A mash-up is a web page or application that contains and combines multiple-external resources to form a new service. It is also a form of Web 2.0 application.
As we all know, the internet is a massive communication tool and can be very difficult to monitor all activities. This is why the internet is still under governance and not a government. The internet is large and the government itself cannot control and enforce everything. However, with the use of mash-up websites and applications monitoring it can help achieve better internet governance. Instead of monitoring multiple web sites which would require more effort and resources, mash-ups allows the government to simply monitor this single mash-up web site which contains multiple sources. Mash-ups in a way sort of make the internet seem smaller which would allow the government a more effective surveillance. This is truly more effective since it enables the government to better expand the surveillance and enforcement of the internet. These mash-ups tend to contain sources that have major activities which can help serve sources that require better attention for surveillance by the government. Also, mash-ups contain sources that are similar to a certain degree. If a government wanted to monitor certain types of sources, hitting a mash-up would lead to many other type of sources they seek to monitor. With mash-ups, it is like hitting two birds with one stone.
Here are some mash-up links
http://www.mibazaar.com/top100celebrities/
http://www.mibazaar.com/education/business_school.html
I agree that mashups make the internet smaller in a sense because they bring in different internet platforms/functions (i.e. maps and statistics on a particular subject be it weather, state elections etc.) to collectively present information presumably useful for users. But I don’t agree too much on the idea that “it enables the government to better expand the surveillance and enforcement of the internet.” I think the contrary is happening. I think the public is granted greater access to government processes than ever before. For example, billmaps.com puts “Congressional bills on the map” by tracking the position of U.S. officials on certain bills and also posits these individuals on a map of the U.S.
ReplyDelete- Katrina Rozal
Were all these for school? Just wondering.
ReplyDelete- Andrew
I think that mashups could indeed be used for greater and easier surveillance as you described in your post. However, just like the comment from Katrina, I am missing some of the positive effects mashups can have for the interaction between government and citizen such as a clearer more meaningful presentation and navigation of the 'raw data swamp' that can be found on many government websites today. Mashups can present information from a completely different angle and therefore in an entirely unexpected new light.
ReplyDeleteNino Meese