With driving into work this week, I’ve had more time to listen to podcasts than I typically do. I’ve loaded up on the Daily Source Code and have also begun listening to Cinecast. Cinecast is a fun movie review podcast from two guys out in Chicago. I don’t necessarily always agree with their reviews, but I respect their opinions enough and enjoy the banter between the two of them that I’ve subscribed to their bi-weekly podcast. I know I’m driving this home again and again, but I believe it’s important to say: Podcasts are well worth looking into and checking out. For free content, I’ve learned more about movies, technology, and the world than I could ever possibly hope to do by watching the crappy television. I think what draws me so much to podcasts is that the shows aren’t scripted. They’re off the cuff and fun to listen to. Sure, Cinecast has an opening in which the hosts read an intro, but after that, the discussion is free and open. They bring you into their movie review world and you get sucked into the fun.
But that’s the great thing about podcasts: You can learn more about the world through the show. I remember listening to one of the Catholic Insider's podcasts and I learned some extremely interesting facts about Rome. It’s not often that you get to listen to a Catholic priest give you a tour of some of the publicly closed sections of the Vatican. Even the media is starting to pick up on the popularity of podcasting. CNN recently interviewed Father Roderick from the Catholic Insider podcast last week.
I sometimes think our world is growing in leaps and bounds with all this new technology. The problem is that those who don’t have the ability to access the Internet are being left in the dust. The digital divide has been talked about for the last 10 years, but hopefully there will be initiatives to push broadband service in low income sections of cities. Today with access to the Internet and a computer, you can communicate with individuals from nearly anywhere in the world. If I can easily chat with people and play games with people online so have doctors found ways to examine patients from across the globe. However, not having access to the Internet could cause poorer individuals to be left out on obtaining new jobs skills.
I can’t imagine working in which suddenly I had no e-mail or Internet access. I wouldn’t be able to do my job. But what about those children growing up in low income families? I started listening to the This Week in Tech podcast this morning http://thisweekintech.com/ and the host discussed rumors that Google is planning on rolling out wireless broadband across the United States. If I recall correctly, I believe this service would be free.
In many local cities, companies are trying to put together free hotspots that would allow users to jump onto the Internet. Putting such a service in place in a low income area could help give the children growing up in these homes the tools they need to learn and grow in ways that they might not have been able to in the past. Of course, low income families will still need a computer, but with computers being so cheap these days it’s not impossible for a family to purchase a good PC for under $500. Granted that might still be beyond the means of some families, but I’ve been to computer shows and have seen old systems sell for under $200. The point is that the Internet is a tool that will help young people advance and climb above their environment. What I would like to see is universal access for all—either through your local library or for companies to provide free hotspot wireless access.
In the Philadelphia metropolitan area, I believe the wireless throughout the city will cost $20 per month. Personally, I think that’s way too expensive. Someone living in a low income family is going to have a hard time coming up with that extra money each month. But on the positive side, $20 a month is much more inexpensive than paying the normal cable modem rates in the area (around $42 a month).
When the Internet first cropped up on our radar screens 10 or so years ago, people were primarily using it for e-mail and to surf the Web. Now people can use it for distance learning, communication, paying bills, setting up a small business, educational/research purposes, and a whole host of other uses. What will be important is for the children of this new generation to be educated on what the Web will be used for. When I was growing up, I was limited with my inability to easily communicate with people across the world. I would not have been able to talk with someone from a foreign country because of the cost. Now I can use Yahoo’s instant messenger and plug in a headset to easily talk with someone thousands of miles away. Putting the Internet to use for educational purposes is extremely important for the youth of today. Let’s hope that they’ll use it for more than playing Quake 4.
But that’s the great thing about podcasts: You can learn more about the world through the show. I remember listening to one of the Catholic Insider's podcasts and I learned some extremely interesting facts about Rome. It’s not often that you get to listen to a Catholic priest give you a tour of some of the publicly closed sections of the Vatican. Even the media is starting to pick up on the popularity of podcasting. CNN recently interviewed Father Roderick from the Catholic Insider podcast last week.
I sometimes think our world is growing in leaps and bounds with all this new technology. The problem is that those who don’t have the ability to access the Internet are being left in the dust. The digital divide has been talked about for the last 10 years, but hopefully there will be initiatives to push broadband service in low income sections of cities. Today with access to the Internet and a computer, you can communicate with individuals from nearly anywhere in the world. If I can easily chat with people and play games with people online so have doctors found ways to examine patients from across the globe. However, not having access to the Internet could cause poorer individuals to be left out on obtaining new jobs skills.
I can’t imagine working in which suddenly I had no e-mail or Internet access. I wouldn’t be able to do my job. But what about those children growing up in low income families? I started listening to the This Week in Tech podcast this morning http://thisweekintech.com/ and the host discussed rumors that Google is planning on rolling out wireless broadband across the United States. If I recall correctly, I believe this service would be free.
In many local cities, companies are trying to put together free hotspots that would allow users to jump onto the Internet. Putting such a service in place in a low income area could help give the children growing up in these homes the tools they need to learn and grow in ways that they might not have been able to in the past. Of course, low income families will still need a computer, but with computers being so cheap these days it’s not impossible for a family to purchase a good PC for under $500. Granted that might still be beyond the means of some families, but I’ve been to computer shows and have seen old systems sell for under $200. The point is that the Internet is a tool that will help young people advance and climb above their environment. What I would like to see is universal access for all—either through your local library or for companies to provide free hotspot wireless access.
In the Philadelphia metropolitan area, I believe the wireless throughout the city will cost $20 per month. Personally, I think that’s way too expensive. Someone living in a low income family is going to have a hard time coming up with that extra money each month. But on the positive side, $20 a month is much more inexpensive than paying the normal cable modem rates in the area (around $42 a month).
When the Internet first cropped up on our radar screens 10 or so years ago, people were primarily using it for e-mail and to surf the Web. Now people can use it for distance learning, communication, paying bills, setting up a small business, educational/research purposes, and a whole host of other uses. What will be important is for the children of this new generation to be educated on what the Web will be used for. When I was growing up, I was limited with my inability to easily communicate with people across the world. I would not have been able to talk with someone from a foreign country because of the cost. Now I can use Yahoo’s instant messenger and plug in a headset to easily talk with someone thousands of miles away. Putting the Internet to use for educational purposes is extremely important for the youth of today. Let’s hope that they’ll use it for more than playing Quake 4.
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