HW 6: Video Project

Untitled from Carrie Li on Vimeo.

I sort of started doing my homework at the beginning of the video, but I completely forgot about it as you can tell. You can kind of hear me picking up and dropping my pencil but after that I was too focused on IMing so I didn't get to finish it. Also when I was watching TV I totally forgot that I was recording because I got too distracted by my show. I found it kind of funny how I looked when I was watching TV. I was adjusting my shirt strap and I froze with my hand in that position for a long time before I let it down. It's silly looking in a way because all the viewer sees is me making faces at something that isn't visible in the frame.

I wouldn't mind if my child spent a lot of time doing this. I can understand why people are so hooked on it. But if it's up to the point where he stops having a social life or it takes away from the things he need to do such as schoolwork, housework, or spending time with the family then I would say the time spent with his digital devices needs to be cut shorter.

I feel like the interaction is a one way thing. The TV shows me something and I give a reaction back. It's not a two way interaction where I'm able to give something back to the T.V.

Ideas such as the Wii where the digital representational device is squeezing a more physical interaction out of you isn't that much better than things such as your computer or TV. You might not be sitting on your butt all day long anymore but you're still interacting with a machine. It's still taking away from the natural interactions in life such as having a conversation with a friend or enjoying the great outdoors. Let's face it. Making "music" with a plastic guitar and kicking an imaginary soccer ball is not the real deal. And digitalization is in every way taking away the real parts of our daily experiences snippet by snippet and bringing them under our roofs where we can do everything in the comforts of our own houses.

HW 7: Interviews and Surveys

Interviewing my Sister

I decided to interview my 19 year old sister.
I started off by asking her a standard question. How do you think technology change our lives? She begins to give me a typical answer. "It saves time. Without it, we'd have to resort to sending mail just to get one little message across while IMs and emails will save a week of our time and get you a reply faster." I then ask her if she could think of any disadvantages that may come with the technology we choose to use. And she gave me a simple "No." And I asked her if she really couldn't think of any and she goes I can, I'm just lazy to say it. So I'm assuming she's too lazy to think and come up with an answer she could be comfortable with. But after encouraging her to give her opinion on the subject she tells me it is damaging because "it hurts the youth and corrupts their minds and... you know what I mean." It looks like she acknowledges that her answer was already something said and understood before. She's "regurgitating" what she's been fed. Then I ask her how do you think this will affect us in the long run as a generation? And she goes, "Why are you doing this to me??" I guess she doesn't want to think. Then I ask what would you do if I suddenly take away all this technology from you? What else would you find to entertain yourself? She tells me she'll die: "I can't text. I'll die." I'm like "Seriously, what do you think you'll be doing?" And she says "sleep and have no life." So I ask her, "So the computer gives you a life?" And she says "Yes, it entertains me. Without it, I can't find anyone." And I ask her, "What do you think they did back then if they wanted to contact each other?" And she says they don't contact each other. "They just ran into each other in the streets." She then wonders aloud "What is life without technology?" And I tell her it was life back then. "How did you think they managed to go through their days back then?" And she says they farmed and laughs. I tell her farming is a way of connecting with nature. And she goes "You go farm then."

Interviewing Strangers

The first guy we walked up to was walking his dog and listening to his iPod. So we ask him what he listens to and how much does he actually use his iPod. He says what he listens to depends on his mood and he uses his iPod about 50% of the time he walks his dog. After further questions (I don't remember what they were), he says the world revolves around technology and that out of the 16 hours he's awake about 13 of it goes to digital use. He goes on to saying "I don't know if it's good or bad" without us asking him. He seemed like he was really thinking and was really enthusiastic about the subject. We ask him if he could go without technology for a day and what he will find himself doing instead. He says it would be possible to go a day without it and that he'll be dancing, reading, and socializing and that these are all hobbies he enjoys. He admits that "the happier me is without technology" which kind of depresses me because he knows that he'll be happier without technology but he's unable to tear himself apart from something that's making him less happy for some reason. He says it's "beyond control" and "don't hate the player, hate the game."

We then asked another man who seemed to be in a rush to get somewhere. But to summarize what he says, he says that he accepts technology and he uses it a lot, "almost every part of the day." He can't live without it. Even when he bikes, he would take his "Crackberry" with him.

A student we asked said that technology takes up more than half of his day because it makes him "happy". He says that without it, "it's not me." But that without it, he'll probably be doing more sports and hanging out with friends.

A valet we interviewed was stumped by our first question. And it was a simple "What do you think about technology?" He responds by telling us he never really thought about it. Hmm.. neither does the rest of society apparently. "It's a good and a bad thing. IPods and cellphones are good." Technology is a "way of life," and we especially need it because "New York is always on the run. We need to have a phone. It's the only way to communicate." This goes to show how the faster societies are always being associated with technology. His phone is his life and number one on his list of digital devices, but only because he needs it for his job. His iPod is his second. He thinks one hour of technology is "fine" but anything more is too much. Even I have to say that one hour is too short a time for me. He says "I don't believe in videogames" and that "you gotta be active." So I guess there's one person who haven't been sucked too much into the digital frenzy ..yet.

The second valet, his friend, believes that technology "shows improvement in our society" and it's what "proves that we are advanced." He has a cellphone but he says he isn't addicted (although the first valet claimed he talks on the phone more than a girl does loll). He says technology is needed for jobs and for networking. When we first asked him how many hours he spent a day using something digital he said 2-3 hours. Then he says "No, that's a lot. I don't use it that much." But his friend says "Stop lying." And he changes his answer to include even more hours this time: "4 to 5 hours." I don't know if he purposely lied in the beginning or if he really didn't realize that was how much time he spends using his phone, computer, ipod etc. He agrees that teens are too addicted to technology, but if he had a child he wouldn't be telling them what or what not to do because "they're not babies anymore." He also says that he used to be addicted to videogames but now he is over them. But if he was restricted to its use as a child, he would probably be all over them as an adult.

Our last interviewee, like our first was walking her dog too. She believes that some of the positive effects of technology is our advancement in the sciences. But the negatives include computers and machines taking away jobs and making the general public lazy because everything they want is done with a "push of a button," such as "ordering online." She says that experiences online is different from your outside experiences. For example, if someone is trying to sell you something upfront, "they have the skills to explain to you and give you information about the object," but if you're shopping online, you're "looking at images" and all you're doing is "looking and guessing and assuming what the thing has to offer." She says that when you're on a computer, you end up sitting the entire time and that "you got to put in the effort to do stuff." She says she has a child that play games online already and that the games online are surprisingly "amazing" considering that they're free. I guess the point that she's trying to make is that digitalization has really went the extra mile for everything, where even free games are hooking little kids in. She also adds on that technology makes "you lose track of the things you're doing." She says she finds it funny when people say they can't write an essay because their computer isn't working. "You can always take out a pen and write an essay on paper. People forget that you can do things without technology like writing." Then we ask "But what if we had to post an assignment online?" to which she goes "Exactly. That's what I mean. Everybody's moving that way" where even homework is being asked to be done online nowadays. She hates technology but admits that "we have to use it."

Interviewing Best Friend

itsCARRiExp (22:08:37): so what's your take on technology?

mwahsitsemily (22:08:44): I LOVE IT

mwahsitsemily (22:08:50): WE'RE GONNA HAVE FLYING CARS

itsCARRiExp (22:08:53): rofll

mwahsitsemily (22:08:56): haha

mwahsitsemily (22:09:10): technology's getting advanceddddd everyday !

mwahsitsemily (22:09:18): but it's spoiling us and making us lazy

itsCARRiExp (22:10:19): so do u think you're one of those victims?

mwahsitsemily (22:10:44): yessirr

itsCARRiExp (22:11:09): in terms of what specifically?

mwahsitsemily (22:11:38): well these entertainments makes me not wanna do hw

mwahsitsemily (22:11:39): ;(

mwahsitsemily (22:11:42): like right now

mwahsitsemily (22:11:43): LOl

itsCARRiExp (22:12:24): lols so you don't think you can control your habits?

mwahsitsemily (22:12:35): not really

mwahsitsemily (22:12:37): depends on the person

itsCARRiExp (22:19:15): how do you think things such as iming, fbing, and emailing have changed the way we communicate with each other

itsCARRiExp (22:19:22): as opposed to talking face to face?

mwahsitsemily (22:20:03): iming fbing and emailing makes it easier for us to say things we might not say to people face to face because it behind computers

mwahsitsemily (22:20:17): we're more expressive online

itsCARRiExp (22:27:38): do you feel like you can develop a real connection through these devices ?

itsCARRiExp (22:28:41): or would you say that a relationship (friendship or bf/gf etc.) would be more real when experiences and words are exchanged face to face instead?

mwahsitsemily (22:29:34): it's easy to lie online because you can't tell, so if you're developing a relationship with someone it might not be real

mwahsitsemily (22:29:56): experiences face to face are def more real

itsCARRiExp (22:30:37): would you say most of your relationships develop online or offline?

mwahsitsemily (22:30:47): offline

itsCARRiExp (22:31:40): would you be able to survive if i took away all your technology for a period of time?

mwahsitsemily (22:33:41): yes but it'll be very hard

HW 5: Response to Comments - GHIJK

Jenise,

I appreciate the different examples that you gave that supported my perspective on the subject. When you talked about how leaving your iPod at home will completely change your mood for the day, I can totally relate and it made me feel like you really made an effort to understand. Your question referencing the possibility about the president sending his messages out to the public via text or cellphones made me think. It brought up new questions in my mind. Would it be as effective if our presidential speeches were sent through emotionless texts? Will we still be able to sense the passion in his tone? Will we be as motivated and be as filled with hope as we do with every other presidential speech? I don't think so. Speeches wouldn't be speeches if you didn't hear them come straight out of the speakers mouth. You need to feel the words, not read the words and have to interpret their meaning yourself.

It seems like you're more interested in what will happen if we decided to leave technology out of lives and I'm more into analyzing what will become of society if we DO stay attached to these items. So we're basically looking at the two different options for our future. I wonder if there is a mid point between the two extremes and what that mid point would be. We both though obviously feel like we've developed an attachment to the digital world and that we've become part of what it is. Do you think that this could wear off over time or is it something that will take up more and more of our lives?

Vincent,

I'm glad that you agreed with most of my views. And the quoting showed that you really took your time to read through my post and picked out the points you agreed with. I know you're used to giving criticism and opposing arguments so it was nice of you to support my post and give constructive criticism. I realized what you said about my post being not specific enough was true. I need to go into more detail about certain aspects of the digital world. It makes me think of how the different devices that I use affect me separately. My phone provides me with efficiency and the ability to connect with others at the touch of a button. My computer lets me find virtually everything that I want online. The T.V. is just plain addicting. Watching a show or a drama lets you leave your own sense of reality and enter someone else's world just for an hour or two. My iPod is where I carry all my music. If I'm feeling in the mood for song, I whip it out. It's instant gratification.

I don't see much difference or disagreement between my post and your comment other than you suggesting more specifics into the subject, while I analyzed the more general idea. We both seem to believe that digitalization has a negative effect in the up and coming generation by relieving them of hard work and replacing it with devices that offer snap-of-a-finger results.

HW 4 - Triangular Comments 1

Vincent,

I thought it was interesting that you described technology as a creation to fulfill our free time and all our boring moments. I can sense the negativity you have on the subject of the digital world and I respect how strongly you feel about it. I agree that the internet and all these new tools that we’ve developed has become sort of a time filler. But I don’t think that was what its initial purpose was intended to be. I think it was more of an innovation based solely on the idea of efficiency, but It has obviously turned into an object of entertainment.

Your view on the subject suggests that technology should be done away with which I partially agree with being that it does take away from our interest to pursue the more tangible things in life. It has taken up a lifestyle of laziness and a lower level of patience and willingness to conduct tedious manual labor. We no longer take time to stop and smell the roses. It’s more like chop down the trees and destroy the roses to make room for digitalization and ignorance. Like you said there is a possibility that the so-called advancements we are making can ultimately destroy us in the end. However, I sort of disagree on the fact that all digitalization does is ruin our lives and ours attempts to enjoy other experiences.

I agree with most of the ideas you are suggesting but it might make it clearer if you can be more specific in some areas. For example,, what are “the joy[s] that we really need as a human being” that is more meaningful than the internet, or that can last longer than the joy we receive from the internet? And what did we use to value that we apparently have lost today? Is it nature, everyday face-to-face conversations, physical activities? And why are they so much more significant and more focus-worthy than the digital realm?

It sounds like your perspective of these technological advancements are very disapproving. Is this view coming from experience or coming from someone that you know?

I would love to hear more about you insights relating to the subject. Your ideas that you post on your blog and say in class are always stimulating even though I know that half the time you’re playing devil’s advocate (lol).

Jenise,

I enjoyed reading your perspective and the positive attitude you have towards digital media. Unlike mine and Vincent's, yours seem to have a more positive approach to the subject. I liked how you explained why these advances in technology are so addicting and how you used your personal experiences to convey the message. You nipped it right in the bud. The fact that our phones and computers provide so many different usage options (emailing, IM-ing, texting, web surfing, calling etc.) and the fact that T.V. is a great way of socializing while at the same time entertaining is so true. These are the reasons why we are so drawn to them.

I liked how you separated the text into 4 different sections, each focusing in on a different object. This goes to show how digital media has expanded and covers an array of different instruments. I wonder what's next.

I thought it was interesting that you made the point about artists not being able to succeed to way they used to. The internet is all about free information and unfortunately, free movies and free music is part of that.

I feel like from your explanation of what you use the internet for (for your poetry and stuff) that you're a great example of someone who uses the net meaningfully and beneficially. Instead of being hooked onto social networking sites you are using the net for what it was meant to be, to share and to learn new information and insights on certain subjects.

The picture with the old couples was funny. It reminded me of the situation with Perez Hilton and how he decided to Twitter for help instead of calling 911 when he was attacked by Will.I.am. Goes to show how people tend to feel the need for attention even during such serious situations. In my opinion, nobody needs to know what you're doing and thinking at all times. Like "Hey, I'm going to the bathroom!" Like okay, that's not even worth posting about. But it's this attention that a lot of people feed off from.

Based on your blog, you seem to enjoy using these digital devices a lot. Do you ever see any flaws in them besides the fact that they distribute free music? Do you think you'd be able to go without your Sidekick for a long period of time?

I really enjoyed reading your post and I appreciate the honesty in it. I feel the same way you do about technology, that it could be addicting, but when used the "right" way, the addiction doesn't always result in a bad outcome.

HW 3: Convenience versus Isolation through Digital Media

The immense digitalization in our world today is obvious. Society has since adapted or should I say have become addicted to the convenience and accessibility of information put forth by the internet. It has become a whole new culture of learning. The way it broadens our spectrum of the world today in terms of being able to connect with societies of other cultures or having our doors opened to an influx of new ideas, makes it safe to say that any person probably wouldn't have gotten the same experience 20 or more years ago before the digital craze.

However, the new wave of technology has caused many to rely on computers for most of their needs. We are so immersed in this form of operation that we don't feel the need to find other ways to go about our lives. For example, the way we socialize is no longer limited to face-to-face interactions or talking over the phone. Our options have been reassessed to include applications such as Twitter, IM, emails, Facebook, Myspace, YouTube, virtual games and so on. This type of socializing through a screen is odd in a way because you're not really having an actual face-to-face conversation with the other person. I wouldn't consider it a real socializing though. Body and facial language and even the tone of voice should all be present during a conversation. Otherwise, the message cannot be conveyed properly or to its full extent. Technology takes away from the more personal aspects of daily interactions. It's important that we keep communication a face-to-face affair even with the options of texting and IMing because the more we use them, the more habitual it becomes and as a result we find ourselves isolated from the rest of the world. The web should be used to post and to access information that is hard to reach instead of being constantly used as a communication device used between people who could easily go out and walk a couple of blocks to see each other.

I have to admit though that I too have been sucked in and swallowed by the digital world. I constantly find myself hooked onto my computer when I'm at home and married to my phone when I'm out. I sleep with my phone near my ears in case a new text comes through and I wake up in the morning finding myself unconsciously walking over to turn my computer on. Last Friday morning as I was walking to school, I realized I forgot my phone and even though I knew I was going to be late, I turned around and walked back home to get it. It's pathetic if you really think about it. I can't even go a day without my phone. Or maybe I can, but I just rather not. I feel so naked, like I can't function without it or something. I'm sure I'm not the only one with this problem though. But is it really all of ours to blame? Our generation is being constantly criticized by our obsession with electronics and our lackadaisical nature to explore the real world around us without such tools. But we've been raised with these new devices and it has since become part of our daily lifestyle. It's what we consider normal. It's as second nature as putting on our clothes and tying our shoes. Unlike those who had experienced life without the internet, we don't view it as a spectacular invention. It has been implanted in our brains that all this technology is beneficial and the only way to move forward is to continue using it.

It's scary to think about what technology will become of in the future. Will it come to a point where we stop learning how to live without such materials and let technology rule our lives? Or will we learn how to balance our usage of it so that we don't let go of what the real world has to offer? How do we even know what is the balance of too much exposure to the digital/electronic media versus not enough? Is it even necessary?

I don't think we NEED it but it does make our world run A LOT easier and faster. Efficiency and convenience is what rules civilization today. So I guess we won't be giving up our allegiance to online social networking anytime soon.