Response to Article: New media, young audiences and discourses of attention:from Sesame Street to 'snack culture'

What I learned in Class.

     I've accumulated a large pile of readings. Picking out the readings that I enjoyed was a bit fuzzy at first since it is difficult to remember all of them. I've picked out five readings that I enjoyed the most. Most of them dealt with popular social media web sites that we use today. I found these to be the most interesting since I could relate to them.

     I've learned quite a lot actually in regards to the class. Privacy issues and how people can be so shifty by portraying themselves as some person other than they are. I also enjoyed my research project. The final project. I learned a lot more than I assumed in terms of propaganda for terrorists. Both sides of the conflict are involved and control the media as best as they can. My favorite thing about the class though is the fact that these online courses are convenient. Convenient since I don't have to leave Santa Cruz. I have to say that my least favorite aspects of the class is that there is no human contact with this course. I like human contact. Also, the fact that some of the readings were a bit technical put me to sleep. They reminded me of hardware tech manuals. I think this class can be immensely improved if it were a "hybrid" class. Human contact and ideas that are bounced off each other is key. There is no substitute for it!

     My favorite concept in this course was in an earlier reading. George Herbert Mead's "Me" and "I" theory. The "Me" theory refers to the social self while the "I" theory is the response "me".  For example, the reading explains that the "I" would maintain a social network site. Your "me" would be how you would project yourself to others. I have chosen this concept since I had a difficult time grasping it prior to this class. It is clear to me at this point.

Response to:Collective Behavior in You Tube: A Case Study of "Bus Uncle" Online Videos

     I have never viewed or even heard of the "Bus Uncle" video prior to the reading of "Bus Uncle". The results of the research showed that it was quite popular for a time.
    The aspect that I thought was interesting about the article was how it had been mashed up. I've never heard this term before but I believe I've come across some of the videos that have been mashed up. The videos that come to mind were in regards to "Pirates of the Carribean". I had done a search for Captain Jack Sparrow. I had intended on locating original footage. Unfortunately, all the videos that I came across were choped up. They had music that was not in the film interjected into them or the scenes were inconsitant. I thought it was really annoying.
     Youtube is a "broadcast" yourself medium. I've never uploaded any videos before. However, lots of people put up goofy stuff. I'm not sure if they want to get noticed or if they have way to much time on their hands.

Response to Article: RIAA Chief: Copyright bills won't kill the Internet

Response to Article: The World-Wide Web

     So many times it seems that we take the world wide web for granted. We don't appreciate or are not aware of the way that it works. This article wne through the motions of how the "web" works for us. It seems that pages appear effortlessly to us but the web is actually actually from independent sources.
     I'd like to bring up a few points here 1)URI Syntax, 2)Hypertext Protocol and 3) the increase in the amount of servers. I would also like to mention my first time jumping onto the web.
     I learned something new tonight. Everyone has seen the symbols ? and / in the URL. However, they actually mean something. The / represents a hierarchical space. For example www.watsonvillehighreunion.com/reunions. Two pages. The ? is a space between a address and a query. I had always thought that most charecters were "thrown" in there as chop suey, so to speak. There is really a method to the madness.
    The hyper transfer protocol was the most interesting part of the article for me. It is interesting that our computers basically let a server know what type of formats that can be used and then sends the requested information. I thought this to be amazing.
   Thirdly, the comment on how many internet servers were registered at the beginning to what it is at the time of publication is staggering. 62 in 1993. 829 in 2002(I saw this date on the reference page).
    Reading this article brought back memories to me. I can remember getting my first computer. I was so excited when it arrived from Gateway. I remember plugging it in and then learning how the damn thing worked. It was about a week before I figured out how to jump on the internet. It was a brand new world, once I was on.
    

Response to Article: A Virtual Death and a Real Dilemma

     This article is in regards to a woman that posed on the internet as a girl who was extremely ill and eventually died. The woman portrayed a victional charecter on an internet blog. The woman never led on that it was a fictional charecter. This lead to a lot of people feeling upset since they believed that the fictional charecter was real.
     I agree with the asserstion in the reading that this charecter would have been o.k. to portray if it was noted that the blog was fictional. Debbie Swenson intentionally misled people to believe that her daughter was ill. This is completely wrong of people to do. In my opinion. I find it interesting that someone would even attempt to mislead people.
     The fact that the reading indicates two outcomes is what I learned. Two sides were taken. Those that labled Debbie Swanson as a lunatic and others that supported and still believed in the illness of the child.
     The other outcome that I saw in this is the internet should be a place of distrust, even though most people would not portray themselves as anything more than what they are. There will be and are people that are out there that are devious though.

Response to Article:What's In Your Lunchbox

I was amazed to find this article on the ProfHacker link. I don't think it has to much to do with new media. However, it is different and the title caught my eye. Especially, the photo of the DC Comics lunch box.

Those that know me understand that I'm a huge DC Comics fan.

The premise of the story is what one would do if they were on their way out the door and did not eat breakfast. What would you do for lunch? Face it! This happens to everyone. Some of the options would be if you would steal food out of the refrigerator or go through drive through to pick up food. Me? I really did not care about the article since I was focused on the lunch box. It lead me to thinking out my old "Superman" lunch box from the '60s. I started to thinking to myself if it could be out there. Well, thank god for the Internet. I performed a search and low and behold. The 1967 Superman lunch box was there. It brought back so many GREAT memories.

Now, back to the article. Here is what I would do. I'd pack my 1967 Superman lunch box with all sorts of nutritious goodies and place take it to work everyday. That is what I would do!

Response to Article: Blogging: Self Presentaion and Privacy

     This article focused on privacy issues. It is based on a research project of poled participants on what they deemed is private. There are types of privacy according to the author 1) Informational Privacy 2) Accessibility Privacy and 3) Expressive Privacy.
     Informational privacy deals with how a person controls their information. Accessibility privacy is how others find out information such as wire taps etc and finally, Expressive privacy is how a person chooses to interact with others. Therefore, letting some informaiton available.
      The reading gave many examples of what was proper or improper etiquette in regards to reflection of social identity on a blog. As we all now, some people feel free to express their opinions regarding their personal life and so forth in public. I have always felt that it is not good to place dirty laundry out there for those to view. Therefore, I feel that information privacy issues are the most important and most controlable that a person has when they are blogging. Keeping a guard up is a good thing at times.

Response to Article: The End of Books

     This is an interesting article. Contrasting the differences between hypertext and traditional text.
The advent of hypertext is revolutionary in terms of communication. It also could mean the end of traditional text. This is evident in the decline in book and newspaper sales. The use of hypertext can allow a person do to so much more. It is more fluid. Links, photos and up to date stories. It is ever changing and keeps up with current events. Orginal text does not do this at all. Obsolete in many ways. However, I like books and newspapers since they  are a tangible items. I also like them since it is easier to locate and item. I sometimes have an issue locating hypertext items that I have read and have not made a note of there address. This can be frustrating to people.
     The article gave insight into what is considered the next step of written communication. This is an important step just was the advent of the wrtten text.  It reminds us that new technologies may spring up in the future and that hyper text may go by the way side of the printed text.

Response to Article: Netfix Drops Since 2004 Since Losing 800k Customers

Response to Article: Navigating Technomedia

     This article is basically a review of a few previous articles that we read. Namely, The Written Word: From Printing to the Internet. There is also more on Marshall McLuhan's "Medium is the Message".
     I would like to discuss a few aspects of this reading:
1) The false hopes of modernity under the guise of advancement and
2)New World Order
3)Single Technology Applications
     The reading touches upon the advent of the internet. As I remember, it was perceived as something that would change the world. It is stated that it would help democracy spread throughout the world. I believe that it only helped spread the word of what inevitably would have happened. It was not the internet that specifically started the movement of nations towards democracy. It was a tool to spread the word of democracy. Two distinctly different perspectives. Of course, not everyone may agree with my opnion.
     There is also mention of the New World Order. I believe that we are in an age of a new order. The internet has helped shape and streamline improvements in many areas. Specifically, communication on the business level. This has had a huge impact on the global economy. It is a very good reason why there is high unemployment rates in the Western World.
   Finally, I never thought about it before but to view television one would have to pruchace a T.V. That is not the case anymore since a cel phone enables a person to view T.V., take pictures and place events in leiu of a calendar now days. It is truly an amazing world that we live in.

Response to Article: Personal Dynamic Media

     I found this article to be historical in the sense. The Dynabook system seems to have been the precursor to the modern computer. Most of the components that are standard computer items existed with this system. Personal computer yet crude in nature since it was developed in the 1970's.
     The system was developed is stated to be influential in terms of historical content. The funny thing is that I have never heard of it until now. The software program that was developed was called Smalltalk.  I took it that this program may be seen as a precursor to "Windows". The system was developed to manipulate information. Fonts could be adjusted. Music and images could be augmented and so forth. A program by the name of SHAZAM allowed annimation to be created. This system seemed to have it all. Geared toward adults and even children. The system had a  mouse, storage unit, keyboard and screen. The only drawback of the system is that it had some limits. Primarialy in the storage area. Only about 1,500 pages could be stored.
     The dynabook is an important device in the computer age. It is a testament of what man can create. Man has built upon the fondation of this system and has developed systems that are now much better. The cycle of creation will continue as newer technologies are introduced.

Response to Article: The PC is dying, but very, very slowly

I came across this interesting article. The article claims that PC sales are slowing down in certain parts of the world. For example, sales of lap tops and Ipads are up in this country while PC sales are down. However, this appears to be a regional issue. PC sales are way up in China and India. They can't seem to get enough of them. It is also noted that Latin American sales of PC's is in the double digits.
  Now, this is what I think, from my perspective. I don't own a lap top or an Ipad since I prefer to sit comfortably in an office area to work on my computer. Of course, this is not how everyone operates. Some people prefer to have the independance of using a lap top or ipad in order to do their business. It will take a revolutionary system to be introduced in order for me to change from my PC to something else.
  I'm sure that most people feel the same way. This is the reason why I think PC's will be around for a while longer. We must take into account the reasons why the PC may have sluggish sales in the U.S. One reason comes to mind would be the fact that the United States in in depression mode. People just don't have the money to buy much of anything now days.

Response to Article: Second Life

     This article was not as interesting to me as some of the others. It was probably due to the fact that it had to do with charecters within a game by the name of Second Life. The research that was done here was the the aspect of gender within a virtual world.
      Apparently, there are limited choices that one can become when a charecter is developed during this game. The charecters are pre-programed by the software creators. The gender choices are steoreotypical in stucture. For example, Men have strong pectorals and women have large breasts.
     The charectarization of these gender roles are usually found not only in this game but all of the other games that I have seen. Especially, the games that I have come across at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Those games usually reflect women and men in the same fashion. Especially, the medieval battle sequencing games. The same options are available for the kids create their charecters while playing the games down there.  The charecter choices are preset with men that have strong pecs and women that have large breasts. These charecter types make the best impression according to the authors research. Charecters that are sexual in nature and created in for the purpose of fetish.
     The authors of the reading were very aware of the sensitivity of gender roles as they began to create their charectars in regards to this research. They were very aware of the fact of how their gender charecters were percieved since we expect gender to act or look in a certain way. The results of this study are a reflection of how society looks upon gender roles. I learned that this study supports my perceptions of what I have already seen in other virtual games. Sexual and fetish charecters appeal to people.

Response to Article: From Computer Power to Human Reason

I found this article to be interesting. It is a self reflective article in regards to a psycotherapist software program that Joseph Weizenbaum created in the 1960's. The main points of the article that I would like to discuss here are 1)Can software programs such as those used for medical reasons offer the same or better results. 2) Human emotional attachment to computers and finally, 3) Weizenbaum's own conclusions of his work.
   1) The software program that Jospeh Weizenbaum created is limited in my opinion. The reason that I take this position is because the program was created by Mr. Weizenbaum. The program only offers his advice. This is disturbing since Mr. Wizenbaum had no medical training in the discipline of psycotherapy. Also, the realty of the whole therapy application is that not all psychotherapists are suited for people. Each person must make a choice in order to whom they see fit for their needs. The cookie cutter approach of "one program serves" all is not useful.
   2) The article touches upon the fact that people become emotionally attached. Mr. Weizenbaum's reflection many years later alluded to the fact that people seem to have a personal attachment to their computers and will let their guard down by conveying information to a program that could be used in order to build information in regards to them. The article also empasizes the fact that this is indeed proof that computers have augmented our lives and way of thinking.
  3) Joseph Weizenbaum's self reflection indicates that he was very aware of the fact that man should set limits of responsibility for which aspects of computers have in intervening the lives of humans. Can computers actually imate the the thinking process of man and make decisions? More importantly, can man put trust in these machines to run their lives? Even Mr. Weizenbaum undertood the need for a conspectual line where the impact on computers in the lives of humans should be drawn.

Response to Article: New Study Probes How We Use Social Media

This was an interesting study regarding the use of social networking sites. The study focused on parents versus non-parents usage.

    Surprisingly, the study discovered that parents are more active on the computer than non-parents. Parents will use their Facebook and Twitter to play their games and keep in touch with friends much more than people without children. I'm sure that most people are surprised to learn of this since I assumed that non-parents would have more time to visit social networking sites.

    I can't personally comment on the fact that I use the Internet more often as a parent than I did when I did not have kids since the Internet was introduced when I was a parent. It makes sense though that parent may spend more time on the computer since kids are at home. This gives the parents time to social network since they are in the household. Non-parents may be out doing things and therefore, not being captivated or influence of using a computer.

   One final entry was a bit scary in the article. I'd like to mention it here. It is stated that adults have found that social networking sites are so important to them that they spend around 1/4 of their time on them. Not good for the mental or physical health

Response to Article: The Technology and the Society

     This article asks the age old question. The question of if technology has inluence on us in regards to progress and social change when introduced or if the conditions of social change would have occurred or occuring without the introduction of technology. These two terms of thought are referred to as Technological determination and symptomatic technology.
     The article focuses primarrily on the introduction of the television set and the question of its influence on us. It is my opnion that television has had a huge influence upon us, culturaly . For example, The Rodney King dilema comes to mind. I believe that the reaction to the incident would not have reached the national level if it were not the influence of the television. Remember, this event occurred prior to the internet becoming a main stream tool. I believe that the riots would not have occurred if not for the "broadcast" of the Simi Valley court decision in support of the Caucasian police officers that beat up Rodney King, unjustly.
     This event is very supportive of the the cause and effect of television even though this is the only evidence that I have offered in support of the influence of the dynamics. Social justice and progressive moment may not have occurred without the advent of technology such as the television.

Response to Article: Just Like Me Only Better

     It appeared that this article would be more interesting to me at first glance since there was mention of avatars. I learned something new here since an avatar is a mythological charecter. Interesting stuff.. Unfortunately, I found the remainder of the article to be extremely dull. Well, I'm sure that my son would have enjoyed it a lot more than me since he is probably aware of creating an avatar since he is a gamer.
     Studies have shown that most people create an avatar(an avatar is a charecter that represents a person in a game) in relationship to themselves. Most people create their avatars to have the same racial charectarestics that they would have. Of course, some people enjoyed placing cat ears on their characters for fun. That finding was not suprising at all to me since I would probably create my avatar in the same manner.
    One interesting fact was that both genders augment their figures when creating a character. Women have hour glass shapes and are slender. Men have large chests and well pronounced biceps. This is how I would create my character if I was to do so. It would feel great to stand behind a character and dream that I did not have a bulging belly for a while.
     
     
     

Response to Article: Full Tilt Poker Cheats Customers

Response to Article: Community Media

     Community media is a means for means for the under represented to have their voice heard. All media is a way in order for us to gather information and help us form our opinions. Community media generally speaks outside of the usual pro-establishment means. Community media is a way for everyone to be heard.
     One part of the article that I found to be interesting was the question if community media helped make our democratic society work better. I feel that the perspective of the community media is to compliment the structured mainstream media. Community media appears to be counter-culture in a way. Offering different view points. View points that would otherwise not be heard, muddled. The opinions or different perspectives that are offered can be looked as a different way of offering perspective. It stunts the ability of the mainstream to support an authoritarian  system. A system that can be detrimental to the populace of a free society. Community media is important to have as a resource for this very reason.

Response to Article: Why Young Adults Use Myspace and Facebook Gratification

     I found this article to be interesting. I even learned some new things about social networking sites that I was unaware of before. A new word was introduced to me tonight. I had never heard of the word "scene kids". These are people that build up there profile to appear as being more popular. They construct there online identity to be somewhat of another person that they really are. I found this avenue to be intriguing to me. Obviously, they are using the social network sites in order to feel better about themselves. They feel gratification in doing so.
     This is in contrast to how I use these sites. I tend to use them to broadcast information. Broadcatsing information to a whole mass of people. This allows me to tell people either within my hometown or across the country.
    One thing that is apparent here since I've contrasted two different groups of people here is that everyone finds their gratification on the SNS in a different way. One size does not fit all!

Response to Article: U.S. in Criminal Probe of Ebay Employees

       Ebay purchased 28% stack in Craigslist a few years back. Unfortunatley, there has been rift in the relationship ever since. Craigslist has accused Ebay on two separate occasions. Most recently, Craigslist has accused Ebay of taking confidential information in order to build a rival service named Kijiji.
      The investigation is focusing on which documents have been used. It has also been stated that certain officers of E-Bay may have been aware of the breach. Recently, Craiglist was allowed to have E-Bay's representitive removed from the board of Craigslist. They were not able to dissolve the interest of E-bay though.
     Corporate takeover or espionage? I'm not sure what it is referred to. This situation appears to be similar to what I have heard that Microsoft has done, or has been accused of. Companies with a lot of influence use their power to take over competitors or obtain their ideas. The intention of these powerful companies is not to have the company that they have influence in to survive. They basically rape them and shut them down. The finality of it all is that they are removed as a competitor.
Could this be what is happening?

Response to Article: The Medium is the Message

     This was a tough read. Honestly, it took me a while to figure out what this article meant. It was my all time least favorite article in the class so far. Not very exciting.
     The medium is the way that a thing is communicated. For example, the article uses IBM to put its point across. IBM is known for making computer equipment. However, they are actually in the business of processing information. Other examples such as how Napoleon understood the power of the newspaper as a means to to transmit ideas. This is interesting to me in a historical sense.
     I came up with a few ideas of my own. Namely, the Beatles Rock Band. The Beatles Rock band is a very good way for the kids to have fun. However, the game should be looked upon as a medium. It is a medium since it is communicates information on the history and cultural influence of the groups music in the 1960's.
    Another thought that came to mind is our school. Most of us knowingly understand the fact that we are here to learn. However, we unknowingly need to understand that society gauges us on our educational level. Certain employers will only entertain the thought of hiring students that have obtained a Bachelors degree. In other words. Our time at SJSU should be looked at as a right of passage. SJSU plays the medium in order for us to get there.
     So there it is. I'm going to end the medium of this blog and call it a day now.

Video Message-Nice to Meet You!

Response to Article: Consequences of Online Social Networking

    Consequences of Online Social Networking should be the sister article to our previous reading, Qualtity of Online Social Relationships. It seemed that both were similiar in nature to me since some of the same themes were touched upon. The study is to compare actual real life social networking with online social networking.
     Consequences of Online Social Networking attempts to document social network activities per demographics. Listed in this article  is an attempt to document the preferences of  certain groups such as women vs. men or introvert vs extrovert. The articles states that there is a correlation between actual tendencies of how individuals determine and function between real life and social networking.
     It is stated that people usually have less real life friends than they do on online social networks It also is stated that extroverts are usually more apt to use social networks. However, there is a difference in who extroverts will accept as "friends". It is also documented that online social networking is more prevalent among women.
     Now, I do not question the findings of this study. It is obvious to me from all of the mathematical equations(that I did not understand) that a lot of time and effort went into it. I do question the validity of the study since only a sample size of university students in a section of the United States was considered. The study would hold more weight if people from all walks of life were polled. This could have been easily completed since it was an online study. I would suspect that a lot of experts may fell the same way as I do in regards to this study.

Response to Article: Scotland Yard Tightens the Pincers on Anonymous

     Scotland Yard has recently arrested two suspected hackers that that were able to hack into various sensitive web sites.
     The news is always mentioning internet crimes now days. It was just last month that news was posted regarding the comprimise of information of pass holders on BART. This seems to be a world wide problem. It appears that it is being addressed according to this article.
      The article had mentioned cetain internet security compainies have been laxed in their enforcement of security measures. In fact, one of the firewall companies was aware of a breach but did nothing about it. News of this laxed attitude is extremely disturbing. Frankly, it is irresponsible. All of us assume that so called secured sites have their customers best interest as a priority. Sensitive information such as contact information, passwords and so forth must be kept secured at all costs. It is the responsibility of all internet security companies to protect their clients information and act immediately when a breach occurs. In my opinion, Scotland Yard should bring not only charges to the hackers but also to the two companies that are mentioned in the article.

Response to Article: The Quality of Online Relationships

     The results of most studies that are done in regards to online relationships do not surprise me in the least bit. I often thought that online relationships were not as strong a offline relationships. This article reinforces my initially perception. I don't think it takes a study to come up with a conclusion.
     One thing that I thought was interesting was the fact that there were a few studies done. Two studies that caught my attention were studies done between bank employees and college students. I know that both groups of people are very different. It would be like comparing apples to oranges. Both groups saw no real benefit socially in regards to a deepness in relationships.Not suprisingly so. However, it appears that the function of e-mail is a productive business tool. Just as equal to using a telephone in order to address and issue.
      Just look at were we are at with our online relationship.This online course that we are enrolled in puts us in the position of being in an online relationship. No face to face interaction since we are not all together in a class room. We read each others blogs and comment on each others entries. We don't know each other since we are operating under an alias. You don't know me and I don't know you. I think I would have more of a psychological closeness to you if I studied with you during group study or worked on a project together. However, that is not the case. I would not even know who you are if I walked by you on campus. Therefore the quality of our social relationship is actually, non-existant. I don't think we needed a study to figure that one out. Would you agree?
   

Response to Article: Man-Computer Symbiosis

    I had to actually look up the term "symbiosis" since I was unaware of the meaning. "Symbiosis" means something of a close interaction between two biological species. Well, I know that computers are not biological in nature but I got he point. Humans and computers  interract with each other and will continue to do so. It seems that they are now an inherant part of our daily lives at this point.
    I had noticed about half way through my reading of  the article that the work was published in 1960. My immediate response was that for an article of this nature to be published at that time was quite visionary. It is almost definite that computers were not even a household word at that point in time.
    The author J.C.R. Licklider mentions concepts and ideas such as "artificial intellegence". A concept of machines that make intellectual decisions. In doing so, it mentions the decline of man in favor of thinking computers. I immediately thought of the Queen song, "Machines(or back to humans) during this portion of the article. Is it possible that someday man will become obsolete?
     Most of the article reminded me of my tenure at Cabrillo College. A place where I studied computer science. I often found much of what I read to be quite a bore. I responded to sections of this article in the same manner. Sections such as Memory Hardware Requirements and Memory Organization Requirements. Sections like these mentioned seemed like an instructional handout to me. ZZZZZZZ!
     Not all sections of this article put me to sleep though. Visionary concepts such as the section on "anticipated symbiotic association" and "voice recgognition" brought a lot of interest to me. It was just a few weeks ago that a new program was introduced to the Santa Cruz Police department. The department is currently using a new "probability program" in order to help them determine where crimes will occur. The Santa Cruz Police department has seen some success with the use of this tool. Also, everyone has used voice recognition by now. I know it drives me nuts to speak to a computer when all I want to do is get in touch with a real voice during a phone call to PG and E. It is so impersonal. Of course, it is what it is and we will see more of it in the future.
     Obviously, Licklider had a great amount of insight in regards to the development of the computer. I'm not sure if he is still alive but it would be great for him to compare his initial assertions to how the symbiotic relationship between man and computers has become.

Response to Article:Fox News:Facebook to Launch Music Service

     I chose this article since I felt that is relevent to our mandatory reading regarding Facebook. The article states that Facebook is to launch a new music service on September 22nd. The article states that this information is unconfirmed since it has not "officially" been released yet from corporate.
     According to the article, Facebook will partner with a music company by the name of Spotify. They will be one of many that the social media that will be involved with.
      I remember when Myspace.com ventured into the music realm. Even though Facebook is the more popular site currenlty. Myspace seems to be so far more advanced than Facebook at this point. Facebook's venture into the music realm may be the last nail in Mypace's coffin since the music application seemed to be the only function that separated the two at this point. Of course, the news of this is being kept a secret.
   I look forward to listening to music while I'm on Facebook on September 23rd. It should be a great integration on their social networking site.

Response to Article: The Written Word: From Printing to the Internet

    Sometimes it seems that we forget the progression of machinery. It often feels that everything that we live with has been with us forever.
    The Written Word: From Printing to the Internet is an article that reminds us of the development of inventions through time that have helped improve our communication amongst ourselves.
    It was refreshing to see the progression of communication of these visionaries that have developed communication methods through time. It was also somewhat of a sad moment for me since I have actually seen and used some of the relics that are mentioned in the story. Either obsolete now or in decline.
   It must have been revolutionary to mankind when it was discovered that they could communicate by writting on a tablet. They probably did not know that they were even documenting themselves at the time for future generations to ponder.
   The creation of paper had an enormous influence on communication method. I have to thank the Egyptians and Chinese for that one. I so love my daily read of the Santa Cruz Sentinel. I know that the daily paper is in decline and pretty much obsolete. It will be a sad day for me when it will no longer be in circulation.
   The other invention that caught my attention was the electric type writer. Of course, I'm of the age where I actually used one. I'm sure that some of the kids have never even seen one before. They may have the possibilty of viewing one in a museum someday.
    The Written Word: From Prining to the Internet is a reminder that things change. It is a reminder that things are always evolving. It is also a reminder that things will not be as they are today. There could be a time when a simple function as an e-mail or text becomes obsolete due to a communication that is more modern efficient.

Response To Article:Be Who You Want To Be:

     I've always viewed all social sites as a way to keep in touch with others that I have lost contact with over the years. The time that I have spent on these sites such as Facebook has been a wonderful experience for me. My original intent of locating people from my past has actually developed into promoting my ideas.
     I agree with the suggestion in the article that we create our social identity on these websites. We intend to manipulate perception of our identity. I had never thought about the "process" that is mentioned in the article but apprantly, George Herbert Mead had. Mead stated that there is a three step process. 1) Others become aware of our intentions through our actions. It is stated that the placement of a photo is sometimes the first step. 2) We communicate through how we think that the people that see our profile will repsond. This is something that I had not thought of before. 3) Our actions are perceived by other people that are viewing our meaning and language. Our intent is to have people view us in a certain light.
     These three steps help create our social identity. Very interesting how these steps have been broken down into a process.

Communication Studies

     I have reviewed the "participation" hand out for out course. Unfortunately, I did not list my "communication story".

     I've been a communication studies major for a year now. The highlight of my comm studies career would be when I was chosen to help represent SJSU as well as others at the Bay Area Undergraduate Communication Research Conference.

    I had to give a presentation at the conference in regards to my project. I found this to be quite fun since I was on the same panel with two of my favorite classmates. This project also gave me the opportunity to speak in front of others that I would not usually have in my audience. It was a bit outside of my comfort zone since I'm very at ease within the confines of a class room.

    Of course, I've had a lot more great experiences such as football games and so forth. However, this project sticks out in my mind.

   I am looking forward to our current class. You media. I hope to learn how to do things that I'm currently unaware of doing.

Class Introduction

     I live in Santa Cruz. I'm 48 years of age. I am divorced with two children. I have a girlfriend and a cat. I am also a huge NFL fan and I look forward to attending all of the SJSU football games. I also like to spend a lot of time down at the Boardwalk. They have had some great shows over the summer.
     I graduated from Watsonville High School in 1981. Cabrillo College in 2003 and hopefully, San Jose State in 2013. I am a part time student with the intention of locating steady employment. It has been difficult the last few years due to the economy. My family and school keep me sane.
     I also volunteer my time as president for the Watsonville High School Athletic Boosters Club and I have recently joined Sigma Alpha Lamda at SJSU.
     I look forward to the new semester at SJSU. This will be a bit different for me since it will be my first online course. I'm a bit apprehensive since this is all new to me. I look forward to meeting all of you via our blog posts.
WillietheWildcat

New

Trying to get used to this.