Thursday, September 25, 2008
Stat Counter
If anyone knows how to get the stat counter "gadget" for Blogger could you please let me know because I can't find one that works. Thanks
Class 9/25
I definitely think today's class was helpful because it definitely helped clear up some confusions I had about some of the points Andrejevic was making in the iMedia chapter. I think it was very helpful to stay in one larger group as opposed to smaller groups because not only do I think it is good to hear everyone's opinion, but also because it gives Prof. Dean a chance to interject at any point and push our thinking further. I am just curious to see if we are going to do that for any other chapters and/or if we are going to discuss the final chapters of the book since we didn't mention really any of the last couple chapters we read for today.
Also, to go back to the guy in Geneva who didn't know there was an election going on and didn't know who was running, I am just wondering if this person had any kind of mental illness because I don't understand how one could not even realize there is an election taking place. I mean if this person just goes for a walk down the street, they may see signs for a specific candidate, or bumper stickers or hear someone talking about who they think should win with a friend. All in all I think there was a little more to the story than some guy in his house who had no idea what was going on in the world.
Also, to go back to the guy in Geneva who didn't know there was an election going on and didn't know who was running, I am just wondering if this person had any kind of mental illness because I don't understand how one could not even realize there is an election taking place. I mean if this person just goes for a walk down the street, they may see signs for a specific candidate, or bumper stickers or hear someone talking about who they think should win with a friend. All in all I think there was a little more to the story than some guy in his house who had no idea what was going on in the world.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Homeland Security Detects Terrorist Threats by Reading Your Mind
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,426485,00.html
Monday, September 22, 2008
9/18 response
Thursday's class was very interesting because I think it brought many points to the table, both good and bad. However there was one point that I think was a little over the board was the point that because the "universe is public." I think that is absolutely ridiculous because if you say the universe is public (therefore someone can have records of what you have done online) would be like saying it is ok for you to walk into a strangers house, sit down, and when they come over to you to ask you why you are in their house, you respond by saying the universe is public so its ok.
I think when it comes down to it, I don't mind if someone is watching what I do online, but I can definately see why this would create controversy. I agree with JD when he says the government and FBI etc. should watch what we do online. If we are doing something suspicous like looking up how to make a bomb online, or something that could be related to terrorist activity, then I hope they watch that person. Again, when I heard the story about the FBI agents coming to HWS to see about the students looking up how to make boms, I was glad to hear about that, that made me feel much safer because it helped me realize that there really are people out there looking out for our safety.
I think when it comes down to it, I don't mind if someone is watching what I do online, but I can definately see why this would create controversy. I agree with JD when he says the government and FBI etc. should watch what we do online. If we are doing something suspicous like looking up how to make a bomb online, or something that could be related to terrorist activity, then I hope they watch that person. Again, when I heard the story about the FBI agents coming to HWS to see about the students looking up how to make boms, I was glad to hear about that, that made me feel much safer because it helped me realize that there really are people out there looking out for our safety.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Class Response
Is being datamined that bad?
Should the government do anything?
I really don't think that datamining is that bad. I guess I don't think it is a big deal because I have nothing to hide, if someone wants to see how many times I go to ESPN.com a day or something like that, then go ahead, go nuts. I don't understand why people make it such a big deal if they have nothing to hide. I think the government should continue datamining for our county's safety. The story about the student having to search how to make a bomb only to have the FBI show up, isn't the only story like that that I have heard. I think its good that they are doing that. I would be pretty upset if there was another terrorist attack one day and after the attack occurred and the government searched the persons computer, that they found out the person who made the bomb looked up how to do so online and just purchased the products online just like that. I feel this process has saved thousands of lives and prevented many attacks, so I see no reason why the government should make any changes.
Should the government do anything?
I really don't think that datamining is that bad. I guess I don't think it is a big deal because I have nothing to hide, if someone wants to see how many times I go to ESPN.com a day or something like that, then go ahead, go nuts. I don't understand why people make it such a big deal if they have nothing to hide. I think the government should continue datamining for our county's safety. The story about the student having to search how to make a bomb only to have the FBI show up, isn't the only story like that that I have heard. I think its good that they are doing that. I would be pretty upset if there was another terrorist attack one day and after the attack occurred and the government searched the persons computer, that they found out the person who made the bomb looked up how to do so online and just purchased the products online just like that. I feel this process has saved thousands of lives and prevented many attacks, so I see no reason why the government should make any changes.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Assignment 2
Do you feel that the technologies you use configure you or make you who you are? Why are why not? Don't forget that books, pencils, and words are technologies that we often take for granted. Be sure as well to consider writing and the differences between writing and hearing (literate and oral cultures). How are digitally mediated interactions like a new kind of orality (secondary orality)?
I absolutely believe the technologies I use make me who I am. I have been taking art classes and computer related art classes for a while now and I definitely think that is why I am interested in fields such as advertising, marketing, graphic design, and architecture. Music has also helped me with projects I have done and am currently working on because it helps me be more creative.
A great example of the differences between writing and hearing for me came this summer when a friend and I were working on a project to design a logo for a video game. The creators had already come up with the name, Crescendo, and it was our job to come up with its logo. The more and more logos I created led me to notice that there were more or less two groups of logos, one based on the look and spelling of the word, and the other based on its sound. The hardest part of this project has been trying to combine the two groups to create the logo that best fits the game and that will meet the creators expectations. In designing the logo's, there are many ways to show the same logo because electronic text is so easy to manipulate as mentioned in From Pencils to Pixels by Baron.
I agree with Carlo Scanella as mentioned on the blog titled Inward and Onward when they say,
"In particular, the group or community-based blog encourages a “return of the oral,” as the words typed into a blog are not closed, not final, but open-ended, as is a conversation. They’re specifically written with the expectation of a response, inside the blog’s “comments” sections. The “interior conscious” that print encourages is now, on the blog, an exterior consciousness, captured within a database."
because not only are blogs an example of a "secondary orality" but so are things like talking through AIM, or text messages.
I absolutely believe the technologies I use make me who I am. I have been taking art classes and computer related art classes for a while now and I definitely think that is why I am interested in fields such as advertising, marketing, graphic design, and architecture. Music has also helped me with projects I have done and am currently working on because it helps me be more creative.
A great example of the differences between writing and hearing for me came this summer when a friend and I were working on a project to design a logo for a video game. The creators had already come up with the name, Crescendo, and it was our job to come up with its logo. The more and more logos I created led me to notice that there were more or less two groups of logos, one based on the look and spelling of the word, and the other based on its sound. The hardest part of this project has been trying to combine the two groups to create the logo that best fits the game and that will meet the creators expectations. In designing the logo's, there are many ways to show the same logo because electronic text is so easy to manipulate as mentioned in From Pencils to Pixels by Baron.
I agree with Carlo Scanella as mentioned on the blog titled Inward and Onward when they say,
"In particular, the group or community-based blog encourages a “return of the oral,” as the words typed into a blog are not closed, not final, but open-ended, as is a conversation. They’re specifically written with the expectation of a response, inside the blog’s “comments” sections. The “interior conscious” that print encourages is now, on the blog, an exterior consciousness, captured within a database."
because not only are blogs an example of a "secondary orality" but so are things like talking through AIM, or text messages.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Assignment 1
Does it matter if an interaction occurs face to face? Why? What suppositions do you bring to bear in thinking about this question?
It absolutely matters if an interaction occurs face to face and a great example was yesterday in class, because the Professor wasn't there and the instructions were just posted on the blog you could tell just by listening to other students mumbling about before we created our circle, that many of us were confused. I think it is must easier to hold an interaction face to face because not only is it more genuine, but it also helps to clarify the point one is trying to make to the other. If we (the students) were to have that entire conversation we had in class through our blogs, I honestly probably would not have taken the time to read everyone's entry and really take the time to try and figure out the point they were trying to make. Face to face interaction is especially important because I feel it make the conversation real. What I mean by that is online you can be whoever you want to be, you can lie all you want an no one will know because they don't see who that are talking to; they may believe it's one person when in reality it can be someone else. Face to face interaction is also shows that you care and are interested at the topic being discussed. When you are interacting with someone face to face, it is easier to have in depth discussions and tell how someone really feels about the subject due to their facial expressions and body language. As mentioned in the article What a face can do by Richard Rushton, he says that a face "represents or expresses the inner feelings of a person," and I feel that is someone you can not describe through words. I feel like there one cannot grasp the real emotion one is feeling through a blog or something of the like because they cannot show it. A great example of this is when someone makes you "look you in the eye," I think they do this to show the seriousness of the matter as opposed to just repeating yourself over and over again.
After recalling our first class I can't help but notice how as a group we decided to continue our discuss by creating a circle so everyone could look at each other. As you looked around the room you could tell the people who were confused, the people who were deep in though, and those who just didn't seem to care; all in all I find it amusing because we basically created that circle so we could see everyone's faces to further our discussion.
It absolutely matters if an interaction occurs face to face and a great example was yesterday in class, because the Professor wasn't there and the instructions were just posted on the blog you could tell just by listening to other students mumbling about before we created our circle, that many of us were confused. I think it is must easier to hold an interaction face to face because not only is it more genuine, but it also helps to clarify the point one is trying to make to the other. If we (the students) were to have that entire conversation we had in class through our blogs, I honestly probably would not have taken the time to read everyone's entry and really take the time to try and figure out the point they were trying to make. Face to face interaction is especially important because I feel it make the conversation real. What I mean by that is online you can be whoever you want to be, you can lie all you want an no one will know because they don't see who that are talking to; they may believe it's one person when in reality it can be someone else. Face to face interaction is also shows that you care and are interested at the topic being discussed. When you are interacting with someone face to face, it is easier to have in depth discussions and tell how someone really feels about the subject due to their facial expressions and body language. As mentioned in the article What a face can do by Richard Rushton, he says that a face "represents or expresses the inner feelings of a person," and I feel that is someone you can not describe through words. I feel like there one cannot grasp the real emotion one is feeling through a blog or something of the like because they cannot show it. A great example of this is when someone makes you "look you in the eye," I think they do this to show the seriousness of the matter as opposed to just repeating yourself over and over again.
After recalling our first class I can't help but notice how as a group we decided to continue our discuss by creating a circle so everyone could look at each other. As you looked around the room you could tell the people who were confused, the people who were deep in though, and those who just didn't seem to care; all in all I find it amusing because we basically created that circle so we could see everyone's faces to further our discussion.
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