I am one of very few people my age who owns and uses a vinyl record player. I don't have an extensive record collection but it is growing. I love the sound and vibe you get from a vinyl record. The pops and cracks are not something you will find on iTunes. When listening to music through an iPhone or iPod you lose the authenticity you get from a vinyl. But, because music is such a huge part of my life, I also listen to music on my phone. So, even though I don't get all the perks of the vinyl player I still can listen to my music. Some people probably don't like the pops and cracks of a vinyl so the mp3 world is better for them; I think it kind of depends on the type of music you listen to. Most of my records are "oldies" that I found at a thrift shop or yard sale. The music on these records was made for the record not the mp3 so it gives the authentic and natural feel when you are listening to the songs on vinyl. I am just grateful to be able to have both vinyl and mp3 in my world.
When it comes to books, I prefer to have the hard copy of the book. There is just something about turning a page and smelling the paper of a new book. I have always loved to read and growing up I didn't have a kindle or an iPad to read books from. I do now own a kindle, but I only use it for convenience. I would rather buy a text book for class on my kindle then carry a giant book to school everyday, but when it comes to reading for pleasure I will always chose the hard copy. I think with both books and music the changes that have been made center around convenience. Say you go on vacation and forget to bring a book to read on the beach. If you have your kindle and internet connection you can easily download a book and enjoy your day reading. While on this vacation you realize your favorite artists just released their new album, rather then having to drive to the store and buy the cd you can download it straight to your phone.
In conclusion, I guess you could say I like to have the best of both worlds. I want to be able to go home and listen to my vinyl while I read an old novel that was originally my grandmas, but I also want to be able to bring my text book to class on my kindle and listen to music from my phone while I walk to class. I think that both of these types of media new and old can thrive in our world if people remember to appreciate the beauty of a vinyl record or an original print of a novel.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Keeping it Real- response 3
I recently read a story where a teacher from the year 1900 gave her students drawing supplies and told them to draw about growing up in a coal mining camp. When the teacher got the pictures back there were drawings ranging from one little girl learning how to make oat bread from her mother; to a boy who, at younger then ten, was already working in the mine sorting rocks out of coal when he wasn't in school.
As I read that story I heartbroken that there was no good way for those precious drawings to be duplicated so that they would have a better chance of surviving.
It made me realize how much I've come to rely on things like digital cameras that even dumb phones have now. With digital cameras we can take snap shots of whatever we want and, with almost no effort, scatter the places that picture is stored until there are so many duplicates of that picture that it has a much better chance of surviving.
In a way, the ease we have in duplicating pictures is a good thing. I wonder how valuable those precious pictures drawn by children in a mining camp would be if they had been easily duplicated. Looking at them now they would still have value as a unique insight into history.
Still, I sometimes wonder if we sacrifice worth, uniqueness, for security of that picture being so easily replicated? So easily replaced?
I'm still not sure.
On another completely unrelated note. Did you know that only 7% of conversation is verbal? The other 93% is non-verbal. I found this very gratifying because I prefer talking to people in person. Yes, texting is a lot less intimidating. But, when I'm face-to-face with someone I can look for those non-verbal cues that tell me wether what I said was understood in away words alone wouldn't be able to.
Have you ever noticed that sometimes when you write a text and read through it before sending it that it could be taken the wrong way? And then of you try and reword it so the text won't be taken the wrong way. But this new text could also be taken the wrong way. Eventually you give up on trying to fix it and you send it. Hoping, that the person receiving it will understand what you meant.
I do believe that something in conversation is lost when you don't talk face-to-face. But, I also think there are really good uses for the digital ways we have of communicating now.
For example: Skype. My family live three states away from Utah. Skype isn't quite the same as seeing them in person it's glitchy and sometimes it freezes. But I still get to see them. Which is really great.
So, digital communication has it's uses, but don't forget the worth of talking face-to-face.
As I read that story I heartbroken that there was no good way for those precious drawings to be duplicated so that they would have a better chance of surviving.
It made me realize how much I've come to rely on things like digital cameras that even dumb phones have now. With digital cameras we can take snap shots of whatever we want and, with almost no effort, scatter the places that picture is stored until there are so many duplicates of that picture that it has a much better chance of surviving.
In a way, the ease we have in duplicating pictures is a good thing. I wonder how valuable those precious pictures drawn by children in a mining camp would be if they had been easily duplicated. Looking at them now they would still have value as a unique insight into history.
Still, I sometimes wonder if we sacrifice worth, uniqueness, for security of that picture being so easily replicated? So easily replaced?
I'm still not sure.
On another completely unrelated note. Did you know that only 7% of conversation is verbal? The other 93% is non-verbal. I found this very gratifying because I prefer talking to people in person. Yes, texting is a lot less intimidating. But, when I'm face-to-face with someone I can look for those non-verbal cues that tell me wether what I said was understood in away words alone wouldn't be able to.
Have you ever noticed that sometimes when you write a text and read through it before sending it that it could be taken the wrong way? And then of you try and reword it so the text won't be taken the wrong way. But this new text could also be taken the wrong way. Eventually you give up on trying to fix it and you send it. Hoping, that the person receiving it will understand what you meant.
I do believe that something in conversation is lost when you don't talk face-to-face. But, I also think there are really good uses for the digital ways we have of communicating now.
For example: Skype. My family live three states away from Utah. Skype isn't quite the same as seeing them in person it's glitchy and sometimes it freezes. But I still get to see them. Which is really great.
So, digital communication has it's uses, but don't forget the worth of talking face-to-face.
Blog Post the Third
Books, articles, and magazines have drastically changed from just ten or twenty years ago. Many now are viewed or purchased online. They are read on Ipads, Kindles, and other electronic devices. Storing books now takes up less space. It's a lot easier to store a file on a device than trying to find room for another book on your shelf. This also makes books much more portable instead of having to lug them around everywhere. Sharing books, magazines, and articles online is much easier because you can just email it or purchase it online in the comfort of your own home. I personally don't like reading on an electronic device, it feels more impersonal. I don't feel as engaged with whatever I'm reading. I find myself zoning out more when I read online or on some device. There is definitely a tactile, physical element to reading an actual paperback book. Not to mention it breaks up the text, yes there are programs that allow it to seem like you are turning the page, but it's not the same. I think reading on electronic devices takes away from the actual experience of reading.
Music has changed quite a bit as well. CDs are not as common and iTunes is now the new way to get music. This does affect the storage aspect quite a bit. Now all your music can be stored on one, little iPod instead of trying to stack a bunch of CDs or cassette tapes. Sharing is quite easy now. You can share your music with several devices or people. You can also share music by posting links on facebook or other social media sites. Experience wise, you can listen to a variety of music all in one place and almost as much of it as you want. You don't have to go digging through CDs or switching out CDs in order to listen to the songs you desire to listen to. You can just look them up by artist or song on the iPod or shuffle the songs. I guess I'm kind of old school because I still like CDs. I do have my own iPod though, but for me I feel safer having a hard copy instead of just having it on iTunes. This way if something happens or iTunes glitches, I still have the music I want to listen to. I only do this if I like most of an album, though. If there is just one song I want from an artist, I download it off of iTunes. I use both mediums and they have their own place. I think a little bit is taken away from just having iTunes though, you don't get to read the lyrics physically along with the song.
I think the changes to books and music are good and bad. There are some elements that are lost with making everything electronic like the tactile feel of a CD or book. It does make access to books and music easier than ever though. Change is kind of a double-edged sword.
Music has changed quite a bit as well. CDs are not as common and iTunes is now the new way to get music. This does affect the storage aspect quite a bit. Now all your music can be stored on one, little iPod instead of trying to stack a bunch of CDs or cassette tapes. Sharing is quite easy now. You can share your music with several devices or people. You can also share music by posting links on facebook or other social media sites. Experience wise, you can listen to a variety of music all in one place and almost as much of it as you want. You don't have to go digging through CDs or switching out CDs in order to listen to the songs you desire to listen to. You can just look them up by artist or song on the iPod or shuffle the songs. I guess I'm kind of old school because I still like CDs. I do have my own iPod though, but for me I feel safer having a hard copy instead of just having it on iTunes. This way if something happens or iTunes glitches, I still have the music I want to listen to. I only do this if I like most of an album, though. If there is just one song I want from an artist, I download it off of iTunes. I use both mediums and they have their own place. I think a little bit is taken away from just having iTunes though, you don't get to read the lyrics physically along with the song.
I think the changes to books and music are good and bad. There are some elements that are lost with making everything electronic like the tactile feel of a CD or book. It does make access to books and music easier than ever though. Change is kind of a double-edged sword.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Manovich Response 3
I think that the most interesting media which has been affected by the changing mediums on which it is transferred is that of music. The consumption of music has changed a lot as it has been switched over from tapes, to disks, to its current digital form. I personally do not even purchase or collect music in any form at all, I just look it up online when I want it. I can't figure out why on earth anyone would buy, or pirate/steal music when any and every song that I could ever want to listen to is readily available with internet access, which is almost ubiquitous in our culture.
Books have been changed in a very similar way, I am able to access more books than I could ever read for free online either through audio-books, PDFs, etc. Not only am I able to access all of this information in the form of books, but I also have access to more information than I could ever read that takes the form of news, Wikipedia articles, Scientific papers/studies, etc.
The internet has created a system in which there is little or no reason to pay for access to almost any form of information. There is however an important emphasis that I need to make here, and that is to emphasize the word access, I may look up Tchaikovsky's violin concerto on Youtube and enjoy access to an excellent quality orchestra performing the piece of music, but that access to the music via my laptop could never compare to actually attending a live symphony or orchestra at a hall of art and music. I may look up a facsimile of Van Gogh's Starry Night, which I have included in this post, but my experience of Van Gogh's work will not be the same as if I had seen the actual painting.
Books have been changed in a very similar way, I am able to access more books than I could ever read for free online either through audio-books, PDFs, etc. Not only am I able to access all of this information in the form of books, but I also have access to more information than I could ever read that takes the form of news, Wikipedia articles, Scientific papers/studies, etc.
The internet has created a system in which there is little or no reason to pay for access to almost any form of information. There is however an important emphasis that I need to make here, and that is to emphasize the word access, I may look up Tchaikovsky's violin concerto on Youtube and enjoy access to an excellent quality orchestra performing the piece of music, but that access to the music via my laptop could never compare to actually attending a live symphony or orchestra at a hall of art and music. I may look up a facsimile of Van Gogh's Starry Night, which I have included in this post, but my experience of Van Gogh's work will not be the same as if I had seen the actual painting.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
5 Key Principles of New Media
The first principle is Numerical Representation. This principle basically states that any new media object is composed of digital code. Because of this, all “media becomes programmable” and is therefore subject to change. Objects that are considered old media like photographs, paintings, and printed books, are incapable of change. It’s worth mentioning here (before we get into modularity) that discrete data is data that occurs in distinct units. In this section Manovich mentions that communication requires discrete units and without discrete units, there is no language. He then quotes Roland Barthes (who I love) saying, “Language is, as it were, that which divides reality (for instance, the continuous spectrum of the colors is verbally reduced to a series of discontinuous terms).” He goes on to talk about semiology (the scientific study of the life of signs within society (defined by Saussure who I also love)). Semioticians believed that any form of communication requires a discrete representation. This was later disproved because “photographs do not have any apparent units.”
The second principle is Modularity which he calls “fractal structure of new media.” Similar to a fractal, new media objects have the same modular structure throughout. New media objects can and are often put together into larger objects but they still maintain their individual identity. For example, a photograph as an individual object can be placed in a blog post and therefore becomes a part of a bigger object but still maintains it’s identity (separate parts of a larger whole, if you will). “Every element can always be accessed on it’s own.” This is why I mentioned discrete data earlier; it helped me better understand this concept of modularity.
The third principle is Automation. This is basically everything we hold dear in this computer driven world. Everything is already made for us. There are templates for web pages pre-set for our use. There are filters that are pre-made (because who wants to manually edit a photo?) And we wonder why our generation is so lazy? Everything is done for us!
The fourth principle is Variability. I kind of mentioned this earlier when I said that new media is subject to change. New media is almost dependent on this concept of variability. A printed photograph can be scanned into a computer and then manipulated/changed into whatever anyone wants it to be. Everything can be customized. “New media also allow us to create versions of the same object that differ from each other in more substantial ways.”
The final principle is Transcoding which is to translate something into another format. This is basically HTML. HTML code is typed and perfected but when it is presented as a web page it no longer looks like code it looks like a web page. Manovich says, “New media technology acts as the most perfect realization of the utopia of an ideal society composed of unique individuals.”
I think that the most important of all of these principles is Variability. We live in a world of constant change and in order for new media to stick with the times it has to change with the times. Growth and change are essential to new media.
Manovich Response 2
The first concept, that of Numerical Representation, is the idea that new forms of media, in particular anything digitized, may be represented mathematically. One good example of this is the way in which colors are represented by a series of numbers corresponding to hue, contrast, etc. Another thing touched on by Manovich is the idea that old media may be changed into this mathematical format. I cannot mathematically manipulate a paper photo, but I may scan that photo, effectively creating a mathematical facsimile of it which may then be manipulated.
The second concept is Modularity. This refers to the way in which the functions of a media may exist on multiple structures. In other words, a program may perform only one function for the user, but it may run multiple functions in order to do so. An example might be Pandora Radio, which runs the music, album photos, and text separately. Pandora uses different modules in order to run its website.
Automation builds on the concept of numerical representation, because so much of our new forms of media are mathematical, they may be controlled mathematically, even without the direct influence of humans. going back to our Pandora example, the program is automated because Pandora doesn't need to hire thousands of DJs in order to select new music for its users, there is no man behind the curtain controlling everything, it is all being done by a computer.
Variability, the next concept, means that the forms and capabilities of media can change, often for the better, over time. Digital photos are a form of media, but they may be manipulated by dozens of different programs, take many different file formats, and be converted between either one of these things. one good example is the way in which Microsoft Word changes with each update, The program remains a document editor, but as the version number increases, the medium, and the media taking the form of the program, changes.
Transcoding is the idea that each piece of digital media has two parts to it, the part that is designed to be understood and manipulated by humans, and the part that is meant to be understood and manipulated by the computer. The consequences of this are that we can send code, representing emails, photos, etc. across cultural barriers by transmitting over the date the computer understands, and allowing the receiving computer to reconstruct the human side of the information. One example of this is the way in which people often share code in HTML, Java, and other computer languages, even though they are not all building the same website or program. A general program such as a state machine may exist in the form of the exact same code for dozens of programs, even if the programs are different. Both a video game and a vending machine could use the exact same coding to fulfill the function of their state machine.
In my mind, the most powerful of these tools is the concept of automation. Automation, in my mind, has the most potential to change our future because it gives us the ability to create machines which perform work that would otherwise require humans to do. It is essentially the creation of free work value. taken to an extreme, and with the development of newer technology, we could develop a situation in which this automation would eliminate the need for most of the work done by humans, whether this will be good or bad will remain to be seen.
The second concept is Modularity. This refers to the way in which the functions of a media may exist on multiple structures. In other words, a program may perform only one function for the user, but it may run multiple functions in order to do so. An example might be Pandora Radio, which runs the music, album photos, and text separately. Pandora uses different modules in order to run its website.
Automation builds on the concept of numerical representation, because so much of our new forms of media are mathematical, they may be controlled mathematically, even without the direct influence of humans. going back to our Pandora example, the program is automated because Pandora doesn't need to hire thousands of DJs in order to select new music for its users, there is no man behind the curtain controlling everything, it is all being done by a computer.
Variability, the next concept, means that the forms and capabilities of media can change, often for the better, over time. Digital photos are a form of media, but they may be manipulated by dozens of different programs, take many different file formats, and be converted between either one of these things. one good example is the way in which Microsoft Word changes with each update, The program remains a document editor, but as the version number increases, the medium, and the media taking the form of the program, changes.
Transcoding is the idea that each piece of digital media has two parts to it, the part that is designed to be understood and manipulated by humans, and the part that is meant to be understood and manipulated by the computer. The consequences of this are that we can send code, representing emails, photos, etc. across cultural barriers by transmitting over the date the computer understands, and allowing the receiving computer to reconstruct the human side of the information. One example of this is the way in which people often share code in HTML, Java, and other computer languages, even though they are not all building the same website or program. A general program such as a state machine may exist in the form of the exact same code for dozens of programs, even if the programs are different. Both a video game and a vending machine could use the exact same coding to fulfill the function of their state machine.
In my mind, the most powerful of these tools is the concept of automation. Automation, in my mind, has the most potential to change our future because it gives us the ability to create machines which perform work that would otherwise require humans to do. It is essentially the creation of free work value. taken to an extreme, and with the development of newer technology, we could develop a situation in which this automation would eliminate the need for most of the work done by humans, whether this will be good or bad will remain to be seen.
Manovich's Principles - Blog 2
The first principle is numerical representation. This means that everything we see on a computer is based on numbers. These numbers form images, websites, and other programs. If I were to look at the underlying base of a computer game then it would be made up of a mathematical pattern to create it. This could be a pattern based on the number of pixels that make up the landscape of the video game. The numbers are what give the video game the order and organization it needs.
The second principle is modularity. A program or a website is made up of certain modules or parts. These parts can be modified and changed. You cannot delete these modules however, or the entire system does not work. When I think of modules, I think of the International Space Station. It has multiple modules that are used for science, engineering, or other things. These modules have a similar shape and size. What makes them different is how they are used in the overall function of the space station. All of the components work together and without each module, the station wouldn't work.
Principle three is automation. This has to do with an industrialized approach. Automation basically means that there are certain parts or components that are automatically generated. This could be something like components or templates on blogs. You could have a template for a comment section or one for a posting feed. These templates have already been formatted so the user can easily select and plug them into their blog or website. They don't have to make it from scratch.
Variability is the next principle. This deals with the idea that code is changeable. It's not static, things can be changed and altered to a certain extent. There are some basic components that cannot be changed or deleted, but they can be customized. For example, lets say you want to change the font size on a level 1 header. You can do this through customizing a CSS page. It still has the basic and necessary code for a level 1 header, but the font has been customized. Variability also deals with the idea that things on the internet are changing all the time. Nothing is really set in stone.
Transcoding is the final principle. This kind of has to do with the first principle in that everything that you see on a computer screen is coded for. The code is the basis for computer programs. This also has to do with the idea that things are being stored in computer databases. This means that a person could basically go look up anything and find it online or in some sort of computer database. An example would be the article databases available at school that are rooted in computer code.
I think transcoding is the principle that is changing our culture the most. We can now just look up information online at any time. This hasn't really been the case. You would have to go to a library or memorize things in order to convey or learn knowledge. Information is more readily available than it has been. This is really changing and shaping our culture into a computer culture.
The second principle is modularity. A program or a website is made up of certain modules or parts. These parts can be modified and changed. You cannot delete these modules however, or the entire system does not work. When I think of modules, I think of the International Space Station. It has multiple modules that are used for science, engineering, or other things. These modules have a similar shape and size. What makes them different is how they are used in the overall function of the space station. All of the components work together and without each module, the station wouldn't work.
Principle three is automation. This has to do with an industrialized approach. Automation basically means that there are certain parts or components that are automatically generated. This could be something like components or templates on blogs. You could have a template for a comment section or one for a posting feed. These templates have already been formatted so the user can easily select and plug them into their blog or website. They don't have to make it from scratch.
Variability is the next principle. This deals with the idea that code is changeable. It's not static, things can be changed and altered to a certain extent. There are some basic components that cannot be changed or deleted, but they can be customized. For example, lets say you want to change the font size on a level 1 header. You can do this through customizing a CSS page. It still has the basic and necessary code for a level 1 header, but the font has been customized. Variability also deals with the idea that things on the internet are changing all the time. Nothing is really set in stone.
Transcoding is the final principle. This kind of has to do with the first principle in that everything that you see on a computer screen is coded for. The code is the basis for computer programs. This also has to do with the idea that things are being stored in computer databases. This means that a person could basically go look up anything and find it online or in some sort of computer database. An example would be the article databases available at school that are rooted in computer code.
I think transcoding is the principle that is changing our culture the most. We can now just look up information online at any time. This hasn't really been the case. You would have to go to a library or memorize things in order to convey or learn knowledge. Information is more readily available than it has been. This is really changing and shaping our culture into a computer culture.
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