Week 5 - tutorial task

Provide the URL (with the date you accessed it) of where you found the answer. Describe how you found it.

1. Where was the first University established and in which year?

This is a difficult question to clearly answer as it doesn't specifiy which region of the world.

If we specifically focus on the term 'university', then the first institution to be called a 'university' was actually in Europe, the University of Bologna which was opened in 1088AD. The term 'university' being first used at its foundation.

The meaning of 'university' is derived from the Latin universitas meaning ‘the whole,’ and in late Latin‘society, guild,’ from universus (see universe ).

                                                               University of Bologna

University of Bolona, n.d., image, viewed 14th September 2011, <http://www.ua.ac.be/main.aspx?c=.EMCHINA&n=79691>

There are many much older schools in existence around the world but they weren't termed 'universities' at the time although they are now. It's generally claimed that the term 'university' was defined by Europeans for European institutions although many institutions world-wide are now called universities.

                                           The University of Al Karaouine in Fez, Morocco

File:Fes Mosquee El Qaraouiyyine.jpg, Wikipedia Commons, n.d. image, viewed 14th September 2011, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fes_Mosquee_El_Qaraouiyyine.jpg

The University of Al Karaouine in Fez, Morocco was founded in 859 by woman called Fatima al-Fihri. Also in the 9th century, Bimaristan medical schools were founded in the medieval Islamic world, where medical degrees and diplomas were issued to students of Islamic medicine who were qualified to be a practicing Doctor of Medicine. Al-Azhar University, founded in Cairo, Egypt in 975, was a Jami'ah university which offered a variety of post-graduate degrees (Ijazah), and had individual faculties for a theological seminary, Islamic law and jurisprudence, Arabic grammar, Islamic astronomy, early Islamic philosophy, and logic in Islamic philosophy.
Some scholars such as George Makdisi, John Makdisi and Hugh Goddard argue that Europian medieval universities were influenced in many ways by the medieval university institutions in Islamic Spain (when it was part of the Islamic country between 711 and 1492 and it was called Al-Andalus) such as the Emirate of Sicily, and also the Middle East in general.


Yahoo and Bing search engines utilised.
page viewed 25 August 2011
http://ask.yahoo.com/20030501.html


2. What is Stephen Stockwell's band called and what does he play? Can you name a couple of their songs?

The Black Assassins were a Brisbane punk band from the 80s that opened for the Dead Kennedys at Festival Hall. Much more about them at http://www.blackassassins.net/. The clip was made by Stephen Stockwell.

Stephen Stockwell was a 'Keyboard dabbler'

http://web.revolutionrock.com.au/oral-hist/index.php?id=24

Songs from the Greatest Hits Album:

ASIO, SWAPO, PLANET X, DEATH COMES TO TOWNSVILLE.

Planet X - the Black Assassins


3. What is the weight of the world’s biggest machine? How much did it cost to build?


The largest machine in the world is the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and cost $6B to build. It has a circumference of 27km. No weight is listed.

File:LHC quadrupole magnets.jpg Wikipedia commons, n.d. viewed 14th September 2011
small;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Hadron_Collider

http://www.bukisa.com/articles/40463_worlds-largest-machines-ever-built


http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-largest-machine-in-the-world.htm


viewed 25 August 2011



4. Who is Justin Bieber's lawyer, and what is the best way (quickest, most reliable) to contact the lawyer?

An article on the aceshowbiz website states that Kenneth Feinswog was Justin Beiber's lawyer in September 2008.

viewed 25 August 2011



He is again mentioned on the associatedcontent website in September 2010.

viewed 25 August 2011


An article on nonfictioncomics website dated September 20th 2010 clarified that Kenneth Feinswog is the attorney for the merchandising company not actually Beiber himself

viewed 25 August 2011
http://www.nonfictioncomics.net/tag/kenneth-feinswog


It's probably best to contact Justin Beiber's manager to find other contacts for him:

General Manager: Scooter Braun; Booking Agent: Creative Artists Agency mcoffice@caa.com 212.277.9000

viewed 25 August 2011
http://www.chacha.com/question/what-is-justin-bieber%27s-manager%27s-number




5. What is the cheapest form of travel from the Gold Coast to Melbourne?


Flying would be the cheapest form of travel at $100 one-way

http://www.bing.com/search?q=cheapest+form+of+travel+from+gold+coast+to+melbourne&go=&qs=n&sk=&form=QBRE&filt=all

viewed 25 August 2011




5. Who is Hatsune Miku? What company does she belong to? What is her birthday?















Hatsune Miku is a Japanese Vocaloid created by Crypton Future Media as a character in software. 31 August is the release date so could be presumed to be her birthdate. Hatsune Miku is the most popular and well-known Vocaloid and became a pop idol.

http://vocaloid.wikia.com/wiki/Miku_Hatsune

viewed 25 August 2011






















6. Find a live webcam in Belarus. Find a place to stay in Antarctica.




Belarus webcam



















Taking an Antarctic cruise seems to be the only option for accommodation in Antarctica.




http://www.selectlatinamerica.co.uk/destinations/antarctica/


















7. What song was top of the Australian pop charts this week in 1991?














(Everything I Do) I Do It For You, Bryan Adams

No. 1 single from 27 July for 11 weeks.




http://mag.weddingcentral.com.au/music/songs/songs1991.htm

viewed 26 August 2011















Everything I do for You in ROBIN HOOD





















8. What type of car is used to make ‘Google Street View’?




Google Street View uses Toyota Prius in the United States and Japan, and Opel Astras in Europe and Australia.

Read more: How Does Google Make Street View Maps? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5114117_google-make-street-maps.html#ixzz1WKE958BX




Google using a plug-in hybrid - still gets a ticket







http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/06/google-maps-prius-hybrid-ticket-police.php










9. Translate these questions into Spanish and then translate them back into English.




1. ¿Dónde estaba la Universidad estableció por primera vez y en qué año?




2. ¿Qué es la banda de Stephen Stockwell se llama y qué hace el juego? ¿Puede usted nombrar un par de sus canciones?




3. ¿Cuál es el peso de la máquina más grande del mundo? ¿Cuánto cuesta construir?




4. ¿Quién es el abogado de Justin Bieber, y lo que es la mejor manera (más rápido, más fiable) ponerse en contacto con el abogado?




5. ¿Quién es Hatsune Miku? ¿Qué compañía no pertenecen a ella? ¿Cuál es su cumpleaños?




6. Encontrar una webcam en vivo en Bielorrusia. Encontrar un lugar para quedarse en la Antártida.




7. ¿Qué canción fue la parte superior de las listas de pop de Australia esta semana en el año 1991?




8. ¿Qué tipo de vehículo se utiliza para hacer 'Google Street View?




9. Traducir estas preguntas en español y luego traducir de nuevo en Inglés.

Used: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Od-qYXywzNE

Viewed on 21 August 2011http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5770032/justin_bieber_and_lady_gaga_in_bed.htmlhttp://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/w0006112.html

Week 5 - Response to content

Using a selection of this weeks readings, write 200 words responding to the questions arising from the lecture. In particular, how does Rubber utilise the elements of screenplay structure in its first act. Bonus points for successfully locating the first plot point.

Act 1 is usually The Setup (Field, Syd).  This part of the film needs to lay the groundwork and answer three questions.


1) Who is the film about?   Eventually, after a bit of lead in time, we find out that the film is about a tyre.

2) Who is the lead character?  Once again, it would appear that the lead is the tyre.


3) What kind of person are they?


 It is appparent that the tyre has just come alive and is learning about itself, its environment and it's capabilities.  It is quite sweet watching it gain its feet, explore and discover. 


First it comes across a plastic bottle.  It tentatively touches it and eventually runs over it.  In the process the brittle plastic bottle gets crushed.  The tyre comes across a desert scorpion and in the process of running it over, it also gets crushed.  It seems that from it's earlier experiences it has learnt that it is not enough just to run over an item but it needs to be crushed, to be desroyed. 


It then comes across an item it can't just run over and destroy, try as it might.  It rolls backwards and forwards, to no avail.  It has a temper tantrum and the ensuing emotional outburst causes the beer bottle to explode.  It turns its attention on a nearby rabbit and tries that trick again. The rabbit explodes.  

As the wheel rollls lightheartedly through the desert, the accompanying music changes to a breezy happy tune with the lyrics 'I don't want to be lonely'. 

 As the tyre hits the highway and it suddenly catches sight of a car driven by a young girl, the tone of the film starts to change as we know the tyre can use itself to destroy indiscriminately.  An element of terror and horror starts to colour our image of the tyre discovering itself - our lead character has now changed from 'cute little lonely tyre' to 'baddie' terrorising the countryside.






References

Syd Field, The Art of Visual Storytelling - the paradigm worksheet (with audio introduction to the screenplay structure paradigm).   http://www.sydfield.com/featured_theparadigmworksheet.htm

Week 4 - Tutorial task

Select a social networking site and consdier its Terms of Service and whether you would change the way you use the site.


I don't use social networking much but I do have a Facebook page which I periodically view.

What are the kinds of content they allow?

I only found information in relation to content in Facebook's Privacy Policy that read as follows:

 "One of the primary reasons people use Facebook is to share content with others. Examples include when you update your status, upload or take a photo, upload or record a video, share a link, create an event or a group, make a comment, write something on someone’s Wall, write a note, or send someone a message. If you do not want us to store metadata associated with content you share on Facebook (such as photos), please remove the metadata before uploading the content."  (Facebook Privacy Policy, 2011)

What can the service do with your content?

Facebook stores all  the metadata associated with your uploaded content.
They may retain the details of transactions or payments you make on Facebook.
They also log site activity information including little things like 'poking'.
They will allow advertisers to choose the characteristics of users who will see their advertisements and may use any of the non-personally identifiable attributes they have collected (including information you may have decided not to show to other users, such as your birth year or other sensitive personal information or preferences) to select the appropriate audience for those advertisements.  The criteria advertisers may select can be seen by visiting Facebooik's advertising page. Even though they don't share your information with advertisers without your consent, when you click on or otherwise interact with an advertisement there is a possibility that the advertiser may place a cookie in your browser and note that it meets the criteria they selected.


What guarantees of privacy do they offer?

They claim to have been awarded TRUSTe's Privacy Seal which means their policy has been reviewed by them and complies with their programme requirements.  There are other organisations also listed for whom they meet the criteria but without researching each of them I wouldn't know if these are acceptable or not.

Would I change the way I use sites?

There is so much detail given in the Terms of Service that I would have to be very obssessive and persistant to read through all of it and understand what I am agreeing to.    I must admit that  have skimmed through the Terms in the past, which is why I use so few on-line social platforms.   It's pretty off-putting and hard to do on a regular basis.  To date I haven't had any ramifications from those sites I have signed up for (that I know about) but I am generally pretty careful.  It seems to me that unless individuals are effected very personally by the Terms of Service, not much will change in the way they use these services.   I can see that if your image or your information is used on the other side of the world and you never become aware of it or it doesn't impact on you in anyway, you just blissfully carry on with your life.




References:

Facebook Privacy Policy,   viewed 17 August 2011. last revision: 22 Dec 2011. http://www.facebook.com/policy.php)
  

Week 4 - Response to Content

What is Cyberspace? 

Accorning to the Online Etymology Dictionary (2011) the word 'Cyberspace' was made up by science fiction writer William Gibson (best known for "Neuromancer") and used by him in a short story published in 1982, from cyber- (see cybernetics) + space.  
Today the word has taken on a life of its own, not withstanding that it's inventor now says its a "meaningless buzzword".

Among the myriad of definitions I found, one general idea is that Cyberspace is 'the notional environment in which communication over computer networks occurs.'   (Oxford On-Line Dictionary 2011)

The American Heritage Science Dictionary (2011) defines it as 'The electronic medium of computer networks, in which online communication takes place.'

Is it real?

Today Cyberspace is very real and the definitions are wide-ranging.  Fron the concrete physical form, inter-connected computer networks all over the world and through space via satellites, storing and transferring masses of information to a virtual Cyberspace environment where individuals can interact on many levels from personal to business, and even virtually living parallel and perhaps complimentary lives.  I think the two concepts can't exist without each other (at least at present), that is the 'idea' of cyberspace without the physical aspects.

Where is it?

Cyberspace is like a cocoon around the world with tenticles to satellites in space.  It's the inter-connection of each PC attached to the Internet system with massive storage facilities, some even underground, linking private enterprise organisations, public sector (government) and educational institutions (virtually every organisation that has information to share) and the individual.  A system by the people for the people, with a little helping hand from enterprising and innovative groups and individuals to help drive it.



                                                                        References


Dictionary.com       http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cyberspace  (2011)

Heylighen             Cyberspace (1994) Principia Cybernetica Web   http://pcp.lanl.gov/CYBSPACE.html

Online Etymology Dictionary,  2010 Douglas Harper http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cyberspace

Oxford On-Line Dictionary (2011)     http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/cyberspace

Week 3 - Tutorial task

                                                                    Tutorial Task 1

1. What was Stephen Stockwell's first article in an academic journal? What year? Provide a full citation. What database did you use?
 

Stockwell S, 1981, Kuranda police shooting, Legal Service Bulletin Feb. no. 6, p.48,  Griffith University Library
Database.

2. In which comic did Governor Slugwell appear? Which Issues? Give their full citation for the earliest. Where did you find this information? What database did you use?

Flaming Carrot Comics,  Issue nos. 7, 10, 11,

"When the Shoes Aren't Worth the Shine", by Bob Burden In Flaming Carrot Comics, no. 7. (Renegade Press, 1985).  3-29,  http://comx.alexanderstreet.com.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/Search/rolenameid/3794/sortby/title http://comx.alexanderstreet.com.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/view/914760/ 3. What is the latest medical thinking on the dangers of mobile phones? Provide a full citation. The World Health Organisation (WHO) latest Fact Sheet No. 193 June 2011 states the Key facts as follows: Mobile phone use is ubiquitous with an estimated 4.6 billion subscriptions globally. The electromagnetic fields produced by mobile phones are classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Studies are ongoing to more fully assess potential long-term effects of mobile phone use. WHO will conduct a formal risk assessment of all studied health outcomes from radiofrequency fields exposure by 2012. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs193/en/

4. In Bladerunner, what is Leon's reaction when Holden asks him about his mother? Quote the 1982 draft script and provide a full reference.

a) Leon's reaction

Leon is shocked and surprised by Holden's question.

b) Quotation from the 1982 draft script



 HOLDEN"Describe in single words. Only the good things that come into your mind. About your mother."

                                                                           LEON
 

My...

Leon looks shocked, surprised. But the needles in the computer barely move. Holden goes for the inside of his coat. But big Leon is faster. His laser burns a hole the size of a nickel through Holden's stomach. Unlike a bullet, a laser causes no impact. It goes through Holden's shoulder and comes out of his back, clean as a whistle. Like a rag doll he falls back into the seat. Big slow Leon is already walking away, but he stops, turns, and with a little smile of satisfaction fires through the back of the seat.
As Leon walks out of the room the Voight-Kampff begins to blink, faint but steady.

c) Full reference

Blade Runner (1982): Draft script. Screenplay by: Fancher, Hampton, 1938-; Peoples, David Webb, 1940-; Kibbee, Roland, 1914-1984.Electronic Edition by Alexander Street Press, L.L. C., 2009.Copyright © 1982. Reproduced by permission of David Webb Peoples and Hampton Fancher.

d) Database used

http://solomon.afso.alexanderstreet.com.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/afso.find.scene.html





5. What does Paul Soukup say Walter Ong saw as the main paradox in 20th century communication? Cite your source                                     

Looking Is Not Enough:Reflections on Walter J. Ong and Media Ecology

Paul A. Soukup, S.J. Santa Clara University.

Proceedings of the Media Ecology Association, Volume 6, 2005

                                 
                                        Task 2


Write about an old internet community / medium that has faded from popularity

Napster was creatred in 1999 by Shawn Fanning and his uncle John Fanning who wanted to create an easier way to find music than what was then available.  His idea was to use peer-to-peer file sharing so that all users logged on at one time shared the contents of their mymusic folders with other users who searched for a song.

It became very popular very fast and eventually some in the music industry began to claim that they were violating copyright and therefore started a massive legal action against Napster which eventually forced Napster out of business in the form that they were in.

There were many musicians who supported Napster, particularly those unsigned, who claimed that Napster was a new way of reaching an audience that they had no access to otherwise.  From personal experience I can vouch for the impact that Napster had on my experience with music.  It gave me an avenue of trying genres I would never had bought and allowed me to have interesting musical experiences.  Yes, it did allow me to get free copies of music for my own use but I did go out and try new artists and talked about them to others.

John Fanning had a great vision to share personal music files at no cost to users.   His motivation appeared to be totally altruistic in impulse and happily, he also had the technological capabilities to implement it. (Flew, T. 2002)

Napster didn't fade from popularity but was forced out of use by capitalist ideology and the need of some to make a 'buck' from everything.


Livejournal (has it faded from its heyday?)

I carried out a general overview of Livejournal from various sources to gain an insight into its current status.  As at 12 June 2011 LiveJournal had 31,772,640 accounts with 1,959,750 listed as active.  Most of the current users are in USA  with Russia having 50% of LiveJournal's audience.  

CrunchBase stated that 'LiveJournal is a journaling platform where users find friends and communities based on common interests.   Founded back in 1999 (a late night inspiration in a college dorm room), LiveJournal has grown to 30 million users worldwide. Known for its smart, creative users, LiveJournal is renowned for lively discussion and snarky commentary'.

LiveJournal’s competitors include WordPress and Blogger.

There were real issues for Livejournal users about the introducation of a link on their pages to Facebook, which uses real-life identities, that would jepordise their privacy, one of the main reasons many love using Livejournal.  
 
In another attempt to re-gain a foothold in a shrinking market,  another source, the Escapist, in Feb 2011, stated that "LiveJournal was finally adding high-quality multi-player games to it's website, in-line with Facebook and MySpace."  This move would probaly help retain existing users but it is highly unlikely to bring in new ones.

Is MySpace old now?According to an article in SiliocanCarbie, MySpace had lost much of its traffic volume to Facebook and that it was mainly bands and musicians who were maintaining their profile on MySpace Music.  This advantage MySpace had in relation to music was has slowly dissipated and has now found itself being pushed out by music networking sites such as ReverbNation and GarageBand.   In their opinion MySpace was now a place to store things prettily package that can be viewed from a Facebook link.  So the feeling here seems to be that MySpace is losig its relevance.and is 'old now'.

http://www.siliconcaribe.com/2011/03/08/is-myspace-still-relevant-for-musicians/



What will the future 'cool thing be once facebook is old skool ....?


                                                            Reference List

Flew, Terry. 2002.  'Newmedia  - an Introduction' Oxford University Press. p.10

Dowdie, Cherie. 8 March 2011. Is MySpace still relevant for musicians? SiliconCarbie. viewed 19 August 2011 http://www.siliconcaribe.com/2011/03/08/is-myspace-still-relevant-for-musicians/

the Escapist,  Feb 201.   LiveJournal (Finally) gets its Game On. viewed 19 August 2011.
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.263537-LiveJournal-Finally-Gets-Its-Game-On


LiveJournal article,  CrunchBase. viewed 19 August 2011    http://www.crunchbase.com/company/livejournal

Macleod, Alison. 5 Sept 2010. viewed 19 August 2011. When Cultures collide: LiveJournal, Facebook and the privacy chasm. makng Sence of People and Technology.    http://mackle.wordpress.com/2010/09/05/when-cultures-collide-livejournal-facebook-and-the-privacy-chasm/  

Week 3 - Response to Content

The Internet and The Web

It has become clear that to understand new technology it's important that a distinction be clearly maintained between what the internet and the web represents.   Understanding them as seperate entities will be easier, as the development of both was clearly explained by Flew (2002).  It was so clear - and the explanation so concise that even a 'newbie' such as I could grasp the concept.



Development of Technology

The journey from the abacus to the electronic circuit board.


What has struck me has been how knowledge and the development of technology is constantly building upon itself. 




 A 'piggy-back' effect so to speak, initially taking some time, but always solely dependant on humankind's enquiring mind, imagination and right to freedom   of choice and free will. 


Flew (2002) highlighted another interesting angle in relation to the development of new ideas - that the success of many new technologies and new media inventions and innovations was driven by, depended on and constrained by economical needs and restrainsts.  For example, the success of the QWERTY keyboard, now universally used by all English speaking nations for everything from PC's to mobile phones, was not so much that it was the best keyboard layout but that it would have been too costly to change to another format as typists had been trained up using this system world wide after Remington flooded the market with mass-produced typewriters in the late nineteenth century.  So there you have it - 'social shaping of technology' which is still an important factor today.

Moore's Law


This lead me to query the prediction that Moore's Law would not be valid by 2015.  Moore based this on the idea that capital costs are rising faster than revenues and that this would inhibit technological development.   Isn't this when governments should step up their game and increase revenue available for research and development?   The incentive of future returns must surely be an enough to build a return policy for 'the community' into any funding that is given for R&D (perhaps it already is, I don't know).  My question is that once a development is globally accepted wouldn't that guarantee a return on investment?


Although it's true that the rate might slow, unless something amazing is discovered and developed on a regular basis, the flow of ideas will never stop while the traits and rights of humankind as I outlined above still exist. 






                                                                Reference List


Flew, Terry. 2002. New media - an introduction,  Oxford University Press, Melbourne. p.53.

Week 2 - Tutorial task

Part 1

a)  5 weblog addresses added to my blog.

b) Video Link  that is relevant to the study of communication.  I have presented
     I) a humourous video on the future of new communications.
     II) a report about the use of a type of new communication - wireless technology
     III) an example of new technology giving the general public access to amazing peoiple and ideas -  
           the Dalai Lama in action.

b.I)

I was hunting through the masses of serious videos available when I came upon this little spoof on new technology.  Made me smile! 

b.II) On a serious note though, is my selection below representing the value of improved communications technology leading to improvements in environmental management and therefore the state of the world.

In this video we hear of the development of wireless communication technology that connects remote equipment collecting environmental information from vast areas, that previously required the investment of millions (even billions) of dollars in infrastructure, to do the same work.  I love that this shows a practical side to new communication technology that is not just used for frivolous socialising or self-promotion.

Another video that I couldn't resist is one representing the value of the best communication technology development ever - the internet.

b.III) I have been lucky enough to attend presentations by the Dalai Lama in person.  It was an amazing, moving experience.  I was unable to attend his recent visit in August (exams) but I found a video link on-line to a simultaneous presentation and I felt that his message of compassion and intelligent evaluation of lifes challenges were still clearly communicated.  Thanks to the availability of this technology, millions around the world can access the work of exceptional individuals whenever they want - this would never have been possible just 15 years ago. 

c) Analysis Application

I looked at the applications that were provided in the article from dumblittleman.com - 10 awsome tools to get more out of html.  They all looked fascinating, some more useful thans others for me at my level of use.  There are a whole range of useful applications including the following:
AgainbutSlower - Wikipedia articles are modified to make them simpler to read and easier to understand.
PedioPhon - converts articles to mp3 recordings that you can download onto your mp3 player and listen to at your leisure.
Wikirank - shows the most read articles on Wikipedia in the last 30 days.

You can see more handy tools by searching for:  10 awesome tool to get more out of html
I liked wwwdumblittleman.com  because it had lots of handy hints about technology as well as life - very interesting reading.

                                                                    Part 2)
                                    My experiences with communication technologies

How long have you been using these communication technologies?

I have been using new communication technologies since the year 2000.  Prior to that I only used word processing, publisher and excel applications on my PC.

2000, the dreaded Millenium, that's when I purchased my first desk top to work from home and needed to use email and internet for my consultancy.   Life changing..... I love emailing - it beats addressing an envelope and having to go to the post office every time you want to contact someone.  I love the ability to connect easily and fast with multiple people.   Basic internet and I have a close relationship - I visit it everyday.

What influenced you to start using these particular technologies?  How did you find out about them?

A friend from France who had stayed with me while visiting Australia in 2009, encouraged me to sign up to Facebook so I could see the photos from her trip to Australia.  That's been fun.  From there I have visited other people's pages and read some posts but I'm not overly active myself. 

Is privacy an issue for you when using new technologies?  What do you think of companies like Facebook and Google who collect information about their users?  (How do you deal with issues around privacy?)

Because I'm very wary of what I put on the internet, everything I am into it is very simple.  I spend a lot of time trying to working out and setting up the privacy settings and therefore keep it all  basic.   I haven't posted any photos on-line yet because I've noticed that I can get into people's pages and view anything and everything.  I'm presuming that's because they haven't set up privacy settings properly.

The question regarding collection of private information by large organisations hasn't really bothered me to date.  Presumably because I haven't been affected by it in anyway to date.  Following discussions today on some of the implications of data collection and use, I was quite shocked.   I think I'll definitely follow-up on which organisations are lobbying for changes to the Privacy Act and get involved in someway..

Do you have friends whom you know only from the internet and have never met in person?  Is this different to people that you know in person?  Describe the difference.

I don't have any friends on the internet that I have never met before.   I can see the reasons why people do it though.   It's so much easier to strike up a conversation.  There is no awful bodily language you have to watch out for and interpret.  You don't have to cope with emotional and physical responses that you don't want the other person to see.  So much easier all round for some people.

I enjoy peeping into what other people are doing periodically, but I seem to be way to busy to keep on updating Facebook pages and commenting on other's blogs.  Where do they find the time?

If I could get some training on how to use these technologies safely, efficiently and effectively, I would definitely consider utilising them more.

Week 2 - Response to Content

What are the key turning points in communication history?

One of the major turning points include the development of the alphabet in the middle east and around the mediterrranean by the Phoenecians.  The most useful was the insertion of vowels by the Greeks; mass printing that made possible the spread of information across trhe masses - not just to a select few.  The discovery and then the ability to amplify electronic signals and the shift from analogue to digtital are more recent important turning points (About.com.Inventor 2011). 

What are the significant divisions in Communication theory?

The main theories which create the divisions in Communication theory are:
Semiotics - Ferdinand de Saussure - Structuralism and signs;
Effects Theories:
Maximum efects (1920s)
Application of Statistical Methods (1930s)
Minimum Effects (1940s)
Looking for Effects and connections to psychology (in 1950 -1960s)
Mixed Effects (1970s)
The return of Maximum effects (1980s)

What form of Communication do you use most often?

I use my mobile and email on a daily basis.   I love emailing......


It is really intriguing and amazing how involved the subject of new communications technology is - I hadn't given it much thought in the past except for the issues highlighted and sensationalised by the media.  The impact and repercusssions on individuals and society on the whole, are amazing, now my eyes have been opened to this wide new world.   I always appreciated and supported new technology advancements, although I didn't understand the newest directions ( that's why I'm here learning) but I didn't quite get it.

I didn't expect this course to be easy, but I certainly didn't realise it's scope.   Learning is wonderful - new doors open all the time.  It has now made me interested on the impact of this area on the psychology of not only individuals but our communities and even society.  This will be interesting to follow through- 'Psychology and New Communications - where is it leading?'

Interestingly, according to a study by Gilleard, C., Hyde, M. and Higgs, P. (2007) in England, the use of new communication technology such as mobile phone and internet did have a negative impact on the sense of people's attachment to their local community (50yrs and older) but it didn't effect their sense of trust in their neighbourhood nor the feeling that people there were friendly.   I look forward to investigating this further together with other areas of psychological impact on relationships and individual's new forms of interaction in society

                                                                       References

The History of Communication, Timeline.  2011.  About.com Inventors, viewed 28 July 2011 http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bl_history_of_communication.htm
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Gilleard, C., Hyde, M. and Higgs, P. 2007,  Community and communication in the third age: The impact of Internet and cell phone use on attachment to place in later life in England.  Oxford Journals, Life Sciences & Medicine & The Jounals of Gerontology Series B, no. 62. Issue 4, S276 - S283.






                                                                       

Week 1 - Tutorial task

Introducation:

Although I am an avid user and supporter of the computer, as well the internet, and have used it nearly every day since the eighties, I am scared of new technology when I don't know how to use it properly.  As soon as I know what I'm doing, I'm off and running.  This is why I'm doing this course.  I'm really looking forward to joining the users of today and take full advantage of current communications.  I love it!  So exciting .....

I am a student of psychology and want to establish and develop contacts around the world - to spread the message of self-care and mindfulness from an early age.  I can see that making full use of new communications technologies will be very advantageous in this field.

I have lived fully and travelled extensively till now but in between I have always had 'deep and meaningful' questions - why people do the things they do, why certain things happen (or don't happen).  I wasn't getting the answers I needed, so I decided to go after them - and so here I am!

Week 1 - Response to Content

What are the main issues in new communications technology?

It's highlighted by the media  regularly that as fast as new communications technology develops, it is faced by an increasing number of issues.  These include among many issues, threats to all aspects of personal and corporate privacy; international hacktivism; accuracy of information eg Wikipedia; and health concerns - cancers; fitness, emotional well-being to name just a few.   It's really quite astonishing that with these benefits and advances come a myriad of challenges.


How do we distinguish between old and new communication technologies?

The move from analogue to digital has marked the major change between old and new communication technologies.  This change has not been supported by everyone.   There are still many people who find the non-precision of analogue much more appealing to digital which is 'black or white', on or off.  These include the areas of photography, music, radio and television.

As in the majority of cases, it is economics that has driven this change to a new technology.   A more efficient use of the digital spectrum and the promise of significant economic gains by governement as well as the broadcasting and telecommunications industries, has spurred the transmission from analogue to digital television (Flew 2002).

Under what circumstances will new communication technologies become old comunication technologies?


This will occur as 'new' technologies are adapted and redefined by the users as cultural and societal changes occur.  Emerging technologies will take their place, and supersede the use of current 'new' technology.





                                                                 Reference List:

Flew, Terry. 2002,  New Media an introduction, Oxford University Press.