The Facebook Effect, David Kirkpatrick, Part 2

 Facebook started as a simple college project, used to connect the college body. It soon exploded outwards, as investors and businesses became interested in the future application of facebook. Many investors flocked towards this new idea, but the one that would take hold would be with Accel. Any aspects of the financing were unusual, and unprecedented. First, the valuation was so large, and it stunned people; the 98 million dollar dwarfs Google’s initial 75 million dollar value estimates. In addition, the bonus payments to the three young men of facebook were kept quit; such a bonus for company founders was rare, very rare. This marks the building up of facebook, as it now had plenty of money. It could now afford a real staff, and use real servers not held together by baling wire.
    Facebook was well on its way to becoming a company. Money was no longer an obstacle, and the service continued to grow rapidly among students. Among its first priority were hiring more people, but as with any new upstart company, people are reluctant to work for. In the minds of many people, social networks like facebook were a fad, and were probably going to lose popularity in the future. Along with this problem, the company had a reputation for rambunctiousness. They had to hire recruiters and other public relations first. Interesting enough, one of the people that was hired who left after a few weeks was Steve Chen. Chen would go on to start youtube, another internet phenomenon that would dominate popular culture.

The Facebook Effect, David Kirkpatrick, Part 1

    The social networking really became a major cultural phenomenon in the later half of the twentieth century. However, it is faceb ook that we think of when the term social networking is used. Facebook was concieved by Mark Zuckerberg back in September 2003. His starting project being Course Match, in which it helps students pick classes based upon who was in the class. It was an instant success. He continued working on web programs, and on Wednesday, February 4, 2004, Thefacbook.com went online. Four days afterwards, more than 650 students registered. at least 900 were registered by the following Monday. By the end of hte first week, about half of all Harvard undergraduates had signed up. It was not only limited to students, but staff and alumni as well. After three weeks, it had more than 6000 users.
    The possibilities of facebook is what appealed to these young people. The ability to set up a profile that would identify you and who you are is one of hte appeals. Many other things, such as relationships, personal photos, and small things, like pokes, furter increased the popularity and made it fun. It was a tool for self-expression, where people were themselves. However, it also added practical nd wholesome uses as well, such as study groups, arranging club meetings, and notices for parties. All this is what made facebook popular.
    This is what makes it popular even today, the ability to customize, the ability to express, the ability to connect to people. It connects people, in what they do, what they plan, and what they want. This one idea, one prokect would change the world, as it connects the world, reducing the distance between people.

Made to Break, Giles Slade, Part 3

    One of the most relevant piece of technology in our lives is the computer. It is one the things that define our digital era and our information era.  What makes this technology possible is the invention of the microprocessor. In 1964, IBM announced its System/360 line of mainframe computers. These machines became very popular and very useful in the next few years, and IBM sales more than doubled. What made it successful was the microprogramming, allowing it run earlier programs without losing processor speed. However, this microprogramming would mark IBM’s last gasp of innovation. As society advanced, the demand for greater and more efficient systems would gradually push the System/360 line out of the way. In this, we see the emergence of obsolescence in technology.
    Throughout history, we see technological obsolescence, as newer technology makes older ones obsolete. Another exampled discussed by Slade is the slide ruler. The slider ruler was a simple ruler with a slide that allowed people to make simple calculations, but it was with limitations. What would replace it would be the calculator. From 1971 onwards, we see the development of increasingly powerful, sophisticated, and cheap pocket calculators. With every new calculator being developed, it puts previous one out of business.
    We’ve experienced this obsolescence in our own time. The computer is the most prominent of technological obsolescence. Computers are developed and sold every year, with each new one being more advance than the last. This is needed to keep up with society’s advancement. My current laptop is at least four years old, and as it were, It cannot run most current programs. Also, the hardware are slowly degrading as well, such as the battery no longer working, so I cannot use it anywhere I want anymore. It is planned obsolescence as laptops are not really made to last for a long time, and as such will eventually break. And in doing so, consumers would be required to buy a new one in the future. Also, they would require to buy a new one just because it would be outdated if they didn’t. As it were, I am overdue for getting a new laptop as it were, but chances are I will continue to use my current one for at most another year.