Author: Christopher Hobbs

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Mobilizing a Movement of the Mind

Aja Monet’s, Mobilizing a Movement of the Mind, contains a vital interpretation of the effect technology has had on humans. Aja isn’t aggressive, but she seems to be emotionally invested in explaining her ideas. The poet describes how technology has allowed for global communication, but has actually destroyed the previous notion of human interaction. Aja’s idea remind me of a sentence I’ve heard uttered many times before, technology has increased communication while defeating human interaction. This holds some truth because we can see that it is possible to communicate across continents, but as the availability of technology heightens, the need for verbal communication decreases. I also thought that Aja’s description about how a small device that can fit in our pockets has caused the human race to evolve into something much different, was very true.

Image result for gif of someone on phone not talking to a person

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Computer Technology Story

By far the most difficult process of turning a piece of literature into a serious of tweets, was deciding concisely which words to use, due to the 280 character count. Despite the original 400 word source material, it was very difficult to pick which words to cut and shape for the lower amount of space. I chose to discuss the setting, how it was told to me later in life, and why John Douglas is still relevant to me. I found myself using more relaxed and non-academic wording, trying to ‘tweet’ it like I was speaking the story out loud.

I think that the twitter link I provided is an extremely prevalent example of communication and computer technology. Twitter has become, politically and socially, more important in terms of the most recent information being available. Therefore, if I would want to tell many people, my followers, this story it makes it much easier. I also used a GIF to display an emotion my father had because it was easier to convey visually, rather than use a sentence. Overall, I used a much different style or writing for my tweets that I would describe as very conversational and relaxed.

https://twitter.com/Douglas199714

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Oct. 23

The visual representation of numbers and quantitative data, with things such as graphs and tables, surfaced in the 2nd century. However, the 17th century brought the modern concept into fruition. However, the question related to these visuals always centered around how to make it comprehensible and relevant to the topic. These graphs and tables such as,

condense a group of data into something recognizable and easy for the reader to digest. Furthermore, what these visual representations really add to an article or study is the ability to reveal huge conclusions with a visually pleasing picture representation. Such as:

The easy to understand graph represents an entire years amount of sales both domestically and internationally. Proving just how important visuals are to fully understanding a vast topic involving massive amounts of quantitative data.

 

Few, Stephen. “Data Visualization for Human Perception.” The Interaction Design Foundation, www.interaction-design.org/literature/book/the-encyclopedia-of-human-computer-interaction-2nd-ed/data-visualization-for-human-perception.

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Oct 16

Spam: A Shadow History of the Internet written by NYU’s Finn Bruton, describes the problem with the modern day of technology and shows the connection between the advancement of technology and the resulting exploitive actions. Showing examples of computer hacking of companies solely done of the internet. However, the most important aspect of Bruton’s work shows how computer technologist are stopping these types of hacks. However, the government is shown to have the most influence in the ability to stop these hackers with the use of regulation against such things as spam. Even the term ‘spam’ is revealing. Spam referring to the canned meat where it may be delicious for a moment but overall it cannot sustain you. Such as spam on the internet may be interesting, but it cannot be the active ingredient in a healthy diet for the internet.

Brunton, Finn. Spam: a Shadow History of the Internet. MIT Press Ltd, 2015.

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Week 7

Computer Lib, written by Theodor Nelson, describes the importance of understanding the importance of understanding computer technology. Nelson brings up an interesting point about how there seems to be a hierarchy among people who understand how a computer works and those who don’t. It creates a natural divide where the people who have this knowledge are responsible for teaching the ones without knowledge, the basics. What I found important about this article is when Nelson said, “Knowledge is power and so it tends to be hoarded” (Nelson, 304). I think this is so important because it can be so detrimental due to the fact that the technology can be manipulated by those who have the technological power. Therefore, the people who don’t have computer technological competency will be the ones manipulated. Leading to the fact that the technological savvy need to help teach the less knowledgable about the dangers and benefits of technology.

Nelson , Theador. Computer Lib. www.newmediareader.com/book_samples/nmr-21-nelson.pdf.

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Chris Hobbs Week #6

Vannevar Bush’s article in The Atlantic, titled As We May Think, brings up serious questions about how has technology affected not only the human body and mind but the society in which these parts operate in. Bush begins by describing how technology has effected human interaction, in terms of war. Bush further describes how technology has helped scientist with recording their findings. Focusing on how technology has actually affected the recording and process of research. Such that the microscope, a human creation that can surpass human abilities, has made the collection of info quicker and more reliable in the scientist’s lab. Bush also brings up an important point that with the creation of important instruments of science and research, that humans will firstly always look for profit rather than social benefit. Overall, I think that Bush is trying to make the point that with technological improvement there absolutely needs to be an equal amount of an understanding of the social affect it will have on the population.

 

Bush, Vannevar. “As We May Think.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 13 Mar. 2018, www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1945/07/as-we-may-think/303881/.

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Weekly Response #5

The History of Printing and Printing Processes, dives heavily into the dates and years for important momentous occasions in the history of printing human languages into text. The first record of a text being put onto a piece of wood can be seen in China around 800 C.E. The article then describes the first printing press, The Gutenburg Press, emerging in Germany around 1420. This was the first known practice of mass producing a piece of literature, The Bible. The most interesting aspect of this timeline of the are of printing is the heavy industrial influence it had in the 1800’s. Many countries, Germany, France, and Scotland, started producing machinery and steel tools to help print literature at a higher volume. The stereotyping and rotary web-feed letterpress all were momentous steps in the printing world because it exponentially increased the accessibility of literature worldwide.  The first example of a mass produced book was The Bible. This is important to me because the bible was such an influential piece of literature that may have actually sped up the creation of the Gutenburg press.

 

 

Bellis, Mary. “The History of Printing and Printing Processes.” ThoughtCo, Jun. 14, 2018, thoughtco.com/history-of-printing-and-printing-processes-1992329.

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NYPL Oral History

The transcript and audio I chose to analyze was about Addis Williams. He was a puppeteer, with the ability to preform his act in more than 3 languages. What I honestly found so difficult about this assignment was the constant back and forth between listening and then deciding the correct suggestion to put for the transcript. I know the point was to pick the suggestion that you most closely heard, however I still found myself going back and forth on the same audio, just to make sure the suggestion I chose was closest to what I heard. What I found easy and exciting was the ability to choose a speaker. Although it seems small it became much easier for me to keep track of the conversation when the names were right there. Overall, I thought the actual content about Addis was interesting, I just felt that I became a little bored with his story after having to pause and switch over to the transcript, constantly. However, I know think that I am actually more knowledgeable about his story because I dissected it slowly. I also thought that the NYPL has a very unique concept of being able to interpret the interview individually. Therefore, it seems easier to retain the information when you, yourself, have to analyze the audio and the transcript.

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Week 3 Response

The Roser article describes the different effects, impact, and causes of a global shift towards each country becoming more literate. Max Roser describes that in the last 120 years the world has seen it’s literacy rate change from 12% to 83%. However, he does describe many impoverished countries that are well below the 83% mark of literacy. Niger, for example, is boasting a 36% rate. The most interesting point that Roser discusses is about the difference in gender literacy rates. He uses the continents of Africa and Asia as examples of how gender literacy is becoming more even. It is clear by 2015 that India, China, and South Africa have nearly the same rate of literacy among their 15-24 year olds, despite gender. However gender is but one of the many factors that a country has to consider when dealing with literacy rates. Some others are, race, socioeconomic status, and age.

An interesting piece of information that Roser indulges on is how many experts collect and interpret data on literacy. He describes the use of a census in the 1940’s as being able to accurately compare the number of years of schooling to literacy rates in the U.S. The census concluded that there was nearly a 70% difference between 4 years of schooling and no years of schooling, relating to literacy rates.

Another important fact that Roser describes is the generational difference in literacy rates. He uses the Middle East and Northern Africa as examples of this. Stating that, “only less than a third of the older generation is literate – while in contrast, more than 90% of the younger generation is literate” (Roser, ourworldindata.org). The reasoning behind this is simple, most countries don’t want to stress literacy for their citizens over middle age, whereas the younger generation has been socialized with a new appreciation for literacy.

Now the most important aspect of the article is how Roser analyzes the methods of collecting literacy data. The most interesting aspect of this is that in 2010 less then 30 countries in the world took an actual test for literacy. Most of the other countries in the world used a ‘self-reported’ model, where either heads of households or individuals described if they, or their household, were literate or not. Not to say that they aren’t accurate, but it seems a literacy test, directed by the government, would be the ideal way to understanding a countries literacy rate.

Finally, although seemingly obvious, Roser concludes that individuals, despite race, gender, or economic status, who have more years of schooling are boasting higher rates of literacy.

Works Cited:

Max Roser and Esteban Ortiz-Ospina (2018) – “Literacy”. Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: ‘https://ourworldindata.org/literacy’ [Online Resource]

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Chris Hobbs 9/5, Haraway

A Cyborg Manifesto creates the myth of cyborgs, or cybernetic humanoids, for the purpose of representing many socially divisive problems facing humanity. Haraway brings up a term that struck me as important, a cyborg is “a creature of social reality as well as a creature of fiction” (Haraway, 1). I believe this to be Haraway’s most important and simple explanation of her ideas that it would take a tremendous effort for humans to have real social awareness of other humans plights. Such plights as the fights against patriarchal and capitalistic traditions which hinder many other humans ability to prosper. The metaphorical ‘Cyborg’ serves Haraway as an all encompassed, socially aware, human. Haraway describes the cyborg as non-gendred, heavily in favor of collectivism and a united political system. As ideal as this cyborg would be, for the betterment of a united prospering human coalition, what would be the cyborg’s emotional  investment in these social probelms? Would this cyborg be beyond human comprehension of what empathy means? As a metaphor, it is unnecessary to explain the reasoning behind it. But if it was translated to humans, wouldn’t the same questions arise?