Ethics of WEB 2.0

Lawrence Lessing writes:

So there’s an important distinction developing among “user generated content” sites — the distinction between sites that permit “true sharing” and those that permit only what I’ll call “fake sharing.”

A “true sharing” site doesn’t try to exercise ultimate control over the content it serves. It permits, in other words, content to move as users choose.

A “fake sharing” site, by contrast, gives you tools to make seem as if there’s sharing, but in fact, all the tools drive traffic and control back to a single site.

In this sense, YouTube is a fake sharing site, while Flickr, (parts of) Google, blip.tv, Revver and EyeSpot are true sharing sites.

Read full story here.

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Meta materials : Invisibility cloak tested!

National geographic writes:

Researchers announced today that they’ve built the world’s first invisibility cloak, although the fine print may disappoint science- fiction fans.

The device works only in two dimensions and only on microwaves.

Still, the experiment proves that a theoretical blueprint for building invisibility cloaks unveiled by the same team just five months ago works.

(Read “Invisibility Cloaks Possible, Study Says” [May 25, 2006].)

“The concept that you can cloak something and make something invisible can now be demonstrated by this method,” said Duke University physicist David R. Smith.

“This is the first time where we show that you can actually take electromagnetic waves and wrap them around some region that you want to conceal and restore them on the other side.”

An uncloaked object would would cause an interruption in the waves, creating a “shadow” behind the object. But the cloak succeeded in making the waves reconnect on the other side.

The team describes its experiment in tomorrow’s issue of Science Express, the online early edition of the journal Science.

Read full story here. 

Second Life : Matrix 1.0

Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by 377,758 people from around the globe.

• From the moment you enter the World you’ll discover a vast digital continent, teeming with people, entertainment, experiences and opportunity. Once you’ve explored a bit, perhaps you’ll find a perfect parcel of land to build your house or business.
• You’ll also be surrounded by the Creations of your fellow residents. Because residents retain the rights to their digital creations, they can buy, sell and trade with other residents.
• The Marketplace currently supports millions of US dollars in monthly transactions. This commerce is handled with the in-world currency, the Linden dollar, which can be converted to US dollars at several thriving online currency exchanges.

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I would recommend to explore your second life experiences.Enjoy your virtual world (High speed internet is must else you will end up in lost world).

Are we heading towards Matrix 1.0?

My intital steps in second life tour made me think of one real life funda.

Initial struggle : First step in the new world is always difficult,take your time,learn basics fast and prepare yourself to face new world.

Enjoy second life(yeh, better first enjoy first life.    )