The semester has finally come to an end with all that is left to do is write this blog. The exam was.....well....just like any other exam...ok i guess.
It has been quite a journey this semester. I would like to say that i am alot more techo savvy and abit more worldly about the cyber realm that exists out there and i guess the idea of keeping a blog is to show you (Jules) that journey.
I have learnt a great deal through the course as i now know how the web works and what it consists of etc plus the theories and developments that have made it what it is. The most interesting part was how there are so many ways in which to interact.
The lectures I found a little tedious at times, due to the fact there is so much theory to get your head around. For techno buffs I’m sure they found it riveting. Plus the fact that our tutes sometimes felt like they were completely irrelevant to the weeks lecture, eg Cyberpolitics lecture and tute exercise with Microsoft Word....call me stupid, but i don't get the link!
It was great using applications such as Photoshop as I had never tried it before. Disastrous the results maybe but we all have to start somewhere. One task i particularly enjoyed was the scavenger hunt and the fact we couldn’t use Google. It opened my eyes to the number of OTHER search engines to use when sourcing stuff. It’s amazing what you can find when you think outside the square or should I say outside Google!
Another exercise I thought was good was the virtual reality worlds. I wouldn’t have ever gone into one, but it’s interesting to see how people interact when they are living in a world online.
One thing that definitely needs to be improved on is the Griffith computer/audio equipment……..it never works…..and when it does it takes who ever is lecturing ages to set up. It wastes the lecturers teaching time and our learning time, not to mention results in half the students leaving the class……not that I mind about that but being the lecturers I can assume you would. Whilst it’s not your job to improve the uni computer system, a word of advice to those who do from such knowledgeable people such as yourselves might lead to some improvement in that area.
On a whole I enjoyed the course and I have come away a lot more knowledgeable about the cyber world. So thanks :-)
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Weeks 10, 11 & 12
Yes i have been abit slack, but the essay was priority along with other assessments for other subjects!!
Ok here goes:
Week 10
Saw us lectured by Debra Beattie with the weeks theme illustrating how two different ideas have been altered through the use of technology. Deb works for Kids Help Line and was discussing the new interactive online counselling (similar to msn).
She also discussed her online doco 'The Wrong Crowd' for the ABC.
Week 11
Cyberpolitics and the digital divide. I learnt to appreacite how lucky we are to have access to current forms of technology unlike Stephen's phd student's fellow countrymen or a majority of anyway.
We also looked at Mark Posters arguement that we are presently witnessing the advent of the 'second media age'.
Week 12
Lucky last lecture again by Adam. Plus another viewing of hillarious youtube videos. Fab anamie one plus the love story of Blair and Bush......they make sure a cute couple and i hear Johnnie Howard is heart broken.
Looked at software - free and proprietary.
Introduced to Richard Stallman who Adam is a dead ringer for how how he founded the Free Software Foundation.........insanely smart people. Plus his idea of Copyleft, which is copyright flipped over!
The movie Primer was also show. Stephen was right when he said it was hard to follow and the fact there is always background movies playing and the actors mumble didn't help. It was about two guys who developed a machine in which they could travel back in time. In the end their creation becomes more trouble then beneficial with Aaron killing all clones but one. Sometimes too much brain power is not a good thing. Apparently the movie was produced for $7000.......maybe Hollywood could take notes?
Ok here goes:
Week 10
Saw us lectured by Debra Beattie with the weeks theme illustrating how two different ideas have been altered through the use of technology. Deb works for Kids Help Line and was discussing the new interactive online counselling (similar to msn).
She also discussed her online doco 'The Wrong Crowd' for the ABC.
Week 11
Cyberpolitics and the digital divide. I learnt to appreacite how lucky we are to have access to current forms of technology unlike Stephen's phd student's fellow countrymen or a majority of anyway.
We also looked at Mark Posters arguement that we are presently witnessing the advent of the 'second media age'.
Week 12
Lucky last lecture again by Adam. Plus another viewing of hillarious youtube videos. Fab anamie one plus the love story of Blair and Bush......they make sure a cute couple and i hear Johnnie Howard is heart broken.
Looked at software - free and proprietary.
Introduced to Richard Stallman who Adam is a dead ringer for how how he founded the Free Software Foundation.........insanely smart people. Plus his idea of Copyleft, which is copyright flipped over!
The movie Primer was also show. Stephen was right when he said it was hard to follow and the fact there is always background movies playing and the actors mumble didn't help. It was about two guys who developed a machine in which they could travel back in time. In the end their creation becomes more trouble then beneficial with Aaron killing all clones but one. Sometimes too much brain power is not a good thing. Apparently the movie was produced for $7000.......maybe Hollywood could take notes?
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Excel
Well up until the macros i excelled at using Microsoft Excell. This task was similar to last weeks where we had to follow instructions and see if we could get a graph and buttons on the tool bar to show gains, losses and gains and losses.
The instructions were fine up until the marcos part of the exercise where everything seemed to go out the window. The written instructions were confusing.....so confusing even our tutor struggled. So on a whole i found the exercise pretty average. Yes i had problems with the marcos and asked my tutor and fellow class mates....which were all in the same boat!
Yes i can see how this software would and is useful. If ever i need to create a graph to show any data for an assignment I always use Excell. As for the marcos i can see how useful the would be in a buisness environment. My tip would be to take a course in how to use Excell properly!
The instructions were fine up until the marcos part of the exercise where everything seemed to go out the window. The written instructions were confusing.....so confusing even our tutor struggled. So on a whole i found the exercise pretty average. Yes i had problems with the marcos and asked my tutor and fellow class mates....which were all in the same boat!
Yes i can see how this software would and is useful. If ever i need to create a graph to show any data for an assignment I always use Excell. As for the marcos i can see how useful the would be in a buisness environment. My tip would be to take a course in how to use Excell properly!
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Microsoft Word
Today we were given some exercises to complete using Word.
- Type a cover letter and save in word as Letter 1, then close and exit the application.
- Open and put highlight selected words either underlining, italics and bold. Save and close as Letter 2.
- Headers, Footers and Double Spacing to the document
- Track Changes
- Mail Merge
I have used all of these applications except Mail Merge so many times i have lost count. I found this exercise very easy as Word is what I use to type all of my assigments. I didn't find it confusing or have any problems. Using Mail merge as i haven't used it before so I have learn't something new which is always good.
As for the question ' Can you see how this software might be useful to you?' well yes, as i use it just about everyday if not for uni stuff then i am using the program at work.
What would be good is to have an exercise like this for unfamiliar programs such as (well for me anyway) photoshop to show you how to use the basics!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Essay
Are recording companies over reacting when it comes to ‘illegal downloading’?
In the early 80s major recording companies coined the phrase “home taping is killing music” (McLeod, 2005, p521). As technology has progressed, the major labels are now faced with a global epidemic of peer-2-peer file sharing. Music websites such as the original Napster site, LimeWire and Grokster have led the way for the public to download music of their choice at no cost what so ever. As a result of this, record companies have taken the battle for higher profit margins to the courts, bringing legal action against ‘illegal downloader’s’ wherever they can. This paper will discuss the rise of peer-to peer file sharing and how it has changed the music industry. This paper will also look at how record companies have reacted in response to illegal downloading and whether their reaction is reasonable.
Since the introduction of Napster (the original) to the internet, using peer-2-peer (P2P) file sharing to download files has become a major activity of net-savvy users. Napster was the first of many peer-2-peer based networks that allowed users from every corner of the world to download music MP3 files for free, sparking outrage and concern within the music industry. This reaction was justified, as consumers now had an automated way to copy copyrighted material, will little chance of being caught. (http://computer.howstuffworks.com/napster.htm).
McLeod (2005:526) argues the music industry brought the downloading debacle on itself through the distribution of music on compact discs. He argues that the selling of CDs resulted in higher profits, but, allowed fans to easily ‘burn’ songs onto their computers and put music files on the internet. Compression technology is what made this process practical to send audio files over the internet. File compression “squeezes” files to one-twelfth of their original size or possibly smaller with no noticeable sound quality loss (http://computer.howstuffworks.com/napster.htm). The MPEG-1 audio layer3 or MP3 s one type of compression format, with other types of file compression including AAC and WMA (Kowalski 2004:31). Along came P2P file sharing which works by individual users connecting to a central server which keeps an index of user’s online, connecting users to one another (www.kazaa.com).
As P2P file sharing became increasingly popular the concerns over piracy and infringement of copyright laws increased dramatically. This resulted in the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) seeking legal action against websites such as Napster. The RIAA claims that file sharing (of music files) is unauthorized copying or theft of intellectual property which has serious legal consequences (Kowalski 2004:32) The RIAA has launched legal attacks on P2P music sharing networks stating that websites such as these cost the industry billions in lost profits (Hurst & Harrison 2007:287). The music industry is dominated by the ‘Big Four’, otherwise known as Sony BMG, EMI, Universal and Warner, these four companies collectively control 85 percent of global recording sales (Burkart & McCourt 2006:6). This oligopoly of the industry by the Big Four has ensured their high profitability, however, now that profit faces the challenges of new technologies which offer alternate means of distribution, resulting in a direct threat to their primary strengths (Burkart & McCourt 2006:43).
Justifying the music industries reaction to P2P downloading, a report by IFPI (Digital Music Report 2007) shows that CD sales were affected globally due to internet piracy causing sales to fall by 23 per cent in 2000-2005 (IFPI Report, 2007:18). 2003 saw the RIAA request from the Federal Court a large number of subpoenas, demanding information on Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and personal information regarding college students who pirate music (Galuszka 2004:24). More than 10,000 individuals from as many as 18 countries have incurred legal action, with the industry claiming its aim is to educate and deter (IFPI Report 2007:18).
There is support to the suggestion that record companies are over reacting to illegal downloading, with studies proving downloading music from the internet does not have a negative effect on the music industry. Researchers found that for popular selling albums for every 150 downloads from those particular albums, sales increased by one copy (McGuire 2004). A report complied by Forrester Research found consumers who download music frequently buy 36 percent of all CDs in the US market, with only 13 percent saying downloading will decrease their music purchases and 39 percent increase music purchasing due to exposure to new music (Kruger 2003). Is has also been pointed out that legal downloading through online stores such as i-Tunes, are catching up to P2P sites, with 35 percent preferring legal downloading compared to 40 percent who still illegally download. (http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/6558.cfm).
Many artists, who are major contributors to record company’s profits, actually believe the internet is a highly effective tool to market and create their work. Only 28 percent of musicians believe file sharing poses a threat to the music industry, with 43 percent of the opinion that “file sharing services aren’t really bad for artists, since the help to promote and distribute an artists work to a broad audience” (Dean 2004). File sharing has been the main marketing tool for independent bands, with the success leading their albums to the top of the music charts (McLeod 2005:526).
Teens and post-teens are leaders in actively downloading music as they are generally the “money poor but time-rich” (Burkart & McCourt 2006:73). Colleges are amongst those fearing lawsuits as students illegally download through their information technology systems. Since the 1998 Digital Millennium Act (US), colleges have taken a tougher stance with students towards downloading as this act liability of their online service providers, provided they address the situation once abuse is found (Galuszka 2004:24). Students as young as 12, are being sued by the RIAA for “making illegal copyrighted material freely available by uploading it to file sharing programs such as KaZaA” (Burkart & McCourt 2006:70). Many individuals that RIAA target are unable to defend themselves or settle the proposed costs incurred. The RIAA also failed to check whether they are current downloader’s with one case based on a college student downloads three years prior (Electronic Frontier Foundation 2006:6). Resistance has built amongst those targeted with many challenging the RIAA which could possible force a re-evaluation of their hard lined ‘forced to settle approach’ (Electronic Frontier Foundation 2006:7).
P2P file sharing has revolutionized the music industry and forced record companies to assess how they can maintain their profit margins. However as this paper points out, it is questionable whether the ‘big four’ are reacting to P2P appropriately. So far their approach has been to sue individuals who have little or no money, as opposed to adopting an approach similar to Apple’s i-Tune’s which has secured and offered the market a legal approach to downloading internet music.
Word count 1050
References
Afterdawn News (2005) http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/6558.cfm (accessed 30 April 2007)
Burkhart, P. and McCourt, T. (2006) Digital Music Wars: ownership and control of the celestial jukebox, New York: Rowman & Littlefield.
Dean, Katie. (2004) ‘Study: Musicians dig the net’, http://.wired.com/print/entertainment/music/news/2004/12/65927
Electronic Frontier Foundation. (2005) The RIAA v. The people: Two years later http://www.eff.org/share/ (accessed 1 May. 2007)
Glauszka, P. (2004) ‘The war over Internet piracy’, Black Issues in Higher Education, vol.21, iss.2, pp. 24-27
Hirst, M. and Harrison, J. (2007) Communication and new media: from broadcast to narrowcast, New York: Oxford University Press.
IFPI Digital Music Report 2007 http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_resources/publications.html (accessed 2 May 2007)
Kazaa website, http://www.kazaa.com/us/help/faq/howis_kazaa_free.htm (accessed 2 May 2007)
Kowalski, K. (2004) ‘Pirates on the Web? The downloading debate’, Odyssey vol.13, iss. 6, pp.31-33
McGuire, David. (2004) ‘Study: File sharing no threat to music sales’, http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A34300-2004Mar29?language=printer
McLeod, K. (2005) ‘MP3s are killing home taping: The rise of internet distribution and its challenge to the major label music monopoly’, Popular Music and Culture vol.28, iss.4, pp.521-531
Tyson, Jeff. (1998-2000) ‘How the old Napster worked’ http://computer.howstuffworks.com/napster.htm (accessed 30 April 2007)
Relevant sites
P2P United http://wiki.morpheus.com/~p2punited/
Electronic Frontier Foundation http://www.eff.org/share/
MIPI http://www.mipi.com.au/
IFPI Resources http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_resources/publications.html
RIAA www.riaa.com/issues/piracy/default
In the early 80s major recording companies coined the phrase “home taping is killing music” (McLeod, 2005, p521). As technology has progressed, the major labels are now faced with a global epidemic of peer-2-peer file sharing. Music websites such as the original Napster site, LimeWire and Grokster have led the way for the public to download music of their choice at no cost what so ever. As a result of this, record companies have taken the battle for higher profit margins to the courts, bringing legal action against ‘illegal downloader’s’ wherever they can. This paper will discuss the rise of peer-to peer file sharing and how it has changed the music industry. This paper will also look at how record companies have reacted in response to illegal downloading and whether their reaction is reasonable.
Since the introduction of Napster (the original) to the internet, using peer-2-peer (P2P) file sharing to download files has become a major activity of net-savvy users. Napster was the first of many peer-2-peer based networks that allowed users from every corner of the world to download music MP3 files for free, sparking outrage and concern within the music industry. This reaction was justified, as consumers now had an automated way to copy copyrighted material, will little chance of being caught. (http://computer.howstuffworks.com/napster.htm).
McLeod (2005:526) argues the music industry brought the downloading debacle on itself through the distribution of music on compact discs. He argues that the selling of CDs resulted in higher profits, but, allowed fans to easily ‘burn’ songs onto their computers and put music files on the internet. Compression technology is what made this process practical to send audio files over the internet. File compression “squeezes” files to one-twelfth of their original size or possibly smaller with no noticeable sound quality loss (http://computer.howstuffworks.com/napster.htm). The MPEG-1 audio layer3 or MP3 s one type of compression format, with other types of file compression including AAC and WMA (Kowalski 2004:31). Along came P2P file sharing which works by individual users connecting to a central server which keeps an index of user’s online, connecting users to one another (www.kazaa.com).
As P2P file sharing became increasingly popular the concerns over piracy and infringement of copyright laws increased dramatically. This resulted in the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) seeking legal action against websites such as Napster. The RIAA claims that file sharing (of music files) is unauthorized copying or theft of intellectual property which has serious legal consequences (Kowalski 2004:32) The RIAA has launched legal attacks on P2P music sharing networks stating that websites such as these cost the industry billions in lost profits (Hurst & Harrison 2007:287). The music industry is dominated by the ‘Big Four’, otherwise known as Sony BMG, EMI, Universal and Warner, these four companies collectively control 85 percent of global recording sales (Burkart & McCourt 2006:6). This oligopoly of the industry by the Big Four has ensured their high profitability, however, now that profit faces the challenges of new technologies which offer alternate means of distribution, resulting in a direct threat to their primary strengths (Burkart & McCourt 2006:43).
Justifying the music industries reaction to P2P downloading, a report by IFPI (Digital Music Report 2007) shows that CD sales were affected globally due to internet piracy causing sales to fall by 23 per cent in 2000-2005 (IFPI Report, 2007:18). 2003 saw the RIAA request from the Federal Court a large number of subpoenas, demanding information on Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and personal information regarding college students who pirate music (Galuszka 2004:24). More than 10,000 individuals from as many as 18 countries have incurred legal action, with the industry claiming its aim is to educate and deter (IFPI Report 2007:18).
There is support to the suggestion that record companies are over reacting to illegal downloading, with studies proving downloading music from the internet does not have a negative effect on the music industry. Researchers found that for popular selling albums for every 150 downloads from those particular albums, sales increased by one copy (McGuire 2004). A report complied by Forrester Research found consumers who download music frequently buy 36 percent of all CDs in the US market, with only 13 percent saying downloading will decrease their music purchases and 39 percent increase music purchasing due to exposure to new music (Kruger 2003). Is has also been pointed out that legal downloading through online stores such as i-Tunes, are catching up to P2P sites, with 35 percent preferring legal downloading compared to 40 percent who still illegally download. (http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/6558.cfm).
Many artists, who are major contributors to record company’s profits, actually believe the internet is a highly effective tool to market and create their work. Only 28 percent of musicians believe file sharing poses a threat to the music industry, with 43 percent of the opinion that “file sharing services aren’t really bad for artists, since the help to promote and distribute an artists work to a broad audience” (Dean 2004). File sharing has been the main marketing tool for independent bands, with the success leading their albums to the top of the music charts (McLeod 2005:526).
Teens and post-teens are leaders in actively downloading music as they are generally the “money poor but time-rich” (Burkart & McCourt 2006:73). Colleges are amongst those fearing lawsuits as students illegally download through their information technology systems. Since the 1998 Digital Millennium Act (US), colleges have taken a tougher stance with students towards downloading as this act liability of their online service providers, provided they address the situation once abuse is found (Galuszka 2004:24). Students as young as 12, are being sued by the RIAA for “making illegal copyrighted material freely available by uploading it to file sharing programs such as KaZaA” (Burkart & McCourt 2006:70). Many individuals that RIAA target are unable to defend themselves or settle the proposed costs incurred. The RIAA also failed to check whether they are current downloader’s with one case based on a college student downloads three years prior (Electronic Frontier Foundation 2006:6). Resistance has built amongst those targeted with many challenging the RIAA which could possible force a re-evaluation of their hard lined ‘forced to settle approach’ (Electronic Frontier Foundation 2006:7).
P2P file sharing has revolutionized the music industry and forced record companies to assess how they can maintain their profit margins. However as this paper points out, it is questionable whether the ‘big four’ are reacting to P2P appropriately. So far their approach has been to sue individuals who have little or no money, as opposed to adopting an approach similar to Apple’s i-Tune’s which has secured and offered the market a legal approach to downloading internet music.
Word count 1050
References
Afterdawn News (2005) http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/6558.cfm (accessed 30 April 2007)
Burkhart, P. and McCourt, T. (2006) Digital Music Wars: ownership and control of the celestial jukebox, New York: Rowman & Littlefield.
Dean, Katie. (2004) ‘Study: Musicians dig the net’, http://.wired.com/print/entertainment/music/news/2004/12/65927
Electronic Frontier Foundation. (2005) The RIAA v. The people: Two years later http://www.eff.org/share/ (accessed 1 May. 2007)
Glauszka, P. (2004) ‘The war over Internet piracy’, Black Issues in Higher Education, vol.21, iss.2, pp. 24-27
Hirst, M. and Harrison, J. (2007) Communication and new media: from broadcast to narrowcast, New York: Oxford University Press.
IFPI Digital Music Report 2007 http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_resources/publications.html (accessed 2 May 2007)
Kazaa website, http://www.kazaa.com/us/help/faq/howis_kazaa_free.htm (accessed 2 May 2007)
Kowalski, K. (2004) ‘Pirates on the Web? The downloading debate’, Odyssey vol.13, iss. 6, pp.31-33
McGuire, David. (2004) ‘Study: File sharing no threat to music sales’, http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A34300-2004Mar29?language=printer
McLeod, K. (2005) ‘MP3s are killing home taping: The rise of internet distribution and its challenge to the major label music monopoly’, Popular Music and Culture vol.28, iss.4, pp.521-531
Tyson, Jeff. (1998-2000) ‘How the old Napster worked’ http://computer.howstuffworks.com/napster.htm (accessed 30 April 2007)
Relevant sites
P2P United http://wiki.morpheus.com/~p2punited/
Electronic Frontier Foundation http://www.eff.org/share/
MIPI http://www.mipi.com.au/
IFPI Resources http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_resources/publications.html
RIAA www.riaa.com/issues/piracy/default
Saturday, May 5, 2007
3D World vs MSN
Our task this week was to look at the qualitative difference between a 3D world such as Active World and MSN (which obviously isn’t 3D). This was my first time in a 3D world where you could actually talk to others who were in this particular world. I have used Simms a couple of times – the fundamentals of the game are the same where you create an Avatar of your liking (generally what you wished you looked like) and interacted with other characters that you have created. You can choose you personality, if you have a partner, where you live etc. It also has a currency system where you can work and by a house/land etc.
With Active World you need to register etc to be able to get into the Advanced mode to create a Avatar – otherwise you interact in the visitor mode and get stuck with one that looks and is dressed like a typical daggy tourist.
I stayed in the World for about ½ hour trying to chat to people who have already pretty much established themselves as regulars, who were chatting to their regular friends. People were on there from the all over the world. Most had been living in this 3D environment for around 3 years, some 3 ½. There were 2 characters in particular that were discussing how they were going to fix a leaky pipe………..in the 3D world of course.
Now the most obvious qualitative difference for me between AW & MSN is the conversation. Personally I find trying to engage someone in a conversation of whom I have never spoken to before easier in person, rather than writing questions or trying to comment on an already establish conversation and waiting in hope that someone bothered to read what you posted. But I guess some would find living in a world where know one will really ever know exciting……or something like that.
If I am on my computer at home I am usually logged on to MSN. Now the people on my list are all people that I know, and have known for quite some time, so the quality of interaction on this program is far greater than in a 3D world. Plus if you have a webcam then you can see the person who you are talking to.
As for the social part, MSN is great for chatting to friends if you are miles and miles away from each other. 3D would offer some a more active social than what their real lives may offer…..or maybe they just prefer it that way. I think the 3D aspect makes a huge difference if you’re into that sort of thing. Effectively your living an another life, and can control how you look, where you live etc etc. Personally enjoy living my real life than one through a computer game!
Both offer forms of communication……the 3D one just has loads of graphics. What is possible in the 3D world is the fact that it’s a world where you can create a character to represent yourself which interact with others that are doing the same. MSN doesn’t offer that – it’s a basic form of communication between people.
As for where is could lead us…..possibly into denial…depending on how far off a true representation your character is of yourself!
WEEK 9
This week we explored Cyberpunk and how it came to be. It’s a science fiction based genre based in the possibilities in computers, genetics etc. Cyberpunk came about as a reaction to the good triumphs over evil sci-fi’s like Star Wars (god bless George Lucas).
We were introduced to William Gibson and his theories and works who spawned the key concepts of ‘virtual reality and cyberspace’. Plus we focused on the Cyberpunk themes that drive this genre.
The audio eqipment worked today as we were able to watch eXistenZ......riviting
With Active World you need to register etc to be able to get into the Advanced mode to create a Avatar – otherwise you interact in the visitor mode and get stuck with one that looks and is dressed like a typical daggy tourist.
I stayed in the World for about ½ hour trying to chat to people who have already pretty much established themselves as regulars, who were chatting to their regular friends. People were on there from the all over the world. Most had been living in this 3D environment for around 3 years, some 3 ½. There were 2 characters in particular that were discussing how they were going to fix a leaky pipe………..in the 3D world of course.
Now the most obvious qualitative difference for me between AW & MSN is the conversation. Personally I find trying to engage someone in a conversation of whom I have never spoken to before easier in person, rather than writing questions or trying to comment on an already establish conversation and waiting in hope that someone bothered to read what you posted. But I guess some would find living in a world where know one will really ever know exciting……or something like that.
If I am on my computer at home I am usually logged on to MSN. Now the people on my list are all people that I know, and have known for quite some time, so the quality of interaction on this program is far greater than in a 3D world. Plus if you have a webcam then you can see the person who you are talking to.
As for the social part, MSN is great for chatting to friends if you are miles and miles away from each other. 3D would offer some a more active social than what their real lives may offer…..or maybe they just prefer it that way. I think the 3D aspect makes a huge difference if you’re into that sort of thing. Effectively your living an another life, and can control how you look, where you live etc etc. Personally enjoy living my real life than one through a computer game!
Both offer forms of communication……the 3D one just has loads of graphics. What is possible in the 3D world is the fact that it’s a world where you can create a character to represent yourself which interact with others that are doing the same. MSN doesn’t offer that – it’s a basic form of communication between people.
As for where is could lead us…..possibly into denial…depending on how far off a true representation your character is of yourself!
WEEK 9
This week we explored Cyberpunk and how it came to be. It’s a science fiction based genre based in the possibilities in computers, genetics etc. Cyberpunk came about as a reaction to the good triumphs over evil sci-fi’s like Star Wars (god bless George Lucas).
We were introduced to William Gibson and his theories and works who spawned the key concepts of ‘virtual reality and cyberspace’. Plus we focused on the Cyberpunk themes that drive this genre.
The audio eqipment worked today as we were able to watch eXistenZ......riviting
Crazy man
Jason Nelson took our lecture this week, which led us into the world of online art. Jason has a whole site which is basically his gallery http://www.secrettechnology.com/. This is the second time I have had a lecture with him – first was for my Effective Writing class. So, he made it sound really easy to do all this crazy stuff, but re-writing this and changing the code for that…….something along those lines.
Funny guy who loves telling people to shut up! He had a funny story about a bestiality site using his URL to redirect to their site??? as a means of covering their tracks. Then the fact he had a lot of abusive emails from the animal lovers (literally) once he changed it so one of his artworks would come up. Sickos!
He spoke about how you can see exactly where people are accessing your site from and the fact that the internet by no means is secure or private as your ISP can be seen (hope I have at least some of this right). In one week one of his artworks had over 800,000 hits….crazy.
Funny guy who loves telling people to shut up! He had a funny story about a bestiality site using his URL to redirect to their site??? as a means of covering their tracks. Then the fact he had a lot of abusive emails from the animal lovers (literally) once he changed it so one of his artworks would come up. Sickos!
He spoke about how you can see exactly where people are accessing your site from and the fact that the internet by no means is secure or private as your ISP can be seen (hope I have at least some of this right). In one week one of his artworks had over 800,000 hits….crazy.
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