Week 4 - Tutorial Task

Task 1)What is cyberspace? Is it real? Where is it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRHwJOScrIc

There are some of the different definitions of cyberspace. According to Ermel Stepp, he defines cyberspace as “the space of interactive computational possibilities, where computers and their contents are available to users of any participating computers, anywhere.” It is clear that such a cyberspace already exists today. However, Michael Benedikt defines cyberspace as "a globally networked, computer-sustained, computer-accessed, and computer-generated, multi-dimensional, artificial or 'virtual' reality." This kind of cyberspace does not exist today’s world yet.

To verify these two definitions, it is needed to distinguish between certain levels of cyberspace. However, both definitions commonly say that cyberspace is the space where we are in during computer-mediated communication. Level 1 is simply the mental map that we have of the information when we are using computers. Level 2 comes into being when we actively communicate with people through mediation of a computer. Level 3 will be attained when that latter stage has been reached.

Reference:
1) Bauwens, M, R 1991, ‘What is cyberspace?’, Information Today, Inc., vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 42, viewed 19 August 2011, via ProQuest Central.



Task 2)
I signed up to Cyworld for the first time in 2005, which is Korean social networking site that is really famous within Koreans. I was really young so I did not really care about Terms of Service. Even now, when I sign up for the new social networking site like Facebook, I do not really read Terms of Service. Similar to other social networking site, I had my own home on Cyworld that I can decorate and upload anything I want to. What I understand through the Terms of Service was that I could upload any contents without being controlled by anyone. According to the Terms of Service of Cyworld, it says:
제18조 (게시물에 대한 책임) (responsibility of the contents)
1. 1)회사는 회원이 게시하거나 전달하는 서비스내의 게시물이 다음 각 호의 경우에 해당한다고 판단되는 경우 사전 통지 없이 삭제할 수 있으며, 이에 대해회사는 어떠한 책임도 지지 않습니다. (Company can delete contents you post on Cyworld if they are applied to the following points, and the company is not responsible for that.)
i) 회사, 다른 회원 또는 제3자를 비방하거나 중상모략으로 명예를 손상시키는 내용인 경우 (contents that criticise or defame other users or the company)
ii) 범죄적 행위에 결부된다고 인정되는 내용인 경우 (Contents that are related to crime)
iii) 회사의 저작권, 제3자의 저작권 등 기타 타인의 권리를 침해하는 내용인 경우 (Contents that invade other’s rights or copyrights)
iv) 타인의 ID, 명의 등을 무단으로 도용하여 작성한 내용이거나, 타인이 입력한 정보를 무단으로 위변조한 내용인 경우 (Using other’s ID or change her/his contents without permission)
v) 기타 관계 법령 및 회사의 개별서비스별 세부이용지침 등에 위반된다고 판단되는 경우 (Contents that are considered to be violate the rules of the company)

Reference:
1) viewed 20 August 2011, http://www.nate.com/footer/legal/index.