How to find your way around at ITU

Lars Pareto eagerly examining some new piece of technology.

Actually, physically it is not that hard. Chalmers is generous enough to give us cards to enter the doors we need (most of the times). Then there’s the not-so-tangible areas which is crawling around on the Interwebs.

IT-Sektionen – http://its.ituniv.org -
To this one we all belong. Make sure to pay your union fee and the board treats everyone nicely. Also follow them on twitter @itsektionen

ITIT Students – http://www.ait.gu.se/student_pa_itit/ -
Refreshed with lots of practicalities that students ought to know about.

Systemsex – http://systemsex.net -
The students with something orange and black attached to their leg.

Camera Obsüra – http://camera.ituniv.org -
Ka pika picha? (+ spelling, my Swahili isn’t very good) They take photos.

IRC – irc.ituniv.org -
There’s always current and alumni students available to discuss even the craziest matters.

Shell – http://shell.ituniv.org -
Need a *nix shell account to deploy that latest hack of yours?

Wiki – http://wiki.ituniv.org -
Useful, and not so useful, content. Feel free to add more!

Forum – http://forum.ituniv.org -
Maybe this picks up speed again, or is forums too much 90s?

Google – http://google.se -
Also called Brain by some students.

IT-universitetet Official Website – http://www.ituniversitetet.se/ -
So far no one has been able to explain in simple terms what the IT-university really is. I bet a more comprehensive description can be found here though.

Gothenburg University – http://www.gu.se -
They have links to your grades and so on from here.

Chalmers Mail – http://www.outlook.com -
This one is new, let us know if it works please.

GU Mail – http://gmail.com -
They also sold their soul, but to Google instead.

I’m sure there are many more to be listed. Please drop a comment if you spot one which ought to be here.

Oh, and by the way, a warm welcome new students!

A necessity or an addiction?

There is one page everyone visits. Whoever you are or whatever you’re looking for; Google is there for you. It is everywhere and everything, addictive, yet necessary; a concept that has turned into a daily need. We do no longer have to visit libraries to find information. All we need to know is just a search away. Piece of cake.

However Google is more than that. It is a web based world empire. They take care of your mail, your calendar, photos, documents, groups, blogs, medical records, videos… and so much more; simply anything there’s a need for. I bet you’re using at least one of their services. Admit in the comments section.

But is this good? Certainly, life seems much easier with Google at hand. Still it’s a commercial company growing bigger and bigger, with gigantic databases. Most likely you’re stored there. How does it feel having a copy of yourself and your life in the digital world in a massive server somewhere in the world?

Another interesting question is: Are we dependent on Google, or is Google dependent on us? What are your thoughts?