Final Blog Post

 

My Relationship With Technology <3

It is no secret or surprise that technology is advancing. Even people in 1964 knew this; they had quite high expectations. Electronic technology has been on the rise and has also risen in impact on the daily lives of humans. It is nearly impossible to walk around outside without finding some source or type of technology. This rise in technology and its uses has had a significant influence on us as a society, both positive and negative. I will explain below some of the impacts technology has had on us and what it holds for our future.

In the video of the 1964 World Fair, they show off their "Futurama." In this model, there are many examples of how they think the world will look in the future and how it actually it. The model shows great advancements in technology such as putting a man on the moon, which we accomplish 5 years later, and people living in communities in Antarctica. Technology has brought us to a point in our civilization that we can only grow from. The average life span is longer, people are more social, and basic needs are relatively easy to come by. For people just 200 years ago we are living in a utopia. All of these things are positive and great, but what they failed to mention or have the foresight to think of are the unintended consequences. 

Technological Consequences

Though the advancement of electronic technology has come with great advantages and has helped shape society into the bustling hub that it is now, there are also many drawbacks that come with these new perks. As we see in the Mad World Remix of Moby Video technology can become addicting. The video showcases many real-life scenarios that we witness far too often. The characters appear to be "asleep" while walking and interacting on their mobile phones, this is most likely to show how we have been living and working on autopilot relying on our technology to do everything for us. An example of this is in 2019 when a Woman Distracted By A Phone Walks Onto Train Tracks. This woman, who thankfully survived, was so engrossed by what was on her phone screen that she held no regard for her own safety and even the safety of those around her. According to NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), there were 3,142 distracted driving deaths in 2019. The majority of distracted driving includes texting, calling, and even using a GPS. Exactly like we saw in the video people would simply walk off the end of the earth chasing that next like or subscribe.

Another concerning feature that we witness in the Moby Video is people's desensitization to tragedies. This is exemplified towards the end of the video, where a girl is mocked for her dancing and this causes her to commit suicide by jumping from a building. Rather than reaching out to the girl or offering her help they simply record the incident on their phone and walk away laughing at the next "big thing" on the internet.  A study found in The Journal of Abnormal Psychology says "Between 2009 and 2017, rates of depression among kids ages 14 to 17 increased by more than 60%, the study found (TIME)." These are astounding numbers, especially considering that the targeted audience for most social media and internet-related things are teens.

Technology In My Life

Technology can be addicting to anyone. Yes, even I have fallen victim to overuse of the internet at times. The Pandemic has forced many people to remain inside for an extended period of time. Of course, people are going to get bored quickly and head straight to the internet for a steady stream of entertainment. If I were to evaluate my personal internet usage I would say sometimes abuse the internet. That's almost a full DAY just using my phone. I myself use the internet and social media apps for entertainment and as a source of procrastination from work, I'm not very inclined to do. This is a very unhealthy practice and something I have been trying to work on, but progress is slow.

Other than my excessive usage I have quite a large digital footprint. Simply by Google Image searching my first and last name out of the 20 pictures that pop up only 4 aren't related to me in any way and the first search result that comes up is my Twitter (that I never use). Other than having a prominent online presence there isn't anything overtly negative when my name is searched, in fact, most of the things are positives such as me winning awards or scholarships, participating in school activities, or random social media that hold no significance. I like many other iPhone users have given the government my fingerprint face print, and at this point, I've practically signed away the rights to my first child. There is no wonder my print is so large because most of my information is already out there. When I think about this in the mindset of a 20-year-old college student, it doesn't bother me much but when I think outside of myself and realize what they can do with that information it scares me what I've signed myself up for.

Overall when you look at the positives and negatives of the internet and other growing technologies. The world may not look exactly as they imagined it would in 1964 but we are on a steady course to reach that destination sooner than I think most people are ready for. Hopefully, in that process, we can avoid the future predicted in the Moby Video. This should remind everyone to keep their head up and enjoy the ride.

Blog Post #12

 

EOTO Evaluation (Part 2)

In My EOTO I di news desserts one topic that interested me the most was actually in my own group. The topic was Net Neutrality presented by Tyler Katz. This issue is most pressing for people of my generation. The economy is slowly recovering and is always in flux. with the job market being so unstable sometimes even I wonder if I will be able to find s job after I graduate.  So the idea of having to pay more for a service I don't even use is not a comforting thought.

Blog Post #11

 

Privacy

Privacy in recent years along with the expansion of the internet has become a more pressing issue. From websites using cookies to social media apps harvesting user information for sale. Privacy seems almost hard to come by nowadays.

It was in recent news that Former President Trump tried to have the popular social media app with Chinese Origins, TikTok, banned in the U.S. due to privacy leaks and selling of personal information.

Nowadays all of your information is already on the internet, whether you like it or not. Unless you live under a rock, there is most definitely a trace of you somewhere on the internet.

Blog Post #10

 

EOTO: News Deserts

The second EOTO that I did on was New Deserts. News Derests are a growing concern in the United States. Even the state in which I attend school has a growing news desert.

Bog #9

 

Diffusion Theory

All great technologies must grow and be popularized in order to have a significant impact on the world. One of these technologies is the printing press. The printing press allowed for the spread of information to many people across long distances.

The printing press first started gaining popularity through the sake of bibles and also allowed for the spread of the protestant reformation.

Blog #8

 

EOTO Evaluation: Facebook

I found many of my classmates EOTO's to be highly interesting there were a few that cought my eye. Teh first one being FaceBook.

Facebook had an interesting histoir and many interesting implications for the future and for our Nation's Privacy.

Blog Post #6

 

EOTO: The Radio

The radio is something that we are all familiar with something that we have all grown accustomed to throughout our childhoods and into our adulthood and everyday lives. The radio has an extensive and interesting history and a long evolution bringing it all the way to portable radios, A.K.A mobile phones, that we know today.

History

The radio has a fascinating and deep history. Like many other great inventions, the actual creator is disputed. Some believe that it was Nikola Tesla during his 1893 demonstration of wireless radio signals in St. Louis, Missouri; however, despite this demonstration, it is Guglielmo Marconi that is most commonly attributed to the invention. It was also Marconi who was awarded the first English patent in 1896; however, just 4 years later, Tesla received an American patent for the same invention in 1900. Despite the issue with the patents, Marconi is most commonly recognized as the inventor thanks to his great feat of being the first person to send a radio signal across the Atlantic in 1901.

This revolutionary item was first popularized due to its use on naval ships during the First World War. In fact, it was only 1906 when inventor Reginald Fessenden improved upon Marconi's wireless transmission by giving a Christmas gift to some sailors off of New England. He read the story of Christmas from the Gospel of Luke while a violin played "Silent Night," between Morse code transmissions.

It was thanks to this feat that radios started to grow in popularity even more in the 1920s leading to KDKA becoming the first licensed radio station. They had their first transmission on November 2nd, 1920, election day. They broadcast the results of the Harding versus Cox election, announcing Harding as the winner. It was later, in 1923, that AT&T, the first Toll and Chain Broadcaster released their first radio advertisement. Companies like NBC and CBS were created to AT&T being the sole broadcasting station with rights to toll broadcasting. 

Evolution

Evolution

The radio has evolved significantly from that first transition across the Atlantic to the portable radios in our pockets and in our cars. Since advancements like the first transmission across the Atlantic, the radio continued to developed, leading to new great feats such as the first live human voice being transmitted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1919. It was also in the 1920s or the "Golden Age of Radio" that radios began to be sold commercially. They were geared more towards family and were used for music, news, and other forms of entertainment. Later in the 1950s, National News Stations were created, allowing for greater and more widespread information and connection. It was then in 1960 when radios began to be used in the Space Program, and as we all know, it was only 9 years after this development that our country landed a human on the moon.

Advantages

Radio, like other great communication advancements, has had a tremendously positive effect on society. One way to prove the effect radio has had is to look at its significant effects or use by prominent people. One such example is radio's use during the Great Depression by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt(FDR). From March 1933 to June 1944, FDR used his commonly known "fire-side chats" to calm the nation during this difficult time and also to provide support to and promote his New Deal Policies. Many people found that the fire-side chats did exactly as intended. They felt like they connected to their president and could rely on him.

Another advancement that most people in modern times would appreciate is the spread and popularization of many different genres of music. Many genres such as Jazz, Rock n' Roll, and country gained popularity. Previously Country was a regional sound that was only displayed in close, familiar settings and not typically heard by people, not in southern communities. Music became popular through the creation and increased use of AM and FM radio stations. Not only was the music itself made more popular, but thanks to "flaming youth" in the 20's using Jazz to rebel against society standards, African American culture was more widely accepted.

And finally, one last advantage that the radio provided to the world is the increased spread of knowledge and news. In the past, the spread of information was hindered by a lack of education and illiteracy. Newspapers, of course, were incredibly popular and useful, but for those that don't know how to read, they were at a loss for information. Newspapers also took time to produce, so by the time the paper was issued, the news could be old and over. The radio allowed for fast-paced information minutes after or even during the event itself.

Disadvantages

Too much of a good thing can be detrimental to oneself. This is the case for any great invention, and the radio is no exception. Despite all of the amazing advantages that come with the radio, there are still some significant disadvantages. 

One disadvantage that actually only served to prove the power of the radio was the War Of The Worlds incident. 'War Of The Worlds" is a Sci-Fi Action novel written by H.G. Wells. In 1933 a radio station held a live reenactment broadcast of the book. Some listeners tuned in late and missed the disclaimer saying that this was indeed all fake and that there was nothing to worry about. Because of this, many believe that this was an actual news report claiming the earth was being taken over by Martians leading many to run to the streets armed and ready to protect their planet. Nowadays, we may see this a foolish and completely unbelievable, but during this time-space had not been explored, and the radio was meant to be a person's most trusted source of news, of course, you would believe what they are telling you. This leads us to our next disadvantage.

Our next disadvantage comes in the form of the Fairness Doctrine. The Fairness Doctrine of 1949 required any station broadcasting a political point of view over the air to allow equal time to all reasonable dissenting views. This means that if you were to give your opinion on something relevant to the nation, you also must allow time for your opposition. This provided for an equal playing field for all parties. This policy was disputed by radio stations under the First Amendment and abolished in 1987. Because that this was taken back, radio stations and any other online media can now be completely biased and not provide accurate or complete information to the public. Imagine if you live in a relatively rural area where you can only receive one radio station, and that station happened to be on the opposite side of your political views. You will not obtain the information that you desire. Our country just had a large and important presidential election. If biased views are all that are given to the people, how can we expect a fair and equal election of power?

Currently as I write this I am listening to music on my phone and if I wanted I could go to my car and listen to music there. Thsi just shows how the radio had been adapted into our everyday lives and how influential they can be. The radio had been through many changes and still remains relevant to our lives, I predict that the radio will not die out anytime soon in the foreseeable future. 

Blog #7

 

War, What Is It Good For?

One could say that America is a country build on war and supremacy. We have fought in countless wars and only two have been on our own soil, at the time that we were an official country. The U.S. is well known for being a police state and helping keep the world in order. We step into conflicts we believe disturb the people's freedoms just like we did in Vietnam and Korea. It's only right that we do so because it is our patriotic right to protect, life liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Right? Well, what about the people who don't want to fight. What about those who think it would be better for our country to stay out of other business.

 

There are many out there that voice these Anti- War opinions ion the daily, but what have you never heard of them.

Blog #5

 

Living In An Age of A.I.

Just as the title suggests we are currently living in a technological boom, and this increase in technology is accompanied by the expansion of Artificial Intelligence, better known as A.I. BuiltIn defines A.I as "a wide-ranging branch of computer science concerned with building smart machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence." This definition is put to justice in the documentary In The Age Of AI. This documentary goes through the evolution of AI, its current and potential uses,  and how it affects us as a society. 

One of the things that concerned me during the film was the possibility that our world would soon become fully automated and thus jobs would be delegated to A.I. systems rather than humans. The world is already integrating this kind of technology in A.I. self-driving cars and face identification. The use of Face ID in China is already normalized, even our own cell phones use that technology. According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics in March 2021 the unemployment rate was at 6.0%. The COVID-19 pandemic took a huge hit on many people, many had to be laid off from their jobs and could not afford basic needs. Imagine if A.I. was to have the same effect by taking those jobs, except this time there would be no chance of them getting their jobs back.

One positive that could come out of A.I. that the film mentioned is that it can expand our minds. A.I. has the capacity to think farther beyond the human mind can at the moment and come up with things that are far in our future. With technology like this hopefully, we can use it for the betterment of our society and everyone in it rather than the destruction.

Blog #4

 

Black Lives Matter Movement And The First Amendment

The Black Lives Matter Movement got another jumpstart in May of 2020, after the murder of George Floyd. This sparked many protests full of people wanting justice and expressing their pain over the systemic racism that has plagued this country since its birth. Since this incident, there have been countless protests, as shown in this Timeline. Many politicians, particularly on the Republican side, including Former President Trump, have tried to condemn these protests as not what they are, but as riots and destruction of property. This however is not the case. As provided by the US Crisis Project, in their report states, "About 93% of racial justice protests in the US since the death of George Floyd have been peaceful and non-destructive (CNN)." This kind of peaceful protest is protected under three clauses of the First Amendment; Speech, Press, and Assembly. 

There is a dark side to this coin, and that is the violent actions taken by those not expressly associated with the Black Lives Matter Movement. 

Riots such have these have taken place sporadically during the growth of the black lives matter movement. Under the clauses and understanding of the First Amendment, riots like these are not protected. This is classified as an "Action." Even if one was to make the argument that this should be classified as an Expressive Action because it conveys the message that people are tired of racism, it still would not be protected. The first amendment only protects expressive actions that stand to cause no harm to others involved or around it. 

Despite these few actions of those intending to pervert the good name of this worthy cause, over all the Black Lives Matter Movement is justified and protected under this country's Supreme Law.