Thursday, May 20, 2010
World Wide Web Wonders
In the next week I will be blogging about the world wide web and the issues that it has created. These issues will be:
In the next week I will be blogging about the world wide web and the issues that it has created. These issues will be:
- Privacy
- Equity
- Ergonomics
- Control
Thank you
Privacy: The benefits of a privacy policy
I was asked the question “what are the benefits of a privacy policy and why does a company need one?” So I researched several well-known websites to see what they had on their privacy policies. I found out quickly how essential having a ‘privacy policy’ is for any company both on a legal and trust level. Instead of presenting my findings in the usual, boring way, I will present my findings in a letter to a nonexistent company whom does not have a privacy policy on their website.
To the CEO of www.BuyGreenShoesOnline.com,
It has come to my attention that your website does not contain a privacy policy. A privacy policy is beneficial to both the company as well as the users of your site. Having a privacy policy can result in the users trusting the site more if they know exactly what is being done with their information and whether it is being shared/sold to any other companies. I would highly recommend you acquiring one as soon as possible.
The main things your privacy policy should contain:
· What is your website is collecting from the users and how this information will be used- This is very important from a legal point as tells the users exactly what your website is collecting from them. It is important to include precisely what personal information your website maintains (example email address, name, phone number). This can minimize your companies’ liability in the long run.
· Disclosing if you share any of your information on your users- This is where you disclose whether you will share/sell any of their personal details to any third parties. You should also state that It is important to not leave out any details here as it may result in a user of your website taking legal action against your company.
· Cookies/IP address- State weather you website can access your users IP (Internet Protocol) address. Like many other things in your Privacy policy this will be especially important as you can often take this without the user knowing. By doing this
· Access- You must state that they are in control of the information they put out publicly and it is their responsibility if they publish something on your website.
Thank you for your time, and I hope you truly consider getting a privacy policy on your website as soon as possible.
Georgia-Rose
Well-known websites who’s privacy policy I examined:
Mc Donald’s, 2010 (online) available: http://mcdonalds.com.au/privacy-policy#m70 Accessed (2010. May 21)
Yahoo, 2010 (online) available: http://info.yahoo.com/privacy/au/yahoo/ Accessed (2010. May 21)
Ninemsn, 2010 (online) available: http://help.ninemsn.com.au/support/privacy_full.asp Accessed: (2010. May 22)
Other research sources:
Eric’s tips, 2010 (online) avalible:http://www.ericstips.com/free-privacy-policy/ Accessed: (2010. May 22)
Philips given Law, 2010 (online) Available: http://phillipsgivenslaw.blogspot.com/2010/02/6-key-points-every-website-privacy.html Accessed: (2010. May 22)
Equity: Will people who are information poor become disadvantaged and the social outcasts of the next century?
A question that is starting to be relevant is “Will those who are information poor become disadvantaged and the social outcasts of the next century?” I personally are undecided about weather this will become a reality, but I think it may be likely. Already in within the first decade on the 21st century we are relying more and more on technology to inform us, entertain us and to allow us to communicate. The Internet has only been available to the general public since the early 90’s, yet it has already integrated itself into the lives of millions. In the developed world it is a social expectation that a person own a landline, a mobile, a computer, the Internet and an email address. This is reflected in assignments schools are issuing with many assignments relying on a computer and several require programs such as PowerPoint or moviemaker, making it increasingly difficult for disadvantaged children.
In the world there are still hundreds of millions of people without even electricity. Including 706 million people in south Asia and another 547 million in Sub-Saharan In contrast an average house in Australia would have access to electricity and would have at very least one computer with access to Wi-Fi, at least one television, a microwave, connection to a phone line and lighting. Being information poor can be a downward spiral; you may not be able to get a great job, which means less money which can lead to not being able to buy updated technology that can lead to being more information poor.
As come into the next century, will society be split into two groups, those that are improvised as well as information poor and those who are information rich and up to date in technology? Only time will tell…
Online sources:
Global issues, 2010 (online) available: http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats: (2010. May 22)
Book sources:
John Dixon, 1998, Poverty: a persistent global reality, Routledge
Ergonomics: How has furniture in a typical office changed since the introduction of information and software technology?
When I think about the way technology has changed the world I think of malls with touch screen maps, people ‘chatting’ with each other not with their voiced, but though a computer and a car full of people all listening to different music. I haven’t however ever thought much about much technology has changed the average office.
When you really think about it, the introduction of information technology has completely changed the way the average office is set up. 80 years ago they may have had a typewriter on a desk, but there was certainly neither printers nor fancy computer monitors we have today. Office furniture has changed so much over the years. Today we have office chairs especially ergonomically designed for long hour sitting at a desk on the computer. Desks are often designed to have under space for a keyboard slide under them. And even if we have a light on the desk still, it is so different to ones they used to have in offices.
Today our average desks are so different from what they used to be. 80 years ago many desks were made out thick would and were rather limited in design. Today you can fit a desk in more places because of desks available with curves. You can buy desks that actually save you space by having shelves built in above them. Desks are often lighter then they used to be as they are often made from different material to what they used to because they are often made of different materials. And if you want a chair to put under you desk it is a lot easier as most desk chairs allow you to choose the height.
As you can see, the office place has changed so much in just 80 years. Who knows what it will look live in another 80?
Online sources:
2008, (online) available http://archive.ifla.org/III/misc/im-e.htm accessed (May.23)
Book Sources:
Control: Is the ‘data-Matching’ act an invasion of our privacy?
At first part of me immediately thought that yes, it was an invasion of my privacy and that I should have the right to not have people (even if they are from the law) looking through my information. The act allows legal officials to access information on me from different government departments and if they can read my information, who is to say some criminal can’t hack their system and ‘look up’ my records to find out where I live and when I’m out of the country.
However as I started to think deeper about this act I realised that it can be extremely beneficial and important as it can help catch people cheating the welfare. Cheating the welfare system is a serious crime and it is costing Australia thousands each year. This act prevents at least some of the wrong people that are cheating the system and keeps it for those whom actually need it. For example, this act may help catch a parent who isn’t paying child welfare; this would improve the life of the child and take strain of the other parent. This aside, what about those who aren’t doing anything wrong, yet still have their information dug through? Is this a breach of their privacy and should we be able to decide who has our information? Half of me think that still yes, we should, but his would benefits the people who are taking/paying the government when they should. All in all my answer is ‘yes’ I think it is an invasion of our privacy, but that this act is far too important to stop.
Online sources:
Comonwealth law, 2010 (online) available: http://www.comlaw.gov.au/ComLaw/Legislation/ActCompilation1.nsf/framelodgmentattachments/9B17FE1AB5 Accessed (May. 22)
Australian government, 2010 (online) available: http://www.privacy.gov.au/law/other/datamatch Accessed (May. 22)
Book sources:
‘Data-matching act’ 1994 Australian national bibliography, Page 220
An office of the 1930's
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