Reed 11/18

In today's reading and class we talked extensively about the past, present, and future of technology in our society today. Where is the path of technology going? Where has it been? Technology is heading toward a convergence of different technologies, so much so that many disappear in our daily lives. Pre-web, Web 1.0, and Web 2.0 describe the development of the web, and the different aspect of each development. The web now has advanced to the point where users do not need any knowledge of coding or computer programming to interact with the web and other users online. This easy access allows for a wider audience to access the internet, one with nearly no technological knowledge can become involved int he web, and the community within. A more complex pool of users develops a more complex society online, one where accountability comes into question with the anonymity of online use. Accountability is hard to pin...with many people given the ability to be hyper-accountable for online issues. People can create first, edit later - hence the "publish then filter" concept we have been talking about in class. From now on, the web will only continue to become more integrated into our lives, and more accessible in the lives of others as well - this is what I predict.

Reed Ch1-3

In "Digitized Lives: Culture, Power, and Social Change in the Internet Era" T.V. Reed explores many facets of digital culture and the way that technology effects humans, as well what humans do with technology - two distinct concepts outlined. I wasn't surprised to read that the internet is a vast and growing place stuffed with information, or that Facebook has enough users to be the world's 3rd largest country, but I was interested in the fact that so many people are without internet access, or aces to up to date digital technology at all (pp. 3). I think that more people need access to these technologies - with the way they affect everyday life and enhance learning alone, getting current technology into the hands of more people would have a huge effect on everything from health information to political and organizational tools for impoverished areas. If people in those impoverished areas had access to the internet, even half as many as Americans, I am positive that their overall quality of life many definitely change, and for the better. Access to the internet really can be sen as access to information. A lot of information. It becomes easy to communicate, and easy to learn - both are very useful tools for all humans to be able to utilize. It was interesting to read about the digital revolution we are going through today, and the unique period we live in. Reed writes that the digital revolution can be compared to the invention of the wheel, or the printing press for humankind. A revolution in the way we communicate (pp. 5). The pros and cons to this vary, in that we lose the way we communicate in some ways, but gain strength in others, a change that can be see ver long periods of time affecting cultures in contact with this digital revolution. People adopt new technologies fast, but there are always others who resist the change in culture - in this digital age it is a new and growing form of information, and interaction between users. Reed also expands on the effect the internet has had on people, the users whom control it. Many would argue that personal privacy is at risk, and I would say the same. There are hardly any ways to keep your information completely secure online, and once it is out there it can never be forgotten or truly deleted - information looms.

Tapscott III

This importance of technology today and its uses throughout culture and society were discussed greatly in Tapscott's book. I found it important to keep in mind the healthy and unhealthy effects of technology, a theme I felt come u pin multiple ways throughout our reading and class periods. Technology obviously has benefits - speed, ease, functionality, and communication that has never before been possible. In many ways this technology needs to be 'toned down' like in the cases of children's uses, like parental controls and monitoring. And in other ways the expansion of technology is nothing short of skyrocketing exponentially in the value it gains as time goes on. Nano technology. 3D printed transplants. It seems the theme I see reoccurring in this discussion is the time and place - the occasion for technology, and where it resides. Technology can be utilized almost anywhere - but there are still many places that it is better without - close relationships still require human interaction, void of technology to develop and grow. Of course relationships benefit from technology when this is not possible, like long distance relationships. This illustrates the flexibility that technology carries in respect to the occasion it is applied to. Some elderly people may actually benefit from their reluctance to adopt new technologies - staying in their familiar routine gives them comfort, and many work better with the routine they know well and follow anyways, as opposed to switching systems of technology and creating unfamiliar hardship as a result. I will get a better result empaling my grandmother than I will trying to communicate with her on Facebook - regardless of the efforts I put into educating and willing her to conform. Technology is reliant on occasion.

Tapscott

Reading Tapscott's book, "Grown Up Digital", I felt that I agreed a lot with the ideas he brought up. As we talked in class on Tuesday, I was able to relate even more closely with the 8 generation norms of 'Net Gen' especially with regards to personalization and scrutinization that our generation has come to expect and perfect. Technology is sold with a host of personalization traits, like apps, cases, and even which brand you choose says something about yourself and your technological identity. People are a part of their computers - although driven by electricity and technology, real people are connecting with other real people in a host of ways online. Which is really just mind bogglingly amazing. But what users have come to expect is the ability to customize their personal corner of the internet. Although what they post, what they see, and what they search for may be visible and usable to a host of other users, their own sphere is customizable. Desktops with photos, social networks with themes and even who you choose as your friends is a way of customizing your social corner to your specific uses. I find it particularly interesting how how the internet and all of its capabilities fit together only because multiple other users use the same interfaces that you do (Facebook, product reviews, chatrooms, online gaming, etc.), but they are not dependent on everyone using the same interfaces in the same way. It really only works so well because the internet is so huge and the users are so expansive that there is enough room for everyone to personalize how they use it and what they update, but everything has enough users to stay active.  The internet is a network of users who don't care about what every other user is doing, only how it interferes or connects to their own personal use in the interface. Being a part of Net Gen is an interesting phenomena in that we do not know the difference, but since we are the first to grow up this way, we are told constantly how different and puzzling our existence has been made.

Baron

What I found most interesting while reading this book was the history or the computer, and writing utensils. Their first purposes weren't for writing at all - and their transformation is unexpected. As an artist myself, I liked reading about he development of the pencil, and Henry David Thoreau's seemed obsession with creating the best pencil - which he did great lengths to do. Pencils found problems in the supply of graphite, and pure graphite at that. Thoreau enhanced the pencil's advancement as a technology through the changes and 'reinventions' he made of it. He was able to make the lead more pure and smooth, as well as stronger in form. Pencils are very specific, and varying when used in drawing and the advancements that they have made from conception to the variety today is huge, even if it is just a meek pencil. Computers weren't created for publishing and writing necessarily as much as it was for computing information, inputing information, and completing algorithms - but today computers are a main source of writing through our culture. This is mainly because many of the uses of a computer include communication - which almost requires writing on a computer (with the exception of audio recording) to other entities. Writing has taken over this technology.

Achebe part II

Many things in Chinua Achebe's, "Things Fall Apart" parallel to the topics of literacy and orality. Language and fragility particularly influence cultures and shape the way they develop differently than literate cultures. Oral types of cultures develop independently of one another - this I found particularly interesting. Cultures who are near each other may only communicate very frequently if they are oral cultures, this is because it take much more effort to communicate. So the harder it is to communicate the less they probably will, it becomes less valuable. Literate cultures can subvent this inconvenience of difficulty in communication. By writing down information, only a messenger or way of sending messages is needed to communicate. Without this writing, an oral culture would require an orator to remember and recite the necessary information and then must meet with and speak to listening audiences in order to send information. this oral type is more labor intensive and leads to cultures intermixing less. In this way oral cultures seem to develop more independently from one another. These cultures may, as a result, value traditional cultural ways without the diversity of frequent communication of other unique cultures. Frequent communication with other independent and different cultures inherently would produce more productive activity. I know that by colliding more diverse ideas you can reach the best conclusions, develop the best ideas and more. This can be seen in the ways that many contributing ideas develop the best plans in teams like in sports, business, and nature.

Achebe part I

Orality was one subject I found represented in multiple different parts of Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”. I noticed first when Okonkwo’s tribe has one member represented who is the town’s orator, which makes sense for the setting of the story, which takes place in suggested oral society. Later, what I found more interesting was Okonkwo’s failed harvest, one that he collected only part of his crop from due to a poor winter. In a time Oknokwo felt called for silence his father tries to soothe his son(17). This interestingly points out the importance of silence that is overlooked traditionally. I can imagine many scenarios where people feel the need to fill silence with words – whether just sarcasm or small talk many people are avoidant of silence in situations. Why? Silence makes people feel awkward, but I appreciate the value that can come with it.  In the essay by Simon Gikandi, “Achebe and the Invention of Literature” was discussed. I found it interesting that Achebe didn’t originally plan to be a writer, much less one that represents African culture so well through his writing. Achebe represents the African culture through anecdotes and and a lens damaged by British colonialism – I am interested to hear what other scholars have to say about Achebe’s work.