Addicted
Here is why I wasn’t able to write more in my blog these days.
I was working on ADDICTED, a TV program we would like to sell to a channel. I can’t explain too much about it, but it’s a TV show about ads (produced by La cinémathèque Jean-Marie Boursicot, that produces also the famous Night of the Adeaters). Yesterday - and the day before - we shot the two pilots of the show. The montage should be done by January… then the more difficult is yet to come: trying to sell the concept!
Whether it works or not, it has been a wonderful experience and I’m glad of being part of it!
Internet Savior
This funny picture is a perfect example of how people can react in front of a new technology. The guy coming from the planet Internet is a superhero, because technology is seen as extraterrestrial, and also very powerful. At the same time, the man seems pretty ridiculous, showing that the idea of an omnipotent technology is more of a dream than a reality.
RSS
RDF Site Summary? Rich Site Summary? Really Simple Syndication? I like the really simple one better. RSS is an XML format for syndicating web content. A web site that wants to allow other sites to publish some of its content creates an RSS document and registers the document with an RSS publisher. The content can be news feeds, events listings, news stories, excerpts from discussion forums…
It can be really useful to keep updated about a subject. I’m just starting to use it, so I don’t know much about it yet, but I’m sure it can be very helpful and will keep on developing.
English class
That would be more interesting to get the chance to write about things more personal and less technical. Some of the challenge questions (like shttp or rss…) are only about searching on the internet and explaining the terms and practices. I find it more interesting to write about our personal use of the Internet.
Secure HyperText Transmission Protocol
SHTTP is a protocol that provides secure transactions over the web. It’s an extended version of HTTP providing security through encryption. SHTTP is used when web page information needs to be kept secure and private, such as when dealing with private, commercial or financial information across the internet. SHTTP is essential for all e-commerce applications.
When I check my bank account or do shopping on the Internet, I always make sure the page is secure. It can be verified with an icon of a lock, like this one:
SHTTP encrypts data transfers, but does not authenticate the client. The responsibility for authentication remains with the website, that’s why the choice of a good password is still important.
Very detailled information about SHTTP can be found on this website.
Promising new TV show idea: CCSI: CyberCrime Scene Investigation
Cybercrime is crime using the Internet. Identity theft, previously discussed, is one of the diverse types of cybercrime. Hacking is another one, maybe the best known of all, with the use of viruses.
But there can be virtual crime, or in-game crime, which takes place in the virtual word. Many people play multiplayer games online such as World of Warcraft, The Sims Online, or Second Life. As long as there is a virtual economy, there can be virtual crime: theft, fraudulent sales…
An example from the wikipedia article: "In China, Qiu Chengwei was sentenced to life in prison after stabbing and killing fellow The Legend of Mir 3 gamer Zhu Caoyuan. In the game Qiu had lent Zhu a powerful sword (a "dragon sabre"), which Zhu then went on to sell on eBay for 7,200 Yuan (about £473 or $870). With no Chinese laws covering the online dispute, there was nothing the police could do."
Surprising how people can get involved in virtual worlds!
Do YouTube?
YouTube is a website on which people can upload and watch videos clips. There are many amateur uninteresting clips, but also very funny ones, or clips made by talented people. Here is an example of an interesting clip a guy made: he took a picture of himself everyday during six years! The result is impressive!
I personally don’t use YouTube often; I usually just go on the website when someone sends me a link to a nice video. I don’t take the time to go and surf by myself. I think – and maybe I’m wrong - there’s more crap than art. That’s why I’d rather wait for people to select the best pieces for me!
Here is why I wasn’t able to write more in my blog these days.
