Who remembers dial-up internet? - What I want out of TINST 207.

I remember the first moment I used the internet. I was 11 years old and was thrilled when my parents finally allowed me to explore the world wide web via dial-up internet. Excitedly, I sat on the chair, turned the computer on and waited patiently as this sweet sound connected me to the internet:

As soon as I was connected, I quickly became amazed at how I could do things such as blogging in Xanga, playing virtual billiards with people from around the nation (with parental supervision) and being able to easily download video clips, music and photos (even if it took me 30 minutes to download one photo). Reminiscing about those days when I would get upset at a sibling because they would pick up the phone during my time with the internet, allows me to appreciate how much technology, the world wide web and the internet has evolved into something that is now so common in everyday life.

I registered for TINST 207 with the reason of only needing it to satisfy my credits to graduate in June, however, the lectures have sparked my interest with the history of these technological softwares and devices. As a Communication major and Business minor, I often see both the pros and cons that come along with the constant changes of technology, and how they affect the consumers. What I want out of the class is to learn more more about technologies that allow society to use the World Wide Web, the danger it may hold for younger generations and the ethics behind it all. Cheers to a quarter of discovering the answers to my curiosities and learning how dial-up internet means nothing now but a mere memory of the past!

Crystel