Last Week Of Class

When I began this class I really didn't know what to expect. I approached the entire subject of technology with much trepidation because it was not something that I was really interested in. But, during the course of the class I had many positive experiences that transformed this lack of interest. When you actually consider the deeply transformative effect that technology is having on our lives it is incredible. In recognizing this, I am now more able to appreciate that tech is never culturally neutral, and that it is important to understand what forces change the way that we communicate and structure our lives. If one is to understand where we are going , than one must understand where we have been and what factors have influenced our thinking. I am now graduating with my associated degree, and it is something that I am proud of. It is, however, only the beginning of my journey. I am going to further my education and continue my dedication to learning. Immersing my self in technology is going to be a part of that process moving forward. I found the process of shooting and producing very strenuous and tiring, so that is one particular thing that I do not look forward to doing again, but there were other assignments in the class that I enjoyed. One thing that I found genuinely interesting is blogging. I now find myself reading blogs of both famous individuals and my peers alike. I am going to continue to blog after the class has ended. I feel that this has been an effective tool both in the class and in my personal life. Overall, I found the class challenging at times because I do not always enjoy working with technology, but it is a vital skill to have and I enjoyed my experiences in the class.

Copyright: Out of touch?

It seems that the current debate on copyright is, at least to a slight degree, a generational debate. The copyright laws as they currently exist are designed more for print and other forms of media that are less dynamic than those on the web. The newest generations of kids that have grown up with the internet have different expectations and rules that they go by. Collaboration is valued more than individual recognition in many circumstances. Younger produces of media seem to really enjoy editing, altering, and personalizing existing forms of media. I think that significant changes are going to happen in the future that reform the current copyright laws as more and more digital age kids grow up and fill the seats of power. The world is changing rapidly and sometimes it is appropriate for the laws to change as well.

The facebook Generation

In his article "The Facebook Generation Vs. the Fortune 500," Gary Hamel explains how the environment in the workplace will change as a result of the online presence of the latest generation of high-school and college grads. I think that the online presence changes the way people interact with each other and the fundamental structure of relationships within a company. There is not as much need to interact with others in a direct manner, and the collective group and the information harnessed there in is of the up most importance. I feel that this can be positive, but I am not too keen on the changes. When Hamel talks about self-defining organizations and inherently equal footing for all members of the community, business or otherwise, it seems good. But, I feel that this can lead to a lack of clarity or direction. I do not honestly know what the workplace will be like for me when I am out of school, but I have hope for the future.

The Long Tail

"The Long Tail," is a concept that I am very familiar with. Most of the media that I am exposed to is in some way influenced by this phenomenon. Whether I am on Netflix or browsing on Amazon, I usually find various books, music, etc. by getting indicators and references from the websites themselves. There are other times were I will search specifically by author or creator. I think that this can help people like me who are busy and have little time to do research in these areas. This also makes me feel more comfortable and confident as a consumer in the service that is being provided and the quality of the goods. The long tail has been very beneficial to me.

The value of Podcasting

Although it's utility is somewhat limited, a podcast can be a great way to disseminate information or entertain an audience. Apple provides a wealth of free content, and there is surely great podcasts available for everyone. The great thing about podcasting is that it is accessible for everyone, and it allows individuals to be more than casual users of media. Many feel that it is too burdensome a process to listen to the content, or create their own content, but podcasting remains a relatively popular venture, and I don't foresee it's demise. It is a very convenient and effective medium for news, and other forms of information.

New Vlog

I am kind of disappointed as I post this Vlog. I borrowed a video camera from a friend to shoot a video with audio, because my video that I made last week had no sound. But I had some difficulties getting the file off of the camera, and onto my computer. Then when I was able to do that, I couldn't open it. So, I had to shoot another video with my camera with the broken mic. The mic picks up sound, but I had to mute it because all you can hear is a disturbing static sound that hurts your ears. Well anyway, here it is.

This is a video that I made for the class. It is a how to make a snowflake video, although it is kind of childish, I wasn't really sure what to do. I edited it in Windows movie maker. There was audio on the original video, but I think that the Mic might be broken on my camera, because it didn't show up on the video, or any other videos that I shot. I decided to add subtitles instead to explain what to do. 

Presentation Magic

Although, I personally felt that the content of Hans Rosling's presentation was very interesting, it was enhanced to a great extent by the style of presentation that he used. Beautiful visuals including moving graphs were incorporated into the presentation making the examples that he was visualizing really come to life. I think that thew key technique being used is to let the information flow from many types of stimuli simultaneously in order to connect with the audience, and also keep them interested. This presentation is a reminder to anyone who is preparing a presentation to keep the presentation varied, rich, and stimulating. Those are key elements that I take away from the video, and that I will use.

Kindle 2 Lawsuit?

Amazon, and their new Kindle 2 have come under attack from the Authors Guild, among others. A lawsuit is a distinct possibility, as it is being argued that the copyright infringement would be the result of using audio, in conjunction with text. This lawsuit, however, does not seem to make sense to me. I think that the fact that Amazon owns the rights to audio books through other sources further proves their case. Whatever the effect, the audio is simply presenting the information in the book. If you are interested in buying a Kindle 2, I wouldn't worry about this controversy too much.

Fair use Fairey

I think that the iconic photo of Barack Obama created by Shepard Fairey, that virtually everyone in the United States knows, should be considered fair use. I think that he altered the photo to a significant enough effect. After all, the man who originally took the photo for AP did not recognize the photo. It is distinguished in it's self, and very unique. The parties have since reached what can be considered at least a timid agreement, and I am glad, because the hope image should be continually used. It appears that there is a good shot that the image, and other like it will begin to make a comeback in the 2012 elections. A creative commons type approach could of been helpful in alleviating some of the issues here, and I hope that AP and other organizations recognize the utility of art. It wouldn't of been possible for Fairey to create this image had it not been for his using the image. At the very least, monetary reinforcement could encourage AP to strike a deal with Fairey, and both parties will have come out on top.

Art within the Cloud

My experience with art in the cloud is mostly related to photography. I have never been one to use many programs like photoshop to manipulate the photographs, but I enjoy taking them none the less. I think that the increase of art within the cloud has allowed many individuals to become more visible, and it has made the art world more "underground," and less about established artists. I know that there is a lot of individuals who are very talented and now have a platform to display their art. One that they might not have otherwise. On a side note, I do not like using phones to take photos. I really like to use a dslr, or at least a point and shoot.

Creative Commons

I found this article very interesting, http://www.rss-specifications.com/creative-commons.htm. I think that creative commons is a very interesting organization, and their innovation is well received on the web. I think that by making the copyright something that exists in grey areas rather than a black or white law, makes material or whatever a publisher has created more accessible and viewable by the public. I think that this is the next natural progression in this area, and I think that as the cloud becomes more powerful and comprehensive you will find many laws changing or you will find innovative change such as this. 

Kevin Kelly and the future of the Internet

This video, Kevin Kelly, Internet 5000 days old, features Kevin Kelly talking about the power and incredible growth of the Internet. It is amazing to think that in such a short period of time it has progressed as much as almost any other technology in our history, and the intervals in between change seem to be shortening. The information being presented at around 4:20 is incredible. The specs on the Internet are so incredible and so vast it is almost futile to attempt to understand it's wholeness. The overall general feeling that I got from watching the video was a sense of suspense or a curiosity as to what will come next. Where will the next innovation come from? What will it look like? One has to assume that the next 5000 days will be even more productive and revolutionary in scope.

Jeremy in the cloud

Maybe I am just one of the lame ones left in the world, but I do not enjoy using social media sites like facebook, twitter, etc. Most of my interaction within my cloud happens in XBOX live. I enjoy playing video games on there when I can. I have to use my e-mail on a regular basis and have a limited connectivity, but I wouldn't say that I am immersed into the cloud. However, I could over time become a little more connected to other people within the web, and make my cloud a little bigger.

Goals and ambitions for Multimedia Apps and Tools

Basically, my goals for this class are very simple. I want to become competent using all of the multimedia applications and tools that we will be using in this class. I have very limited experience with technology, I am more of a casual user than anything else. So another goal of mine is going to be gaining the skills and confidence I need to perform related tasks in the future when I may need to. With my limited experience I am entering the course with some anxiety and trepidation, as I lack confidence to some degree. I have a feeling that this will disappear over time. On a more exciting note, this is my first Blog. I have read other blogs with some degree of regularity in the past, but this will be my first endeavor into the process. I am excited to have started this course, and I am hoping to have a lot of fun with it!