Shark

Part I: The Cardboard Record Player

Part II: A Case Study for Technology Designers

Part III: The Global Recordings Network designed the tri-fold cardboard record player or The Cardtalk Player.  They designed it to only be able to play their Bible records and the records were designed to only play on the evangelists' player.  Once in hand, you could easily fold the cardboard into a triangle like shape and place the record on the base of the triangle.  Then you would need to use a pen or some sort of thin device to manually make the record spin, playing Bible stories.  This device did exactly what the missionaries wanted it to do.  It spread stories around the land from the Bible.  Because the cardboard player could only play those special records given by the missionaries, the people would over play the record repeatedly.  The only way that record player could be of any use is if you were to get those specific records.  It could not play anything else.  They make sure to have plenty of recordings and tapes constantly playing and in circulation, so that overtime if the people continue to hear a consistent message continuously, the repetition of the message makes it true.  They have heard no different.  Whether that was intentional or not, it was only useful with the records given to the people by the missionaries.  As technology designers, this device is very compelling due to its ability to function without electricity.  There is no need to charge it with a battery and it will always work when used correctly and with the right records.  You can learn how communication technology is possible without the use of electricity.  Whether you think this is a step forward or a step back in the path to new innovations, it is definitely a different way to look for new ways to learn, connect and globalize.  Although mp3 players are very common among all different demographics, technology is always changing.  The invention of an mp3 player that does not need to be charged and that could play without a battery could be the next step forward.  The cardboard record player shows that people will in fact adapt to any new technology.  You, as a technology designer, could get a lot out of seeing the use of this device.  Although the actually act of using this record player is out of date, its ability to function in such a way is brand new.  You could apply this idea to the craze in portable music players and invent a new one that plays without the use of any electricity.  You could also design a similar device to send out to businesses or homes to advertise for different items or introduce yourself in hopes of receiving a job.  For example, it could be used as the next step in business cards.  Along with your card, you can send a mini player introducing yourself, forming a more personal relationship before you even have met.  As technology designers this concept could be applied to many different things and you can work together to brainstorm even more ideas; bigger and better ideas.  

In George Orwell's 1984, the theme of controlling the citizens in London, England through the telescreen is a medium used by the state.  Communication technology plays a massive position in this novel.  In regards to the New York Times review, I disagree.  The development of communication technology is always improving.  Engineers are always thinking of ways to better existing technologies.  In the beginning of 1984, Winston is just learning and observing the telescreen.  "Behind Winston's back the voice from the telescreen was still babbling away about pig-iron and the overfulfillment of the Ninth Three-Year Plan. The telescreen received and transmitted simultaneously. Any sound that Winston made, above the level of a very low whisper, would be picked up by it, moreover, so long as he remained within the field of vision which the metal plaque commanded, he could be seen as well as heard. There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment."(pg. 2-3)  This technology is relevant in today's time.  The telescreen could be compared to the television.  They are similar in many ways.  The telescreen and the television both have programs running 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  They both are full of programs expressing feelings and sharing thoughts.  The telescreen could also be compared to security cameras.  In 1984, it was to prevent and monitor thought crime.  Now security cameras are also set up to monitor and prevent illegalities.  This quote from 1984, reminds me of many times where the television was left on for back ground noise.  Now days many people take advantage of technology and it is common for televisions to be on all day long.  The telescreen broadcasted information to its citizens.  The state controlled what was beginning said by merely watching everyone at every given moment of everyday. 

 

Part I:  I chose the role of communication technology in creating/maintaining identity as my concept from class.

Part II:  The idea of linking technology with the formation and maintenance of human identity can be seen in Civ IV in multiple ways.  "Technology is unequally delegated" (pg. 150).  I designed and established certain technologies with a particular use and user in mind.  For example, I began by establishing protection for my society by training a mechanized infantry, then modern armor and then finally gunship.  All these different technologies were built in my citizens in mind.  They would want to be protected and it is my job to make sure they are safe.  I then decided to build a factory to increase my city's production.  Once built, I built a hydro plant which is pollution free to keep my city clean and healthy.  I had my citizens in mind when building the factory.  It created work and production to increase the wealth of my society.  I knew that the factory would cause pollution so I quickly built a hydro plant shortly after so my citizens would not be breathing in polluted air.  I worked on establishing a market and grocer to increase the wealth and health of my society.  "Technology is unequally prescriptive" (pg. 154).  I assumed that those who were working and using the technologies I worked on to strength our society would work in the factories.  I am protecting them while they are improving our economy.  Soon after all of this, I built the Parthenon which would create great people and great artists, bringing forth high cultural values to my society.  I was in charge technology and establishing a healthy and wealthy society which then produced different ideas and establishments than the surrounding countries.

Part III:  Communication technology creates and maintains human identity.  There are four key ideas of identity; technology is unequally delegated, technology is unequally prescriptive, communication technology is special and cultural imperialism.  Technologies are designed with a particular use/user in mind and then these assumptions act on everyone who uses the technology.  "It is a technology of identity" (pg. 160).  Promoting one group's culture to another group's culture is essential; forcing it on them is not.  I had a hard time keeping positive friendships with all of the surrounding rulers.  They get upset if I am peaceful with their enemy which is understandable but at the same time I do not want to make other society's problems my problems.  I think I was good at keeping my citizens happy.  In the beginning, I would be told my citizens were angry and refusing to work but this time they were happy. 

Part I: Free Speech
Part II: After playing a couple of rounds, I decided to choose and stick with Free Speech. It allows debate among citizens without punishment. First, speech needs to be established which allows communication between persons. Furthermore, free speech is important when it comes to expansion of a community. Politically, the citizens are able to debate and decide on policies they feel are best. Along with that, talks amongst surrounding civilizations are more forward and possible. Free speech gives the ruler options when talking to other rulers. If discussion of trade was occurring, I had options to agree or talk about other ideas I may have to expand my own country. I also then built a broadcast tower allowing my citizens to engage in publicized conversation and debate. Free speech goes hand in hand with cultural domination. Opinions and explanation of behavior is absorbed without censorship. Citizens are able to express their needs and therefore allowing me to better their lives. For example, if they said they were unhappy and not willing to work, I built entertainment which gave them options other than eating, sleeping, and working. If free speech was not established then what would there be? Silence? Unfree speech? Free speech is essential in cultural domination.

Part III: In chapter 12 of Culture and Technolgy, orality or speech is explained as a means of communication. "Language is, after all, a technology..." (pg. 141). The culture I established was a primary orality culture in which the people were not familiar with writing. I organized plays and theater in order to allow my citizens a means to remember spoken conversation and stories. The way the game allows free speech without writing seems a bit odd to me but my cultural progress was not affected. I ran out of turns to establish writing and I still came out to be mediocre.

Learn to "Read" Tech Ads- Motorola Cell Phone
In today's lecture, I will be explaining how advertisements can be used to explain the development of a certain technology. I will be explaining the topic of the configured user and I have found a couple of clips from YouTube.com to illustrate this phrase. The example I found most easy to understand is the cell phone. The first video is of an old Motorola cell phone commercial while the second is a recent Motorola cell phone commercial. They each use two completely different focuses on marketing the product. Configuring users are those whose certainty of the technology has increased. In the first video clip, the marketers incorporate an explanation for the cell phone and encourage the audience to want the product. The actors in the commercial are enthusiastic and are shown to use the cell phone to better their lives and teach the viewers to think highly of owning their own. There are examples given in the commercial of the conveniences of owning a cell phone. For instance, they show a businessman stuck in traffic and using his cell phone to push back a meeting time. For those who were unfamiliar with the cell phone, this was all necessary information at the time. Providing a reason in their everyday lives was important to sell the product. Actually explaining how to dial and call was not necessary however because everyone owns a home phone and a cell phone is used the same way but portable. The show a man putting his cell phone in his pocket which emphasizes the design of the cell phone to be practical in someone's every day life. The first commercial focused on using the phone more for emergencies. Now cell phones are used recreationally. In the more recent cell phone commercial it does not include any of this information on when and where t o use a cell phone. At this point we all own cell phones and have already been convinced of its positive impact in life. We know when and why it should be used. This commercial is shorter and has minimum dialogue. The marketers focused more on selling the design of the phone i.e. "slim", "sleek", and "sexy". The commercial never mentions when the cell phone should be used because it is understood. This leads me to my next part in lecture: the diffusion of innovations. The diffusion of innovations is the adoption and spread of a technology, in this case the cell phone. The diffusion of innovations and the S curve consist of innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards. These simply are the groups of people who adopt the technology from the quickest to the slowest to pick up on the technology. In the first commercial, they focus on the early adopters, explaining when and where the cell phone would come in handy. The cell phone was marketed as a product of convenience in the first commercial but in the most recent commercial it is being marketed as stylish and fashionable. The cell phone is now a common and popular among everyone therefore explanation for the product is unnecessary. Now marketers compete by coming up with the newest and more stylish look along with new features and functions.

Part I:  Go to a busy ATM machine (e.g., in the student union at noon) and take at least 5 full minutes to complete a transaction. (Watch other people using the mirror and your peripheral vision.)

Part II: 

As I took my time at the ATM machine, I felt people starring at me.  Specifically, there were two girls in line after me and they kept saying "Is she serious?" like I could not hear them or something.  Neither of them offered any help or aid.  They just conversed with each other.  "I am going to be late for class.  What is taking so long?  What is she doing?"  I did not turn around and i kept quiet.  This was probably the hardest part of this experiment.  I tend to speak my mind and tell people how i feel.  I let the girls just talk and talk and I did not say a word.  As I stood at the ATM machine, I first pushed the Spanish option.  I then canceled it and started all over again.  After that attempted, I pretended to forget my pin number and that killed about two more minutes.  At this point the girls were contemplating whether they should go to class and then come back after.  "I think I'm just going to go to class and get money out later tonight."  The other girl wasn't having it.  "I don't have time to walk all the way back here.  I have so much to do."  In my head I was wondering why neither of these girls asked me if I needed help or asked if the ATM was working correctly.  They just let me stand there pretending I was thinking and trying to remember what my pin number was. 

Part III:  The design of communication technologies and human norms are related.   The design of ATM machines is to convenience those who do not have the time to go to their bank to withdraw money.  In this experiment, the human norm of waiting in line for your turn was practiced.  The option of what language you would prefer was also an example of the design of communication technologies relating to human norms.  Communication technology between you and your bank has changed over the years.  With the push of four buttons, you can be in control of your money without walking into a bank.  Furthermore, the communication between me and the two girls behind me, was not there.  I did not communicate with them on why it was taking me so long and they did not feel it was necessary to ask me if I needed help or if there was something wrong.  They did threaten to come back and take out money later.  This seemed to be their way of verbally showing frustration; however them leaving and coming back did not affect me in any way.  It was not acceptable that I was taking five minutes to make a transaction but they were going to take the time to leave and come back later.  It did not seem to make much sense. 

Part I:  I decided to digitize a picture of a flaming soccer ball.

 

Part II:  I had a hard time figuring out what I wanted to do.  I wanted to involve an interest of mine so I decided on soccer.  I was going to do the soccer field but I decided that it was too easy since it was a perfect shaped with very little details.  I chose a soccer ball but not a plain one, a flaming one.  I googled an image of one and then placed a grid over it.  The grid separated the image into little discrete boxes over the different colors and parts of the picture.  The image consisted of only four colors; white, black, red and orange.  I gave each color a code; the first letter of each color i.e. w, b, r, and o.  Then do finish digitizing the image, I had to apply another code for the amount of color present in each individual box of the grid ranging from 1 being small and 10 being filled with that specific color.  Once digitized I decided that there was a lot of white because the grid was a general square shape.  Therefore I only encoded the actual image left to right.  For example, it would read 1,1 R2O2B5;1,2 O1B8W1, 1,3 B5W5 etc.

Part III:  There could be problems with this system if it becomes popular.  If this system became popular, the digitized image would become blurred and the details would be missing.  It began as a continuous image but once digitized, all of the details and the exact amount of colors and shapes are generalized.  Moreover, the frequency of the sampling  would be of low resolution.  If the actual picture was gone and all you had was the digitization, it would be very difficult to determine what exactly you were looking at. 

Part I:  I chose a broken, old digital camera.

Part II:  Today I made a history defying discovery.  I came across a form of technology never seen before.  There are buttons all over this object, a screen and a lens.  The button on the top of this object is oval shaped and has no clear purpose seeing that there is another button to the left of it that says "on/off".  There is a turn wheel around the on/off button with mini illustrations; a running man, a mountain, a person, a wrench, a green 'A" and a black 'P'.  On the front of the technology, I read Sanyo, 3X super zoom, f=5.4-16.2 mm, and 5.0 megapixels.  The back of the object had a screen that was labeled as being a 2.4 inch LCD monitor.  To the right of the monitor were more buttons.  There was an 'ok' button, four more buttons with images, three buttons in a column above those and two above those three.  Once taking the technology apart and examining the inside, I found an organized green panel with a red, black, blue and white wire and hundreds of small silver notches.  The closer I looked at the silver notches, the more they resembled a city skyline.  There were three black panels; one small square, one big square and one long rectangle.  After brainstorming my discovery, I have come up with an idea of what it might have been used for.

Part III:  After closely examining my finding, I believe it was used as a mini projector and hand held television.  I decided on this for its function because of the monitor and the lens on the front.  I push the on/off button and you can decide whether you want to just watch it on the monitor or project the picture and show out of the lens for others to enjoy.  This would seem to be a convenience however like most technologies society would begin to see it as a necessity.  "...to be a fully functioning adult member of the culture, you are likely to have accepted as necessities various technologies and technological practices that are not biological, but rather cultural necessities." (Page 33)   

Part I:  How would you obtain a special phone number whose numbers spell out a word of your choice? Find out and explain. How much would it cost? Include a picture of an advertisement that features a phone number that spells something.

Photo from: www.luna.com