Week Seven Reading Reaction #2

I find the concept of "sight dominance" to be an issue from which there could be both great benefit and great loss. There is little doubt that our culture has become dominant in terms of being visual and because we have moved from an oral tradition to a visual tradition, there have been many advances. I am concerned, however, about the impact so much visualization is having on our ability to process information. There are two different types of processing that takes place depending on if the information is visual or audio. Given the fact that the majority of the information we take in is visual, the processing is different than audio. This may be one reason why there are more people are having problems with verbal communication especially with one another. People are so quick to avoid conversation in the name of confrontation when I suspect that the issue really has more to do with the fact that they are unable to verbally communicate because of the lack of an ability to process a thought and verbalize it. Visual communication does not require words to express emotion, however verbal communication more certainly does if it is to have any meaning. 

Week Seven Reading Reaction #1

The article Navigating Tecnomedia, makes clear that technology is not about getting rid of the old in favor of the new. Technomedia is all about the blending of various technologies into new and different ways of performing. The idea of technology be outdated is a way of thinking that prevents people from understanding how technology builds and shapes people. One central point to the article is the idea that technology as a development can influence people in different ways during different periods of development. Given that a certain piece of technology is developed, does mean that its impact will develop in a vacuum. This piece of technology may in fact influence people generations in the future who had little interaction with the technology, but nonetheless have been impacted by the technology and thus are influenced to makes impacts of their own. Technology is a process to which people experience the use of forms that influence and later their perceived world.

Week Six Reading Reaction #3

I am fearful that out improvement in this world will soon only be judged by how fast our computers and phones can download music or the latest bit of data. It seems to me that we are more interested in measuring "progress" through speed rather than through achievement of thought. I think that much of the progress that is given to technological improvements take away the process of gradually improving ourselves in a capacity that improves our minds. I think that too much technological engagement risks our ability to think because the processes which once required each of us to think, reflect and consider the next step afterwards, allowed each of us to be engaged in thought continuously. Now, that technology has replaced most of the thinking, I do not feel that society has replaced these processes with anything but a greater capacity to be lazy, demanding and to have a sense of over privilege.    

Week Six Reading Reaction #2

One area that I feel the readings brings up in terms of the relationship between machine and man but does not go into too much detail is the invasive character of electronic gadgets into our everyday lives. It is clear that the majority of our tools exceed what they were originally designed to do. Take for example the cellular phone. Most people do not use their phone for making calls, they use their phone to text, email, download or participate in an experience that is largely influenced by a "me" factor. However, I feel that this texting and downloading can be invasive and is making each of us more "robotic" and reactionary to our mobile devices. As soon as the phone rings or vibrates we have to check and see what has been sent. There seems to be an automation in our process of reacting to our technological connection to others.

Week Six Reading Reaction #1

People often have a tendency to think of the future as a positive experience; things will always be better later than they are now. This rosy sense of optimism that clouds the minds of many people is not wrong, but definitely shortsighted, especially when it comes to technology. Too often people demonstrate social success or cultural achievement by technological advancement. Unfortunately I do not think that just because the new iPhone has improved in speed that somehow life is better. Of course technology is helpful and has improved many aspects of life. However, caution must be exercised when thinking about the role of machines as we move to a more automated society. When people create machines that complete a task or no longer require a human element to be present, the process of thought and experience become absent from that act. I do not mean that suddenly the task is useless, but the interactive nature between man and machine suddenly becomes minimized in terms of mentally benefiting the human involved.      

Week Four Reading Reaction #3

I had the opportunity last night to discuss the idea of portraying an image through their online profiles through various social media outlets and it was interesting as to what responses I received when I discussed the idea of how the images that are uploaded and the background that is placed on the profiles can often be a projection of personalities they do not necessarily possess. I found that many people that I spoke to were not even aware of the images or the words they put up on their sites and how they were related to their actual characters. As I feared, people were often thinking about what they think other people would like to see, rather than being truthful to the characteristics they have in their life. I feel that many people place pictures and statements that are perceived to be what people want, but in actuality they are images that are just a reflection of their own wants and desires.   

Week 4 Reading Reaction #2

Just Like Me Only Better, is an article from which I was immediately struck by the amount of people who create alternative projections of their actual self when online. When I thought about this I considered the idea of an avatar or a made up character from which an individual could live out their fantasies. Of course this seemed so distant from my reality as I had never done role playing games online with characters nor did I know of anyone who participated in such activities. Then I thought about the social networks such as MySpace and Facebook, and all of the areas where you can create a profile. This profile can become an alternative projection of a self that embodies all or none of the characteristics that the creator maintains. I became concerned about this idea because what puzzled me was the amount of time, effort and thought that goes into the creation of an alternative identity. Is it really something that we have to think about and consider, or is it something that we simply just create during moments of passion, excitement and euphoria; all moments when actions are often the most regrettable? I think that we each need to consider the projection of a digital self and what sort of a projection says about who the creator is and how such a projection is a reflection as much as the world that we choose to participate and the world in which we must participate.