The Future: "Is it real? Is it real?"

METAPHOR. An accurate GIF representing how I feel about new technologies.

If you think this is already the future . . . you're wrong.

Remember the good old days when you have your cellphone, the very bulky ones. Where you can only text and call people. Remember the big personal computers, the hunchback ones. And the only way you can access the net is by using a card (I actually don't quite remember how to use those things, but I do remember encountering them). Remember when the only social networking site you have is Friendster, where you can customize your profile, and put a bunch of things you like, and then if you want to send a message, you can post a testimonial in someones page.

Slowly, these gadgets become human. And slowly, we become techno-zombies -- dazed, emotionless. Everything that makes us human is being taken away 

Now, we have the convenience that is smartphones. This magical gadget allows us to do all of this things in just one touch, using ONE DEVICE. Today, we have multiple social networking sites where you can share your opinion about almost everything. Everything is just slide and sweep. These devices we use today, were just available in science fiction films of yesterday. It's always funny to me when I watch these dystopic sci-fi movies that were made in the 60s-70s and they have this weird perception of future. The gadgets, the way we live, the fashion. They were probably thinking, "This is crazy!" "These things will never exist." Well, guess what?

What lies in the future of communicating is really something we should be curious and scared about. There are a lot of weird things going on with technology, and there are a lot of weird things about to happen with it. They say that in the future, it will be possible for us to store our memory into a chip (Like the pensieve Dumbledore uses to view his memories). We might be able to actually put ourselves inside an operating machine, a computer (see Transcendence, a movie starring Johnny Depp). In future, we can be anywhere, without actually going anywhere. The boundaries have really been broken. One second, you can only hear the voice of the person you're talking to over the phone, now, we are able to see their actual faces. Now that's hearing and seeing. What about touch? In the future, there might be some revolutionary gadget where you can reach out the screen and touch your friend's face. See how they're slowly putting our senses in to these gadgets? Slowly, these gadgets become human. And slowly, we become techno-zombies -- dazed, emotionless. Everything that makes us human is being taken away and used as a concept for a much more human-like communicating experience.

FUTURE IN THE PAST. From 1927 science-fiction film, Metropolis. Directed by Fritz Lang

If all of these does not creep you out, well, I'm happy for you. Maybe I'm not that techy enough to grasp the concept of these upcoming technologies. I don't get it actually. All of these things, technological advancements I'm hearing seems unreal. And I think that is the main goal of technology today, to blur the line separating what's real and what's fake. 

Let us just sit back and watch what will happen in the future of communicating. All I want to say is that, I love using all these technology to communicate but what I enjoy the most is talking personally. No matter how instant, or convenient this technologies we have now, nothing beats the presence of a human being. Not a even a cold glass screen.

photos are not mine.

"2014 na, Choppy Ka Pa Rin?"

The internet is now one of the major medium or platform of communication. It has become a tool of communicating in different aspects of our life, it plays a vital role in our social interaction and has made it easier and convenient to reach one another. But all of this will never be possible or easy with a slow connection, how are we supposed to send the message that we want to share to other people if we our connection is "choppy"?

"Huh?"
"What?"
"I-I can't hear you?"
"Speak louder, maybe?"
"I said . . ."

When it comes to internet connection, were probably at the last of the line. Our internet remains slow and expensive. For an ultra-fast internet connection, you'd have to pay twenty-thousand pesos for 100 Mbp/s connection (PLDT Fibr) or twenty-five thousand pesos for 150Mbp/s connection (Globe Tattoo Torque). THAT IS EXPENSIVE. And I doubt that will be really an ultra-fast internet that will be accessible at all times.

We have to improve our internet connection because, with the growing population of internet users, it is very important that our internet be fast and accessible.

Speaking of accessibility, believe it or not, some places in the Philippines still haven't had the chance to have a taste of electricity. So whenever you feel like complaining, you might as well keep it to yourself before everybody calls you insensitive. How are we supposed to reach them if they don't have electricity. In terms of being "connected", we are not yet wired to each other. And as stated in the first paragraph, communication through internet and other technologies is very important.

When it comes to technology, the Philippines have yet to prove its advancement. The things we find fast, is really nowhere the real definition of FAST. Compared to the other countries, the Philippines is the guy in the marathon that finishes last. That guy who everybody waits for in the finish line. The very last guy. The only guy left.We might as well be called cavemen for this "de-uling" internet connection. Let us just hope that one day, we'll reach that level where the internet connection will be very fast it will feel like surfing on air. 

Are you willing to wait? Are you patient enough? Or have you had it?

" 'Di talaga kita maintindihan. Choppy ka."

References/Read more on: (Wikipedia   Abs-Cbn News)
.gifs are not mine. courtesy of tumblr.com

Internet Usage Level: Asian

INTERNET IS POWER. And with great power, comes great responsibility.

Fifty percent (50%) of the world'd population lives in Asia, so it was no surprise that Asians are the world's most internet loving people. According to a research, as of 2012, forty-four percent (44%) of the world's internet users are in Asia. Europe comes second (22%), then followed by North America (11%). Asia houses a total of 1,076,681,059 internet users. Wow! That's a lot of wi-fi-using, Facebook-loving, YouTube-watching, and Google-searching humans.

Today, internet is considered as a necessity, especially for communicating with each other, no matter how far away. Asia is one of the fastest developing regions of the world. We use the internet as a medium of communication in every aspect of our life, and economy. It could mean that, since Asia houses most of the world's internet users, we are on our way to development. It could mean that more people are being oriented to the power of internet, therefore, creating a more educated, civilized, and smart community.

As of June 2012, China sits at the top of the list when it comes to the top internet users in Asia. Philippines comes in at number 6 next to countries such as South Korea and Japan, both of which are very advanced when it comes to technology.

But this news does not just leaves a positive mark. Since we use the internet more than any countries, it may also imply that cyber-crimes are rampant throughout Asia. Internet has also became a medium for different crimes such as human trafficking, and bullying. Which may imply that Asia is also at the top of the list when it comes to cyber-crime.

To conclude, we should use internet wisely and use this power (yes, it is a power, and as the movie Spider-man -- I believe -- has stated, "With great power, comes great responsibility") in nothing but good.

References: ( Tech In Asia  Internet World Stats )

2 Weeks After Glenda. Coping With Power Outage.

AFTERMATH. 2 weeks after typhoon 'Glenda' (international name: Rammasun) hit our town. Photo by Zander Esteban

During the time Glenda was hitting our small town, electricity was cut off as a safety measure. The water in the river was overflowing due to the heavy rain, causing flood all over the area. The wind was the scariest part. As it hits our house, it made a 'hooing' sound. A simple yet scary 'hoo', as if Glenda was trying to talk to us. Making us remember who's boss - mother nature.

After of what probably was the most terrifying moment of my life, we went out and walked through the flood to check our area. What we saw were trees and electricity posts blocking the road. What Glenda left was a heap of garbage, dozens of uprooted trees, whole portion of roofs and ceilings, and families that were left homeless.

The following days were the real struggle, electricity was remained cut off for almost two weeks. It was very hard to get news. There was no way to communicate because there was no electricity. Cellular phones won't work because their either battery dead or there was no reception. For me to know if there was classes that Thursday, I had to travel from Calauan to Calamba just to check if there was classes that day. Unfortunately, there was no classes, so I had to travel back home.

After a few days, reception was back. I get to check when will classes resume, and also, communicate with my classmates through text and Facebook (thank you Globe!)

I still had to render and burn our audio visual presentation for CommTech. Thanks to my group mate (Jerm Narvaez) who invited me to his house to finish our project.

THROUGH THE SCREEN. 2 weeks ago. During the time 'Glenda' was violently hitting our town with lashing winds and heavy rains. Leaves flew all over the place, along with roofs and ceilings. Photo by Zander Esteban

It was very hard to deal with the power outage. Electricity is plays a vital role in communicating. It powers our gadgets, which helps us to communicate. Nowadays,  it is very impossible to communicate without electricity. We would have to switch to 'de-uling' methods, such as writing each other letters. And today, that would be impractical and inconvenient.

If there was one good thing this power outage made me realize, it is that, it is very important to communicate with other people. Communicate with them face-to-face rather than talking to a screen. I never realized how soothing talking with a real, living, breathing person was. I really have grown impatient because of technology.

P.S. Power was just restored 2 hours ago. Thanks MERALCO (even if it took almost two weeks to restore our electricity.)

Tablets to Tablets; Symbols to Symbols

Communication is probably the most important thing in human life. Without communication, we would not learn, know each other, and obviously, understand each other. Even way back before, our ancestors have developed different ways of communicating and interacting with each other. The earliest evidences of communication were carried out using various paintings depicting the life of the different tribes that lived on earth. As early as 3500 B.C. our ancestors started writing using symbols. Sumerians developed cuneiform and Egyptians developed writing with hieroglyphics. These were written on clay tablets. And at 1600 B.C. the Phoenicians developed the alphabet. Years later, in 1835 the Morse code was invented.

And now, after years and years of countless evolution of communication technology are we about to come in on a full circle? After seeing a blog post on micro-blogging website Tumblr, I was very much inspired to elaborate on the said question (though the post was probably a joke, but the point was interesting so I'll take it). After reading about the history of communication technology, I was really convinced, that it MAY BE happening. What if, we have evolved so much that the only way to move further on is to go back? Now, I'm not saying that we should revert back to cuneiform, hieroglyphics et cetera, rather develop some new form of communication technology similar to these concepts.
Or maybe, we already HAVE. During this digital age we are in now, these writing techniques/form of communication was reincarnated in to a more modern way. Emojis. Emojis are the new black when it comes to communicating. First created in 1999 by Shigetaka Kurita, the use of these symbols is spreading like a virus all over the word. It's just you're typical 'smiley face', with about 800++ more symbols to show what you're feeling, what you're doing, or just whatever that comes up your mind. It's really amazing how a simple 'red heart' symbol mean that you're in love. Or a simple 'nails getting manicure' symbol mean you're feeling fabulous . . . or just getting some manicure. It's very much like how a single symbol mean 'fish' in cuneiform.

My point is, if you feel frustrated because of our ever evolving technology, if you just look closer it would surprise you how much of the new stuff are actually derived from the old. Cuneiform to Hieroglyphics to Alphabet to Morse code to Emojis. All are the same. It's just reincarnated in to something more modern, but basically they are still the same. Thousands of years ago, our ancestors wrote on clay tablets, and look at us now. With our iPads and Galaxy Tabs. Thousands of years ago, our ancestors drew on walls to share what they're doing. They would probably be so mad at Mark Zuckerberg for stealing their idea.