With peer to peer networks all users involved are able to directly access information from other computers attached to the network. They are less expensive and less complicated than client server networks but they may not have the same performance levels. When many people are using the networks at the same time there is the possibility that users will run into problems.
Peer to Peer internet computing is performed through the internet. Content from the internet is exchanged between users attached to the network. Not all of these uses are legal however. A major example would be the sharing of music files. In some cases, if the music is not copyright protected than it is legal, but in most cases, the music is protected by copyright and the downloading of these files is then unauthorized.
I have used these type of networks in downloading music, and eventually found out that it was illegal so I had to get rid of all of my downloads. Honestly, I don't see the huge problem in doing this, but either way because of recent government intervention in these kinds of activities, I quit doing it. I understand that it is copyright infringement, and that the music artist's are not being correctly credited with their music. However, this type of file sharing is a huge advantage for artists by spreading music and acquiring a fan base of those whom otherwise would never have indulged in their music. Cd's are expensive, and when you can access music for free than it allows for more of a variety of your taste. I'm sure other aspects of artists careers have flourished such as concert sales and merchandising, because although people can download their music for free, they can't get into a concert without paying for a ticket, and if they had never downloaded the artists music, they would never have wanted a ticket because they would not have had interest. The government is never going to be able to completely restrict these networks anyway, so why not embrace them?
The University of Delaware, tries to encourage students not to partake in these types of peer to peer internet networks. I believe they even provide alternative ways of downloading music that does not interfere with copyrights. If this could become universal than yes, it would be a much better way of obtaining music. If this is not a realistic goal though, than I don't see the extreme need for government to control these sites until they can provide a happy and efficient alternative.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Keyboarding speed test
I used typingtest.com to take my keyboarding speed test. The first time I took it, my scores were 89% accurate, my gross speed was 68 words per minute, and my net speed was 61 words per minute. When I took it for the second time, my scores improved drastically. My accuracy was 98%, my gross speed was 96 words per minute, and my net speed was 95 words per minute. This is obviously a great difference.
I do not believe however, that it was the actual tutorial that helped my scores imrpove. I think more so, that it was because I was famililar with the text and what I was going to be typing after taking it the first time. Generally though, I can see how web-based tutorials can be helpful in developing or improving basic skills. If I were to take that test over and over again, than I'm sure my speed and accuracy would continue to improve; because of the test not because of familiarity.
I found another web-based tutorial that I believe could be helpful for those in need of developing skills for basic computer use. The website is http://tech.tln.lib.mi.us/tutor/. The skills that this tutorial focuses on are the very basic skills needed to operate a computer. They give brief overviews on tasks like using the mouse and curser and also identifies common problems that may occur when applying the lessons. In addition to just teaching basic skills, this tutorial offers encouraging words of priase along the way as a way of relieving any frustration for those who are just learning. Over all, I think this tutorial would be a great learning tool for anyone just beginning to use a computer.
I do not believe however, that it was the actual tutorial that helped my scores imrpove. I think more so, that it was because I was famililar with the text and what I was going to be typing after taking it the first time. Generally though, I can see how web-based tutorials can be helpful in developing or improving basic skills. If I were to take that test over and over again, than I'm sure my speed and accuracy would continue to improve; because of the test not because of familiarity.
I found another web-based tutorial that I believe could be helpful for those in need of developing skills for basic computer use. The website is http://tech.tln.lib.mi.us/tutor/. The skills that this tutorial focuses on are the very basic skills needed to operate a computer. They give brief overviews on tasks like using the mouse and curser and also identifies common problems that may occur when applying the lessons. In addition to just teaching basic skills, this tutorial offers encouraging words of priase along the way as a way of relieving any frustration for those who are just learning. Over all, I think this tutorial would be a great learning tool for anyone just beginning to use a computer.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Issues of using the web
I believe that the greatest risk associated with computer use today is the issue of security. It is almost impossible to be sure of who may have access to your information, and your personal files. This may very well lead to identity theft, which is a fast growing concern of the internet. Less violating, but still invasive, is the problem of computer viruses, which may harm your computer if contracted. These possibilities are very hard to detect, and even harder to correct or reverse.
The lesser of the two evils would be the possibility of a computer virus. A computer virus is defined as a malicious software program designed to change the way a computer operates. While, there are security measures you can take to prevent this from happening, they cannot always save your PC. Coming into a virus, is actually very simple; opening an email, searching a link, downloading from a website, all of these put your computer at risk and most of them are daily occurrences. Here in lies the problem, you can never be certain. Viruses can erase files from your computer, slow your computer down so that you may not be able to use it efficiently and can be used for outside access to your personal information. The latter, is a risk all in itself; computer theft.
Computer theft is the most dangerous issue of computer use. Computer theft is a way in which someone else uses your identity, typically to purchase goods or services. The most common way for someone to do this is by sending out emails that appear to be legitimate and sometimes urgent so that you are more inclined to open it. You are asked to verify your social security number or other personal information, and you are made to believe that it is for important use, this is an easy way to be fooled. There are hardly any ways of protecting yourself from identity theft as caused by phishing, which makes the threat very real for most. More recently though, there have been national, or local (whichever may be effected by a certain phishing attempt) alerts made informing the public of phishing attempts that may circulate. These alerts will tell you what WebPages may be a threat, or they may tell you not to open an email with a certain headline that is being used to obtain personal information. Paying serious attention to these alerts is necessary for protecting yourself from this serious danger. And in general examining your computer use closely and analyzing suspicious situations is the starting point of avoiding both identity theft and computer viruses. The users who create the means to threaten you in these ways are very sneaky, and very intelligent in avoiding being detected, this makes it vital that you be aware of the potential risks you take when using your computer.
The lesser of the two evils would be the possibility of a computer virus. A computer virus is defined as a malicious software program designed to change the way a computer operates. While, there are security measures you can take to prevent this from happening, they cannot always save your PC. Coming into a virus, is actually very simple; opening an email, searching a link, downloading from a website, all of these put your computer at risk and most of them are daily occurrences. Here in lies the problem, you can never be certain. Viruses can erase files from your computer, slow your computer down so that you may not be able to use it efficiently and can be used for outside access to your personal information. The latter, is a risk all in itself; computer theft.
Computer theft is the most dangerous issue of computer use. Computer theft is a way in which someone else uses your identity, typically to purchase goods or services. The most common way for someone to do this is by sending out emails that appear to be legitimate and sometimes urgent so that you are more inclined to open it. You are asked to verify your social security number or other personal information, and you are made to believe that it is for important use, this is an easy way to be fooled. There are hardly any ways of protecting yourself from identity theft as caused by phishing, which makes the threat very real for most. More recently though, there have been national, or local (whichever may be effected by a certain phishing attempt) alerts made informing the public of phishing attempts that may circulate. These alerts will tell you what WebPages may be a threat, or they may tell you not to open an email with a certain headline that is being used to obtain personal information. Paying serious attention to these alerts is necessary for protecting yourself from this serious danger. And in general examining your computer use closely and analyzing suspicious situations is the starting point of avoiding both identity theft and computer viruses. The users who create the means to threaten you in these ways are very sneaky, and very intelligent in avoiding being detected, this makes it vital that you be aware of the potential risks you take when using your computer.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Searching the Web
I decided to search the web to find out more about projective personality testing. More specifically the House Tree Person Test. This type of testing requires someone to draw a house, a tree, and a person. Then a psychologist would analyze their drawings and link certain charachteristics of their drawings, to certain personality traits using a specific scoring system. My main objective was to discover the scoring system criteria for this test.
I began my search using the search tool Lycos. I'm used to searching with Blackle which is an energy saving search powered by Google. The first time I tried the search with Lycos, I plugged in the words-Projective house tree person test. There was a total of 2,347 hits all together. The first URL I recieved was www.minddisorders.com, which was relative to my topic, infact all of the first ten seemed very relative to the house tree person test itself, but did not give me much insight as to the scoring system used to analyze the drawings.
Once I couldn't find a distinct scoring system, I did another search. I still typed in the same thing but added on the end "scoring system" in parenthesis. Using the parenthesis should give you results using that exact phrase. Well, it did. However, it returned the same sites that came back the first time, all of which spoke of scoring systems, but did not identify a definitive scoring system itself. I suppose that if I were to try to search this again I would try a different searching tool so that I could have access to a more advanced search field. There was an advanced search option for Lycos but none of the fields would have help specify and narrow my desired search.
I began my search using the search tool Lycos. I'm used to searching with Blackle which is an energy saving search powered by Google. The first time I tried the search with Lycos, I plugged in the words-Projective house tree person test. There was a total of 2,347 hits all together. The first URL I recieved was www.minddisorders.com, which was relative to my topic, infact all of the first ten seemed very relative to the house tree person test itself, but did not give me much insight as to the scoring system used to analyze the drawings.
Once I couldn't find a distinct scoring system, I did another search. I still typed in the same thing but added on the end "scoring system" in parenthesis. Using the parenthesis should give you results using that exact phrase. Well, it did. However, it returned the same sites that came back the first time, all of which spoke of scoring systems, but did not identify a definitive scoring system itself. I suppose that if I were to try to search this again I would try a different searching tool so that I could have access to a more advanced search field. There was an advanced search option for Lycos but none of the fields would have help specify and narrow my desired search.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Just a little Bio
My name is Christi Cofield and I am a current student at University of Delaware. As of now I am in the process of completing my freshman year. I started back in 2006 after graduating from Caesar Rodney High School, but after my first semester I decided to take about a year of to better prepare myself for the "college lifestyle". I just wasn't quite ready. Now I am back and I am excited to finish my education and discover my future.
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