Journal Assignment #4
Identity in Virtual Reality in general
Briggs, John C. (1996). The promise of virtual reality. The Futurist [Online], 30, p. 13-18. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp04sw05-42350-cuf3k1ap-taxc4u:entitypagenum=35:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=14:resultset=4:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=14:entityemailfullresultset=4:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, November 23]
Summary:
The article accounts for the promises of virtual reality. It defines virtual reality as a three-dimensional, computer-generated simulation, which the user is offered another environment to move around, interact with, and become immersed in. The article speculates that rapid technological innovation in the form of faster computers, better software, and new devices to inform the senses are expected to improve virtual reality and its usefulness in the following ten years. Present and future applications of virtual reality are considered in architecture and construction, art, business, disability, education and training, engineering, entertainment, marketing, medicine, military, religion, and sex.
Lombard, M & Ditton T. (1997). At the Heart of It All:The Concept of Presence. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication (Online), 3(2). Available:
http://www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol3/issue2/lombard.html#rZillmanBrynat
[2001,November 23]
Summary:
The article accounts virtual reality and other emerging technologies offer a larger degree of presence than traditional media such as radio, telephone, film and many others. In other words, virtual reality and other new technologies are “hot” media which are designed to provide media users with an illusion that a mediated experience is not mediated, a perception defined here as presence. This article examines the key concept of presence and discusses the causes and effects of presence in different medias. The important factors for generating a sense of presence are the number of sensory output and input channels as well as the consistency of information in the different modalities. Effects of presence on the other hand are related to arousal, vection and motion sickness, and a number of other physiological changes. The article concludes with suggestions for future systematic research about presence.
Benefits
Frishberg, M. (2001, March 6). Virtual Snow Melts Away Pain. Wired News. [Online]
Available:
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/1,1282,42084,00.html [2001, December 1]
Summary:
Music therapy or distractions with videotapes has long been known to help reduction pain. The article talks about possibilities of using virtual reality to distract patients from pain. It introduces a new virtual reality game called SnowWorld, which can be a soothing escape for burn patients. It is made to distract burn victims from the agonies that they are put through daily as their wounds are scrubbed clean to prevent infection and their skin-grafted limbs are exercised to help stretch the growing tissue. The article also talks about other new medical efforts using virtual reality like SpiderWorld. With lower cost and great potentials for medical treatment, virtual reality is taking pain control to a new level.
Hunderson, Carter. (2001). How the Internet is changing our lives. The Futurist [Online], 35(4), p. 38-45. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp03sw01-33434-curl9g3i-57x0w2:entitypagenum=15:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=8:resultset=2:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=8:entityemailfullresultset=2:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001,December 2]
Summary:
The article describes ways in which the Internet is affecting various aspects of human life with a focus on the economic aspects. According to the article, the biggest payoff lies in the billions of dollars the Internet is saving companies in producing goods and services. These savings are making American companies even more successful competitors in world markets, as the rest of the world remains less wired. This results in better prices for customers and higher profits for themselves, much of it deriving from advanced ways of reducing costs. However, on a final note, it poses a question about where Internet is driving us to and whether it is really for the better.
Risks
Berson, Michael J. (2000). The computer can't see you blush. Kappa Delta Pi Record. [Online], 36(4), p. 158-62. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp01sw03-34677-cuqig8h9-pqz6gn:entitypagenum=27:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelectPlus_FT:recno=3:resultset=11:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=3:entityemailfullresultset=11:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelectPlus_FT: [2001, December 1]
Summary:
The article addresses to the problems and risks on the Internet in general. The lack of restrictions and the anonymity of the Web threaten the safety and emotional well being of young people nowadays. Our society is moving towards a culture of deception. Online interactions of young people are primarily exchanges of sexually suggestive or verbally abusive chat. Other risks associated with increased interaction in virtual reality include exposure to difficult content, vulnerability to abuse, and deterioration of "real-world" relationships resulting in possible isolation and depression. However, the negative effects of Internet use are not inevitable. The article concludes that educators should be prepared and present the best defense for young people confronting these dangers.
Naylor, T. H. (2001) Trading our souls for virtual reality [Online], Across the Board 38(4). p. 19. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp03sw01-33434-curl9g3i-57x0w2:entitypagenum=10:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=8:resultset=1:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=8:entityemailfullresultset=1:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, December 2]
Quittner, Joshua. (1995). From god@heaven.org. Time. [Online],145, p. 65.
Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp01sw03-34677-cuqig8h9-pqz6gn:entitypagenum=30:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelectPlus_FT:recno=10:resultset=11:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=10:entityemailfullresultset=11:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelectPlus_FT: [2001, December 1]
Gender and Simulation
Lippa, R.A. (2000). Gender-Related Traits in Gay Men, Lesbian Women, and Heterosexual Men and Women: The Virtual Identity of Homosexual-Heterosexual Diagnosticity and Gender Diagnosticity. Journal of Personality [Online], 68(5). P.899-926. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp03sw13-64368-cueze76q-je6jjr:entitypagenum=44:0:rule=100:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=ECO_FT:recno=9:resultset=11:ftformat=PDF:format=BI:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=9:entityemailfullresultset=11:entityemailftfrom=ECO_FT: [2000]
Pham, A. (2001, May 17). Boy, You Fight Like a Girl. Los Angeles Times. [Online], p. C1. Available:
http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-000041409jul010.story [2001, November 23]
Virtual/Cyber Sex
Slaton, J. (1999, February 11). Virtual Sex for the Rest of Us. Wired News. [Online] Available:
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,17849,00.html [2001, November 23].
Stein, Joel. (2000, June 19) Will cybersex be better than real sex? Time. [Online], 155(25) p. 62-4. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp04sw05-42350-cuf3k1ap-taxc4u:entitypagenum=4:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=4:resultset=1:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=4:entityemailfullresultset=1:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, November 23].
Relationships online versus offline
Collins, L. (1999). Emotional adultery: cybersex and commitment. Social Theory and Practice 25 [Online], 25(2). p. 243-70. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp04sw05-42350-cuf3k1ap-taxc4u:entitypagenum=19:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=1:resultset=3:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=1:entityemailfullresultset=3:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, November 23].
Parks, M.R. & Roberts.L.D. [1998] 'Making MOOsic': The Development of Personal Relationships on Line and a Comparison to their Off-Line Counterparts, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships [Online], 15(4), p. 517-537. Available:
http://firstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/DARead?key=0265-4075%252819980801%252915%253A4%253C517%253AMMTDOP%253E%26sp02sw11-34696-cu234f2b-glupam%267a9bf1a86d32941a2106eb26e5e07e64dbe88131b10240daf1b7f0cad209d2eb&sessionid=0&db=ECO_FT&format=PDF [2001, November 23].
Journal assignment #3
Lee, G.B. Addressing Anonymous Messages in Cyberspace. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication(Online), 2(1). Available: http://www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol2/issue1/anon.html [June 1996]
The “information highway” makes possible for the potential of anonymity as the Internet enables us to hide our real identity. While some people enjoy anonymity, it also gives rise to problems like deception and harassment. According to the article, the arguments for and against anonymous communications online fall into three main categories—informative, group pressure, and enforcement effects. The article then suggests a measure to regulate anonymity, that is to require anonymously mailed message to be identified clearly as anonymous on the header. This is a regulation that provides minimal restrictions and promotes Visible Anonymity, as opposed to Invisible Anonymity, which means “the quality of being anonymous without ever being recognized as being such. While the proposal helps lessen the harm of anonymous message and at the same time preserving positive aspects of it, numerous problems associated with anonymity still remain.
With all these problems, I think the potential for anonymity is still desirable, given that it is one of the most attractive aspects of the Internet. As mentioned in the article, anonymity helps minimize group pressure. Other interactions such as face-to-face dialogue and phone calls need confrontation and disclosure, which tends to stifle expression of socially undesirable speech. By contrast, anonymity can protect people from embarrassment or being attacked because of their expressions of unpopular ideas. In other words, anonymity promotes free speech. It also helps people who are afraid of revealing themselves too much to communicate their ideas and concerns or seek help without people knowing who they are. Also, being stripped of their cultural charge, people are free to give their opinions with being biased against.
The proposal given in the journal article sounds reasonable. It can really help screen out Spam on the Internet. What is more annoying than receiving Emails from someone called “Tom” or “Betty” but the message is actually ads like “Win a holiday” or “Breast Enlargement”? I was being tricked to open all these messages all the time. Yet there are a number of things that it did not take into account. The lure of invisible anonymity is that we can be anyone. This ties in with the culture of flexibility on the Internet where individuals can play multiple personas. Visible anonymity suggested in the proposal, however, does not tolerate the “protean self” and made it mandatory for people to say they are anonymous. According to Turkle, “health” on the Net is not in terms of stability but fluidity. Invisible anonymity is therefore necessarily for the “health” of the Internet.
Also, though visible anonymity preserved the idea of Free speech, individuals can still get away with harmful speeches or behaviors online since their identities are unknown.
As a result it cannot really address to concerns of hatred, harassment, violence, impersonation, libel and copyright infringement online.
A better solution will be the idea of panopticon. When people know there are being watched, they are more likely to behave. Merely the awareness of surveillance is enough.
The idea of self-surveillance fulfils the three criteria suggested by the article. First, panopticon can preserve the positive aspects of the anonymous messages yet make sure people would not take advantage of their ability to be anonymous. Second, this is a minimal restriction since people just knew that they are being watched. Nothing really is done to regulate. It is just a way of control playing with people’s psychology. Third, this is totally enforceable.
In fact, I think the damage anonymity done on the Internet is limited. People cannot be physically hurt. Most serious crimes over the net can only involved offensive speeches or computer virus. It may have victimized some people and hurt them emotionally. It may also destroy your hard drive of your computer. However these kinds of damages can be healed overtime and cannot endangered someone’s life. You can always buy a new computer too. These damages are incomparable to something like the Anthrax letters in the mail which can lead to person’s death. I believe people tend to exaggerate the problems online. I think anonymity online should be a concern. Yet it is not as serious as the anonymity in mail.
The article presents a rather objective perspective on the technology of Internet and the idea of anonymity as it talks about both vice and virtues of the nature of the media.
While Internet is still a new way of mass communication, many problems are yet to be solved. In history, every technology has its drawbacks. For instance writing as a technology was criticized to be diminishing our ability to memorize. People also said TV would make everyone becomes introverts. All in all, people will be able to maximizing the advantages of anonymity online and we will find the best solution to its problems over time.
Virtual Reality
Identity in Virtual Reality in general
Briggs, John C. (1996). The promise of virtual reality. The Futurist [Online], 30, p. 13-18. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp04sw05-42350-cuf3k1ap-taxc4u:entitypagenum=35:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=14:resultset=4:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=14:entityemailfullresultset=4:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, November 23]
Summary:
The article accounts for the promises of virtual reality. It defines virtual reality as a three-dimensional, computer-generated simulation, which the user is offered another environment to move around, interact with, and become immersed in. The article speculates that rapid technological innovation in the form of faster computers, better software, and new devices to inform the senses are expected to improve virtual reality and its usefulness in the following ten years. Present and future applications of virtual reality are considered in architecture and construction, art, business, disability, education and training, engineering, entertainment, marketing, medicine, military, religion, and sex.
Lombard, M & Ditton T. (1997). At the Heart of It All:The Concept of Presence. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication (Online), 3(2). Available:
http://www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol3/issue2/lombard.html#rZillmanBrynat
[2001,November 23]
Summary:
The article accounts virtual reality and other emerging technologies offer a larger degree of presence than traditional media such as radio, telephone, film and many others. In other words, virtual reality and other new technologies are “hot” media which are designed to provide media users with an illusion that a mediated experience is not mediated, a perception defined here as presence. This article examines the key concept of presence and discusses the causes and effects of presence in different medias. The important factors for generating a sense of presence are the number of sensory output and input channels as well as the consistency of information in the different modalities. Effects of presence on the other hand are related to arousal, vection and motion sickness, and a number of other physiological changes. The article concludes with suggestions for future systematic research about presence.
Benefits
Frishberg, M. (2001, March 6). Virtual Snow Melts Away Pain. Wired News. [Online]
Available:
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/1,1282,42084,00.html [2001, December 1]
Summary:
Music therapy or distractions with videotapes has long been known to help reduction pain. The article talks about possibilities of using virtual reality to distract patients from pain. It introduces a new virtual reality game called SnowWorld, which can be a soothing escape for burn patients. It is made to distract burn victims from the agonies that they are put through daily as their wounds are scrubbed clean to prevent infection and their skin-grafted limbs are exercised to help stretch the growing tissue. The article also talks about other new medical efforts using virtual reality like SpiderWorld. With lower cost and great potentials for medical treatment, virtual reality is taking pain control to a new level.
Hunderson, Carter. (2001). How the Internet is changing our lives. The Futurist [Online], 35(4), p. 38-45. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp03sw01-33434-curl9g3i-57x0w2:entitypagenum=15:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=8:resultset=2:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=8:entityemailfullresultset=2:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001,December 2]
Summary:
The article describes ways in which the Internet is affecting various aspects of human life with a focus on the economic aspects. According to the article, the biggest payoff lies in the billions of dollars the Internet is saving companies in producing goods and services. These savings are making American companies even more successful competitors in world markets, as the rest of the world remains less wired. This results in better prices for customers and higher profits for themselves, much of it deriving from advanced ways of reducing costs. However, on a final note, it poses a question about where Internet is driving us to and whether it is really for the better.
Risks
Berson, Michael J. (2000). The computer can't see you blush. Kappa Delta Pi Record. [Online], 36(4), p. 158-62. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp01sw03-34677-cuqig8h9-pqz6gn:entitypagenum=27:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelectPlus_FT:recno=3:resultset=11:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=3:entityemailfullresultset=11:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelectPlus_FT: [2001, December 1]
Summary:
The article addresses to the problems and risks on the Internet in general. The lack of restrictions and the anonymity of the Web threaten the safety and emotional well being of young people nowadays. Our society is moving towards a culture of deception. Online interactions of young people are primarily exchanges of sexually suggestive or verbally abusive chat. Other risks associated with increased interaction in virtual reality include exposure to difficult content, vulnerability to abuse, and deterioration of "real-world" relationships resulting in possible isolation and depression. However, the negative effects of Internet use are not inevitable. The article concludes that educators should be prepared and present the best defense for young people confronting these dangers.
Naylor, T. H. (2001) Trading our souls for virtual reality [Online], Across the Board 38(4). p. 19. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp03sw01-33434-curl9g3i-57x0w2:entitypagenum=10:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=8:resultset=1:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=8:entityemailfullresultset=1:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, December 2]
Quittner, Joshua. (1995). From god@heaven.org. Time. [Online],145, p. 65.
Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp01sw03-34677-cuqig8h9-pqz6gn:entitypagenum=30:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelectPlus_FT:recno=10:resultset=11:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=10:entityemailfullresultset=11:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelectPlus_FT: [2001, December 1]
Gender and Simulation
Lippa, R.A. (2000). Gender-Related Traits in Gay Men, Lesbian Women, and Heterosexual Men and Women: The Virtual Identity of Homosexual-Heterosexual Diagnosticity and Gender Diagnosticity. Journal of Personality [Online], 68(5). P.899-926. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp03sw13-64368-cueze76q-je6jjr:entitypagenum=44:0:rule=100:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=ECO_FT:recno=9:resultset=11:ftformat=PDF:format=BI:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=9:entityemailfullresultset=11:entityemailftfrom=ECO_FT: [2000]
Pham, A. (2001, May 17). Boy, You Fight Like a Girl. Los Angeles Times. [Online], p. C1. Available:
http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-000041409jul010.story [2001, November 23]
Virtual/Cyber Sex
Slaton, J. (1999, February 11). Virtual Sex for the Rest of Us. Wired News. [Online] Available:
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,17849,00.html [2001, November 23].
Stein, Joel. (2000, June 19) Will cybersex be better than real sex? Time. [Online], 155(25) p. 62-4. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp04sw05-42350-cuf3k1ap-taxc4u:entitypagenum=4:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=4:resultset=1:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=4:entityemailfullresultset=1:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, November 23].
Relationships online versus offline
Collins, L. (1999). Emotional adultery: cybersex and commitment. Social Theory and Practice 25 [Online], 25(2). p. 243-70. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp04sw05-42350-cuf3k1ap-taxc4u:entitypagenum=19:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=1:resultset=3:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=1:entityemailfullresultset=3:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, November 23].
Parks, M.R. & Roberts.L.D. [1998] 'Making MOOsic': The Development of Personal Relationships on Line and a Comparison to their Off-Line Counterparts, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships [Online], 15(4), p. 517-537. Available:
http://firstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/DARead?key=0265-4075%252819980801%252915%253A4%253C517%253AMMTDOP%253E%26sp02sw11-34696-cu234f2b-glupam%267a9bf1a86d32941a2106eb26e5e07e64dbe88131b10240daf1b7f0cad209d2eb&sessionid=0&db=ECO_FT&format=PDF [2001, November 23].
Journal assignment #3
Lee, G.B. Addressing Anonymous Messages in Cyberspace. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication(Online), 2(1). Available: http://www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol2/issue1/anon.html [June 1996]
The “information highway” makes possible for the potential of anonymity as the Internet enables us to hide our real identity. While some people enjoy anonymity, it also gives rise to problems like deception and harassment. According to the article, the arguments for and against anonymous communications online fall into three main categories—informative, group pressure, and enforcement effects. The article then suggests a measure to regulate anonymity, that is to require anonymously mailed message to be identified clearly as anonymous on the header. This is a regulation that provides minimal restrictions and promotes Visible Anonymity, as opposed to Invisible Anonymity, which means “the quality of being anonymous without ever being recognized as being such. While the proposal helps lessen the harm of anonymous message and at the same time preserving positive aspects of it, numerous problems associated with anonymity still remain.
With all these problems, I think the potential for anonymity is still desirable, given that it is one of the most attractive aspects of the Internet. As mentioned in the article, anonymity helps minimize group pressure. Other interactions such as face-to-face dialogue and phone calls need confrontation and disclosure, which tends to stifle expression of socially undesirable speech. By contrast, anonymity can protect people from embarrassment or being attacked because of their expressions of unpopular ideas. In other words, anonymity promotes free speech. It also helps people who are afraid of revealing themselves too much to communicate their ideas and concerns or seek help without people knowing who they are. Also, being stripped of their cultural charge, people are free to give their opinions with being biased against.
The proposal given in the journal article sounds reasonable. It can really help screen out Spam on the Internet. What is more annoying than receiving Emails from someone called “Tom” or “Betty” but the message is actually ads like “Win a holiday” or “Breast Enlargement”? I was being tricked to open all these messages all the time. Yet there are a number of things that it did not take into account. The lure of invisible anonymity is that we can be anyone. This ties in with the culture of flexibility on the Internet where individuals can play multiple personas. Visible anonymity suggested in the proposal, however, does not tolerate the “protean self” and made it mandatory for people to say they are anonymous. According to Turkle, “health” on the Net is not in terms of stability but fluidity. Invisible anonymity is therefore necessarily for the “health” of the Internet.
Also, though visible anonymity preserved the idea of Free speech, individuals can still get away with harmful speeches or behaviors online since their identities are unknown.
As a result it cannot really address to concerns of hatred, harassment, violence, impersonation, libel and copyright infringement online.
A better solution will be the idea of panopticon. When people know there are being watched, they are more likely to behave. Merely the awareness of surveillance is enough.
The idea of self-surveillance fulfils the three criteria suggested by the article. First, panopticon can preserve the positive aspects of the anonymous messages yet make sure people would not take advantage of their ability to be anonymous. Second, this is a minimal restriction since people just knew that they are being watched. Nothing really is done to regulate. It is just a way of control playing with people’s psychology. Third, this is totally enforceable.
In fact, I think the damage anonymity done on the Internet is limited. People cannot be physically hurt. Most serious crimes over the net can only involved offensive speeches or computer virus. It may have victimized some people and hurt them emotionally. It may also destroy your hard drive of your computer. However these kinds of damages can be healed overtime and cannot endangered someone’s life. You can always buy a new computer too. These damages are incomparable to something like the Anthrax letters in the mail which can lead to person’s death. I believe people tend to exaggerate the problems online. I think anonymity online should be a concern. Yet it is not as serious as the anonymity in mail.
The article presents a rather objective perspective on the technology of Internet and the idea of anonymity as it talks about both vice and virtues of the nature of the media.
While Internet is still a new way of mass communication, many problems are yet to be solved. In history, every technology has its drawbacks. For instance writing as a technology was criticized to be diminishing our ability to memorize. People also said TV would make everyone becomes introverts. All in all, people will be able to maximizing the advantages of anonymity online and we will find the best solution to its problems over time.
posted by Elaine at
10:30 PM
