Wk 5 Lecture

As I mentioned last week I wasn’t too happy that the last of the questions didn’t get answered but we were able to pick that question back up in the beginning of this weeks lecture. Should Network Literacy be focused on in early education? There were a few differing on this. Yes, it can be taught formally, but we’d have to change the whole structure of primary school learning and the way teachers teach. There are some schools that have looked into this already and are doing well in this changed method. The idea that primary school are scared of the mass that is the internet was also bounced around. The last point i wish to mention is the idea that Network teaches its own literacy, so does it need to be taught or is it one of those social laws that will inevitably be learnt, one way or the other.

The questions this week were about the internet, hypertext and consequences of not being network literate. To answer the first question: how is hypertext relevant to us as media practitioners? The immediate response was ‘how is it not’. Less then helpful but also putting forward a strong point. After more discussion it is relevant because it is the way most things, if not all things work within.

What predictions about network should we be aware of in the future? Well, that your weight scales will soon be able to talk to your phone and your fridge will count calories in it through the internet and tell you about it in your microwave. A little extravagant for the next step but it could be happening, you never know.

What are the consequences of being network illiterate? We get used. That is short answer, the example of Facebook came up. The general public use this to put up information about yourself and talk and find new things and we get paid nothing, yet the owners of Facebook are getting money through advertising because we are doing the ground work. Interesting. but really, what would we do without Facebook? . . . well we’d probably find some other way to share what we are eating and what we think of that person in front of you on the train.

Wk 5 Reading

Even though it is probably not the main point of this weeks reading I wanted to draw special attention to one point in particular that clarified something for me. It was, once again, to do with the concept of blogs. On pages 78 and 79 the mention of blogs came up and I thought to myself, here we go again, more about how revolutionary blogs are. I’m obviously still unsure and sceptical of its full potential, as I’m treating it as diary type thing, and to be honest who really wants to read my diary; but I digress. . .
The idea that they are all connected and can be connected to other things is nothing new, what I didn’t realise before is that blogs are dated into chronological order. Which is something I already knew but it got me thinking about other things on the internet not being dated, or at least not showing when they’ve been dated, this can fit in with the wk 4 question of ‘how can you trust the validity of the internet’, checking when it was published and how ‘up to date’ it is might help.

The other thing I picked up is the notion of blogging about medical research, how awesome is that! This is something worth blogging about, this not only shows the public about what’s the latest in, say, cancer research but it also connects all the separate organisations searching for the cure to join together and share information so easily.

I’ll admit that there are definitely some advantages about blogging that have come to light in the last few weeks.

Wk 4 Lecture

This weeks lecture were answering a few questions about the internet. The one that was explored into most detail was: how can we trust the validity of the internet.  In the weeks readings it was suggested that the internet is a lot easier to put up information and a lot easier for a lot more people to get things published. The point was raised that because it is easy for so many people to publish things to the public on the internet how can we trust it as we’ve come to trust books as a source of credible information, books having to go through various critical stages before it is released to the public.

The answer that came from a rather lengthy discussions and anecdotes in the lecture is it all comes down to common sense (much like the discussion in last weeks lecture about ideas surrounding copyright laws and defamation on the internet).

It has become a social norm to be on the internet for us and as such there are certain signs that you look out for, just as you would in real life, in order to judge a situation. Just as you would be sceptical of a man in an unmarked van handing out lollies you would also be sceptical of the odds that you really are the 999,999,999th visitor to that website . . . for the third time, or that you won the Tattslotto . . . in Nigeria. Obviously some things are harder to spot then others but as you live you learn and this is no different.

Common sense people!

 

Wk 4 Reading

Extract from: Nelson, Theodor Holm. Literary Machines 91.1: The Report On, and Of, Project Xanadu Concerning Word Processing, Electronic Publishing, Hypertext, Thinkertoys, Tomorrow’s Intellectual Revolution, And Certain Other Topics Including Knowledge, Education and Freedom. Sausalito: Mindful Press, 1992. Print.

Wow . . . was that one confusing; not sure if it was because I’m only half awake and been staring at the screen too long.

This first reading is a type of history lesson I guess. The whole talk about networks and unifying information and all did pass over my head a bit except for the fact that they were talking about hyperlinks or something to bring it all together. To be honest, when I was reading it I was mostly thinking about how this could make for a great sequel to Pirates of the Silicon Valley.

I found his outlook on the future quite interesting. There were desserts and the collapsing of civilisations, a very apocalyptic out look on the year 2020 but the night in shining armour, our saviour will be computers. Computers will protect the intellect of humankind. Although I admit that his predictions for the future in regards to computers were extremely accurate, that computers will evolve and help mankind, his predictions on the rest of the happenings of the world are somewhat further from the truth, he should stick to computer talk. His outlook on computer technology is very positive, obviously the Matrix and i-robot and the likes were before his time.

 

Wk 3 Lecture

What are the legal restraints of the internet. This is a very blurred line as far I can tell, or more, the lines are clear cut but the engagement of them are blurred.

One of the things mentioned in the lecture was whether you can use things for your own material such as songs and what not, also the mention of ‘covering’ a song on youtube; is this a breach in copyright ? The short answer is YES! Anything that you use in a public space that was not directly created by you is a breach of copyright. Here is where it gets tricky: even though it is technically a breach in copyright you will not get prosecuted for it until the original creator decides to act upon it.

So why haven’t all the covers of songs been taken down from youtube, there are a few reasons. First being it is free advertisement for the artist, their song has gotten another thousand or so views on youtube without them having to do anything. The next was mentioned; it gives the artist a bad name, and this is also counterproductive in that sort of industry being known as a ‘sour grape’ for taking down the 13 yr olds cover of your song because she doesn’t have the right pitch in the second verse, hypothetically. The last of which being that it is not worth going through all the lawyers and everything to sue the person who did the cover because of the sheer amount of money that you would need to pursue that course of action.

One last thing I’ll mention about the lecture was the idea of defamation. If you are saying something mean about someone without conclusive evidence and go about it in the correct way you should’t be saying it. The internet is just another society and as such there are certain societal laws that you you need to stick by.

In Summary: Anything you use that isn’t yours is copyright but is not incriminating until the holder of the copyright decides to act upon it and play nice on the playground of the internet kids!

Guardians of the Galaxy

I went to go see ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and it didn’t disappoint!

In my past post I mentioned that I was very keen to see this movie, it had gotten great reviews and plenty of hype all around. The film was definitely one of the better films that has come out of Marvel Studios, but is it the best ? I went to watch it with two of my mates and they both agreed that it was the best, but personally, I think that it doesn’t beat the Avengers. For me the Avengers just had so much more hype around it; I mean, it took about 5 movies to get there! And it had characters that I grew up with and loved, unfortunately i’m not so familiar with the ‘Guardians’.

Also mentioned in the reviews, was it the funniest movie to come out of the marvel studios? I found these comments to be misleading. Yes it does have its funny bits and could well be the funniest marvel movie, but it is not a comedy! There are classic funny parts in the film, many of which I find are just recreations of happenings in other films such as the Avengers. It is funny but that is not the main point of the film.

Final thing I would say is it is much more enjoyable if you have an understanding of the comic book marvel universe in a childish love, it just makes you a happier viewer when watching it.

Movie Time!

There are a few movies that I’m pretty excited to see, top of the list is Guardians of the galaxy. Read a fair few reviews and they have all argued it is one of the best films to come out of the Marvel studio’s, which personally I think is a really big statement. They have also mentioned that it is the funniest movie, which I’m relieved about, basically so I know they’re not going to try make an ‘epic’ movie about the final frontier, it honestly seems like its going to be a really fun movie!!! comes out in Australia August the 7th.

Another movie I was excited to see but slightly less excited now is Lucy. It hasn’t gotten great reviews and all seem to hover around the fact the there isn’t much story. This was such a shame because the trailer really made me think this movie had some potential. Ah well, you win some you lose some.