Alan November visits Canberra

Shock and awe: cyber reach hits home

Breanna Tucker

March 14, 2012

Nothing on the internet is safe, no privacy setting is secure and everything you post online will eventually be visible to your grandchildren.

This is the message that had Canberra students gasping in shock yesterday as a United States technology expert gave them an insight into the not-so-distant future of technology.

In a presentation at Canberra Girls' Grammar, Alan November revealed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology device called Sixth Sense that allowed users to take photos with their hands, turn their palm into a mobile phone keypad or even create a virtual wristwatch just by drawing it on their arm.

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The students were hooked until he revealed the same technology would show complete strangers every photo, Facebook comment, tweet or blog they'd ever posted or featured in online.

''With this little device clipped to my tie, I can meet you at a party tonight and it will immediately recognise your face, scour the internet for everything that has ever been posted online about you and immediately project it onto your T-shirt,'' he told an awe-struck audience.

''So, who wants to jump on Facebook now?''

Mr November took more than 300 students on a roller coaster ride of fear and empowerment as he revealed the reality of the internet's global audience and how they could tap into it to enhance their learning.

After raising the issue of cyber ethics, he revealed tips on how to pinpoint Google searches, cross-reference websites and possibly even question curriculum delivery in their class against other schools overseas.

Mr November also introduced web resources such as Learn Scratch, which allows students to create their own video tutorials and gave examples of children as young as 10 receiving more than three million hits worldwide.

Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/shock-and-awe-cyber-reach-hits-home-20120313-1uyqx.html#ixzz1raNo8pQW