The Technology and Society

In this article, we are looking at how technology and society a mixed together. On page 2, it states that television has altered our world. This is definitely true, especially for me. I go through personality phases and do things based on what I see on TV sometimes. When I was in the 8^th grade, I began getting into rap music. So, I started watching the BET channel where I would watch movies and a lot of music videos. Because I thought society was being molded and headed into this kind of violence and promiscuous world, I began to dress like the rappers I would see in these videos. Often the case, young children are easy influenced and molded by what they see being depicted on TV, but is not limited to only them. The need for news led to the development of the press. Without the press, where would we find out news about what is going on today locally, in society, in the state, in the country, or even around the world. I depend on the news to see what new and exciting things are happening, and as well to keep up to date on world issues.

Just Like Me Only Better

“The term avatar comes from Sanskrit and originally referred to the form that the

gods assumed when they visited the world. Thus it does not denote a material body like ours, but a representation bearing divine characteristics, independent of the limitations of time and space” (pg. 1). This is very amusing, to think that our second life will be as an avatar. This might be the religious person in me, but I believe when the times comes for the second life, my soul will just go to where ever it is chosen to go and will be the same person I’ve always been. But, a second life is not only ones end, but there is also an online one. “Beyond choosing a screen name for themselves, MUDders are invited to attach descriptions of their virtual bodies, clothing, possessions and other symbols of identity” (pg. 3). So, this statement is saying that when you create a profile online on wherever it may be, you create a second person. A person can choose to be whoever they want to be online, making yourself looking even better or a whole new person if you choose.

BlackBerry PlayBook

"Research In Motion’s retail partners have begun slashing prices on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet in an effort to bolster unimpressive sales". “The BlackBerry PlayBook is RIM’s first tablet, and it is also the first device to launch with the company’s new QNX-based mobile operating system”. And why would they think people would be buying this product? In an effort to compete surely, but did they really think they could compete with the likes of Apple? The same with computers and phones, now we see a race to be the best in the tablet market. With the iPad and Samsung Galaxy, who else can compare? I feel bad for the lowest ones on the totem poll, who there will always be someone. I think the company cannot be mad or complain at their sales, when they know what they have to go up against. Their leading competitors have so much more to offer as far as quality of service, they device itself, and a longer track record.

Community Media

“They decide which issues they want to engage in and use improvised and surprising tactics to make their point” (pg. 6).  I totally agree with this statement. When posting a comment or blogging about something you have heard or read, you only write on or about what you want to. Sometimes, you do it in ways to hurt someone, make someone feel better, make someone feel stupid, and etc. I pick and choose what I write about as well, usually just to make a funny comment. “The problems of free speech and access are taking on a new significance as a result of the commons movement (pg. 12). When it comes to the social networks, anyone can access them. Even the youth can lie about their age and create a page. We can say pretty much anything on these sites without consequences also. It takes free speech to a whole other level. That’s what I love about posting on Facebook, except when it comes to work I can only post to a certain limit without getting in trouble. But, other than that, I am free to say whatever I want and however I want to express it.

Uses and Gratifications

“Young adults have been found to depend heavily on the Internet for Entertainment and information” (pg. 2).  I believe this to be true, especially for me. I go online for a multitude of things I don’t want to do in person if I don’t have to. I look things up for papers, reviews, general information, statistics, and much more. Pretty much everyone you will need can be found online. From one of the studies, Five key theme of “why individuals use SNS to fulfill their needs and wants included: efficient communication, convenient communication, curiosity about others, popularity, and relationship formation and reinforcement.” (pg. 7). I would agree with all except the popularity aspect. I guess for some people it’s a cool thing to have the most friends possible, but when you reach that many I think you just have acquaintances and friends not just only friends on how it was designed to be.

University of Wisconsin finds new ways to give scholarship

Some colleges have done some out of the ordinary things in recent years. Such as,  offering a free ipod, creating a twitter account for mascots, and promising a full scholarship to the applicant with the best 140-character essay. At the University of Wisconsin at Madison, they very well may be the first college to receive donations for an increasing its follower count. Now through October 3, an alumnus will be donating $1 for each new Twitter follower or Facebook “like,” equaling up to $50,000. After four days, the university has raised almost $8,000 dollars with the project, which is called the Bucky Challenge. The money will is to be used for student scholarships. This is actually not a bad idea in my opinion. Yes, in total is seems like a lot of money. But, if you have many people donating to the cause it will add up. For something as simple at clicking the like button on facebook, or following the University on twitter, the possible of receiving some scholarship money is awesome. Because they state and the college might already be tapped out, and this way we get alumni and outside sources involved to help support those who want to further their education.

Medium is the Message

“Just before an airplane breaks the sounds barrier, sound waves become visible on the wings of the plane” (pg. 3). As many times as I have been on an airplane, I have never noticed this. And I always have to sit at the window seat. That is something cool and I hope to see if be true next time I am on an airplane. “We are too prone to make technological instruments the scapegoats for the sins of those who wield them. The products of modern science are not in themselves good or bad; it is the way they are used that determines their value” (General David Sarnoff pg. 2). I agree with Sarnoff on his statement that he made. With technological pretty much the biggest part of our lives and society, it is very easy to put our blames on our equipments. A tool is only as good as what you make use of it.

the consequences of online networking

In the article the consequences of online social networking, we read about how there is a gap between online and being face to face. We have now read this on more than one occasion when we have read about social networking. This article does reiterate the fact that we do loose things in translation and there is a gap, but now we can communicate more than ever before. “An average Facebook user was found to have 217 network members more than one-and-a-half times the number expected in real life (Hill and Dunbar, 2003)” (pg. 16). I think that is most likely true. On facebook I have many more groups than in real life. Online I have family,  church friends, regular friends, co-workers, old grade school, jr high, and his school friends, and people I meet through other friends. In person all I have is my family, close friends, church friends, and co-workers. But i do talk to people more through networking due to limited time and availabilty of others.

HS Tech Wiz

Thomas Sohmers, the 15-year-old computer whiz who hacks defunct tablet computers for fun, also collaborates on military technology concepts with MIT, and wants to start his own company. Sohmer’s first project began at age 6, when he worked with his father to make a new plastic outer shell combining his Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo gaming systems. Sohmers is tackling a more ambitious projects such as “porting” HP’s recently discontinued and the mark-down TouchPad tablet to Google's Andriod operating system. But Sohmer’s ultimate dream is to start his own business. “Ideally, I’d like to start a computer company,” he said. “I have a real fascination with wearable computers and augmented reality.” Wow, this is simply amazing to read about. This young genius will do remarkable things in his life, and I cannot wait to see what will come from his brilliance. But, with his genius putting a helping hand to MIT military technology we can only hope nothing changes his mindset and he turns his knowledge into a bad thing.

Technological relationships

Due to the fact that we live in the digital and technological age and area of the 21^st century, why wouldn’t relationships have the use of the internet or something as a major part of their relationship? “People are heavily using the Internet for interpersonal communication, sending and receiving electronic mail, contacting friends and family over instant messaging services, visiting chat rooms, and subscribing to distributions-lists. The evidence is clear that interpersonal communication is an important use of the Internet, if not its most important use” (pg. 2). Being able to text message and call the girls I date is really the main thing for me. The only time we talk face to face is when we hang out or do something, but to communicate it’s mostly all texts. With all the new dating services and social media websites, it is common for one to find friends or a significant other online. “Parks and Roberts (1998) surveyed users of multi-player environments called MOOs. Ninety three percent of them had made friends online. However, when asked to compare their online friends with others from their offline life, respondents felt less close to those they met online (pg. 3)” Personally, I don’t really make friends online due to the fact I don’t know them. All my friends come from school, work, church, and I make friends through their friends as well.

Time-Techland

On this website, we see all of the most current articles related to technology happening today. The article I have chosen to read off this website is “Sony Unveils Ultra Hi-Def 4K Projector: So long 1080p!” The picture of the projector looks like a black helmet with a big eye in the middle. The dimensions are 4096 wide by 2160 high, which is the high end of digital cinema formats. The projector launches in December, and it costs just shy of $25,000. This invention is kind of cool, I have always thought about getting a projector for parties to show movie clips in the garage or outside. Even to hookup video game consoles and have a game night tournament. I think it’s awesome to know that we will have such a high quality projector out there on the market. But honestly, how many of these will they sell? With it being this expensive, not a whole lot of people can afford this awesome new piece of equipment.

Who do you want to be?

“Identity is a choice, and object we choose to project” (pg. 4). When a person signs into facebook, you are choosing who you want to be seen as, but deep down who you want to be. A person’s profile is simply an object to the friends they add to their facebook page. I find it interesting that the article states that through updates, quizzes, photo updates, and relationship status’ that we are taking the perspective of others o ourselves to communicate with the network. I simply though all of those were to show our real friends what is happening in our lives. Also, in a way all those updates and quizzes you take are for you to represent yourself to your friends. To show them the person you are, or maybe yet who you are trying and want to be. Through a person’s actions or gestures on facebook, one becomes aware of their intentions, both good and bad.

From Print to Digital Age

Over time the written word has evolved. From writing on clay tablets, to drawings on cave walls, and finally paper. Now we see a new age of word that is the internet. We loose the face to face interaction, making there no personal affects on a person to see, hear, touch, smell. The invention of the type writer was done in 1714 by an Englishman by the name of Henry Mills. In 1874, in the U.S. Christopher Sholes made the first commercially successful type writer. This invention is one of the greatest ever created. It is basically the same as typing a document into Microsoft word, except it was more costly and you could not easily fix your mistakes. The internet age came upon society in the late 1990s. We can now view things that authors have published, and or commented about. Anything that was or is written can be seen online. We can even send responses with the touch of a button. Times have truly evolved over the years, and one can only imagine where we will be 5, 10, 50 years from now.

Yahoo Tech News

I never really look into what's happening in the world with new media and the new tech coming out of being discussed. i only now what i see on T.V. occasionally. Although we are in the 21st century and in the silicon valley where technology is always a huge part of society, i still find it amazing on how there can be a web page dedicated to so many aspects and news about the technology we currently have and what is going to come out or is in the process of being created. I read the article about online shopping on your phones. Its ridiculous to me how much a person can do on their phones now. Having a droid myself, i guess its ironic because i do a lot of things on mine, but shopping i guess is the same as doing it on a computer. The article says people shop on their phones, but are not yet confident enough to click the buy button. But, that shopping on a phone is growing each year by 10% than online. Another article i read was about an Ohio substitute teacher suing a company, their theft officer, the city, and the two officers for violation of their 14th amendment rights. She had bout a laptop from a student, and apparently is was stolen by this student from this company. The company has Lo Jack in it, and has been tracking what this teacher has been doing. She found out when she was caught in a web chat with her boyfriend. My thoughts are if it was stolen and they can track it, why wait so long to try and get it back and why did they have to track her moves first? I feel offended for this teacher from Ohio. The things people can do these days with such ease...oh my!