Conceptual Research & Reflection Project

Concept 13: Privacy and Security
“The key to effective email management is to consistently and conscientiously respond to and act upon the email you receive, while recognising that others may not be as efficient as yourself.” (Allen, n.d)

A factor which has made the Internet extremely popular and successful is the way people are able to communicate with each other with such great ease. Someone can communicate with another person the other side of the world instantly. No longer is there a need to write letters and wait for them to arrive. Email forms the backbone of the vast majority of information exchange on the Internet and it is estimated that 183 billion emails are sent daily: more than 2 million a second (Tschabitscher, 2008). But with so many people using email to stay in touch and to conduct business, it is very easy to become overwhelmed with copious amounts of email traffic and it's often the situation that a lot of messages are overlooked and never replied to.

A growing trend with Internet users is the ever growing need for speed and volume. Mobile phone texting, instant chat, forums and social networking sites have embedded an expectation in users to expect more from technology. Also society in general is trying to fit more and more into less and less time. These two trends combined show a need for efficiency and promptness as anything else could be considered a “waste of valuable time”. Email is beginning to suffer as its is often used in a different manner to other forms of communication. It has a far more formal, business application where as other means are more for social purposes and often accompanied by media rich content.

Another major factor is how often email is checked and in what way. Joshua Tyler of Sun Microsystems discussed in the ECSCW journal that people only usually check their emails a couple of times a day, where as they would linger for large amounts of time on social network sites and instant chat programs (Tyler, 2003). Also the prevalence of spam email could be considered as a deterring factor for users to want to check email more often. It is estimated that over 70% of email is spam and that figure could even be higher (Tschabitscher, 2008).

The fact is that although emailing someone won't necessarily guarantee a response, it does have major advantages over other forms of communication and it is unlikely to see a downturn anytime soon. The context in which people decide to use email and the responsiveness of the recipient are factors that need to be taken into consideration. Although certain users might place more emphasis on checking their emails more often, it is unfair to expect everyone to be able to respond promptly. It might be a reason why a lot of businesses have email disclaimers that state that a response will be sent within 24 hours of receiving an email.

Site 1: When Can I Expect an Email Response? A Study of Rhythms in Email Usage
Tyler, J. (2003). When Can I Expect an Email Response? A Study of Rhythms in Email Usage. ECSCW. Retrieved May 16, 2009, from http://www.ecscw.org/2003/013Tyler_ecscw03.pdf

Tyler provides an in depth study into email use and user behavior and explores topics such as responsiveness, expectations and appropriateness. The report attempts to provide understanding as to why some people have great expectations on others to respond to email in a prompt fashion, and why timely replies may not always be possible. It also compares email with other forms on online communication in order to understand it's advantages and disadvantages and to establish the best ways to use it and respond to it. Over all, the journal is very detailed and unearths some very interesting points in regards to user perceptions, requirements and expectations.

Site 2: Getting Control of Your Email
Goodfellow, B. (2008) Getting Control of Your Email. CPA Tech Advisor. Retrieved May 16. 2009, from http://www.cpatechnologyadvisor.com/print/The-CPA-Technology-Advisor/Getting-Control-of-Your-E-mail/1$2163

Goodfellow attempts to simplify the often arduous task of organising email. He states that if a user does not keep on top of it, it will get out of hand and may lead to great time wasting and reduced productivity. He offers several ways of dealing with email, and uses a similar approach to what a lot of people use to organise their personal snail mail. Although not strictly a journal article exploring the conceptual nature of email, it does however provide a solution to overwhelming mail traffic and could provide a means of better email management, and responsiveness.


Concept 14: Cyberspace is informationally created 'space'
“The sense of space is essential for humans - or at least many humans - to be able to express their identities in special and rich ways.” (Allen, n.d)

Humans have always had a desire to experience life in many different and varied ways. Through stories, books, films, and plays, a desire to escape reality has become a major form of entertainment and for many, a life long hobby. It is no surprise then that as the first computers became available and as the Internet came into fruition, people were already looking for ways of being able to utilise such technologies for purposes of escapism and entertainment.

The concept of creating or occupying “space” is the foundation for escapism. Being able to take on a role or be involved in an environment (virtual) is a very powerful ability and offers those participating the chance to experience something that they wouldn't normally be able to experience or would otherwise be impossible to achieve.

Technologies such as virtual reality and games enhance the experience further by stimulating a number of senses (primarily sight and sound), and enabling the participant to before absorbed into “another world”. Such environments can be very desirable, especially for people who's real life is highly stressful, boring or otherwise not very interesting. But sometimes this comes at a cost. People can become absorbed in “other worlds” so much, that all they want to do is maintain that experience to the point where real life is no longer as engaging. They “lose” themselves and become obsessed and addicted. “Gamer addiction” is becoming a growing problem worldwide to the point where gaming addiction clinics are appearing in China (Thorsen, 2005), and the occasional extreme case of people dying due to neglecting to eat, sleep and drink (Guttridge, 2005).

Escapism and ones sense of “space” is not restricted to games though. A trend that is currently growing at a phenomenal rate is blogging and social networking. The ability to have a “personal area” to create, interact and communicate is becoming extremely popular among young and old alike. Countless hundreds of millions of people worldwide take advantage of websites such as facebook, myspace and blogspot to express themselves, customise their own space and create an “identity” online. For some, such sites have allowed them to present their talents and as a result, have become extremely successful. People who may not be very popular or talented in real life, have gone on to be Internet superstars overnight.

In a more formal sense, the Internet is also a great tool to explore artistic talents. Many sites are popping up which showcase artwork, poetry and other creative means for the world to discover and enjoy.

In many ways, the Internet has become a sandbox for which the world uses to explore, create and contribute to. It isn't as though the Internet has created the concept of “space” and “identity” more or less it has become yet another, easily accessible means to vent to the world.

Site 1: Community and Identity in the Electronic Village
Foster, D. (1996). Community and Identity in the Electronic Village. Internet Culture. Retrieved May 16, 2009, from http://services.exeter.ac.uk/cmit/media/texts/porter1996/foster1996_community_and_identity.pdf

Although the article is somewhat dated, Foster provides an in depth insight into the increasing popularity of the Internet and how the interactions of people show signs of belonging and community. He demonstrates how people with similar interests and tastes converge and share their experiences, thereby interconnecting and developing close and complex personal relationships. The article offers an interesting view into the Internet boom and is a good source to reflect on what was being experienced over ten years ago considering what we know now.

Site 2: Internet Addiction: Symptoms, Evaluation, And Treatment
Young, K. (1999). Internet Addiction: Symptoms, Evaluation, And Treatment. Innovations in Clinical Practice. Retrieved May 16. 2009, from http://www.netaddiction.com/articles/symptoms.pdf

Young explores the emerging issue of mental illness and addiction among Internet users. She goes into great depth to explore the symptoms, cures, causes and possible future complications of such conditions. A major issue plaguing practitioners is the relative lack of knowledge about Internet related conditions and uncertainty in how to treat the condition. The author also identifies that a lack of self esteem, a desire for increased popularity and self worth, and escapism are somewhat responsible for bringing on the condition in Internet users and that it will only get worse as the Internet becomes more popular.


Concept 22: Public space and regulation
“Advanced Internet users are alert to regulatory processes in public discussion and ensure that they do not break them without good cause.” (Allen, n.d)

The Internet is very unique as it is one of the only communication media not to be heavily regulated. TV, newspapers, etc all have some sort of regulation and policy for use. Not only that, they are heavily monitored and policed in an attempt to catch unlawful and otherwise disruptive activities. The real decision to be made is whether to regulate or not to regulate? Should the Internet be policed by a global governing body which is assigned to crack down on antisocial behavior and protect innocent minds from unsavory content? Or should it be left to expand and prosper as a free and open space for people to have their say and to encourage collaboration and innovation? To a smaller degree, web masters have a tendency to establish and enforce policies that help to ensure equal opportunity and foster a more cooperative environment for their visitors. However, many websites do not. This lack of consistency is just one of many issues which are hampering global leaders’ efforts to establish suitable policies and maintain legislation to “maintain” the Internet.

One of the key issues is whether or not the Internet can in fact be regulated. Due to its immense size, decentralised nature, and rate of growth, is it at all possible to regulate even a small portion of it? Just say the “governing body” decided that a particular website contravened regulations due to its content and subsequently blocked it. It’s more than likely that a large number of people have already seen the content and may have already distributed it further through the web. It's also a strong possibility that even if that site was taken down, several others like it would appear just as quickly.

Clearly site-blocking alone is not the answer. A level of uncertainty and apprehension would be instilled in the Internet community as to what exactly would be blocked. Would it be limited to just “inappropriate” content deemed unfit for children, or could that be expanded to include other material such as political views or opinions? And the risk of false positives would make the Internet unusable and plagued with problems. An Internet regulation gathering in Colorado this year brought together academics and industry experts to try to address some of the issues associated with policing the web. One thing was clear, it's not practical for government to “...outlaw every possible thing that could go wrong on the Internet”, rather regulators should address “real” problems (Anderson, 2009).

As to what those “real” problems are, the conference was unable to clarify, but one large step in the right direction is the concept of “network management”; putting the onus on service providers to take responsibility for their users actions and to take measures to limit illegal activity and inappropriate content from filtering through. But such an arrangement is likely to be inconsistent on a case by case basis as certain providers will have greater needs than others, which according to Professor Jim Speta will leave the regulations “open to … political decision-making” (Anderson, 2009).

It is clear that currently, officials are unable to decide on the correct measures to take in setting up Internet regulation. Until governments around the world are able to agree on a set of terms and appropriate legislation, it is unlikely that Internet regulation will be able to achieve the intended goals and even less likely that a global authority will be established to police such matters.

Site 1: Current Internet Regulation Issues
Current Internet Regulation Issues. (2004). EURIM - The European Information Society Group. Retrieved May 16, 2009, from http://www.eurim.org/briefings/IWF_eurim2.htm

The report outlines a number of fundamental issues that need to be addressed in order to successfully implement a comprehensive yet flexible scheme for Internet regulation. It stipulates that a worldwide effort is required to ensure consistency and coverage. The EURIM's stance is that if an action is illegal in the real world then it is online, and that a multifaceted approach is required which can adapt and change with the growth and innovation of the Internet. The report does a good job of providing a thorough break down of the issues and concepts surrounding the topic, and outlines the foundation for developing a successful and accepted scheme.

Site 2: Internet Censorship: Law & policy around the world
Internet Censorship: Law & policy around the world. Electronic Frontiers Australia. Retrieved May 16 2009, from http://www.efa.org.au/Issues/Censor/cens3.html

The report contains a detailed summary of all the censorship and regulatory schemes, policies and legislation being put forward by a number of countries around the world. The contrast between leader opinions and government agendas is rather startling and demonstrates a significant lack of cohesion between industry experts and politicians in formulating sustainable and reasonable policy. The article also acts as a good source of links to detailed government documents as well as acts and reforms that have been designed specifically to combat child pornography and other illegal activities on the Internet.


Concept 26: Privacy and Security
“The Internet is a profoundly ‘open’ system and advanced Internet users are cautious about either accepting or sending material from and to unknown sources and are careful in releasing information about themselves in any form. Conceptually, the Internet challenges us to take greater responsibility for the protection of privacy and security than perhaps we are used to when dealing with the media.” (Allen, n.d)

The Internet has seen a remarkable explosion in popularity largely because of its versatility as a medium for delivering information, but also due to its users’ ever increasing demand for innovation and integration into everyday life. Physical, social and religious boundaries continue to be blurred as the universal structure and decentralised nature of the Internet continues to rapidly expand.

The ability for a user to instantly chat with someone on the other side of the world while listening to a new song from an upstart band and reading a live news feed from another country is completely unparalleled. No other medium of communication and information has been able to reach out and touch the world in such a profound way. In a sense it has “liberated” people and enabled them to change the world not only by providing access to an unlimited supply of information, but also by empowering anyone to contribute and make their views and ideas visible for the world to see.

With such great freedom and openness comes a degree of risk and the potential for abuse and exploitation. As the Internet becomes more and more integrated with the real world, this risk will continue to grow. Viruses, spy software, identity theft, stalkers and fraud are just some of the numerous risks associated with the use of the Internet. All these threats have one thing in common: privacy, and people’s right to protect their personal information and identity. In a study conducted in America, 84% of the participants said they were concerned with businesses and people they don't know being able to obtain personal information about them and/or their family. Furthermore, 54% surveyed stated that online tracking (such as cookies, and use of personal data) was potentially more harmful than useful and that 94% of the respondents wished to see those caught violating the privacy of others, disciplined in some manner (fox, 2000). In another survey conducted by TRUSTe, 57% say they take measures to protect their privacy (“Web users,” 2007). This represents a rather high degree of awareness and concern of users for their personal privacy and security while using the Internet.

What is rather surprising though is that despite such vigilance, a significant number of Internet users surveyed don't take measures to ensure their privacy, or just “hope” that something bad won't happen to them. In the TRUSTe survey, only 28% check website privacy statements “most of the time” (“Web users,” 2007). Even some of the most basic ways of protecting one’s identity online are only used by a minority. Techniques such as creating multiple email accounts (45% (“Web users,” 2007)), or faking personal details (24% (fox, 2000)) can go a long way to protecting details.

What might be behind the trend are the varied “perceived” risks associated with using the Internet. Individuals consider certain threats to be of greater or lesser concern than others and so some people are more likely to put themselves in harm’s way. A statement that sums it up nicely is “Individuals make choices based on trade offs in which they surrender a certain degree of privacy in exchange for benefits that are perceived to be worth the cost of information disclosure” (Dinev, n.d). Sometimes it's just far more attractive to ignore the obvious in order to benefit from the rewards!

Site 1: Privacy Concerns And Internet Use – A Model Of Trade-Off Factors
Dinev, T. (n.d). Privacy concerns and Internet use – A model of trade-off factors. Florida Atlantic University. Retrieved May 16, 2009, from http://www.ebusinessforum.gr/old/content/downloads/Privacy%20Concerns%20And%20Internet%20Use%20_A%20Model%20Of%20Trade-Off%20Factors.pdf

Investigating one of the most important issues plaguing the Internet today, Dinev explores with great detail the measures people take to protect their privacy, and the risks others take to make full use of the Internet and its many benefits. The author utilises data collected from a survey of 369 people to develop a theoretical model that can help to explain certain behaviors and how they can influence e-commerce based industry. The author goes to great lengths to develop a comprehensive understanding of the risks, benefits and influences that privacy of information can have on business, customers and society in general.

Site 2: Information Privacy On the Internet Cyberspace Invades Personal Space
Clarke, R. (1998). Information Privacy On the Internet Cyberspace Invades Personal Space. Xamax Consultancy. Retrieved May 16 2009, from http://www.rogerclarke.com/DV/IPrivacy.html

Clarke provides an examination of all the issues, positive and negative, associated with information privacy and its relevance for users on the Internet. The author’s approach is somewhat unorthodox as it isn't a direct analysis, nor is it an overview. Rather a thorough breakdown of a large range of topics that surround the issue, with a significant number of references which provide a means to extend the exploration. Even so, it is a great starting resource that is easy to use and links to a variety of links and articles that are of great interest.



Fox, S. (2000). Trust and Privacy Online: Why Americans want to rewrite the rules. The Pew Internet & American Life Project. Retrieved May 16, 2009, from http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2000/PIP_Trust_Privacy_Report.pdf.pdf

Web users ignore their own privacy knowledge. (2007). Collector, 72, 7, pg. 19. Dinev, T. (n.d). Privacy concerns and Internet use – A model of trade-off factors. Florida Atlantic University. Retrieved May 16, 2009, from http://www.ebusinessforum.gr/old/content/downloads/Privacy%20Concerns%20And%20Internet%20Use%20_A%20Model%20Of%20Trade-Off%20Factors.pdf

Clarke, R. (1998). Information Privacy On the Internet Cyberspace Invades Personal Space. Xamax Consultancy. Retrieved May 16, 2009, from http://www.rogerclarke.com/DV/IPrivacy.html

Allen, M. (n.d). Internet Communications Concepts Document. Curtin University of Technology. Retrieved May 16, 2009, from http://lms.curtin.edu.au/webapps/portal

Anderson, N. (2009). The Future of the Internet is... Regulation?. Ars Technica. Retrieved May 16, 2009, from http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/02/the-future-of-the-internet-is-regulation.ars

Current Internet Regulation Issues. (2004). EURIM - The European Information Society Group. Retrieved May 16, 2009, from http://www.eurim.org/briefings/IWF_eurim2.htm

Internet Censorship: Law & policy around the world. Electronic Frontiers Australia. Retrieved May 16, 2009, from http://www.efa.org.au/Issues/Censor/cens3.html

Tyler, J. (2003). When Can I Expect an Email Response? A Study of Rhythms in Email Usage. ECSCW. Retrieved May 16, 2009, from http://www.ecscw.org/2003/013Tyler_ecscw03.pdf

Tschabitscher, H. (2008). How Many Emails Are Sent Every Day? About.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009, from http://email.about.com/od/emailtrivia/f/emails_per_day.htm

Goodfellow, B. (2008) Getting Control of Your Email. CPA Tech Advisor. Retrieved May 16. 2009, from http://www.cpatechnologyadvisor.com/print/The-CPA-Technology-Advisor/Getting-Control-of-Your-E-mail/1$2163

Thorsen, T. (2005). China opens game addiction clinic. CNET.com.au. Retrieved May 16. 2009, from http://www.cnet.com.au/china-opens-game-addiction-clinic-240055783.htm

Guttridge, L. (2005). Korean StarCraft gamer dies. Play.tm. Retrieved May 16. 2009, from http://play.tm/news/6353/korean-starcraft-gamer-dies/

Foster, D. (1996). Community and Identity in the Electronic Village. Internet Culture. Retrieved May 16, 2009, from http://services.exeter.ac.uk/cmit/media/texts/porter1996/foster1996_community_and_identity.pdf

Young, K. (1999). Internet Addiction: Symptoms, Evaluation, And Treatment. Innovations in Clinical Practice. Retrieved May 16. 2009, from http://www.netaddiction.com/articles/symptoms.pdf