http://mashable.com/2013/10/31/neurocam/
This article caught my attention as being not just advanced - but BEYOND. I love to see technology that brings to mind something I saw on Star Trek years ago. But this seems beyond anything they would ever show on Sci-fi TV - unless it was Sci-fi/horror.
Neurocam and it's accompanying app was demonstrated at the Human Sensing 2013 conference in Japan recently. It is a whole system in which a headband holds an iPhone next to the
wearer’s temple. The phone has a special prism so that the camera
can record things from the wearer’s point of view. There are EEG sensors that will scan the brain for spikes in interest on a scale of 0-100. If the wearer's interest level goes above 60 - the device will begin recording and store each recorded file in a journal format so the wearer can remember the things that interested him or her.
As it says in the article, advertisers would love to get their hands on that info - and as such - a large advertising company is teaming up with the company that has created this prototype.
I don't seem to mind so much the personalized ads that we have talked about in class. If Facebook or other websites can show me something that I really like, as opposed to an ad that I find annoying - well - that hasn't upset me as much as some others have expressed.
But the idea of something like this being the future of advertising really does concern me. They say it will capture a "life log" and maybe be used for purposes other than direct advertising - but it still makes me very uneasy to have anything "reading my mind."
And then of course there is the danger - as there is evidence that cell phones are linked to brain tumors. So a question seems to be: will technology just ignore serious health concerns?!? As we have discussed in class - where are the limits to what we will accept?
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Everyone (not just Techies) Should Read Fiction!
http://mashable.com/2013/10/18/tech-fiction-reading/
I found this article on Mashable that really intrigued me. In class we talked about Technological Determinism, and at the time, I tended to agree that technology does control our lives a lot of the time. If someone doesn't have a cell phone or is not on Social Media often times they are seen as being hopelessly outdated. There are times when one feels compelled to learn this program or that program because everyone else knows it. Once, I was let go from a temp job because I didn't know Excel well enough for my superior. I knew the basics, and was more than willing to learn, but that wasn't good enough for her.
However, this article brings up a good point. It says that in 2007 China allowed it's first ever government approved Science Fiction & Fantasy convention. Why did they suddenly do this when Science Fiction & Fantasy had be disapproved of for so long? Because they realized that the Chinese where brilliant at putting existing things together, but had no imagination to create new things. When they interviewed American innovators at Google, Apple and Microsoft, they found that all of them had enjoyed science fiction as children.
I am a lover of Science Fiction & Fantasy myself - I've even attended many Sci-Fi/Fantasy conventions. Sometimes I get laughed at for doing this by people who don't "get" it - but I have always appreciated the creative potential of it most of all. I came from a family who did not encourage creativity - in essence they were a lot like the Chinese government - didn't see the point of it. As I got older, I discovered Sci-Fi & Fantasy and found that it's an amazing feeling to attend one of these conventions and be surrounded by so many creative-minded people. I believe that, my own creativity was nurtured by my love of Sci-Fi & Fantasy in a way that it never would have been otherwise. I'm also a book lover in general and I think this idea can also apply to fiction of all kinds if you don't like Sci-Fi/Fantasy. After a day at work or reading articles for class - I usually feel the need to relax with a good fiction book.
I can't believe that I didn't see this side of the argument until now, but maybe it's because many people don't approve of those of us who go to Sci-Fi/Fantasy conventions - so I've learned to keep the "business" and "fun" sides of me somewhat separate. Whatever the reason, this article has changed my view on the Technological/Media Determinism debate.
I found this article on Mashable that really intrigued me. In class we talked about Technological Determinism, and at the time, I tended to agree that technology does control our lives a lot of the time. If someone doesn't have a cell phone or is not on Social Media often times they are seen as being hopelessly outdated. There are times when one feels compelled to learn this program or that program because everyone else knows it. Once, I was let go from a temp job because I didn't know Excel well enough for my superior. I knew the basics, and was more than willing to learn, but that wasn't good enough for her.
However, this article brings up a good point. It says that in 2007 China allowed it's first ever government approved Science Fiction & Fantasy convention. Why did they suddenly do this when Science Fiction & Fantasy had be disapproved of for so long? Because they realized that the Chinese where brilliant at putting existing things together, but had no imagination to create new things. When they interviewed American innovators at Google, Apple and Microsoft, they found that all of them had enjoyed science fiction as children.
I am a lover of Science Fiction & Fantasy myself - I've even attended many Sci-Fi/Fantasy conventions. Sometimes I get laughed at for doing this by people who don't "get" it - but I have always appreciated the creative potential of it most of all. I came from a family who did not encourage creativity - in essence they were a lot like the Chinese government - didn't see the point of it. As I got older, I discovered Sci-Fi & Fantasy and found that it's an amazing feeling to attend one of these conventions and be surrounded by so many creative-minded people. I believe that, my own creativity was nurtured by my love of Sci-Fi & Fantasy in a way that it never would have been otherwise. I'm also a book lover in general and I think this idea can also apply to fiction of all kinds if you don't like Sci-Fi/Fantasy. After a day at work or reading articles for class - I usually feel the need to relax with a good fiction book.
I can't believe that I didn't see this side of the argument until now, but maybe it's because many people don't approve of those of us who go to Sci-Fi/Fantasy conventions - so I've learned to keep the "business" and "fun" sides of me somewhat separate. Whatever the reason, this article has changed my view on the Technological/Media Determinism debate.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
"Fall"-ing in Love with TV
http://gigaom.com/2013/10/05/best-apps-to-track-tv-show-episodes/
I was very interested to read this article about how there are many apps out there now that help you manage your TV viewing. Recently, I heard a conversation on the morning radio about how TV is better than it's ever been - even better than the movies that are out there. While I like some movies, I have always liked TV better because you can follow favorite characters for a longer period of time. So I am really happy about this trend!
Television programing used to be seen as trivial compared to film. This shift, though, is at least in part due to technology. DVRs make it much easier to record multiple programs. It is also much easier to keep track of what you still have to watch. This was not possible with the VCR. You can also get episodes on-line or on services like Netflixs. And, worst comes to worst, you can buy the DVDs. Many people, these days, do not even start watching a series until it is over. That may have been possible years ago, but only if you could find the reruns somewhere - usually at an odd time or on an odd channel.
Technology has truly changed the way we watch TV. As a result, maybe networks are taking more time to have better quality programs. Or maybe people are taking more time to find the good programs that were always around. At any rate, technology then responds to the new trend with apps that further help us to organize our viewing. As the article says, gone are the days of the TV section "black & white grid" in the newspaper.
I think this is a good example that relates to the "Technological or Media Determinism" that I just read about in our article for Monday's class.
I was very interested to read this article about how there are many apps out there now that help you manage your TV viewing. Recently, I heard a conversation on the morning radio about how TV is better than it's ever been - even better than the movies that are out there. While I like some movies, I have always liked TV better because you can follow favorite characters for a longer period of time. So I am really happy about this trend!
Television programing used to be seen as trivial compared to film. This shift, though, is at least in part due to technology. DVRs make it much easier to record multiple programs. It is also much easier to keep track of what you still have to watch. This was not possible with the VCR. You can also get episodes on-line or on services like Netflixs. And, worst comes to worst, you can buy the DVDs. Many people, these days, do not even start watching a series until it is over. That may have been possible years ago, but only if you could find the reruns somewhere - usually at an odd time or on an odd channel.
Technology has truly changed the way we watch TV. As a result, maybe networks are taking more time to have better quality programs. Or maybe people are taking more time to find the good programs that were always around. At any rate, technology then responds to the new trend with apps that further help us to organize our viewing. As the article says, gone are the days of the TV section "black & white grid" in the newspaper.
I think this is a good example that relates to the "Technological or Media Determinism" that I just read about in our article for Monday's class.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
http://gigaom.com/2013/09/24/as-goodreads-grows-up-it-cant-please-everyone-should-it-try/?go_commented=1#comment-1368990
This article concerns Goodreads, a site that I often describe to people as "Facebook for book lovers." I first heard of this site through a friend who was also in the book publishing field. I found that it really filled a need. After reading a good book, I often have the desire to discuss it with someone. But that is harder than it sounds because most of the time, my friends and I do not have the same tastes in books. I have gotten into the habit of posting a review of most books I read a few days after finishing them.
One day, after posting a review, I received a "Friend" request from the author of the book I reviewed! I was shocked because I didn't realize that authors were also on this site. I felt honored to receive such a request from her because I loved her story, and I took that opportunity to send her a message and tell her privately.
My experience was good, yet I see how this can cause a problem. As Goodreads grows in popularity, two communities are forming: readers and authors. It would seem like these two groups have a lot in common, but in reality, maybe they can also be at odds with each other.
I often see extremely negative reviews on Goodreads. It seems like some people are just out to be mean. If I was an author, I don't know if I would want to be on Goodreads. Yes, as an author, one must be able to accept criticism, but some people, I believe, are guilty of the the on-line version of "road rage." I think as an author this could have very negative effects on career, creativity, etc.
Goodreads, according to the article, is taking steps to minimize these issues by deleting certain content. Users are now afraid that what they post is not going to be safe from being randomly deleted.
We have discussed in class how various social network sites have come and gone over they years due to some of these same issues. The downfall of MySpace was due to opposing communities and Friendster faced losing the trust of its users.
Hopefully, Goodreads can learn from others mistakes and come out on top of this situation.
This article concerns Goodreads, a site that I often describe to people as "Facebook for book lovers." I first heard of this site through a friend who was also in the book publishing field. I found that it really filled a need. After reading a good book, I often have the desire to discuss it with someone. But that is harder than it sounds because most of the time, my friends and I do not have the same tastes in books. I have gotten into the habit of posting a review of most books I read a few days after finishing them.
One day, after posting a review, I received a "Friend" request from the author of the book I reviewed! I was shocked because I didn't realize that authors were also on this site. I felt honored to receive such a request from her because I loved her story, and I took that opportunity to send her a message and tell her privately.
My experience was good, yet I see how this can cause a problem. As Goodreads grows in popularity, two communities are forming: readers and authors. It would seem like these two groups have a lot in common, but in reality, maybe they can also be at odds with each other.
I often see extremely negative reviews on Goodreads. It seems like some people are just out to be mean. If I was an author, I don't know if I would want to be on Goodreads. Yes, as an author, one must be able to accept criticism, but some people, I believe, are guilty of the the on-line version of "road rage." I think as an author this could have very negative effects on career, creativity, etc.
Goodreads, according to the article, is taking steps to minimize these issues by deleting certain content. Users are now afraid that what they post is not going to be safe from being randomly deleted.
We have discussed in class how various social network sites have come and gone over they years due to some of these same issues. The downfall of MySpace was due to opposing communities and Friendster faced losing the trust of its users.
Hopefully, Goodreads can learn from others mistakes and come out on top of this situation.
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