The Controller and the controlled
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1. MP3 player with voice recording and radio capabilities.
2. The object in question, at first glance, is detailed with blue borders that surround a reflective material. There are inscriptions located all over the device. It contains on top and on the sides switches and pushable indentures. The design of this device is very simple and smooth. Although simple, it has some decorative presentation. The bottom has a contraption which held a cylindrical object. A spring was used to hold it into place. It was fairly easy to take it apart. The encasing needed only a slight leverage to open. The interior, however, was held together by four bolts which needed some twisting to release. Within the device, we found a technology that did not have the same aesthetic presentation. The two boards which was found encased have numerous module like nodes and inscriptions which was easily peeled. Too hard to describe in detail, it is important to notice its complexity in comparison to the encasing. It also shares the same quality of being light in weight. It is noted its rigid durability.
3. The richness in color suggests something of fashionable qualities. The many switches and buttons on the device are easily manipulated by one hand. This object perhaps can be a control device of a larger object! The holes located on the device suggests that it attaches to another entity. Because of its portability and easy access to the buttons means it was attached to something that required these finesse like skills. It probably controlled a dangerous weapon or equipment. The number of dials, switches, and buttons helps support this. Only a weapon or dangerous equipment would require that many commands. This means that this has been a steady development of weaponry and control, as Berkun stated, “The smaller the perceived conceptual gap, the higher the rate of acceptance.” (55). Based on the complexity of the interior of the device and the controls located on the exterior suggest its growing development in this technology. If further remnants are found, such as the wire that controls this “beast,” it would prove to be quite a find and discovery.
images can be found in this link: https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/skim31/shared/
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Peer Review
By SkrodskizleThis is a very detailed account of taking apart an MP3 player. The description of the interior and exterior of the MP3 player is very in depth and thorough and highlights all of the important characteristics. It was nice that there was a link to the pictures instead of placing all three of them right in the text. The suggestion that the hand-held MP3 is a remote, possibly to a larger weapon, is a very original and creative speculation.
Not too many concepts from the class or lecture were incorporated into the blog, but a good quote was included. The quote just seemed a bit unnatural in its placement and did not really strengthen any arguments. There should be an adequate explanation of what the quote is trying to suggest. However, the quote was cited properly and gave credit to Berkun.
The blog was also detailed in its structure. It was separated into three parts and the writing flowed very naturally throughout. The paragraphs were not too long and the blog exceeded the 300 word minimum. “The Controller and the controlled” is a very creative title playing on the suggestion of what the device may be used for. There were no grammatical errors and the writing was exceptional.