P2P

"from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs." This statement stood out to me as I thought about P2P and file sharing. In today's society there is not very many things that are not availible to any person that wants something. They just have to know how to find it. The internet and new technologies of today are a way to cater to our every need without having to work hard to get it. I find that file sharing and P2P sharing can be a good thing and that people can learn from it. As we each learn to use new technologies and the what is available to us. The only way to really do that is by seeing what others are doing and then implement it into our daily lives. P2P sharing can create communities of learners and enable a socail connection to people that are working with the same information that you.
For example, groups working on projects for a class. They might have to download files that the entire group needs so one downloads the file and then shares it with others. Although many people do not use file sharing for such educational reasons all the time. Many people resort to taking files from others and use it for their own. I am not saying that I am not guilty of this, but this form of communication and flexible use of information should not be so strict. Yes there should be restrictions on taking things that are already copyrighted, but there is no real way to stop the never ending webs that sharing files is creating.
P2P file sharing creates social bonds that sometimes would never have been possible before. I am not a person that stays connected on all the forum, blogs out there but the option of having it is good to know. I can search on the internet about a certain subjeact and find ten different types of information to prove my point. YouTube for example there is different videos and clips that I could use for a project all at the palm of my hand. I can use these videos to prove a point that otherwise would be hazy. We have a constant need to stay connected and find out the newest things and the ability to share them with others has never been so easy.

Literacy and Cultural Literacy

Strategies that Hirsch Presents:

• Common cultural literacy
  
• Universal communication requires a common language
• Creating a equal level, for educating
• Degree of education, levels within companies, between schools
  

Action:

• handouts
  
• visuals
• List of Words - present definitions
  
• Key Scrolls - common actions
  
• Second life example:
  
• how to teleport
  
• flying
  

Digital Dialect

The digital dialect is what creates the relationship between digital theory and digital practice. It is used to ground the insights of theory and the constraints of practice to make them more understandable (Lunenfeld, 15, xv). I think that this quote really describes the reading the best. Personally reading the article was a little hard but the above quote really put it into perspective. When I think of digital I think of computers, and ipods and cell phones. I think of the technology that is used to create these devices and how we use them. Often times we use technology for entertainment, not always for the intention that the creators had in mind. I think this is the reason that technology continues to grow. We are growing into a society that is highly dependent on the technology that we have. When computers came out they had very few capibilities and were really intended to get away from having to do so much manual work. But now our lives are on the computer. We have multiple email accounts, banking online, and much more all in the palm of our hands.

I like when Lunsfield was describing the screen grabs. Like when we learned abut the screen shots in class last week. We are able to capture bits and pieces of information and keep them for storage. We are able to put together research from many different sources in a few short ckicks of the mouse. I find it interesting that humans and computer have meshed so well together. In history we dont not do well with change. But when the computer is around we did not fight it we embraced the new ways. I think that this is what Lunsfield was getting at when he was talking about opposites coming together to create a common goal. I still find the overall picture a little hard to understand but hopefully I can find a bit more information out in class.

Digital Photography

What is real and what is not real is a very fine line these days. As a society we can alter pretty much anything that is known to be real. We can alter the way we look to be anything we want. We can put our selves in pictures with people that we have never even met. I find that the age of digital enhancements is only beginning. With the new technologies that we have it is hard to find the things that are actually real. But it is in this type of age we live in with no problem.
Everytime I am in a grocery store I always wait at the ends of the isles looking at the magazines trying to find out the lastest gossip. I find that it is very hard not to want to look and to see what other are doing. They always seem to get the best picture no matter what and be able to make a story out of it. Where is did this begin is what I have to ask myself. How many pictures are we looking at today and they are not any where near what really happened. This is one of foundations that we have to improve upon.
We talked earlier in the semester about technology erasing history. In a way being able to enhance pictures is the same thing. One the one wepage there is a picture of leaders from Germany having a meal, the caption saying that in the original photo had champagne bottles on the table but they were removed when published. What are these people so afraid of. We are being controlled down to the simpliest level. It is hard to believe that there are so many things that can be altered. I hope that information is not turning into a brainwahsing media. We need to find the balance between what is real and what information is not.

Addictions to the Vitual World

"Virtually is the cultural perception that material objects are interpenetrated by information patterns." (Hayles 69) I really liked this quote and thought that it fit well into what we have been discussing about the the virtual world and how we are fitting into the equation. I think that we are becoming a society that is digitally wired. We are ableto stay connected down to the smallest links. But at times it seems as though we have lost what is happening in the real world. But this is not always a bad thing. We are able to go into so many different directions with technology we have new ways to be creative and enjoy technology.
The article that hit closes to home for me was the Johnson reading where he was describing the the gaming community and the affects that it is having on us today. I think that he makes some valid arguments when he speaks about the fact that the younger generations do not read for pleasure. Most young people today only read books because they are forced to read them. Many young students do not find the time to actually sit down and enjoy the jouirney the the book offers them. They would rather just sit down and try to figure out the latest video game than wonder how a book ends. "People who read for pleasure are many times more likely than those who don't to visit muscums and attend musical performances, almost three times as likely to perform volunteer and charity work an twice as likely to attend sporting events." (Johnson 18) With this quote I found it very interesting how that is not how I see it most of the time.
I do not usually sit down and read book for pleasure and I still volunteer and an go to sporting events. I think that this is a myth in some way to assume that there two types of people the people that into video games and the others who are into reading. But we are not looking into the places where they intersect. Both reading and playing games have the ability to teach people how to do things. We have video games that can help teach young children learn their colors and numbers and enjoy doing it. Reading turns into a old tradition that isolates the reader, and games allow the user to create their own story and create a path to go down.
With reading this article I found that it was very beneficial to read the comparisons between todays new traditions of with using technology and the old tradition of reading a book. We still find ourselves jumping to one side or another. Like we ahve to pick between the new and old. And in this class we are trying to discover the way that we relate to these different ways that information is presented.

The Unfinished Business

Lunenfield begins the chapter with the quote "the business of the computer is always unfinished. In Fact "unfinished" defines the aesthetic of digital media" This quote stood out and me think about society today and how many things we leave unfinished. Computers are naturally unfinished due to the fact that most computers are custom built to the user that is buying the computer.

But when thinking about the unfinished, we have flexibility to discover and change things that if we were sent a computer that was already completed and could not be changed then the user would not have the same connection with the device. But as Lunenfield continues he describes that computers and technology is not the only place that we have unfinished business. We read comic books that leave us hanging and wanting more. We thrive on being about to find out more or that there is something more out there.

Technology is a force that allows all people to access in some shape or form. As new technology and new activities are developed there is always going to be a person out there that it will to test it and to further the technology to the next person. In the other article about the five principles of new media I like how they broke down new media into the ways that it is different from old media and how we are able to access it and mold it to what we want. Being able to use the technology and apply it to our lives is the most vital part of new technologies. We are able to create things that we would never be able to before.

With this untamed tool we are able to make major advances and create a more efficient society. Like we discussed in previous class about how connected we are and the ability to save a life by growing and changes cells in the body. Who knows what we will be able to do next.

Presentations

Today many different types of information ecologies were presented. Some of the topics were ones that would have never thought of as ecologies. I was especially interested in the presentation of chapter 11, ad about the cameras. It was a very interesting topic and now I am going to keep a closer eye on things and who is watching. While listening to the presentations I found that my definitions for my personal information technology were clarified.

I was having a hard time with Locality. I read the definition in the book and thought that it was hard to be able to figure out for my topic what it meant. Now listening to other groups I can look at mine and figure out what it is. Name makes the ecology recognizable, and how the inhabitants that use it. So in having a computer in a class room you would assume that it was there for the kids to do educational things on it.

I have learned that ecologies are in everyday life and they are useful in analysis of the situation helping us understand the group dynamics and the importance or being connected to those around us.

Interconnecting Webs

After reading Mitchell and listening to the interviews I have found it very interesting many theories interconnect about technology and those who use it. Mitchell describes things as metaphors. The metaphor that he uses is that technology is like a the human, without one part another part can not work. This is a very interesting way to relate to technology. When we were first talking about metaphors I never thought about the connections and creating a metaphor that was detailed and complex I only thought of comparing it to something simple and easy to relate to.

As I watched the clips of Marshall McLuhan speaking about television. He says that tv has transformed us in a "global village". In this village we are interconnected by the ability to all share the same technology. We are connected to everyone around the world just by turning on the tv. We are able to be closer and connected due to the ability to use or new technology. When creating this metaphor of television to being a global connector I have to wonder how we connected before. How have we become so dependent on the tv?

"I do not do much mental arithmetic anymore; calculators and computers take care of that. I don’t rack my brain for half-remembered facts; I look them up on the web” (34). We have taken everything for granted. Even with the metaphor of our body has a distinct problem. Without a limb we are unable to do things that other people can. We are then?Are we disconnected and are we unable to function. I will be very interested in seeing what the rest of the class has to offer on these readings.

It is interesting though how we are not thinking about the negative affect of technology. We discussed once in class whether we thought that technology was creating laziness in children. I had to sit and ask myself if I would have been different if I did not have tv as a kid. But where is the end or are just going in circles. Are we just going to create myth after myth to explain why the Internet is so valuable or will be just create a society that are like robots. On pg 117 Mosco says with any new technology there is an end. As when humans get older there is a slow down in things that we can do, is the Internet going to become something to powerful and we will not be able to control it?

The "Yes" Men

We watched the movie and all I can think is how can they do that. I think that it is very interesting that the Internet has turned into a giant web where almost anything can happen. In the movie they had a web site that was like the so people thought that they were the WTO. I was surprised to see that they were taken so seriously. People were listening to what they were saying and laughing at the suggestion that they were offering. Where are the values here. Why do they think that is ok to misinform people. But then again why does the WTO think that is ok to use them to get more for their organization.
I find it interesting while talking about values and in the book they discuss the people that flashed the cameras at Disneyland and then those photos were posted online. There is a disconnect somewhere, we have become a society that need extreme events for us to do things collaboratively and the internet seems to at times exploit people and not show what its actual purpose is. We spoke of myths and who creates them. I originally thought that certain groups can create the myths that we live by but it is everyone they just need the chance to do it. I think that watching this movie reminds me of Borat. Along the same lines he goes around America and does things that most people would find very offensive but as a society we spend money to go see it in the theaters. It is so interesting that we have progressed from having simple juno email accounts, to people having ten email addresses. Is there a limit to what we can do? Are we breaking down our values by continuing with these new trends?

Novelty of Technology

For me this reading was a little difficult. Starting out reading the quote is presented " the US economy likely will not see recession for years to come. We dont want one, dont need one, and, as we have the tools to keep the current expansion going, we wont have one. This expansion will last forever." (Henwood pg 3) In reading this quote, I can see exactly how right that this statement is. As a society we are always looking for the next best thing. For example, working in the cell phone business we just launched a new device. People are coming into the store and changing and upgrading their phones just for the sheer fact that the new phone has new technology and is above what the other cell phones do. This is such an interesting trend to grasp that there is so many people that are willing to spend big money on something that is the next best thing.
When the quote states that we have to tools to keep the expansion going. That most of what the economy is based on is fantasy and product of American triumphalism. (pg 6) I feel that that a lot of the ways that we do business is based on fantasy and the fact as long as we dont see it happening and it is not hurting us then it must be good. But then there are instants like Enron where so much was happening behind closed doors that even the employees thought that it would just be safer to leave it as it is. We associate information with money and as long as we are making the money then it doesnt matter how we are getting there.
With thinking that as long as we are making money it doesnt matter how we get it, goes the same way for spending the money. We have created a society that only wants to wear name brand clothing and only have things that are at the highest tier. We are getting smarter and finding new ways to do things that companies would not have been able to do years prior. But sometimes it seems as though we are not using our knowledge for good. We have to have certain things so we have to develop faster ways of getting them. Such as ebay and amazon. We now can sit at home and get whatever we want without thinking.

Information Ecology Individual Proposal

The primary ecology that I intend to observe is the place where I work T-Mobile. I work at a corporate store that sells phones, and assessories. In the book information ecology is defined as a system of people, practices, values, and technologies in a particular local enviroment.
By choosing the palce that I work I am able to fully assess the surroundings. T-Mobile is considered an information ecology because we are a system of people using information in different patterns working with each other. We have a set of company policies, and we all have the same products to sell but we do not all sell the same way. I have found it interesting to observe the different ways that the other reps sell.
We also have a very interesting work life. We are all close at work and but when we are working we are competing against each other. By observing this ecology I can learn how we are helping our customer and the ways that we are selling our product. In a business that is customer oriented and the customer is the number one prioity we should be customizing our practices to fit their needs.

System: Our system is working together to sell the customer the product. When we have a new product comes out it changes the presentation that we offer to the customer. As a team we have to be up with the changes that occur in the market and make sure that customer is fully briefed.

Diversity: We have many differents types of customers that have different types of needs. So when these different customers come in we have to be able to help them. We have a rep that can speak both english and spanish so he is able to better help those customers that do not speak english. It is important to offer services that will help any type of customer.

Coevolution: When a new product launches we have to change what we are offering the customer. We also have to be briefed on how the device works and the benefit to the customer. So as a unit we have to make the product more appealling to the customer and find new and interesting ways to sell it. This can be by changing the way that the product is displayed or offering complimentary features.

Keystone Species: The customer is one of the key components, if there were no customers then we would have no need to sell our product. The managers, and reps are also key to the working of the system. The manager is there to make sure that the day to day activities are done correctly and that the store is up to date with the latest products and services. The reps are essential in getting the product to the customer. Without the sales rep telling the customer what is new and the product features they can be mislead and not get what they need.

Locality: Name: TMobile. Since we are using information that is tied to customers we will be using information that is very confidential. We have passwords and procedures on how we do things. The systems are very complex and need training to use. This is to ensure that the customer is getting the protection that they deserve.

Effects of Technology

“Technology is in effect accidental”. (Pg 12) It is hard to believe that something that is so influential is accidental in any way. In this article Williams discusses the effects of technology on society and the masses as a whole. There is one question I have to ask, is technology really the driving force of social change or does society have to change for technology to thrive?
Williams brings up a similar question on pg 14. “It is either a self acting force which creates new ways of life, or it is a self acting force which provides materials for new ways of life.” While reading this passage I began to think about the direct affect that technology has had on me. I remember as a young person I had a need for the television and my computer that I do not have now. I have found the balance between TV time and time to go out and do things with other people.
Williams also discusses that new technologies can create limits on society. I think that this is very true. We spoke of myths in class, and technology is a big myth that is continued throughout history. Now that we have television,, which Williams uses in the article we are now limited to thinking that our big source of entertainment should be the TV. “Consumer durables” as Williams describes on page 26, society becomes dependent on the new technology and expect a certain level of quality from them.
The creators of this new technology make the society believe that they have to keep up with the newest technology. Just as when television was coming out in color, the marketing companies made it seem as all people should get color TVs. Now the trend is that people have to have the most expensive model. People are made to believe that they have to have the LCD screen or plasma to get the highest quality picture.
What is the intention of making people believe that they have to have the most expensive TV? This feeds into the definitions of ideology, a group of people thinking or believing the same way. I hardly want to believe that a TV is an ideology, but it fits the definition. This draws me to my conclusion that technology is a driving force to social change. That without technology we do not challenge the status quo and do not try to go out and make new things happen. There are still beliefs and traditions that have been around for centuries and we still hold these true even through new technological advances.

Technology Metaphor

When watching the clip it is hard to believe that people who do not really know the uses of the internet for the intent that it is used. The senator gave us a metaphor saying that the internet was like a system of tubes that information is trying to get through. This metaphor does not describe the internet well and would limit who people perceive the internet. Metaphors are strong in that they can easily inhibit people from seeing the big picture.
Last class we talked about the myths that surround technology and those who create them. I think that many times people just want to have a way of connecting things together. So the myth is created that if we develop the internet that we will be able to cure diseases, metaphors help you understand the topic and relate it to other things but then what happens when you get the wrong conclusion. Now the technology is not moving forward it is sitting still and not able to create an accurate picture.
My metaphor for technology is like a car race. When the people are racing, if they are racing correctly then they will have a good chance to win the race. Those who just want to get to the end will crash and not get the information that they need. The racers that are on top are those who have trials and errors and know what works. The internet is a fast paced information center and if you know how to correctly navigate then you will get the information that you need!

Myths of cyberspace...

“ The invention of the computer was a pivotal point in the history of civilization”. This is a quote that starts out the article. I find it so interesting that one thing can be so influential to so many groups of people. Computers have brought many people together and have enabled countries to do things that they would have never been able to do. But it brings up the question of power. Technology such as the computer has control over how people think things should be.
People have expectations on how things should be. Having computers created a bigger monster. There is a need for things to be faster or more convenient so that they have what they want when they want it. With this revolution I have to wonder what is next. With computer becoming more high tech everyday how deep will society get before there is no turning back. The article describes that people have put their faith into something just because they think that it is a reliable source. How can we put so much into faith into something that we cannot see? I find it very hard to go on a limb and just get something without seeing it first.
Cyberspace is a place that promotes myths and misconceptions. I find that I am old fashioned in thinking that I have to be able to physically see something before I buy it but money into it. I feel that it goes back to basic personal interaction as well. The internet makes more people less interactive with other people. Computers and new technologies bring people together but that can only bring them so far.
Cyberspace is a lot of hype and fantasy… the article states and I believe that this is true that many people but so much into the internet and the technology that they don’t really know what is real anymore. But it is all just a bunch of services that people most likely will never use, or not willing to pay for.
We spoke in class about the inevitability of technology that it is something that is going to happen no matter what. But I feel that society is using this as a crutch, to be connected without really doing the work. Although, technology has allowed for many good things happen, such as peace talks and finding lost people. Technology is not always used as a tool, but as a replacement for the actual person.

Ideology

Definition: Ideology to me is a weighted term, often associated with a religion. Others have defined it as the belief in which individuals, and groups follow.

When thinking about ideology I have to wonder how I define mine. Is it by my religion, political affiliation, or my surroundings? I have a hard time saying that my idelogy is a basis for what I believe or what I choose to follow. I believe that people are products of their surroundings and that the way that people react to things are generally a natural reaction.

Sometimes I have to wonder why people are so willing to label that things just for the sake of saying that they believe in something. I feel like technology is sort of a ideology. People out so much faith into technology and believe that it is going to give them everything that they need. This is why I find it hard to put a definition to ideology. Should technology be something that people put so much faith into?

Daily Show Clip and Information Ecologies Ch 1 & 2

Information Ecologies 09/06/07

Daily Show Clips/Readings

In the clip they show us how we have become acquainted to the new technologies that connect people together. Myspace, for example is one of the networking tools that people of all ages are able to use. I find it very interesting that people have a distinct want to be connected with so many people. The guy in the clip had 9000 friends. This is something that actually happens, I have had friends that add people as friends due to their looks or only based on the fact that they have something in their profile that is similar to their own.
In the reading it talks about society being a friend to technology, we are looking for programs that are user friendly. We want technologies and programs that work and that we are able to use with great ease. It also states sometimes the thought is that using technology is inevitable, I find that with all the websites such as facebook and myspace that it is making it way. There is a constant need to be connected and internet networking is the fastest way to be connected.
With advancements in technology there is still a certain amount of people that are afraid to go out and use it. “Only the human brain can process and store information more easily, cheaply and rapidly. Than a computer.

HOW CAN I INFLUENCE HOW TECHNOLOGY IS USED!
Business World:
Organizational tool:
• Schedules
• Meeting
• Uniform/professional look

Connection
• Email
• Advertisement
• Public Announcements