Week 8 Discussion

Technology has come along way from where it was and as of today it is beyond what anyone thought it would be. The communication of technology is traveling in many directions with devices from computers to even a cell phones. Each of these technologies have all evolved into their own stages that consist of many updates that have been made to better its own technology. With our world changing everyday the technology with it is growing itself. A walk through of these devices will give you a better look at where we are going with computers and more.

The computer has changed the way we work within our everyday lives. Education has benefited the most with mostly all schools carrying a computer that is used for learning new things from a early age for spelling to a older age learning more advanced things. It has helped greatly in the work force making jobs easier with having files all organized to controlling machines. Computers now can be programmed to do about anything and with that the future of them will change greatly. No longer will manual work must be done with a person present, the computer will be there to watch for errors and control important machinery.

The cell phone has come along way from where it was, no longer a heavy box shaped form but a sleek design. It has been made into more than just a way to communicate on the go, it is now a device that has multiple functions. The cell phone can now be seen as a mp3 device, a mini computer, and more. With the advances coming out everyday there is no end to it.

The tablet is now on the verge of being something great. It is basically the computer but more portable. It has most of the same functions but is sleeker for those who like looks over function. You can surf the web than play games all in one device. It will in time take over regular papered notebooks, no longer will people carry those stack of papers.

All of these devices have come with more advances like application. Applications have taken over the market. No longer do you have to go out and buy a book or game at the store, it’s all in your application store at your fingertips. There are so many applications ranging from books, games, and more useful things. There will be no need to go out and shop anymore when you can do it in your own home.

As for social media it has changed greatly. Facebook is sweeping the nation. No longer do people call or text one another, Facebook seems to be the easiest method since everyone is always connected with notifications.

Soon the world will change with real life heliographic images of people standing right in front of you and robots will be here to change the world. They will be here to help and do things most don’t want to.

The knowledge we carry to change the way we communicate is endless. Things will soon surely change and no one will even be that amazed because in today society people are already to use to the idea of technology.

Week 7 Dicussion Questions

Chapter 1: Bitmapping

1.    In 1968 Douglas Englebart introduced “direct manipulation” of data. How was this different than how data was interacted with before?

When Englebart presented his demo of computer manipulation using a computer and a little rolling box, this was when everything changed. Who knew a little rolling box called a mouse would have had so much impact as it does today. With the mouse you could directly interact with the computer and move anywhere on the screen. It made guiding through the computer easier. Before the mouse interaction with the computer was impossible. The computer before was just used with a keyboard so it was basically used to type documents, a more advanced typewriter.

2.    By creating an “information space,” how did Englebart’s advancement change the way people thought about machines/computers? In what ways did it lead the way not only to interfaces as we think of them today but virtual spaces and augmented reality?

Englebart found that when your working there should be a place where you could have all your knowledge mapped out in one space, this is where information space began. He wanted people to acknowledge that computers are where this is could happen. It was where all of your idea’s could come to life right at your fingertips from your mind to the screen. To add to that he crated a bitmapping screen where the visual aspect came in where you could see images to files to personal folders.

Chapter 2: The Desktop

3.    As discussed in Chapter 2, describe some of the advancements that took place at Xerox PARC, the people involved and what they contributed.

Xerox PARC is a high end science computer lab that consist of scientists whose backgrounds came from Stanford Research Institute. The company built ideas off of Englebart research and one person particular was Alan Kay. He made the idea of overlapping windows to give more depth to the desktop, it utilized the whole screen space which gave you control to move things back and forth of the screen. He turned real life into a computer from stacking papers to a trash can to throw away things. Xeror made a first desktop interface as part of a operating system. This lead to greater things that Steve Jobs brought to Apple later.

As We May Think

4.     Vannevar Bush’s vision inspired the next few generations of technologists, and his idea of a “memex” resembles devices we use today. What was the “memex” and what benefits did Bush think it would have?

Memex is a device that where individuals could store their own records, book, and communications. He wanted this place to be a sort of research where one could find things need and have notes with links involved. He wanted this device to be a private library that one could use that would of screens with information in them that could use photography as well and this would be a benefit.

Week 6 Discussion Questions

Chapter 9: Survival of the Media Fit

1.    What were the years before T.V. Like for radio? What types of content was provided?

Before the T.V. the radio was the main source for entertainment and news. There were a variety of type of “shows” like news cast, dramas, and even quiz shows. You had families tuning in at night for their daily dose of shows. You had to use your imagination more from the descriptions that were given through words.

2.    Explain the economic impact of T.V. On radio.?

The T.V. brought forth not only sound but the visual aspect that was missing from radio which drew more people to the revenue of T.V.  As more people were switching to T.V. the radio lose their main source of listeners. No longer companies paid for advertising for radio which brought in most of the money. The net value of radio went down.

3.    What is the economic model for both radio and T.V.?

Radio and T.V. are both a great source for advertising. They will never not advertise because that is how they get their share of money. Companies pay them to put their ads out their and get it across to people. It’s the number one source for this kind of work that people would not want to do manually by going out there and trying to reach everybody in the world.

4.    In the brief description of film history, Levinson discusses the work of D.W. Griffith, Sergi Eisenstein, and Lev Kuleshov. What methods did they use to help develop a visual vocabulary for film?

The methods they used to create this was using images to describe what they wanted to say in words that were solely linked to each word or meaning they were trying to get across. Even using images to create a rhythm or mood to be expressed.

5.    Technology alone was not the sole savior of radio. Explain the roll of Rock and Roll in radio's transformation.

Rock and Roll brought the radio back to life. It was new in a sense that it was lively and exciting for people to hear. It really did make the nation more fun. It was even sometimes to racy for T.V. that only radio was offering the music.

6.    “Talkies”, replaced silent films entirely, but T.V. Did not replace radio, why?

Silent films could not hold peoples attention for long, people longed for more excitement. Radio is more portable for people and doesn’t need one to try to visually stare at a image to get the point like a T.V. so it could never really be taken away. Radios are more sufficient and on the go.

Chapter 10: Remedial Media

7.  In your own words describe Levinson's parable of the window shade as remedial media.

It is a concept that fixes a problem within the media itself. For example like once the T.V. was fully created and done with advancing in technology a antenna would be added on to fix the quality of the image. It is basically a add on to fix a problem within the media.

8.    Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the VCR as a remedial medium.

The advantages of the VCR is that it added on a necessity that people liked having control of recording their favorite shows to watch later on their own time, giving people more control. The disadvantage is that there would be too many types causing storage problems.

Week 4 Discussion Questions

Chapter 5: Telegraphy

1.    What are telegraphy's strengths as a medium? How do these compare to the then existing media forms?

The telegraphy was strong in many ways from being able to finally send messages anywhere globally in the world with ease. Telegraphy compared to the newspapers and storytellers of the time but sharing information as a whole from sources but this form was more direct to the person on the other side.

2.    What are some of the reasons that telegraphy was so distrusted?

Telegraphy was distrusted due to the sheer fact that it communicated so fast with code that one could lose even a bit of the message and have a miscommunication within receiving the message.

3.    Levinson discusses the introduction of “noise” into our various systems media forms. Explain what he means by “noise” in the system and discuss some examples of media systems and the way “noise” is introduced.

Levinson mentions noise in a system as how we communicate in media. Some examples are sound systems that made for more clear listening.

4.    What roles did the telegraph play in increasing more immediate/instantaneous public awareness of events around the world? How did the press evolve with the use of the telegraph?

Telegraph raised awareness of events by getting the most up to date news about events around the world. No longer did you have to wait for the press to print things out, you knew when the media provided their responses about the events from the source. The press evolved with using the telegraph by becoming more established and trusted faster.

Chapter 6: Telephone

5.    In your own words, Explain and describe Levinson's term “anthropotropic”.

Anthropotropic in Levinson’s term is described as technology working more sound if it is conformed to have aspects of human nature from mind to body characteristics.

6.    Why hasn't video phone taken off ? What is Levinson's stance on the video phone? Would/do you use a video phone? Explain your answers fully.

Video phone has not gone far because there is not much demand for it, too much hassle from lighting to signals. Levinson’s stance on it is that it has not reached further needs from a telephone, you just need communication not the picture.  I have never used a video phone, never found the need to go out and buy one when there are other better alternatives out there that don’t have the hassle.

7. What is the telephone's main strengths over any other existing forms of media? What power does the telephone have over people?

The telephone is powerful form over any other media due to the fact it is direct to the person you are trying to communicate to since you can hear their tone and characteristics over a line that is already set up across the world. The telephone helps people stay connected.

8.    Explain what Levinson means by “remedial media.” Give an example of a remedial media that was developed recently in communication media.

Remedial media in Levinson terms is using newer technology to fix already established technology problems that may have occurred. Example of that would be a radio to spread the message as oppose to word of mouth.

9.    Levinson describes how the telephone promotes a level of intrusion beyond other media. Does this still hold true? In what ways has telephone technology been adapted since Levinson wrote this to reduce or increase this intrusion?

Yes this is still somewhat true since it is used to connect to people through signals that most do not know of linking to companies or government if they needed information on a person. You can never trust the connection fully.

Week 3 Discussion Questions

Preface – Chapter 3: The Printed Authorship of the Modern World

1.  Why does Levinson propose that printing in Europe had more impact than China?

Levinson propose that printing in Europe has more impact because it was much more easier to print since it only had 26 letter language which was more convient to use with interchangeable printing type presses. The China printing press was the first created but it consisted of over 20,000 ideographic characters which is way more time consuming to arrange text wise.

2.  Martin Luther thought that people should read the bible themselves rather than rely upon the clergy. Would Luther’s “Ninety-five Theses” have had the same impact in 1517 if Gutenberg had not started printing bibles 50 years earlier? Explain.

      No it wouldn’t because without Gutenberg than there wouldn’t be any ready read material for people to even have in their hands to read by themselves without relying on others word of mouth bible.  Luther wanted people to figure out first for themselves how things should be, for them to open up their own eyes.

3.  Describe how books were reproduced before the printing press and by whom. Describe how this changed after development of the printing press.

Books were all reproduced by hand before the printing press or usually by clergy. The Bible or educational books were all kept by hand and only certain amounts were distributed, even limited to the public to have or use. This all changed with the development of the printing press by people having their own copies and could interpret things how they wanted without just listening to word of mouth.

4.  Why does Levinson propose that the Norse exploration of the New World did not create more impact? Contrast this with how Columbus' reports of the New World fueled the “Age of Discovery”.

Levinson propose that the Norse exploration of the New World did not create more impact because without having a source that could be widely reach to everyone so they could have a idea of the exploration over their nobody could really believe one person’s word of mouth. It would not reach as far, somewhat like it was only a fairytale that could not be believed. While of the other hand Columbus report of the New World was fueled due to the fact he made it popular and grand getting attention from people of high power. He had the printing press on his side to spread the word of the “Age of Discovery”.

5.  The distribution of books is not enough to spread knowledge. For the power of the book to be yielded there needs to be a literate public to access that knowledge. Discuss the role of literacy in building our modern world.

      Literacy holds great power in building our modern world because it promotes one to gain fourth knowledge that has been passed down through trial and error. Now that one could have a book in front of them to read instead of just listening to one person.

6.  A “meme” is an idea, behavior, style or usage that spreads from one person to another within a culture. For example, the fashion of platform shoes, the idea that the earth is the center of the galaxy, or “rickrolling”. How were cultural memes exchanged before printing? In what ways are they exchanged now?

      Cultural memes were exchanged before the printing press by basic word of mouth from one generation to the next. They are exchanged in many ways now from books to news to internet which is just more in a timely manner, more current and fast paced.

Chapter 4: The Age of Photography and the Ageless Image

7.  French film critic André Bazin stated that “Photography is free from the sin of subjectivity”. Explain what he meant by that statement. To what extent is this true?

He meant that whatever was captured on film was what was really there. No manipulation could have been down in early days of film, it was all just right in front of you to discuss.

8.  Levinson reminds us that each form of media is subject to inaccuracies; error can creep into our understanding because of the detachment from direct experience. Describe the ways in which photography can be perceived as an exact depiction of reality. Describe ways in which photography lies.

Photography is only as the picture seems from what is on the film. How it was taken is how you see it, there is no change. Unless your eye deceive you. Photography can lie by how your mind calculates the picture from the photographer wanted you to see.

9.  In 1839, French painter Paul Delaroche exclaimed, “From today on, painting is dead!” Consider painting at the time. To what extent was he right? Explain. What are some of the ways photography changed painting and art?

Painting was a great skill that was learned and took many hours to accomplished. The precision of the work took countless times to achieve, one took great pride in there work. When photography came along many forgot the art form since it was so easy just to capture the landscape or person with just a simple click of a button.