Comment Discussion with KCB206 student

       Student: I do understand what your saying and I respect that it probably did create a few new
       activists.But if these new activists were for other causes and they cared so much about them, they 
       would have found out about those particular causes whether they had seen the kony video or not. 
       what the kony video did do is stir a bunch of people who are keyboard warriors into saying they 
       cared even though they really weren't doing anything about it accept sharing a video on the 
       internet, a video that was unreliable and contained out dated information.

Me: This is true, most KONY supporters will be 'keyboard warriors', waiting for the next issues to jump on. The videos information was slightly outdated, agreed. However, a lot of people missed when they say in the video 'Kony is no longer in Uganda, but the some Uganda people are speaking out to help others'. Or something along those lines... A lot of viewers assumed that he was still in Uganda due to the example Invisible People chose to use in order to connect with the audience. In saying that, I absolutely understand your views, Invisible Children didn't exactly 'viewer-check' their information and image they were showing the entire world. I don't believe they were fully prepared for their mission to become viral. 

Technology Takes Control

(Photo Credit: Emilja Spirkoska 2011)

Dr Genevieve Bell states in a 2008 forum, “Technology is evolving faster than society”, which at first comes across as a dramatic overstatement, but grows more realistic with every technological step society accepts. It’s no longer a question of ‘do we have the technology’, but are we ‘ready’ for it? And is it ‘morally sound’.  When we were asked in class if we would have a house with the technology to do everything for you, there was silence. Then, only when prompted, did we answer with the idea that it would be ‘weird’ to have too much technology. Followed by a flashback of the creepy, yet socially accepted, ‘Romomaida’ and movies such as ‘I, Robot’. But is this what people were thinking before with high-tech  cars, dishwasher and mobile phones? Were they considered ‘creepy’ technology?

In the week 8 lecture we were shown a clip of Paro the robotic baby seal who is used as a therapeutic pet. Paro is slightly disturbing. The basis behind Paro is sound and there are no real reasons, as of yet, to discourage the use of Paro. However, for me it is a disturbing step towards personal robots and the reoccurring ‘I, Robot’ nightmare. Whilst for others it is a huge step in self-preservation.  

References:

Bell, G. 2008. "Digital Economy Fourm: presentation by Dr Genevieve Bell (intel)" Youtube video, posted April 28 2009. Accessed April 29 2012. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE6QWUKIP5M

Robomaid Australia. "Robomain RM-770 Demonstration Video" Youtube video, posted December 5 2010. Accessed April 30 2012. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQk-kpVFOhI

IMDB, 2004. "I, Robot" Accessed 30 April 2012.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343818/

Passages Hospice, 2011. "PARO Therapeutic Robot" Posted November 1 2011. Accessed April 30 2012. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZUn9qtG8ow

Related Blogs:

Tim's blog delves into the idea of cruel intentions via social media and the result of robotics to date.


Jae's blog discusses the new trend of employers asking for your personal facebook password and the consequences that follow. 

Minds For Sale

The idea of 'minds for sale' as Jonathan Zittrain explains in his 2009 lecture - available here - is bitter sweet. . With the example of companies displaying issues they need fixed with a dollar reward for whoever fixes the problem first it seems a brilliant idea with little setbacks. It appears to be a fantastic, easy work at home job, but as Emma explains, this can leave you feeling as though you’re always at work. This sort of new media work also means no financial stability; it's all a matter of who can fix it first. In most cases large amounts of experimentation is necessary which means products, time and knowledge all of which mean negative money. Not to mention you won’t always get in first, or fix the issue at all, everyone has bad days, but by working for yourself in a way, you can’t have bad days, it all adds up to money loss.

Photo Credit: mysteryshoppersmanual.com

With apps such as field agent you can have the middle ground working the hours you want with extra cash, all without leaving a stable 9-5, Monday-Friday job. There is always the other side of the story as Sally explains in her blog, there is a need for stay at home jobs.

References:

Zittrain, Jonathan. 2009. “Minds for Sale.” YouTube video, posted November 29. Accessed April 21, 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw3h-rae3uo&feature=youtu.be

Is online health.. healthy?

The internet is a (practically) free source of information; unfortunately found amongst mountains of opinionated, biased rubbish. Published articles based on in-depth research all have limitations. The research for a start needs to be theoretically sound with an end idea in sight.  It then needs to be financially supported by multiple backers (all with a preferenced end result). Research is incredibly flawed to begin with - human error surrounds everything. 

Photo Credit: bigstockphoto.com

Technology twists the idea further with biased views and ideas posted onto blogs and retweeted globally. The kickback of health opinions posted globally is that it creates interest and a feeling of satisfaction or want of a healthy lifestyle.  Technology can help lower eating disorders with sites such as www.mybodygallery.com which shows people of your height and weight and just how beautiful they are. But technology can also heighten eating disorders with a multitude of images photoshopped to an impossible physique. So is the internet and technology a positive or negative in terms of health? I believe technology is simply a reflection of the masses and what you seek is what you get. With technology there is not one side, or even two sides to any story, but thousands of ideas and opinions at your fingertips.   


Comments:
J.D's Blog - The internet: Your new GP?


Tim Jubb's Blog -  New Media Health & Well-Being

Virtual Morals

Photo Credit: vault.hanover.edu

“Do we need a new morality for virtual reality?” (Hamelink, 2006).

It’s impossible to show every aspect of who you are on facebook, but what about stretching the truth? If you told someone face-to-face that you’re 30cm taller than you actually are, you would be laughed at. So why does it become acceptable online? 

In a way there is already a new set of moral ‘rules’ for the online community. Everyone has a different set of moral standards, even in day to day life; some are wide spread such as please and thank you, whilst others depend on cultures. For example in some countries it is polite to laugh at someone who has just fallen over. 

These moral ‘norms’ stretch when placed online. I don’t believe they truly go out the window when someone becomes just another I.P address on the web (as you can never truly be anonymous online). However, it becomes much easier to show who you really are (negative or not) under the idea anonymity. If you’re a 20 year-old male who’s only way of making it through the day is to jump into an online community and pretend to be a 30 year-old female, so long as it isn’t hurting anyone, it’s fine by me!

References:
Hamelink, C. 2006. The Ethics of the Internet: Can We Cope with Lies and Deceit on the Net? In Ideologies of the Internet, Sarikakis & Daya Thussu, pp. 115-130. Hampton Press Inc. New Jersey. Accessed March 25, 2012 from http://cmd.lbrary.qut.edu.au/KCB206/KCB206_BK_313947.pdf


Leong, Susan. (2012). KCB206 New Media, Beliefs, Politics & Ethics: Week 4 Lecture notes. Accessed March 25, 2012 from http://blackboard.qut.edu.au/


Comments:
Blogger n8295409

A KCB206 Student's Blog - I'm not sure what their name is, or how to have my comment shown, so here is the comment (just in case): I used the 'ask' feature... 


In response to 'Reliability of Online Materials'. I can see what you mean when you talk about the KONY video. People should be weary of what they see, even if it looks professional, that doesn't make it correct. However, I also believe a lot of good came out of that video (and others like it). It opened up our eyes to issues that are occurring. This was a national phenomenon and if only 1/10 people who watched it became activists for other issues, then that’s a million people more globally aware.

Film Fundamentals Funded

Photo Credit: Tom Grill - Getty Images.

New media is evolving so rapidly it blurs the lines of entertainment and interaction. Film has adapted to a new way of connecting with their audience, it’s no longer a one way communication. Fans interact with their shows by talking online to the actors, creating and publishing scripts online, and even creating their own homage to their favourite film and sharing it through websites like youtube.com.  In 2007 Casey Pugh did just this, asking fans to recreate Star Wars: A New Hope in 15 second sections, since being uploaded to youtube on January 18^th 2012 this recreation has been viewed over 2 million times creating the global hit Star Wars  Uncut: Directors Cut. 

Similarly Freddie Wong from the youtube channel freddiew has recently started filming his own webisode series Video Game High School with the help of kickstarter.com, a place where anyone anywhere can ask for funding from viewers. Freddie Wong and his filming partner Brandon Laatsch managed to triple the funding they were expecting using kickstarter.  By using programs such as kickstarter many entrepreneurs are receiving the funding they need whilst bypassing the restrictions of labels and distribution companies. It is clear that viewers are willing to support their artists, and with new media evolving there is now the ability to do so with funds or encouragement.