Posts
James Cavanah
DTC 375: Language, Texts & Technology
Dr. Farman
Word count: 805
The growing popularity of Internet blog sites has grown huge with the immersion of Facebook.com over the last few years. Facebook gives bloggers there own site to customize and share information with each other and for many people it is an extension of how they live there everyday lives. I believe that this application has changed and will continue to change the way we see other peoples cultures and interact with others around the globe from are home or phones.
There are many reasons people using Facebook and in many ways holds a deeper meaning. Facebook to me is a way I can stay in contact with family members from England. It keeps me connected to them and gives me a chance to see what is going on in there everyday lives. It was just the other day that my uncle said “ I can’t believe I am talking to you all the way from England”. I think this is a main contributing factor for the popularity of Facebook. Not only can you chat with friends and family but also you can message them, send them party information, give them Electronic gifts and even play online games with each other. For a while we forget that we are just typing words into a computer and believe that we are actually face to face with are friends. In the article “Remediation” by Bolter and Grusin they give us this idea of hypermedia that says “ The excess of media becomes an authentic experience” (Grusin 54). In a sense people are using Facebook to relate and convey their feelings through pictures and text forgetting that they maybe two thousand miles away from the person there talking to.
The way we communicate in are regular day also impacts the way we communicate on sites like facebook, such as text messaging. The way we type on Facebook, for some of us, is the same way we would type a text message to our friends, which uses different words and abbreviations. Through these small changes in words we can see how culturally different we are. For example when I look at the way my friends in England type to each other I know that other people from different countries would have a hard time understanding what they are trying to say. If I were typing to a friend from America I would say something like “ Yo! hey wat you up to later. ttul” and if I was typing to my English friends I would say “ Alryt pal u up town toneet, give a bell in a bit”. Just through these small fraises we can see how are cultural text evolves and differs from one another. What is also amazing is how these fraises affect the way we talk on the phone to each other; it’s a circle of inventiveness, which has only just started. Many of are peers would say are generation talks to each other with improper style but it’s just a way for us to say something with as little words as possible. This is an example of how fast are technology changes the way we communicate and Facebook is a prime example of that. As we continue to move into are digital age we will find that these sites will be utilized more than are home phones and even are mail system but I don’t think we will forget about are past remediation.
With are past readings of Essential Mcluhan we were introduced to the idea that “ for every media there is a remediation” (Mcluhan 152). In essence we wouldn’t have a computer with out the phone and the phone I believe is the remediation for the computer. The way we talk to each other on the phone is clearly shown in are text and has evolved into its own communication type. We have defiantly built off of a solid foundation but we will continue to improve are technology with the applications of other media. Facebook, for some, is the ultimate tool for expression and this intrigues people so much that they are willing to give strangers an insight into their lives. People enjoy the idea that they can create a different persona for themselves, helping them to convey feelings and ideas to other people. The fact we use are public profiles to convey all are personal information shows how powerful this media has become and are acceptance into a new age. Sites such as Facbook will continue to grow into there own communication marvels and with the mixture of all cultures gives us endless possibilities of how text and Internet blog sites will become there own language.
Works cited
Bolter, David. Remidiation: understanding media.
Mcluhan, Marshall. Essential Mcluhan. perseus, 1996.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
To Socializing and Beyond!
To Socializing and Beyond!
For centuries pen and paper were the means of long distance communication, the pony express was followed by the invention of the telephone which could vocally connect people from far distances. With the rise of technology the introduction of text messaging and emails, now opened the gate way to faster, and less personal, communication. The difference, however, between social networking and emailing is the advantage to add a picture. Even before photography, images were cast on cave walls to transfer information or relay some kind of message that words could not express (Wikipedia, Cave Art). The connection being that with the ability to view a profile of another person, a profile that allows the viewer to access pictures, thoughts, other friends, a connection from a distance now becomes as close as a click of the mouse.
An excellent example is from my own life, where I am able to communicate with my good friend Rowena Umblas from Manila, Philippines. Rowena and I created a very strong bond while I stayed in the Philippines, and with the use of social networking, I can send her a message, chat with her via instant messaging, send her pictures of what I am doing and view her pictures as well. A few months ago Rowena went through a broken relationship with a secret crush, although I was unable to console her physically through pictures and messages she was able to vent her frustrations and I was able to listen and comfort. The connection we have is still strong, and I accredit that to the creation of social networking.
Marshall McLuhan theorized that with the electronic age came the global village. McLuhan says, “As electrically contracted, the globe is no more than a village” (McLuhan, 1995). A village is a small community of people relying on one another for food, protection and shelter (websters.com, Village). To create a global village would suggest that one watches out for another and provides some sort of means of survival. McLuhan goes on to describe the “heightened awareness”, meaning the increased responsibility that has now been laid on the shoulders of society due to this “villagization” of the globe (McLuhan, 1995). Social networking allows myself to be involved in hundreds of peoples lives and for them to also be involved in my life. My sister recently moved away to college. She was my best friend and with the use of Social networking, particularly Facebook, I am able to see her new apartment, roommates, and adventures into the life of an independent college student. Therefore, whether that village is in the Philippines or a neighboring state, the awareness increase creates a need to correspond with people, a need to let others know how you are and what you are doing. Experiment with this increase awareness to communicate by not communicating. Long-term electronic solitude reflects on your ability to create relationships (Wikipedia, Solitude).
Although social networking has created a long distance connection between people, it has also created an opportunity for the unwanted to be connected as well. Take Susie Granger’s daughter who was sexually assaulted by a man who found on her social networking site, “Please don’t allow your children to go onto MySpace,” Granger says,” It’s a very unsafe environment for them to be in” (CBS News, 2006). Other cases have been made on ignorant people being murdered, raped, or kidnapped because of their connections on social networking. The freedom related to this technology echoes McLuhan’s global village where it takes everyone to take care of it.
Overall, social networking has increased our awareness to communicate with people, deepened those connections using pictures and messages, and created a village out of a globe. With my theory of increase of increase, as technology increase their will be an increase in the use and ability of social networking that will allow people to further their relationships and even touch more lives then one ever thought possible.
Crieser, John. (2006, February). “MySpace, Your Kid’s Danger?” Retrieved January 2009. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/06/eveningnews/main1286130.shtml
McLuhan, Marshall. (1995). “Essential McLuhan”. In Eric McLuhan and Frank Zinrone (Ed.). Basic Books, New York, NY
Solitude. (n.d.) Retrieved January 2009. http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Solitude
Village. (n.d.) Retrieved January 2009. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/village
Work Cited
Cave Art. (n.d.) Retrieve January 2009. http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_art Crieser, John. (2006, February). “MySpace, Your Kid’s Danger?” Retrieved January 2009. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/06/eveningnews/main1286130.shtml
McLuhan, Marshall. (1995). “Essential McLuhan”. In Eric McLuhan and Frank Zinrone (Ed.). Basic Books, New York, NY
Solitude. (n.d.) Retrieved January 2009. http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Solitude
Village. (n.d.) Retrieved January 2009. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/village
Text Messaging and Connectivity
Angel Almaraz
Dr. Jason Farman
DTC 375
27 January 2009
Text Messaging and Connectivity
Here is the dilemma – you left your house fifteen minutes ago, you are running late for either class or work, and you realize you left your cell phone at home. Do you go back for your phone or do you decide to spend the day without it? For many people there is no dilemma, you go back for the phone. What used to be a luxury item is now a must have item. Cell phones have moved past their original purpose of allowing users to call anyone at anytime. Text messaging has become the medium used to connect to each other. The conversations that take place through text messaging may not be the most profound but they allow users to feel connected to each other. Often the seemingly meaningless conversations keep us connected. Through text messaging, we can stay in constant contact with each other in a way that we have not been able to in the past.
When first introduced, the only function of a cell phone was to make and receive phone calls. Cell phone technology soon advanced and users had the option of sending and receiving e-mail on their phones. Then there was text messaging.
Text messaging has overtaken phone calls as the primary function of cell phones. In 2006, only 42 percent of U.S. cell phone users used their phones to carry on a conversation with someone. In 2002, that percentage was 80 percent (Fernando 11). While the use of text messaging continues to increase in the U.S., Europeans send the most text messaging, averaging four times the amount sent. (Fernando 12). What has led to text messaging overtaking phone calls as the primary function of cell phones?
One advantage of text messaging over phone calls was demonstrated on September 11, 2001. The numbers of phone calls placed that day overwhelmed the mobile phone system in New York, while text messages were able to get through (Palen 81). Text messages can be sent when there is not a strong enough signal to make a phone call. This allows users in rural areas to keep in touch.
Another advantage of text messaging over phone calls is that users have more control over the conversation (Mahatanankoon and O’Sullivan 975). When you are on a phone call, you have to wait for responses from the other party and often times the subject will repeatedly change and your original reason for calling may not be addressed. When sending a text message you direct the flow and duration of the conversation. Text messaging can also serve as a record of the conversation since you can go back and review your sent and received messages.
Yet another advantage of text messaging over phone calls is that sending and receiving text messaging is less disruptive to those around you, especially when in a public place. Everyone has been in a situation where you overhead a phone call and learned more about a stranger than you ever wanted to know. Now you can carry on the most intimate of conversations without those around you hearing every word.
Younger people tend to use and become more familiar with new technology more readily than any other age group (Ehrenberg, Juckes, White, and Walsh, 739). Some people it is possible to become addicted to text messaging but research in this area is limited (Ehrenberg, Juckes, White, and Walsh, 739). Some research has shown that individuals with lower levels of self-esteem may be more prone to text messaging addiction (Ehrenberg, Juckes, White, and Walsh, 739). In a study conducted by Ehrenberg, Juckes, White, and Walsh, they found that people who had an extraverted personality used text messaging more often (740). Their study also found that some people maybe more comfortable using technology to communicate rather than communicating face-to-face (Ehrenberg, Juckes, White, and Walsh, 740).
While text message use for social connection is high, its use in the business world remains limited. Text messages are generally limited to 160 characters, which limits the amount of business that can be conducted. Text messaging has developed its own abbreviated language but the use of an abbreviated language would be seen as unprofessional. E-mail remains the medium for communication in business world.
For now text messaging is the medium most used to keep us in contact with each other. Often times, what we are sending is not important, but being able to stay in contact allows us to remain a part of each other’s lives. Undoubtedly, text messaging will be replaced by a new technology. How soon and by what medium remains to be seen.
Dr. Jason Farman
DTC 375
27 January 2009
Text Messaging and Connectivity
When first introduced, the only function of a cell phone was to make and receive phone calls. Cell phone technology soon advanced and users had the option of sending and receiving e-mail on their phones. Then there was text messaging.
Text messaging has overtaken phone calls as the primary function of cell phones. In 2006, only 42 percent of U.S. cell phone users used their phones to carry on a conversation with someone. In 2002, that percentage was 80 percent (Fernando 11). While the use of text messaging continues to increase in the U.S., Europeans send the most text messaging, averaging four times the amount sent. (Fernando 12). What has led to text messaging overtaking phone calls as the primary function of cell phones?
One advantage of text messaging over phone calls was demonstrated on September 11, 2001. The numbers of phone calls placed that day overwhelmed the mobile phone system in New York, while text messages were able to get through (Palen 81). Text messages can be sent when there is not a strong enough signal to make a phone call. This allows users in rural areas to keep in touch.
Another advantage of text messaging over phone calls is that users have more control over the conversation (Mahatanankoon and O’Sullivan 975). When you are on a phone call, you have to wait for responses from the other party and often times the subject will repeatedly change and your original reason for calling may not be addressed. When sending a text message you direct the flow and duration of the conversation. Text messaging can also serve as a record of the conversation since you can go back and review your sent and received messages.
Yet another advantage of text messaging over phone calls is that sending and receiving text messaging is less disruptive to those around you, especially when in a public place. Everyone has been in a situation where you overhead a phone call and learned more about a stranger than you ever wanted to know. Now you can carry on the most intimate of conversations without those around you hearing every word.
Younger people tend to use and become more familiar with new technology more readily than any other age group (Ehrenberg, Juckes, White, and Walsh, 739). Some people it is possible to become addicted to text messaging but research in this area is limited (Ehrenberg, Juckes, White, and Walsh, 739). Some research has shown that individuals with lower levels of self-esteem may be more prone to text messaging addiction (Ehrenberg, Juckes, White, and Walsh, 739). In a study conducted by Ehrenberg, Juckes, White, and Walsh, they found that people who had an extraverted personality used text messaging more often (740). Their study also found that some people maybe more comfortable using technology to communicate rather than communicating face-to-face (Ehrenberg, Juckes, White, and Walsh, 740).
While text message use for social connection is high, its use in the business world remains limited. Text messages are generally limited to 160 characters, which limits the amount of business that can be conducted. Text messaging has developed its own abbreviated language but the use of an abbreviated language would be seen as unprofessional. E-mail remains the medium for communication in business world.
For now text messaging is the medium most used to keep us in contact with each other. Often times, what we are sending is not important, but being able to stay in contact allows us to remain a part of each other’s lives. Undoubtedly, text messaging will be replaced by a new technology. How soon and by what medium remains to be seen.
Works Cited
Ehrenberg, Alexandra, and Juckes, Suzanna, and White, Katerine, and Walsh, Shari. “Personality and Self-Esteem as Predictors of Young People’s Technology Use.” CyberPsychology & Behavior Vol. 11, No. 6 (2008)
Fernando, Angelo. “If you text it, they may come.” Communication World July-August 2007: 11-12.
Mahatanankoon, Pruthikrai and O’Sullivan, Patrick. “Attitude Toward Mobile Text Messaging: An Expectancy-Based Perspective.” Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 13 (2008): 973-992
Palen, Leysia. “Mobile Telephony in a Connected Life.” Communications of the ACM March 2002, Vol. 45, No. 3: 78-82.
Fernando, Angelo. “If you text it, they may come.” Communication World July-August 2007: 11-12.
Mahatanankoon, Pruthikrai and O’Sullivan, Patrick. “Attitude Toward Mobile Text Messaging: An Expectancy-Based Perspective.” Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 13 (2008): 973-992
Palen, Leysia. “Mobile Telephony in a Connected Life.” Communications of the ACM March 2002, Vol. 45, No. 3: 78-82.
Alex's Essay 1
New mediums arise, eliminating verbal over the phone communication
Throughout the past few years phone companies nationwide have inherited a new form of communication known as text messaging, SMS, or texting. This innovative and rather trendy form of communication simply consists of a brief 160 character message, sent to and from mobile phones (Farkas 174). Typically most phone companies such as AT&T, Verizon, & T-mobile, offer an unlimited text messaging service in their packages, and continually encourage many of their customers to purchase them. Ever since this instant phenomenon occurred, text messaging has taken off into a world of its own. And with that, the sudden materialization of text messaging has caused a vast amount of individuals to retort to instant text messaging rather than verbally communicating over the phone.
To claim that verbal communication outweighs text messaging, is like stating that the tape recorder outweighs the iPod, it is simply untrue. Ever since the immergence of text messaging, verbal communication over the telephone has become secondary. With the rise of a fast pace culture that thrives of instant gratification, mediums such as text messaging assist in sustaining the speed. Text messaging allows its users to instantly relay messages to numerous individuals at a certain time. Verbal communication over the telephone on the other hand can only relay information to one individual at a time. Say for example a high school senior found out she got accepted into Harvard. Upon finding out this thrilling information, she naturally would care to spread the news to her family and friends. By verbally communicating over the phone, the student would have to individually call each one of her contacts to spread the news. Yet with text messaging, the student is able to type out her news and send it to all her contacts at the same time, making the process of relaying information faster for the student.
Texting messaging also allows individuals to relay confidential information in communal settings. Individuals speaking over their cellular devices, typically have no choice but to allow their verbal conversations to be heard by other individuals in an audible range. Often time’s people will wait to dispatch private information until they are unaccompanied. Text messaging makes relaying private information accessible at all hours of the day. If a woman wished to tell a man her personal emotions regarding a affiliation, she would most likely have to wait until their next meeting. Yet with text messaging, the woman is able of corresponding her emotions at any time whether she is at school, work, or simply spending a day with friends.
With telephone companies providing text messaging nationwide, a vast amount of the population possess their own cellular device. And with the soaring prices of cellular phone bills, many individuals attempt to keep their billing statements to a minimum. As David Ball states in his How to do everything in your Ipaq “Text messaging is much less expensive than calling someone on your cell phone, in fact, he states, calling the person to give them the exact same message almost invariably takes more time and costs more” (Ball 94). What Ball points is something many individuals have already discovered. Verbally communicating over the telephone is not only more time consuming, but also more expensive. With our economy on the verge of an economic crisis, and our society evolving to a fast paced culture, it seems only natural to eliminate verbal communication over the telephone, and replace it with a medium much more gratifying to the new standards.
The emergence of instant messaging through cellular devices has been customized to the immediacy, confidentiality, and economic stability of the Western culture today. This particular medium as McLuhan would state, pays homage to older media, but facilitating the requirements of our present day culture (McLuhan 177). In our fast pace society, verbal communication (via the telephone) no longer can adhere to societies rapidly growing standards. While there are many environments that this technology is deemed as inappropriate (such as religious gatherings, classroom settings, and work environments) individuals will still find ways to utilize this popular medium. Because of its compactness the majority of Western society has a cellular device on them at all hours of the day, so they may swiftly correspond with any individual around the globe whenever they desire to.
Ultimately the sudden emergence of text messaging has replaced verbal communication and has become the way of life for many Americans. Not only does this medium provide users with instant gratification (something verbal communication cannot), but has also allowed individuals to communicate with friends and family anywhere anytime, at a lower cost. Together the benefits of this medium adhere to societies standards for a fast paced culture.
Work Cited
Ball, Derek. How to Do Everything with Your IPAQ Pocket PC. McGraw-Hill Professional, 2006.
Farkas, Meredith. Social Software in Libraries: Building Collaboration, Communication, and Community Online. Information Today, Inc. 2007
McLuhan, Eric. Essential McLuhan. House of Anasi, 1995.
Throughout the past few years phone companies nationwide have inherited a new form of communication known as text messaging, SMS, or texting. This innovative and rather trendy form of communication simply consists of a brief 160 character message, sent to and from mobile phones (Farkas 174). Typically most phone companies such as AT&T, Verizon, & T-mobile, offer an unlimited text messaging service in their packages, and continually encourage many of their customers to purchase them. Ever since this instant phenomenon occurred, text messaging has taken off into a world of its own. And with that, the sudden materialization of text messaging has caused a vast amount of individuals to retort to instant text messaging rather than verbally communicating over the phone.
To claim that verbal communication outweighs text messaging, is like stating that the tape recorder outweighs the iPod, it is simply untrue. Ever since the immergence of text messaging, verbal communication over the telephone has become secondary. With the rise of a fast pace culture that thrives of instant gratification, mediums such as text messaging assist in sustaining the speed. Text messaging allows its users to instantly relay messages to numerous individuals at a certain time. Verbal communication over the telephone on the other hand can only relay information to one individual at a time. Say for example a high school senior found out she got accepted into Harvard. Upon finding out this thrilling information, she naturally would care to spread the news to her family and friends. By verbally communicating over the phone, the student would have to individually call each one of her contacts to spread the news. Yet with text messaging, the student is able to type out her news and send it to all her contacts at the same time, making the process of relaying information faster for the student.
Texting messaging also allows individuals to relay confidential information in communal settings. Individuals speaking over their cellular devices, typically have no choice but to allow their verbal conversations to be heard by other individuals in an audible range. Often time’s people will wait to dispatch private information until they are unaccompanied. Text messaging makes relaying private information accessible at all hours of the day. If a woman wished to tell a man her personal emotions regarding a affiliation, she would most likely have to wait until their next meeting. Yet with text messaging, the woman is able of corresponding her emotions at any time whether she is at school, work, or simply spending a day with friends.
With telephone companies providing text messaging nationwide, a vast amount of the population possess their own cellular device. And with the soaring prices of cellular phone bills, many individuals attempt to keep their billing statements to a minimum. As David Ball states in his How to do everything in your Ipaq “Text messaging is much less expensive than calling someone on your cell phone, in fact, he states, calling the person to give them the exact same message almost invariably takes more time and costs more” (Ball 94). What Ball points is something many individuals have already discovered. Verbally communicating over the telephone is not only more time consuming, but also more expensive. With our economy on the verge of an economic crisis, and our society evolving to a fast paced culture, it seems only natural to eliminate verbal communication over the telephone, and replace it with a medium much more gratifying to the new standards.
The emergence of instant messaging through cellular devices has been customized to the immediacy, confidentiality, and economic stability of the Western culture today. This particular medium as McLuhan would state, pays homage to older media, but facilitating the requirements of our present day culture (McLuhan 177). In our fast pace society, verbal communication (via the telephone) no longer can adhere to societies rapidly growing standards. While there are many environments that this technology is deemed as inappropriate (such as religious gatherings, classroom settings, and work environments) individuals will still find ways to utilize this popular medium. Because of its compactness the majority of Western society has a cellular device on them at all hours of the day, so they may swiftly correspond with any individual around the globe whenever they desire to.
Ultimately the sudden emergence of text messaging has replaced verbal communication and has become the way of life for many Americans. Not only does this medium provide users with instant gratification (something verbal communication cannot), but has also allowed individuals to communicate with friends and family anywhere anytime, at a lower cost. Together the benefits of this medium adhere to societies standards for a fast paced culture.
Work Cited
Ball, Derek. How to Do Everything with Your IPAQ Pocket PC. McGraw-Hill Professional, 2006.
Farkas, Meredith. Social Software in Libraries: Building Collaboration, Communication, and Community Online. Information Today, Inc. 2007
McLuhan, Eric. Essential McLuhan. House of Anasi, 1995.
Juette Essay 1
Rochelle Juette
DTC 375
Dr. Farman
January 17, 2009
Word Count: 934
Cell Phones Keeping People Connected No Matter How Far
Over the years there have been several new inventions to keep people connected. One of those inventions is a cell phone. A cell phone acquires good qualities which is why to some people it is considered one of the best uses of communication technology. With a cell phone, it doesn’t matter how far away you are; you will always stay connected as long as there is service available and money to pay the bill. You can count on a cell phone in case of an emergency, if money is what you are worried about cell phones are now more affordable, you can talk to anyone anywhere at any time, and they now come in all sizes to allow you to carry them with you at all times.
The quality that makes a cell phone unique from the other communication technologies is that a phone call is personal. For example, my brother Gavin and I are very close; he’s my best friend. Last year he spent seven months in Iraq in the navy. There were several ways we could keep in contact. There were e-mails, letters, texting, but more importantly there were phone calls. With phone calls I was able to hear his voice and it was a lot quicker than waiting for a letter or an e-mail. What was even more amazing was how clear his voice was even though he was 9,000 miles away. Being able to talk to him and hear his voice made the phone call a lot more personable and enjoyable.
Cell phones affect the way people communicate because it helps them feel connected. Even though my brother was in another country I felt as though he was in the room with me. Without the use of phone calls you would have to resort to the old fashion way; which of course is writing a letter. This in itself takes days to send and then receive the letters. With the ability to talk instantly it helps you stay connected with family and friends a lot quicker.
Personally, having a cell phone has been a life saver on several different occasions. I carry my cell phone with me everywhere I go, so I constantly have my phone book on hand. This comes in handy when I need someone’s phone number and don’t have access to a regular phone book. Not only that, but with a cell phone you always have it in case of an emergency. Even when you are out of phone service range you can still make an emergency 911 call and call someone for help. For other people, a cell phone is a great thing to have in case they need to contact someone right away and don’t have access to a pay phone or home phone.
The older forms of media, such as a house phone, have certain boundaries you can’t suppress. You can’t take them with you when you go on trips, some are built into the walls so you can’t even walk more than two feet away, some home phones are expensive when it comes to long distance calling, if the power lines go out then so does your use of a phone and the list goes on. Cell phones have advanced since the everyday house phone not only because they are portable but also because they are very affordable and come with great phone plans. This is very important to many people who need to call others on a regular basis. Being able to take your phone with you wherever you go and not having to pay a fortune for those phone calls are key aspects that make a cell phone more desirable. Even though a letter or e-mail may be cheaper it still comes back to time and having a personal connection which are some of the greatest features in a cell phone.
Cell phones, however, are not always people’s favorite technology. They can also be quite annoying if you use them out of context and stop respecting those around you. Many people zone out the world when they are talking on their cell phones and just tune into their conversations. This could of course be distracting to others around them when their phones are going off in public places or when people are talking really loud on their phones in places where others want peace and quiet. There have been many occasions where people use their cell phones inappropriately such as; in a classroom when a teacher is trying to teach, in a library where people are trying to read, in a movie theater where people are trying to watch a movie without being disturbed, in a grocery store line where people are hearing everything you say, etcetera.
Aside from the people who chose not to use their cell phone appropriately, there are ways to use a cell phone that doesn’t disturb others. You could step outside if you are inside a building, you could call them back at a more convenient time, or you could talk quietly so you don’t disturb others. As long as you are respecting the people around you there is no reason why you can’t use your cell phone unless you were told not to do so.
Since a cell phone can help you stay connected in a more personal way, help you when there is an emergency, are not too expensive when the bills arrive, and can be easily accessible and manageable, the best form of communication technology throughout our time would definitely be a cell phone.
DTC 375
Dr. Farman
January 17, 2009
Word Count: 934
Cell Phones Keeping People Connected No Matter How Far
Over the years there have been several new inventions to keep people connected. One of those inventions is a cell phone. A cell phone acquires good qualities which is why to some people it is considered one of the best uses of communication technology. With a cell phone, it doesn’t matter how far away you are; you will always stay connected as long as there is service available and money to pay the bill. You can count on a cell phone in case of an emergency, if money is what you are worried about cell phones are now more affordable, you can talk to anyone anywhere at any time, and they now come in all sizes to allow you to carry them with you at all times.
The quality that makes a cell phone unique from the other communication technologies is that a phone call is personal. For example, my brother Gavin and I are very close; he’s my best friend. Last year he spent seven months in Iraq in the navy. There were several ways we could keep in contact. There were e-mails, letters, texting, but more importantly there were phone calls. With phone calls I was able to hear his voice and it was a lot quicker than waiting for a letter or an e-mail. What was even more amazing was how clear his voice was even though he was 9,000 miles away. Being able to talk to him and hear his voice made the phone call a lot more personable and enjoyable.
Cell phones affect the way people communicate because it helps them feel connected. Even though my brother was in another country I felt as though he was in the room with me. Without the use of phone calls you would have to resort to the old fashion way; which of course is writing a letter. This in itself takes days to send and then receive the letters. With the ability to talk instantly it helps you stay connected with family and friends a lot quicker.
Personally, having a cell phone has been a life saver on several different occasions. I carry my cell phone with me everywhere I go, so I constantly have my phone book on hand. This comes in handy when I need someone’s phone number and don’t have access to a regular phone book. Not only that, but with a cell phone you always have it in case of an emergency. Even when you are out of phone service range you can still make an emergency 911 call and call someone for help. For other people, a cell phone is a great thing to have in case they need to contact someone right away and don’t have access to a pay phone or home phone.
The older forms of media, such as a house phone, have certain boundaries you can’t suppress. You can’t take them with you when you go on trips, some are built into the walls so you can’t even walk more than two feet away, some home phones are expensive when it comes to long distance calling, if the power lines go out then so does your use of a phone and the list goes on. Cell phones have advanced since the everyday house phone not only because they are portable but also because they are very affordable and come with great phone plans. This is very important to many people who need to call others on a regular basis. Being able to take your phone with you wherever you go and not having to pay a fortune for those phone calls are key aspects that make a cell phone more desirable. Even though a letter or e-mail may be cheaper it still comes back to time and having a personal connection which are some of the greatest features in a cell phone.
Cell phones, however, are not always people’s favorite technology. They can also be quite annoying if you use them out of context and stop respecting those around you. Many people zone out the world when they are talking on their cell phones and just tune into their conversations. This could of course be distracting to others around them when their phones are going off in public places or when people are talking really loud on their phones in places where others want peace and quiet. There have been many occasions where people use their cell phones inappropriately such as; in a classroom when a teacher is trying to teach, in a library where people are trying to read, in a movie theater where people are trying to watch a movie without being disturbed, in a grocery store line where people are hearing everything you say, etcetera.
Aside from the people who chose not to use their cell phone appropriately, there are ways to use a cell phone that doesn’t disturb others. You could step outside if you are inside a building, you could call them back at a more convenient time, or you could talk quietly so you don’t disturb others. As long as you are respecting the people around you there is no reason why you can’t use your cell phone unless you were told not to do so.
Since a cell phone can help you stay connected in a more personal way, help you when there is an emergency, are not too expensive when the bills arrive, and can be easily accessible and manageable, the best form of communication technology throughout our time would definitely be a cell phone.
Bates1
Daniel Bates
DTC 375 1/22/09
World of Warcraft: The Communicative Tool of Choice by Gamers Everywhere
Communication is extremely important for our well being and there are many ways to get it in our daily lives. For many people, video games provide a new inlet of contact not previously available! World of Warcraft (WoW) is an extremely popular game that drew upon some older MMORPG concepts and combined it with their own to provide an online interchange. It's so popular, with a population of 11.5 plus million players, that it serves as an excellent tool of communication, because chances are you already know someone who plays. In this essay I will discuss the uniqueness of WoW and the benefits of WoW over offline games and other media.
WoW has a unique avatar creation system, with thousands of possibilities of combinations of features. So, it's easy to make a very personal figure to represent yourself the way you want to be seen! This is great, because the role of the avatar is not simply to represent the physical you. WoW also keeps the user constantly involved with a local chat room, a very large chat, a market chat, a guild chat, and a friend chat. They aren't always being used at the same time, which would cause a hectic mess, but it does leave a lot of possibility for interaction. Text is colored accordingly too, making it much easier to ignore all the irrelevant information flowing. WoW implemented player "Ignore lists" as a tool to silence spammers, gold sellers, and bothersome people a breeze. Talking with friends always has priority by design though. Personal chat gives a ringing sound to cause attention, pulling you out of game play.
If you've seen any video-gamer stereotyping on TV or on the news, you know they are seen as extremely antisocial while playing and loners while not playing! Well WoW helps out nerds that may be suffering from such actualities with its expansive communicable boundaries! It brings socializing to a normally isolated activity. There is also a microphone communication system, but it is most often used in just game oriented activities and not casual talk.
Communicating through WoW isn't as effective or direct as other media, but conversation almost always is oriented about the game - a hobby everyone on it is invested in. Over time, users get better at typing their thoughts faster and more accurately leading to better conversations. It's also easier to type offensive messages or make fun of others. Sarcasm is very difficult to interpret in chat and strong wording doesn’t lead to the same consequences it would have offline.
WoW players use this medium because, usually we want interaction mixed in with our hobbies. We don't want to just sit down and type, talk, or blog. Due to the nature of MMORPGs, I think players are more accomplishment oriented. Like with myself, I use a bike under my desk to get a workout while listening to music and chatting in WoW or using a headset. WoW is also a great place to find thousands of other players obviously interested in the same hobby.
WoW is very unique to other media, with one example being its simplicity. There is no dialing of abstract numbers or remembering complicatedemailaddresses1573. You simply check if your friends' characters are online with a little button and you can chat (type) with them.
I've found from personal experience WoW is a fine interface to communicate thoughts about the game and minor issues of offline happenings. But of course, chat doesn't do justice to all the emotions and expressions we show in person. Voice intonation and body signs, along with even touch and smell . . . alter the message often to extreme polarities, so in this regard, chatting is handicapped. And that's where voice chat comes in to limit the ground loss by distance. I've actually had funny experiences trying to chat with someone who was talking to me over the headset; talking is so fast, live, making it much more of an expressive experience. Those differences really come out when trying to chat with someone typing or vice versa. Now I refuse to talk with anyone who can only type back to me. Chat still creates its' own variations of emotion and provokes different thoughts in ways only text and emoticons can though.
Keeping all of this in mind, for very serious messages it is extremely inappropriate just to use text or sometimes just voice chat. You really need to be able to see face and body signals, because all it takes to mess up a relationship online is misinterpreting a serious message. I've had local friends tell me in game about extremely serious problems their having and they usually don't get anything back from me except, "Calling," or “Want to meet somewhere and talk about this?” Meeting in person is ground World of Warcraft or any technological communication could never cover and this is why I hope gamers don’t forgo nearby relationships for distant ones.
DTC 375 1/22/09
World of Warcraft: The Communicative Tool of Choice by Gamers Everywhere
Communication is extremely important for our well being and there are many ways to get it in our daily lives. For many people, video games provide a new inlet of contact not previously available! World of Warcraft (WoW) is an extremely popular game that drew upon some older MMORPG concepts and combined it with their own to provide an online interchange. It's so popular, with a population of 11.5 plus million players, that it serves as an excellent tool of communication, because chances are you already know someone who plays. In this essay I will discuss the uniqueness of WoW and the benefits of WoW over offline games and other media.
WoW has a unique avatar creation system, with thousands of possibilities of combinations of features. So, it's easy to make a very personal figure to represent yourself the way you want to be seen! This is great, because the role of the avatar is not simply to represent the physical you. WoW also keeps the user constantly involved with a local chat room, a very large chat, a market chat, a guild chat, and a friend chat. They aren't always being used at the same time, which would cause a hectic mess, but it does leave a lot of possibility for interaction. Text is colored accordingly too, making it much easier to ignore all the irrelevant information flowing. WoW implemented player "Ignore lists" as a tool to silence spammers, gold sellers, and bothersome people a breeze. Talking with friends always has priority by design though. Personal chat gives a ringing sound to cause attention, pulling you out of game play.
If you've seen any video-gamer stereotyping on TV or on the news, you know they are seen as extremely antisocial while playing and loners while not playing! Well WoW helps out nerds that may be suffering from such actualities with its expansive communicable boundaries! It brings socializing to a normally isolated activity. There is also a microphone communication system, but it is most often used in just game oriented activities and not casual talk.
Communicating through WoW isn't as effective or direct as other media, but conversation almost always is oriented about the game - a hobby everyone on it is invested in. Over time, users get better at typing their thoughts faster and more accurately leading to better conversations. It's also easier to type offensive messages or make fun of others. Sarcasm is very difficult to interpret in chat and strong wording doesn’t lead to the same consequences it would have offline.
WoW players use this medium because, usually we want interaction mixed in with our hobbies. We don't want to just sit down and type, talk, or blog. Due to the nature of MMORPGs, I think players are more accomplishment oriented. Like with myself, I use a bike under my desk to get a workout while listening to music and chatting in WoW or using a headset. WoW is also a great place to find thousands of other players obviously interested in the same hobby.
WoW is very unique to other media, with one example being its simplicity. There is no dialing of abstract numbers or remembering complicatedemailaddresses1573. You simply check if your friends' characters are online with a little button and you can chat (type) with them.
I've found from personal experience WoW is a fine interface to communicate thoughts about the game and minor issues of offline happenings. But of course, chat doesn't do justice to all the emotions and expressions we show in person. Voice intonation and body signs, along with even touch and smell . . . alter the message often to extreme polarities, so in this regard, chatting is handicapped. And that's where voice chat comes in to limit the ground loss by distance. I've actually had funny experiences trying to chat with someone who was talking to me over the headset; talking is so fast, live, making it much more of an expressive experience. Those differences really come out when trying to chat with someone typing or vice versa. Now I refuse to talk with anyone who can only type back to me. Chat still creates its' own variations of emotion and provokes different thoughts in ways only text and emoticons can though.
Keeping all of this in mind, for very serious messages it is extremely inappropriate just to use text or sometimes just voice chat. You really need to be able to see face and body signals, because all it takes to mess up a relationship online is misinterpreting a serious message. I've had local friends tell me in game about extremely serious problems their having and they usually don't get anything back from me except, "Calling," or “Want to meet somewhere and talk about this?” Meeting in person is ground World of Warcraft or any technological communication could never cover and this is why I hope gamers don’t forgo nearby relationships for distant ones.
Say A Command...
“The person you have tried to reach is currently unavailable, at the tone, please record your message.” What a terrifying sentence from such a small piece of technology known today as “the cell phone.’’ As you hear these automated words, even reading them on paper, your body is paralyzed with fear. Your blood runs cold, your fingers grow numb, and your heart fills with sorrow. How has society become so dependant upon such a small piece of equipment? How did our ancestors manage to live without it? Although the cell phone is a tremendously useful piece of technology and has made communication seemingly effortless, it has evolved into an incredibly powerful device which has defeated the purpose of competent communication and personalization.
What an amazing time we live in when we don’t even have to dial a number to communicate with people on a world wide level and to be able to communicate anytime and anywhere by simply saying a command to our phones. Even the idea of having a home phone number is beginning to be obsolete. No other technology today has made modes of communication as convenient as the cell phone. The World Wide Web, digital cameras, and navigation technologies all at the push of a button; our very lives are encapsulated in this one small devices.
Imagine for a moment that the worst possible scenario presents itself. Your phone plummets to the ground, landing in the only puddle of water for miles, and your phone, as well as your very life as you knew it moments ago, is obliterated! Panic and chaos ensue as you frantically try to dry off your beloved companion. You remove and replace the battery back to its home and press power, but to no avail. Your phone is dead. As tears stream down your face, your heart clenches with fear when you realize, that not only can you not call your BFF (best friend forever), but you don’t even know their number, or any other number of importance to you except for 911 which is useless in times like these.
As sad as this tale is, our lives truly are entrusted into these capsules of knowledge. When is the last time we tried to memorize a significant phone number, address, or anything of importance? I personally can’t recall such a time. This tragic event would have annihilated my social life. The friends that I contact on my cell phone throughout the nation would have been lost. My Grandfather always carried two things with him at all times. A pencil and a small 3x5 pocketbook full of important names, dates, locations etc. When he had filled a pocketbook, he placed it into a small fireproof safe with the others. This is a dying art in our society. One which may be finished after our generation if we do not listen to the past.
Today the cell phone might be referred to as a mobile phone. Although our ancestors did have the privilege of using a phone away from home, they had to burden themselves by locating a phone booth, a structure that has died off in recent years. The phone booth would give the caller a small, enclosed area of privacy where the caller could communicate with loved ones or business associates for mere pennies. Today it seems as though the very concept of the phone booth has been discarded. No matter where we go, we are bombarded by hearing the intimate details of people’s lives as they talk on their phones. When we walk to our cars, in the grocery store, restrooms, and even church buildings, we can learn more intimate details of the strangers next to us than we might have ever wanted to. There seems to be a plague throughout our society that not only acknowledges this dilemma, but widely accepts it as well. We have not only discarded any homage to the phone booth, but have destroyed the very meaning and idea of it.
Out of all of my ten or so years of cell phone usage, I can only recall maybe a handful of times when a cell phone was absolutely necessary. These times being either road side emergencies, or family emergencies. Almost any other call that I have made could have been tended to before or after leaving the home. The need to communicate for hundreds if not thousands of minutes a month seems to negate the purpose of meaningful communication. Another unique feature of the cell phone is the option for text messages, which is similar to pagers. Texting allows for small tidbits of information to be delivered in a short period of time. This technology also makes communication bland in my opinion. Our intelligence seems to always fall short of our abilities when it comes to texting. We are also so exhausted from pushing buttons that we fail to spell the word in its entirety, and settled for a jumbled heap of letters and numbers. For example the word wait would magically go through mitosis and emerge as “w8”.
Are we really laughing out loud or my personal favorite of rolling on the floor laughing? If anything our ancestors are ROFL’ing at us for being so naïve and taking for granted the power of eloquently spoken or written words. But who needs eloquent words when your cell phone can sound like a lightsaber?Internet Communication: A Closer Look At Instant Messaging
Matt Larson
DTC 375
Jason Farman
1-27-09
WC 971
When the Internet became available email became a popular way of communicating. You could write short or long messages to another person and that person could, in turn, receive them and return the favor in a timely manner. No longer did one need paper, pen, and manually have to hand write a letter. It became so fast and easy. One of the next forms of communication through the Internet that came about was chat rooms. This was a way for a person to be able to join public or private “rooms” on the Internet and type short messages to anyone in that “room.” The messages sent were instantly shown on the other people’s screens. They could then write back in the same fashion. The next communication program over the Internet was Instant Messaging. This mode of communication revolutionized the way we communicate over the Internet today.
DTC 375
Jason Farman
1-27-09
WC 971
When the Internet became available email became a popular way of communicating. You could write short or long messages to another person and that person could, in turn, receive them and return the favor in a timely manner. No longer did one need paper, pen, and manually have to hand write a letter. It became so fast and easy. One of the next forms of communication through the Internet that came about was chat rooms. This was a way for a person to be able to join public or private “rooms” on the Internet and type short messages to anyone in that “room.” The messages sent were instantly shown on the other people’s screens. They could then write back in the same fashion. The next communication program over the Internet was Instant Messaging. This mode of communication revolutionized the way we communicate over the Internet today.
When Instant messaging first came to the table, it was very basic and similar to chat rooms only it was much more personal. Instead of having to log into a chat room you logged into your messenger and you could instantly connect to anyone in your list of “friends” as long as they were also logged in. “Friends” being people who you had saved on your list, could be anyone. Family or friends, it could be virtually anyone as long as they were online and used the same instant messenger you could connect with them. All you needed to do was create a screen name, and that was your online identity. Once you were online and connected to another person you could send short messages just like you did in the chat rooms. The messages were received quickly and privately and you could have a full conversation just by typing on your keyboard. Think about how this has changed our lives and what has come about because of it. Now we have cells phones where you can text one another, which is essentially the same thing as an Instant Message only you can send the messages phone to phone. It’s a mobile messenger.
Instant messenger has changed many ways over the years. Just as technology grows and progresses so does instant messaging. This is where instant messaging becomes unique. One example how instant messaging advanced was the adding of emoticons. Emoticons are little faces you can make using certain letters and characters. Some of these include a smiley face, :-), or a frowning face, :-(. These added some fun and variety to the messages and made things more fun and easier on the eyes. It basically added some fun to instant messaging.
These emoticons then began to become even more advanced. They have become more visually stimulating. They have made specific faces to take place of the symbols that were once used. Now the smiley face is this ☺ and the frowning face is ☹. You can see the exact emotion you want to show. As said previously it adds fun to the messages, by giving a break from the reading and visually stimulating them as well. For example if you read the passage, I am sorry. You know the person feels sorry, but if you read the passage with an emoticon, I am sorry ☹, it becomes much more meaningful and the emoticon makes the message sender appear to feel sad about whatever they did. You can recognize how they are feeling at the moment they wrote the message.
Windows Live Messenger, which is a instant messaging program, has implemented flash based emoticons called Winks. These are short flash based messages that can project certain emotions. For example there is a bear that can make a kiss to the other person on the screen in real time, or there is a little boy who gives a devious laugh and then throws a water balloon at you hitting the screen. These are very fun and make the process of typing emoticons even simpler because you don’t even have to type them. Windows Live Messenger has a list of them available for you to click on with your mouse. Also these can be used as an entire message you are trying send as they are a short scene and can convey your message you want to send in one wink. It makes instant messaging even easier than before and can make people laugh to people using them and receiving them.
Lastly, one of the greatest advancements of instant messaging is how you can now video chat. With the coming of high speed internet and webcams and microphones for computers, you can now talk to someone almost like a telephone, except you can see the person your talking to as well. With a microphone and a webcam, you can begin the video chat with another person. Now this does not mean the other person can do the same. You both need to have the equipment to make this possible. In the end this technology has led to other programs, one being Skype. Skype is Voice over the Internet Program or VoiP. These types of programs act as a phone does only it uses high speed internet instead of a phone line. Skype also has video you can use if you have a webcam, as well as your typical instant message program.
As you can see communication over the Internet has come along very well. First starting at email, then progressing to chat rooms, then to instant messaging. In a short amount of time instant messaging has been building upon itself to become a better product. The programs have introduced emoticons, winks, and even video calls where you can chat using a microphone. There is surely to be many more improvements to the instant messaging world and it is sure to become even more popular than it is today.
Culture and the Ultimate Medium
Ultimate Medium 1
Culture and the Ultimate Medium
Lee Kidd
Jason FarmanDTC 375: Language, Texts & Technology
Dr. Farman
Jan. 27, 2009
Word Count: 911
Ultimate Medium 2
Culture and the Ultimate Medium
During the last five years, I come to rely heavily on my HP Pavilion laptop throughout each day for numerous reasons. It has changed my life in ways I could only have imagined. I will briefly illustrate some of those changes, as we go along. From my own experience I have come to the following opinion: a high-end laptop is the ultimate medium of choice today: it combines the functions of multiple media; enhancing communication options efficiently and economically, with unprecedented practicality for all. In doing so, it also helps bring people and communities closer together, via the internet, as hypermedia respond to demands for more resources in isolated areas.
The multi-faceted nature of laptops sets it apart from other media. Sure other devices can perform multiple roles, but laptops take media roll-playing to a level all its own. It performs most rolls of entertainment media, including those of a complete stereo system: CD player; radio; recording and has editing capabilities; and of a seventeen inch television. Via the CD-Rom drive, it can also play, store and copy movies. In many other arenas, the laptop is an absolute necessity: such as production, publishing, business, archive, art/design and school projects. Compared to a conventional TV or a desk-top computer, the laptop is a lightweight -- weighing in at seven pounds, The portability, functional flexibility and Wi-fi makes it easy to work at home: from room to room; or the park, and even in some restaurants; without wires as long as the battery stays
Ultimate Medium 3
charged, which is about three and a half hours at best. Yes, it is possible to go to Burger King (on lunch break): watch TV; check your e-mail; view podcasts; play U-tube clips; work on a school paper or free-lance design project simultaneously (depending of course on screen size, memory availability and signal strength from the fire station across the street – which is usually very low). Can an I-pod do that? I haven’t had the need to know. These are just some of the unique aspects of this revolutionary medium.
Laptops have contributed to the enhancement of communication options, culturally and visually: using a multi-plex of media screens and Wi-fi. Unlimited numbers of individuals can inter-act simultaneously through: gaming; textually (e-mail, Instant Messaging and others); and vocally! My niece uses her laptop to speak with her friends; sends and receives IM’s (Instant Messages) and e-mail; all the while playing Warcraft. They have also helped to reshape our culture through internet chat rooms and dating in cyberspace. Some may experience a deeper (or hyper) sense of reality than face to face interaction. The communication options of a laptop allow people convenience, flexibility and choice, at any given moment: different from a phone or some other medium.
It is also a necessary tool for efficient communication in business: desk-top publishing contractors, for example, use laptops as a portable office. I keep mine in a case with wheels; which holds all my files, programs, disks and other essentials for doing business on location. E-mailing files is preferred for its efficiency, unless a graphic file is too large. Even then it can be saved on a convenient CD and shipped the next day. It also reduces design production time, with the immediacy of art itself, and is therefore economical. A laptop can also be an efficient way pay bills at home or on the road. A person can multi-task on-line: pay bills; check e-mail; view news podcast; check the weather report; stock report; go shopping and watch TV with the greatest of ease, without even getting out of bed. This efficient medium can eliminate or reduce the need for stamps, commuting to and from work, running errands and much more; therefore saving time, gas, and money. Why would anyone use a desk-top computer for any thing other than a mass storage device?
The laptop has become a remarkable medium in its own right. Through technological appropriation, remediation and vision, many other forms of media have been rendered virtually obsolete: recording devices; VCR machines and conventional stereo systems to name a few. Personally, I no longer have need for a TV set, stereo or radio. My laptop is the ultimate media package deal, or so it seems. I also use my laptop as a design studio: graphic programs replace my need, high cost and mess of art supplies; and the computer screen is my canvas. One can download and retouch photos, eliminating the need and cost of photo processing. What other portable medium has the functional practicality to, not just replace or transform an entire home office/ studio: but rather, induce a unique concept and practice through digital technology?
Sharing digital technology through laptop hypermediacy ethically; to benefits mankind, I think all would agree is an appropriate use of technology. Any one of these media has the potential for improper usage. In my opinion: harassment; cyber-stocking; internet defamation and web-cam images of a
Ultimate Medium 4
private nature, void of subjects’ approval, are not appropriate uses. A better use, one might argue, would be to use all media to find lost loved ones.
In conclusion, I’ve given brief illustrations through specific personal and cultural examples, why a high-end laptop is the ultimate stand-alone medium: my daily use of its hypermediacy have altered my life economically and culturally, and thus, simplifying it. What other media could cause and affect such a profound lifestyle revision? It’s both exciting and hard to imagine what’s next.
Culture and the Ultimate Medium
Lee Kidd
Jason FarmanDTC 375: Language, Texts & Technology
Dr. Farman
Jan. 27, 2009
Word Count: 911
Ultimate Medium 2
Culture and the Ultimate Medium
During the last five years, I come to rely heavily on my HP Pavilion laptop throughout each day for numerous reasons. It has changed my life in ways I could only have imagined. I will briefly illustrate some of those changes, as we go along. From my own experience I have come to the following opinion: a high-end laptop is the ultimate medium of choice today: it combines the functions of multiple media; enhancing communication options efficiently and economically, with unprecedented practicality for all. In doing so, it also helps bring people and communities closer together, via the internet, as hypermedia respond to demands for more resources in isolated areas.
The multi-faceted nature of laptops sets it apart from other media. Sure other devices can perform multiple roles, but laptops take media roll-playing to a level all its own. It performs most rolls of entertainment media, including those of a complete stereo system: CD player; radio; recording and has editing capabilities; and of a seventeen inch television. Via the CD-Rom drive, it can also play, store and copy movies. In many other arenas, the laptop is an absolute necessity: such as production, publishing, business, archive, art/design and school projects. Compared to a conventional TV or a desk-top computer, the laptop is a lightweight -- weighing in at seven pounds, The portability, functional flexibility and Wi-fi makes it easy to work at home: from room to room; or the park, and even in some restaurants; without wires as long as the battery stays
Ultimate Medium 3
charged, which is about three and a half hours at best. Yes, it is possible to go to Burger King (on lunch break): watch TV; check your e-mail; view podcasts; play U-tube clips; work on a school paper or free-lance design project simultaneously (depending of course on screen size, memory availability and signal strength from the fire station across the street – which is usually very low). Can an I-pod do that? I haven’t had the need to know. These are just some of the unique aspects of this revolutionary medium.
Laptops have contributed to the enhancement of communication options, culturally and visually: using a multi-plex of media screens and Wi-fi. Unlimited numbers of individuals can inter-act simultaneously through: gaming; textually (e-mail, Instant Messaging and others); and vocally! My niece uses her laptop to speak with her friends; sends and receives IM’s (Instant Messages) and e-mail; all the while playing Warcraft. They have also helped to reshape our culture through internet chat rooms and dating in cyberspace. Some may experience a deeper (or hyper) sense of reality than face to face interaction. The communication options of a laptop allow people convenience, flexibility and choice, at any given moment: different from a phone or some other medium.
It is also a necessary tool for efficient communication in business: desk-top publishing contractors, for example, use laptops as a portable office. I keep mine in a case with wheels; which holds all my files, programs, disks and other essentials for doing business on location. E-mailing files is preferred for its efficiency, unless a graphic file is too large. Even then it can be saved on a convenient CD and shipped the next day. It also reduces design production time, with the immediacy of art itself, and is therefore economical. A laptop can also be an efficient way pay bills at home or on the road. A person can multi-task on-line: pay bills; check e-mail; view news podcast; check the weather report; stock report; go shopping and watch TV with the greatest of ease, without even getting out of bed. This efficient medium can eliminate or reduce the need for stamps, commuting to and from work, running errands and much more; therefore saving time, gas, and money. Why would anyone use a desk-top computer for any thing other than a mass storage device?
The laptop has become a remarkable medium in its own right. Through technological appropriation, remediation and vision, many other forms of media have been rendered virtually obsolete: recording devices; VCR machines and conventional stereo systems to name a few. Personally, I no longer have need for a TV set, stereo or radio. My laptop is the ultimate media package deal, or so it seems. I also use my laptop as a design studio: graphic programs replace my need, high cost and mess of art supplies; and the computer screen is my canvas. One can download and retouch photos, eliminating the need and cost of photo processing. What other portable medium has the functional practicality to, not just replace or transform an entire home office/ studio: but rather, induce a unique concept and practice through digital technology?
Sharing digital technology through laptop hypermediacy ethically; to benefits mankind, I think all would agree is an appropriate use of technology. Any one of these media has the potential for improper usage. In my opinion: harassment; cyber-stocking; internet defamation and web-cam images of a
Ultimate Medium 4
private nature, void of subjects’ approval, are not appropriate uses. A better use, one might argue, would be to use all media to find lost loved ones.
In conclusion, I’ve given brief illustrations through specific personal and cultural examples, why a high-end laptop is the ultimate stand-alone medium: my daily use of its hypermediacy have altered my life economically and culturally, and thus, simplifying it. What other media could cause and affect such a profound lifestyle revision? It’s both exciting and hard to imagine what’s next.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Texting: When being 'all thumbs' may not be so bad
Kristin Sanders
DTC 375: Language, Text and Technology
Dr. Jason Farman
Jan. 27, 2009
Word count: 1,281
Everyone has a piece of communication technology that they hold near and dear to their hearts. For the older generations, it may be the classic combination of pen and paper or even the telephone. As most of my DTC 375 peers will perhaps write, I also believe that cell phone text messaging will be our generation’s media darling. Loathe though I am to admit this, text messaging has nestled its way into my heart as well.
Marshall McLuhan says that all media pays homage to media before it (McLuhan 180). While text messaging does pay tribute to various communication tools prior to its time (pen and paper; the phone; telegrams; e-mail; instant messaging; and even to some extent ticker tape news wire feeds), texting has evolved to become its own “unique” medium.
I hate the word “unique.” It has been used to the point where its original meaning has been drained of all, well, uniqueness. But to be frank, what other word could so well describe the qualities of texting? Well, convenient, for one. And how about pocket-sized, on-the-go, instantaneous or even inexpensive? Casual and ubiquitous are good too.
Yes, it seems texting, also known as short message service, is everywhere these days. In 2000, the earliest figures available from CTIA, the Wireless Association, 97 million users were utilizing wireless services, with 12.2 million monthly text messages being exchanged. In 2008, that number had rocketed to 262.7 million users and 75 billion message exchanges (CTIA).
Its explosive popularity is not ill-gained either. My generation has been raised on the notion of getting everything now, now, now, and this includes our information. Gone are the days of tracking down Joe’s weekend plans by phone call, answering machine, e-mail or face-to-face interactions with others – you can just zap Joe a quick and informal “wut r u doing this wknd?” and, assuming Joe’s cell phone is glued to his hip, you can probably get an answer within five minutes.
Gone too are the days of awkward forced familial interactions. Think back to your last extended family gathering – how many of the “under 25” set, particularly those in their teens, had their eyes and hands glued to their communication device? Texting has, for some, gone beyond just a communications medium to a serious coping device. It has become a connection to the outside world from a location that, to the user, may be completely undesirable. Speaking of undesirable, how about those services that have blossomed to send fake “emergency” text messages in the event of a blind date gone badly? Before text messaging was widely available, the dating desperate had to fake a phone call, fake sick or escape out the bathroom window on the sly.
Text messaging has even gone into the realm of crime fighting. Community police departments and their respective Crime Stoppers tip lines, from Boston to our own Tri-Cities, have taken to accepting anonymous text message tips about various local seedy happenings (Weiss). “We were finding at crime scenes that while we were setting up investigations, we were seeing more young people who were texting each other” about what they were seeing, said Boston Police Officer Cecil Jones. If the texters were comfortable enough to send messages at the actual crime scene, Crime Stoppers figured, why not capitalize on that comfort and nab a few bad guys in the process? Like tips that are called in over the phone, text messages are filtered through a third party system to preserve the secrecy of the tipper, then forwarded as an e-mail to the police department for follow-up.
As recently as President Barack Obama’s inauguration, the wireless industry was bolstering its communications networks and providing traffic tips with an emphasis on short message systems over voice calls. “Despite all the industry’s efforts to increase network capacity, it’s really important for the public to understand that unusually large crowds can generate congestion and communications delays,” said Steve Largent, President and CEO of CTIA. “For this reason, we want to remind Inaugural event attendees to do their part in decreasing network demand by texting instead of placing voice calls …” (CTIA).
For all its good aspects (convenience, greater network capacity, ease of access, immediacy), text messaging can have its disadvantages too. Take, for example, the increasing instances of diminished academic integrity, from middle school all the way up through post-graduate education. Memorizing the placement of the letters on the number pads and text messaging has made it easier to zap back and forth the answers to various tests questions while students are mid-exam without the teacher even being aware of what is going on. There’s also the little issue of the slowly-eroding base of formal English. Smiley faces, various lols and truncated spellings have edged their way into college entrance letters, SAT essays and formal term papers.
Confusion is common in message exchanges too. Two lines of text can be misinterpreted for the worse because there wasn’t any emotion to accompany the biting sarcasm. The shortness of the messages can leave too much out of the message or allow someone to read too far into something. Short message services often have a character limit and can literally cut a message in half, leaving out sometimes crucial information.
It’s also really easy to get busted if you conduct illicit business through lines of text. Take the case of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who through text message histories and service provider records, was found to have had an affair with his chief of staff, Christine Beatty. That they had the affair wasn’t the bigger issue, however – it was that they had lied about the affair under oath in court.
Text messages, like e-mail, also can be forwarded to other (unintended) viewers. Keep that in mind when you go to tap out your next drunken confession.
And while text messaging packages through various service providers can be inexpensive on a per-unit basis, the charges can stack up for the more enthusiastic (read: young) users. One recent McClatchy news story told of a girl who had managed to write a staggering 14,528 messages in one month. According to a 2008 Nielson study, the average number of monthly texts for ages 13-17 is 1,742 (Hardesty). The family had the foresight to sign up for unlimited text messages. Without that little add-on, at 20 cents per text, the bill would have totaled $2,905.60.
Personally, I’m on a roll if I can hack out 200 text messages per month. I use text messages to keep in touch with my mom (who lives locally), to make wedding-planning plans with my engaged friends and to ask my fiancé if he would pick up a gallon of milk on the way home from work. Sometimes I use it to let distant friends know I’m thinking of them, or to wish someone a happy birthday or holiday while I’m at my work desk or in a lecture hall. If I’m in a hurry and can’t spare even five minutes to call someone, or if I don’t want to speak to someone for longer than 10 minutes, it’s nice to know that a simple text message in between class to ask about weekend plans is usually sufficient.
Will text messaging continue is evolution into something greater, something more physically ingrained in our children’s children? Or will it go the way of the telegram and the ticker tape feeds and slowly be phased out by something flashier and more immediate? Communicative media Darwinism – or rather, McLuhanism – so far seems to be in text messaging’s favor. With media developing and evolving at the speed not of light, but of information, the next five years should reveal even more.
Citations
McLuhan, Marshall. Essential McLuhan. New York: BasicBooks, 1995. 180
“Wireless 101 - Wireless Quick Facts.” CTIA - The Wireless Association. July 2008. CTIA.org. 26 Jan. 2009.
“Wireless Industry Continues Efforts to Boost Networks in Preparation for Presidential Inauguration.” CTIA - The Wireless Association. 16 Jan. 2009. CTIA. 26 Jan. 2009.
Weiss, Todd R. “Boston police turn to text messages to fight crime.” Computerworld. 18 June 2008. 26 Jan. 2009.
Hardesty, Greg. “My daughter racked up 14,528 text messages in one month.” The Vancouver Sun. 24 Jan. 2009. 26 Jan. 2009.
DTC 375: Language, Text and Technology
Dr. Jason Farman
Jan. 27, 2009
Word count: 1,281
Everyone has a piece of communication technology that they hold near and dear to their hearts. For the older generations, it may be the classic combination of pen and paper or even the telephone. As most of my DTC 375 peers will perhaps write, I also believe that cell phone text messaging will be our generation’s media darling. Loathe though I am to admit this, text messaging has nestled its way into my heart as well.
Marshall McLuhan says that all media pays homage to media before it (McLuhan 180). While text messaging does pay tribute to various communication tools prior to its time (pen and paper; the phone; telegrams; e-mail; instant messaging; and even to some extent ticker tape news wire feeds), texting has evolved to become its own “unique” medium.
I hate the word “unique.” It has been used to the point where its original meaning has been drained of all, well, uniqueness. But to be frank, what other word could so well describe the qualities of texting? Well, convenient, for one. And how about pocket-sized, on-the-go, instantaneous or even inexpensive? Casual and ubiquitous are good too.
Yes, it seems texting, also known as short message service, is everywhere these days. In 2000, the earliest figures available from CTIA, the Wireless Association, 97 million users were utilizing wireless services, with 12.2 million monthly text messages being exchanged. In 2008, that number had rocketed to 262.7 million users and 75 billion message exchanges (CTIA).
Its explosive popularity is not ill-gained either. My generation has been raised on the notion of getting everything now, now, now, and this includes our information. Gone are the days of tracking down Joe’s weekend plans by phone call, answering machine, e-mail or face-to-face interactions with others – you can just zap Joe a quick and informal “wut r u doing this wknd?” and, assuming Joe’s cell phone is glued to his hip, you can probably get an answer within five minutes.
Gone too are the days of awkward forced familial interactions. Think back to your last extended family gathering – how many of the “under 25” set, particularly those in their teens, had their eyes and hands glued to their communication device? Texting has, for some, gone beyond just a communications medium to a serious coping device. It has become a connection to the outside world from a location that, to the user, may be completely undesirable. Speaking of undesirable, how about those services that have blossomed to send fake “emergency” text messages in the event of a blind date gone badly? Before text messaging was widely available, the dating desperate had to fake a phone call, fake sick or escape out the bathroom window on the sly.
Text messaging has even gone into the realm of crime fighting. Community police departments and their respective Crime Stoppers tip lines, from Boston to our own Tri-Cities, have taken to accepting anonymous text message tips about various local seedy happenings (Weiss). “We were finding at crime scenes that while we were setting up investigations, we were seeing more young people who were texting each other” about what they were seeing, said Boston Police Officer Cecil Jones. If the texters were comfortable enough to send messages at the actual crime scene, Crime Stoppers figured, why not capitalize on that comfort and nab a few bad guys in the process? Like tips that are called in over the phone, text messages are filtered through a third party system to preserve the secrecy of the tipper, then forwarded as an e-mail to the police department for follow-up.
As recently as President Barack Obama’s inauguration, the wireless industry was bolstering its communications networks and providing traffic tips with an emphasis on short message systems over voice calls. “Despite all the industry’s efforts to increase network capacity, it’s really important for the public to understand that unusually large crowds can generate congestion and communications delays,” said Steve Largent, President and CEO of CTIA. “For this reason, we want to remind Inaugural event attendees to do their part in decreasing network demand by texting instead of placing voice calls …” (CTIA).
For all its good aspects (convenience, greater network capacity, ease of access, immediacy), text messaging can have its disadvantages too. Take, for example, the increasing instances of diminished academic integrity, from middle school all the way up through post-graduate education. Memorizing the placement of the letters on the number pads and text messaging has made it easier to zap back and forth the answers to various tests questions while students are mid-exam without the teacher even being aware of what is going on. There’s also the little issue of the slowly-eroding base of formal English. Smiley faces, various lols and truncated spellings have edged their way into college entrance letters, SAT essays and formal term papers.
Confusion is common in message exchanges too. Two lines of text can be misinterpreted for the worse because there wasn’t any emotion to accompany the biting sarcasm. The shortness of the messages can leave too much out of the message or allow someone to read too far into something. Short message services often have a character limit and can literally cut a message in half, leaving out sometimes crucial information.
It’s also really easy to get busted if you conduct illicit business through lines of text. Take the case of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who through text message histories and service provider records, was found to have had an affair with his chief of staff, Christine Beatty. That they had the affair wasn’t the bigger issue, however – it was that they had lied about the affair under oath in court.
Text messages, like e-mail, also can be forwarded to other (unintended) viewers. Keep that in mind when you go to tap out your next drunken confession.
And while text messaging packages through various service providers can be inexpensive on a per-unit basis, the charges can stack up for the more enthusiastic (read: young) users. One recent McClatchy news story told of a girl who had managed to write a staggering 14,528 messages in one month. According to a 2008 Nielson study, the average number of monthly texts for ages 13-17 is 1,742 (Hardesty). The family had the foresight to sign up for unlimited text messages. Without that little add-on, at 20 cents per text, the bill would have totaled $2,905.60.
Personally, I’m on a roll if I can hack out 200 text messages per month. I use text messages to keep in touch with my mom (who lives locally), to make wedding-planning plans with my engaged friends and to ask my fiancé if he would pick up a gallon of milk on the way home from work. Sometimes I use it to let distant friends know I’m thinking of them, or to wish someone a happy birthday or holiday while I’m at my work desk or in a lecture hall. If I’m in a hurry and can’t spare even five minutes to call someone, or if I don’t want to speak to someone for longer than 10 minutes, it’s nice to know that a simple text message in between class to ask about weekend plans is usually sufficient.
Will text messaging continue is evolution into something greater, something more physically ingrained in our children’s children? Or will it go the way of the telegram and the ticker tape feeds and slowly be phased out by something flashier and more immediate? Communicative media Darwinism – or rather, McLuhanism – so far seems to be in text messaging’s favor. With media developing and evolving at the speed not of light, but of information, the next five years should reveal even more.
Citations
McLuhan, Marshall. Essential McLuhan. New York: BasicBooks, 1995. 180
“Wireless 101 - Wireless Quick Facts.” CTIA - The Wireless Association. July 2008. CTIA.org. 26 Jan. 2009
“Wireless Industry Continues Efforts to Boost Networks in Preparation for Presidential Inauguration.” CTIA - The Wireless Association. 16 Jan. 2009. CTIA. 26 Jan. 2009
Weiss, Todd R. “Boston police turn to text messages to fight crime.” Computerworld. 18 June 2008. 26 Jan. 2009
Hardesty, Greg. “My daughter racked up 14,528 text messages in one month.” The Vancouver Sun. 24 Jan. 2009. 26 Jan. 2009
Remember to Put a Header in Your Post!
Jason Farman
DTC 375: Language, Texts & Technology
Dr. Farman
Jan. 27, 2009
Word Count: 42
Hi everyone,
I wanted to remind you to put a header (like the one above) before your blog post. This will help keep the blog organized and help to easily locate individual postings. Thanks for keeping with the correct formatting.
Also, if you cite any outside sources, be sure to put a Works Cited at the end of your post.
Dr. Farman
DTC 375: Language, Texts & Technology
Dr. Farman
Jan. 27, 2009
Word Count: 42
Hi everyone,
I wanted to remind you to put a header (like the one above) before your blog post. This will help keep the blog organized and help to easily locate individual postings. Thanks for keeping with the correct formatting.
Also, if you cite any outside sources, be sure to put a Works Cited at the end of your post.
Dr. Farman
Smartphone + Facebook = Genius
It was Andrew Grove who said that “A fundamental rule in technology says that whatever can be done will be done.” In all reality, man aspires to have every desire of his heart at the touch of his fingertips. It’s practical, it’s useful, and it’s convenient. One such technology that has become easily accessible over the past couple of years comes with the ability to communicate through Facebook on your phone. BlackBerry has created a Facebook application that has allowed for a new type of cellular communication, in which the user interacts with their phone just as much as they interact with other Facebook users. I will demonstrate here how the creation of this software has brought us closer to real life voiceless communication via a cellular device.
Mark Slee, a Facebook engineer, wrote “Facebook was invented to make sharing information with your friends easier and better. Mobile phones were invented for pretty much the same reason.” His blog goes on to introduce three new phone functions for Facebook: Mobile Uploads, Mobile Texts, and Mobile Web. That was on January 10th of 2007. On October 24, 2007, Research in Motion, the creators of the BlackBerry, introduced the ‘Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones’ application. Applications are devices that you can download from Facebook. They are typically not created by Facebook, but instead by other developers, such as Research in Motion. The application created by Research in Motion is in many ways more advanced that the Mobile Web that became available in early 2007. The Mobile Web enabled it’s users to navigate through Facebook similar to the way they would on a computer while being set to fit on the cellular screen. The only problem is that it seemingly took users back even further than the dial-up age, with the pages loading at speeds that are almost obnoxious. So what could BlackBerry do to make their software any better than what was already available to all cellular phone owners?
The BlackBerry software uses technology that makes each command nearly instant, resulting in what seems like real-time communication. The display has seven functions lined along the top. These include View Status Updates, Upload a Photo, View Friend List, Invite a Friend, Poke Someone, Write on a Wall, and Send a Message. The user rolls along the icons that represent each function, selecting the one that meets their needs. The rolling also exhibits a clicking sound, giving the user a sense of direction and accomplishment with each move they make over the functions. The title of each function is self-explanatory in its purpose, and the incredible thing behind these functions is the instantaneousness of them. When a user hits ‘Write on a Wall’ they are immediately prompted to begin typing the friend’s name that they wish to communicate with. When they hit the ‘A’ key a list forms, starting with “Abby, Adrienne, Alanna, Alex…” The user can continue to type the name, or scroll to select the person they wish to write to. The BlackBerry keyboard then enables the experienced user to type a message almost as quickly as they could speak it. They hit ‘Post’ and then their job is done. The immediateness of the software brings the user much closer to reality. What else about this software might bring a user closer to a real-life experience?
‘Send a Message’ functions with the same method as ‘Write on a Wall’, also almost instantaneous. ‘Send a Message’ is arguably similar to text messaging, except that the user has an unlimited amount of space to type in, and their message is delivered with their picture, giving the receiver some visualization of the originating author, as is with face-to-face communication. Another popular function, ‘Poke Someone’ adds a sense of physical touch to the communication experience. Again, this function is almost immediate. This function is also very unique, how many other handheld devices allow their users to commit actions towards other users? ‘View Status Updates’ also has a very real experience involved. Upon selecting that function a user sees every status update, instantaneously, from every friend that they have on Facebook. The query also displays how long ago the update was made. This function is often used in communication. In my own experience, I was at Wal-Mart shopping for a DVD player. I had no idea what a Blu-ray was, and I updated my status as to that effect, requesting to be informed. Within a few minutes seven people had replied and kindly informed me what it was and how it’s a waste of money. Needless to say, I left the store without a Blu-ray player. Another function that a user could easily access in such a situation is ‘Upload a Photo’. In another shopping experience I fell in love with a pricey rug. I photographed it with my BlackBerry and used the Facebook software to promptly upload it and requested opinions. I was again talked out of purchasing an item, by multiple people in the span of just a few minutes. So not only does this software provide real-time communication, but it saves me money!
When it comes to providing cellular phone users with a real-time and realistic experience, the BlackBerry surfaces as a spearhead in voiceless communication. The BlackBerry/Facebook software appeals to multiple senses. This allows the user to be consumed into another world where they can utilize their every ability minus smell (which very well could be a positive thing in some cases, especially when communicating with such a large population). The user never has to speak, but they still face such a reality of people communicating with them in different methods with this one tool. I’m in agreement with Andrew Grove in saying that I believe this tool will continue to grow in both use and ability, and that it is a big step towards a hand-held voiceless reality.
Mark Slee, a Facebook engineer, wrote “Facebook was invented to make sharing information with your friends easier and better. Mobile phones were invented for pretty much the same reason.” His blog goes on to introduce three new phone functions for Facebook: Mobile Uploads, Mobile Texts, and Mobile Web. That was on January 10th of 2007. On October 24, 2007, Research in Motion, the creators of the BlackBerry, introduced the ‘Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones’ application. Applications are devices that you can download from Facebook. They are typically not created by Facebook, but instead by other developers, such as Research in Motion. The application created by Research in Motion is in many ways more advanced that the Mobile Web that became available in early 2007. The Mobile Web enabled it’s users to navigate through Facebook similar to the way they would on a computer while being set to fit on the cellular screen. The only problem is that it seemingly took users back even further than the dial-up age, with the pages loading at speeds that are almost obnoxious. So what could BlackBerry do to make their software any better than what was already available to all cellular phone owners?
The BlackBerry software uses technology that makes each command nearly instant, resulting in what seems like real-time communication. The display has seven functions lined along the top. These include View Status Updates, Upload a Photo, View Friend List, Invite a Friend, Poke Someone, Write on a Wall, and Send a Message. The user rolls along the icons that represent each function, selecting the one that meets their needs. The rolling also exhibits a clicking sound, giving the user a sense of direction and accomplishment with each move they make over the functions. The title of each function is self-explanatory in its purpose, and the incredible thing behind these functions is the instantaneousness of them. When a user hits ‘Write on a Wall’ they are immediately prompted to begin typing the friend’s name that they wish to communicate with. When they hit the ‘A’ key a list forms, starting with “Abby, Adrienne, Alanna, Alex…” The user can continue to type the name, or scroll to select the person they wish to write to. The BlackBerry keyboard then enables the experienced user to type a message almost as quickly as they could speak it. They hit ‘Post’ and then their job is done. The immediateness of the software brings the user much closer to reality. What else about this software might bring a user closer to a real-life experience?
‘Send a Message’ functions with the same method as ‘Write on a Wall’, also almost instantaneous. ‘Send a Message’ is arguably similar to text messaging, except that the user has an unlimited amount of space to type in, and their message is delivered with their picture, giving the receiver some visualization of the originating author, as is with face-to-face communication. Another popular function, ‘Poke Someone’ adds a sense of physical touch to the communication experience. Again, this function is almost immediate. This function is also very unique, how many other handheld devices allow their users to commit actions towards other users? ‘View Status Updates’ also has a very real experience involved. Upon selecting that function a user sees every status update, instantaneously, from every friend that they have on Facebook. The query also displays how long ago the update was made. This function is often used in communication. In my own experience, I was at Wal-Mart shopping for a DVD player. I had no idea what a Blu-ray was, and I updated my status as to that effect, requesting to be informed. Within a few minutes seven people had replied and kindly informed me what it was and how it’s a waste of money. Needless to say, I left the store without a Blu-ray player. Another function that a user could easily access in such a situation is ‘Upload a Photo’. In another shopping experience I fell in love with a pricey rug. I photographed it with my BlackBerry and used the Facebook software to promptly upload it and requested opinions. I was again talked out of purchasing an item, by multiple people in the span of just a few minutes. So not only does this software provide real-time communication, but it saves me money!
When it comes to providing cellular phone users with a real-time and realistic experience, the BlackBerry surfaces as a spearhead in voiceless communication. The BlackBerry/Facebook software appeals to multiple senses. This allows the user to be consumed into another world where they can utilize their every ability minus smell (which very well could be a positive thing in some cases, especially when communicating with such a large population). The user never has to speak, but they still face such a reality of people communicating with them in different methods with this one tool. I’m in agreement with Andrew Grove in saying that I believe this tool will continue to grow in both use and ability, and that it is a big step towards a hand-held voiceless reality.
Ventrilo: The Online Evolution of the Telephone
Neil Fastabend
Dr. Farman
DTC 375: Language, Texts & Technology
Word Count: 818
Ventrilo is an online voice chat program widely used by the computer gaming community. Once a private or public Ventrilo server is set up, dozens of people are able to connect to it for free and easily talk to each other, allowing for very quick verbal communication that is very desired to online gamers. However, you don't have to be a gamer to see the advantages of such a program. Instead of calling friends on the phone or chatting with them online in instant messages or chat rooms you can just have all of your friends connect to a server with Ventrilo and talk to everyone at once as if you were all in the same room together. This ease of connectivity and the use of verbal communication instead of textual is what makes Ventrilo the best way to communicate with people online.
The ability to connect with multiple people at once in a type of verbal chat room is what makes Ventrilo unique. You get the feeling that you are talking to an actual person more than when you are typing to them in a chat room or instant message. It is more like a phone call with all of your friends at once except you don't have to worry about how many minutes you have left or whether you're getting charged for long distance. With this program you can talk with people on the other side of the world as if they were right next to you.
The use of verbal communication brings the people using it closer together, and it feels much more personal than using text. Since you are hearing the voices of other people you can hear how they are saying things, and what words they are putting emphasis on so it is much harder to misinterpret what they mean as opposed to using text communication, where someone you're chatting with can sometimes easily take what you typed the wrong way. It is also much nicer because you can easily identify the people that are talking by their voices rather than having to memorize many of the odd screen names people sometimes use so that you know who is typing.
Verbal communication is much easier to use and allows you to do other things on the computer while talking to people because you don't have to constantly watch instant messages and chat rooms. For this reason, computer gamers like me prefer Ventrilo over any other type of communication. It lets you continue to be in contact with friends and other people you're gaming with when you're playing and unable to use text based communication. It is also as fast as a telephone so you are able to communicate very quickly, allowing you to quickly let people in your game know what's going on so they can react before it's too late.
Ventrilo's use of verbal communication is an evolution of the telephone, which supports McLuhan's idea of that all new media comes from older media. However, Ventrilo does move past the idea of the telephone by allowing you to talk to more than just one person at the same time. It is more of a cross between the telephone and a chat room, where instead of text, all the people in the room talk instead. This has allowed Ventrilo to become a unique form of communication in it's own right.
The main advantage of voice communication with Ventrilo can also be a disadvantage to it as well. Many times when people are on the computer they are at school or at work and it is not always appropriate to be talking. You wouldn't want to use Ventrilo during these times because of the possibility of interrupting people that are talking or disturbing other people trying to work. For these reasons, the use of voice chat is limited to more private uses such as at home. It can also be troublesome to use when you have a lot of people in one server talking at the same time. Unlike chat rooms, using voice chat means that you have to talk one at a time, otherwise it is hard to understand what people are saying.
Even given the few disadvantages of voice chat, it is still a very quick and easy way to communicate with friends and family. Being able to hear the voices of people you know makes the conversations much more personal and involving, and you get the feeling you are interacting with the actual person you're talking to, rather than just interacting with your computer. As the technology evolves, voice chat programs such as Ventrilo will become much more widely used, and will begin replacing a lot of the text based online communication, allowing users to become much more involved in their conversations online.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Welcome to the DTC 375 Blog!
Hi everyone,
You will post all of your written work for "Language, Texts & Technology" on this blog. To access a copy of the syllabus (and other course files), go to www.jasonfarman.com/dtc375_sp09. In addition to posting on the blog, you must also send me a copy through BlackBoard. I am looking forward to an exciting semester!
Dr. Farman
You will post all of your written work for "Language, Texts & Technology" on this blog. To access a copy of the syllabus (and other course files), go to www.jasonfarman.com/dtc375_sp09. In addition to posting on the blog, you must also send me a copy through BlackBoard. I am looking forward to an exciting semester!
Dr. Farman
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