Mykala's Blog
was surprising to read that psychologists are suggesting that Facebook fuels insecurities. The main groups that this would affect is women and addicts. It was interesting that subconsciously some women compare their self worth to how many friends they have on Facebook. Even a rejected or prolonged friend request can affect them tremendously. The part that didn't surprise me was that they would put up proactive pictures in order to get more friends, but not only women and addicts can do that. That is what needs to be realized about Facebook, or any social site. People never put up pictures they don't look attractive in, even if they don't look like that every day. Before reading that post, I never knew that some people would read into friend requests and accepts so deeply, to the point of proving self worth. Facebook wasn't meant to help people fee better about themselves, or tear themselves down. Facebook is just a social network meant to keep friends in contact that they wouldn't normally be able to do but it's unfortunate it can hurt some people.
Friday, April 8, 2011
"Is Google Making Us Stupid?" by Nicholas Carr
Is google making us stupid? (2008 July/August). Retrieved on April 8, 2011, from http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/6868/
Is Google Making Us Stupid?
Nicholas Carr's main argument is that the Internet, not necessarily Google, and its main effects on cognition and ability to concentrate. In the article, he believes that reading a book is better than reading anything off of the Internet to our cognition. He also highlights the importance that speech is innate, and should be used more because it is natural, and the ability to read has to be taught. He does realize that this claim doesn't have any psychological studies to back them up, though they are his theories. One of his examples is Friedrich Neitzsche's use of a typewriter and how his ability to concentrate may have been weakened by the typewriter (the advancement in that time). He also does acknowledge that the Internet has benefits, but the disadvantages are too many to ignore. I agree that spending too much time on the Internet may alter cognition and the ability to concentrate, but I don't think the Internet would be the only reasons for that to happen.
Is Google Making Us Stupid?
Nicholas Carr's main argument is that the Internet, not necessarily Google, and its main effects on cognition and ability to concentrate. In the article, he believes that reading a book is better than reading anything off of the Internet to our cognition. He also highlights the importance that speech is innate, and should be used more because it is natural, and the ability to read has to be taught. He does realize that this claim doesn't have any psychological studies to back them up, though they are his theories. One of his examples is Friedrich Neitzsche's use of a typewriter and how his ability to concentrate may have been weakened by the typewriter (the advancement in that time). He also does acknowledge that the Internet has benefits, but the disadvantages are too many to ignore. I agree that spending too much time on the Internet may alter cognition and the ability to concentrate, but I don't think the Internet would be the only reasons for that to happen.
"Small Change: Why the Revolution will not be Tweeted" by Malcolm Gladwell
Small change: why the revolution will not be tweeted. (2008, October 4). Retrieved April 8, 2011, from http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/10/04/101004fa_fact_gladwell
Small Change: Why the Revolution will not be Tweeted
I agree with Gladwell to a certain degree on his article in the New Yorker. I agree when he describes the Woolworth's protest. In the 1960's there was no Twitter or Facebook to help organize these protests. The protest was still successful in getting willing participants and soon grew to an astounding number. That proves that there can be "activism" without the use of the Internet. Although, in the 1960's they didn't have a choice in using the Internet, they were forced to make protests the way they did. If they did have Internet in that time, I believe they would have used the Internet to further expand they're message. Protests today are widely used by the Internet with the help of Twitter. Protests today and the protest at Woolworth's are very different because of that. I think that protests now aren't any less powerful then the ones from years ago just because we have the help of technological advances. We are simply using our resources to help relay a message.
Small Change: Why the Revolution will not be Tweeted
I agree with Gladwell to a certain degree on his article in the New Yorker. I agree when he describes the Woolworth's protest. In the 1960's there was no Twitter or Facebook to help organize these protests. The protest was still successful in getting willing participants and soon grew to an astounding number. That proves that there can be "activism" without the use of the Internet. Although, in the 1960's they didn't have a choice in using the Internet, they were forced to make protests the way they did. If they did have Internet in that time, I believe they would have used the Internet to further expand they're message. Protests today are widely used by the Internet with the help of Twitter. Protests today and the protest at Woolworth's are very different because of that. I think that protests now aren't any less powerful then the ones from years ago just because we have the help of technological advances. We are simply using our resources to help relay a message.
Could You Live Without the Internet?
Using the Internet has become a normal part of my life. I grew up with this technology, along with cell phones. The Internet is a reliable way to find information quick and with advancements in technology, you can do virtually anything you want on the Internet. According to a Federal Communications Commission Survey, they have determined a few reasons why some people don't get online. The reasons they found were monthly cost too expensive, not comfortable using a computer, bad things can happen if they use the Internet, service activation and installation fee too high, they cannot afford a computer, there is nothing on the Internet they want to see or use, waste of time, or it isn't available where they live. These results were somewhat surprising to me because using the Internet is normal for me but I do know some people who don't have a computer or get on the Internet, they tend to be older though. Since I've lived with the Internet and grew up with it, I cannot imagine how life would be if I could never use it again. The people I do know that don't use the Internet, it makes sense that not using the Internet doesn't affect them because they weren't grown up in that environment. I think that when it comes to the use of the Internet, it depends on how often its necessary to use.
Craigslist
Craigslist gives people the ability to post ads up on the Internet free of charge. Before Craigslist, the way to inform people that things were being sold, was through the newspaper. The downside to that is the newspaper costs money and not everyone reads it. Craigslist has a large variety of subjects, which makes it easier to pinpoint exactly what you are looking for. If you are a customer, it is more convenient to look through Craigslist. Another feature it has is the ability to post up pictures of the product. In the newspaper, there would be a tiny section advertising what was being sold, but on Craigslist, the post can be as big as you would like it, with as much description as possible, and with pictures. It is a very useful site because you could look and find exactly what you want, which makes things easier.
"The Machine is Us/ing Us" by Michael Walsh Sheppard
"The Machine is Us/ing Us" by Michael Walsh Sheppard
The video from Michael Walsh Sheppard describes how the web has expanded because of advancing technology. He describes that initially, the web was supposed to be used to show just text as a document. As time has passed, the document was able to expand to include videos, pictures, etc. Now we are able to communicate with other people over the web, which was another huge advancement. It makes me wonder if the Internet has come this far, from a document to communicating with people from any place in the world, what else will be invented for the web?
The video from Michael Walsh Sheppard describes how the web has expanded because of advancing technology. He describes that initially, the web was supposed to be used to show just text as a document. As time has passed, the document was able to expand to include videos, pictures, etc. Now we are able to communicate with other people over the web, which was another huge advancement. It makes me wonder if the Internet has come this far, from a document to communicating with people from any place in the world, what else will be invented for the web?
iPhone
The iPhone has the functions of a video camera, text messaging, video phone, visual voicemail, portable media player, Internet with Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity. There are also apps found in the App Store that have well over 300,000 apps provided by Apple. The iPhone gives you the luxury of playing games, listening to music, and even using a GPS. In other words, it is a small and personal laptop. The ability to surf the Internet on a hand held device is a huge advancement in technology after laptops were invented. Having an iPhone almost relieves the need of having a computer. Almost anything you can do on a computer, you can do on a phone, with your own convenience.
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