P2P as software / technical network
See ‘How the old Napster worked’
An Introduction to Peer-to-Peer Computing - David Barkai (Intel)
In my last subject titled “Managing the Digital Organisation”, I learned a little bit about P2P architecture and P2P payment systems. PayPal which is used by eBay as a form of cash transfer if the customer does not have a credit card.
My husband works for the Brisbane City Council and uses a P2P software package, where files are shared and accessed without having to go through a server, this makes his job easier and faster as he works from home but is part of a LAN (Local area network).
File sharing can be beneficial purse if a community of students studying the same subject wish to share research material. However one must ask whether file sharing is ethical or illegal.
Privacy is Good
The utube version -part one - the links on the page will lead to all other parts
Recently a sneak peak of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games was leaked to the public. A uproar followed as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) says that the Olympic Games is free to all forms of media including the Internet. But the uproar was unwarranted as everyone still turned up in person to see it live. I personally think that the real thing is better than a copy especially when it comes to movies or books.
About 5 years ago a copy of one of Jamie Oliver’s cookbooks was emailed to me, I had a brief look at it online, but chose not to print it out and wait to purchase the real thing. There is nothing like reading a book for the first time, the smell of the paper and the feeling of accomplishment when you finally turn the last page.
Unfortunately in this day and age and the technological advancements that occur regularly, piracy will always be an issue, but if one uses there common sense and does not participate in any unethical or illegal activities, they are at least not taking money out of the pockets of the people who write or create such books or movies.
Information transfer & Community
P2P Networking: An Information-Sharing Alternative Parameswaran, Susarla & Whinston
Peer-to-Peer for Academia – Andy Oram
‘Henry Jenkins, Playing Our Song? - Henry Jenkins on the ‘community’ aspects of Napster.
This goes hand in hand as users feel part of a community when they transfer information. However they must be aware of any copyright issues pertaining to the information they want to share with other users.
Napster was proven to be very popular as it generated 60 million visitors per month (I was not one of them), but was shut down due to copyright breaches. They now have a new site which is a pay-for music site.
Legal issues: copyright
"Copying is Theft ..." And other legal myths in the looming battle over peer-to-peer. Mark Rasch
Rip, Mix, Burn: The Politics of Peer to Peer and Copyright Law by Kathy Bowrey and Matthew Rimmer -
Peer-to-Peer File Sharing Since Napster
Even though there is decrypting software available to decrypt DVD’s and CD’s of movies and music so that you may copy them. One has to ask themselves whether the risk of doing so is worth it.
Copyright laws are very clear and users who wish to download or share files do so at there own risk. You can pay the small fee and download a song you like knowing that you have not breached any copyright laws and that the law will not be chasing you for breach of copyright.
Security and privacy
Pcstats Beginners Guides: Spyware Protection and Removal
Gene and Katie Hamilton, Is Your Computer Talking To Strangers?
Protect Your Privacy With Antitracking Software, Smart Computing, January 2002 • Vol.13 Issue 1, pp. 48-51.
spychecker have lists of known spyware, and downloads of various anti-spyware tools
With file sharing you leave yourself wide open to viruses, worms and phishing emails. So protecting your computer with the latest antivirus software and using common sense with emails is essential.
Protecting your privacy should always be paramount as you do not know who is on the other end of the communication. Be vigilant and you should survive any attempted attack.
Socio-political considerations
http://www.janisian.com/article- internet_debacle.html
P2P file sharing will always be apart of the cyber society. Marketers need it so that entices you into purchasing their products by giving you something for free, then hitting you up to cough up the cash to purchase the entire product.
Since the way of the future is going more and more online, P2P will be more than just a place to download music etc. Big business might see the advantages and introduce it into their global intranet, if they have not done so already.
No comments:
Post a Comment