HW 15

First off, I'd like to definitely appreciate your consistency in work habits and the effort you put into your posts. I can see the depth of thought in every one of your posts. Also the tone of your posts are very relaxed and seem to feel real, without all the crap that usually makes me have a hard time appreciating and comprehending peoples ideas. This also enhances the readability of your posts, it never feels like a burden to read no matter how long it is. 

After reading your post on the two texts, the part where you restated the fact that reading can cause isolation really stood out to me. Since it was also one of my most thoughtful insights on the whole excerpt I felt glad that it shows some significance to someone other than myself. Also your understanding of the text was very similar to mine. I feel like you also felt that the author did a very good job resisting the need to insert a biased statement about either topics.

I had a talk with my brother regarding the quote "Art is not a Mirror with which to reflect the World. It is a Hammer with which to shape it." Your opinion that Feed is more like a mirror resembles my brother's insight almost completely. The freedom he lets the readers have of creating their own beliefs about the advancement of technology lets the readers aware and gives them a topic to think over. Though I don't agree with the fact that he didn't portray a biased insight. I think the way the story unraveled showed more negative outcomes of the Feed than the positive aspects of it, which makes me feel as if Anderson wants us to approach the situation as a conflict. 

In all honesty, I don't want you to change anything about your posts. I find that the quality and quantity of your work is just what Im looking for. It leaves me with a sense of satisfaction.

Keep up what you've been doing from the start. If there is anything you'd personally like to change or try in your posts I encourage you to do so. I'm looking forward to reading more of your work in the future. 

HW 14

The excerpts from the book Everything Bad is Good for You shows the pros and cons regarding our current advancements in technology, comparing and contrasting topics such as television programs and how their advancement throughout the years have significance in our lifestyles now, and other sources of entertainment including video games and literature. It approaches these topics in a unbiased form, reassuring the reader with information from both perspectives. 

The comparison between old school television programs such as Starsky and Hutch and new programs such as The Sopranos show an increase of intelligence needed to virtually sustain a sense of comprehension while viewing the show. The author uses graphs to portray the difficulty and variety each show offers for the viewers; the results show that new age shows require the audience to have greater mental strength than the older classics. The comparison between video gaming and reading literature gives great insight on both skills required for the two sources of entertainment. Though overall, the skills required to read and understand a book(concentration, memory, etc.) are valued more than the skills to successfully complete a video game in the real world, they both offer a variety of mental workouts that can help the individual grow in the real world including hand-eye coordination and virtual memory. 

In both excerpts, I felt comfortable with the fact that both perspectives were brought into play, and were balanced out. I personally liked the way the graphs were used to give us a visual representation of the change in TV shows over time. I still do not feel that determining advancement in the human intelligence based on how the shows were constructed justifies the opinion that we have grown smarter through the use of technology. As it is said in the text, the ideas that created The Sopranos and other mind-numbing shows have been represented in older programs. The simplicity in classic TV shows only come from our lack in experience. We should not be expected to be capable of creating a twisted eventful plot five years after the TV is invented. I don't think criticizing the simplicity of old shows is an accurate way of viewing our advancement as a whole.

The excerpt regarding video games and reading literature had my personal opinion swaying from one side to another. The part that struck me to be truly significant is the feeling of isolation while absorbed in a book vs. social interaction in a video game. Video games these days are designed to let the individual interact with people all over the world, whether they are strangers of family. This option makes the choice of video games to seem much safer in terms of growth in social skills, but in reality you are not socializing with one another in the real world. Speaking to someone face to face requires a wider range in social skill compared to raging at some stranger over the mic connected to your game console. You feel a sense of security compared to the raw feeling of interacting and socializing with an individual sitting next to you. 

M.T. Anderson had a very biased view on the advancement of technology. He mocked our generation of relying heavily on electronics. The excerpts still showed some respect towards the people who live a lifestyle which requires the use of technology, but also contradicts an argument with a flip-side. Anderson's main focus is on human advancement and how it is "negatively" affecting our society, giving us a insight on how pathetic it will be if we continue to tighten the bond between humans and electronics. The author of the excerpts focuses on technology's "significance" in our lives. Although the main ideas of these two authors don't necessarily go hand in hand with each other, they both show our advancement. One being the advancement from the past to present. The other focusing on our advancement from here on out. 

  

FEED B

I interpret M.T Anderson's FEED as a form of revolutionary art that portrays specific flaws that our generation and following generations will begin to encounter. The allegory used to portray the author's perspective on teenagers and what we soon will become illustrates a vital point in the fall of humanity, where we become less human and more machine. The tragedies that are revealed to the reader halts us from overlooking the deep connection we see between the Feed world and our world. 

I also found the form of language used in the book intentionally mocks teenagers, possibly to create an aspect of the book that can alert young readers to navigate themselves deeper into the book to find the true conflicts and messages the author is trying to communicate to us. The conflict being the side effects of the digital lifestyle, the young adults of that generation are the primary target. He gives us examples of tragedies but never tells us how they are perfectly stabilized and resolved, as if we are expected to do something about our own lives to lead into a future where we are not overpowered by machines. 

Regarding Bret Bercht's quote "Art is not a mirror with which to reflect the world. It is a hammer which to shape it". Art is a form of revolt and rebellion that is brought out through images. Although it can be used as a mirror for the world to see its true self while under sever situations, but it can also be used to send messages and emotions towards the world. I find Feed to be both a hammer and a mirror. It shows an image of what we are starting to become, the inevitable outcomes that we try to blind ourselves from by being captured within the moment. It reveals ourselves to the facts that we deny. I believe we are the hammers that sculpt the world for the better or worse, we just use the book as a mirror to realize our flaws. 

Feed A

The Life Titus and his friends live in FEED by M.T Anderson portrays is a futuristic interpretation of our current life. We rely heavily on the digital lifestyle which manipulates our lives and even lessens the value of real life interaction. The "Feed" that is often used by the teenagers is capable of refreshing the owner's mind with information regarding pretty much everything, whether it be news or simple advertisements, they are no longer responsible of personally storing information that is gathered through their experiencing.
The FEED represents the technology that surrounds us such as the computer that gathers information for us on demand. He illustrates the characters to be extremely reliant of the piece of equipment making them into uneducated physical figures when it is removed from them. In the scene at the hospital after a hacker corrupts their Feeds, they begin to panic, making them vulnerable to their surroundings in the real world they have been distracted from for so long. It mocks us teens to show how stupid we have really become due to the advancement of technology and how we have wandered on to the bandwagon of the "easy" life.
The only aspect which I personally think is inaccurate about Anderson's interpretation of the futuristic teenage life is the concept of the feed. Why would anyone create a device that is required so heavily? I find technology to be a source of entertainment, but not a necessity. The concept in which a device is implanted in our physical bodies and distracts our senses of vision, also limiting our access to the real world is beyond idiotic. I don't, or possibly don't want to believe that we are consumed by the digital life to make humans and machines one.

Hw#10

http://www.informationweek.com/news/internet/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=196902629

This article is short, but gets to the point very quickly with stats to back it up. It reveals that we unconsciously find ourselves hovering over the computer than the ones that mean the most in our lives. What makes people enjoy their time on the computer over their wife, or family? I think its the options computers give us. They are never ending.

The most interesting part is that more than 50% of Americans don't find they're experience to be grateful. If so I wonder why we still use it? We still need to find a way to prioritize out lives, especially within the family. It is saddening to see that a tool can have more value than the ones closest to us.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/16/technology/hempel_facebook.fortune/index.htm

This article is strictly about the advancement of Facebook. The stats reveal that it grew from a small community to a world wide communication platform in about 5 years. Im sure this has alot to do with the first article as well. Facebook becomes another aspect that makes us adhere to our computers.

http://www.progressiveu.org/125207-technology-taking-over

This article is not professional like the first two, but the author's perspective makes it very interesting. He states that we need to realize that technology is not necessarily essential in every day life. If people were required to use it for work, you can leave it at that and resist yourself from using it any more. He also states near the end that "balance" is very significant in living our life to the fullest. I posted an opinion about this in my first few posts.

HW#9

Dear Hannah

Thanks for the comment Hannah. I know i should have made the whole video a little more "digital" but the situation I was in didn't give me much options. I've realized that in every comment you make responding to my posts, you always quote specific sections of my work. I really appreciate that you read my posts in depth as to just skimming through it. Your also very understanding and open minded about my arguments, and you always share put in your two cents in addition.

Your connection to my argument that emotions don't come out as much while concentrated on the digital world to your real life experience at Six Flags made me realize that I've had those moments too. It really illustrates how the Digital world can mask up people since the physical body is not intact with the mental self as much compared to living in reality.

The question that asked me whether or not I'd have my kids spending time on technology really had me thinking. In conclusion I want to say that I find the use of technology to be inevitable, at least by the time I have kids. I know that my use of technology will deeply influence them too, and the more useful and convenient they become I think I'll end up abusing them just to make life easier. Ten hours will be a bit too much though.

Overall, you seem very aware of how the physical body is affected by the use of technology. I tend to give in to the use of technology after time, usually making me understand the mental concept of the use than the physical. Im glad I can get another perspective on it that conflicts mine. It deepens my understanding of how good/bad daily use of technology can really be.

I understnad your opinion about technology "wasting" our time. This makes me want to question what I would be doing to replace the time consumed in the digital world. In all honesty I don't find myself undergoing any other activites that require physical labor. It contemplates for my lack of time managed being proactive. I'm sure you and I both would like to know other's honest reply to how they would live they're life if they were to replace time on the computer with something non digital. I myself will be lost without the daily dose of digital entertainment.

HW #8 Dear Jace and Hannah

Dear Jace 

I'd first like to apologize for not putting up my video sooner, I tend to procrastinate up to the point until I'm either late or minutes away from the deadline. Since it does affect you and Hannah's overall grade I'll try my best to priorities my homework over other daily activities.  

Your video definitely portrays the different aspects of the digital lifestyle. I like how you covered a majority of the various digital activities we do, and the most significant ones as well. I also noticed that you were quite unhappy throughout the whole video as stated in your second paragraph. Not only did you show what people tend to look like while absorbed in technology, but the emotional aspects of how it can affect us.  

Based off your comment after watching your own video, I can see that you grasped a very good perspective on how people are under the influence of the digital lifestyle. The way you used your brother as an example of people prioritizing the digital world over the real world really shows that you understand the border between being too absorbed and maintaining balance between the two lifestyles. Though I also understand how you feel when your brother turns on the TV. There is nothing more distracting than technology that distributes sound, which I honestly think is why we are able to become captivated in it.  

Similar to your brother, I also had a time period in middle school where video games and computers made my life. Now that I look back at those days, I tend to forcefully resist myself from staying home. It's scary how people can dramatically change due to a new system console or a new video game, and as an individual who has experienced the horror of becoming absorbed with it I can finally be honest with myself and say it truly can be bad for you physically and mentally.  

It seems like you've realized the flaws of being too distracted with technology. That it makes you feel vulnerable to hostility. I'd like to know how your brother reacts when he is focused on the digital world. Does he conflict your anger and become more passive? And now that you have realized it, how has your reactions changed?  

I also liked your opinion about the Wii. Though people try to categorize it to be a more healthier way to play video-games, the mental aspects of it does not change much from when you are sitting on your couch playing Xbox.  

I like your style, and creativity. It definitely makes me feel like I'm doing something more than homework, and actually learning something through your work. Please keep it up as it helps me do my part as well.

Dear Hannah  

I'd like to apologize to you as I did to Jace about my lack of skill in managing to do homework. I also wanted to thank you for really bugging me about being proactive with homework assignments which has me commenting on your video now. Although I honestly am very exhausted from a long day of school and work, I feel like I owe you for your management of the group and this is the least I can do.  

First off, I love the color you picked for the two videos. Though it seems like a primitive video without much color, you show that you definetely are living in a digital world. You also seem to be fully concentrated in the activities you do. I didn't notice in the first video that you were listening to music so when you started bobing your head I was pretty confused, but Im glad you took out the Ipod to reveal that you using not only one but two different types of modern day technology.  

The second part of your video stood out to me the most, mainly because you are holding a guitar (I play as well) and the fact that your a lefty. Though acoustic guitar's (possibly classical?) are a few of the things that we still value today that are not run by battery power, we have come up with devices such as the guitar tuner to enhance our experience with it. It made me realize how even the non-digital activities are being upgraded by technology.  

In your first part of the video, after winking at the camera you are deeply engaged in texting for such a long period of time. I personally never text long enough to concentrate that hard, but durring the summer I saw numerous people traped in their virtual world the cellhpone offers. Durring my visit to Japan I was actually disgusted by the number of people who have they're phones out on the train. Atleast 80% of the people were either watching TV, texting, playing games, and even blogging on their cellphones. Though the phone technology in that country is very gratifying, It really has shown a significant impact on people's daily lives.  

One part i'd like you to expand on is the emotional aspect of being under the influence of technology. Though you looked pretty content while listening to your Ipod and texting, I'd like to see you express how it feels to be using these devices. 

I again would like to apologize about being selfish and not being a respectable team member. I am looking forward to being in your group over the course of this year.  

P.S. If possible, I'd like to know if you can post an edited version of the comment on my video. I have the additional thoughts written along with the posted video. Thanx