And lastly....

Over the course of the term I have learned a lot about my own personal views on progressive technology. As someone who participates in all sorts of modern conveniences like; iphones, texting, skype, facebook, pinterest, etc, it would seem like I wouldn’t have a problem with people being heavily invested in their personal devices. The more I read and the more videos I watched on different topics the more I felt that our society was losing its personal touch and people my age didn’t seem to care. I think have better ways of staying in contact and up to date is great, but it’s an issue when we decide we’d rather use those ways as our primary mode of communication. I definitely look at things differently every time I go online, and think about how different sites affect people and what the point of those websites are. I definitely have a new perspective on how “hooked” I’ve been in terms of technology and how hooked everyone around me is.

Too much

Thinking about Lanier’s argument that the old web is better confuses me. I don’t think it is fair to say that one version of the internet is more harmful than another because really it is all what one personally chooses to do with it. I could simply use the modern internet for research not necessarily all social media things. Or I could have used the old internet to search people’s personal webpages all day. I think that the more the internet progresses there are good parts and bad. With a more advanced internet we have the ability to learn all sorts of wonderful things. I can learn about a Queen Alexandra's Birdwing Butterfly, what they eat, their mating seasons, all sorts of things in a matter of minutes. That’s the great thing about the internet, obviously there are some negatives, and people do useless things and waste hours on the internet doing dumb things like surfing facebook and pinterest.

Jaron Lanier

I’ve watched many clips of Jaron Lanier and done the readings. Lanier makes it clear that he feels that the modern web is a huge problem because it isn’t individualized and it is mass produced. He talks a lot about the glory days of everyone having a webpage rather than something like a facebook or twitter account. Jaron Lanier is an impressive individual; he is a huge figure in the technology community and is well known for coining the idea of virtual reality. At first he was a huge proponent of progressive technology but now he has chosen to preach against it because it is tearing people away from reality.

Passive attempts

This week we talked a lot about having your voice heard online. The more I think about this concept the more it annoys me; it seems so passive and safe. Our country is known for taking a stand when groups felt oppressed whether it meant protesting in the streets or doing some sort of demonstration, there were people everywhere willing to put themselves on the line to make a change. Now our generation thinks it’s fine to share their thoughts solely online. I think because my generation grew up with social media we are a more passive group when it comes to taking a physical stand. There are protests here and there but people in this generation feel much more comfortable expressing their distaste for something behind the safety of their computer screen. I just don’t feel like tweeting about something has the same impact a march or protest does.

Actively Involved Online

The article “small change” basically discusses how people perceive social media sites to help rally with political injustices. Basically the conclusion of the article was that tweeting and liking things on facebook really isn’t a huge factor in moving people to protest, long before social media people got together and rallied against different issues. If people feel truly oppressed or against something they will (and should) protest against it. It seems that this article is saying that just posting things online isn’t really helping too much. I think that it stops motivating people for example someone could see the facebook page for PETA and like their ideas against animal cruelty so they hit “like” but that’s not really doing much of anything, they aren’t out volunteering or being actively involved, but they think by doing that they have helped out. The next site we looked at was a blog called the egyptianchronicles and it is written by a woman who has strong feelings about the way her country is run. She constantly updates the blogs with information on where the elections will be held and stories of people who have been grievously affected by the tainted justice system. I think that this blog is different than just expressing dislike for one thing; she is actively informing her readers on important issues that they may not know about otherwise.

Too Close for Comfort

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how committed and locked in we are to technology. I think it’s great that we are so innovative but the more I look around the more it seems that people are addicted to their computers, ipads, and smartphones. I can’t say I don’t benefit from these social based devices, I live 22 hours away so it’d be extremely hard to contact my family without cell phones or skype. I think that a lot of people don’t have preferences about how they communicate with their loved ones anymore, face to face or skype it’s all the same. The thing is even when I’m with my friends or family they are glued to their phones or laptops and I can’t have a coherent conversation with them because they are scrolling through facebook or re-pinning things via pinterest. It seems like I’d have a better chance of having a conversation if I facebook chatted them in the same room. This week I learned more about the iwatch and google glasses and feel that these devices are getting too close for comfort in a way because they are on your body. Now they are even more invasive in your-face than ever before. I don’t think I’ll be the type to want any wearables but who knows, maybe I’ll end up being a huge proponent of them.

Mark Zuckerburg as a character

I thought the movie “Social Network” was entertaining. It portrayed Mark Zuckerburg as one of those brilliant people who don’t have very good judgment with people. The movie’s plot was that facebook’s invention was driven by Zuckerburg’s break up with his girlfriend. In reality this wasn’t the case at all. Another important movie point was that the more successful facebook got the more problems and friends Zuckerburg lost. I’m wondering if maybe Zuckerburg lost friends because of his own social issues and bluntness rather than his success. While watching the “Social Network” I couldn’t help but compare Mark Zuckerburg to Steve Jobs. They seem to both be really crass and rude but Jobs seems to do this very deliberately whereas Zuckerberg isn’t as aware he offends people. All in all I didn’t see Zuckerburg as a completely unlikable character in the movie but I found myself feeling sorry for him a lot of the time.

Is Google a new god?

Information seems to be the epicenter of our society. The internet (especially google) allows anyone to obtain knowledge about every subject. Do you have a medical question? You can look up symptoms to form a base diagnosis, without ever having to go to a doctor, you can find tutorials to knit or carve. The internet has information that provide users to pick up skills and learn to facts extremely fast, before the internet people would have to go to the library or take a class. I think now we have become “information junkies” expecting immediate gratification in finding exactly what we want to know. We also want a lot of space to hold things like pictures, videos, and music. What’s interesting is that in most religions there is a god or deity this is either all-knowing or knows more than any mortal worshippers. Now it seems that people can easily get a hold of information and that instead of a “god” possessing all knowledge sites like google does. Before sites like google people could just assume they didn’t know everything or all the universe’s secrets but now anyone with internet access is able to find a plethora of things online.

The Night the Internet Went Out

In class we’ve been talking about google and the internet and how they relate to religions. In religions there are practicers that our very devote and being heavily involved in their church/temple/mosque etc. Lately, I’ve been noticing how devote people are to the internet. People spend hours on the computer everyday; updating facebook and twitter religiously and checking inboxes. I think people don’t understand how much of a hold the internet has on our lives. Last week the internet went out for hours at night at Lawrence and chaos ensued. No one knew what to do with it, my roommates and I just starred at each other, in fact, we ended all going to bed because we had no idea what to do. The next day I thought about what a weird concept that is because not so long ago there was no internet. People had to entertain themselves in other ways, they didn’t have the constant gratification of doing whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted on the internet. It made me think of the article “Is Google Making us Stupid” I don’t necessarily think google is making us stupid, I think it is making us extremely impatient.

Google and God

After reading Google’s mission statement “10 things we know to be true” it is clear that Google has a few things that they passionate about. Google bases its company off the idea that it is important to make things easy for customers, to constantly be innovating and willing to change, and to be open and honest. I think that after reading these statements I am an even bigger fan of Google’s corporation. It is a breath of fresh air to see that a company is concerned with how genuine they are with their customers. I think if organized religions were focused on openness and growth like Google, things would be very different. People wouldn’t be so concerned with how right their personal beliefs are and more open to expanding their horizons. There would be a lot less “my religion is more right because…” and more “well maybe it is flawed in this way but we can progress.” Google also shapes itself around its costumers unlike when some followers of religion disagree with some aspects of that religion and agree with others.

What's the Point of an iPad?

For this week we have been investigating Apple’s iPad. I’ve never really used an iPad until this week but I’ve always thought “what’s the point of these? Anything you can do on the iPad you can do better on a laptop or using your iPod or iPhone.” After using the iPad I have to say that my opinion hasn’t changed at all. It is definitely a nifty device and I can see why people would like them, but if you already have a computer and iPhone, do you really need an iPad?’ I wasn’t sure if maybe I was missing something awesome that an iPad could do so I looked up different forums and articles to see if maybe this really is a special device. It turns out that not only does the iPad lack anything really substantial; it also doesn’t have USB capabilities, that means no importing or exporting files and no uploading pictures off your camera. This reminds a lot of when the MacBook Air came out and it was really thin and everyone thought it was awesome…but it lacked a CD drive. Apple is great at making cool looking products but it seems that by doing so they sacrifice the important functional parts in the process.

Steve Jobs' Vision

The iPad is a slim tablet with a simplistic design and the user-friendly technology Apple is so well known for. Looking back at the first Macintosh it is hard to believe how different the iPad is. When Jobs was first developing the very first Macintosh computer he was extremely meticulous about the external design, even going so far as to find his own shade of beige because the hundreds of options he had offered to him were not his exact vision. It is clear that the iPad is a continuation of Jobs’ dedication to the design of his products. The iPad is very visually appealing, very sleek and made up of one giant screen that is completely operated by touch. Part of why Jobs was so difficult to deal with (and successful) was his relentless pursuit of sticking to his goals. The iPad was basically a movement of a new technology; the tablet, and even though tons of electronics companies have produced their own tablets the iPad continues to be a leader in the field. Steve Jobs was able to create an image for Apple based on his own stubborn tendencies, and those tendencies definitely were apparent in the iPad’s design.

Technology Creating More Distant Children

I was very interested in the chapter; Finding Oneself and especially the part on leaving home in Habits of the Heart. In many cultures children should stay at home with their parents and take care of them as they grow old and die. In America it is expected that we leave the house as soon as we reach adulthood otherwise you look like you’re unsuccessful or cannot support yourself. As Americans we put a huge emphasis on independence, even as children being able to do many things on your own is expected. Doing things as a family regularly is pretty rare for most American families, I know personally in my family we all do our own activities separate. I thought a little bit about what children on are doing independently and why, and have come to the conclusion that a big part of the issue is that we give children a lot of tools to make them independent. Television is a big part of it, it’s easy, its keeps the kids calm and out of their parents hair, and is often referred to as a personal baby sitter. Video game are another big thing for kids, it’s easy for them to sit in their rooms for hours playing video games or watching T.V, so being alone isn’t new to them and it probably doesn’t bother them very much either. Having all of this technology that is easy to use for children is a tool of sorts that prepares children for independent lifestyle. This is definitely not necessarily a good thing, it is important to interact with other people, especially family members. Below is a link on how TV can affect children of different ages:

http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/tv_affects_child.html

Shunryu Suzuki and Steve Jobs

                Listening to Shunryu Suzuki Roshi speak is a very different experience than Steve Jobs. Suzuki has a very humble and soft way of expressing himself as opposed to Jobs’ crassness he is so well known for. What I found instantly similar was how Suzuki says his teacher said that to be successful he should leave, so he moved to his teacher’s temple at age 13 and later moved to America where he founded the San Francisco Zen Center. Jobs, similarly, was able to decide when it was time for him to move on (leaving school etc) with ease.

                Shunryu Suzuki has a certain fluidity about him, every word is carefully chosen to give the fullest meaning to what he is trying to teach. In one of Suzuki’s lectures he talks about meditation and how a Buddhist meditating may be look four or five feet ahead but they are not looking at anything they are simply meditating. I think Jobs would have a hard time with that, he is constantly having ideas and is always very intense. In one part of the chapter “Atari and India” it is mentioned that Jobs struggled with meditation, probably because he is almost frantic in trying to find a sense of meaning, and that is counterproductive to Buddhism. They say in Buddhism that the only people with issues are the ones who think they have issues, Jobs was definitely one of those people, he had some clear baggage about being adopted, that event obviously prompted his search for an inner self.

 

On a Pedestal

The video (linked below) called Steve Jobs’ Speech (1995)- The future of animation is a speech by Steve Jobs where he is discussing the release of the first fully animated movie; Toy Story. For the majority of his speech he talks about all the innovations in film; the first film, sound, color, etc. Having a fully computer animated movie was an extremely big deal. It is interesting how Jobs chooses to have his speech flow, discussing in historical order the big innovations of film, ending with his own. If one does not think about his method of discussion it does not seem bad but if you look into it is pretty egotistical. Jobs does not seem like a jerk in this speech (as he is described in his biography) but has no qualms about putting his innovative designs on a pedestal with all the other major film innovations.

                It is pretty amazing to think that Steve Jobs was able to be so successful in not one but multiple companies. It also is fascinating that Jobs was the epicenter of companies that made huge strides in technology. What makes Jobs unappealing but probably vastly helped him in his career is his tendency to put himself on a pedestal. Having an “I can do anything I want” attitude

Veering from the beaten path- Steve Jobs

                 One of Steve Jobs’ main characteristics is breaking conventional ideologies. He talks indirectly about veering off from the beaten path, this does not just apply to his innovative tech designs, it also drives his life. In his Stanford commencement speech he talks a lot about how he had very high expectations for him to go to college, even before he was born and that they were part of the terms of his adoption. Jobs attempts to go to college but it does not jive well for him, many people would have stuck it out just to appease and keep other’s expectations, but not Jobs, he quits. Instead he takes side classes here and there and learns skills he find valuable. He goes on to create Apple and Pixar, and be hugely successful.  

 It is clear that Steve Jobs’ must have a sense of self because he makes huge decisions on his own with basically no regard for other people’s views or opinions. He focuses on what makes him happy, and clearly, it worked. I think our lives are so full of rigid lines we are supposed to stay between it is hard to think of simply stopping what we “should” do and start what we want to do. What is interesting is that Job’s Apple products promote a lot of individual involvement, in the sense that you don’t really use one ipad as a group, maybe you use facebook on your ipad and keep it touch with friends, but for the most part Apple devices are based on personal use, as well as private. Steve Jobs’ personal philosophy is to do whatever you want, it seems simple but in all actuality most of us don’t do what we want very often. By focusing on “the self” Jobs’ is able to focus on his dreams and make them a reality. We could probably all use a reality check once in a while, and take a step back to think about if we are truly happy, and if not how can we change that.

Last night I came home after dinner to my quad, three of my friends were in one room but no one was speaking, two were on their computers and another was on her phone texting. I told them I thought we should have a day where we don’t use any personal electronics; no computers and no phones; they flipped out. I asked them why they didn’t like that idea, they started giving me excuses, “Well how am I supposed to know when to meet you for lunch if I can’t text you?” I prompted the idea that not so long ago there were no cell phones and people had to make plans ahead of time and stick to them. I gave up the “no technology idea day” pretty fast when I realized my roommates were having none of it but I still think it could be beneficial.

                Phones are not just phones anymore; they are our alarm clocks, day planners, a way to be in touch with anyone at any time, and much more. It is almost hard to imagine that at one point this device was simply used to call one person at a time. I think cell phones are very useful and make life a lot easier, if you need anything you can just pick it up and call whoever or text them in a matter of seconds. If you’re running late you can contact your friend almost instantly and give them a heads up. Phones now can store movies and hundreds of songs it is like having a TV, computer, and mp3 player all in one small device. Not only are there tons of features on smart phones they also are user friendly so that even children can navigate them easily. Smart phones make keeping in contact and storing information very easy, but now it seems like people would rather facetime, snapchat, and text then get together face to face or spend time together in real life, and that’s a little bit sad. Everyone should want to spend time with people that make them happy and even though smartphones are very useful in a lot of ways I don’t think smart phones can substitute real life encounters.