Google Wave
I just got an invitation of Google wave, thanks to Ammar Bhai :). Straight away I started using it as I was excited. It was simple to start, just login from your gmail account if you have one and just start using it. It has very exciting features in it and is really easy to learn, as there are tutorial videos which are simple to understand. It is a real time communication engine, better than facebook in my opinion. I will give details about some features as I have not explored it fully myself. There are waves in Google wave alike status updates in Facebook. If someone wants to share something he will create a new wave and specify friends with which he wants to share it. Then the friends he added and he can have real time communication, if his friends reply to the wave it is visible to him what his friend is writing in real time, and what you are writing will be visible to your friends in real time(you can see what they are writing on your screen). You can also share pictures, videos and much more in Google wave in a new way. You can make your friends understand about a specific location using Google Maps in real time. You can also write documents and your fiends can help you in writing it in real time. if you are chatting with a friend who is spanish for example then there is no problem you just type in English and it will be converted to spanish in real time, and your friend will write in spanish and it will be converted to your language in real time. There is much more, but for now I think Google has really changed the way of social networking. I really liked Google wave and i hope you people will also like it. Google wave can only be used if you get an invitation as it is a beta version for now.
Technology helps in being social
Contrary to what most of us believe that technology is causing social isolation, few days back I also had a useful discussion with my friends in which we had discussed about the same thing and concluded that surely the people who use computer, internet, cell phones etc are becoming socially isolated day by day.
But a new article I read suggests that a new study has been carried out in which it is concluded that the people who use internet, cellphones etc have more diverse social network. It suggests that people’s social worlds are enhanced by new communication technologies. The research was carried in University of Pennsylvania and they pointed out that it is a mistake to believe that internet use and mobile phones plunge people into spiral of isolation. They stated that it is the first research that actually explores the connection between technology use and social isolation and they found the opposite. It found that on average, the size of people’s discussion networks is 12 per cent larger among mobile phone users, nine per cent larger for those who share photos online, and nine per cent bigger for those who use instant messaging. The diversity of people’s core networks tends to be 25 per cent larger for mobile phone users, 15 per cent larger for basic Internet users, and even larger for frequent Internet users, those who use instant messaging, and those who share digital photos online. The study found that on average in a typical year, people have in-person contact with their core network ties on about 210 days. They have mobile-phone contact on 195 days of the year, landline phone contact on 125 days and text-messaging contact on the mobile phone 125 days. They have email contact on 72 days, instant messaging contact on 55 days, contact via social networking websites on 39 days and contact via letters or cards on eight days. The study involved telephone interviews with 2,512 adults between July 9, 2008 and August 10, 2008 and has a sampling error of 2.1 per cent.
But a new article I read suggests that a new study has been carried out in which it is concluded that the people who use internet, cellphones etc have more diverse social network. It suggests that people’s social worlds are enhanced by new communication technologies. The research was carried in University of Pennsylvania and they pointed out that it is a mistake to believe that internet use and mobile phones plunge people into spiral of isolation. They stated that it is the first research that actually explores the connection between technology use and social isolation and they found the opposite. It found that on average, the size of people’s discussion networks is 12 per cent larger among mobile phone users, nine per cent larger for those who share photos online, and nine per cent bigger for those who use instant messaging. The diversity of people’s core networks tends to be 25 per cent larger for mobile phone users, 15 per cent larger for basic Internet users, and even larger for frequent Internet users, those who use instant messaging, and those who share digital photos online. The study found that on average in a typical year, people have in-person contact with their core network ties on about 210 days. They have mobile-phone contact on 195 days of the year, landline phone contact on 125 days and text-messaging contact on the mobile phone 125 days. They have email contact on 72 days, instant messaging contact on 55 days, contact via social networking websites on 39 days and contact via letters or cards on eight days. The study involved telephone interviews with 2,512 adults between July 9, 2008 and August 10, 2008 and has a sampling error of 2.1 per cent.
Proud Pakistani!!
I am a proud Pakistani, I am proud of Pakistan in every condition. Not a single day passes when I don’t hear about corruption and injustice but I am still a proud Pakistani. There is no electricity, gas and the industries are shutting down, but I feel I am a proud Pakistani. New government comes and says the previous government was corrupt and all the problems are because of them and we need time to address issues, but before elections they cry and asks for votes like beggars saying we will solve your issues in no time, but still I am a proud Pakistani. President of my country, whose name is Islamic republic of Pakistan saying that promises are not Quran or Hadith, but still I am a proud Pakistani and I am feeling more pride as I am writing this. President of my country roaming in the world begging for the money and filling his own pockets with that money, but why should I don’t feel pride in it? After all I am a proud Pakistani. Blackwater is called in my country but why would I do anything? I am a proud Pakistani. Prices of basic necessities are out of reach of even middle class people but I am feeling proud that I am Pakistani. American embassy in my country is expanding and marines are called in, it looks like my country is a USA base, but I don’t care I am only proud to be a Pakistani. All the political parties cry for democracy, but infact they don’t have democracy in their party then how could they give democracy to Pakistan but still we vote them, because I am a proud Pakistani. Kerry-lugar bill has been imposed on my country by which we get money for selling our integrity and country to USA, but why should I do anything? being a proud Pakistani is enough for me. Economy of my country is in bad shape and no new investments are coming, even leaders of my country don’t invest money in Pakistan and have bank accounts world-wide, but I am a very proud Pakistani. Government has cabinet of more than 80, but they lack funds for common people, but I also feel pride in it and I am a proud Pakistani.
I can go on and on but I am feeling so much proud that I would explode with it. I don’t give a damn about all these issues and still I am proud of Pakistan but infact Pakistan is ashamed of us, that what we are doing with it? We want to sell it to others? Why blackwater and US marines are here for? It is ashamed that why we give vote to those who stole billions of dollars from our treasury? Pakistan is ashamed of us, we had let our country down. Pakistan is ashamed of this nation, who don’t do anything for their country instead of saying “I am a proud Pakistani”. As someone rightly said “A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you're looking down, you can't see something that's above you.”