The Internet & our Brain - Monday Musing

Something to think about on a Monday morning - Is Google (and FaceBook, Twitter and all the rest) making us stupid? Is the Internet changing our brains? How many of us can remember information any more? Or is it just that there is SO much information available that we cannot process it as we used to? 

And, are we all becoming trapped in a filter bubble of our own making? Some experts have been warning about this for at  least the last 10 years or so, and with all the talk about Fake News, it does seem more topical than ever. 

Maybe the real question is - does it really matter? This is the reality that our students live in so can we change it? Do we need to? 

When you have some spare time, maybe check out the websites below and see what you think. 

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2010/aug/15/internet-brain-neuroscience-debate

https://www.nbcnews.com/better/lifestyle/problem-social-media-reinforcement-bubbles-what-you-can-do-about-ncna1063896\

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8ofWFx525s   TED Talk on Filter Bubbles  - Eli Pariser

Update on Project Loon

I have posted about this fascinating project before, and have added an update - so this is now the latest update on an amazing project designed to help connect everyone throughout the world. 

It is a project that been in progress since 2011 - and provided connectivity to schools and small isolated communities all over the world.  It has also been on hand to help with communication after natural disasters as well.  

Check it out:- 

https://loon.co/journey/

It isn't just about having the imagination to dream of it - but having the determination to see the project through and make it work. 

Web Pickings - Technology and Hybrid Thinking

Just a couple of 'web pickings' that may be of some interest - a little light reading for the weekend. 

http://internetofthingsagenda.techtarget.com/definition/Internet-of-Things-IoT

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/the-future-is-smart/article24586994/

http://www.easybib.com/guides/5-ed-tech-trends-to-look-for-in-2017/

https://www.ted.com/talks/amber_case_we_are_all_cyborgs_now

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVXQUItNEDQ    - Get Ready for Hybrid thinking.

And a science fiction trilogy to put it all into perspective:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWW_Trilogy

Crystal Pyramids, Bermuda Triangle and Snopes

Well, apparently the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle has been solved after all this time!  Score one for modern technology and sonar.  It seems that there is a HUGE crystal pyramid underwater using some totally unknown technology, which is why there has been such a loss of planes and ships.  
See the link below:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1945098/crystal-pyramids-discovered-lurking-beneath-tropical-seas-of-bermuda/

Of course, in today's world of fake news, and so many people believing everything that they read on the Internet, I can't help thinking that it is just as well we have Snopes on hand to sort out the urban myths running wild. 
http://www.snopes.com/?s=crystal+pyramid+bermuda+triangle

There are lots of urban myths and hoaxes that regularly circulate on the Internet and FaceBook - and they seem to just keep looping around.  Sometimes they undergo a slight mutation as someone updates them, but mainly, they just keep on going.

The best way to check these sort of facts is to run it through snopes.com which is a independent fact checking site.  
Please see the link below:
http://www.snopes.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Probably a good site to pass onto your students - and your friends.

Project Loon - Balloon Powered Internet

I came across this one today and thought I would share it with you.  Check out the weblink below and see what you think.

http://www.google.com/loon/

I thought this was interesting considering my last post could be called anti-technology, if people wanted to read it that way.

If I was going to categorise this as a genre - I would think that it would have to be Steam Punk.

Cyber Safety and Security

The National Cyber Security Awareness Week is happening again and this year will be held from 2 to 6 June 2014.  This year's theme - 'On The Go' - reflects the importance of staying safe and secure online while using mobile devices, such as smart phones and tablets, which are used to stay connected for social networking, banking, shopping, and navigating the internet. 

The aim of Awareness Week is to help Australians using the internet – whether at home, the workplace or school – understand the simple steps they can take to protect their personal and financial information online.

The internet has increasingly become a part of our daily life. It provides a way for us to socialise, shop, transact and do business, all of which means we are sharing more and more personal and financial information online. In doing so we take the chance of  exposing ourselves to a number of online risks, which we need to be aware of and properly manage.
That is why it is important that we better understand how to stay safe and secure on the internet. None of us are invincible.

Under the Australian Government's Stay Smart Online Program a range of initiatives, including National Stay Smart Online Awareness Week, help Australians understand online security and safety and the measures they can take to protect their personal and financial information.

Check out the link below.  Maybe this is something we could share with students to try and make them aware of the possible dangers with the use of their devices.  An ounce of awareness and maybe a little common sense could help them avoid a heap of problems.

http://www.staysmartonline.gov.au/