Untitled presentation The World Wide Web will Deliver All the Information and Run all the Computers in the World What does this mean for children? http://www.npac.syr.edu/users/gcf/niikids97 Compare :http://www.npac.syr.edu/users/gcf/niikids which was version I gave in April 95! Is there Progress? Jamesville Dewitt School Presentation 2 April 1997 Geoffrey C. Fox 111 College PLace Syracuse University Syracuse NY 13244-4100 Abstract of Kids and the NII Presentation This presentation updates a talk in April 95 and focusses on the opportunities for new jobs and new activities -- note previous version 2 years ago focussed on merging of TV and Web and our Living SchoolBook project. We describe some of the impacts of the current computer and communication revolution on play, lifestyle, jobs and education The new job opportunities include those in journalism and medical fields What is the World Wide Web? The WWW = the World Wide Web is more or less the same as: The Internet The National Information Infrastructure or NII The Digital SuperHighway It is the Digital connection between computers around the world The Internet/WWW consists of Phone Lines or POTS (PLain Old Telephone System). Òtwisted pairÓ, cable, optical fiber, satellites, cellular phone, wireless These use ÒprotocolsÓ like TCP/IP ATM Ethernet etc Different approachs have different trade-offs: speed, cost, reliability etc. Components of a Web system Pictorially Host with Web Server and Attached CGI Script in PERL Perhaps linking to a database and digital Video Servers Host holds HTML files typically stored in a UNIX directory system but could be in a database such as Oracle or Microsoft Access Basic Structure of World Wide Web Browsers have SAME interface on ALL Computers CGI Programs are typically written in PERL but can be essentially ANY UNIX Process and so do simulation, database access , advanced document processing etc. Synergy of Kids and Adults or InterNet and IntraNets Why is Web Computer Revolution so Important? The ÒCapitalistÓ Principle drives the national endevour to support the largest markets as there is more money there! (You learn this in social studies?) Previously in computer area this was ÒMainframesÓ serving Information needed by a large company Personal Computers serving individuals The previous computing models could not be used by Òreal peopleÓ (like you and me) as ÒMainframesÓ only worked if you spent a lot of money and had what is called a closed architecture PCÕs could be used by you and me but were a Òlimited modelÓ i.e. provided a general electronic Òdesk/tableÓ but no more The Web provides a Òcomplete computing communication and informationÓ solution which can be used by both kids and big companies You can benefit from money spent by big companies! The Current Web Client Server Model There are evolving/confusing/overlapping capabilities ... What does a Computer Do? A computer converts data into Information using Instructions Data has to be presented in a known way (called its format) Computer has to be ÒtaughtÓ (like sports broadcasters) to Òdo the right thingÓ with the data Information is Òvalue-addedÓ data What is Web Technology? Web Technology consists firstly of a set of formats for data If data is type of information that appears in books, then format tells you things like Òcenter textÓ, Òstart new paragraphÓ etc. Web formats include GIF or JPEG for images, HTML for documents and VRML for 3D pictures. These are used to specify stored data The other component of Web technology is software such as Java JavaScript and Perl which are used to give instructions to compute. These formats and software produce information displayed by HTML or VRML browsers Web technology is so powerful as complete model for computing and communication Architecture of Web Software Application Specific NII Specific Services for Education HealthCare Commerce Manufacturing etc. Impact of this Changing Technology on Kids Your Play! New and Better Video game Systems Your Job Opportunities! Many ÒoldÓ jobs will disappear Many ÒnewÓ jobs and job skills will be needed Your Education! New ways for schools to educate you so perhaps you will be less bored and learn more (in areas of great importance to your future careers) Your Life Style! Online Newspapers, Video Rental Stores, Shops Online Clubs can allow you to meet people around the world Can work from home more easily and so kids can be bugged by their parents more easily! What is so important about Digital ? Analog as in current Cable Satellite or broadcast TV or radio represents informations by WAVY SHAPES Shapes can be arbitrary and if changed (distorted) canNOT be easily corrected Digital as in current computers represents everything by NUMBERS and uses Òerror-correctionÓ so that you receive EXACTLY what is sent with NO distortion of text or images So information is more precise Can do online banking and looks better -- your great art piece is not distorted or the medical picture is transmitted without adding or subtracting tumors/pathologies etc. The Next Generation Home Computers include Settop Boxes and Videogame Controllers ÒAllÓ children will have the equivalent of todays $20,000 business or university computer processing capability in BOTH Settop Boxes and in Video Game Controllers which will ÒjustÓ be Personal Computers Some of the Jobs that will Need NII(Internet, World Wide Web) Skills Computer, Telephone, and Cable Engineers Journalists from both print, photography, and video fields Artists, Advertising designers, Architects, Film Producers, ÒBookÓ Publishers etc. Real Estate Brokers School Teachers, Librarians, Government and Business workers involved with giving information to public or fellow workers Shop owners and staff advertising their wares on digital highway. Allow woodworkers in Adirondacks or heart of Africa to advertise material to all on the World Wide Web All those in medical area -- from Virtual reality to allow surgeon in Syracuse to manipulate robot devices at accident scene to Multimedia patient records Law enforcement (police searching worldwide databases) and lawyers accessing case histories. Why is a Particular Job impacted by the World Wide Web? Most jobs are heavily involved with communication (people to people, computer to people, computer to computer) and information So most jobs are impacted by WWW which revolutionizes communication and information processing Journalism, Teaching and Advertising will in particular have large impact from Web But for example, Farming will be impacted less Watch Web sites for new techniques, good prices for fertilizer etc. So What should you do? Learn about and take advantage of World Wide Web whereever possible Use the Web either to find information for your school projects or to prepare (multimedia) electronic reports Learn how to be a ÒWeb MasterÓ -- Author in HTML using software like Microsoft Word Persuade JD High School to teach Java NOT Pascal as a programming language Java is a better language and far more useful! learning Pascal is like learning latin (which I did) because it Òteachs basic principlesÓ Models for Using the World Wide Web There is the PeopleÕs Web where you pay to access but not to use a particular site There are clubs such as America Online, Prodigy or MicroSoft Network which offer Internet PLUS similar services available only to club members Specialized services where you pay money to use a ÒpremiumÓ site An example is Syracuse Language SystemÕs Online ÒVirtual UniversityÓ where you pay ÒtuitionÓ for foreign language instruction through the web What can you do on the World Wide Web? Find Information -- the Web is like a large version of Microsoft Encarta or similar CDROM based Multimedia Encylopedia. Post Information -- put up your own home page This can be sophisticated e.g. one can play games, do WebKidPix and similar activities (exploratory or interactive information) Collaborate with people using the web Commerce: Buy, Sell, Bank etc. What about Pornography and Viruses on the Web? There is surely ÒinappropriateÓ information on the WWW There are ÒbugsÓ on the WWW -- for instance electronic credit card numbers can be snooped and you can download software conaining viruses On the other hand, many magazines have inappropriate material (e.g. smoking ads) and there is substantial credit card fraud using paper version of banking Most things in life have a downside which can be exploited if you want Society learns to live with a certain amount of ÒriskÓ (downside) I donÕt see downside of Web as particularly bad What will be Key New Developments? Near Term New types of Collaboration enabling people to communicate with each other using web Audio and Video Links Shared ÒWhiteboardsÓ Shared ÒChatboardsÓ Shared ÒDocumentsÓ Will allow you to form ÒclubsÓ and other electronic societies Allow teachers to deliver lectures remotely Digital Video Servers will allow much more convenient distribution of video material stored on disks Nice online indices to search for and recall nifty videos Objects (3 dimensions) not just images on the Web (VRML). Have your house Car Town or just you in 3D on Web! Computer Gaming on the Web In the Far Future we have a ÒNew WorldÓ The car and TV changed society significantly Needed several years Will the WWW make a similar profound change? YES and it will do it quicker than car You should be ready to enjoy and exploit! General Role of Java and Web Technology Why is Web Computer Revolution so Important? The ÒCapitalistÓ Principle drives the national endevour to support the largest markets as there is more money there! (You learn this in social studies?) Previously in computer area this was ÒMainframesÓ serving Information needed by a large company Personal Computers serving individuals The previous computing models could not be used by Òreal peopleÓ (like you and me) as ÒMainframesÓ only worked if you spent a lot of money and had what is called a closed architecture PCÕs could be used by you and me but were a Òlimited modelÓ i.e. provided a general electronic Òdesk/tableÓ but no more Java as the programming language of the Web provides a Òcomplete computing communication and informationÓ language which can be used by both kids and big companies You can benefit from money spent by big companies! What does a Computer Do? A computer converts data into Information using Instructions written in a Programming language Data has to be presented in a known way (called its format e.g. HTML) Computer has to be ÒtaughtÓ (in a language like Java) to Òdo the right thingÓ with the data Information is Òvalue-addedÓ data (stuff you see on screen) Where does Java/Web Technology Fit In? Web Technology consists firstly of a set of formats for data If data is type of information that appears in books, then format tells you things like Òcenter textÓ, Òstart new paragraphÓ etc. Web formats include GIF or JPEG for images, HTML for documents and VRML for 3D pictures. These are used to specify stored data The other component of Web technology is software such as Java JavaScript and Perl which are used to give instructions to compute. These formats and software produce information displayed by HTML or VRML browsers Web technology is so powerful as complete model for computing and communication and Java is a universal language