So the class is done! It's been a pretty odd semester, and overall I wasn't entirely happy with my performance level. I mentioned that before and it holds true now. I'm not sure what was different about this semester, I think honestly it was because I didn't have as much to do. Free time makes one lazy, it would seem. But anyway, though we've all gone over all of these several times in the past few weeks, here is my take on the class:
The Books
Smart Mobs
Smart Mobs was undoubtedly the least popular book of the class. It did have several interesting points about technological culture in other countries; however, I found most of that information I could find quickly (and with more interest) on technological newssites. I would suggest removing Smart Mobs, but having the students browse the internet for new communication methods and write about them.
Snow Crash
Much more my style, as I'm a huge fiction nut. I think most of my classmates really enjoyed this one as well, and it really made us think about the implications of having a "meta-verse". I thought it was great when I heard about Second Life -- I only wish that it would work well on my computer (it's excessively slow and takes me a very long time to do anything). It was a nice introduction to that sort of life.
A Whole New Mind
This was another one of my favorites as it gave me hope that my majors (English and Professional Writing) weren't as useless as my friends and family would believe. I would keep this book if only for that comfort it offers us PWR majors.
Play Money
Very interesting, and one I could really connect with. Demonstrates how one can learn to untraditionally adapt to this new technological world. I really enjoyed it.
The Podcasts
A lot of people have suggested it before, but I'll reiterate it now. I actually really enjoyed the podcasts; however, I feel like many of the ones I listened to were either chapter summaries or spoken essays. Also, I know that many people didn't even listen to anyone else's podcasts, which I feel like they were missing out. I thought several were really interesting and a new way to discover their thoughts. Perhaps having an assignment where people comment on the podcasts (and also the personal blogs) would be helpful.
Neo-Vox Articles
I really enjoyed these, but unfortunately I didn't feel like I put my best effort into them. Also, the peer-editing process was pretty loose and rather unhelpful for me, as I hardly got any comments which would help me develop my paper more.
Course Blog
Really great, I loved checking it every day to see what people would say. I feel like this was even better than an in-class discussion because rather than a couple people dominating and other people feeling too shy, this allowed the shy people to break out of their comfort zone and be in the spotlight. It was really helpful to get everyone's opinions as well, and I really enjoyed sharing links and new finds with everyone.
Personal Blog
This was really fun, I enjoyed this very much. I already have a LiveJournal but I never really thought I could do one for a class. It was very convenient and I loved the personal postings as it gave me an opportunity to talk about things other people might find irrelevant but that I thought really connected with something I had read or thought about in relation to the course.
The Wiki
Dun Dun Duuuuuuun. Honestly, I think everyone hated it because it was the hardest thing of the course. It was hard to remember to do it, to come up with terms, and to define them. I understand that it's helpful and important, and in retrospect I guess I didn't hate it all that much, but I think this will forever be the bane of Writing in Cyberspace Students.
The Video
I was originally really excited about the video, but as the time drew closer my excitement dwindled. I wish that we could have taken a fictional approach to it, or could have done the videos by ourselves or in smaller groups. It was exceptionally difficult trying to get everyone together (even though Diana, Liz, Phil and I are all good friends outside of the class, finding a few hours where we were all available was next to impossible). Most of the effort was put into getting together (as you can see in the video, we all look like crap because we had all rushed to get to the lib when we all had a free moment) instead of on the video itself. I have to commend the Evolution of Technology video though, I really liked that one.
Overall, I had a really fun time with this class. Thankyou for being so patient with us, Dr. Reid, I know this couldn't have been easy for you either. Have a great summer and I'll be seeing you next semester!
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Runescape Reflections
So you've read about my Runescape exploits for some time. Now that I've wrapped up "Play Money", I've begun to ask myself: what does Runescape mean to me? I've boiled it down to two major points . . .
1. It's Fun - Often I feel that people disregard just having fun. Like I'm doing right now, they feel the need to analyze every aspect of their lives for optimum productivity. I got into Runescape simply because...it was fun. I was always a big fiction reader and aspiring writer, so to have the opportunity to go run around another world was pretty cool.
2. It's Competitive - This, I now realize, is my true reason for playing. Lots of things are fun, but what keeps me coming back to Runescape is the drive to be better than everyone else. I'm highly competitive by nature (I've played soccer since I was 4, and although I was always the skinniest on the team, my coach allowed me to play defender because he knew I would never let the ball get past me if I was at all capable of stopping it) and this allows me to get some of this pent-up aggression out. It sounds silly that clicking a mouse can relieve anxiety, but, it does for me. It allows me to relax, focus, and, sickeningly enough, feel better about myself. Every level I increase puts me one more level above those "noobs", and I feel that much better for it.
I don't want to go on too much about this because I'm afraid I'll then start treading on my paper topic, so, I'll leave it here for now :-).
In other news, it's my boyfriend's 21st birthday tomorrow!
1. It's Fun - Often I feel that people disregard just having fun. Like I'm doing right now, they feel the need to analyze every aspect of their lives for optimum productivity. I got into Runescape simply because...it was fun. I was always a big fiction reader and aspiring writer, so to have the opportunity to go run around another world was pretty cool.
2. It's Competitive - This, I now realize, is my true reason for playing. Lots of things are fun, but what keeps me coming back to Runescape is the drive to be better than everyone else. I'm highly competitive by nature (I've played soccer since I was 4, and although I was always the skinniest on the team, my coach allowed me to play defender because he knew I would never let the ball get past me if I was at all capable of stopping it) and this allows me to get some of this pent-up aggression out. It sounds silly that clicking a mouse can relieve anxiety, but, it does for me. It allows me to relax, focus, and, sickeningly enough, feel better about myself. Every level I increase puts me one more level above those "noobs", and I feel that much better for it.
I don't want to go on too much about this because I'm afraid I'll then start treading on my paper topic, so, I'll leave it here for now :-).
In other news, it's my boyfriend's 21st birthday tomorrow!
Play Money's Final Stretch
I've completed Play Money, and I'm actually kind of sad about that. I really enjoyed this book as I felt I could connect to it in various ways. An interesting thing that Dibbell noted near the end of his book was "what's the ending of a game than a different sort of death?" (287). Oddly, I feel this way when completing a book I really get into (mostly fiction novels where you really come to care for the characters). When I know I'm coming to the end, I'll budget myself some time where I can read the final pages alone, and then I'll sit and reflect on it, skimming through the pages, and wondering what it all meant. It's odd that these various "fake" sources can bring about new methods of thinking and knowledge. That's why I found it interesting when Dibbell later said that "But here I am, a writer again, and not a merchant of make-believe" (292). In a way, I feel that his two professions are not all that different. In the game, he is dealing in the virtual trade of imaginary objects. In writing, he is dealing with the transfer of abstract thoughts and ideas from one person to another. And so, here's a neat little analogy for you: Game:Computer::Writing:Book (book used loosely here, standing in for all methods of writing). Writing is, of course, what makes up the book; however, it is not the book. The book holds the information, much like a computer, and it is the writing itself which gives way to other concepts, ideas, worlds even, much like the game. People like Dibbell and myself just can't seem to get into the tangible items with the same vigor as we do with things that, to some people, just "don't matter".
"It was not simply a diversion from the path of life; it was the path itself, for a time, and just as fraught with existential care as that path ever is" (289). Again, Dibbell directly reflects my feelings with reading. Although fiction reading can be viewed as "escapism", it also allows for one to examine him or herself as well as the people and world around him or her. Games are strikingly similar, and I feel that people should not be so quick to cast them away.
"It was not simply a diversion from the path of life; it was the path itself, for a time, and just as fraught with existential care as that path ever is" (289). Again, Dibbell directly reflects my feelings with reading. Although fiction reading can be viewed as "escapism", it also allows for one to examine him or herself as well as the people and world around him or her. Games are strikingly similar, and I feel that people should not be so quick to cast them away.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Play Money Part 3
What the hell was wrong with me? My gloom was understandable, I guess, but really: A hard-drive crash is a set-back, not an existential crisis. (191)
What is it about the computer that makes us lose our heads when we no longer have access to it? Is it really the communication? We still have phones for that. Suddenly, when the internet's down or your hard drive crashes, your life seems to be thrown into perspective and you come to one heart-wrenching analysis: Your life is boring.
As a fellow computer junkie, I feel I have the right to put this well known fact into words. Yes, I often insist I'm not addicted to the computer; however, I am the first to find life worthless when I cannot check my e-mail, get on YouTube, or read everyone's away messages. In fact, most of my dealings with the internet have nothing to do with communicating with other people, as the majority of it is that person throwing something out into oblivion, and me picking it up. I have posted a whole two (!) videos to YouTube, but those are both music fan videos I did to my favorite movie (STAND BY ME!!! Check it out if you haven't seen it, it's amazing). My friend, though, is worse than me, and I thought she was going to kill herself when a hacker that she pissed off (because she would get into all these online arguments) somehow erased her harddrive. Now I don't go that far, but still, I've become so dependent on the internet that I don't even recognize it until it's gone. As I've noted on a post on the course blog, in one day I routinely spend 8 hours on the computer. Now that's not saying it's all a waste of time (though, honestly, most of it is). Just today, in fact, I've spent 11 1/2 hours sitting in front of a computer. Do you know how sad that is? Granted, for 5 hours I've been up here at work in the library and there isn't much else to do except homework, most of which I need the computer to use.
So although I don't feel like I'm wasting my life, I wonder if I am? I know Dibbell had similar thoughts, though he's using his computer time far more productively than I am. I'm very interested to see what happens next, and who knows, maybe I'll be able to turn all this time on the computer into cash! Here's to hoping!
More Runescape!
I blame it on you, Professor Reid. However, today I have finally hit the 59 mining level mark! This was a big deal to me, as now I can take a drink called a "dwarven stout" which temporarily raises the character's mining level by a point so I can sneak into the mining guild for miners 60+. I don't think I can explain how excited that made me, and I know exactly how Dibbell feels when he makes a big sale.
Anyway, now an ethical question is brought up. Before I could (sneakily) gain entrance to the Mining Guild, there was one specific spot where most lower level miners went to get their coal, and everyone knows where it is. Unfortunately, there are only three coal rocks, and once someone gets coal from a rock, it takes a good thirty seconds or so for the coal to come back (this happens with all the ores, but with the harder ones, it takes longer. Coal is a medium-level ore). Thus, people fight quite fiercely over these three rocks. While I was levelling up, I had to fight with the best of them to try and sneak a coal or two before they could (mining involves clicking the mouse on a rock and watching your character swing the pick at it, the higher level you are the more chance you are to get the ore quickly, but this is not always guaranteed). I never asked for any sort of mercy, I knew I was weak and had to build my way up. Since I've gotten quite good at coal mining, however, I've had people request that they have their own rock and I have my own rock. Now, in theory, this is nice, but remember the 30-seconds. That's a long time to stand and wait for the coal to come back when I could move on to the next rock and take the coal from there. I had to fight my way up, so I see no reason why I should not take advantage of my mining level. In a really twisted sort of way, I appreciate my level more because I worked so damn hard at it.
You probably think I'm a nerd :-). The funny thing is, this is exactly how I view life as well.
Anyway, now an ethical question is brought up. Before I could (sneakily) gain entrance to the Mining Guild, there was one specific spot where most lower level miners went to get their coal, and everyone knows where it is. Unfortunately, there are only three coal rocks, and once someone gets coal from a rock, it takes a good thirty seconds or so for the coal to come back (this happens with all the ores, but with the harder ones, it takes longer. Coal is a medium-level ore). Thus, people fight quite fiercely over these three rocks. While I was levelling up, I had to fight with the best of them to try and sneak a coal or two before they could (mining involves clicking the mouse on a rock and watching your character swing the pick at it, the higher level you are the more chance you are to get the ore quickly, but this is not always guaranteed). I never asked for any sort of mercy, I knew I was weak and had to build my way up. Since I've gotten quite good at coal mining, however, I've had people request that they have their own rock and I have my own rock. Now, in theory, this is nice, but remember the 30-seconds. That's a long time to stand and wait for the coal to come back when I could move on to the next rock and take the coal from there. I had to fight my way up, so I see no reason why I should not take advantage of my mining level. In a really twisted sort of way, I appreciate my level more because I worked so damn hard at it.
You probably think I'm a nerd :-). The funny thing is, this is exactly how I view life as well.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Play Money -- Gold Diggers
Looking over the rules to my ever-beloved RuneScape, one finds that Dibbell and co. break 5 out of the 15 rules.
-- Cheating/Bug Abuse ("Unintended bugs can spoil the effect of the game, so we obviously want to fix them as quickly as possible. Deliberately taking advantage of a bug can unbalance the game economy or devalue other players' achievements, so it is against the rules.")
-- Using Third Party Software ("macroing ruins the game for everyone else. We don't want some players having an unfair advantage and filling up all the best training spots with bots. This game is designed to be enjoyed by humans, not bots. In the past, when we have not enforced this rule, we have rapidly found it quickly spoils the game, and players themselves start demanding that we enforce it. So now we enforce it thoroughly.")
-- Encouraging Others to Break Rules ("Encouraging or helping others to break the rules is as bad as breaking them yourself, and therefore anyone doing so will be treated as if they were the one breaking the rule.")
-- Account Sharing/Trading ("Firstly, many of the accounts people try to sell are actually accounts they have stolen, so, by buying the account you are helping them profit from their crime, and encouraging them to do it more! Secondly, this rule is for your protection, as people who share accounts run the risk that the person using the account won't give it back, or that the person will break a game rule causing your account to be banned.")
-- Real World Item Trading ("We have this rule for three reasons: Firstly because we don’t want RuneScape to be just a game in which you can buy your way to success, if we let players start doing this it devalues the game for other players. We feel your status in real-life shouldn’t affect your ability to be successful in the game. Secondly we cannot monitor the transactions made between players outside the game, and if players swap items for external benefits we can’t see, to us it looks like an unbalanced suspicious trade. Thirdly, often when players attempt to break this rule and sell items for real cash the items are actually stolen, so you could even end up getting in trouble for receiving stolen property. If you purchased an account you might find it suddenly returned to the original rightful owner and yourself out of pocket.")
I'm not as familiar with Ultima and therefore am only going by the rules for Runescape, which, by the way, I agree whole-heartedly with and wonder why Ultima has not adopted the same rule sets.
Through some searching, I actually came across a site much like something Dibbell would have set up: http://www.runescape4u.org/rs.htm
I'm not at all surprised that people would sell and buy these items for real-world money, however, it is not something I would condone or think about doing. I guess I just have too much integrity for my sitting there and clicking the mouse for hours on end that I feel angry when other people don't go through that same process.
Sorry this isn't more in depth, it's nearing 2am and I'm burnt out :-(. I can't wait to continue reading, however, I love this book so far!
-- Cheating/Bug Abuse ("Unintended bugs can spoil the effect of the game, so we obviously want to fix them as quickly as possible. Deliberately taking advantage of a bug can unbalance the game economy or devalue other players' achievements, so it is against the rules.")
-- Using Third Party Software ("macroing ruins the game for everyone else. We don't want some players having an unfair advantage and filling up all the best training spots with bots. This game is designed to be enjoyed by humans, not bots. In the past, when we have not enforced this rule, we have rapidly found it quickly spoils the game, and players themselves start demanding that we enforce it. So now we enforce it thoroughly.")
-- Encouraging Others to Break Rules ("Encouraging or helping others to break the rules is as bad as breaking them yourself, and therefore anyone doing so will be treated as if they were the one breaking the rule.")
-- Account Sharing/Trading ("Firstly, many of the accounts people try to sell are actually accounts they have stolen, so, by buying the account you are helping them profit from their crime, and encouraging them to do it more! Secondly, this rule is for your protection, as people who share accounts run the risk that the person using the account won't give it back, or that the person will break a game rule causing your account to be banned.")
-- Real World Item Trading ("We have this rule for three reasons: Firstly because we don’t want RuneScape to be just a game in which you can buy your way to success, if we let players start doing this it devalues the game for other players. We feel your status in real-life shouldn’t affect your ability to be successful in the game. Secondly we cannot monitor the transactions made between players outside the game, and if players swap items for external benefits we can’t see, to us it looks like an unbalanced suspicious trade. Thirdly, often when players attempt to break this rule and sell items for real cash the items are actually stolen, so you could even end up getting in trouble for receiving stolen property. If you purchased an account you might find it suddenly returned to the original rightful owner and yourself out of pocket.")
I'm not as familiar with Ultima and therefore am only going by the rules for Runescape, which, by the way, I agree whole-heartedly with and wonder why Ultima has not adopted the same rule sets.
Through some searching, I actually came across a site much like something Dibbell would have set up: http://www.runescape4u.org/rs.htm
I'm not at all surprised that people would sell and buy these items for real-world money, however, it is not something I would condone or think about doing. I guess I just have too much integrity for my sitting there and clicking the mouse for hours on end that I feel angry when other people don't go through that same process.
Sorry this isn't more in depth, it's nearing 2am and I'm burnt out :-(. I can't wait to continue reading, however, I love this book so far!
Runescape and Video
So, I'm going to blame Dr. Reid and Play Money for getting me addicted to Runescape again. Everytime I finish reading a few more chapters of the book I get an overwhelming desire to log on as Wolf Eye18 and mine away or go and kill giants. I'm fighting the urge to do it right now, actually.
I really enjoyed making the video, mostly because I was already friends with Phil, Diana, and Liz, and therefore felt comfortable with them. I don't think I would have enjoyed working with other people, primarily due to the fact that I can become very bossy if I feel like things aren't being done promptly (or correctly), but I had confidence in my group members and things went swimmingly, as they say. I've always loathed group projects, and even this one I'll admit was a pain. Getting everybody together and in the right mindset is an excruciating task, especially when that group is as busy as us. Diana and I had to break off our boyfriend weekends early to come back, and I know Liz was probably exhausted from her trip back from her track meet the day before. I've always preferred working by myself, or with at most two people, as I thoroughly enjoy doing the podcasts with Diana. Speaking of podcasts, I was talking with her about maybe discussing our experiences with the class for our fourth podcast instead of talking about Play Money, especially because I plan on using video games as my topic for my second Neovox Article (which I really need to get started on, as I was quite disappointed with my first one).
Frankly, I haven't been happy with my performance at all this semester with any of my classes. I haven't been doing badly, but I normally have this crazy vigor my friends all remark on. For some reason, this semester I just lost it. I really hope I pick it up again next semester. In the meantime, I'm going to push myself through the last few weeks. I work at the library from 10-3 (that's where I am now, actually) for the next few Thursdays so that's always a great place to do my homework since everybody's out partying.
I really enjoyed making the video, mostly because I was already friends with Phil, Diana, and Liz, and therefore felt comfortable with them. I don't think I would have enjoyed working with other people, primarily due to the fact that I can become very bossy if I feel like things aren't being done promptly (or correctly), but I had confidence in my group members and things went swimmingly, as they say. I've always loathed group projects, and even this one I'll admit was a pain. Getting everybody together and in the right mindset is an excruciating task, especially when that group is as busy as us. Diana and I had to break off our boyfriend weekends early to come back, and I know Liz was probably exhausted from her trip back from her track meet the day before. I've always preferred working by myself, or with at most two people, as I thoroughly enjoy doing the podcasts with Diana. Speaking of podcasts, I was talking with her about maybe discussing our experiences with the class for our fourth podcast instead of talking about Play Money, especially because I plan on using video games as my topic for my second Neovox Article (which I really need to get started on, as I was quite disappointed with my first one).
Frankly, I haven't been happy with my performance at all this semester with any of my classes. I haven't been doing badly, but I normally have this crazy vigor my friends all remark on. For some reason, this semester I just lost it. I really hope I pick it up again next semester. In the meantime, I'm going to push myself through the last few weeks. I work at the library from 10-3 (that's where I am now, actually) for the next few Thursdays so that's always a great place to do my homework since everybody's out partying.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Play Money
So apparantly I'm the only one in the whole class who will admit to being any level of a "gamer". So far, everyone else has talked about how they don't see the point of playing these games. Well, as a moderate "gamer", I truly enjoy Dibbell's book as I fully understand the topic and questions he is posing. For many years, my "game of choice" was Runescape, a free online game (although you could pay $5 a month for extra features) at www.runescape.com. I would spend hours on this game and I'm now a level 63! After reading Dibbell for a while, I began asking myself why exactly I find myself so drawn into these games. Dibbell talks about Flow, in which he draws from a psychologist who defines Flow: "Concentration is so intense that there is no attention left over to think about anything irrelevant, or to worry about problems. Self-consciousness disappears, and the sense of time becomes distorted" (37). To me, this exactly reflected my interactions with not only games but also reading. When I am drawn into a good book, I will sacrifice other aspects of my life until I have finished it, often sitting for hours without realizing it. So why am I so susceptible to the appeals of fiction and virtual reality, which, after all, are quite similar? I blame it partially on the fact that I become very attached to things very quickly (I'll admit, I still have my "baby blanket" on my bed at home). In high school, it used to be guys, but now that I have a boyfriend, I've found it better for the relationship to direct this attachment to other areas (haha). I've since found my attention grabbed by games. Sega, X-Box, Nintendo, Computer games, you name it, I love it. The stereotype of "gamers" is that they are all nerds -- they are weird because they play games; however, could they play games because they are weird? Although this semantic does not sound any better, it means a whole different thing. Many use games as a way to escape life (often what writers claim they do when they are writing). In a world such as Runescape, one is, in practical terms, safe from the world outside. Here, in a contained environment that they can in most senses control, they can overcome obstacles and become something of a hero and a "big man on campus". I'll be the first to acknowledge that I have always had self-esteem issues for a variety of reasons, though for some inexplicable reason, the feeling I got when I reached level 60 on Runescape was equivalent to getting an A in a tough course. I had an odd sense of accomplishment and pride -- when all I had really done was "wasted hours of my life" by sitting in front of a computer clicking on things. Perhaps I thought it attested to my patience to be able to sit for that long. Perhaps this patience is the Flow that Dibbell was talking about. I love to work, not because I enjoy it, but because it gives me a sense of purpose. Games such as Runescape give people enough freedom to establish their own identity in the world but still enough restrictions to make them feel as though they have accomplished something. And who knows, maybe they have.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Grammar and Neovox #2
A lot of people have been discussing grammar lately and how it effects people's views of you, especially on an online course. I'll admit, I am a spelling nazi. I am ashamed of myself when I misspell words, and I look down on others who can't spell at all. Ironically, my boyfriend is probably the worst speller I've ever met. For a while, I didn't have a proper cell phone, and so the majority of our discussions were held over AIM, much to my chagrin. On my good days, I'd find myself fixing his errors in my head; on my bad days, I'd just tell him where he was doing things wrong. Thankfully, he's never taken it to heart and we're still dating (3 years next Saturday!). Not only do his mannerisms in that sense irk me, but it makes me scared of how other people think of him. He's very intelligent when it comes to computers, cooking, fixing things, and cars (all of the above I'm fairly poor with), though when it comes to writing and expressing himself, he fails. He doesn't seem to have a problem with it, but I myself notice when other people can't communicate well and think less of them for it (I know, it's terrible). I feel that writing is an essential skill that everyone should work to establish well in their own lives.
Now, slightly off topic, I think I've come up with my Neovox article: Video Games. Some people have been discussing this as well, but, I want to talk about how video games DON'T make kids more violent and how they could actually help kids socially. I'm obsessed with video games myself, and though I love to shoot at those little computer graphics, I'm entirely too sensitive to even consider killing somebody. I can't even hurt somebody's feelings when they deserve it and escape from feeling guilty.
Now, slightly off topic, I think I've come up with my Neovox article: Video Games. Some people have been discussing this as well, but, I want to talk about how video games DON'T make kids more violent and how they could actually help kids socially. I'm obsessed with video games myself, and though I love to shoot at those little computer graphics, I'm entirely too sensitive to even consider killing somebody. I can't even hurt somebody's feelings when they deserve it and escape from feeling guilty.
Finishing A Whole New Mind
I haven't been on top of my postings, and I apologize for that. I've actually had this book done for over a week as Diana and I did our Podcast last Monday, I just haven't written my reading response.
Most of the book is devoted to Pink describing his vision of "The Six Senses", Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play, and Meaning. All of these impact me in more ways than I realize, however, the Meaning section really got me thinking. I was raised as a Methodist and have since then realized that I am an atheist. So when I came across this chapter, I was skeptical. Pink states that:
Here I will disagree with Pink. At first, I felt that regular sense of shame I often feel when people are talking about religion, or in Pink's case, "spirituality". I do not believe in God, I do not believe in Heaven, and I do not believe in good or evil. Those thoughts nearly made me dismiss this final chapter, however, all of this reading about people trying to find meaning in their lives inevitably brought me to ask myself the same question. After thinking about it for a while, I realized that I put everything into the hands of humanity. I realize that there is "good" and "bad" in everyone, however, I attribute those factors to the actual people and their circumstances rather than outer supernatural beings competing over the mystical soul. Basically, I came to the conclusion that the "meaning of life" is, in rude terms, to propogate the human race. In more pleasant terms, it is to leave a "better world" for our posterity. I think Empathy and Symphony play more into Meaning than Pink realized. I am kind to people because I know what it is like to have someone be kind to me, and also, have someone be mean to me. I do my duties because other people are dependent on my completing a task. Inescapably, as I have found, it always comes back to people. Believe what you will about the "after-life", but don't forget about this world.
So, basically, I disagree with Pink that we are inherently spiritual, as I am not; however, I do feel that we have a desire to do something large and important, rather just for ourselves or for the world in general.
Most of the book is devoted to Pink describing his vision of "The Six Senses", Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play, and Meaning. All of these impact me in more ways than I realize, however, the Meaning section really got me thinking. I was raised as a Methodist and have since then realized that I am an atheist. So when I came across this chapter, I was skeptical. Pink states that:
Across many different realms, there's a growing recognition that spirituality--not religion necessarily, but the more broadly defined concern for the purpose and meaning of life--is a fundamental part of the human condition. Indeed, our capacity for faith--again, not religion per se, but the belief in something larger than ourselves--may be wired into our brains. (221)
Here I will disagree with Pink. At first, I felt that regular sense of shame I often feel when people are talking about religion, or in Pink's case, "spirituality". I do not believe in God, I do not believe in Heaven, and I do not believe in good or evil. Those thoughts nearly made me dismiss this final chapter, however, all of this reading about people trying to find meaning in their lives inevitably brought me to ask myself the same question. After thinking about it for a while, I realized that I put everything into the hands of humanity. I realize that there is "good" and "bad" in everyone, however, I attribute those factors to the actual people and their circumstances rather than outer supernatural beings competing over the mystical soul. Basically, I came to the conclusion that the "meaning of life" is, in rude terms, to propogate the human race. In more pleasant terms, it is to leave a "better world" for our posterity. I think Empathy and Symphony play more into Meaning than Pink realized. I am kind to people because I know what it is like to have someone be kind to me, and also, have someone be mean to me. I do my duties because other people are dependent on my completing a task. Inescapably, as I have found, it always comes back to people. Believe what you will about the "after-life", but don't forget about this world.
So, basically, I disagree with Pink that we are inherently spiritual, as I am not; however, I do feel that we have a desire to do something large and important, rather just for ourselves or for the world in general.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Oh well
So the entire post I put on the course blog was meant to go here, I guess I really am slipping! I was going to delete it and paste it here, but I thought that it was something the rest of the class could talk about.
As I mentioned on that post, I'm looking for a summer job, and the internet is really helping me out a ton. I don't think I would be as sure about my future if I didn't have this technology readily available. With the internet, I can look for jobs at my leisure, whether it's now at 2pm or even at 2am. It gives me access to thousands of job listings in my area. The same could be said for apartments and colleges. Although many people fear that the internet is some huge cybernetic Godzilla-like monster that will take over the world, I am very happy that it is available to me. We are driven by the clock now more than ever and having a device that allows us to break out of that cycle even on occaision is a wonderful tool in my book.
I think that also holds true to this course in general, and perhaps that's why a lot of people have not been contributing as much as they would if it was a "normal" class. Without a set time period in which they sit down and face the professor, they are unsure as to how exactly they should budget their free time in order to complete the assignments. This course was definitely harder than I was expecting on more than one front, with the time factor being one of the biggest challenges. Unfortunately because we do not feel that same pressure here as we do with other classes, the readings and work become pushed back so we can do the work for our other classes, even though this class is as important, if not more important, than the others. This class is extremely modern and helps show us how to adapt to the changing world.
Anyway, I hope I can pull myself together and get through the next month and few days with my normal vigor.
As I mentioned on that post, I'm looking for a summer job, and the internet is really helping me out a ton. I don't think I would be as sure about my future if I didn't have this technology readily available. With the internet, I can look for jobs at my leisure, whether it's now at 2pm or even at 2am. It gives me access to thousands of job listings in my area. The same could be said for apartments and colleges. Although many people fear that the internet is some huge cybernetic Godzilla-like monster that will take over the world, I am very happy that it is available to me. We are driven by the clock now more than ever and having a device that allows us to break out of that cycle even on occaision is a wonderful tool in my book.
I think that also holds true to this course in general, and perhaps that's why a lot of people have not been contributing as much as they would if it was a "normal" class. Without a set time period in which they sit down and face the professor, they are unsure as to how exactly they should budget their free time in order to complete the assignments. This course was definitely harder than I was expecting on more than one front, with the time factor being one of the biggest challenges. Unfortunately because we do not feel that same pressure here as we do with other classes, the readings and work become pushed back so we can do the work for our other classes, even though this class is as important, if not more important, than the others. This class is extremely modern and helps show us how to adapt to the changing world.
Anyway, I hope I can pull myself together and get through the next month and few days with my normal vigor.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
A Whole New Book
I picked up Dan Pink's A Whole New Mind over Spring Break with some interest. In fact, the book caught my eye when I first bought it in January. I had heard of the contention between left-brain and right-brain thinking and was quite intrigued by it. In fact, in high school a few teachers told me that I was a "right-brain thinker", but I didn't quite know what they meant. I read through the first 100 pages of the book quite quickly and with interest. The best point Pink has made so far is that:
Pink also discusses outsourcing and its effects on our brains, in a sense. Although I consider myself a liberal, I'm not entirely against outsourcing--although there is much more to the topic, outsourcing allows for people to be freed from the mundane jobs and are able to focus their efforts on the "big picture", as Pink suggests:
Pink also spends a lot of time discussing Design. The fashion industry is perhaps one of the largest operations in America and Western Europe. Designer jeans can sell for as much as $1000, and people buy them! Pink suggests that design appeals to our right-brain tendancies. This brings to mind art and even writing, as writing is "designed" in a sense. Design is undoubtedly something that makes us human, as everything around us was designed and we yearn for even more.
So far I've thoroughly enjoyed Pink's book and I can't wait to read more!
. . . logic without emotion is a chilly, Spock-like existence. Emotion without logic is a weepy, hysterical world where the clocks are never right and the buses always late. In the end, yin always needs yang.Although most of this book is dedicated to educating readers as to the functions of the right side of the brain, Pink emphasizes the importance of utilizing both sides together for a "healthy, happy, successful life." The right side is not to be ashamed of or ignored, but embraced.
This is especially true when it comes to our brains. The two sides work in concert--two sections of an orchestra that sounds awful if one side packs up its instruments and goes home . . . In other words, leading a healthy, happy, successful life depends on both hemispheres of your brain. (25-26)
Pink also discusses outsourcing and its effects on our brains, in a sense. Although I consider myself a liberal, I'm not entirely against outsourcing--although there is much more to the topic, outsourcing allows for people to be freed from the mundane jobs and are able to focus their efforts on the "big picture", as Pink suggests:
[Outsourcing] is precisely what happened to routine mass production jobs . . . and just as those factory workers had to master a new set of skills and learn how to bend pixels instead of steel, many of today's knowledge workers will likewise have to command a new set of aptitudes. They'll need to do what workers abroad cannot do equally well for much less money--using R-Directed abilities such as forging relationships rather than executing transactions, tackling novel challenges instead of solving routine problems, and synthesizing the big picture rather than analyzing a single component. (39-40)
Pink also spends a lot of time discussing Design. The fashion industry is perhaps one of the largest operations in America and Western Europe. Designer jeans can sell for as much as $1000, and people buy them! Pink suggests that design appeals to our right-brain tendancies. This brings to mind art and even writing, as writing is "designed" in a sense. Design is undoubtedly something that makes us human, as everything around us was designed and we yearn for even more.
So far I've thoroughly enjoyed Pink's book and I can't wait to read more!
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Page to New Age
So again, in an attempts to find a topic to address in this post, I went to cnn.com's Tech section and came across this article: http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/internet/02/28/book.browsing.reut/index.html.
It is about two very large Publishing companies, Random House and HarperCollins, now allowing customers to look at actual pages of the book online.
In a way, this seems really silly to me that this is big news. I mean, you can go to any library or bookstore in the world and they want you to look through the books. Why would this be that much different?
And yet, as an aspiring editor and author, it makes me nervous. I'm only 20, yet my career area has changed so much in the past few years that I'm worried I won't be able to keep up. My traditional sense of books, editing, and publishing are going to need to drastically alter if I am to keep up in this internet-based world. In a way, it makes me sad, and I really hope that books will not fade out. Having a book in my hand isn't the greatest joy in my life, but I couldn't imagine it being any other way. I've tried to read books online before and I'd rather just go to the store and buy it then read it for free online. Really, I'm not sure why, go hire a psychologist, I just know that I prefer the books. There's something about going home and looking at my crammed-full bookcase that gives me a wonderful feeling inside (as corny as that is) and I know no amount of book-files could compare to the thick spines of my adored books. I am way too possessive of my books, for reasons unknown to me, to the point where I yelled at my boyfriend for accidentally tearing a page in one. It wasn't even a big tear either, just a small little rip that most other people probably wouldn't have noticed.
So in the technological scheme of things, this step for the publishing companies seems logical and intelligent business-wise. Emotionally, however, we'll see how I cope.
It is about two very large Publishing companies, Random House and HarperCollins, now allowing customers to look at actual pages of the book online.
In a way, this seems really silly to me that this is big news. I mean, you can go to any library or bookstore in the world and they want you to look through the books. Why would this be that much different?
And yet, as an aspiring editor and author, it makes me nervous. I'm only 20, yet my career area has changed so much in the past few years that I'm worried I won't be able to keep up. My traditional sense of books, editing, and publishing are going to need to drastically alter if I am to keep up in this internet-based world. In a way, it makes me sad, and I really hope that books will not fade out. Having a book in my hand isn't the greatest joy in my life, but I couldn't imagine it being any other way. I've tried to read books online before and I'd rather just go to the store and buy it then read it for free online. Really, I'm not sure why, go hire a psychologist, I just know that I prefer the books. There's something about going home and looking at my crammed-full bookcase that gives me a wonderful feeling inside (as corny as that is) and I know no amount of book-files could compare to the thick spines of my adored books. I am way too possessive of my books, for reasons unknown to me, to the point where I yelled at my boyfriend for accidentally tearing a page in one. It wasn't even a big tear either, just a small little rip that most other people probably wouldn't have noticed.
So in the technological scheme of things, this step for the publishing companies seems logical and intelligent business-wise. Emotionally, however, we'll see how I cope.
Snow Crash Chapters 43-71
Overall, I really loved this book. It was such a change from Smart Mobs and definitely something more in the genre that I love to read. That being said, I felt really jipped by the ending. It was so quick and there was almost no character resolution at all. No, I take that back, there was none. So as a piece of fiction, I really feel that that was something Stephenson should have addressed. Yes, it is open-ended, but what the hell happened to Raven? Does Y.T. reconcile with her mom? Does her mom quit the Feds? Do Hiro and Juanita get together? How does that go? What happened to Da5id? What happens to all the people on the Raft? What about the Pearly Gates place? Stephenson leaves us with so many questions and as an author he really should have known better.
Regardless, I really enjoyed his writing style. A little bit that I found especially hilarious was: "A couple of youths are playing video games inside, and they barely look up at the astonishing sight of the chopper" (441). To me, that was a humongous piece of social commentary, that the kids were so wrapped up in their games that something as crazy as a helicopter landing in their backyard doesn't phase them.
Unfortunately I don't have much to say in terms of technology and stuff. In fact, I'd say that some things will always be the same ("history is doomed to repeat itself"). It's interesting that at the base of it all this scifi novel is about a virus that is transmitted through the most basic of forms.
As a really extreme side note, I love the About the Author in the back. Did anybody else read that? It's great.
Regardless, I really enjoyed his writing style. A little bit that I found especially hilarious was: "A couple of youths are playing video games inside, and they barely look up at the astonishing sight of the chopper" (441). To me, that was a humongous piece of social commentary, that the kids were so wrapped up in their games that something as crazy as a helicopter landing in their backyard doesn't phase them.
Unfortunately I don't have much to say in terms of technology and stuff. In fact, I'd say that some things will always be the same ("history is doomed to repeat itself"). It's interesting that at the base of it all this scifi novel is about a virus that is transmitted through the most basic of forms.
As a really extreme side note, I love the About the Author in the back. Did anybody else read that? It's great.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Internet Can't Overcome Cultural Restrictions
In a news article I found titled "Blogger Gets Four-Year Jail Term for Insulting Islam", a 22-year old was sentenced to a four-year jail term for "using his Web postings to criticize the Islamic religion, the Prophet Muhammad and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak."
I think that 1.) being Americans and 2.) our using the internet with no real fear of getting arrested makes us forget that in other countries, free speech still does not exist. It makes me sad that people can't even post their own thoughts on a personal blog. If you can't do it on the internet, where can you? For all the technological advancements that have been made, it's surprising that some cultures seem stuck in a rut. 3 of the 4 years on the sentence were for insulting Islam, and the last year was for insulting the President of Egypt.
How sad.
I think that 1.) being Americans and 2.) our using the internet with no real fear of getting arrested makes us forget that in other countries, free speech still does not exist. It makes me sad that people can't even post their own thoughts on a personal blog. If you can't do it on the internet, where can you? For all the technological advancements that have been made, it's surprising that some cultures seem stuck in a rut. 3 of the 4 years on the sentence were for insulting Islam, and the last year was for insulting the President of Egypt.
How sad.
Snow Crash Chapters 20-42
The first third of Snow Crash seemed dominated by the new developments, technologies, society, culture, and way of life in general. Alternatively, the second third instead seems focused on the past--the far past. I read through the first third fairly quickly, but the conversations between Hiro and the Librarian have so much information crammed into every sentence that it takes a lot longer to get through a chapter with a full understanding of what just happened. About halfway through, I realized I had forgotten who L. Bob Rife was! There's so many secondary characters and names that it's difficult to keep them all straight. It's odd to read a book of this magnitude with only two real central characters. I do find the feds extremely amusing, however, as they seem stuck in a world that is much more like ours than the one that Hiro and Y.T. live in. Paperwork and B.S.
Alright, so this whole nam-shub thing is pretty confusing. It seems to me that you can't become infected by the virus through hearing, it must be visual (Da5id's bitmap, Sumerian cuneiform). I wonder why Da5id can only speak in babble, but the girl that Y.T. found in the Falabala camp can speak English and communicate, albeit in a fairly childish way? Why does Rife want to infect everyone, and what is the blood used for? (I'm to page 320, btw). Hiro seems to think that it's used to infect other programmers, but I haven't seen anything like that. I think this is a book I'm going to have to re-read.
And just a few random questions: Can you tell who someone is in the Metaverse even if their avatar looks nothing like them (i.e. a walking penis)? Also, are you committed to the avatar you originally chose until "avatar death", or is there a way to update/change them?
Alright, so this whole nam-shub thing is pretty confusing. It seems to me that you can't become infected by the virus through hearing, it must be visual (Da5id's bitmap, Sumerian cuneiform). I wonder why Da5id can only speak in babble, but the girl that Y.T. found in the Falabala camp can speak English and communicate, albeit in a fairly childish way? Why does Rife want to infect everyone, and what is the blood used for? (I'm to page 320, btw). Hiro seems to think that it's used to infect other programmers, but I haven't seen anything like that. I think this is a book I'm going to have to re-read.
And just a few random questions: Can you tell who someone is in the Metaverse even if their avatar looks nothing like them (i.e. a walking penis)? Also, are you committed to the avatar you originally chose until "avatar death", or is there a way to update/change them?
Friday, February 16, 2007
MySpace Mourners
I found an article at CNN titled "Mourning on MySpace". The article discusses how social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook are used to 'send messages' to those who have recently passed away.
This article really hits home with me, as in a little over a year my graduating class of 64 was dropped to 62. My best friend from highschool, Nicole, passed away on December 21, 2005. Another friend and classmate, Nathan, was killed in Iraq on January 26, 2007. Both of them had MySpace profiles, and shortly after their deaths many friends, classmates, and family members logged on to leave them messages. It almost feels like we are actually communicating with them and I feel it's a good place to go to mourn them, as it is filled with things they liked -- a personalized space with pictures, blogs, and music that was important to them. Whenever I get depressed it helps me to go onto their MySpaces and remember them.
I may use this as a topic for my Neovox article.
This article really hits home with me, as in a little over a year my graduating class of 64 was dropped to 62. My best friend from highschool, Nicole, passed away on December 21, 2005. Another friend and classmate, Nathan, was killed in Iraq on January 26, 2007. Both of them had MySpace profiles, and shortly after their deaths many friends, classmates, and family members logged on to leave them messages. It almost feels like we are actually communicating with them and I feel it's a good place to go to mourn them, as it is filled with things they liked -- a personalized space with pictures, blogs, and music that was important to them. Whenever I get depressed it helps me to go onto their MySpaces and remember them.
I may use this as a topic for my Neovox article.
Snow Crash: A New Beginning
So far, Snow Crash is so much more appealing than Smart Mobs ever dreamed of being. I love novels! One thing I'm confused about, though, is the difference between Cosa Nostra and Nova Sicilia, if any. They're both mafia run -- are they the same company or two separate ones?
Y.T. is fairly unrealistic for me at the moment. She's 15, yet is pretty knowledgable and responsible. She has a fulltime job and has physical relations with her boyfriend. There hasn't been any mention of schooling. Is Y.T. a social commentary herself? Does Stephenson think that the age of maturity will drop to the mid-teens?
Probably one of the coolest technologies so far is the Library and Librarian. This kind of efficiency really allows someone to have the most access to, well, just about everything. It's at once wonderful and incredibly dangerous -- information is a very powerful tool.
"Ignorance is bliss" as they say, however Snow Crash and Smart Mobs both show us that this is becoming less and less of an option. Each new technology draws us more and more into the realm of communication and knowledge. Harnessed properly, and this could prove an invaluable source of information. Let loose, and it could potentially create the downfall of the world as we know it. Ooooooh!
Y.T. is fairly unrealistic for me at the moment. She's 15, yet is pretty knowledgable and responsible. She has a fulltime job and has physical relations with her boyfriend. There hasn't been any mention of schooling. Is Y.T. a social commentary herself? Does Stephenson think that the age of maturity will drop to the mid-teens?
Probably one of the coolest technologies so far is the Library and Librarian. This kind of efficiency really allows someone to have the most access to, well, just about everything. It's at once wonderful and incredibly dangerous -- information is a very powerful tool.
"Ignorance is bliss" as they say, however Snow Crash and Smart Mobs both show us that this is becoming less and less of an option. Each new technology draws us more and more into the realm of communication and knowledge. Harnessed properly, and this could prove an invaluable source of information. Let loose, and it could potentially create the downfall of the world as we know it. Ooooooh!
Friday, February 9, 2007
Elderly Couple Can't Handle Pogo Relationship!
I'm rather fond of the card game, Euchre. As you need 4 people to play it, however, I often find myself resorting to www.pogo.com or similar sites to sate my card-playing needs. Today, after finishing up an assignment for my World Literature course, I decided to take a nice Euchre break. On the "table" there is a little chat on the side which allows the players to talk to one another. Normally it is regular card chat with encouragement for your partner, but on some occaisions an actual conversation will break forth. This happened today, when my partner, "MtDewKid1955" started talking with one of the opponents, "Sheilla11061955". First, MtDewKid says he needs to talk with Sheilla after the game -- this gave me the indication that they already know each other. Sheilla says he can just talk now, and MtDewKid says that he'll know on 2-15. Sheilla then asks "Know what?" giving me the impression that MtDewKid was much more into their correspondance than Sheilla was. MtDewKid replies "about the surgery" and Sheilla says "Is that all you had to tell me?" MtDewKid then says he has a few more questions, and Sheilla begins to chat with me and her own partner, who are just trying to play the game. A little bit later, MtDewKid asks if Sheilla feels that he is stalking her, to which she replies "Yes". I'm a little weirded out at this point and wondering how old these people are -- they were acting like children however the '1955' in both of their names threw me off. Awesomely enough, Pogo provides players with profiles, and upon closer examination, I discovered that MtDewKid is 51 while Sheilla is 50. Both were from Michigan, but I have no idea if they know each other in real life or just through Pogo. Sheilla did mention that MtDewKid was having his sister call her and place "guilt trips" on her, and MtDewKid also asked if Sheilla was in a relationship with a pogo player who entered later to watch the game.
I'm still just shocked that I witnessed 50-year olds have this teenage-like discussion online.
On the plus side, MtDewKid and I won.
I'm still just shocked that I witnessed 50-year olds have this teenage-like discussion online.
On the plus side, MtDewKid and I won.
Monday, February 5, 2007
Smart Mobs Reflection, Chapters 7-8
"It's not just how we use the technology that concerns us. We're also concerned about what kind of people we become when we use it" (185). These words, spoken to Howard Rheingold from some Amish "gentlemen", fairly reflect the growing concerns of people who are fearful of the technological advances they see in day-to-day life. Rheingold and many others that he quotes discuss "interacting with devices", however, I see that people are rather interacting THROUGH the devices. These technologies allow us to connect to the world and to other people in ways previously unthought of. Unless we were a technology guru or had one break on us, we would most likely not care about the intricacies of the device itself. What we would care about is how it would better enable us to get ahold of our friends or obtain the information we want. It amazes me still that many of my friends in my age range, let's say 18-24, refuse to get cell-phones. "I don't want people to be able to get ahold of me at all times of the day" quips one, to which I say "So just don't answer the phone". Still, she absolutely appalls the idea of constant communication. These people, I have found, are being left out of the loop more and more. As it is so difficult to get ahold of them, they are not invited out to parties or even just to dinner gatherings. People consistently ask if these technologies are making us lose our touch with other people, however I see that those who do not utilize these devices are the ones unable to connect with others.
Sometimes, however, these technologies just should not be used. For example, in chapter 7 we see an example of people texting at a funeral. Is this socially acceptable? Should it be? It seems appalling to me that people cannot put their lives on hold for long enough to mourn for the loss of another.
Surveillance is another issue brought up often in regards to new technology. An interesting thought is that people will behave better if they think they are under surveillance. If people thought that whatever they did or said could come back and be used against them, they may start being careful of how they behave. Also, Rheingold shows us that most of the privacy intrusions being made into our personal devices are from merchants trying to sell us everything from sex to paper clips rather than "secret police". People should find a middle ground of paranoia so that they behave properly and yet don't go into major conspiracy theories.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Although I picked up Smart Mobs with hesitancy that continued into the first three chapters, I grew to appreciate Rheingold's perspective. Although it is difficult for me to remember the time without computers (however I can remember my undying excitement at getting our first one), Rheingold is able to connect that gap and show the people of the younger generation how quickly the technological world is advancing around us.
Sometimes, however, these technologies just should not be used. For example, in chapter 7 we see an example of people texting at a funeral. Is this socially acceptable? Should it be? It seems appalling to me that people cannot put their lives on hold for long enough to mourn for the loss of another.
Surveillance is another issue brought up often in regards to new technology. An interesting thought is that people will behave better if they think they are under surveillance. If people thought that whatever they did or said could come back and be used against them, they may start being careful of how they behave. Also, Rheingold shows us that most of the privacy intrusions being made into our personal devices are from merchants trying to sell us everything from sex to paper clips rather than "secret police". People should find a middle ground of paranoia so that they behave properly and yet don't go into major conspiracy theories.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Although I picked up Smart Mobs with hesitancy that continued into the first three chapters, I grew to appreciate Rheingold's perspective. Although it is difficult for me to remember the time without computers (however I can remember my undying excitement at getting our first one), Rheingold is able to connect that gap and show the people of the younger generation how quickly the technological world is advancing around us.
Podcast #1
Podcast #1 has been going alright so far. It's not due until Friday, but Diana and I got a head start and set up a 'lunch date' for last Friday so we could brainstorm about it. We started recording and using GarageBand today, and though it's extremely fun it is fairly time consuming so I'd advise any students who haven't started to get going. We spent an hour on it today and only got 2 minutes down, and part of that we need to go back over. Part of the reason for this is that although we both watched the tutorials we still had to go back and rewatch them, also, we got way caught up in the fun things GarageBand can do! We're meeting again tomorrow to hopefully finish recording, and then Wednesday we'll polish it up. Be sure and keep a look out for RaDcast (Rachel and Diana-cast) #1, hitting iTunes this Friday! We promise excitement for all!
In other news, I finally finished Smart Mobs. Yay!
In other news, I finally finished Smart Mobs. Yay!
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Smart Mobs Reflection, Chapters 4-6
Some of the more insightful passages in chapters 4-6 of Smart Mobs I found were from sources outside of Rheingold's own words. For example, a passage by Steve Mann in 2001 caught my eye.
This passage may help quell the fears of those who think we're heading down a path foreseen in The Terminator. Technology should be an assistance to life, not a way of life. For example, translation devices. Rheingold talked about a device that could read a sign in a foreign language and translate it into English. Could this technology possibly be auditory? Could people in foriegn countries begin wearing ear pieces that translated the language they heard into their own language? Imagine the cultural barriers that could be overcome by being able to understand each other in such an easy way. Another crazy thought I had was when Rheingold was discussing some sort of Virtual Reality system that allowed one to interact with the real world, using a system of glasses and cameras. This made me think -- could blind people see? Could we place a chip inside a person's head that could receive information from a camera located on a pair of glasses? I'm not really sure if that's possible with the human anatomy, but it is an interesting idea.
Rheingold also discussed the Cornucopia of the Commons to a larger extent. An example I have of such a group is Stumble! Located at http://www.stumbleupon.com/ Stumble is a fun and easy way to find new and interesting pages on the internet. Simply download the free toolbar, hit "Stumble!" and you're off. Users are allowed to "Share" pages on a variety of topics, including literature, games, current events, car parts, sewing, countries, religion, and dozens of others. Once you have your selected list, you can hit the Stumble! button and, based on your selection, it will either take you to a random page on any topic within your preferences or a page about a selected preference. Once at that page, you can see what other Stumblers have thought about it, and also give your own rating. The higher the rating, the more likely other people are to Stumble upon it. On the Stumble page, it states: Rating just a few sites a day will further refine your preferences, matching you to more similar people and more interesting sites. This is an awesome example of the Cornucopia of the Commons as well as the reputation system. Not to mention it's incredibly fun, an awesome way to explore the internet, and a great time waster! I think it's a great device because previously, outside of Google and my regularly visited pages, I never really knew how to explore the internet to find things that really interest me. Check it out!
Rather than smart rooms, smart cars, smart toilets, etc., I would like to put forward the notion of smart people.
In an HI [humanistic intelligence] framework, the goal is to enhance the intelligence of the race, not just its tools. Smart people means, simply, that we should rely on human intelligence in our development of technological infrastructure rather than attempt to take the human being out of the equation. An important goal of HI is to take a first step toward a foremost principle of the Enlightenment, that of the dignity of the individual. This is accomplished, metaphorically and actually, through a prosthetic transformation of the body into a sovereign space, in effect allowing each and every one of us to control the environment that surrounds us. . . . One of the founding principles of developing technology under the HI system is that the user must be an integral part of the discourse loop. The wearable computer allows for new ways to be, not just do. (Smart Mobs, 107).
This passage may help quell the fears of those who think we're heading down a path foreseen in The Terminator. Technology should be an assistance to life, not a way of life. For example, translation devices. Rheingold talked about a device that could read a sign in a foreign language and translate it into English. Could this technology possibly be auditory? Could people in foriegn countries begin wearing ear pieces that translated the language they heard into their own language? Imagine the cultural barriers that could be overcome by being able to understand each other in such an easy way. Another crazy thought I had was when Rheingold was discussing some sort of Virtual Reality system that allowed one to interact with the real world, using a system of glasses and cameras. This made me think -- could blind people see? Could we place a chip inside a person's head that could receive information from a camera located on a pair of glasses? I'm not really sure if that's possible with the human anatomy, but it is an interesting idea.
Rheingold also discussed the Cornucopia of the Commons to a larger extent. An example I have of such a group is Stumble! Located at http://www.stumbleupon.com/ Stumble is a fun and easy way to find new and interesting pages on the internet. Simply download the free toolbar, hit "Stumble!" and you're off. Users are allowed to "Share" pages on a variety of topics, including literature, games, current events, car parts, sewing, countries, religion, and dozens of others. Once you have your selected list, you can hit the Stumble! button and, based on your selection, it will either take you to a random page on any topic within your preferences or a page about a selected preference. Once at that page, you can see what other Stumblers have thought about it, and also give your own rating. The higher the rating, the more likely other people are to Stumble upon it. On the Stumble page, it states: Rating just a few sites a day will further refine your preferences, matching you to more similar people and more interesting sites. This is an awesome example of the Cornucopia of the Commons as well as the reputation system. Not to mention it's incredibly fun, an awesome way to explore the internet, and a great time waster! I think it's a great device because previously, outside of Google and my regularly visited pages, I never really knew how to explore the internet to find things that really interest me. Check it out!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Classroom Connections
It's always amazed me how similar some course topics can be in different classes. Even in my Freshman year, when I was taking Anthropology, Geology, Art History, Environmental Studies, and American History, there would be some topics we would talk about in nearly every class, sometimes at the same time. Today in Evolution of Writing, we talked a little bit about technology and whether it makes people more or less "humane" and personable. Then, in my World Literature course, we talked about how Mythologies were an oral tradition and how our perception of them is now changed because they are static and written.
Also, I watched the Apple tutorials on podcasts and Garage Band, and it looks very fun! I can't wait to do my podcast.
Smart Mobs has been getting better for me. Perhaps Rheingold can chop off the first three chapters? I've got one chapter to go for this week before my Reading Response, but I've already got some pretty cool topics. I'm also enjoying the "discussions" on the Course Blog. It's nice to be able to take things at your own pace and really be able to think out your responses as well as to be able to fully understand other's opinions.
Until next time, faithful readers!
Also, I watched the Apple tutorials on podcasts and Garage Band, and it looks very fun! I can't wait to do my podcast.
Smart Mobs has been getting better for me. Perhaps Rheingold can chop off the first three chapters? I've got one chapter to go for this week before my Reading Response, but I've already got some pretty cool topics. I'm also enjoying the "discussions" on the Course Blog. It's nice to be able to take things at your own pace and really be able to think out your responses as well as to be able to fully understand other's opinions.
Until next time, faithful readers!
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Smart Mobs Reflection, Chapters 1-3
Warning: This is going to be long!
As soon as I logged onto Blogger in order to fill out this post, I saw on the side of the browser "Mobile Devices: Learn how to start mobile blogging!" Before, journals were something you'd hide under the covers at night to write in with complete secrecy. Now, our every thought is constantly made public, and exceptionally more accessible through the power of "Mobile Blogging." "The Age of Instant Access" is what the front of Howard Rheingold's Smart Mobs proclaims. Apparantly, Instant Access refers not only to such items as the internet, but also to each others thoughts and lives.
People, even those who seek out change as Rheingold, seem frightened by the inevitable effect that technology will have on the world as well as their own personal lives. "The sight of this behavior . . . triggered a sensation I had experienced a few times before--the instant recognition that a technology is going to change my life in ways I can scarcely imagine" (xi). "Like every previous leap in technological power, the new convergence of wireless computation and social communication will enable people to improve life and liberty in some ways and to degrade it in others" (xviii). Even "lizzi" on the Course Blog brings up the question: "what happens when a technology fails us?" These statements make me question why people are so hesitant to embrace these new developments. Undoubtedly, the social scene will change dramatically, especially in teens and 20-year olds; however, these new advancements also allow for the opportunity of a broader access to information. I don't just mean about who so-and-so is dating, but most people will agree that the internet is an invaluable source of obtaining knowledge. Should this kind of "education system" be made more accessible to the masses, the opportunites for cultural advancement improve greatly. For example, just the other day www.ebaumsworld.com informed me that "101 Dalmatians, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, and Mulan are the only Disney cartoons where both parents are present and don't die throughout the movie." Although this may sound like useless trivia, and granted it probably is (actually, the page name for this and more is 'Useless Facts'), it got me wondering about the cultures where the other movies were taken from and why this parent theme was so common. While this may not advance the world, it did get me thinking about cultures outside the U.S. Curiosity goes a long way.
As for the people who would use this kind of unbelievable power simply for social reasons, well, I came across this fellow who states: "If I don't receive a text when I wake up or I receive only a few messages during the day, I feel as though nobody loves me enough to remember me during the day" (21). I actually wrote in my notes "Hahaha, loser". It's quite depressing that there is all of this capability that is being wasted. Hopefully, classes will be implemented that will teach people how they can use their devices to their ultimate potential. Although some people believe cell phones and computers to be anti-social as it can cause some to ignore those physically around them, they are allowed to connect with people from all over the world. Maybe you're just not as interesting as the stripper from Wisconsin. Point is, the internet and cell phone allows a kind of communication that is now essential to our hectic lifestyles. Whether good or bad, it's here to stay. Written in 2002, Rheingold claims that texting is not big in the US (22). I don't recall how popular texting was back then, but I know that now it is a huge deal.
So far in Smart Mobs, Rheingold has passively observed the effect that some of these new technologies have on the social networks around us. He then moves on to examine the development of some of these technologies throughout the past several years. I hope he sets aside a chapter or so to consider the future of these devices and how people will interact with each other and their "mobiles".
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As a personal side note, I just wanted to quickly discuss my opinions on the actual writing of this book. A good place to start would be when I began reading Chapter 2 and came across the heading "The Alchemy of Coopetition" (29). I stared at the word coopetition for a few moments before heading to dictionary.com, because, well, I thought it was a word that I had just never seen before. It wasn't. I looked at it again, wondering if it was some grievous misprint, and then continued on under the impression that this Rheingold was a massive idiot. I later concluded that "coopetition" is the sick lovechild of "competition" and "cooperation", however he never uses this word again during the section. Apparantly he thought he was being clever, but to me that word sums up his writing so far: a twisted half-breed. The majority of the text reads like a bland history textbook/computer manual, with names of people, companies, and technological terms being thrown about from every angle. It became apparant to me early on that this book wasn't intended for those who didn't really know much about the makings of a computer or the internet. Then, every once in a while, Rheingold feels the need to entertain us simple people: "Marc is good at italicizing the spoken word" (31). Yes, well, that's nice, but is there a point to that? And now, an entire paragraph devoted to us:
Ok, that's a lovely picture there, but what does it have to do with the "Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence project"? I probably wouldn't mind these interjections as much if they didn't seem overwhelmingly random and out of place. Another issue I've been having is how he calls everyone a "geek." I don't know what he considers himself, but he's not any better. Anyway, just my opinion!
As soon as I logged onto Blogger in order to fill out this post, I saw on the side of the browser "Mobile Devices: Learn how to start mobile blogging!" Before, journals were something you'd hide under the covers at night to write in with complete secrecy. Now, our every thought is constantly made public, and exceptionally more accessible through the power of "Mobile Blogging." "The Age of Instant Access" is what the front of Howard Rheingold's Smart Mobs proclaims. Apparantly, Instant Access refers not only to such items as the internet, but also to each others thoughts and lives.
People, even those who seek out change as Rheingold, seem frightened by the inevitable effect that technology will have on the world as well as their own personal lives. "The sight of this behavior . . . triggered a sensation I had experienced a few times before--the instant recognition that a technology is going to change my life in ways I can scarcely imagine" (xi). "Like every previous leap in technological power, the new convergence of wireless computation and social communication will enable people to improve life and liberty in some ways and to degrade it in others" (xviii). Even "lizzi" on the Course Blog brings up the question: "what happens when a technology fails us?" These statements make me question why people are so hesitant to embrace these new developments. Undoubtedly, the social scene will change dramatically, especially in teens and 20-year olds; however, these new advancements also allow for the opportunity of a broader access to information. I don't just mean about who so-and-so is dating, but most people will agree that the internet is an invaluable source of obtaining knowledge. Should this kind of "education system" be made more accessible to the masses, the opportunites for cultural advancement improve greatly. For example, just the other day www.ebaumsworld.com informed me that "101 Dalmatians, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, and Mulan are the only Disney cartoons where both parents are present and don't die throughout the movie." Although this may sound like useless trivia, and granted it probably is (actually, the page name for this and more is 'Useless Facts'), it got me wondering about the cultures where the other movies were taken from and why this parent theme was so common. While this may not advance the world, it did get me thinking about cultures outside the U.S. Curiosity goes a long way.
As for the people who would use this kind of unbelievable power simply for social reasons, well, I came across this fellow who states: "If I don't receive a text when I wake up or I receive only a few messages during the day, I feel as though nobody loves me enough to remember me during the day" (21). I actually wrote in my notes "Hahaha, loser". It's quite depressing that there is all of this capability that is being wasted. Hopefully, classes will be implemented that will teach people how they can use their devices to their ultimate potential. Although some people believe cell phones and computers to be anti-social as it can cause some to ignore those physically around them, they are allowed to connect with people from all over the world. Maybe you're just not as interesting as the stripper from Wisconsin. Point is, the internet and cell phone allows a kind of communication that is now essential to our hectic lifestyles. Whether good or bad, it's here to stay. Written in 2002, Rheingold claims that texting is not big in the US (22). I don't recall how popular texting was back then, but I know that now it is a huge deal.
So far in Smart Mobs, Rheingold has passively observed the effect that some of these new technologies have on the social networks around us. He then moves on to examine the development of some of these technologies throughout the past several years. I hope he sets aside a chapter or so to consider the future of these devices and how people will interact with each other and their "mobiles".
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As a personal side note, I just wanted to quickly discuss my opinions on the actual writing of this book. A good place to start would be when I began reading Chapter 2 and came across the heading "The Alchemy of Coopetition" (29). I stared at the word coopetition for a few moments before heading to dictionary.com, because, well, I thought it was a word that I had just never seen before. It wasn't. I looked at it again, wondering if it was some grievous misprint, and then continued on under the impression that this Rheingold was a massive idiot. I later concluded that "coopetition" is the sick lovechild of "competition" and "cooperation", however he never uses this word again during the section. Apparantly he thought he was being clever, but to me that word sums up his writing so far: a twisted half-breed. The majority of the text reads like a bland history textbook/computer manual, with names of people, companies, and technological terms being thrown about from every angle. It became apparant to me early on that this book wasn't intended for those who didn't really know much about the makings of a computer or the internet. Then, every once in a while, Rheingold feels the need to entertain us simple people: "Marc is good at italicizing the spoken word" (31). Yes, well, that's nice, but is there a point to that? And now, an entire paragraph devoted to us:
It was a sunny day, so Anderson and I sat on a terrace outside the Space Sciences Laboratory. The California hills had turned summer tawny. We could smell the eucalyptus forest on the hills below us. Behind Anderson, I could see a panoramic view of San Francisco Bay. If I worked in this building, I would take as many meetings as possible on the terrace. Anderson, tall, dark-haired, with the lank and sinew of a long-distance runner, takes his time thinking about a response and then tends to speak in perfectly formed paragraphs. (66-67)
Ok, that's a lovely picture there, but what does it have to do with the "Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence project"? I probably wouldn't mind these interjections as much if they didn't seem overwhelmingly random and out of place. Another issue I've been having is how he calls everyone a "geek." I don't know what he considers himself, but he's not any better. Anyway, just my opinion!
Monday, January 22, 2007
First Post
Hello! I'm an English and Professional Writing dual major in my 3rd year here at Cortland. I have aspirations of attending Rosemont College for grad school and continuing on into a job in book editing. I come from the small town of Candor, NY which is between Ithaca and Binghamton.
That's about it for right now :-).
That's about it for right now :-).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)