What are the benefits of Open Source?

Open Source allows software to become widely available to everyone, free of charge. For example, instead of everyone only having the choice of Microsoft as their operating system they can have the free Linux operating system. It is free to use and accessible to more or less anyone.

Linux is being favoured over Microsoft, especially in the poorer countries because of its availability. For example, Brazil are using Open Source technology in companies, universities and other industries. The availability of the software allows many companies to work on the same project at a time and it inspires competition. Without access to this free software, poorer countries like Brazil would have no way to get on board of the technological advancements. It allows them to connect with the world but do it in a way that means they aren't spending money that they don't have.

Another big company that is affected by the freedom of Open Source is Apple. Whilst many people do use iTunes and the app store many people also don't. There are plenty of places on the internet where you can download music, albeit legal or not, you can still do it without using iTunes. Users of Android phones also use other app stores to download their apps. Although they get it free and don't have to pay any subscription to create their own material and share it, it is arguably not as safe or regulated as the Apple app store. However, it is still a place that does not give to the Apple corporation.

Open source is very beneficial to people who do  not want to pay for software that is just as good and professional as Microsoft and Apple. It allows freedom of information, without it being copyrighted to anyone and all Open Source material is available in the public domain. It gives poorer countries/people/families a chance to get up to date with technology and it can give businesses software that it requires whilst creating competition between them on projects. Best of all though, it is free!

Do Xbox Kinect and the Wii make us cyborgs when we play their games?

New technologies have been developed which allow users to physically become part of video games when they play them. For example, the Wii  is a console is that controlled totally by the players movements. Each game allows the player to interact completely with the game. All the player has to do it move their arms and body's around as though they are the characters in the game.

Shortly after this, microsoft brought out Xbox Kinect as a way to try and compete with the Wii. However, this differs in the way that it has sensors which sense every movement that the player makes. Therefore, it takes game play to the next level as the slightest movement is mirrored byt the character on the screen.

Nintendo has also released Playstation Move which incorprates both elements of the Wii and Xbox Kinect but also uses a different technique as it includes a webcam so that it can see your movements. Furthermore, Playstation Move also uses 3D technology to make the player's experience even more realistic.

With all of these consoles bringing out games that allow us to be physically a part of them, do they turn us into cyborgs?

When we disappear into these video games, we are entering cyberspace and becoming a different being, therefore pointing towards us being cyborgs. With these technologies in our hands, literally, we are able to control the technology that is in front of us. Subsequently, this can be seen as us being a part of the computer or having a part of it in us.

Cyborgs are often seen as having super powers, or being indestructible. Gaming may not have gone that far yet, but who knows what the future may hold for video games. In the 21st century, technology is developing very fast. Will we all be able to actually transform into a cyborg in the next 50 years?