Impressions of the course:
I think I have a pretty positive outlook on N.C.T. as a subject. I can definitely say that my friends were a little bit jealous that my lectures consisted of movies and YouTube videos.
I really did learn a lot throughout the semester, and the subject bordered on being my favourite.
While at first I thought it was a bit random that we were being marked on our ability to blog and retain information about (what I thought was) a somewhat dodgy French new wave film, the concept of the course eventually came together.
I liked that the course is fairly contemporary - no, incredibly contemporary, actually. It constantly held my interest, and I was genuinely keen on doing the tutorial tasks (except maybe the Microsoft Word & Excel ones).
The only downfall of the course ishow much information I think is crammed into the end of semester test. While a lot of it is relevant, it just seems a bit much to have to basically read a whole textbook and 40 pages of lecture notes, knowing that you could be asked about anything in them.
Overall, I think the tutes & lectures were super helpful, and I always felt like I was learning something...apart from those moments when watching Existenz, Primer, and Alphaville where I felt utterly and completely lost :S but I think thats mainly due to my inability to enjoy cyberpunk and science fiction; they're not exactly my favourite genres of film.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Using Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel has never been a favourite program of mine - it makes me think of maths - a topic which I feel ill at the thought of.
However, I do understand that it would have its perks if your the type of person who needs to make large calculations via spreadsheets...which I am most certainly not.
I handled this exercise OK; I know how to make basic graphs, highlight random columns, and understand how the formulas work.
The only thing I didn't really grasp was the Macro idea....but then again I honestly didn't give it 100% of my brain power.
The main issue, and probably the only one I have with Excel, is that I would have no real idea on what formulas to use if needed. If I'm given the formula, then all is well, however I wouldn't know where to start otherwise.
However, I do understand that it would have its perks if your the type of person who needs to make large calculations via spreadsheets...which I am most certainly not.
I handled this exercise OK; I know how to make basic graphs, highlight random columns, and understand how the formulas work.
The only thing I didn't really grasp was the Macro idea....but then again I honestly didn't give it 100% of my brain power.
The main issue, and probably the only one I have with Excel, is that I would have no real idea on what formulas to use if needed. If I'm given the formula, then all is well, however I wouldn't know where to start otherwise.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Using Microsoft Word
As I begun this tutorial task, I found myself rolling my eyes when instructed to make words bold or put them into italics.
I had the same reaction to the step by step instructions of how to make/adjust a header and footer.
To me, this was all simple.
All my high school assignments had faithfully been carried out by Microsoft Word.
It was my friend. It showed me squiggly lines when I had spelt words incorrectly, or didn't have the right grammar.
And I knew I could always rely on that little animated paperclip to pop up and help me if I ever wanted to write a letter.
So I admit I came into this task thinking that I knew all.
However, the first Advanced Excercise had me saying 'Whoaaaaaa'.
This 'track changes' business was completely new to me, and I gotta say, it's a pretty handy tool.
I wish I had known about it earlier. It's going to make drafting and editing assignments a whole lot more concise.
All in all, that little exercise was very much appreciated and I managed to work my way around it easily.
*applauds*
On the other hand, I didn't have such a positive reaction to the Mail Merge exercise.
Some faint memories of my Year 10 Extension Computing class (yes - Extension. For those special kids ie. the ones who sorta actually knew how to handle a PowerPoint presentation) came rushing back, but seeing as though sometimes I have a hard time remembering what I did last week, I really didn't trust myself to rely on my Grade 10 skills.
While I think I got the basic idea of Mail Merge, and no doubt it will be useful when I have numerous contacts and letters to send to them, I still found myself raising a confused eyebrow and saying 'Eh?' to the somewhat detailed/complex instructions. I think I managed to get there in the end though.
But when it does come time for me to use this tool seriously, I think I'll definitely have to have a little one on one time with the Mail Merge Wizard.
I had the same reaction to the step by step instructions of how to make/adjust a header and footer.
To me, this was all simple.
All my high school assignments had faithfully been carried out by Microsoft Word.
It was my friend. It showed me squiggly lines when I had spelt words incorrectly, or didn't have the right grammar.
And I knew I could always rely on that little animated paperclip to pop up and help me if I ever wanted to write a letter.
So I admit I came into this task thinking that I knew all.
However, the first Advanced Excercise had me saying 'Whoaaaaaa'.
This 'track changes' business was completely new to me, and I gotta say, it's a pretty handy tool.
I wish I had known about it earlier. It's going to make drafting and editing assignments a whole lot more concise.
All in all, that little exercise was very much appreciated and I managed to work my way around it easily.
*applauds*
On the other hand, I didn't have such a positive reaction to the Mail Merge exercise.
Some faint memories of my Year 10 Extension Computing class (yes - Extension. For those special kids ie. the ones who sorta actually knew how to handle a PowerPoint presentation) came rushing back, but seeing as though sometimes I have a hard time remembering what I did last week, I really didn't trust myself to rely on my Grade 10 skills.
While I think I got the basic idea of Mail Merge, and no doubt it will be useful when I have numerous contacts and letters to send to them, I still found myself raising a confused eyebrow and saying 'Eh?' to the somewhat detailed/complex instructions. I think I managed to get there in the end though.
But when it does come time for me to use this tool seriously, I think I'll definitely have to have a little one on one time with the Mail Merge Wizard.
ESSAY
The Medium Vs. The Message
In 1964, Marshall McLuhan, an educator, philosopher, and scholar, published a book entitled ‘Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man”. McLuhan's theory was that a medium affects society by the characteristics of the medium itself, rather than the content that it delivers. This theory has been popularly quoted as “the medium is the message” (Hirsch, 2002). Since this revelation, McLuhan’s notions have been both embraced and rejected, mainly surrounding the idea of whether television and video games (and particularly the violence involved), actually affect youth in a significant way.
When referring to mass-media and communication, the conventional meanings for ‘medium’ involve radio, television, print, and Internet. Therefore, the conventional understanding of ‘message’ is the content or information supplied (Federman 2004). After clarifying definitions, it is easier to explain McLuhan’s beliefs that the “content of the medium blinds us to the charatcer of the medium”, and that, “it is the character of the medium that is its potency”. (McLuhan, 1964).
Marshall McLuhan saw every medium as an extension of some human faculty, and thus believed each form of communication exaggerated that particular sense. In his words,
"The wheel...is an extension of the foot. The book is an extension of the eye... Clothing, an extension of the skin...Electric circuitry, an extension of the central nervous system" (McLuhan as cited by Wimbley, 2000).
Therefore, it was his perception that the predominate media in society will be responsible for how human beings perceive the world.
McLuhan divided media into literal temperature categories to define how much interaction they had with the user of the medium. He stated that,
“Hot media (radio, photography, cinema) are more full of information and allow less involvement of the user; cool media (telephone, cartoons, television) are less full of information and allow much greater sensory participation by the user” (Hirst & Harrison, 2007: 54 - 55).
When looking at the ‘cool’ medium of television, McLuhan believed that it provided the viewer with only a rough sketch through the illumination of tiny dots and perceptually, the viewer must fill in the spaces between these visual dots. This would allow more interpretive thinking space for the audience, leading it to have a greater impact on the viewer. (Hirst, 2007). Particularly with telephone and TV, he supposed that it was not so much the message, but the sender that is “sent” (McLuhan Associates, 1986). For example, when talking to someone on the telephone, you are not so much impacted by what they are telling you, but the fact that they are talking to you and that is what you are hearing. He also referred to television as ‘audio-tactile’ rather than a visual medium and thought television’s effects on the central nervous system could be seen in today’s young i.e. the first television generation. McLuhan diagnosed that this so-called generation gap was neurological; a simple discrepancy between a print-bred generation and its audio-tactile offspring (Wolfe, 2004).
This theory of audio-tactility raises fears of possible illiteracy in youth, an idea which is criticized by Dr Colby, a noted child psychologist. She maintains that there is no evidence that television displaces reading or other constructive leisure activities and that some programming can actually complement and encourage it. The development of positive pre-reading skills is also predicted by watching educational TV in the preschool years (Colby, 1998).
When specifically looking at violence in the media, Karen Sternheimer, sociologist and media scholar, doesn’t argue mass media has no influence on youth, but rather that the influence is far more complex, individual and varied. She analyzes the psychological tests applied to media influences and finds their reliance on artificial settings renders such studies insufficient to support the conclusion that the media causes youths to act badly. Sternheimer is a firm believer that the content of the medium is not an issue;
“Laboratory research techniques which show that exposure to violent television programs, films and video games caused increased aggressive behaviours by youthful viewers found identical for mild programs such as Sesame Street” (Sternheimer as cited by Males, 2004).
Consequently, one can be confident in saying that in this case, the message that is being provided is of little importance to the viewer.
Overwhelming evidence provided by news articles and dedicated websites show that far too much emphasis is placed on what programs children are viewing, whereas according to McLuhan, it should be of concern as to how they are viewing them. Studies have proved that common forms of media among youth such as computer programs and TV editing techniques tend to compress, extend, and distort normal time/space relationships, a critically important element in the creation and use of effective long-term memories (Noel, J). On the other hand, a Virginia Polytechnic Institute study demonstrated a positive aspect of embracing ‘cool’ media by showing how playing videogames improves women's spatial awareness, an area where women often do worse than men. (Cooke, 2007).
When Marshall McLuhan shared his theories with the world, he hoped that people would begin to focus on what the actual media was doing to our brains, rather than the message that it was carrying. It seems many people still choose to dismiss this idea, still particularly adamant that a violent television program will gravely affect the person watching it, even though research has deemed this to be significantly false. However, the main point represented by both parties is that no matter what ‘message’ it delivers, television and related mediums will undoubtedly have an affect on youth and society; even though the question of whether this general affect is good or bad still remains unsolved.
In 1964, Marshall McLuhan, an educator, philosopher, and scholar, published a book entitled ‘Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man”. McLuhan's theory was that a medium affects society by the characteristics of the medium itself, rather than the content that it delivers. This theory has been popularly quoted as “the medium is the message” (Hirsch, 2002). Since this revelation, McLuhan’s notions have been both embraced and rejected, mainly surrounding the idea of whether television and video games (and particularly the violence involved), actually affect youth in a significant way.
When referring to mass-media and communication, the conventional meanings for ‘medium’ involve radio, television, print, and Internet. Therefore, the conventional understanding of ‘message’ is the content or information supplied (Federman 2004). After clarifying definitions, it is easier to explain McLuhan’s beliefs that the “content of the medium blinds us to the charatcer of the medium”, and that, “it is the character of the medium that is its potency”. (McLuhan, 1964).
Marshall McLuhan saw every medium as an extension of some human faculty, and thus believed each form of communication exaggerated that particular sense. In his words,
"The wheel...is an extension of the foot. The book is an extension of the eye... Clothing, an extension of the skin...Electric circuitry, an extension of the central nervous system" (McLuhan as cited by Wimbley, 2000).
Therefore, it was his perception that the predominate media in society will be responsible for how human beings perceive the world.
McLuhan divided media into literal temperature categories to define how much interaction they had with the user of the medium. He stated that,
“Hot media (radio, photography, cinema) are more full of information and allow less involvement of the user; cool media (telephone, cartoons, television) are less full of information and allow much greater sensory participation by the user” (Hirst & Harrison, 2007: 54 - 55).
When looking at the ‘cool’ medium of television, McLuhan believed that it provided the viewer with only a rough sketch through the illumination of tiny dots and perceptually, the viewer must fill in the spaces between these visual dots. This would allow more interpretive thinking space for the audience, leading it to have a greater impact on the viewer. (Hirst, 2007). Particularly with telephone and TV, he supposed that it was not so much the message, but the sender that is “sent” (McLuhan Associates, 1986). For example, when talking to someone on the telephone, you are not so much impacted by what they are telling you, but the fact that they are talking to you and that is what you are hearing. He also referred to television as ‘audio-tactile’ rather than a visual medium and thought television’s effects on the central nervous system could be seen in today’s young i.e. the first television generation. McLuhan diagnosed that this so-called generation gap was neurological; a simple discrepancy between a print-bred generation and its audio-tactile offspring (Wolfe, 2004).
This theory of audio-tactility raises fears of possible illiteracy in youth, an idea which is criticized by Dr Colby, a noted child psychologist. She maintains that there is no evidence that television displaces reading or other constructive leisure activities and that some programming can actually complement and encourage it. The development of positive pre-reading skills is also predicted by watching educational TV in the preschool years (Colby, 1998).
When specifically looking at violence in the media, Karen Sternheimer, sociologist and media scholar, doesn’t argue mass media has no influence on youth, but rather that the influence is far more complex, individual and varied. She analyzes the psychological tests applied to media influences and finds their reliance on artificial settings renders such studies insufficient to support the conclusion that the media causes youths to act badly. Sternheimer is a firm believer that the content of the medium is not an issue;
“Laboratory research techniques which show that exposure to violent television programs, films and video games caused increased aggressive behaviours by youthful viewers found identical for mild programs such as Sesame Street” (Sternheimer as cited by Males, 2004).
Consequently, one can be confident in saying that in this case, the message that is being provided is of little importance to the viewer.
Overwhelming evidence provided by news articles and dedicated websites show that far too much emphasis is placed on what programs children are viewing, whereas according to McLuhan, it should be of concern as to how they are viewing them. Studies have proved that common forms of media among youth such as computer programs and TV editing techniques tend to compress, extend, and distort normal time/space relationships, a critically important element in the creation and use of effective long-term memories (Noel, J). On the other hand, a Virginia Polytechnic Institute study demonstrated a positive aspect of embracing ‘cool’ media by showing how playing videogames improves women's spatial awareness, an area where women often do worse than men. (Cooke, 2007).
When Marshall McLuhan shared his theories with the world, he hoped that people would begin to focus on what the actual media was doing to our brains, rather than the message that it was carrying. It seems many people still choose to dismiss this idea, still particularly adamant that a violent television program will gravely affect the person watching it, even though research has deemed this to be significantly false. However, the main point represented by both parties is that no matter what ‘message’ it delivers, television and related mediums will undoubtedly have an affect on youth and society; even though the question of whether this general affect is good or bad still remains unsolved.
LIST OF REFERENCES
Journal Articles/Books
Hirst, M. & Harrison, J. (2007). Communication and New Media. Oxford University Press; Australia.
McLuhan, M. (1964). Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. New York.
Males, M. (2004). ‘It’s not the media: The truth about pop culture’s influence on children’. Teacher Librarian. 31(3):34
Colby, D. (1998). ‘TV: Friend or foe’. Businessline. 28(4):1
Wolfe, T. (2004). ‘McLuhan’s New World’. The Wilson Quarterly. 28(2):18-26
Websites
Noel, J. (2003). ‘Effects of Media on Early Brain Development’ www.bcfilmclass.com/publications/emebd2003.pdf+media+affect+brain&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=au (accessed 5 May 2007).
Cooke, P. (2007). ‘The Media Effect On Your Brain: Is It Positive Or Negative?’
http://www.philcooke.com/node/980 (accessed 6 May 2007)
McLuhan Associates. (1986). ‘If It Works, It’s Obsolete’.
http://www.marshallmcluhan.com/poster.html (accessed 9 May 2007)
Hirsch, E. (2002). The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. http://www.bartleby.com/59/17/mediumisthem.html (accessed 9 May 2007)
Wimbley, J. (2000). ‘McLuhan’s Medium is the Message’. http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/Speech/rccs/theory31.htm (accessed 9 May 2007)
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
'Internet Field Trip'
Well, this week we were encouraged to delve into the online realms of 3D IM....and all I can say is that I was less than impressed.
First, I tried 'Activeworlds'. Not only did the first few attempts leave me staring at a blank screen after probing for a credit card number, I was inundated with billions of screens telling me about programs I simply must download in order for it to work. After my 4th try, I managed to do something right, and I got in. However, by this stage I had lost interest and really couldn't even be bothered working out which character I was.
The second site I went to was Haboo Hotel. Although it was significantly easier to get into, I wasn't really keen on the plain graphics. I also failed to get really keen on the fact that I could 'visit the cinema in this virtual world!!'. Yay :
After taking my little Lego-lookalike body for a stroll down these make-believe streets I found myself losing interest again.
Clearly, I wasn't fully enthusiastic about this Internet field trip.
Lastly, I decided to give the world of 3D IM one last chance, and tried IMVU.
I thought I had made a breakthrough. The registration process was easy, and I liked having a pretty detailed say into what my avatar looked like.
But once I was in....no one wanted to talk to me. I was the definition of a virtual loner.....It could have maybe had something to do with the fact that even if someone were to talk to me, I wouldn't really know how to respond, but still it's more fun to be dramatic.
So, yet again, I logged out of the labyrinth of screens and felt relieved to make it throught the 3D IM trauma unscathed.
I reallly think I'll just stick to Msn. It's simple, no fuss, I know exactly who I'm talking to because you have full power when it comes to who ends up on your contact list, and you don't have to worry about messing around with little Avatar lookalikes.
Maybe 3D IM is taking it a little too far....is it really necessary to have a virtual world inside your computer, when you can just step outside?
First, I tried 'Activeworlds'. Not only did the first few attempts leave me staring at a blank screen after probing for a credit card number, I was inundated with billions of screens telling me about programs I simply must download in order for it to work. After my 4th try, I managed to do something right, and I got in. However, by this stage I had lost interest and really couldn't even be bothered working out which character I was.
The second site I went to was Haboo Hotel. Although it was significantly easier to get into, I wasn't really keen on the plain graphics. I also failed to get really keen on the fact that I could 'visit the cinema in this virtual world!!'. Yay :
After taking my little Lego-lookalike body for a stroll down these make-believe streets I found myself losing interest again.
Clearly, I wasn't fully enthusiastic about this Internet field trip.
Lastly, I decided to give the world of 3D IM one last chance, and tried IMVU.
I thought I had made a breakthrough. The registration process was easy, and I liked having a pretty detailed say into what my avatar looked like.
But once I was in....no one wanted to talk to me. I was the definition of a virtual loner.....It could have maybe had something to do with the fact that even if someone were to talk to me, I wouldn't really know how to respond, but still it's more fun to be dramatic.
So, yet again, I logged out of the labyrinth of screens and felt relieved to make it throught the 3D IM trauma unscathed.
I reallly think I'll just stick to Msn. It's simple, no fuss, I know exactly who I'm talking to because you have full power when it comes to who ends up on your contact list, and you don't have to worry about messing around with little Avatar lookalikes.
Maybe 3D IM is taking it a little too far....is it really necessary to have a virtual world inside your computer, when you can just step outside?
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
My sweet editing skills....
Ok so here are some of my photos after I've played around with them a little in Photoshop.
With this one, I used the 'Glow' tool to maximise the sunshine reflection on the water. I also included some text in the corner.
Basically, I didn't change the resolution of effect of the image itself. Rather, I just decided to add some printed text to explain the story of the photo and added a black border to make it more official looking.
With this one, I used the Neon tool and instead of having a blue glow, I chose the grey colour instead. Then I simply used the rotate tool multiple times, each time repeating the Neon effect to create the black in the background.
Here, I used the same Neon filter, with a Grey glow. I also cropped the image a little, and then added the words UNI BAR along the top...simply for decoration.
With this one, I used the 'Glow' tool to maximise the sunshine reflection on the water. I also included some text in the corner.
Basically, I didn't change the resolution of effect of the image itself. Rather, I just decided to add some printed text to explain the story of the photo and added a black border to make it more official looking.
With this one, I used the Neon tool and instead of having a blue glow, I chose the grey colour instead. Then I simply used the rotate tool multiple times, each time repeating the Neon effect to create the black in the background.
Here, I used the same Neon filter, with a Grey glow. I also cropped the image a little, and then added the words UNI BAR along the top...simply for decoration.
Unedited Photo's
The first part of the task was to take some basic photos that are not modified in Photoshop at all which represent or communicate some certain ideas. Some of these photo's may be slightly older, but I have personally photographed most of them on my digital camera.
Summer:
I took this last December when I went to America. It's atHanaumo Bay in Hawaii and is probably the nicest place ever! Anyway, it basically sums up the idea of Summer to me, considering that's where I spent my summer holiday.
News:
Now I know this isn't the conventional idea of 'news', but I think it has relevance. This was taken at Santa Monica Beach (once again from my USA trip) and if you can see, all the white crosses symbolise all the American soldiers who have died in Iraq. But what I found most interesting, was a note beside the crosses which said 'If there was a cross for every Iraqi dead because of the 'war on terrorism' the whole beach would be filled'. To me, this is relevant to the concept of news, as it is a topic heavily focused on by the media.
Unconventional:
Haha, so basically when I managed to get a dart into a brickwall. Unconventional enough, yeah?
Friends:
Colette, Courtney (aka Wally), and Katie. <3
Hi-tech:
I didn't really have a picture for 'hi-tech' so I just took something from a Google Image Search on the subject (www.hitech-j.net)
University Life:
These are my mates Kerry and Clarissa. Basically sums up what we do in our spare time at Uni ie. hit up the bar, and eat. Haha.
Summer:
I took this last December when I went to America. It's atHanaumo Bay in Hawaii and is probably the nicest place ever! Anyway, it basically sums up the idea of Summer to me, considering that's where I spent my summer holiday.
News:
Now I know this isn't the conventional idea of 'news', but I think it has relevance. This was taken at Santa Monica Beach (once again from my USA trip) and if you can see, all the white crosses symbolise all the American soldiers who have died in Iraq. But what I found most interesting, was a note beside the crosses which said 'If there was a cross for every Iraqi dead because of the 'war on terrorism' the whole beach would be filled'. To me, this is relevant to the concept of news, as it is a topic heavily focused on by the media.
Unconventional:
Haha, so basically when I managed to get a dart into a brickwall. Unconventional enough, yeah?
Friends:
Colette, Courtney (aka Wally), and Katie. <3
Hi-tech:
I didn't really have a picture for 'hi-tech' so I just took something from a Google Image Search on the subject (www.hitech-j.net)
University Life:
These are my mates Kerry and Clarissa. Basically sums up what we do in our spare time at Uni ie. hit up the bar, and eat. Haha.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Essay Topic
Out of all the lectures, one particular theory has stuck with me: Marshall McLuhan's "the medium is the message". McLuhan proposed that the media itself, not the content it carries, should be the focus of study.
I think I will particularly look at how his theories relate to societies current issues with media ie. is violence on television affecting children etc.
1.
Marshall McLuhan : cosmic media / Janine Marchessault. Author: Marchessault, Janine.Publication: London ; Thousand Oaks, Calif. : SAGE, 2005.
There is a chapter in this titled "Murder by television" which would be helpful in deconstructing his theory on how it does not matter if television broadcasts children's shows or violent programming, the effect of television on society would be identical. ** This article also includes some criticism of McLuhan - important to gather more than one view on the topic**
Title:
McLuhan: pro & con / edited and with an introd. by Raymond Rosenthal.
Author:
Rosenthal, Raymond B.
Publication:
Baltimore,Md. : Penguin, 1969,c1968.
Description:
308 p ; 21 cm.
Subjects:
McLuhan, Marshall, 1911-. Mass media -- Psychological aspects.
------As the name suggests, this would be important in gathering the pros and cons of McLuhans argument.
3.
Title:
Understanding Media [electronic resource]
Author:
Mcluhan, Marshall
Edition:
2nd.
Publication:
Hoboken : Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2001.
Description:
399 p.
Notes:
Electronic reproduction
**McLuhan's actual text where he explains his theory on the 'medium and the message'.
I think I will particularly look at how his theories relate to societies current issues with media ie. is violence on television affecting children etc.
1.
Marshall McLuhan : cosmic media / Janine Marchessault. Author: Marchessault, Janine.Publication: London ; Thousand Oaks, Calif. : SAGE, 2005.
There is a chapter in this titled "Murder by television" which would be helpful in deconstructing his theory on how it does not matter if television broadcasts children's shows or violent programming, the effect of television on society would be identical. ** This article also includes some criticism of McLuhan - important to gather more than one view on the topic**
Title:
McLuhan: pro & con / edited and with an introd. by Raymond Rosenthal.
Author:
Rosenthal, Raymond B.
Publication:
Baltimore,Md. : Penguin, 1969,c1968.
Description:
308 p ; 21 cm.
Subjects:
McLuhan, Marshall, 1911-. Mass media -- Psychological aspects.
------As the name suggests, this would be important in gathering the pros and cons of McLuhans argument.
3.
Title:
Understanding Media [electronic resource]
Author:
Mcluhan, Marshall
Edition:
2nd.
Publication:
Hoboken : Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2001.
Description:
399 p.
Notes:
Electronic reproduction
**McLuhan's actual text where he explains his theory on the 'medium and the message'.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Scavenger Hunt
SCAVENGER HUNT: using www.yahoo.com
1. What is the weight of the world's biggest pumpkin?
1,502 pounds
"Coventry 'pumpkin king' grows mother of all pumpkins"
By NICOLE WIETRAK
10/14/2006
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1720&dept_id=74554&newsid=17324876&PAG=461&rfi=9
2. What is the best way (quickest, most reliable) to contact Grant Hackett?
I could only find FAN websites!
3. What is the length of a giraffe's tongue?
A giraffe's tongue is 18 to 20 inches (46 to 50 centimeters)
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-giraffe.html
4. How would you define the word 'ontology'? In your own words, what does it really mean ?
Ontology is the study of being or existence. To me, it means challenging the concepts of reality of the idea of 'self'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontology
5. What was David Cronenberg's first feature film?
Stereo (1969) (also writer, cinematographer, editor)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Cronenberg#Bibliographies
6. When was the original 'Hacker's Manifesto' written?
written January 8, 1986
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacker's_Manifesto
7. Why do all phone numbers in Hollywood films start with '555'?
FOR MANY years, 555 was unassigned as a dialling code in the US and could thus be used to prefix fictional numbers with impunity.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-2357,00.html
8. What is the cheapest form of travel from Crete to Rhodes?
Flying is the fastest, easiest and cheapest way of getting to Crete to Rhodes.
http://www.statravel.co.nz/cps/rde/xchg/nz_division_web_live/hs.xsl/travel_guide_to_greece.htm?dest=131046&sec=transport.xsl
9. What song was top of the Australian Pop Charts this week in 1965?
I'll Never Find Another You - The Seekers
http://www.onmc.iinet.net.au/topspot/1965.htm
10. Which Brisbane band includes Stephen Stockwell on keyboards and vocals?
Stephen played keyboard for Brisbane punk band, the Black Assassins.
http://www.griffith.edu.au/school/art/staff/stockwell.htm
- What is a search engine?
An online program that searches websites for specified keywords and returns a list of the documents where the keywords were found.
How do search engines rank the stuff they find on the internet?
Search engines rank sites in different ways:
some engines list sites by how many times your keywords appear. The more often a keyword is found, the higher the rank
some engines rank sites by counting how many other sites are linked to them
some engines put paid listings on top
http://www-navigator.utah.edu/module3/searchengines.htm
who, or what, makes one page (that you might get in your search results) more useful than another one, so that it is put at the top of your search results?
The relevance and if the word is being used numerous times or even in the same context.
what are some of your favourite search engines? why do you like one more than others?
I tend to use Google almost all of the time because it always seems to find whatever I need. It also it really easy to navigate, for example, looking for images is incredibly simple.
Can you find some current news stories about search engines? (for example, Google has been in the technology news a bit lately).
"Google has poured cold water on claims it is developing a mobile phone."
http://www.smh.com.au/news/mobiles--handhelds/google-quashes-mobile-phone-talk/2007/03/21/1174153139660.html
1. What is the weight of the world's biggest pumpkin?
1,502 pounds
"Coventry 'pumpkin king' grows mother of all pumpkins"
By NICOLE WIETRAK
10/14/2006
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1720&dept_id=74554&newsid=17324876&PAG=461&rfi=9
2. What is the best way (quickest, most reliable) to contact Grant Hackett?
I could only find FAN websites!
3. What is the length of a giraffe's tongue?
A giraffe's tongue is 18 to 20 inches (46 to 50 centimeters)
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-giraffe.html
4. How would you define the word 'ontology'? In your own words, what does it really mean ?
Ontology is the study of being or existence. To me, it means challenging the concepts of reality of the idea of 'self'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontology
5. What was David Cronenberg's first feature film?
Stereo (1969) (also writer, cinematographer, editor)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Cronenberg#Bibliographies
6. When was the original 'Hacker's Manifesto' written?
written January 8, 1986
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacker's_Manifesto
7. Why do all phone numbers in Hollywood films start with '555'?
FOR MANY years, 555 was unassigned as a dialling code in the US and could thus be used to prefix fictional numbers with impunity.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-2357,00.html
8. What is the cheapest form of travel from Crete to Rhodes?
Flying is the fastest, easiest and cheapest way of getting to Crete to Rhodes.
http://www.statravel.co.nz/cps/rde/xchg/nz_division_web_live/hs.xsl/travel_guide_to_greece.htm?dest=131046&sec=transport.xsl
9. What song was top of the Australian Pop Charts this week in 1965?
I'll Never Find Another You - The Seekers
http://www.onmc.iinet.net.au/topspot/1965.htm
10. Which Brisbane band includes Stephen Stockwell on keyboards and vocals?
Stephen played keyboard for Brisbane punk band, the Black Assassins.
http://www.griffith.edu.au/school/art/staff/stockwell.htm
- What is a search engine?
An online program that searches websites for specified keywords and returns a list of the documents where the keywords were found.
How do search engines rank the stuff they find on the internet?
Search engines rank sites in different ways:
some engines list sites by how many times your keywords appear. The more often a keyword is found, the higher the rank
some engines rank sites by counting how many other sites are linked to them
some engines put paid listings on top
http://www-navigator.utah.edu/module3/searchengines.htm
who, or what, makes one page (that you might get in your search results) more useful than another one, so that it is put at the top of your search results?
The relevance and if the word is being used numerous times or even in the same context.
what are some of your favourite search engines? why do you like one more than others?
I tend to use Google almost all of the time because it always seems to find whatever I need. It also it really easy to navigate, for example, looking for images is incredibly simple.
Can you find some current news stories about search engines? (for example, Google has been in the technology news a bit lately).
"Google has poured cold water on claims it is developing a mobile phone."
http://www.smh.com.au/news/mobiles--handhelds/google-quashes-mobile-phone-talk/2007/03/21/1174153139660.html
Monday, March 19, 2007
Tutorial Task Wk. 3
Write a post about how you use new communication technologies to communicate with your friends and family:
Well, that above is really the main reason I use communication technologies. That and entertainment.
Whilest I'm not really into meeting completely random people in chatrooms or adding total strangers on myspace, I do think it is a positive way to enhance your social network (even though sitting at home on the computer doesn't always seem like a very social thing to do).
I mainly use MSN to communicate - sometimes its even easier then texting my friends.
But now MySpace has arisen, I'm pretty much addicted to that too.
Technologies like these mainly spread through word of mouth, and soon enough you get curious and join in to find out what it's all about.
It happened with Hotmail, MSN, and now Myspace. Soon I bet something else will come up that will no doubtedly make some techno-whiz a whole lot of money, and take up a whole lot of our spare time!
Some people say that things like Myspace are a "waste of time", "mindless entertainment", or just plain pointless. I disagree. Could anyone think of another program that could have millions of people around the world using html codes without a second thought? I thought I was a technical mess and that anything Tech i tried to do would fail horribly. But, through these new communicaton technologies I feel more confident, and no matter what anyone says, I think it's a skill!It's also a pretty big reflection on today's society too. I think it's a positive thing to adapt and accept new technologies and ideas; it's the only way we can keep up with things in this world.
Well, that above is really the main reason I use communication technologies. That and entertainment.
Whilest I'm not really into meeting completely random people in chatrooms or adding total strangers on myspace, I do think it is a positive way to enhance your social network (even though sitting at home on the computer doesn't always seem like a very social thing to do).
I mainly use MSN to communicate - sometimes its even easier then texting my friends.
But now MySpace has arisen, I'm pretty much addicted to that too.
Technologies like these mainly spread through word of mouth, and soon enough you get curious and join in to find out what it's all about.
It happened with Hotmail, MSN, and now Myspace. Soon I bet something else will come up that will no doubtedly make some techno-whiz a whole lot of money, and take up a whole lot of our spare time!
Some people say that things like Myspace are a "waste of time", "mindless entertainment", or just plain pointless. I disagree. Could anyone think of another program that could have millions of people around the world using html codes without a second thought? I thought I was a technical mess and that anything Tech i tried to do would fail horribly. But, through these new communicaton technologies I feel more confident, and no matter what anyone says, I think it's a skill!It's also a pretty big reflection on today's society too. I think it's a positive thing to adapt and accept new technologies and ideas; it's the only way we can keep up with things in this world.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
La Jetee
After the lecturer briefly introduced the the concept of French New Wave Cinema to us, the lights were dimmed and a dodgy quality film filled the screen in front of us.
Slightly confused, I watched as random black and white still images began to play, a French voice narrating - extremely grateful for subtitles.
I admit it took me awhile to understand that it was, in fact, a science fiction film we were watching, and not some Cold War biography.
Finally, the concept of the film revealed itself. It was about a post-nuclear war experiment on time travel. I was quite pleased that it didn't attempt to refer to the good old time machine idea, but rather explored the idea that we could travel throught time via our thoughts and dreams.
However strange the movie was, I still appreciated it.
From a technological point of view, the idea was groundbreaking. I can see why it inspired such films as Twelve Monkeys etc.
So apparently, the idea of New wave cinema is to use simple methods to tell challenging stories - to bring intellectual plots to the big screen.
Well, I guess I could certainly say that the topic made you think. Could it actually be possible to time travel...and in such a way that we could simply use our mind power to change the space/time continuim?
Personally, everything I've learnt in school as 'common sense' rejects this theory of time travel, unless there has been some sort of mind blowing technological advance.
But the thought that someone did come up with this idea, especially in the 1960's, just goes to show that although our minds may not be able to travel through time, they are capable of formulating ideas that will challenge society for years to come.
Slightly confused, I watched as random black and white still images began to play, a French voice narrating - extremely grateful for subtitles.
I admit it took me awhile to understand that it was, in fact, a science fiction film we were watching, and not some Cold War biography.
Finally, the concept of the film revealed itself. It was about a post-nuclear war experiment on time travel. I was quite pleased that it didn't attempt to refer to the good old time machine idea, but rather explored the idea that we could travel throught time via our thoughts and dreams.
However strange the movie was, I still appreciated it.
From a technological point of view, the idea was groundbreaking. I can see why it inspired such films as Twelve Monkeys etc.
So apparently, the idea of New wave cinema is to use simple methods to tell challenging stories - to bring intellectual plots to the big screen.
Well, I guess I could certainly say that the topic made you think. Could it actually be possible to time travel...and in such a way that we could simply use our mind power to change the space/time continuim?
Personally, everything I've learnt in school as 'common sense' rejects this theory of time travel, unless there has been some sort of mind blowing technological advance.
But the thought that someone did come up with this idea, especially in the 1960's, just goes to show that although our minds may not be able to travel through time, they are capable of formulating ideas that will challenge society for years to come.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Week 1; Tutorial 10-12
...How about I start things off by telling you all a little something about me?
My name is Keryn, fresh out of highschool - and therefore a first year at university.
I'm doing a Bachelor of Journalism hoping to major in the Popular Culture side of things.
Yes..that's right: lifestyle magazines and such..I think it's just as important as politics etc because popular culture has just as much effect on the world when you think about it.
That's why I'm so interested in this subject - New Communication Technologies. With society rapidly changing to adapt to new technologies, I think it's important to understand how it all works. Youtube is the new television, Blogs are the new diaries, and MySpace is the new way to do...well, almost everything. Whether you are for it, or against it, technology is gradually taking over every aspect of our lives.
So, my following blogs will cover my perceptions of this subject - ranging from relevant lecture notes and websites, to things I find interesting about the course...and I'll probably rant a little about the things I don't find so interesting. (Hopefully, there won't be a lot of that). For now, I'll leave you with my thoughts on it so far - a) the air conditioning in this room is quite nice, and b) I think it's pretty much awesome that we are getting assessed for writing a blog :)
Yes - as you can tell my thoughts are really deep at this point in time.
My name is Keryn, fresh out of highschool - and therefore a first year at university.
I'm doing a Bachelor of Journalism hoping to major in the Popular Culture side of things.
Yes..that's right: lifestyle magazines and such..I think it's just as important as politics etc because popular culture has just as much effect on the world when you think about it.
That's why I'm so interested in this subject - New Communication Technologies. With society rapidly changing to adapt to new technologies, I think it's important to understand how it all works. Youtube is the new television, Blogs are the new diaries, and MySpace is the new way to do...well, almost everything. Whether you are for it, or against it, technology is gradually taking over every aspect of our lives.
So, my following blogs will cover my perceptions of this subject - ranging from relevant lecture notes and websites, to things I find interesting about the course...and I'll probably rant a little about the things I don't find so interesting. (Hopefully, there won't be a lot of that). For now, I'll leave you with my thoughts on it so far - a) the air conditioning in this room is quite nice, and b) I think it's pretty much awesome that we are getting assessed for writing a blog :)
Yes - as you can tell my thoughts are really deep at this point in time.
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