Lecture:
The discussion at this week’s lecture was about Open Sourcing. I was unable to attend the lecture. The power point that was found on the Learning @ Griffith website goes to describe free software and the aspects in which relate with the topic. The free software was created by Richard Stallman in 1985 and it started the MIT “Hacker”. The goal of this program was to create a completely free unix-like operating system made from free software which is called GNU. There are freedoms in which are linked to this idea with the programs that are created, how they work, the improvements to be made upon release of the program. There is a difference of the Open source and the proprietary (closed source) and how they make their money. Open Source can benefit society in the idea which brings together the ideas of everyone in society, benefiting those in communities to the software that is presented to them. While the idea of open sourcing is good, it has its flaws along with everything and everyone, but it is software that can be modified for each individual in society.
Reading:
There were three readings this week discussing Open Sourcing.
Why software should not have owners?
The first reading discussed the legal issues behind open sourcing and along with how the creators of the software don’t make any money as the software is free to the consumer. The creators rely on donations and funding from outside sources to get by. The idea of free software creates more problems than it does solutions in societies as the usage of the technology is unclear. The software has “owners” and the copyrighting are technicalities of the free software.
Is Flossing good for you?
The novel on is Flossing is good breaks down the idea of Open sourcing by stating that it is “free/libre/open source software”. The difference between the user and the creator are different but the user is able to consume, copy, improve, examine or distribute the information at no cost or no price. The creator makes the software and it is able to be passed around to others after making it their own. It is defined free as in freedom, the software is there to be modified and passed on. Linux and “Digital Commons” are introduced and the idea of Wikipedia where information is collaborated with others to create one article. The ideas of shared networks or collective ideas are the idea of ownership in society.
Cory Doctorow: Creative Commons
The article that is written goes on to describe the idea of copyrights and how they have developed over time and are constantly changing. Technology is always changing, expanding and developing and the idea of cyberspace and the internet and is introduced. While the copyrights are always adapting there is still the idea of “some rights reserved” and they will last forever. Copyrights will always be there and have been there for years, they are not going anywhere.
Tutorial:
I was not present at this week’s tutorial, I was shopping in Melbourne. But I created a video to put on YouTube, but couldn’t put it on YouTube. It was confusing on how to save it and didn’t really explain on how to do it. I really enjoyed putting the video together with photos and music. It was basic and simple but fun, I did a course in high school where we created videos. It was fun and found it easy, I have just never put anything on YouTube.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Week 11-Task 11- Is Downloading Music/Movies Wrong?
Lecture:
I slept in for this weeks lecture, but from the discussion in the tutorial and my own personal opinion on this topic, I was able to get a sense of what was missed. Some people are against the idea of downloading music and think that it is morally wrong. Some would say that it is ripping people off. The internet is a domain which is paid for by the consumer, so it is not totally free and we are not the only ones doing this. Paying for a CD when you only want one song off the CD is a waste. There are lots of free items on the internet and not just music.
In terms of music, the co-operations are loosing out, they spend the money to put in advertising and they are not adapting to the ways of society. It is just a vicious circle of life. It costs heaps more to put a CD out there than it is to put a movie. Also in terms of music, lots of people have IPODS and use itunes, so it is cheaper to download the music then to buy all of it. It is a lot of memory to fill.
I believe that downloading music is okay but when it comes to the movies, I believe that it is wrong. Movies take a lot more money and time to make which isn’t fair to others who took the time create the film.
While some like to buy their CDs or films for the artwork, but it is easier to just download it online. It is all your personal opinion and perspective
Readings:
When Pigs Fly: The Death of Oink, the Birth of Dissent, and a Brief History of Record Industry Suicide. Learning @ Griffith
The topic for the week had to dealing with downloading music and movies from the internet. It is about morally if it is legal or illegal. Every individual has their own view, but in the article for this week’s reading goes on to talk about the record companies.
The company that the writer worked for would go on extravagant meals and charge everything to the record company along with everyone having assistants. The writer goes on to talk about that it is an “An industry of excess.” Over the years, technology has changed and is always growing, improving and buying CD’s is not as popular, unless you like the artwork that comes with it.
We are currently in the digital age, the writer goes on to describe the changes over time with cassette players, CD players and now we have mp3 players. Trading and borrowing music is what people have done for years. It is a way to listen to other music and it is not as expensive. Getting the free music makes it more interesting, you can test out the music or get one or 2 tracks without buying the whole CD. Napster was huge amongst students, as it was free and students are cheap and poor.
For some though, the physical possession of the cd is just as important as the music itself, you can brag about the amount you have and the various artists you listen too. Times are changing and always will be, someone has to lose out and there will always be that nerdy acne kid scheming the system.
Tutorial:
This week’s tutorial was supposed to be a demonstration on how to make a video, but it has been postponed to next week. This week was a catch up week on the blogs and other assignments.
The movie making task has been moved to next week.
I slept in for this weeks lecture, but from the discussion in the tutorial and my own personal opinion on this topic, I was able to get a sense of what was missed. Some people are against the idea of downloading music and think that it is morally wrong. Some would say that it is ripping people off. The internet is a domain which is paid for by the consumer, so it is not totally free and we are not the only ones doing this. Paying for a CD when you only want one song off the CD is a waste. There are lots of free items on the internet and not just music.
In terms of music, the co-operations are loosing out, they spend the money to put in advertising and they are not adapting to the ways of society. It is just a vicious circle of life. It costs heaps more to put a CD out there than it is to put a movie. Also in terms of music, lots of people have IPODS and use itunes, so it is cheaper to download the music then to buy all of it. It is a lot of memory to fill.
I believe that downloading music is okay but when it comes to the movies, I believe that it is wrong. Movies take a lot more money and time to make which isn’t fair to others who took the time create the film.
While some like to buy their CDs or films for the artwork, but it is easier to just download it online. It is all your personal opinion and perspective
Readings:
When Pigs Fly: The Death of Oink, the Birth of Dissent, and a Brief History of Record Industry Suicide. Learning @ Griffith
The topic for the week had to dealing with downloading music and movies from the internet. It is about morally if it is legal or illegal. Every individual has their own view, but in the article for this week’s reading goes on to talk about the record companies.
The company that the writer worked for would go on extravagant meals and charge everything to the record company along with everyone having assistants. The writer goes on to talk about that it is an “An industry of excess.” Over the years, technology has changed and is always growing, improving and buying CD’s is not as popular, unless you like the artwork that comes with it.
We are currently in the digital age, the writer goes on to describe the changes over time with cassette players, CD players and now we have mp3 players. Trading and borrowing music is what people have done for years. It is a way to listen to other music and it is not as expensive. Getting the free music makes it more interesting, you can test out the music or get one or 2 tracks without buying the whole CD. Napster was huge amongst students, as it was free and students are cheap and poor.
For some though, the physical possession of the cd is just as important as the music itself, you can brag about the amount you have and the various artists you listen too. Times are changing and always will be, someone has to lose out and there will always be that nerdy acne kid scheming the system.
Tutorial:
This week’s tutorial was supposed to be a demonstration on how to make a video, but it has been postponed to next week. This week was a catch up week on the blogs and other assignments.
The movie making task has been moved to next week.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Week 10-Task 10-Living in the Future
Lecture:
Blade-runner was what we watched in the lecture this week. It is a 1982 film starring Harrison Ford. The film was placed in LA which is a futuristic set in 2019. Harrison Ford is a blade runner who is after terminating replicas that were created by other humans. The themes and the ideas that were presented was how we are able to control our future by creating the people. The power that we have with creating what the ideal person would be like with no emotions and no recollection of the past. It is interesting to see how they portray these people in society in the future. They see the people and how they react to others around them. These people know who they are and the way that they fit into society.
Readings
An exploration of what it is to be human Learning @ Griffith
The reading for this week was a continuation of blade-runner and the impacts of society. It relates to the ideas of humans and how we live with the ideas the television, technology and the ideas of war. Humans can be compared with technology and the reality. He continuously is making comparison between humans and other aspects in society. The ideas of people know who they are and the different aspects of their own life and where they fit into society. The reading this week did not flow well and was confusing, but the comparisons made were clear. The references to the various aspects in society were able to make links between everyday ideas.
Tutorial
This weeks tutorial began the discussion of each individual essays and the topics of everyone's essays. Then there was time to work on essays and blogs.
Blade-runner was what we watched in the lecture this week. It is a 1982 film starring Harrison Ford. The film was placed in LA which is a futuristic set in 2019. Harrison Ford is a blade runner who is after terminating replicas that were created by other humans. The themes and the ideas that were presented was how we are able to control our future by creating the people. The power that we have with creating what the ideal person would be like with no emotions and no recollection of the past. It is interesting to see how they portray these people in society in the future. They see the people and how they react to others around them. These people know who they are and the way that they fit into society.
Readings
An exploration of what it is to be human Learning @ Griffith
The reading for this week was a continuation of blade-runner and the impacts of society. It relates to the ideas of humans and how we live with the ideas the television, technology and the ideas of war. Humans can be compared with technology and the reality. He continuously is making comparison between humans and other aspects in society. The ideas of people know who they are and the different aspects of their own life and where they fit into society. The reading this week did not flow well and was confusing, but the comparisons made were clear. The references to the various aspects in society were able to make links between everyday ideas.
Tutorial
This weeks tutorial began the discussion of each individual essays and the topics of everyone's essays. Then there was time to work on essays and blogs.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Week 9- Topic 9- Virtual Philosophy and Cyber Punk
Lecture:
This week lecture was a discussion on Cyberpunk and the idea of virtual reality. Cyberpunk is a very complicated and the ability to define it is hard. It can be a very simple definition. It is broken up into two different parts. The Cyber aspect is human/machine aspect and when describing the aspect of Punk, it is anarchic. It is very complicated and it challenges the norms of society with the idea of citizen hacker. Stephen also went to describe the idea of Greece and Rome, the idea that they were a democracy. We had a little history lesson on all the philosophical ideas of different philosophers.
Then for the rest of the class we watched a French movie. It is a new wave film. The film had pictures that we put all together with French speaker and English subtitles. This film was made in the 1960’s with very little money to create it. The message that was trying to get across was the idea of sending a message of what was going on at that time.
Tutorial: The Internet Field Trip
The tutorial task for this week is to compare using chat programs like MSN to a 3D virtual environment where you chat to others. When using an IM program I use MSN on a regular basis, when trying a 3D world I tried IMUV.
I used the active world’s 3D virtual game to chat to others. The one that I tried out was the IMVU website to try and interact. It had a brief conversation with someone else in the site. I was still testing it out and trying to learn how to work it. I discovered how to have a conversation with someone else and that you get credits to go shopping with when in the world. It was interesting. They started to ask me more as time went on, it will take time to fully understand how it will work.
The qualitative differences that I found between the two chat sites were that when talking the words are the same and that the meaning will be the same. You are interacting with various other people in an online website with only others that have that site.
The difference of socializing that happens in these spaces is you are able to see someone’s expressions when talking in the 3D world. You can present your emotions when chatting so you can get a feel about the conversation. You can read their body language almost which is hard when you are just reading the words off the screen.
When on the virtual world you get a person, everyone has a person in which you communicate with others. Avatars are people in which you can dress up and show emotions, you are able to be someone who is presented, with is you can be in different moods, and be able to chat to people and its more like real life in a way. The actions and the moves can be varied for people. It is more a virtual reality was you can dress up, chat to others and have different moves.
I think that this could lead us to socializing like this instead of going out and socializing in real life. 3D virtual worlds like this could take over MSN and other IM messaging sites and will keep people glued to their computer screens and interact with friends this way instead.
Reading:
The Allegory of the Cave Learning @ Griffith
This article had a couple of points that dealt with Plato. There are a couple of points that had to do with his phiosohical ideas on the cave and prisoners being placed in it. Plato was discussed in the lecture and how ideas are was part of the democracy over in Greece with his ideas playing a factor in society.
Burning Chrome By William Gibson Learning @Griffith
This is a novel written by William Gibson published in 1986. The story is about a Chrome, who was a streetwise hi tech whore. When she had customers who annoyed her, she had created her own variation cancers. This all backfired on her, there was a customer who got annoyed with her.
Coretti, had seen her somewhere but he is not sure where he had seen her before. He cant remember what club it had been. She had caught his attention with the way that she moved and walked through the club. Then the connection is made of their first meeting.
This week lecture was a discussion on Cyberpunk and the idea of virtual reality. Cyberpunk is a very complicated and the ability to define it is hard. It can be a very simple definition. It is broken up into two different parts. The Cyber aspect is human/machine aspect and when describing the aspect of Punk, it is anarchic. It is very complicated and it challenges the norms of society with the idea of citizen hacker. Stephen also went to describe the idea of Greece and Rome, the idea that they were a democracy. We had a little history lesson on all the philosophical ideas of different philosophers.
Then for the rest of the class we watched a French movie. It is a new wave film. The film had pictures that we put all together with French speaker and English subtitles. This film was made in the 1960’s with very little money to create it. The message that was trying to get across was the idea of sending a message of what was going on at that time.
Tutorial: The Internet Field Trip
The tutorial task for this week is to compare using chat programs like MSN to a 3D virtual environment where you chat to others. When using an IM program I use MSN on a regular basis, when trying a 3D world I tried IMUV.
I used the active world’s 3D virtual game to chat to others. The one that I tried out was the IMVU website to try and interact. It had a brief conversation with someone else in the site. I was still testing it out and trying to learn how to work it. I discovered how to have a conversation with someone else and that you get credits to go shopping with when in the world. It was interesting. They started to ask me more as time went on, it will take time to fully understand how it will work.
The qualitative differences that I found between the two chat sites were that when talking the words are the same and that the meaning will be the same. You are interacting with various other people in an online website with only others that have that site.
The difference of socializing that happens in these spaces is you are able to see someone’s expressions when talking in the 3D world. You can present your emotions when chatting so you can get a feel about the conversation. You can read their body language almost which is hard when you are just reading the words off the screen.
When on the virtual world you get a person, everyone has a person in which you communicate with others. Avatars are people in which you can dress up and show emotions, you are able to be someone who is presented, with is you can be in different moods, and be able to chat to people and its more like real life in a way. The actions and the moves can be varied for people. It is more a virtual reality was you can dress up, chat to others and have different moves.
I think that this could lead us to socializing like this instead of going out and socializing in real life. 3D virtual worlds like this could take over MSN and other IM messaging sites and will keep people glued to their computer screens and interact with friends this way instead.
Reading:
The Allegory of the Cave Learning @ Griffith
This article had a couple of points that dealt with Plato. There are a couple of points that had to do with his phiosohical ideas on the cave and prisoners being placed in it. Plato was discussed in the lecture and how ideas are was part of the democracy over in Greece with his ideas playing a factor in society.
Burning Chrome By William Gibson Learning @Griffith
This is a novel written by William Gibson published in 1986. The story is about a Chrome, who was a streetwise hi tech whore. When she had customers who annoyed her, she had created her own variation cancers. This all backfired on her, there was a customer who got annoyed with her.
Coretti, had seen her somewhere but he is not sure where he had seen her before. He cant remember what club it had been. She had caught his attention with the way that she moved and walked through the club. Then the connection is made of their first meeting.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Week 8-topic 8- Are Computer Games a Waste of Time?
Lecture:
The discussion of video and computer games is what began this week’s lecture. Various people put in their personal experience of video games in their households. It was interesting to hear others experiences with game consoles and how it can take over peoples lives. They feel like it takes over part of their lives and they get so into what they are doing. Then the rest of the lecture Adam discussed the different aspects of games and new media. The changes that have been made over the years in regards to games and how it is apart of young peoples lives has changed in the technological sense, but also in peoples lives. The games are always changing and improving.
Tutorial Tasks
The tasks this week had to deal with Microsoft word and excel. I feel comfortable with Microsoft Word as I have used it for years when writing reports for school. When going through the beginning part I felt confident with what I was doing and found it very easy. I struggled with the mail merger section but that will come with time and practice. I am still not sure how it completely works still, I am not sure how it would work when printing up the paper. My solution is to practice and use Microsoft Help section of the document to assist with my problems.
Microsoft Excel I have had some experience in my grade 12 Data Management class it was used on occasion. I was able to get through the beginners part with ease as I did it in my class. The macro part I had some struggles with, I wasn’t able to complete it as I was getting totally frustrated with it. I am going to try and accomplish this task another time when I do not want to punch the computer screen.
Readings:
‘Trigger Happy’ (2002) Steven Poole’s Chapter 3: ‘Unreal Cities’ (pg 83-107)
The reading for this week was a chapter from the book ‘Trigger Happy’. The book is about the aesthetics of video games. In the chapter that was required to be read was the ‘Unreal Cities.’ It is comparing the 3-D reality games that feel like real life. The player feels as if they are playing that game for real. The chapter goes on to talk about how reality is still different from the game and that not everything is exact. The author is comparing the difference between on laser beams being shot are completely different than what goes on in the game. The question is then asked; “why, then, do videogames get it wrong?”This is because if it was ‘real’ it wouldn’t be a video game then. The games can’t be like real life, cause then you are playing something you can do in real life and takes away the thrill. The chapter goes on to describe different situations that aren’t like reality, they are different. Like a ball and the angles. Video games aren’t made to be exactly real; they are modified to keep you playing more. This makes them addictive and want you to play more.
The discussion of video and computer games is what began this week’s lecture. Various people put in their personal experience of video games in their households. It was interesting to hear others experiences with game consoles and how it can take over peoples lives. They feel like it takes over part of their lives and they get so into what they are doing. Then the rest of the lecture Adam discussed the different aspects of games and new media. The changes that have been made over the years in regards to games and how it is apart of young peoples lives has changed in the technological sense, but also in peoples lives. The games are always changing and improving.
Tutorial Tasks
The tasks this week had to deal with Microsoft word and excel. I feel comfortable with Microsoft Word as I have used it for years when writing reports for school. When going through the beginning part I felt confident with what I was doing and found it very easy. I struggled with the mail merger section but that will come with time and practice. I am still not sure how it completely works still, I am not sure how it would work when printing up the paper. My solution is to practice and use Microsoft Help section of the document to assist with my problems.
Microsoft Excel I have had some experience in my grade 12 Data Management class it was used on occasion. I was able to get through the beginners part with ease as I did it in my class. The macro part I had some struggles with, I wasn’t able to complete it as I was getting totally frustrated with it. I am going to try and accomplish this task another time when I do not want to punch the computer screen.
Readings:
‘Trigger Happy’ (2002) Steven Poole’s Chapter 3: ‘Unreal Cities’ (pg 83-107)
The reading for this week was a chapter from the book ‘Trigger Happy’. The book is about the aesthetics of video games. In the chapter that was required to be read was the ‘Unreal Cities.’ It is comparing the 3-D reality games that feel like real life. The player feels as if they are playing that game for real. The chapter goes on to talk about how reality is still different from the game and that not everything is exact. The author is comparing the difference between on laser beams being shot are completely different than what goes on in the game. The question is then asked; “why, then, do videogames get it wrong?”This is because if it was ‘real’ it wouldn’t be a video game then. The games can’t be like real life, cause then you are playing something you can do in real life and takes away the thrill. The chapter goes on to describe different situations that aren’t like reality, they are different. Like a ball and the angles. Video games aren’t made to be exactly real; they are modified to keep you playing more. This makes them addictive and want you to play more.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Week 7-Topic 7- eXistenZ
Lecture-
The weeks lecture began with Steven informing us about the rest of the semester and what is still expected in the course for the week. Today was the presentation of eXistenZ. The film was about a passionate video game creator. The games that were played were reality games played by everyone around them. The film had some good twists and turns. As the viewer you never really knew what world they were in. Cronenberg-the director- did a good job of keeping the viewer well entertained at all times, you didn’t know what was going to come next. The plot was good and it was much more interesting than the last film, Alphaville.
Reading-
The Military-Entertainment Complex: A New Facet of Information Warfare Steven Stockwell & Adam Muir Learning @ Griffith
The reading this week was still complex, but had some interesting points written in it. They go into talk about after the Gulf War in the USA with the technological advancements that have been made. Along with the military changes and the information that has been documented. They also go on the advancements that have been made involving the war fare. The times are changing and after each war, new things are discovered. They go on to say that the war in Iraq is more of an entertainment idea, with the concept that war is a form of entertainment. The article goes on to describe different US war times and the entertainment aspect that can be viewed on TV. Don’t forget to watch the fireworks on TV next week.
No Tutorial this week
The weeks lecture began with Steven informing us about the rest of the semester and what is still expected in the course for the week. Today was the presentation of eXistenZ. The film was about a passionate video game creator. The games that were played were reality games played by everyone around them. The film had some good twists and turns. As the viewer you never really knew what world they were in. Cronenberg-the director- did a good job of keeping the viewer well entertained at all times, you didn’t know what was going to come next. The plot was good and it was much more interesting than the last film, Alphaville.
Reading-
The Military-Entertainment Complex: A New Facet of Information Warfare Steven Stockwell & Adam Muir Learning @ Griffith
The reading this week was still complex, but had some interesting points written in it. They go into talk about after the Gulf War in the USA with the technological advancements that have been made. Along with the military changes and the information that has been documented. They also go on the advancements that have been made involving the war fare. The times are changing and after each war, new things are discovered. They go on to say that the war in Iraq is more of an entertainment idea, with the concept that war is a form of entertainment. The article goes on to describe different US war times and the entertainment aspect that can be viewed on TV. Don’t forget to watch the fireworks on TV next week.
No Tutorial this week
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Week 6-Topic 6-History of the Computer
Lecture:
The history of computers was the topic for this week. Along with learning about the basics of the computers, we talked about the beginning of the internet and the web. In regards to the computers, it was interesting to learn about the beginnings of Apple and IBM and Microsoft. They were trying to make the best computers and make lots of money. But the computers began way before Apple and IBM came along. Computers are basically like calculators-machines that add up. We went into the details on the history of the first computers and how they have developed. Then there was a discussion on the Internet. The internet is a network of networks and the Web is a component of the internet. It is only one part. The details and the complexity of this technology is interesting and has changed is over the decades. It will always be changing and evolving.
Tutorial:
Topic: Speed Skating
The article that I read on Speed Skating was accurate in some aspects, but in other parts of the article it wasn’t completely true and not specific. I found the article bias to the long-track speed-skaters and don’t provide equal information to the other forms of speed skating; which is mentioned in the beginning of the article. It is accurate with the information, but it isn’t specific and was a very basic description. It doesn’t cover all the basics; it only covers the basics of the long-track speed skating. It also didn’t provide information on all aspects and areas of speed skating. If you didn’t know anything about speed skating, you probably would be completely confused about the sport. It is not a fair and balanced article; it is biased towards on form of speed skating.
If I could change anything about this article, I would add more information about the other forms of speed skating. It would include more information for the general readers to learn more about speed skating. It would include more about the training and the sport and make it more interesting to the readers.
Readings:
What’s New about New Media? Learning @ Griffith
The new media is always changing. There are always improvements on technology. New media could be a DVD player and the old media would be a VCR player. Along with the tapes to CD’s and now MP3 players have changed over the past 2 decades. Media is always changing and developing and improving. The idea of New Media captures “both the development of unique forms of digital media” (p 3). The internet is the newest and most developed of the new media. It always changing and improving, they are always growing. The internet has taken a dramatic change and has grown hugely over the years. The media is always changing and improving. the New media is always making new things.
The history of computers was the topic for this week. Along with learning about the basics of the computers, we talked about the beginning of the internet and the web. In regards to the computers, it was interesting to learn about the beginnings of Apple and IBM and Microsoft. They were trying to make the best computers and make lots of money. But the computers began way before Apple and IBM came along. Computers are basically like calculators-machines that add up. We went into the details on the history of the first computers and how they have developed. Then there was a discussion on the Internet. The internet is a network of networks and the Web is a component of the internet. It is only one part. The details and the complexity of this technology is interesting and has changed is over the decades. It will always be changing and evolving.
Tutorial:
Topic: Speed Skating
The article that I read on Speed Skating was accurate in some aspects, but in other parts of the article it wasn’t completely true and not specific. I found the article bias to the long-track speed-skaters and don’t provide equal information to the other forms of speed skating; which is mentioned in the beginning of the article. It is accurate with the information, but it isn’t specific and was a very basic description. It doesn’t cover all the basics; it only covers the basics of the long-track speed skating. It also didn’t provide information on all aspects and areas of speed skating. If you didn’t know anything about speed skating, you probably would be completely confused about the sport. It is not a fair and balanced article; it is biased towards on form of speed skating.
If I could change anything about this article, I would add more information about the other forms of speed skating. It would include more information for the general readers to learn more about speed skating. It would include more about the training and the sport and make it more interesting to the readers.
Readings:
What’s New about New Media? Learning @ Griffith
The new media is always changing. There are always improvements on technology. New media could be a DVD player and the old media would be a VCR player. Along with the tapes to CD’s and now MP3 players have changed over the past 2 decades. Media is always changing and developing and improving. The idea of New Media captures “both the development of unique forms of digital media” (p 3). The internet is the newest and most developed of the new media. It always changing and improving, they are always growing. The internet has taken a dramatic change and has grown hugely over the years. The media is always changing and improving. the New media is always making new things.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Week 5-Topic 5-Wikipedia
Lecture:
The internet is a huge factor in people’s lives in this technological generation. Students are looking online to research essays and using it social network with friends. But the issue with looking up information online is the faulty websites and online encyclopaedias. Wikipedia is an example of an online encyclopaedia that presents faulty information. Anyone can go online and change information, whether it is true or false. Information can be posted on any topic, and who ever has access to a computer can change and add information to this website. The lies and the lack of references that are made on Wikipedia make it a source that isn’t credible for academic work. But when refereeing to an article or a topic, it’s a good area to get a summary of what you are researching.
Tutorial:
The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. Walter Benjamin
How do the ideas from Walter Benjamin's "Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" apply to contemporary digital media?
In Walter Benjamin’s article, he presents the idea of when looking at an actor normally you see one thing. But when looking through the lens of a video camera you see something completely different. This article was written in the 1930’s, before the invention of computers which didn’t occur in that time. Walter talked about the different views within the eye of a camera. While in today’s society, nothing is as it appears. The advancement of the computers and airbrushing really change the whole idea and view of what’s on the screen; you never see the real person.
There was a time when "Art" was made by artists who were skilled professionals. Now that anyone with a computer can create things digitally (music, images, videos, etc), what does that mean for "art"?
Art has changed over time. Computers have taken over our lives and have become a huge part. We are a digital time period and everything is based on the computer. Artists still make hard copies of their work, but the digital age has changed everything. People are changing everything over to the digital. They are being replaced by computers.
Is a photo-shopped image "authentic"? Do digital "things" have an "aura" (in Benjamin's terms)?
Photoshop is not authentic because it’s not the original. It has been changed to please the eye of the viewer. You don’t see the original piece anymore and it changes your perspective and view of the art work.
It loses its authenticity. Every time is has changed it loses its original meaning and you wouldn’t fly to Paris to see a mini version of the art.
Readings:
Jorge Luis Borges: Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius (1940) (http://interglacial.com/~sburke/pub/Borges_-_Tlon,_Uqbar,_Orbis_Tertius.html)
The reading is a complicated and confusing article. I struggled to understand parts of the reading, but I got parts of the information. There are multiple articles within this one reading. In the first article, two acquaintances meet for dinner one night and are discussing mirrors. They have an in-depth detail discussion on this topic and they start discussing a place. The one gentleman had previously read about this place in an encyclopedia. After the two gentleman go to a library to research this location with no luck of discovering the place mentioned in the encyclopedia. The book had been brought from a sale, so anyone could have added those pages and made up this location. It has a similar structure of Wikipedia. Anyone can add to the website whether it’s real or not. The other articles are complex like the first article, but I enjoyed this one because it linked to the ideas of Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Week 4-Topic 4- Old Communication Technologies and Theories
Lecture:
This week’s lecture was filled with various different topics. There was a discussion on last week’s film Alpahville. We were also given the biography of Walter Benjamin. He had a very interesting life full with passion. He didn’t have any formal education but was a journalist-writing for a column and did children’s radio. The German philosopher was a key figure in the First World War and was a peace activist in that time. When he moved to Paris, everything had changed. He stayed there till the 1940’s during the Second World War and later committed suicide. He was a German Jew, and the Nazi’s were taking over, he had to leave. He had many opportunities to write in various different fields and areas. It was interesting to learn about what he had accomplished in the time that he was living in.
It was also interesting to learn about the first forms of communication. It started out with drawings on rocks and now has evolved to phones and the internet. That was the only way to communicate thousands of years ago. The evolution of technology and communication has changed dramatically. I always forget that drawing on rocks and passing down stories is where it all began. Everything has changed and you don’t realize how it began.
Tutorial:
Source: msn.com and ask.com were the search engines used.
1. Who was the creator of the infamous "lovebug" computer virus?
A Filipino 23-year old male in a middle class Manila suburb.
Source: http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPrint.asp?Page=\Culture\archive\CUL20000505b.html
2. Who invented the paper clip?
A New York physician, John Ireland Howe in 1935 invented a machine to produce straight pins.
In 1899, a Norwegian inventor, Johan Vaaler, invented the paper clip. he had a degree in electronics, science and mathematics.
Source: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blpaperclip.htm
3. How did the Ebola virus get its name?
It comes from Zaire, Africa where the Ebola River is located. This is near where the first outbreak was discovered.
Source: http://www.crystalinks.com/ebola.html
4. What country had the largest recorded earthquake?
The largest recorded earthquake in the world was a magnitude 9.5 (Mw) in Chile on May 22, 1960.
Source: http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/earthquakes_what.htm
5. In computer memory/storage terms, how many kilobytes in a terabyte?
1024^3K
Source: http://www.dis.unimelb.edu.au/staff/tanya/hwtute/How_to_measure_data/measure.htm
6. Who is the creator of email?
1970's, Ray Tomlinson developed local email programs called SNDMSG and READMAIL. In late 1971, Tomlinson developed the first ARPANET email application.
Source: http://www.livinginternet.com/e/ei.htm
7. What is the storm worm, and how many computers are infected by it?
It is a Storm-infected system. Storm worm is a virus. The total number of infected systems has been waning, partly thanks to an updated version of Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool.
Source: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071225-storm-worm-delivering-coal-this-christmas.html
8. If you wanted to contact the prime minister of Australia directly, what is the most efficient way?
Sending mail is the way to contact him directly. On his website claims: “Internet and email are not secure mediums to transfer information. If you have concerns about using this form or if your message is sensitive, please use the postal address provided.”
The Hon Kevin Rudd MPPrime MinisterParliament HouseCANBERRA ACT 2600
Sending mail is the only way to contact him.
Source: http://www.pm.gov.au/contact/index.cfm
9. Which Brisbane-based punk band is Stephen Stockwell (Head of the School of Arts) a member of?
The Black Assassins. Steven Stockwell did keyboards and vocals.
Source: http://members.optusnet.com.au/~toxicoh/blackas.htm
10. What does the term "Web 2.0" mean in your own words?
Web 2.0 is a new internet. It is a business based form of the internet. It has developed over the years and has a new face. Websites have changed and there are new ones replacing the older ones. It’s a way of marketing and getting businesses.
Source: http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html
Other Questions:
1) How do search engines rank the stuff they find on the internet?
I am not too sure how they would rank the websites. It could be the most popular websites. They could be the ones that pay the most money for their website to come up first. It is hard to rank websites when you don’t know if all the information is correct. The website may or may not be credible (i.e. Wikipedia).
2) Who, or what, makes one page (that you might get in your search results) more useful than another one, so that it is put at the top of your search results?
The page results that come up at the top of the search list would be the pages that have the most views by people. They would be the more popular sites. They are also the websites that fit your search the best.
3) What are some of your favourite search engines? Why do you like one more than others?
I like to use Google. I have used it for as long as I can remember and I feel that is one of the better ones. It could be a totally bad search engine. But I like it. I have always found what I need from Google and its a large company. Everyone knows about Google and is a million dollar company.
It is the easiest to use. I find it simple and isn’t completely filled with ads everywhere. I find it helps you get what you are looking for. It’s also what I am familiar with, it’s the one I have used for years. I am comfortable with it.
Readings:
The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. Walter Benjamin
In the lengthy article written by Walter Benjamin in the 1930’s gives various perspectives on media. When this was written, media was different than what we have now. In this article it gives various aspects of the history of media.
It gives perception of when the video camera and the camera were introduced. It changed how people view the world around them. People are seen in a different way now through the eye of a camera.
Walker was also able to bring other ideas and perspectives through other comparisons. He compares the cave man drawings with the new eye in technology. He also links a cameraman and a painter together along a magician and a surgeon. He is able to illustrate how the two are similar while they are different.
The confusion of the lengthy article, Benjamin presents various perspectives of the media in his time. The art is different and has changed. It will also be changing.
This week’s lecture was filled with various different topics. There was a discussion on last week’s film Alpahville. We were also given the biography of Walter Benjamin. He had a very interesting life full with passion. He didn’t have any formal education but was a journalist-writing for a column and did children’s radio. The German philosopher was a key figure in the First World War and was a peace activist in that time. When he moved to Paris, everything had changed. He stayed there till the 1940’s during the Second World War and later committed suicide. He was a German Jew, and the Nazi’s were taking over, he had to leave. He had many opportunities to write in various different fields and areas. It was interesting to learn about what he had accomplished in the time that he was living in.
It was also interesting to learn about the first forms of communication. It started out with drawings on rocks and now has evolved to phones and the internet. That was the only way to communicate thousands of years ago. The evolution of technology and communication has changed dramatically. I always forget that drawing on rocks and passing down stories is where it all began. Everything has changed and you don’t realize how it began.
Tutorial:
Source: msn.com and ask.com were the search engines used.
1. Who was the creator of the infamous "lovebug" computer virus?
A Filipino 23-year old male in a middle class Manila suburb.
Source: http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPrint.asp?Page=\Culture\archive\CUL20000505b.html
2. Who invented the paper clip?
A New York physician, John Ireland Howe in 1935 invented a machine to produce straight pins.
In 1899, a Norwegian inventor, Johan Vaaler, invented the paper clip. he had a degree in electronics, science and mathematics.
Source: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blpaperclip.htm
3. How did the Ebola virus get its name?
It comes from Zaire, Africa where the Ebola River is located. This is near where the first outbreak was discovered.
Source: http://www.crystalinks.com/ebola.html
4. What country had the largest recorded earthquake?
The largest recorded earthquake in the world was a magnitude 9.5 (Mw) in Chile on May 22, 1960.
Source: http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/earthquakes_what.htm
5. In computer memory/storage terms, how many kilobytes in a terabyte?
1024^3K
Source: http://www.dis.unimelb.edu.au/staff/tanya/hwtute/How_to_measure_data/measure.htm
6. Who is the creator of email?
1970's, Ray Tomlinson developed local email programs called SNDMSG and READMAIL. In late 1971, Tomlinson developed the first ARPANET email application.
Source: http://www.livinginternet.com/e/ei.htm
7. What is the storm worm, and how many computers are infected by it?
It is a Storm-infected system. Storm worm is a virus. The total number of infected systems has been waning, partly thanks to an updated version of Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool.
Source: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071225-storm-worm-delivering-coal-this-christmas.html
8. If you wanted to contact the prime minister of Australia directly, what is the most efficient way?
Sending mail is the way to contact him directly. On his website claims: “Internet and email are not secure mediums to transfer information. If you have concerns about using this form or if your message is sensitive, please use the postal address provided.”
The Hon Kevin Rudd MPPrime MinisterParliament HouseCANBERRA ACT 2600
Sending mail is the only way to contact him.
Source: http://www.pm.gov.au/contact/index.cfm
9. Which Brisbane-based punk band is Stephen Stockwell (Head of the School of Arts) a member of?
The Black Assassins. Steven Stockwell did keyboards and vocals.
Source: http://members.optusnet.com.au/~toxicoh/blackas.htm
10. What does the term "Web 2.0" mean in your own words?
Web 2.0 is a new internet. It is a business based form of the internet. It has developed over the years and has a new face. Websites have changed and there are new ones replacing the older ones. It’s a way of marketing and getting businesses.
Source: http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html
Other Questions:
1) How do search engines rank the stuff they find on the internet?
I am not too sure how they would rank the websites. It could be the most popular websites. They could be the ones that pay the most money for their website to come up first. It is hard to rank websites when you don’t know if all the information is correct. The website may or may not be credible (i.e. Wikipedia).
2) Who, or what, makes one page (that you might get in your search results) more useful than another one, so that it is put at the top of your search results?
The page results that come up at the top of the search list would be the pages that have the most views by people. They would be the more popular sites. They are also the websites that fit your search the best.
3) What are some of your favourite search engines? Why do you like one more than others?
I like to use Google. I have used it for as long as I can remember and I feel that is one of the better ones. It could be a totally bad search engine. But I like it. I have always found what I need from Google and its a large company. Everyone knows about Google and is a million dollar company.
It is the easiest to use. I find it simple and isn’t completely filled with ads everywhere. I find it helps you get what you are looking for. It’s also what I am familiar with, it’s the one I have used for years. I am comfortable with it.
Readings:
The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. Walter Benjamin
In the lengthy article written by Walter Benjamin in the 1930’s gives various perspectives on media. When this was written, media was different than what we have now. In this article it gives various aspects of the history of media.
It gives perception of when the video camera and the camera were introduced. It changed how people view the world around them. People are seen in a different way now through the eye of a camera.
Walker was also able to bring other ideas and perspectives through other comparisons. He compares the cave man drawings with the new eye in technology. He also links a cameraman and a painter together along a magician and a surgeon. He is able to illustrate how the two are similar while they are different.
The confusion of the lengthy article, Benjamin presents various perspectives of the media in his time. The art is different and has changed. It will also be changing.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Week 3-topic 3-Alphaville
Lecture:
In this week’s lecture, we watched the 1965 film Alphaville. I enjoyed this film, it was good. The technology was update in the time period, but it has come along way since then. I always hear my parents going on about when they were a kid; a computer would be the size of the room. That would have been about the time of the film, now, they are so small. Most households have computers, unlike the time of the film, it was rare to have a computer.
In Alphaville, the computers controlled the life in the community. The computer was their form of government. It dealt with “criminals” and the decisions of the community. The computers were new when this film came out and the technological advancements were no where they are now.
Tutorial:
The internet. New and popular. Everyone uses it to communicate and discover new information. I use it to communicate with people from home. Whether its Skype, email or Facebook, I use it. It is quicker and more convenient than a letter. Skype-a free calling service over the internet is a cheap way to call home. Facebook and email are ways I am able to communicate with friends and I was able to communicate with the school when applying. Technology helps in this fast paced world and when you are so far from home. I enjoy using it and it’s a big part of my life.
Readings:
Various readings accessed from Learning @ Griffith website.
The readings this week related with the film that we watched, Alphaville. They told the basics of the film, who directed, the actor’s names, etc. The reviews and summaries were able to give the viewer an idea of what to expect in the film.
I learned that it was a French film taking place in and around Paris. There was feuding going on between the outsiders and the government within Paris. The government consisted of computers that were deprived of emotions.
It helped to read and understand about the film before going in to watch it. It was easier to understand the plot especially when you have to read the subtitles the entire time.
In this week’s lecture, we watched the 1965 film Alphaville. I enjoyed this film, it was good. The technology was update in the time period, but it has come along way since then. I always hear my parents going on about when they were a kid; a computer would be the size of the room. That would have been about the time of the film, now, they are so small. Most households have computers, unlike the time of the film, it was rare to have a computer.
In Alphaville, the computers controlled the life in the community. The computer was their form of government. It dealt with “criminals” and the decisions of the community. The computers were new when this film came out and the technological advancements were no where they are now.
Tutorial:
The internet. New and popular. Everyone uses it to communicate and discover new information. I use it to communicate with people from home. Whether its Skype, email or Facebook, I use it. It is quicker and more convenient than a letter. Skype-a free calling service over the internet is a cheap way to call home. Facebook and email are ways I am able to communicate with friends and I was able to communicate with the school when applying. Technology helps in this fast paced world and when you are so far from home. I enjoy using it and it’s a big part of my life.
Readings:
Various readings accessed from Learning @ Griffith website.
The readings this week related with the film that we watched, Alphaville. They told the basics of the film, who directed, the actor’s names, etc. The reviews and summaries were able to give the viewer an idea of what to expect in the film.
I learned that it was a French film taking place in and around Paris. There was feuding going on between the outsiders and the government within Paris. The government consisted of computers that were deprived of emotions.
It helped to read and understand about the film before going in to watch it. It was easier to understand the plot especially when you have to read the subtitles the entire time.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Week 2-Topic 2-Is Email Dead?
Lecture:
In the week 2 lecture, we were trying to discover the answer of “Is Email Dead?” There had been surveys completed by the class. Out of 87 people surveyed, everyone uses email. Whether it is once a month, or daily, it still gets used. There are people in society that don’t use the internet or computer, so email would never get used. But for some people, it’s helpful to notify people. It is quicker and easier to use email than writing a letter. People save with cost and time by writing emails rather than letters.
We had also looked at another survey done in the USA about the internet and email. The numbers were different, but being able to compare the two surveys was helpful. Email is not dead; it is a faster way of communicating with the people around us in this high tech world.
Tutorial:
Web blogging is popular in today’s society. But for some, it’s like learning how to use a computer. I have never web blogged before. It is like learning how to use the internet. It is confusing and unknown. I have facebook, I have had it for two years now. Blogging is a new and different experience. It will take time to adjust to. Learning how to delete posts and find friends will be a new adventure which I will achieve with the help of my fellow students.
Reading:
‘Reporters without Borders (2005) Handbook for Bloggers and CyberDissidents’
In the long 46 page reading, I read parts of it. I discovered that people enjoy writing blogs. It doesn’t matter what their background is, it is a way for them to express themselves. Some people would say that bloggers are a type of journalist. In some countries, they are the only journalists there. People have the privacy of the internet and are able to express themselves. Blogging is its own world. It is always expanding and always changing. There are so many blogging communities out there. It is like Second Life for some people. It is where they can express themselves and be unknown to everyone else in cyber space.
In the week 2 lecture, we were trying to discover the answer of “Is Email Dead?” There had been surveys completed by the class. Out of 87 people surveyed, everyone uses email. Whether it is once a month, or daily, it still gets used. There are people in society that don’t use the internet or computer, so email would never get used. But for some people, it’s helpful to notify people. It is quicker and easier to use email than writing a letter. People save with cost and time by writing emails rather than letters.
We had also looked at another survey done in the USA about the internet and email. The numbers were different, but being able to compare the two surveys was helpful. Email is not dead; it is a faster way of communicating with the people around us in this high tech world.
Tutorial:
Web blogging is popular in today’s society. But for some, it’s like learning how to use a computer. I have never web blogged before. It is like learning how to use the internet. It is confusing and unknown. I have facebook, I have had it for two years now. Blogging is a new and different experience. It will take time to adjust to. Learning how to delete posts and find friends will be a new adventure which I will achieve with the help of my fellow students.
Reading:
‘Reporters without Borders (2005) Handbook for Bloggers and CyberDissidents’
In the long 46 page reading, I read parts of it. I discovered that people enjoy writing blogs. It doesn’t matter what their background is, it is a way for them to express themselves. Some people would say that bloggers are a type of journalist. In some countries, they are the only journalists there. People have the privacy of the internet and are able to express themselves. Blogging is its own world. It is always expanding and always changing. There are so many blogging communities out there. It is like Second Life for some people. It is where they can express themselves and be unknown to everyone else in cyber space.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Week 1-Topic 1- Second Life
Second Life is a three-dimensional virtual online world. Approximately 3.5 million people have signed up for this virtual world. Only a fraction of this number uses the site on a regular basis. Second Life can be an escape from the real world. Several people claim that Second Life is terrible or meaningless. People would spend hours on a website with others in a world that doesn’t exist. They say that people should enjoy their real lives instead. I believe that if people want to create new world, they should have that freedom. People can express themselves and be someone that they wouldn’t be in the real world. If someone is generally shy in the real world, they can be very outgoing in their virtual world. It’s based on personal opinion. For some, Second Life is a confident boost and assists in their real lives. The hours that they spend, may be a waste of time in the real world, but it’s able to help them benefit and enjoy life.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
About me-the basics
Hi, my name is Caity Henry. I’m from Kingston, Canada (its near Toronto). I am a first year student studying a Bachelor of Arts-majoring in Media and Communication. I am studying here for 3 years. That’s the basic about me. I really like Australia, its nice and I don’t have to deal with all the snow storms at home! I do miss it though and all the sweets. If you ever go there are many things you have to do. Tim Horton’s is amazing. I love it and miss it. It’s a great place to go and visit.
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