Web 2.0 is… YOU!

The old saying – “the world doesn’t revolve around you” could not have been more wrong! The introduction of web 2.0 is not just a catch word to phase out the “old” internet (or what people believe is Web 1.0) but is the wave that we are riding. It is something that is going to change the way we think and the way we interact with the world. This is going to be such a gradual progress that we won’t even notice it. In just twenty years, it is said that we will not be sharing our views with our neighbors but with the world. It is the notion that, what I say will help out the next person who is sitting down at the other end of the world. How is this possible? How can I help out someone who I don’t even know? Why would I even want to help out someone I don’t even know?! Who says I’m going to do it?! The answer to all these questions is “WEB 2.0!” If I can take you 20 years from today to show you how this “web 2.0” worked you would be amazed.  What you would experience is you getting information about what is relevant to you. What you are interested in and only the things you really care about. The idea of personalizing the web is what really excites me about web 2.0.

How would one personalize the web? It’s already happened without us knowing. When I log on to my g-mail account to write an e-mail, I start off saying something to my friend like – “Hey John, you want to go grab something to eat? Maybe some Chinese?” Just as I write this, what pops up to the right of my screen? [i]An ad asking me if I was hungry. An ad asking me to eat at Mr. Chao’s. An ad wanting me to click on it for a free meal.  Google’s e-mail algorithm has enabled the advertisers to directly contact us. This is just the start. What I really want to talk about is p2p (peer-to-peer) file sharing and how it’s going to revolutionize the internet. File sharing is exactly what it means, files being shared from one computer to another. This is great because we can get files that we want and give the files that we have. The old saying – “give some, get some” holds true in this case. This is how it works, let’s say my friend John has a file that I really want, but that file is really large but is a very popular file (for fun, let’s say its windows vista, the beta version of course! ;p). So I want “windows Vista” and I want it really fast! How do it and do it in a way that doesn’t that doesn’t depend only on John’s slow upload rate? Well, this is where the magic happens. What if there was a way that I could get a small chunk of the big picture from many different people. That is to say, what if I got only 5% of the file from John and 5% from someone else and another 5% from someone else and so forth? This is definitely possible and this is what makes P2P so great. Note: there are ways to NOT share that file but most people do share it because it doesn’t affect them in any way because they are only giving me a small chuck of the bigger picture.

This doesn’t always have to be a bad thing, of course you are exposed to the world, but the people who really care about looking you up are going to be your friends. What I am saying is, I am yet to meet a person from China who is interested in knowing what I did with my life today. And let’s say I tell him/her every detail on my blog. Why in the world would they care? I am arguing that they wouldn’t and therefore it is totally acceptable to be exposed to the world. There are companies like Amazon that uses this for their advantage. I found out that people who use Amazon are not only helping themselves [ii]but are helping other customers. The whole market share for Amazon is run by its consumers. There is no way any company would give up this offer. There is a famous quote which says “architecture is politics” and in this day and age, this cannot be proven wrong. The same can be said about Wikipedia and it’s open source encyclopedia.

The hardships of such a great idea are still there. There are many ways that people can “cheat” the system. For example, let’s say Jane, my evil cousin, doesn’t want me to get far in life and wanted to delete all my hard work that is stored on my computer. [iii]Even though this is hard to do, people can do it. This means that you are totally exposed to the world and in every way possible. Your ideas, your beliefs, along with files can be accessed from an anonymous user who you have no relation with. Scary but true. The true potential of the internet is released, whether good or bad.

Just last week we were talking about RSS and how quick we could get the news. Web 2.0 will make you the author, publisher and the subscriber because you will be so hooked on what other people will have to say about your work. What’s even more interesting is that RSS definitely helps individuals access the internet in ways that are unimaginable today. This means that people don’t need a browser to go on the internet. All their news will pop up on the right hand side toolbar with the latest news that you are interested in (you already know this if you have windows vista or Google desktop). This way of thinking is making the web come to you and not you going on to the web. The next phrase that’s going to capsize the software industry is – “don’t surf the web; let the web surf for you!” Let me explain how this hurts software people. It affects them because people will not need “Netscape” or “internet explorer” because they will already be on the web that will bring the internet to you. Everything today is going to be on the web sometime or the other. I mean everything! Including operating systems! Google has already realized this and publicized their “Google documents” which is the online version of “Microsoft word.”

This could be bad going to worse, because if things need to be directed to you, then things have to be a little more personal (but don’t be scared of being exposed!) because if my friend John wants to sell you some party accessories for your party then you could use his help. But on the other hand, if my evil cousin Jane wants to get your money by just duping you into giving you “free” party accessories then you are at loss. There will be one thing more important than any search algorithm and that is data. The only way that people can really access you is from what you write, who you write to, what you do for a living, were you work and who you associate with. I know scary, scary, and scarier. But think about the possibilities. Whenever you want to go for some Chinese, you don’t even have to look, it’s right there in front of you. Any time you want to call your friend, you don’t have to move from your seat, you can call him/her from the web. With the internet coming to “life” there are many things that could go wrong, but there are also many things that could go right and help you live your life more efficiently.

I think this picture shows a lot of what is happening today:

[iv]

What you are seeing is — me, being at the center of the world, and everyone else revolving around me!

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References

[i] McLane, Shwratz, Gmail sneak peek, 2007, Google, http://mail.google.com/mail/help/screen2.html, 10/23/2007

[ii] Wolf, Gary, The great library of Amazonia, 10/23/03, WIRED, http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2003/10/60948, 10/23/07

[iii] O’Rielly, Tim, What is Web 2.0, 09/30/2005, O’Reilly, http://www.oreilly.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html?page=1, 10/23/2007

[iv] My p2p application – Azureus Vuze

 

Books I read this summer…

I had a lot of free time over the summer break and for the very first time I socially hit a new low which meant that I would have to read books. So, I started to read. I was really not interested in reading another non-fiction like “The World is Flat” by Tom Friedman (even though it was and is one of the best books I have read). It was time to relax and I so I felt like reading a novel or two. Knowing that the “New York Times” was a great place for finding book reviews I looked up a couple of books and the first book that caught my eye was a science fiction novel by Michael Crichton called “Next” but before I tell you about what I thought about the book, let me tell you the books that I had planed to read over the break –

For One More Day, by Mitch Albom 

Next, by Michael Crichton

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, by Kim Edwards

The Five People You Meet In Heaven, by Mitch Albom

The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, by Swami Vivekananda

The God Delusion, by Richard Dawkins 

What Is the What, by Dave Eggers

The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz

Train, by Pete Dexte

Why Did I ever, by Mary Robison

Freedom Song, by Amit Chaudhuri

Whow! Huge list, right? I knew I couldn’t get through all of them by the two or three weeks that we had for break, but never the less, these where the books that I was interested in reading. (It might interest you to know the Bible was the most read book in the world, past and present! WHOOT!! GO RELIGION… one of the many reasons that I wanted to read Swami Vivekananda’s works…) So, what books did I end up reading?

The Five People You Meet In Heaven, by Mitch Albom

For One More Day, by Mitch Albom  

Next, by Michael Chraiton

Train, by Pete Dexte

And am currently in the process of reading – 

The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Swami Vivekananda

(There are 8 volumes, and each about 500 pages, I’m still on the first volume! So don’t expect me to finish anytime soon!)  The first volume so far is really uplifting. The collection was recommended to me by my mother. I will address these volumes and my comments on the books after I have read through at lest the first volume, until then I will try not to talk about it much.

So, the other books that read. Let’s start with the most disappointing.

Next, by Michael Crichton. I had my hopes up about this book. From what I read from other blogs and reviewers, this was a really good read. I was so impatient that I ordered it online and I even went to Barnes and Nobles and read the whole book before it even arrived by mail. To tell you the honest truth, it was NOT realistic. I know, I know, “but Novel’s are not meant to be realistic! Right?” but this one was just too unrealistic which made it stupid. There is a fine line between fiction and stupidity. Don’t get me wrong, I think Michael Chariton is a great writer (the creator of “ Jurassic Park!!”). Probably the top five of all Novel writers but I just don’t think this was my type of book. Main reason — First I had a hard time believing that the parrot could talk and then I read on to see that the “man-chimp” can go to school! COME ON! That’s stupid!

The Five People You Meet In Heaven, by Mitch Albom and For One More Day, by Mitch Albom. Congratulations Mr. Albom you have just entered my “top storytellers” list! Both these books were amazing. I had a lot of fun reading both of them. “The five People You Meet In Heaven” was a real page turner. The way that Mitch Albom starts his stories is interesting and unique. First the setting, then an end, but only to start a new beginning. If this is confusing to you now, you should read the books then it will make more sense. I really like the concepts of both the books. For One More Day was more touching and sentimental! It was really emotional, but if there was any way of prolonging the story, it would be more of a real “full sized” novel but this was to the point and very moving. I would recommend both his books for all ages to read.

Train, by Pete Dexte. This was rated number five of six on the “top sellers of all time” list but I got half way through it and it really wasn’t that interesting. Maybe if I read the whole thing I would have more to say on the story but I don’t think I will be finishing the second half of the book. If you REALLY think that the second half is more interesting than the first half, let me know and I will read it.

So there is my list! There isn’t much more I can say about the other books but I will keep my blog updated and will write about Swami Vivekananda’s works when I am done reading it. (Be expecting A LOT of GREAT quotes!)

Science Links

I have found that many people are intersted in science. So I hope these links motivate you to learn more:

Huge collection of mathematics video lectures!

Unsolvable math problems.

Beginner’s Guide to Quantum Entanglement

Patterns of Visual Math

New mathematics-based sculpture unveils fourth dimension

The list of the 100 greatest theorems

Do humans explode in the vacuum of space?

Amazing Google Vid- “Quantum Physics Double Slit Experiment”

13 things that do not make sense

Waves in a Large Free Sphere of Water – Amazing

Math for Geniuses

This is just TOO funny!

50 Interesting Science Facts

Scientists to Test a Fourth Dimension of Space

Experience 4D Cube

I recommend this website in particular to everyone:

Physics and Mathematic theories explained

digg #2

the second part of what I think the coolest links on the web are:

Online File Converter- 200 File Types- 100MB limit

How To Solve A Rubik’s Cube In 5 Steps

Genius Girl

Amazing blind kid can do the impossible

Simple way to multiply big numbers

How To Crack A Combination Lock

I am the 447,241,290 richest person in the world

134 Free Academic Podcasts

Guy Does Amazing Impressions of Rapers

What If Michael Jackson Was Indian? (like he’s not scary now!)

The Amazing AutoDoor

Watch the time

50 Interesting Science Facts

Super conductor

20 brilliant pranks

Top 4 Common Misconceptions About The Big Bang

Ali-G Interviews Posh Spice and David Beckham

Vincent Ferrari talks to Matt Lauer about Cancelling AOL

Why American College Students Hate Science

Scientists to Test a Fourth Dimension of Space

The Cozy MP3 Pillow

Build your own Robot

Mathematical Proofs turned into Music

Water Fuel – HHO Gas

Historical Speeches in MP3 Format

The Computer Bed

5 Ways to Start a Company Without Quitting Your Day Job

Amazing pictures of large U.S. bills (don’t even think about it!)

What Is Good PowerPoint Design

Integrating Google calendar in your website

3D Model of Any Human Head In Seconds

Map your ZIP Code

How to pull an all-nighter

How I Work: Bill Gates

Make your own cartoon online

Free video ‘flash’ tutorials

List of the April Fools Jokes for 2006

MacWorld Bloopers

Experience 4D Cube

Connect Your TI-83 Calculator to the Internet

Amazing Photos of China

Watch the first 10 minutes of a movie for free

Google snack rooms: all free

Flash Earth: Google Earth In Your Browser

Computer generated images

China to build world’s first “artificial sun”

15 Tech Concepts You’ll Need To Know In 2006

How to Improve Your Logo

Science’s 10 most beautiful experiments

I think that’s it for now and again, the number of pages digg have increased to 79 and I just got to page forty! Hope you enjoy these!

W.W.C convention

I recently went to a convention that had a lot of rich people; millionaires, who were promoting “something.” I couldn’t quite figure it out. These rich people, most of them well qualified engineers or doctors, got into this business called W.W.C. I didn’t like the talks at all. They were many things wrong with it. They didn’t inspire. They discouraged. I was hoping for a insiders look into owning a business but got nothing out of it. It was useless. That was the worse decision I have taken latley! A message to all the people who are thinking of going to a convention such as this (the “make money from home” business type) — save yourself the time and money because it is USELESS. Consider this a warning. This had NOTHING to do with T.I.E. This was not worth the money or the time. I am not saying this to critize the people who are part of W.W.C. I just don’t think it is useful. It IS a pirimid scheame and everone knows that it’s narrow at the top. Unless you are really into the business, I don’t reccomend it to anyone becuse most of them are left at the bottom.