Media and Cyberculture: November 2013

Sunday 17 November 2013

Week 5: The Digital Mind/Body

WEEK 5

TOPIC: The Digital Mind and Body:

Introduction: Thinking about this topic is a reminder of what Flew said about Ubiquitous Technology as to the rate at which technological devices are widely spread and interlocked among various networks with multidimensional functions infused in our daily lives. (Flew, T. 2005). This is made possible via series of concepts which I will like to mention below.

Key Concepts: Some of the key concepts discussed in class include:

· The robot,

· Artificial Life (Alife),

The Robot: (Cerf, V. 2013) described Robots to be useful engines. He also drew our attention to what (Isaac Asimov) the science imaginary author said concerning Robots on ‘the interconnection of robots and programming enhancement influencing human bodies with concrete results and the clear contrast between processor hypermedia manufacturing company and cybernetics in terms associating with the immediate environment. Robots as situated objects on the other hand can be seen as man-made in-organic beings that act upon pre-arranged commands and not on nonrepresentational information.(Rodney, Brookes.2002).

ALife: The making and learning of realistic creatures and methods is what artificial life focuses on. Artificial Life is made of synthetics for the purpose of communication. These modern systems came out as a result of computers. Ecologists and processor experts are hopeful in making computerized human beings the same way the intellectuals in the medical field devised artificial environment for living organisms. (Steven Levy).

Critical Thinkers:

· John Steven’s research on Emergence indicates that it is a state of imagining how complicated systems could be born out of easy conversations with no preparation. (John Steven)

· John, McCarthy. (1956) saw Artificial Intelligence as the act of employing both theoretical and practical knowledge to manufacture brainy equipment.

Contemporary Issues Arising: One obvious issue confronting the artificial world is the medical implications of electrical rays in the destruction of cells in the body. (. Another point to note is the serious side effects that come after undergoing plastic surgeries. The body part transplant trauma is yet another factor that should not be overlooked. (Ija, A. 2012) and (Paul, D.M. 2013) respectively.

Critical Questions: The emergence and adoption of New Technologies in all aspects of human life and performing sensitive roles in strategic positions in place of a man in recent times had giving rise to several questions. Are Machines taking the place of humans?. In an attempt to answering that question, the researcher opined that “Our daily lives are pre-dominantly occupied by smart phones and at present, they are important tools in the hands of customers as signs of attaining social status, do business, gain knowledge, get information and as communication enhancer. This however has extended to the younger generation as well”. (Merchant,Guys. 2012).

Liu, Allen (2012) among many researchers gave cogent analyses on how the study of the Digital state of humanity did not only concentrate on how to enhance human labor but also how technology can mainly take the place of man in dynamic ways to fit into the advanced level of learning and emerging high-Tech companies.

The use of Three-Dimensional Machine in enhancing human lives as regards heart transplant and the likes is another welcome development.( Moceri, Pamela. 2012)

In contrast of the this case study, this piece of writing shows the significance in Simmel’s attitude towards life. He supported the Irony behind the pre-existence of a person in fluid form, into an individual and that, living and dying is inevitable to everything that has breath. (Pyyhtinen, Olli. 2012), (Kevin Warwick 2006).

In buttressing the previous argument, Polanyi also bore his mind on the “Irreducible Structure of Life” by saying “despite how clear physical science and interaction justify their claims on the inferior procedural stages of life, it still cannot fundamentally spell out the general development and complex philosophy guiding animate creatures.” See also Roger Faber (1986) and Robert Faber (2007).

In summary, it is pertinent to note at this juncture that technology has come to stay and will continue to develop and infused into human minds, activities, and environment and bodies to the extent that separating the two will be quite challenging. The claims of Researchers on the negative impact of robots on the society ( Ng, Parry P.W. 2012) cannot in anyway be compared to the benefits that come with it. (Yucel, Gulcin. 2012) and (Ng, Parry P.W.)

In conclusion, the use of Robots should be encouraged because of the indescribable roles it had played in industries and to individuals at large. It is a boost for industrial productivity, life supporter, detector and intelligence information source, useful tool in times of war to protect territories and will still be more helpful especially during anticipated wars that might happen due to political crises in the world but It will be fairer if the consistent use of Robots will not displace people from not being employed.

Possible Literature Avenues: Articles and Books were sourced in and outside the University of Bedfordshire Library. Conference and peer reviewed materials were taking from same sources.

Possible Multimedia: Computers, Drones, Industrial Robots, Bomb Disposals.

Website:( Heart Transplant) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SDXsjM23_E

Books: Flew, Terry. (2005). New Media: Introduction. South Melbourne, Vic :Oxford University Press.

Journal Articles:

Cerf, Vinton G. Communications of the ACM. Jan2013, Vol. 56 Issue 1, p7-7. 1p. DOI: 10.1145/2398356.2398358. , Database: Business Source Premier.

Iji Ayobami, B; Zhu, Forest; Heimlich, Michael; Dutkiewicz, Eryk. 2012 International Symposium on Communications & Information Technologies (ISCIT) , 1/ 1/2012, p139-142, 4p. Publisher: IEEE.

References:

Cerf, Vinton G. Communications of the ACM. Jan2013, Vol. 56 Issue 1, p7-7. 1p. DOI: 10.1145/2398356.2398358. , Database: Business Source Premier

Iji Ayobami, B; Zhu, Forest; Heimlich, Michael; Dutkiewicz, Eryk. 2012 International Symposium on Communications & Information Technologies (ISCIT) , 1/ 1/2012, p139-142, 4p. Publisher: IEEE.

Life, Death and Individualism: Pyyhtinen Structure of Life by , Olli. Theory, Culture & Society , Dec2012, Vol. 29 Issue 7/8, p78-100, 23p. Publisher: Sage Publications.

Liu, Alan. Arts & Humanities in Higher Education, Feb2012, Vol. 11 Issue 1/2, p8-41, 34p. Publisher: Sage Publications. )

Kevin Warwick;Virginie Ruiz. In Artificial Neural Networks (ICANN 2006) / Engineering of Intelligent Systems (ICEIS 2006),Neurocomputing. 71(13):2619-2624 Language: English. DOI: 10.1016/j.neucom.2007.06.017, Database: ScienceDirect Merchant, Guy. British Journal of Educational Technology. Sep2012, Vol. 43 Issue 5, p770-782. 13p. 1 Color Photograph, 1 Chart. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8535.2012.01352.x.

Moceri, Pamela; Doyen, Denis; Bertora, David; Cerboni, Pierre; Ferrari, Emile; Gibelin, Pierre; Echocardiography, 2012 Sep; 29 (8): 970-7. (journal article - research, tables/charts) ISSN: 0742-2822 PMID: 22563905, Database: CINAHL Plus with Full Text.

Polanyi Polanyi, Michael; Goldstein, Jeffrey. Emergence: Complexity & Organization.2012, Vol. 14 Issue 4, p139-153. 15p. , Database: Business Source Premier

Flew, Terry. (2005). New Media: Introduction. South Melbourne, Vic. :Oxford University Press xvi, 304 p. ; 23 cm.

Yucel, Gulcin. International Journal of Production Research. Jan2012, Vol. 50 Issue 1, p161-176. 16p. DOI: 10.1080/00207543.2011.571452. , Database: Business Source Premier Gutmann, Jens-Steffen; Culp, Kristen; Munich, Mario E.; Pirjanian, Paolo. 2012 IEEE Workshop on Advanced Robotics & its Social Impacts (ARSO) , 1/ 1/2012, p50-53, 4p. Publisher: IEEE.

Tuesday 12 November 2013

Conceptualizing Media Change

WEEK 2 Introduction: Media as the name implies is a channel through which messages are disseminated or transmitted to large audience simultaneously beyond geographical locations. Be that as it may, one major characteristics is that it transients due to different factors influencing It; ranging from Industrial Revolution and the law of nature that deals with change. Chang is constant; so is media that was the reason John K. Kennedy- (Brainy Quote) noted how important change is to anyone who believes in the upcoming generation. Nevertheless media change occurs as a result of transformation from medieval media. Fidler,(1997) through several other stages to the new media of today. A very good example of such was when Engineer Lee carried out an experiment by sending message on a car idling in New York. (Engineer Lee de Forest, (1906). There also came the emergence of mobile telephone in the US by AT&T in 1946. (Phonehistory.co.uk) Media revolution had seen many days; considering the Old Media time where books and other related materials was in vogue, to this era of phone usage depicting New Media. ‘Media houses, information resource personnel and culture are so intermingled with the technology of the day and that makes the internet to be well known’ (Flew, T. 2008 New Media: An Introduction). Key Concepts: Digitalization: This enables television folders extremely agreeable to operate. (Richard Wise 2000). Adding more to what has being said already, Lev Manovitch (2010) said Analog is better than digital when it comes to the possibility of loss of data and that in visual transmission, only certain amount of data is allowed. (Lev Manovitch 2001). Augmented Reality: This is the placement of real objects on communication gadgets to help manipulators have a clearer view of the real world instead of changing it completely; as a result, it appears to as though both function side by side. (Ronald Azuma. A survey of Augmented Reality,(1997). Critical Thinkers: Bolter et al (1999) uses the concept of Remediation to explain how photographic broadcast strives to let watchers perceive representation as live transmissions and not as viewing it through any channel. On the other hand, he also researched out Hypermedia; a direct opposite of the former whose aim is to rather prompt audience the means through which they got informed or entertained. (Bolter and Grusin,(1999). Lev Manovitch, (2001). Looked at ‘Interaction’ at the software angle and said, it seems to omit the one-on-one impact it usually creates while Flew, T. (2008) concentrated on cyberspace ability to link communications to several webs Contemporary Issues Arising: In as much as media advancement brought positive impact in our society, the negative parts cannot be far-fetched. The hacking of the pavilion in China was one prominent issue, downplaying the right to privacy and freedom of worship. Another example is the impact of the internet replacing the physical environment. (Manovitch,2006). The anticipated goggle glasses next year is another source of major concern in that even though it will foster surveillance but the adverse effect cannot be over emphasized, meaning that one’s identity will no longer be hidden. Cultural Importance: Change in the media world is indeed a welcome development, reasons being that it had helped a great deal to give information in different aspects of life so businessmen, the uneducated and the poor free access to information and networks to better lives. (Hillary Clinton, 2010). Convergence Culture had influenced individuals to be active, literary, sociable and civic. (Jenkins,2006). ) (Morozov, E. 2001) Critical Questions: I. Are Old Technology metamorphosing into New Technology II. Does Old Media generate all the ideas of the New Media III. Augmented Reality; what is it IV. The significance of Augmented Reality V. Does it question the views of cosmos .Leonardo Magazine vol 19, April 2013. Possible Literature Avenues: UoB and Journal outside UoB Library Books: Roger Fidler , Mediamorphosis (1997), Bolter and Grusin, Remediation: (1999) Journals: LaRiviere, Kristin; Snider, Jeanette; Stromberg, Alison. About Campus, v17 n3 p10-17 Jul-Aug 2012. (EJ975780), Database: ERIC: Fattal, Alex. In: Anthropological Quarterly. Summer, 2012, Vol. 85 Issue 3, p927, 30 p.; Institute for Ethnographic Research Language: English, Database: Academic OneFile Possible Multimedia: I. Mobile Radio Phone II. Cellular Networks III. iPhone IV. Camera Phones V. Mobile Phones as RFID etc References: Azuma, R. (1999) A survey of Augmented Reality, Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, 6 (4), pp 355- 385. Bolter, J.D., & Grusin, R. (1999). Remediation: Understanding New Media. Cambridge: MIT Press. Fidler, R. (1997). Mediamorphosis: Understanding New Media. California: Pine Forge Press. Flew, T. (2008). New Media: An Introduction. Oxford : Oxford University Press. Jenkins,( 2006). Convergence Culture: Where new and Old Media Collide. New York: New York University Press. Lev Manovich, (2006). The Language on New Media. Cambridge: MIT Press. Morozov, E. (2011). The Net Delusion: How not to liberate the World. London: Penguin Books. Wise, R. (2000). Multimedia: A critical Introduction. London: Routledge. Fattal, Alex. In: Anthropological Quarterly. Summer, 2012, Vol. 85 Issue 3, p927, 30 p.; Institute for Ethnographic Research Language: English, Database: Academic OneFile LaRiviere, Kristin; Snider, Jeanette; Stromberg, Alison. About Campus, v17 n3 p10-17 Jul-Aug 2012. (EJ975780), Database: ERIC Zhang, J.; Ong, S. K.; Nee, A. Y. C. International Journal of Production Research. Jul2011, Vol. 49 Issue 13, p3919-3938. 20p. 8 Color Photographs, 4 Diagrams. DOI: 10.1080/00207543.2010.492802. , Database: Business Source Premier

Conceptualizing Media Change

Misunderstanding Web 2.0

WEEK 3 Introduction: What readily comes to the mind whenever Web 2.0 is mentioned is the Cyberspace. Web 2.0 is a platform for gaining knowledge via sharing of information between users and their contacts with continuous improvement.(Michael Platt). Tim Berners-Lee (2000) however, also bore his mind on the Web 2.0 and Web 1.0 to say ‘they are both the same in that all is geared towards interaction and networking’. Key Concepts: Barlovian Cyberspace. John Perry Barlow, the deputy chairperson of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) announces the sovereignty of the cyberspace as these engineers the America’s Wild West and individualism. Another example is that this concept seeks to generate a society where everybody might be a part of; not minding ones color, gender, financial status or place of origin and where freedom of speech, religion and other related matters are carried out. Gibsonian Cyberspace: In another instance, William Gibson exclaimed that Cyberspace is founded on information supplied by data that cannot be easily deleted even when user is long dead. Authority is usually vested on users who excellently utilize information. The bedrock of cyberspace is the World Wide Web (WWW) (Jari Peltola) Critical Thinkers: Theodore Raszack spoke extensively on Counter Culture. He pointed out how computer systems at community clubs brought awareness which in turns had adverse effect on society in the forms of political and traditional conflicts, campaign on gender inequality and the rise of student strikes on campuses. Simply put; Theodore added that it is a means of offering authority to the society. Steven Levy on the other hand concentrated on the Hacker Culture. He emphasized how that data accessibility should be unrestricted and that software is created to suit the display of arts which adds aesthetic values to better the lives of the people. Contemporary Issues: Despite the good sides of the Web 2.0, there are clear negative pointers of it as well: Research had it that ‘Technology is not a border line but only a modern backdrop for misunderstanding between traditional leaders and social/political authorities. (Jari Peltola). The use of bombs in the 20th century for cold war and the likes is another negative point to note. Examining more on the negative aspect of the internet, it is only obvious that the era of peaceful society and respect for community leaders is gone. Hacker Values rather broadcast uncertainties of people in power. Comparing the time of Old Media and now, it is no doubt that humans tend to rely more on technology in the place of developing perusal skills. Cultural Importance: The discovery of the Differential Calculus by (Newton) to analyze waves round the sun begat Industrial Revolution where several machines like the Babbage Different Engine, Knowledge Machines by Vannervar Bush and Memex (1934 ) were manufactured. More so, this was the era the US military engaged the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator machines(ENIAC) in place of human beings to calculate artillery range tables. This however did not only reduce human labor but also saves time. Examining the benefits of the internet still, Nicole Stenger, (1991) a cartoonist described the ability of the internet in preserving animate and inanimate objects forever That is to say ones impacts are preserved for eternity. Even though Dion Hinch Cliffe criticized the advent of the internet by saying ‘the old way of nosing and / or sourcing of information had long gradually eroded away’, that the internet rather presented new methods of limitless and uncontrollable access to information but Neil Postman instead, laid emphases on the fact that ‘cyberspace as a tool for entertainment’. (Comedy). Case study: The Advantages and Disadvantages of the internet: Its benefits in relation to free access and utilization of information, reduction of human labor, and avoidance of concentrated power at the centre as well as the beautification of the world via high-tech inventions cannot be over emphasized. Richard reiterated that ‘technology had brought and made social equality and communication regionalized and permanent’. (Richard Wise). More so, it is indeed very important to mention that in a society such as this, humor is highly needed to ease the daily stress, worries and anxieties facing mankind. (Neil postman: Amusing Ourselves to Death). The railway system to facilitate travelling without delays is also mind blowing. At this juncture, it is pertinent to say that the embrace of the internet also brought unwanted issues which if can be avoided will make the society a better place to live in. some of these issues can be seen in the forms of civil unrest, atomic bomb explosions, global warming, (the depleting of the Ozone layer, hurricanes, environment pollution, synthetic life styles which is rather causing more harm than good when critically examined. The awareness that at any point in time one is being watched somehow by some persons at some places is also quite alarming. In all, l recommend that in as much as information should be free especially for students carrying out researches but on the other hand, sensitive information as touching one’s personal health records etc should be treated as confidential. Another interesting side of the whole discussion is the answerability and work without supervision that de-massification seeks to promote at work places. (Stunkey 1995, p.43) should be adopted so as to boost human creativity. Attention of using technology to create harmful substance should rather be redirected towards advanced peace-oriented tools because the whole wide world need nothing but peace to be sustained. Critical Questions: Because of the drastic change in culture due to development of technology, it is only natural for one to question its authenticity of who actually controls the cyberspace and how much of authority is vested on the society and with what measures are breakers of the Law punished Possible Literature Search Avenues: UoB and materials outside UoB Books: Steven Levy, HACKERS: Heroes of the computer revolution, Theodore Roszack :Counter Culture, William Gibson: Neuromancer, Neil Postman: Amusing ourselves to Death, Richard Wise, Multimedia: A critical Introduction Journals: DEPOVER, Christian; QUINTIN, Jean-Jacques; STREBELLE, Albert. Education et Francophonie.2013, Vol. 41 Issue 1, p173-191. 19p. 2 Color Photographs, 1 Chart, 1 Graph. Language: French. , Database: Education Research ALLEN, R. C. Economic History Review. May2011, Vol. 6 Cailliau, Robert; Gillies, James. OECD Observer. 2012 4th Quarter, Issue 293, p32-33. 2p. , Database: Business Source Premier Braman, Sandra ; New Media & Society, Vol 14(4), Jun, 2012. pp. 721-723. [Review-Book], Database: PsycINFO Possible Multimedia: The Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator Machine ( ENIAC ), The HYPERTEXT (WWW ), Personal Computers, Babbage Difference Engine, UNIVAC, Microelectronics and Flight Stimulators References: Gibson, W.(1995). Neuromancer. New York: Harper Voyager. Levy, S. (2010). Hackers: Heroes of the computer revolution. California: O’Reilly Media. Postman, N. (2005). Amusing Ourselves to Death. London: Penguin Books Wise, R. (2000). Multimedia: A critical Introduction. London: Routledge. ALLEN, R. C. Economic History Review. May2011, Vl. 6 Cailliau, Robert; Gillies, James. OECD Observer. 2012 4th Quarter, Issue 293, p32-33. 2p. , Database: Business Source Premier Braman, Sandra ; New Media & Society, Vol 14(4), Jun, 2012. pp. 721-723. [Review-Book], Database: PsycINFO DEPOVER, Christian; QUINTIN, Jean-Jacques; STREBELLE, Albert. Education et Francophonie.2013, Vol. 41 Issue 1, p173-191. 19p. 2 Color Photographs, 1 Chart, 1 Graph. Language: French. , Database: Education Research

Monday 11 November 2013

Conceptualizing Media Change. Week 2

Monday 4 November 2013

Week 4 Blog

WEEK 4

UBIQUITY TECHNOLOGY

Ubiquitous technology is explained as the use of modern software and applications in our everyday lives. This is paramount in our day to day activities as computers and its applications have become a common tool whether in business, politics or other sectors.

Specific Experts: Adam Greenfield

Key Concepts: Some critical concepts discussed in the class include the concept of Surveillance, Privacy and Security. In addition to these there are Everyware propounded by Adam Greenfield, the notion of Panopticon and Synopticon, Cryptography, Equiveillance and Suosveillance, Guantanamo and the Taxonomy of Surveillance respectively

Terry Flew, New Media: An Introduction, p.35 opened our minds to the fact that Ubiquity Technology is the revolution of scientific advancement of quick-witted software that are of high demand to boost productivity in homes, banks, government parastatals, civilized zones, car parks, shopping malls, etc. One scholar noted that merchants are rather paying much attention to observe consumers’ behavior using Ubiquity Applications instead of taking practical measures to meet customer demands.

This unit’s slides also throw more light on the very fact that Data Mining is used by business tycoons to research ways of satisfying their customers. With this, individuals are trapped to obey the law reciprocal responsibility in which case they get satisfaction from products while losing most of their personal information online unconsciously via shopping cards and the likes.

Issues of Privacy: Bolter and Grusin (1999): 217 argued that Ubiquity Computing makes individuals relate, buy, travel and get information effortlessly and this will gradually become normal part of peoples’ daily lives hence, users share information that are classified as confidential with third parties due to frequent use of modern facilities (Smith et al, 1996). Stewart Segars (2002) at this point also highlighted the online harassments, Identity theft, email spamming, religious mockery etc.

Surveillance: In as much as surveillance is seen as a practice to avert unwanted lifestyle of people, David Lyon (2004), P. 149, he also did not forget to lay emphasis on how emerging of interrelated digital applications from ‘cookies’ by web portals is being used to spot entry sites like the Close Circuit Television (CCTV), adding that people are employed nowadays just to keep an eye on peoples’ behaviors and locations with the aid of monitoring cameras, against rights to private life. The Law and Technology are major tools for privacy denial. Technology makes everyone guilty even though no one is seen as perfect. (Kofta’s – The Trial).

Issues arising: Individuals are denied right to private life and Users information are processed without their consent. Another worst point to note is the use of scanner to detect customer’s location, online hackers hence people do not have control over their information compare to what was obtainable before.

Critical Thinkers

However, Ubiquity Technology on the other hand enables to convey information on billboards, shop signs and graffiti and street signs at a glance without active attention. It does also help to monitor how house helps treat children when parents are away and children television contents to encourage morals in the society

Adams Greenfield was one of the critical thinkers of ubiquitous technology. In 2006, he wrote the book: Everyware: The Dawning Age of Ubiquitous Computing. He received acclaim for his submissions in that book. In the book, he explains how information processing dissolving in behavior is shaping our lives. The book goes further in discussing the next generation of computing, its challenges for us.

Other thinkers include Cardinal Richedien, Michel Foucault and Frank Kafka. Michel Foucault was a French Philosopher and his theories addressed the relationship between power and knowledge and how it is used as a form of societal control through institutions set up by the society.

Books

Books on Ubiquitous technology includes: Surveillance society by David Lyon (2001), The Transparent society by David Brin (1998), Everyware by Adam Greenfield (2006), Profiling Machine by Grec Elmer (2003).

Journal Articles

Journal articles on Ubiquitous technology include:

Lyytinen, K. & Yoo, Y. (2002). Issues and Challenges in Ubiquitous Computing, Communications of the ACM, 45 (12), pp 62-65.

Waller,V., & Johnston,R.B. (2009). Making Ubiquitous Computing Available, Communications of the ACM, 52(10), pp 127-130.

Possible Multimedia

Gattaca (DVD). Other multimedia includes: Blogs, Tweet, Facebook. They are great tools for self realization, enhancement and development. This is made possible by interacting with contacts and vice versa there, comes the transfer of Knowledge. One also has the opportunity to meet experts in ones field. It is a very good platform for advert placement, access firsthand information via smart phones and networking as well. Google Googles, WiFi, DVDs machine, Home Theatre, catch machine, Tech Kinect, Infrared camera, Traffic monitors, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), QR Codes (2D) two dimensional are also some of the media mentioned.

REFERENCES

Bolter, J.D., & Grusin, R. (1999). Remediation: Understanding New Media. Cambridge: MIT Press.

Stewart, Kathy A., and Albert H. Segars (2002), "An Empirical Examination of the Concern for Information Privacy Instrument", Information Systems Research, (13) pp 36-49.