Overall I enjoyed this class. I loved blogging. I have never blogged before but I think I just might start. I enjoyed reading what other people had to write in their blogs and their experiences with the different assignments. My favorite assignment was the one where we interviewed different generations or the You’ve Got Mail assignment. I enjoyed talking with different ages about their online usage. Our conversations went into more than just their online usage and it was very interesting. I love country music, so the fact that I got to watch Brad Paisleys video and writer about it was awesome. I really struggled with the internet abstinence. I use the internet so much, so 24 hours without was extremely hard.
The way the class was set up was perfect. Since it is an online class, taking tests can be a hassle. Only having a blog and discussion board was simple, fun and helped me learn. I didn’t think the books were too beneficial. I learned a little bit from Wood and Smith, but not very much from Postman. I enjoyed reading other peoples posts about the books because I picked up on things that I didn’t in the reading.
This class did make me think a lot about our society and how it revolves around technology. The internet is part of all most everyone’s daily life. I know I am on the internet quite a bit and it is part of my everyday routine. Now days we use the internet for communication, looking things up and even getting degrees online. I only have two classes to graduate and I am finishing up online so I can live at home and save money, which has been a life saver for me. I don’t think our generation could live without the internet because we have grown up with the convenience of it.
This class was well planned out and interesting. I enjoyed learning about different aspects of the internet and hearing what others had to say about the same subjects. I thought the assignments were interesting and made me really think about the subject and what I truly thought. I even learned some things about technology and the internet I didn’t know before this class. I have never blogged before so I had to learn how to set one up and posts blogs. This has enticed me to start blogging on my own life. Thank you for making this class entertaining and interactive. Most teachers just have you do the normal assignments and tests which can be boring and repetitive. I enjoyed the change in pace for this class, it was refreshing. I guess it is time for me to start my own blog and let my family and friend know what I am up to. I am looking forward to my future in blogging and using the internet for different methods of communication and research.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Web Cam=My Best Friend
I use the internet for communication on a daily basis. I use it to e-mail, instant message, facebook, you name it, I probably do it. I started using e-mail on a regular basis when I went to college. I was very homesick when I left for school, so being able to communicate with my family on a regular basis helped ease the pain. I used instant messenger and facebook to keep in touch with friends that went to school elsewhere. The internet definitely helped me keep tabs on my high school friends. Now, my web cam is my best friend.
I have a new niece that I have not met yet and she is three months old already. My brother and sister in law live in Arizona and I have yet been able to make a trip there to see Cameron, my niece. My brother and I webcam each other at least once a week so I can interact with Cameron. It is amazing what technology can do now days. Cameron knows that I am there and she smiles and laughs at the computer screen. It is amazing to see her and watch her interact with me through a computer screen. Thanks to my webcam I have been able to watch Cameron grow and interact without even being with her. Not only do I get to see my niece but I get to see my brother too. I only see him a couple times a year so it is nice to catch up on webcam and see his face, instead of just talking on the phone or through e-mails. Cameron is the first grand baby in our family, so it is a big deal. My Grandma loves to web cam my brother so she can see Cameron. I am always amazed at my Grandmas computer skills. I always think how much technology is going to change when Cameron is older. She is already been seen on a webcam when she was a week old. When reading Postman I came across on page 171 how we are improving the education of our youth by improving what we call “learning technologies.” It made me think about Cameron and at what age she is going to be learning how to use a computer at school. I remember using flopping disc and computers in elementary school, but we used them minimally. Who knows, maybe Cameron’s age will be using them on a daily basis in the classroom to learn the ABC’s. Our society changes with technology every day. Companies are always updating their software to keep up with today’s technology. We have no idea what is in store for us in the future.
I will finally be able to meet Cameron in about a month and I know it is going to be completely different than seeing her on a webcam. When I see her on a webcam I can only see her movements but I can’t hold her, which is all I want to do! Seeing something on a web cam is one thing, but seeing it in person is completely different and so much better. Over the years technology has helped ease my pain with going to school and being homesick to being able to see my niece for the first time on a webcam. Technology makes being away from home so much easier.
I have a new niece that I have not met yet and she is three months old already. My brother and sister in law live in Arizona and I have yet been able to make a trip there to see Cameron, my niece. My brother and I webcam each other at least once a week so I can interact with Cameron. It is amazing what technology can do now days. Cameron knows that I am there and she smiles and laughs at the computer screen. It is amazing to see her and watch her interact with me through a computer screen. Thanks to my webcam I have been able to watch Cameron grow and interact without even being with her. Not only do I get to see my niece but I get to see my brother too. I only see him a couple times a year so it is nice to catch up on webcam and see his face, instead of just talking on the phone or through e-mails. Cameron is the first grand baby in our family, so it is a big deal. My Grandma loves to web cam my brother so she can see Cameron. I am always amazed at my Grandmas computer skills. I always think how much technology is going to change when Cameron is older. She is already been seen on a webcam when she was a week old. When reading Postman I came across on page 171 how we are improving the education of our youth by improving what we call “learning technologies.” It made me think about Cameron and at what age she is going to be learning how to use a computer at school. I remember using flopping disc and computers in elementary school, but we used them minimally. Who knows, maybe Cameron’s age will be using them on a daily basis in the classroom to learn the ABC’s. Our society changes with technology every day. Companies are always updating their software to keep up with today’s technology. We have no idea what is in store for us in the future.
I will finally be able to meet Cameron in about a month and I know it is going to be completely different than seeing her on a webcam. When I see her on a webcam I can only see her movements but I can’t hold her, which is all I want to do! Seeing something on a web cam is one thing, but seeing it in person is completely different and so much better. Over the years technology has helped ease my pain with going to school and being homesick to being able to see my niece for the first time on a webcam. Technology makes being away from home so much easier.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
My grandma does online banking!
For my three generations I chose my brother who is a financial advisor, age 30, my dad who is an accountant, age 60, and my grandma who is 86. All three of them actively use the internet even my grandma! My brother uses the internet on a daily basis with his job as well as my dad. My grandma primarily uses the internet for communication along with a couple other things.
So my brother…He is a financial advisor so he is always checking stocks online and communicating with clients. He is very comfortable with the internet and can use it without a problem. He e-mails regularly and of course uses Google on a daily basis like most people. He can use the wonders of opposite internal cultures to work as well. He can be at a conference on the other side of the country and still be able to be connected with his office.
My dad is an accountant and uses the internet on a daily basis as well. For my dad it is a bit different, he can use the internet and his computer perfectly at work. He uses it to book his clients, communicate with his clients and look up other businesses online. It is part of his everyday use at work. Thanks to his secretary he knows how to use his computer in the office and all the software along with it, but when he comes home it’s a different story. When he is home he doesn’t have his secretary to help him so he struggles a bit. He can open up the internet and browse but he has no idea how to log into his e-mail from his computer at home. He won’t admit to this, but he mentioned something along the lines during my interview with him. I find this quite amusing, but keep it to myself. We have a new addition to our family, my first niece. Since she lives in Arizona, we don’t see her often. So, my dad has fell in love with his new webcam. He uses it to talk to my brother and baby Cameron on a daily basis.
Now my 86 year old Grandma…she uses the internet all the time. It amazes me how much she can do online. She uses her webcam to see baby Cameron as well, which I think is amazing. She e-mails her grandkids on a regular basis and she even does online banking! How many 86 year old women are paying bills online, I don’t think very many. She loves the internet. Everything I teach her how to do on the internet she writes on a 3 x 5 note card and files it away in case she forgets how to do something on the internet. I am amazed at what my Grandma can do with the internet. She loves uses her webcam like my dad to see Cameron
After the interviews I learned that the older the person is the less dependent they are on the internet. For my brother it is a part of his everyday life even when he is home in the evenings. For my dad he uses it all day at work but only on occasion while he is home in the evening. My grandma uses it sporadically and only when she needs to. This shows how our society has changed over time with the internet. My brother has grown up with the internet so I don’t think he could live without it whereas I had to teach my grandma how to use the internet from scratch.
So my brother…He is a financial advisor so he is always checking stocks online and communicating with clients. He is very comfortable with the internet and can use it without a problem. He e-mails regularly and of course uses Google on a daily basis like most people. He can use the wonders of opposite internal cultures to work as well. He can be at a conference on the other side of the country and still be able to be connected with his office.
My dad is an accountant and uses the internet on a daily basis as well. For my dad it is a bit different, he can use the internet and his computer perfectly at work. He uses it to book his clients, communicate with his clients and look up other businesses online. It is part of his everyday use at work. Thanks to his secretary he knows how to use his computer in the office and all the software along with it, but when he comes home it’s a different story. When he is home he doesn’t have his secretary to help him so he struggles a bit. He can open up the internet and browse but he has no idea how to log into his e-mail from his computer at home. He won’t admit to this, but he mentioned something along the lines during my interview with him. I find this quite amusing, but keep it to myself. We have a new addition to our family, my first niece. Since she lives in Arizona, we don’t see her often. So, my dad has fell in love with his new webcam. He uses it to talk to my brother and baby Cameron on a daily basis.
Now my 86 year old Grandma…she uses the internet all the time. It amazes me how much she can do online. She uses her webcam to see baby Cameron as well, which I think is amazing. She e-mails her grandkids on a regular basis and she even does online banking! How many 86 year old women are paying bills online, I don’t think very many. She loves the internet. Everything I teach her how to do on the internet she writes on a 3 x 5 note card and files it away in case she forgets how to do something on the internet. I am amazed at what my Grandma can do with the internet. She loves uses her webcam like my dad to see Cameron
After the interviews I learned that the older the person is the less dependent they are on the internet. For my brother it is a part of his everyday life even when he is home in the evenings. For my dad he uses it all day at work but only on occasion while he is home in the evening. My grandma uses it sporadically and only when she needs to. This shows how our society has changed over time with the internet. My brother has grown up with the internet so I don’t think he could live without it whereas I had to teach my grandma how to use the internet from scratch.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Discussion Boards
Do people still actively participate in online discussion boards outside of school? There are many forums out there on the internet but which ones are actually real and which ones so people participate with actively. The only discussion boards I have ever done were ones for school, so I had no idea where to start. I browsed the internet a bit to try and find one but most of them looks a little sketch and not legitimate sites. So I went to my city’s website and saw that they had a forum.
People mostly just used this discussion board to inform others about problems they have seen around town and things that need to be improved and what not. So I went on and introduced myself and said that I was born and raised here, and that I was a college student and what not. I posted a couple things about our town and how it has changed from when I was younger and put it my two cents about the little I know about our community college campus here. I had a couple people ask me about my opinion on some matters around town because they wanted a younger persons opinion. It made me feel good that they actually cared about our generation because usually older people think that we are a bad generation and they tend to look down on us. I did not notice any problems being resolved on this discussion board. Not too many people used it so there was not much that needed to be resolved
I feel like our society does not use these types of forums that much. We are a technologically based society but I don’t think this type of communication has really taken off. I feel like we are the type of people that want to get the answer instantly so we go straight to e-mail instead of using a discussion board. Our book talks about how new inventions have their downfalls, especially in the medical field. But, I feel like this online invention of discussion boards has not taken off and been a success. I think our society uses the internet to talk with friends through e-mail or instant messaging and we do not take part in discussion boards too often.
I find that discussion boards and forums are some peoples way to express themselves somewhat anonymously. It is a way for someone to get heard or talk about their beliefs with other people who have similar beliefs. I do not think I will ever use this kind of discussion board again. I did not really get anything out of it and I did not like how slow the response was once you posted something. I like instant results and do not like having to wait around to hear what someone has to say about a certain subject.
People mostly just used this discussion board to inform others about problems they have seen around town and things that need to be improved and what not. So I went on and introduced myself and said that I was born and raised here, and that I was a college student and what not. I posted a couple things about our town and how it has changed from when I was younger and put it my two cents about the little I know about our community college campus here. I had a couple people ask me about my opinion on some matters around town because they wanted a younger persons opinion. It made me feel good that they actually cared about our generation because usually older people think that we are a bad generation and they tend to look down on us. I did not notice any problems being resolved on this discussion board. Not too many people used it so there was not much that needed to be resolved
I feel like our society does not use these types of forums that much. We are a technologically based society but I don’t think this type of communication has really taken off. I feel like we are the type of people that want to get the answer instantly so we go straight to e-mail instead of using a discussion board. Our book talks about how new inventions have their downfalls, especially in the medical field. But, I feel like this online invention of discussion boards has not taken off and been a success. I think our society uses the internet to talk with friends through e-mail or instant messaging and we do not take part in discussion boards too often.
I find that discussion boards and forums are some peoples way to express themselves somewhat anonymously. It is a way for someone to get heard or talk about their beliefs with other people who have similar beliefs. I do not think I will ever use this kind of discussion board again. I did not really get anything out of it and I did not like how slow the response was once you posted something. I like instant results and do not like having to wait around to hear what someone has to say about a certain subject.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
E-mail vs. Snail Mail
The only types of letters I ever write long hand are thank you notes. I think they are more personable that way and show that you are more thankful than by sending an e-mail. So, this wasn’t anything different or unusual for me. I am very good with my thank you notes and seem to write a lot of them. I would never write any other letter free hand though, I write a lot of e-mails as well. If I did send snail mail I would type the letter and then put it in an envelope and then send it that way. I have awful handwriting and it does not look professional at all, so e-mails are my best friend. I like how instant and easy e-mails are which is probably because of the technological age I have grown up in. I prefer sending e-mails rather than letters. It is easier to check e-mails and use spell check to correct grammar.
E-mails tend to be shorter with poor grammar. Even though the computer has spell check for e-mail it does not catch everything. We tend to be lazy when it comes to e-mails and using the correct grammar. When we write long hand we proof read our writing more and there is less of a chance for someone to mistype. Responses to e-mails tend to be shorter and just answer the question asked. Long hand letters are more heartfelt and have much more thought put into them.
In our society today people use the internet for work. Most people that work in offices are on the internet all day long, so e-mailing is an easy way of communication. Our book talks about people that are addicted to the internet. These types of people are more likely to e-mail more often than they would write letters. You know those people that you write e-mails to and they instantly respond, they might be spending too much time on the internet. It could be a way for them to escape from everyday life or they could have internet addiction disorder which could hurt them in their everyday life.
When I wrote my e-mail I got a response within the same day but I still have not received a letter back from my long hand letter. This shows how easy it is now days to write a quick e-mail back but how it is harder to write a letter. When you get an e-mail you are more likely to respond right then and there because it is easy and convenient. Letters take more time. You get them in the mail and then you might not have time right then to write a response so you set it aside until you have time. This may be the next day or the next week which is why it is called snail mail. In this day and age e-mails are much more popular and convenient with our technological society we live in today. Which reminds me I have to write an e-mail to my mom…
E-mails tend to be shorter with poor grammar. Even though the computer has spell check for e-mail it does not catch everything. We tend to be lazy when it comes to e-mails and using the correct grammar. When we write long hand we proof read our writing more and there is less of a chance for someone to mistype. Responses to e-mails tend to be shorter and just answer the question asked. Long hand letters are more heartfelt and have much more thought put into them.
In our society today people use the internet for work. Most people that work in offices are on the internet all day long, so e-mailing is an easy way of communication. Our book talks about people that are addicted to the internet. These types of people are more likely to e-mail more often than they would write letters. You know those people that you write e-mails to and they instantly respond, they might be spending too much time on the internet. It could be a way for them to escape from everyday life or they could have internet addiction disorder which could hurt them in their everyday life.
When I wrote my e-mail I got a response within the same day but I still have not received a letter back from my long hand letter. This shows how easy it is now days to write a quick e-mail back but how it is harder to write a letter. When you get an e-mail you are more likely to respond right then and there because it is easy and convenient. Letters take more time. You get them in the mail and then you might not have time right then to write a response so you set it aside until you have time. This may be the next day or the next week which is why it is called snail mail. In this day and age e-mails are much more popular and convenient with our technological society we live in today. Which reminds me I have to write an e-mail to my mom…
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The new way of communication...I'll facebook you!
Many people reveal way too much about themselves on facebook which I am not comfortable with. I have a facebook account and have has one ever since I started college in 2005. My facebook is private, so unless you are my friend you cannot see any part of my profile. All of my pictures of blocked unless you are my friend, and I do not have my phone number of address on my profile like some people. I do have some friends on facebook that are acquaintances and I do not want them to know where I live or be able to get a hold of my cell phone number. I keep my pictures respectable; I do not allow incriminating photos to be posted on my page which is why I closely monitor my pictures. Many people have pictures on facebook that one day they will regret when it comes time to get a real job after college. Facebook for some people is a way for self presentation. You can be anything you want online. Someone can say they have a bunch of interests on their facebook profile that they might not actually be interested in, but want people who look at their profile to think they are. Revealing too much online can lead to an easier way for someone to stalk you. If you leave your address they can easily come to your home or if you leave your phone number they can easily call you. You don’t want a Mr. Bungles (Pg. 67) knowing your every move and where you live.
My mom does not have facebook but she is always asking me about my facebook and what I have on my page. She hears and reads about facebook on a daily bases. The news is always reporting about what a certain celebrity posted on their facebook or twitter about their day. My mom is always asking me why people want everyone to know what they are doing every minute of the day. I post a new status every once and awhile but I do not give a play by play about my day. My mom is much older and doesn’t understand the new cyber generation. Although I do not like when the same persons status is always coming up on my news feed because I get sick of reading about what they have to say. I always ensure my mom that my page is private because I don’t want random people looking at my pictures or my profile. I know that when someone is talking about someone I don’t know I always say that I will facebook them so I can put a face to the story. I do not want people doing that with me, I want online my facebook friends to be able to see it. When my boyfriend and I started dating all of my friends wanted to see him so they all facebooked him but his profile is private as well and I am sure all of his friends did it to me as well, but I fooled them, its private!
My mom does not have facebook but she is always asking me about my facebook and what I have on my page. She hears and reads about facebook on a daily bases. The news is always reporting about what a certain celebrity posted on their facebook or twitter about their day. My mom is always asking me why people want everyone to know what they are doing every minute of the day. I post a new status every once and awhile but I do not give a play by play about my day. My mom is much older and doesn’t understand the new cyber generation. Although I do not like when the same persons status is always coming up on my news feed because I get sick of reading about what they have to say. I always ensure my mom that my page is private because I don’t want random people looking at my pictures or my profile. I know that when someone is talking about someone I don’t know I always say that I will facebook them so I can put a face to the story. I do not want people doing that with me, I want online my facebook friends to be able to see it. When my boyfriend and I started dating all of my friends wanted to see him so they all facebooked him but his profile is private as well and I am sure all of his friends did it to me as well, but I fooled them, its private!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Brad Paisley
So, first of all can we say Seinfeld reunion? I grew up watching Seinfeld and saw that there were two actors from the show on Brad Paisley’s video “Online”. It was George and his mom and in the music video and she played George’s mom just like on Seinfeld. I just thought that was interesting, anyway onto the assignment.
I am a country fanatic so I loved watching that music video. In the video they were comparing a good looking in shape man (Brad Paisley) with an older heavy set man (guy from Seinfeld) and how they are perceived online. At the beginning of the song they show the heavy set man and describe his life by working at pizza hut, driving an old car, living with his parents, he’s short and overweight, has asthma, and likes scifi. They go on to show that he can be a different person online because he can change his myspace profile to anything that he wants. As he changes his profile they start showing Brad Paisley as the new guy. His new profile shows him as tall, in shape, nice car, classy, gets girls, lives in Malibu, been in GQ, rich, and a ladies’ man. The overweight guy begins to have more confidence as he changes his online stats and begins getting attention from girls. I like the end of the video where the overweight guy comes out on stage in a cowboy hat with Brad’s guitar and starts singing and the two girls come up to him and start dancing with him.
People will believe anything that they see online. You can have whatever you want on your myspace profile and people that read it will believe it is the real you. People will stereotype you based on your mediated self. I think it is scary that people will believe anything they see online because that is how young girls who meet people on myspace who end up being older men and then they get themselves into trouble. It is easy to be perceived as anyone you want in your myspace profile just like the guy in this music video. I do not have much on my facebook profile but I am sure that people have their own idea about me based on my mediated self. I know that I do it when I read other person’s about me section on facebook. This music video portrayed how people are perceived online very accurately.
I am a country fanatic so I loved watching that music video. In the video they were comparing a good looking in shape man (Brad Paisley) with an older heavy set man (guy from Seinfeld) and how they are perceived online. At the beginning of the song they show the heavy set man and describe his life by working at pizza hut, driving an old car, living with his parents, he’s short and overweight, has asthma, and likes scifi. They go on to show that he can be a different person online because he can change his myspace profile to anything that he wants. As he changes his profile they start showing Brad Paisley as the new guy. His new profile shows him as tall, in shape, nice car, classy, gets girls, lives in Malibu, been in GQ, rich, and a ladies’ man. The overweight guy begins to have more confidence as he changes his online stats and begins getting attention from girls. I like the end of the video where the overweight guy comes out on stage in a cowboy hat with Brad’s guitar and starts singing and the two girls come up to him and start dancing with him.
People will believe anything that they see online. You can have whatever you want on your myspace profile and people that read it will believe it is the real you. People will stereotype you based on your mediated self. I think it is scary that people will believe anything they see online because that is how young girls who meet people on myspace who end up being older men and then they get themselves into trouble. It is easy to be perceived as anyone you want in your myspace profile just like the guy in this music video. I do not have much on my facebook profile but I am sure that people have their own idea about me based on my mediated self. I know that I do it when I read other person’s about me section on facebook. This music video portrayed how people are perceived online very accurately.
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