graphical user interface - benefits

Graphical User Interface (GUI) comprises of (as the name suggests) images. It is kind of interface which focuses mostly on visual aspects of its programs. Thanks to it, software is easier to use as the user doesn't have to work with the programming language. Instead of typing the complicated codes and commands, as in the case of MS-DOS, GUI  introduces computer graphics as the main builder. Through clicking on a particular element, one is able to see the information they want or to perform a desirable operation. Let's enumerate the benefits of this kind of interface.

1) As I've already mentioned it is relatively easy to use it. Obviously it doesn't require as much skill as CLI (Command Line Interface). GUI is created to be user-friendly and to be of use to everybody. It is not designed for a specific group of people, who are trained in this particular field, as it was before. By clicking on objects displayed on screen, a person can do anything he/she wants and it is not a very demanding acitivity.

2) Higher productivity. Since a lot of effort isn't necessary while using Graphical User Interface, it's quite logical that the productivity is increased. Everything is on sight, there is a little possibilty to go wrong with something. What is more, one doesn't have to do things manually (writing a comand in order to perform an action) because a number of them is done automatically after pointing at an item.

3) It doesn't require multitasking. While using CLI, the user has to be very focused not to omit anything. A slight miastake in formatting may result in a huge failure. Multitasking is quite advanced in this case as one needs to remember not only about the particular task but also about every piece of code that stands behind it. In GUI you can aim attention at the goal you want to achieve without thinking about technical stuff.

4) What is also important is the looks. With all the colorful images, GUI provides much better experience than the raw lines of code. People often decide that one operating system is better than the other because of its appearance.

Examples of such interface : MS Windows, Mac OS

malware, spying, hackers

Nowadays, the Internet is present almost everywhere. In modern societies it is impossible to imagine a life without it. It has become a basic builder for a number of technologies and is often regarded as a backbone of many industries. Today almost everything has an IP address which makes it a target for hackers. If everything is computerized and digitalized, it is hardly possible to keep it under 100% surveillance. The perfect security doesn't exist hence the hackers can 'break into' every system.


By creating a malicious software (malware) programmers are able to take over the systems and steal their data or disrupt their workings. Right in the beginning, when the Internet was still in its infancy, such programs were created for amusing purposes. They were visible for the users of a particular device and they were harmless. Mostly malware was set up for fun, usually by some bored and skilled in the area teenagers. In 2003/2004 the software orientated on a profit appeared. Designers of previous versions saw that their programs could be a money-making machinery. Hobbysts started to work with spammers and now malware started to be something dangerous. Online criminals were born and they started to use their skill as an actual weapon. Malware today is created by criminals, hactivist gangs and governments.


Yes, it's verified information that goverments can be authors of such programs too. In the short documentary, Mikko Hyppönen says about the case when UK Intelligence attacked the Belgian telecommunications provider, Belgacom. The software stayed undetected by a long period of time. The malware looked like components of a Microsoft program. Its aim was to steal the data and manipulate the computers in the company. Thanks to Snowden's revelations it is known that the malware was highly advanced spy tool. The project has even its name, "Operation Socialist". Government Communications Headquarters intelligence service (that was behind the attack) presents their goals and says that the malware was created in order to help them understand Belgacom's groundwork and allow them to work more efficiently and develop their usage. All the details are not available which leaves the operation even more shady.


Sources:1), 2) 

business models of websites

The purpose of every big website is to earn money. Of course, we do not tend to pay attention to this aspect on the spot. The first thing a user does is looking at the content in which he/she is interested. Some people never ask themselves a question why a particular page is created. It is mainly because the answer is quite simple as money play the crucial role in today's world. But there is also another question to be asked - how do they earn money? It is definitely more absorbing one as the way is not always clearly visible. I want to differentiate three most popular techniques that the websited use to pay for themselves.

1) Advertising.

 One can encounter ads almost everywhere. It is the easiest way to support a website with the money coming from it. There is a number of examples, such as Facebook and Youtube. Ads may be frustrating especially when they are designed to our needs. Cooperating with other sites, Facebook can get data from them and display the ads suiting to a given user. And it is not only the Facebook that can do it. For example, when you searched for the shoes that you really like but they are too expensive and you cannot buy them, you will be seeing their picture at almost every website you go. It is quite disturbing if you ask me. Of course, one can add AdBlock to their browser and get rid of the ads in that way. But there are some websites that will not show you the content unless you disable it (kurnik.pl or any page with the sport coverage). It is like that because showing ads is the only source of their profit and they expect some kind of contribution from you.

2) Subscription option.

It is a business model that is based on paying money in order to get to the content of a website. This type of maintaining the websites is taken from the newspaper and magazine subscription. It became popular before the Internet era. One could pay for a year up front and then receive the magazine every month or so. Nowadays, the on-demand Internet streaming services, such as Netflix, are using it. One must pay an ordered amount of money to be able to watch their favorite TV shows. In this way the corporation gains profit and the user gets access to what he/she wants without ads.

3) Selling services.

Dropbox and iCloud can serve as the best examples here. These websites are platforms on which we can keep our files. They are some kind of a virtual place of storage. We can access our data there whenever we want as long as we have access to the Internet. Such websites are also connected with paying for the space. Often the access if free up to some gigabytes and if we want to upload more content we need to pay.

One of the websites I visit the most is Youtube. It uses the advertising business model. The ads are often displayed before a particular video that we want to see. Also there are propositions designed for every user individually. They are based on the history of films you watched before. It also may be counted as a way to gain profit as someone who was supposed to leave the site stays longer because the proposed video gained his/her interest. What is more, Youtube recently introduced Youtube Red which is some kind of a licence. As in the case of Netflix, one would have to pay some amount of money in order to watch some content. Of course, the option of free videos still remains but some others are to be introduced and be only available after payment. Lack of adertisemtns or the possibility to download a video on your mobile device are among other commodities coming from subscription option.

contentless medium?

"The electric light escapes attention as a communication medium just because it has no 'content.' And it makes it invaluable instance of how people fail to study media at all."  This quote comes from Marshall McLuhan's book - Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. Although his focus was on 'old' media, his idea can be easily translated to new media too.

Is there any medium without the content? Focusing on this question for quite some time I started to think that such thing is impossible in new media. However, at one point I realized that I was thinking only about the Internet and things that are accessible thanks to it (blogs, online games, social networks, etc.). But we need a device to be able to use the Internet... And then the idea of computer having no content of its own came to my mind.
Nowadays, when our PC isn't connected to the Internet it seems to be useless. There are not many activities one can do without the precious cyperspace. Checking e-mail? Not possible. Reading news? No. Maybe at least talking to friends online? Not a chance. There are also games, right? Computer doesn't really provide them. They aren't present on your hard drive on the spot, you need to put them there. And often the case is that despite the fact one has their game on a CD, the Internet connection is necessary for playing. And if not necessary, there are some extras available online or after registering the game. Even working with the use of the computer involves installing a software. Of course there are some text editors provided but their quality is poor in comparision to the professional ones.

This example may be not as obvious and as clear as McLuhan's but there is definitely something to it. Let everybody ask themselves a question : "Don't I feel powerless without the Internet on my computer?" I'm sure that in most cases the answer is positive.

participatory culture

Over the past few years the notion of culture within media has been gradually changing. When the mass media were introduced, the focus was mainly on 'consuming' them. At the beginning there was no way of interaction between senders and receivers. Often, the definitions themselves say that mass media are to deliver information to huge amount of people with no immediate feedback given. The situation started to change with the arrival of new media.

In 21st century participatory culture was born. The Internet is being built everyday and everybody can become an active builder. Forums, blogs, chats, social networks - they all exist because of the users' content. It is possible for an average person to start recording videos, put them on Youtube and make money out of it. It is possible for a man to read opinions on tyres and for a woman to share her thoughts about a new lipstick. Participation is free and easy, all one has to have is the willingness to be a part of culture.
But the Internet is not the only platform for displaying one's contribution. Users are creators of commercial culture too. Seeing that "The Hunger Games" was such a success, the producers decided to create as many parts as possible. Basing on the popularity of the first movie, it became obvious that the others to come would have even more viewers. Thanks to the network sites, people are able to evaluate the films and express their opinions. Those who are responsible for creating movies can follow the trends and come up with an idea of a sure blockbuster. Of course there are advantages and disadvantages of such proceedings but it is the subject for a longer discussion.

The shift that took place is from consumer to participatory culture. The thing to highlight here is the idea of interactivity. New media are all about being accessible to everyone. Deciding on and shaping the content is one of the primary goals of today's media culture. Even the 'old' media try to catch up with the progress and invent ways for people to be an active part in the creating process.

source of news

Newspapers, television, the Internet... These are the most popular sources of news nowadays. Considering the three "items" listed on the begining, the technological progress is clearly visible. But does it mean that with the arrival of the Internet people stopped reading newspapers? Or does everybody realise that the news presented on the TV are subjective and they need to be verified?
It all depends on the age group. My peers are most likely to use the web while searching the information, parents prefer television news. The Internet is a kind of new technology. It is neccessary for young people to get along with it as studying is very computerised in 21st century. Also, it is easier for them to learn about the workings of new technology as it arises along with them. The older generations often do not need to use the Internet so they do not pay so much attention to it. In most cases it is an additional  thing to do and not everybody is interested in it.
Because of  the speed of today's society, the newspapers are becoming less and less important when it comes to delivering information. Among my relatives it is almost impossible for me to point at an individual who buys a newspaper for the sake of news.
People are usually faithful to their choice of receiving their data. They only tend to make shifts between different channels on TV or different sites on the Internet. It appears that variations take place only within one particular medium.

Is studying media important and why?

We live in times when technological development is advanced and what comes after it, severel modern data sources are out there for us to reach. Sometimes the case is that people  are not really ineterested in the roots of media themselves. They use them without thinking, blindly trusting every information they obtain. To my mind studying media is a very important thing. But why?

It is usually said that media lie. Media are only means of communication but there is a grain of truth in this statement. Information is often presented to us in a subjective way without mentioning it. Thanks to learning about media and the way they operate one can become aware of that fact and reach for the news from different sources just to verify their truthfulness.

Moreover, studying media can open some perspectives. In 21st century it is all about being modern and automatic. Everything turns around computers and new technologies. Understanding the inner workings of media may allow us to take up a job involving their use.

Of course there is a number of other reasons why it is good to study media. Nowadays it is almost impossible to live without using them. Knowing their structure and purpose makes people more conscious about the surrounding world.