Some music for ya

Thought i should throw a few other things on here so here's a few videos of songs i very much enjoy :)


First is a bitta Florence. Everyone loves Florence :)

Next we have Ok Go with one of the most entertaining music videos in existence





And last but not at all least is Mr Bob Dylan.



Factors To Consider When Purchasing a Labtop for Applied Psychology

Buying a laptop for your college course is an important decision and one that requires some thought. No one wants to waste their money on a computer that doesn’t meet all the requirements necessary. It can all get a bit confusing with many different configuration options available, but here is what I have figured to be the best way to go about it.

Weight

This is an important factor as (this might sound quite obvious) the lighter the laptop is the more portable it will be.  This is of different significance depending on your personal circumstances. If you wish to carry your laptop into college or on the bus to try get extra work done , then searching for a lighter option is advisable. However, the lighter the laptop, the more expensive the price is (generally speaking). If you’re looking for something to be mostly used at home then perhaps a cheaper and slightly heavier option will seem more appealing. Personally, as a lot of our subjects involve and require computer work (ICT, Cyberpsychology, Multimedia) I think it may be necessary to look for a suitably portable laptop.

Battery Life

Again, the significance of this factor will mostly depend on personal circumstances. If you are planning on using your laptop on the go then this is a crucial factor. (Nothing is more frustrating than being interrupted in your work by “insufficient battery”) A relatively low budget laptop’s battery will last 2.5 to 3 hours, a more expensive one may last well over 4. However this will vary from model to model and from different brands, so it’s best to request in the shop a specification of battery life. Always remember that extra features on any given laptop will decrease battery life.

Operating Systems

There are a variety of operating systems available to users. Widely accepted as the best OS is Windows Vista. This is an excellent operating environment but will come at a higher price. This is largely because it will require the latest hardware. Other operating systems include Windows XP, Mac OS X. There are many differences between Mac and Windows  operating systems and different users will have different preferences. In my opinion it’s important to stick with whichever you find simpler to use, there is very little point in wasting time figuring out a system you are not used to or do not fully comprehend.

Brands

It can be difficult in figuring out the differences in the different brands of laptops but is always necessary to research. Reading reviews and questioning in shops should help you get an idea of what would best suit you, component and price wise. Apparently it is actually possible to purchase an unbranded laptop but personally I feel this may be an unadvisable move. Unbranded laptops may have lower prices but also may have unreliable warranties or unusual / unstable configurations.

Warranty

This is an easily forgettable factor when you are caught up in purchasing a laptop but is hugely important. A warranty usually covers any non-physical damage done to the laptop and the average warranty lasts about a year. This means that the damaged laptop will be repaired or replaced free of cost. International warranties apply this to any country. However for most of us college students this will probably be irrelevant.

The Effect of Technology on Relationships

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/happiness-in-world/201006/the-effect-technology-relationships

This article was published on psychologytoday.com by Dr Alex Lickerman, on the 8^th of June 2010.

Dr Lickerman outlines the aspects of internet use which have contributed to changes in our ways of dealing with relationships. An interesting metaphor is used throughout this article, the internet is likened to a drug on several occasions. Lickerman validates this by discussing internet addiction and the isolation that this can inflict. Excessive internet use can be psychologically and emotionally damaging. The basis for this seems to be when internet users favour electronic relationships above real life ones. The differences between the two are that you cannot receive the same emotional contact with someone if you cannot hear their tone of voice or read their facial expressions. While a certain amount of internet use or social networking is somewhat encouraged in this article, Lickerman highlights the importance of never replacing real relationships with electronic ones.

Other difficulties that often arise with technology are the differences in people themselves when they are communicating through a medium such as the internet or mobile phones. Lickerman discusses the use of CMC (computer mediated communication) to avoid face to face conflict. When someone feels they need to have a difficult conversation with someone it is often considered an easier option to do so through email, text or social networking sites. Perhaps this is because they will not have to witness any negative reactions or emotional responses. This principle also relates to “trolling” or “flaming”. Many people are happy to say things online they would never say aloud simply because they do not have to deal with the consequences of doing so or witness the emotional responses of others. Lickerman calls this “emotional invisibility”.

Lickerman closes the article with a list of recommended tools for use of technology, many of which do state the obvious such as “Balance time spent on the internet and time spent with friends and family”. However he does also advise the reader of the benefits of the technology, from social networking, to the efficient transfer of information and of course far quicker communication. He simply recommends caution and careful judgement as the effects can be far graver than expected. “Unfortunately, typed messages often wound even more gravely, while electronic messages of remorse paradoxically have little power to heal”.

I thoroughly enjoyed this article and sympathise with the general message expressed. I felt the article was well balanced, rather than focusing on simply the negatives, positive aspects of CMC were also included in this well thought evaluation of the effects technology is having on relationships today.

Cyberbullying Article

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1208147/First-cyberbully-jailed-Facebook-death-threats.html

This article was featured in the Daily Mail on the 21st of August 2009. It provides information on the negative effects of social networking sites but mainly focuses on the case of Keely Houghton, the first cyberbully to recieve a prison sentence.

Keely Houghton did not originally begin her harrasment of victim Emily Moore through the medium of the internet, but at first launched a campaign emotional and physical harrasment for their shared four school years. Houghton was previously convicted of both criminal damage and assault in relation to her bullying of Moore. However it was a pattern of vicous comments which Houghton left on her social networking site's profile that lead to her sentence of three months in a young offenders institution.

While there have been other cases of convictions for cyberstalking and harrassment via the internet but this article makes the point that Houghton is considered the first person to be jailed for cyberbullying. The article continues to describe other cases that have negative outcomes due to misuse of the internet. An example offered is Megan Gillian, a 15 year old who committed suicide after receiving abuse through a social networking site. Emma Jane Cross from anti bullying campaign Beatbullying is quoted as condeming cyberbullying to be often more harmful than typical bullying. Other negative effects of social networking sites on teengagers are offered, such as a growing tendency of teenagers to pursue "transient relationships" rather than quality relationships. This is mainly thought to have grown from a desire to have a high number of friends on such social networking sites.

I found this article useful in comprehending the full extent of both cyberbullying and social networking sites. The article continues to list other cases of misuse of social networking sites and the effects this has such as someone losing their job. All of these points remain valid and significant in how the internet should be managed, however I found that journalist Luke Salked focused entirely on negative aspects of the internet and excluded all positives in his evalution of social networking sites. This is unsurprising, coming from an article which features the first cyberbully to be jailed, but it would have been helpful to recieve a full overview of the topic.

Overall though a very good article :)

Psychology Websites

Some very enjoyable and useful links in relation to psychology :D

 http://www.psychologicalsociety.ie/

http://www.ppc.sas.upenn.edu/index.html

www.socialpsychology.org

Lovely pictures =)

An Exciting Introduction

Welcome to my luurvly blog... I've never had or actually seen a blog before so it will be interesting to see how this goes :) Mostly here will just be assignments for ICT class alongside a few other random bits and pieces. Feel free to comment with helpful suggestions, as it may take me a while to figure this whole thing out :P Enjoy!