Notes on the Information Age
Overview of the Information Age
- Began: Late 20th century
- Also known as: Digital Age / New Media Age
- Key Features:
• Modernized, automated, data-driven society
• Rapid access to information through publications and computer networks
• Closely tied to the rise of computers
Web Browsers
- Web Browser: Software used to access/view websites (e.g., Chrome, Firefox)
- Mosaic: First to show text + images, created by Marc Andreessen
- Internet Explorer: Released in 1995 by Microsoft, based on Mosaic
Social Media & Networking
- Definition: Websites/apps for communication, sharing, and building relationships
- Friendster: Launched 2003, early social network for gaming/content
- Multiply: Known for unlimited photo sharing
- Facebook: Most popular, with customizable privacy settings
Blogging Platforms
- Blogspot: Owned by Google, beginner-friendly
- LiveJournal: Used for fanfiction and community interaction
- WordPress: Open-source, code-free site and blog creation
Microblogging
- Short, frequent posts for quick updates
- Twitter (X): Free platform for posting “tweets” (text, photos, videos)
- Tumblr: Microblogging with customizable layouts
Search Engines
- Help find info online using keywords
- Yahoo!: Founded 1994, started as web directory
- Google: Founded 1998, revolutionized fast and accurate search
Augmented Reality (AR)
- Combines real + digital elements using screens (phones/tablets)
- Examples:
• Pokémon Go: Catch virtual Pokémon in real environments
• IKEA Place: Preview furniture using phone camera
Video Platforms
- YouTube: Free platform to upload/share/watch various videos
- TikTok: Short video platform; popular for trends and music clips
Video Calling / Conferencing
- Real-time face-to-face interaction over the internet
- Skype: Founded 2003, made international calls affordable
- Google Hangouts: Released 2013, used in schools and offices
- Zoom: Founded 2013, surged during COVID-19 for online meetings
Personal & Portable Computing
- Laptops: Portable PCs (e.g., MacBook, Dell XPS)
- Netbooks: Budget laptops for internet access (e.g., Acer Aspire One)
- Tablets: Touch-based computers (e.g., iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab)
- Smartphones: Phones with computing abilities (e.g., iPhone, Samsung)
- Wearables:
• Smartwatches
• Fitness trackers
• VR/AR Headsets
• Medical devices (e.g., hearing aids)
Cloud Computing
- Stores data/apps online rather than on local hardware
- Examples:
• Google Drive
• Dropbox
• Google Workspace
• Microsoft 365
• Zoom, Microsoft Teams
Big Data
- Refers to vast, complex data sets too big for traditional tools
- Characterized by the 3 Vs:
• Volume
• Velocity
• Variety
