed to load and display became much faster. The speed of Mercury Edition to display contents was 25% faster than competitive products as a result of the benchmark test practiced by Openwave on March 2006. Moreover, Mercury Edition has new function such as scripting, Aiax compatibility, and wide screen and map&zoom for display mode. Since I have used a mobile phone made by KDDI for a long time and I love it very much, I really expect this development. I had often thought that I want more speed for the web service of my phone, but the problem will be solved if this system is practiced.

What Is "Net Neutrality"?

Net neutrality is a computer term that indicates a rule that every web site should be easy to be accessed equally without discrimination. Every broadband provider should not be allowed to use their market power to control activity, and they must not obstruct particular web sites or services. This issue has argued especially in the US, and some companies such as Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft have worked on politicians to establish the influential law of net neutrality. This trend opposes to some broadband providers and hardware manufacturers. In addition, the strict enforcement on net neutrality means that every user must foot equally to support sites such as Google and Yahoo, which cause to increase investment in infrastructure to support high-powered applications. I like to watch movies online and download music, but it would become disadvantage for users who do not need such applications.

3 Good Web Sites

I introduce 3 web sites here:

Fox (20th Century Fox) is one of the major film studios in the U.S. There are many famous TV programs Fox produced; The Simpsons, 24 -TWENTY FOUR-, Beverly Hills 90210, and more! On the web page, we can get much information about movies and TV shows.

Yahoo! Music is a useful website for me when I check music news or interviews. Since this web site is worldwide, I often go not only to US page but also to Japanese page. We can play sample music, so I often use the useful function when I want to listen to music that I don’t know.

nin.com is the official web site for Nine Inch Nails, one of my favorite US rock bands. I often go there and check the news, and sometimes live photos are added with. The band members answered many kinds of questions from their fans on the Q&A page, and it is really interesting!

Computer Gifts I Would Buy for Family

What I want to buy for my brother is a new audio player. Recently, he said that his audio player was broken and he uses my old portable MD player. I suggested him to buy a good audio player because I know MD’s inconvenience. My MD player is little heavier because of the function that I don’t use usually, and it often needs to charge the battery. I also feel inconvenience of changing discs many times, and sometimes I took 3 or 4 discs when I went out. Now I use the audio player that can be connected to computer and write much information, and it is really nice for me. It is also easy to use, so probably my brother will soon get used to use it. Unfortunately, digital audio players are little expensive for him and he cannot afford to buy one now, but I want to buy it for him when I make enough money to do so.

What Is "Social Engineering"?

Social Engineering, also called Social Work, is to catch a person off guard and pump individual information. Originally, it is the term related to computer security, and its purpose is to get password and hack without attacking computers.

The examples often used are;

・ use a false name and pump password
・ look keyboard or display standing behind a person who manipulate computer
・ peep password on a paper

It is used not only to get password but also to steal credit card number, to make someone deposit money, or to pump address or telephone number pretending one of the friends or relatives.
When I was a junior high school student, the stranger asked me the address of my neighborhood. In addition, my mother got a phone from the company about unpaid money. Though I don’t know whether they were for such purposes (but I think the latter was for the second purpose above, maybe), I always pay attention to individual information.

What I Want To Learn about Computers

Although I have learned computer through the classes since I was young, I forget many things that I learned.
First, I want to learn effective use of PowerPoint for presentation. We have to give a presentation about Greek myths in Humanities class, so our group decided to use PowerPoint to make our presentation more understandable and started to make slides, but I forgot the use of PowerPoint completely. We made slides with images and effects, but I think it is boring and not attractive yet. Now we learn PowerPoint in Computer class, I want to learn more and make our presentation more interesting.

Another thing I want to learn is photo editing. Few months ago, I bought a new digital camera. I had used my father’s camera when I wanted to take pictures, but I didn’t have mine before then. Now I enjoy taking pictures with my camera, but I can’t edit with the computer well. Therefore, I want to learn how to use photo retouching software such as Photoshop.

I want to learn especially these two, but I’m interested in many things I can do with computer, so I’ll try what I want to do as many as I can!

My History with Computers

The first time I used the personal computer was in the class when I was in the fourth or fifth grade. I didn’t know anything about the computer, and I used it only to do some games. For me, the computer was just an entertainment at that time. Through the junior high and the high school, however, I learned a lot about the computer. The most memorable thing for me is the presentation using PowerPoint; we formed some groups and gave a presentation about the travel. It was good experience for me because I had never feel the enjoyment of giving presentation and I could get new knowledge about the computer. Now I enjoy many things such as music and image editing with my computer, but I want to learn more and use it more skillfully.