Algorithms to Complete a Task

Task: how long before going out in the sun I should apply sunscreen

Location: Stanley beach

Date: next Sunday (6-2-2011)

There are many ways to solve this problem, 1) Read the label on the sun block lotion which show you the best way and time to use it. 2) Ask friends who have went to Stanley beach in winter before; 3) search information on internet from bloggers or xanga as people may share their experience on sun blocking.

As I have a computer in front of me, I surf on the internet to find out the answer. When I type ‘how long before going out in the sun I should apply sunscreen’ on Goggle and search, I was shocked as there is 336,000 results! (I will die if I need to read all this!) I only click those websites on the first few pages as they should be the most relevant websites. (the words are in red if they match the words I search.) But I still need to filter some data before I click on them to read. When I skim on the page, I discover that some data are irrelevant as they are about baby sunscreen or skin cancer.

The google page which I search the information

Next, I look at the titles. Some links show their company name so I realize the data is come from skin care companies, Some show the words ‘Facebook’ or ‘Blog’ after titles so I know the data are personal experiences. Some of them show ‘XXX.familydoctor.org’ so I know the suggestion may come from professionals.

Then, I read the description under the titles, if it seems relevant; I click on the link to read. However, after I read five websites (company, blog and government), I am shocked again as there are five different answers! I do not know which the best answer is! Then, I need to find out the accuracy of the answers by search the organizations or people.

Finally, I cannot find out the best answer as there is too much information on net!

My Digital Life -- Freedom or Restriction?

Technology advancement makes things become possible from impossible as technology is an extension of body without spatial and temporal restriction. My voice can be transmitted to my relatives who live in Canada by a telephone; I can fly to Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore and Australia to widen my horizons by a plane; I can enjoy a visual and audio kindergarten dance (myself) by a video recorder and I can share all happy moment to my friends, family and even strangers by a computer. My facebook

I enjoy the FREE (unobstructed), FREE (no limitation on geography and time) and FREE (no need to pay/cheap to share my happiness) which brought from technology. However, I am worried the overuse/misuse of technology may create a barrier constricting my social network.

I often send SMS or chat on MSN when I have gatherings with my friends, one of my best friend ask me to stop using mobile when I have a face to face communication as people may think I am not interested in them. It is very offensive to do that. Besides, my mother complains that I spend too much time on playing computer which she has no chance to chat with me. I discover that I consider a group of people, at the same time; I neglect a group of people.

Technology brings us both advantages and disadvantages; it is our choice to make good or bad use of it which benefits or ruins our life.