The Democratizing Power of Information

It's crazy how easily technology can connect with our emotions and interest. Last week in class, we discussed how Amazon and other sites become formatted to what we like based on what we search. By continuously searching things on sites like google and other pages, we give our computers all the information they need to have advertisements related to our interest pop up at different times.

Along with our web pages changing to our likes, we also have the power to change them based  on our likes. We discussed sites like pulse.me which allow people can have all sites and information related to their interest on one page. By clicking here, you can view mine as an example.

Technology is constantly changing. Whether we realize it our not, the information that we provide via our technological devices, is constantly being used for one reason or another. I find this interesting and a tad bit scary. In some sense it feels like an invasion of privacy while also making me feel comfortable by making it easier for me to access what I want when I want. Do you think the easy access of our information will reach a limit of what is and isn't acceptable or will this possibly help make things better for society?

Copy Right Exploration

Pixabay photo: Christmas santa candies!

Photo by: LoboStudioHamburg/336

License: CC0 Public Domain

Pixabay photo: Machu Picchu

Photo by: summer12

License: CC0 Public Domain

Free for commercial use 
No attribution required 

Pixabay photo: oreos and milk

Photo by: Mooss

License: CC0 Public Domain

Free for commercial use 
No attribution required 

"Can a Critic Argue Without Clips?"

This week I read an article titled, Copy Rites: YoutTube vs. Kevin B. Lee, by Matt Seitz. The article discussed the copy right policies in place by YouTube, and how unfair they can be on some of its users. Kevin Lee is a film critic who used clips of films to express his views. After posting numbers clips on YouTube, he was informed that they all would be taken down due to copy right issues.

The article discussed that there should be "a way to distinguish between piracy-for-profit and creative, interpretive, critical or political work that happens to use copyrighted material." There are many movies and clips that are found on YouTube that go against copy right laws however nothing is done; but for those that are informed of the wrong doing, the punishment does not match the crime.

I think when clips are used to inform or for educational purposes, then it should be allowed. I agree with Seitz, that better regulations should be put int place. The article referred to YouTube as the "Town Square of the 21st Century; a public sphere: a gathering spot, a cultural and political crossroads." We have the ability to add so much to the site however we still have so little control. Do you think this is fair?

Hour of Coding Reflection

The art of coding is one that is very interesting and constantly growing each day. An hour of coding is a program that takes you through a series of steps to teach you how to code. For most people this takes an hour or longer. A brief video we watched in class, expressed that it is good for everyone to know how to code. Coding is basically using different symbols and keys to make things on the screen move in a way that you would like. My experiences with coding was a very stressful one. It was difficult for me to understand how to get particular movements to work as well as how to code in a concise way. After the class experience I am not exactly a fan of coding. Although it is a growing field, I think it should be left to the people who have a true passion for it and understanding of it.

Exam 2: QR Code

The Blogging Experience

The Real Cyborgs

The Real Cyborgs

Today in class we discussed articles that described the ways in which we can manipulate our bodies using technological gadgets to maintain or enhance or way of living. Many studies and experiments to find new ways of becoming things known as cyborgs. By doing such, technological devices are used as parts of the body to help the ways they function.

I think this is great technology but I'm not sure if I agree with it 100%. I believe much more work should be done to prove that these things truly work and that they are also safe. Technology always has the possibility of malfunctioning, and when someones life is involved, that can become very dangerous. For those who have successfully taken advantage of these advancements, that is great. However, it may not be as successful for others.

I also do not think that financially, our society is ready for such technology. Although it sounds great to use technology to manipulate the body in positive ways, I still believe that such a process will be very expensive. People are currently struggling to pay hospital bills for standard procedures. To introduce this to the public may not be realistic at the moment. I also do not think the government is ready to allow this. What does it mean for the lifespan of the population? How much will all of these things cost? Will insurance be able to cover it?

All of these questions have yet to be answered. I am impressed with the progress that technology continues to make, but I don't think the rest of the world is quite ready to hop on board with the new advancements.

Artifacts From The Future

After viewing the future museum in class, it was quite interesting to see the many predictions of the past and their presence in today's world. One item that stood out the most was the Lexus Slide. It is a hover board that relies on liquid nitrogen to keep it afloat. Years ago it was predicted that we would have hover boards and now Lexus has made it happen in a way we never expected.

Another pst prediction that is now being put into action is the Nike shoes featured in the Back To The Future film. They light up and the laces tighten by themselves without someone having to tie the shoe. It's amazing how many things started as ideas but have now become reality. However, as great as these things may seem, they have not become financially realistic. New developments take time but I feel that technology will always progress but may never be financially suitable for all people.

The future museum put a new perspective on viewing artifacts. By using QR codes we could simply read a brief description, scan the code, then our phones would lead us to many other videos and links with a wide variety of information about the products. This makes it easier to show a wide scope of information and takes full advantage of the use of technology. I think many museums and exhibits should take on the use of QR codes to allow viewers to see more information than just what they have listed in a description.