Media Magazine 47: Globalisation case study

1) Why was Google Glass controversial?

Google Glass was controversial because of the privacy issues surrounding the creation of the device. People raised concerns that users of Glass could effectively walk around filming everything they are looking at, but how are we as the public supposed to know that we are being filmed, without having given any permission to do so. Continuing with the privacy issue, people also raised concerns that Google will be able to see what the Glass wearer is seeing. For example, if we walk into a supermarket and begin browsing some products, Google will be able to find out what products we looked at first and what products we didn't look through at all, which can be very useful market information for many companies. Further concerns which made the creation of the Google Glass device controversial were surrounding the rumours that the device would be able to pick up dialogue and have facial recognition software meaning that a person could be picked out of a crowd with ease and the wearer would also know they are talking about. 

2) What are the positive elements to Globalisation that the article highlights?

Positive elements to Globalisation would be that the world becomes more accessible and people are better supported as they are getting to know and understand the world better. Another positive element would be increased choice and opportunities, these empower people and access to information can enhance the ability to make informed decisions e.g. those about the democratic process.   

3) What are potential negatives to Globalisation?

A negative to Globalisation would be concentration of ownership and the possibility that smaller companies have little or no chance of staking a claim on the global market as they will not be able to compete with the rapid growth of the larger firms. 

4) What is a techno-panic? How does it link to moral panics?

A techno panic centres on fears regarding specific contemporary technology or technological activity.  A moral panic highlights concerns stirred up by the media in regards to an event in society. A techno panic links to moral panics (Cohen) because a techno panic is basically a moral panic but it is related to technology. An example, dialogue around the concerns that the Google Glass device may be fitted with software that allows it to pick up audio and carry out facial recognition has coined the term "Google Agent". To encompass the panic that all we say and do may soon be recorded by anybody that is wearing a headset. 

5) What is your opinion on the privacy debate and major corporations being able to access large quantities of personal data?

In my opinion, I find it worrying how much personal data can be accessed by major corporations and definitely find it an invasion of my privacy. I feel like any little move that I make is being watched or tracked in someway shape or form and it is concerning. Major 
corporations knowing our personal data, is simply just a profit game for them with a better ability to compete in the market place and bombard us with cold calls. I couldn't give a specific example as to what exactly can be done but something does need to be done to protect our personal data that nobody other than us should be able to access, rather than creating devices that only increase access to personal data which major corporations can get a hold of as we all well know that they sell our information to any interested third parties.