Week 6 Feb 16, 18

Week 6 to-read-list
1. Google Guide
2. Web search strategy

We are supposed to produce a movie using Windows Movie Maker and I decided to make a slideshow of the photos from my Korea trip way back in 2006. A younger, slimmer looking me with cheesy poses and weird photos. I tried to use different effects and transitions just to showcase them. And I sure hope that the colours match the music. Go on a trippy adventure with my embarrassing photos! So, enjoy laughing at me while I bury myself with shame and more shame.



Also, we are supposed to choose a Google online tool as well and I choose.... Google Language Tools! This is such a useful tool for me, especially when I am looking at clothes online at Japanese websites. By the way, Japanese have the best clothes to buy online, although it is not such a good idea to buy now with the ridiculous yen exchange rate.

Anyway, back to Google Language Tools. Although it is a pretty useful tool, it is not infallible. Just a simple test will show you why. Translate anything from English into another language, and translate it back into English. Chances are that the results will come out different, even if you didn't change anything! And if you are bi- or multi-lingual, sometimes the results of the translation will amuse you. This just proves that language is an art, with all its nuances and different usage and context that is difficult for computers (science) to deal with. Human beings are not obsolete yet!!! =D

That being said, Google Language Tools is still extremely cool. Where else will you get to see seldom used languages such as Pig Latin (no, not used by pigs but an ancient language), Hebrew and even one called Bork! Bork! Bork!... I am a linguistic person, so this tool fascinates me.

Week 5 Feb 9, 11

Week 5 to-read-list

1.Virtual education, From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2. Electronic learning, From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This week, we learnt about learning. Interesting topic for an Introduction to the Internet class. I feel that in Singapore, learning is not as lauded as it should be; rather, perhaps due to our 'meritocracy' mentality coupled with our inherent 'kiasuism', learning has taken a backseat to raw grades. Afterall, people in Singapore don't care as much for intangible qualities compared to your qualifications. This has led to what people call a 'paper chase'.

Think that I am ranting against the system? Think again. Look at the work that primary and secondary schoolers are doing. In the past, there was a focus on rote learning and memorization. Does this reflect intelligence? I think not. But if you can't memorize well and don't learn by rote well, you are out of the 'game'. You get streamed... And now, schools are trying to make up by 'teaching' creativity! How do you teach creativity? You can develop and nurture but not teach creavitiy. That's the exact antithesis of creativity if you have to teach it.

Having a growth mindset means that you are open to learning and are motivated to learn. This is something perhaps Singaporeans should start to adopt. This is a mindset that I myself have to adopt even right now. Perhaps grades are not as important as one thinks it is. Rather than just striving for grades, I should be trying to learn as much as I can. But some teachers out there are so grade oriented that you feel like you can't learn anything from them. They are not open and they don't teach so good. Case in point:

Perhaps a growth mindset has to also start with instructors and teachers.

We also learnt about Bloom's Taxonomy and how it applies to us. I found out, well not exactly as I sort of knew it all along, that I am strong in the linguistics area. But it is still good to learn about the other areas that I am strong and weak in. Perhaps the area that I can work on is the area of music. I should pick up a musical instrument and listen to more songs. That doesn't seem like unenjoyable learning to me at all! And I thought that I was rather good in spatial-visual things but apparently not. I should draw more or even go out into space more. I heard that going into space requires a great deal of spatial-visual ability. Now, this sort of learning I don't mind.

Week 4, February 2, 4

Week 4 to-read-list
1. Electronic commerce, From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2. Consumer Privac, Blake T. Bilstad, Esq; Keith P. Enwright, Esq.

So, this week we learnt about e-commerce and all that jazz. Interesting topic, for someone who once harboured hope of setting up an online business and earning a bit of money on the side but just didn't have the time, the energy, the ideas and the resources to start an online business. That, and I am just plain lazy. :D
So, this is the top 10 reasons why e-commerce succeed, in my opinion and in no particular order. All must fall in place for an online business to work.
1. Product
The product is extremely important, and basically the foundation to build businesses, not to mention an online business. Great products are physical items, services and even ideas. I read in Reader's Digest that there is this 20-something year old, who set up a business based totally on fulfilling other people's ideas. And he is successful! Now, that is next level.
2. Timing
Timing is everything. A great product will fail if the timing is wrong.
3. Demand
4. Word of mouth
In the Internet, word of mouth travels so much faster in forums, via chatting and social media.
5. Good customer service, including customer dispute and returns
6. Fair pricing, including shipping costs and options (very important to me, at least!)
7. Proper security
8. Navigable and attractive website
A website must be user-friendly to really rake in the dough.
9. A dash of luck
10. Paying customers, what else? ;D
And here are the top 10 reasons online businesses fail, in my humble opinion again. ;)
1. Lousy or ill-conceived product
2. Wrong timing
3. Lack of demand
4. Negative word of mouth
5. Poor customer service
6. Unfair pricing, including exorbitant shipping costs and options
7. No proper security set up
8. Unnavigable and unattractive website
9. No luck
10. No paying customers.