Microsoft has zero tolerance

Terdiman, Daniel://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/11/12/cnet.xbox.live.ban/index.html mircosoft bans 1 million xbox live players

Xbox live has apparently banned roughly one million users for playing a recently released video game “Call of Duty 4.” These Xbox users have violated their terms of agreement by using modded or modified consuls to play pirated games. Microsoft began the implementation of the ban after the release of the game. The ban not only prevents users with their individual gamertag’s from online play for that one game, but the ban prohibits users from the Xbox live service altogether. Some member receive banns ranging from a day or two, up to weeks, and even a lifetime, depending upon which rules were violated. Microsoft says each consul is fitted with protection software that will inform them of any illegal tampering of the consul.

Xbox has really made some strides in terms of technology, and I really think they may have pioneered some things to come. I think it is safe to assume the most pirated media is music, which can be downloaded freely on a vast majority of hosting and downloadable sites. I foresee ipod’s and mp3 players being outfitted soon if not sometime in the future with some type of detection devices that will keep users from syncing copyrighted material to their devices. Xbox is taking a big risk in terms of repeat buyers of the online service. While they may be able to keep the money of those million users for now, in the future it may hurt them a bit when looking at revenue for the company. However, it is the right thing to do when looking at all the copy right laws and I would assume these gaming companies are paying Microsoft far more than the xbox live members contributions

Research ignorance within a tech savvy generation.

("Information Navigation 101" by Andrea L. Foster. Chronicle of Higher Education)
http://0-web.ebscohost.com.uncclc.coast.uncwil.edu/ehost/detail?vid=2&hid=4&sid=6478ac3a-1a8b-435c-91c4-e18e58b1f44f%40sessionmgr11&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=f5h&AN=24514243

The age of net literacy is in question in this article as Foster touches on aspects of the current generation’s ability to familiarize itself with new technologies, but willing rejects proper research techniques. This article is essentially a classic push and pulls battle between students and educators in higher education. Universities are pushing for quality research that produces quality work, but students are too caught up in the convenience of the google revolution, as well as other simplistic search engines. Universities and their libraries are trying to push for literacy on the issue by providing their students with the proper research techniques, and requiring some students to attend library workshops to become proficient in proper research tactics. The problem that keeps arising is how to effectively change the mindset of the students who are not willing to conform to this ideology set forth by these institutions.

I feel the nature of all this new technology has forced this generation to access everything at quickly as possible. Everything is changing so fast everyday in the world of technology and if you don’t adapt just as quickly as things change you will be left behind. Students tend to gravitate to google because it is fun, easy to use, and viewed as something non-academic. We have grown up in a society that has taught us if something is needed you can google it. Just as youtube is often used to gather information that is not always accurate people look at these things because they are easily accessible and fun to use. When looking at library databases I think it is an issue of how easy they are to use. When I was in elementary school instead of using the card catalog we wanted to use the computer because it was easy and faster. Not that everything is all computerized instead of looking into databases we want to google because it’s faster. It doesn’t matter if the content is correct of not people are making themselves too busy with social networking, youtube hunting, and other various net time consumption activities that they don’t take the time to conduct proper research techniques.