With the increasing usage of the internet, the incidences of cybercrimes have also been increasing exponentially.

What is Cybercrime?

Cybercrime is the act of attacking the functions of the computer, assess to a computer or the internet. Examples of cybercrime include hacking into computers and sending viruses and worms to others

However, Cybercrime can also be simply defined as an illegal activity committed on the internet. With this definition, Cybercrime can be divided into 3 categories:

Cybercrime against people

Cybercrime against property

Cybercrime against government

cybercrime related news in singapore includes online piracy

Although we know that downloading movies and music on the internet without paying is illegal, we still continue to practice intellectual property theft (article)

Another cybercrime related news is regarding ATM scams, where the personal information of individuals are misused. Recently, it was reported that 8 Romanians were jailed for using blank and cloned atm cards to withdraw money from UOB and OCBC. (article)

Another credit card fraud involved bogus credit card orders from Singapore to the US (article)

So how can we protect ourselves from cybercrimes and protect our personal information?

~keep your computer current with the latest updates

~choose strong passwords and keep them safe

~protect your computer with security software such as anti-virus programs and a good firewall

~protect your personal information

~online offers that are look too good to be true usually are

~review bank and credit card statement regularly

~not responding to suspicious looking email attachments or advertisements

Happy Chinese New Year!

AND

HAVE A

Wonderful Valentine's Day (:

google

The google tool that i am most interested in is Google Earth.
And it looks like this:















At the box in the left, i have typed in Egypt, Cairo
Do remember to check the boxes at the left column too
















Egypt is SO crowded!!
Like a maze

















Put your cursor over the small blue squares to
see the name of the landmark















Shows you the pictures of the landmarks,
as well as the links to other websites for more
information.

It really feels like you are visiting that place











































Pyramids!!!



























Yup, i really like this google tool as it is a new, fun and inexpensive way to sight see. Anyone would be able to spend hours just playing around with this tool to explore the world. The added bonus is the pictures that are uploaded to give the tour the special touch of reality. (:

However, there is another tool that is similar to Google Earth, which is..

Google Maps

In this case, i have also typed in Egypt, Cairo
and this is the result

And guess what? The road names are in Egyptian

As seen by the picture below, it shows the satellite
view of the pyramids

And i think this application is much nicer than
that of google earth.

It looks as though one can really see the sands
in the desert


















However, that seems to be the maximum view
one can get.
On the left hand corner of the picture, there
is this human figure as shown by the circle.
As it is not lighted up, there is no street view.















Trying my luck, i typed in Venice
















Although the human figure application was lighted up,
there was still no street view















I think that Google Earth and Google Maps should be used together and not separately, as both seems to be equally useful and fun to play around with. One application that Google could improve on is to ensure that there are street views to more places. Once street views are in place, i am sure Google Maps would be a hit!

E learning

Electronic Learning encompasses all forms of technological based learning. With the advances of technology, it is no wonder that technology has finally influenced and changed the ways of learning, from the traditional face to face interactions in classrooms, to the web based easy and free access of the Internet.

Based on my experience, e-learning in the past was usually used as a supplement to the usual classroom lessons, where students would look forward to playing games on the computer. However, presently, e-learning is gaining popularity due to its many benefits. With the large emphasis on education, young children have already been exposed to e-learning.

With such a competitive world, children have to start young.

Many simple children's game have been converted electronically.

Learn and Talk Bilingual Laptop?

4+

Who would ever have imagined that there would be a child's version of a laptop?

Do young children really need to know so many languages?










There is such a huge change.

From the olden ways of flipping pages in a book...

to the e-book, where children can learn by themselves.

Even i must admit that with all these changes to learning, studying would be so much more enjoyable. With technology, a new classroom has emerged.... The E-learning Classroom.

So... What are the benefits of E-learning?

1. Anyone can benefit from e-learning anytime and anywhere ( a wall-less classroom )

2. Opens the door to new avenues of knowledge

3. Faster access to knowledge ( even for updated knowledge )

4. Can encourage independent study, instead of spoon feeding children

5. Its fun (:

6. Less written work -> save paper (haha)

In the picture above, it shows the different ways learners can interact with their teacher and among themselves. In the past, learners would interact with their teachers mostly during schooling hours, through the phone and even possibly through emails. In this new technologically savvy age, there are so much more avenues for interaction, such as sms, mms, blogs etc.. there is really no boundaries.

More interestingly, is that the 'teachers' do not have to be the contemporary teachers in schools, but they can ANYONE. To me, i think that anyone can be a teacher on the Internet, as long as you are able to provide beneficial and accurate information that others need. Isn't this so?

There are so many youtube videos that can teach anyone anything, that was uploaded by any individual.

Blending fun and knowledge
In the youtube video below, it is an advertisement on E-learning. It mentions how e-learning is effective in better learning. ( the video is in chinese )

To me, i think the future classrooms would be very technologically based, where there would no longer be white boards and worksheets, where everything would take place digitally online. There could also be the possibility that students would not have to attend lessons in school as they could have digital lessons at the comforts of their homes, and the interactions with their classmates and teachers could be done through the webcam.

Do i think this technology will be a success in the future?

Definitely Yes