Week 4: Muddy

This week I found the concepts of lossless compression and lossy compression difficult to understand. The way the instructor described it: lossless compression was “not throwing away data, just eliminating redundancy in the image to save space” and lossy compression, which is more widely used, “discards some data, but only nondiscernable data (to the majority of people).” Lossless compression is used for archiving original works, in order to be able to edit them later. Lossy compression is used for “delivering, it’s the ideal jpeg.” Unfortunately, I couldn’t understand how eliminating redundancy in an image doesn’t distort the image, and how that doesn’t count as throwing away data. I also don’t understand how some people can discern the data that was discarded in lossy compression, while the majority of people cannot tell.

After further research, I have found that lossless data compression allows the original data to be compressed and reconstructed the exact same, whereas lossy compression only allows an approximation of the original data to be reconstructed. A lossy compression technique can reduce the space needed by a greater amount than lossless compression, however only certain types of data (i.e. graphics, audio, and video) can tolerate lossy compression. Data and programs must be compressed with the lossless technique. In a scanned photograph, the sky is many different pixels of blue, but in lossy compression, the program picks one color of blue to be used for every pixel.

If you are still confused, or desire further information on the topic, I found http://computer.howstuffworks.com/file-compression3.htm extremely helpful.

References:
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/L/lossless_compression.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lossless_data_compression

http://www.brynelsenoreilly.com/images/listings/Sunshine-Coast-BC_5348-wakefield-beach-lane-20081016160614-wb_gs_dd_0743-edit.jpg

Week 3: Clear

Do you ever need to check your e-mail or Google a fact, but either you’re internet isn’t working or you’re not at home? Is the next step to see if you can catch Wi-Fi that doesn’t have a password? Everyone does it, but did you know it’s a crime? Wi-Fi crimes, also known as piggybacking, “war-driving,” or Wi-Fi tapping, are one of the newest internet crimes. Driving around trying to find someone else’s Wi-Fi connection, until you can access the internet without paying for it is a serious offense. Unfortunately, in a recent survey it was discovered that 54% of people admit to using someone else’s Wi-Fi connection without their permission, and the people who won’t admit to it would probably greatly increase this number.

There are ethical implications and opportunities for illegal activity. By stealing someone’s internet connection, you are slowing down their connection, you are not paying for the service you are receiving, and you are making your own computer vulnerable to other people who could access your content. Police are concerned because unsecured networks or wireless connections without passwords can be used for identity theft, since all passwords and credit card numbers are easily hacked. They also consider it a serious offense because anyone could download pornographic or other illegal materials without being caught, since only the Wi-Fi account holder can be traced. Eleven people have already been arrested for the seemingly harmless internet crime.

Next time you are setting up a wireless network, consider protecting yourself and add a password.

For further explanation see this article:
http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/237

Week 2: Clear

As the years go by, society is relying more and more on computers. There are countless benefits from the ease that technology has brought us. We can gather information prior to shopping for important items, or any purchases for that matter. We can stay connected with our friends, family, and businesses whether they are around the corner or overseas. Unfortunately, there are also downsides to this helpful invention. While technology is decreasing the size of the world, as many would say, it may also be destroying the environment and our physical and mental well-being.

The advantages to using computers are endless. Individuals and companies can use them for instant access to trillions of pages of information from all over the world. Users can make well-informed decisions and be in constant communication with each other. Students can research and learn at a greater level, at a faster pace. Data and information flow at incredibly fast speeds and are processed along with billions of operations in seconds. The majority of electronic components are reliable, and don’t usually fail the user. Computers are consistent, producing the same results from the same input. Information and data can be stored, available for use at any time in the future. Wireless communication is now available on computers, which makes use incredibly convenient.

There are significant disadvantages to the use of computers in everyday life, some that we may not even be aware of yet. Once information is stored on the internet or in a computer, it is incredibly difficult to erase. This has become a violation of privacy or many individuals who have had their private lives broadcasted or their identities stolen. Innocent users have shared photos or other personal information publicly on computers and have since been victims of dangerous crimes. It is extremely important to protect yourself and be careful what information you release to the world. Despite the increase in productivity that computers have been responsible for, millions of employees have been replaced by this technology. Not everyone is up-to-date on the latest technology for labor, companies have increased their outsourcing of jobs, and many computers simply do the job faster than a human being can. Furthermore, health risks of computers are continually being brought to attention. There are potential injuries of the hands, wrists, elbows, eyes, neck, and back. There is a risk of computer addiction, which is a treatable disorder. I have a fear that there are many more health risks that will come about, particularly from the constant use of laptops, which sit on the person’s thighs. Computer manufacturing processes and computer waste are having a negative effect on our environment, depleting our natural resources and releasing toxic materials. It is important to recycle old computers and other technologies.

The future of computers in our society:
Advantage: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/31/science/31essa.html
Media and technology are improving to the extent that a person could record their entire life if they pleased.

Disadvantage: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/science/26robot.html
Artificial intelligence is rapidly increasing, even responding with emotions. Computers may actually follow those scary sci-fi movies and outsmart mankind.

Week 1: Muddy

I have been assigned countless PowerPoint presentations and dance projects where I just use any music or photos I can find, completely unaware of the possibility of me breaking the law. Third grade history teachers and sixth grade dance teachers don’t mention the legal repercussions of using any material we can find, especially after we leave the protected environment that is grade school. In the business world, using any material we please could result in expensive legal fees, fines, and bad publicity. That’s why it is so important to learn all of the rules for borrowing copyrighted information. Unfortunately, this concept took a little bit of time for me to grasp because I’m so used to not thinking through these strict rules.

Currently, US Copyright laws give legal protection for almost all forms of creativity, including text, photos, and musical compositions. In order to use copyrighted material, you must be the copyright owner, have received written permission from the owner, or be using material in the public domain. Schools, teachers, and other educational establishments have a “fair use” provision in copyright law that allow circumstantially limited use of copyrighted materials without receiving permission. There are four factors very important to whether fair use is applicable: “the purpose and character of use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes”, “the nature of the copyrighted work”, “the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole”, and the effect of the copyrighted work on the potential market. Only the courts can determine whether a particular case counted as fair use, but these factors were a consensus of the conditions when fair use should apply or when permission is required. If the work is not in the public domain or used as fair use, then usually payment is required to receive permission to use the copyrighted material. It takes many years (an individual’s lifetime plus 70 years) for a copyright to be invalid, so copyright owners have a lot of time to make money off of people using their creative work. I definitely recommend getting a copyright any time your ideas take form, because you don’t want somebody else getting credit or making money off of your imagination.

The Disney Parody: A Fair(y) Use Tale video definitely helped to explain the rules of fair use to me in an amusing and understandable way, though I did have to rewind sometimes to catch what the characters had said.

Disney video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJn_jC4FNDo

University of Texas Document:

http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc/intellectualproperty/ccmcguid.htm