Blog #12 My relationship with technology

Final Blog Post

Throughout this semester we have been immersed in both negatives and positives of technology in an increasingly digital age. It is interesting to stop and observe my personal relationship with technology, something that has been prominent in my life for as long as I can remember. Its sad to think about how much life revolves around technology, how addicted people my age and younger are to phones, there's not a day that goes by, or rarely an hour where Im not on some form of social media. 

In a study from medical news today experts show how there are many physiological and physical health effects, especially on developing children. Isolation, depression and anxiety, posture, eye strain, sleep problems, reduced physical activity; these are all things that may not seem like a huge deal but affect more people than not. Specifically looking at children, a study showed children who overuse technology experience issues including: low academic performance, lack of attention, low creativity, delays in language and social development, poor sleep and social issues. It is highly concerning how influenced young children are by phone usage, especially social media.

Social media wasn't invented with intent to harm, but there are some pros and many cons that come with online presence. Internet research shows that teens who use apps like instagram and snapchat, have worsened body image, and the app is linked to anxiety and depression. There's a lot of stigma behind social media that isn't talked about, but it is widely known that a social media and any technology has the power to affect mental health. 

The video about the Futurama display at the Worlds Fair seemed to be unbelievably accurate. This was created in 1964, and at the time seemed like a crazy world, but now it's the life we live in today. There were predications made about electric cars, life in the ocean, a man going to the moon, and weather predicability. It's amazing to see how far we've come, but scary to think of what life will look like at this time in 50 years. 

The Mad World Remix of Moby video highlights how so many people in society now are glued to their phones and disconnected from any sort of reality. One scene stood out to me of a girl wearing make up, smiling with much confidence on social media, but then the scene switches to a sad, distance face in real life. This is a perfect example that everything we see online is usually far from reality, so we cannot let social media dictate our happiness or confidence. 

Looking at my own personal relationship with technology, I definitely feel I need to put my phone down more, and set limits for screen time. A part of my daily routine that I want to eliminate is picking up my phone as soon as I wake up, especially because studys show your body skips important brain stages like theta and alpha when your brain is most active and creative. Looking at friends and family around me, technology is without a doubt a problem, especially for younger cousins and siblings.

Humanity as a whole experiences pros in technology like improved education, access to information, and easy-quick communication. Negatives include privacy concerns, cyberbullying, increased unemployment and environmental damage. Overall, in doing research I see how technology has changed society, but since I have been immersed in technology for as long as I remember, I can't imagine a world without it. 

Blog #11 Eoto #2 Class presentations

EOTO #2

Each of these in class presentations were able to educate me further on topics like Confirmation bias, the Third person effect, and Spiral of Silence theory.

Beginning with confirmation bias it is the tendency to search for and remember information in a way that confirms and agrees with ones existing belief. This is a cognitive function that leads individuals to overlook evidence that contradicts their views to stick to their original opinion. In the case of self relevant issues confirmation bias is even more active because emotional distance from a topic is what leads to more of a rational thinking process. Often times bias is an adaptive behavior all humans take part in, no one wants to be wrong.

The next topic, Third person effect, was very educating. This is the psychological phenomenon where individuals believe that other are more prone to be influence by media messages than they are themselves. In this psychological phenomenon there is a perceptual and behavioral component. This can lead to various consequences whether that be increased censorship or media regulation based on ones thought process that others need protection from media influencing. 

Finally, The Spiral of Silence theory was created Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann in 1974 explains why people stay silence if their opinions are apart of the minority. People often live in fear of not being accepted, and when it comes to social issues fewer people speaker out because the majority opinion seems stronger or more widely accepted. The negatives of this issues are very vital and far outweigh any positives one may see. Echo chambers are created and there is suppression of diversity and thought. 

Overall all of these topics showed me that people need to be more active and diverse in the news and media they rely on, and even though mainstream media may push a certain agenda and makes people think their thought process is not relevant or agreed upon, many would be surprised.

Blog #10 The Progressive Era

Silencing Minority Voices

America was founded on a few main principles, one of those being the power of free voice. When there is an issue like war going on, and because Congress is the branch of the government that decides whether or not the country will go into war, they have also now passed laws that punish anti-war voices. Well doesn't this restriction go completely against everything the United States stands for? The second clause of the First Amendment gave Congress the rule that no law is to ever interfere with freedom of speech and or press. In 1917 the Espionage Act was passed and then the Sedition Act in 1918. Both these acts give the government the ability to punish government employees and private persons who speak out against war or government action.

An example of a case that brought dissenting opinions, which is key in the First Amendment would be Plessy V. Ferguson 1896. The final decision in Plessy v. Ferguson legalized segregation and created the "Separate but equal" doctrine. The dissent in this case was between Justice John Marshall Harlan who argued against the majority decision. 

Looking at the anti-war websites it was eye opening to read through all these dissenting opinions. The differences between what is published by the mainstream media and what is kept in the shadows seems to be becoming more and more of a problem. Americans have to search for minority opinions, and are constantly bombarded by the corrupt ideas given from the mainstream media. 

The difference between the mainstream media content and these smaller minority based opinion website is the emotion and controversy behind what's being shared. What's common in big main stream media is usually an association with a political party, limiting viewers to opinions to be heard. In the case of a journalist publishing news criticizing the government, they could risk a loss of connection or relationship from sources they get information from. 

When it comes to a time of war and conflict is high, the media caters to the more desirable and popular opinion for viewers. In the end a news outlet is based on profit, so if they are continuously sharing anti-war or dissenting opinions, they are likely to not of as well. Wars bring major profit and with money being endlessly desirable for government and big businesses, anything will be done for that.

Anti War. Com and The American Conservative are both important sites that should be talked about more. It is vital for citizens to hear and see all different outlooks on a topic and then come to their own opinion with information from both sides. Mainstream media needs to step back from trying to be most agreeable, but share things like anti-war opinions or all sides of a political spectrum. 

Blog #9 EOTO 2

Citizen Journalism

Several key components make up the history of citizen journalism in the mediasphere. Citizen journalism is the practice when ordinary people, often using digital tools, report news and share information about events or issues in their communities. With the rise of social media and smartphone use in general, this form of journalism continues to grow in the mediasphere. 

Outside of big news outlets like the New York Times or ABC, citizen journalism is for individuals who usually report events in communities before big news outlets even hear about it. An example of this would be when John F. Kennedy was assassinated; the most famous video was from a citizen that was present before news outlets could even arrive let alone report actual content.

Looking at the evolution of citizen journalism, as society changes, so does the way individuals are participating in this type of journalism. 

Prior to the creation of the internet, individuals would publish pamphlets and use the radio to spread news. Especially in the 1960s through 1970s, community radio stations emerged and were filled with local stories that you wouldn't hear from the mainstream media.

In the 1990s, search engines like Google gained popularity, as did online blogs and forums. Personal blogs consist of the reporting of news and opinions on community events. Online discussion boards were a place where information was exchanged and reported.

In the early 2000s social media became a massive deal. When Facebook, Twitter and Youtube sparked public popularity, and transformed citizen journalism. Users in social media share real-time updates, photos, and videos from anywhere in the world. In times like Hurricane Katrina or the Indian ocean earthquake and tsunami, bloggers and photographers gave on-the-ground updates when news outlets couldn't cover. 

As citizen journalism continues to evolve and bring value to the exchange of information, it is now also used for collaboration with mainstream media outlets, and fact checking initiatives. Traditional media outlets integrate citizens' voices by using user-generated content, crediting citizen journalists for their contribution. 

Key characteristics of citizen journalism would include accessibility, speed, diverse perspectives and community engagement. Anyone with internet access can report and share news making it very inclusive, real time updates can occur especially for breaking news, citizen journalists bring attention to local issues enriching all voices, and with community engagement it brings active participation. 

A problem with citizen journalism can be the lack of factual content being shared, so there has been a continuous effort to verify and fact check citizen generated content, as well as a question of ethical standards and guidelines for journalists. 

The thing about citizen journalism is it can be done by any, when it comes to online reporting, this likely attracts more of a younger audience, or those who are tech savvy. 

As citizen journalism continues to evolve, there is a permanent role it has in sharing information. It has the potential to share voices that would not always be heard, and provide unique insights on topics in the mediasphere. Empowering citizens to share their thoughts enhances society as a whole.

Blog #7 EOTO Technology Presentations

Presentations: What I learned

In class I was able to learn about the progression of many technological advancements throughout the past hundreds of years. Whether it was the ballpoint pen, internet, the telephone or artificial intelleginece, our society continues to evolve. I learned something knew from every presentation but a few that stood out included the invention of email, computers and Netflix.

History of Email

Raymond Tomlinson sent the first email in 1971 to himself typing out the first row of letters on the keyboard “QWERTY.”  He wanted to enable connections between users over computers, which led to quicker communication that was well organized. Then the @ sign became a standard for emails, and has continued to serve the purpose in identifying who your email is coming from and being sent to. A fun fact I learned was that in 1991 an email was sent from space. It is crazy how email was a rare form of communication but now it has revolutionized communication and is used multiple times a day. 

History of Computers 

1940s computers were stationary, could do calculations and just were a box of wires. Often used for radar, translation and military use. In the span of 10 years IBM replaced the technology for a transistor which made computers smaller and more reliable. In 2006 the Mac Book Pro was released by Apple and since then has continued to evolve becoming more mobile and with an array of sizes.

                                                                                History of Netflix

I was very interested to learn that Netflix began as a DVD rental service, and it was done through the mail. Created in 1997 by Marc Randolph and Reed Hasting, Hasting started the company after a late fee he received from a Blockbuster movie rental. Fast forward to 2011, Netflix is now the largest internet streaming service and brings evolving services often based on users needs increasing revenue each year.

Overall I really enjoyed the EOTO presentations, and I learned a lot of details on how internet has evolved so much especially these past 50 years. 

Blog #8 The Diffusion of Innovation Theory

Diffusion of Innovation

The Diffusion of Innovation Theory was developed by E.M. Rogers in 1962, and originated for  communication to explain how, over time, an idea or product gains momentum and spreads or diffuses throughout society. The adoption of a new product or idea is a process it doesn't happen automatically throughout a social system, but rather many characteristics play a role in innovation. This theory created by Rogers has five adopter categories, and suggest different strategies for different targets. The five adopters include, Innovators, Early Adopters, Early Majority, Late Majority, and Laggards. The framework introduced in this theory can be applied to help understand the adoption of Internet search throughout our society.

When the invention of Internet search came about in 1990, this would be the time of the Innovators according to Rogers theory. Innovators, developers and tech enthusiast like Alan Emtage, the creator of the first search engine "Archie," played a crucial role in introducing a system that searched through files, and could be accessed by anyone. 

Early Adopters like Larry Page and Sergey Brin took the software created for "Archie" and made a search engine that deciphered and filtered the importance of files in the World Wide Web based on link structure naming this "Google." The two college students were influential in their communities and recognized with other researchers and educated individuals the potential search engines had for different aspects of life. 

Those who saw this search engine as useful and adopted it for their everyday use would be the early majority. By 1998 Google had access to over 60 million files, and more than 70% of worldwide online search request was done on Google. Many now saw the practical benefits and reliability search engines brought, and began using search for everyday task whether it was finding information, online shopping, or research. The Early Majority group were more intentional in their use of google search, and incorporated this new technology into life.

Late Majority, users who are more skeptical about adopting a new invention and waiting on its wide acceptable and proven reliability in relation to the invention of the internet would be the older generations, more casual users who were less tech savvy, and then those who were skeptical. The older generation specifically were not very familiar with technology, so with more time and exposure they became more comfortable. Usually for the later majority there is no desire to get accustomed with new technology until it was used as a tool for everyday tasks. 

Finally, the laggers, were the last to adopt this technology. Certain groups like those with limited interest access and people who resisted technology didn't use search engines until it became essential for participating in society. 

Overall The Diffusion of Innovation Theory deciphers technologies slow adoption into society, and different groups who correlate with certain categories. In this specific case there are many positives that internet search engines have brought whether that be information accessibility, education and research opportunities, remote jobs and digital marketing. Negatives with Internet search could include a lack of online privacy, tracking of digital footprint, misinformation, and dependency. Internet search continues to expand with technologies rapid growth and is the most used platform worldwide.

Blog #6 The Age of AI

Frontline: In the Age of AI

Watching the documentary from PBS Frontline,  "In The Age of AI" viewers are shown how artificial intelligence is impacting the world for good, but also the downsides that this technology brings. Online privacy and security are often associated with AI, and many see it as a threat. Artificial intelligence consist of technology like facial recognition, self-driving cars, and virtual assistance like Siri. 

"In the age of AI, where data is the new oil, China is the new Saudi Arabia." This statements from The Age of AI sparked my attention because the world has transformed to a competition to come up with the best new artificial intelligence technology. This video showed that AI is likely incorporated into every aspect of our lives now whether its education, healthcare or just everyday experiences.  

Advancements of teaching artificial equipment to take over human tasks seems extraordinary, but the downsides some would say outweigh the benefits. The loss of employment is a major problem coming with AI, frontline stated "about 50% of jobs will be somewhat or extremely threatened by AI in the next 15 years or so." Looking at specifics jobs with specific routines like writing reports, factory workers, graphic designers and even truck drivers are threatened by the use of AI automation to complete human tasks. 

Just as the TED talk videos we watched discussed, this documentary brought across many points of a lack of online safety, and the tracking and storing of information on every move humans make. As a consumer our online patterns are being tracked so platforms can direct us towards interest that would serve our needs. It seems convenient, but when your every move is being watched and stored for future use, there's no private information anymore. Companies tracking our information may seem like its for users, but in reality, just like what happened with Facebook, the data being shaped for what users are receiving, actually creates enormous amounts of revenue for the platform. 

Overall as several examples have shown, Artificial intelligence is changing the world, and opening a whole new side of technology that brings about even more pros and cons. AI will continue to grow, and has the potential to take over tasks completed by humans. We can use AI for good, but the privacy rights and equality for humans is the main importance. Everyone needs to be aware risk of social media, online websites and even certain AI technologies like facial recognition bring, and do things to prevent all information being accessible.