As mentioned in the previous blogpost, there are various crossovers between technology and biology. This merger has given rise to ‘sciences of the artificial’, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and artificial life (Alife).
You might be familiar with the Steven Spielberg movie Artificial Intelligence: AI (2001), whereby a highly advanced robotic boy longs to become "real" so that he can regain the love of his human mother.
AI scientists predict that intelligent or ‘thinking’ machines can be created- and will be in the near future. However, humanists argue that machines are programmed to calculate solutions, and this does not qualify as thinking in the traditional sense. They argue there is no thinking in a machine, “only electrical charges exchanging input and output signals”[1]. AI scientists respond by pointing out that this is exactly how neuron activity in the brain also works; and don’t we consider this thinking?
There are two forms of AI: Classical AI, and Connectionist AI. Classical AI is concerned with the imitation of human intelligence in machines. The science claims to translate ‘the language of thought’ into computer programs. Connectionist AI on the other hand is concerned with the mere creation of intelligent machines, be it resemblance of human intelligence or not. Instead of replicating human intelligence, the science simulates the functions of human organs.
Alife replicates traditional biology by recreating biological phenomena. The science simulates biological systems relating to life through computer models, robotics, and biochemistry. Hence, there are three main kinds of Alife: soft from software, hard from hardware, and wet from biochemistry. According to Alife scientist John von Neumann, "life is a process which can be abstracted away from any particular medium"[2].
From the three abovementioned sciences of artificial life it is clear that technology has had to veer towards the physical (and not away from it) in aiming to serve the human culture.
I believe that it is this fresh understanding of artificial life that will open up people to the possibilities presented by AI and Alife, instead of fearing them.
References:
[1] Lister, M (ed). 2003. New Media: A critical Introduction. Routledge.
[2] Wikipedia-Artificial Life
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
The thin line between biology and technology
GarlinggaugeAlthough technology is by definition considered artificial and biology natural, technology has been intimately linked to the possibility of creating ‘living’ things. What is it then about technology that relates it to the creation of life?
Cyborgs, clones and prosthetic devices seem to suggest that the human body is no more than an advanced ‘natural’ machine. Therefore, in the same way that human beings evolved from primates, technology has also evolved into artificial intelligence. For this reason, the line that distinguishes technology from biology has disappeared; giving rise to what is referred to as biotechnology.
This is seen in the common use of prosthetic devices, such as contact lenses, hearing aids and prosthetic limbs. The use of prosthetic devices is not merely an extension of the human body with a technological device, but rather the creation of a new physiological entity altogether.
This new physiological entity constructed from the merger of a prosthetic device and a biological organ forms an information circuit of energy exchange, which allows it to function as a single unit. This fusion of technology and biology implies that to some degree humans have become cyborgs.
According to cyberneticist Kevin Warwick, technology has the potential to impact on the relationship between human evolution and our physical transformation process. For this reason, Warwick argues, “it is no longer of advantage to either remain ‘human’ or evovle”. This implies that biological organs run the risk of being replaced by technological devices that perform the same functions. Therefore, Lister et al write, “biological entities have become components for the technological reconstruction of the bodies”.
Personally, I accept the use of prosthetic devices as necessary in medical situations. However, when you consider movies that depict supersoldiers, such as 'Universal Soldier' (1992) and 'Terminator' (1984), one has to wonder how long will these features remain solely in the medical field, before the military adopts them (if it hasn't already). We have to remember that most of our current technology (i.e. the internet) were primarily designed for and used in the military.
As mentioned in an earlier blogpost, some of these ‘cyberpunk’ science fictional movies appear farfetched, yet actually point to current developments in science technology.
Reference:
Lister, M (ed). 2003. New Media: A critical Introduction. Routledge.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Terminator hand and arm
Last night on eTV (South Africa’s independent broadcaster) there was a news report on Touch Bionics, the developer of the world’s first commercially available bionic hand. Touch Bionics’ i-LIMB Hand and ProDigits partial hand prostheses are now available to the general public.
Touch Bionics’ i-LIMB Hand looks and acts like a real human hand and is the world’s first widely available prosthetic device with five individually powered digits.
Touch Bionics’ ProDigits is adapted for patients who have a partial hand, due either to congenitally missing fingers or fingers lost through an accident.
With both products the amputee basically needs to think about what they want the hand/arm to do, and the hand/arm functions accordingly.
The following video is by Touch Bionics, and explains these products in detail.
Touch Bionics’ i-LIMB Hand looks and acts like a real human hand and is the world’s first widely available prosthetic device with five individually powered digits.
Touch Bionics’ ProDigits is adapted for patients who have a partial hand, due either to congenitally missing fingers or fingers lost through an accident.
With both products the amputee basically needs to think about what they want the hand/arm to do, and the hand/arm functions accordingly.
The following video is by Touch Bionics, and explains these products in detail.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
S.A's 'Blade Runner'
Oscar Pistorius, South Africa’s paralympic athlete, has had his hopes of competing in next month’s World Championships in Japan dampened, following an unfortunate incident at the British Grand Prix.
In wet conditions Pistorius, last of those who finished, was subsequently disqualified for running outside his lane. The 20-year-old South African runs on carbon fibre blades attached to both his legs below the knee and his artificial 'limbs' are currently the subject of an investigation by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). They have previously ruled that the blades are an unfair advantage but have said they will wait before making a final ruling.
I don't understand why the IAAF would think the blades give Pistorius an unfair advantage? Surely the blades can't be that advantageous if he still finds it difficult to remain in his own lane at times. Then can you imagine how challenging it must be to win a race on those things?
Below is an interview with Pistorius on the matter.
In wet conditions Pistorius, last of those who finished, was subsequently disqualified for running outside his lane. The 20-year-old South African runs on carbon fibre blades attached to both his legs below the knee and his artificial 'limbs' are currently the subject of an investigation by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). They have previously ruled that the blades are an unfair advantage but have said they will wait before making a final ruling.
I don't understand why the IAAF would think the blades give Pistorius an unfair advantage? Surely the blades can't be that advantageous if he still finds it difficult to remain in his own lane at times. Then can you imagine how challenging it must be to win a race on those things?
Below is an interview with Pistorius on the matter.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Welcome to 'Cyberculture'
Contemporary urban lifestyle necessitates the merger of traditional culture and technology; yielding what is commonly referred to as ‘cyberculture’.
This is evidenced in our increasing dependency on machines in carrying out our daily activities, such as waking up in the morning (alarm clock), brushing your teeth (electric toothbrush), making breakfast (stove, microwave, kettle, and toaster), etc.
In the greater scheme of things ‘cyberculture’ is primarily understood in terms of communication networks, software and programming. However, ‘cyberculture’ also constitutes “artificial intelligence, virtual reality, artificial life, and the human-computer interface” (Lister et al. 2003: 287).
In addition to the above, ‘cyberculture’ explores the:
- “construction and politics of artificial life
- “complexity and technological resources of organic bodies
- and “the indissociability of biological and technological systems”
(Lister et al. 2003: 287).
To help you contextualise the above, simply consider movies such as Blade Runner (1982, 1992),Gattica (1997),The Matrix (1999), ),Artificial Intelligence: AI (2001), and i, Robot (2004).
Although some of the prospects envisioned in these ‘cyberpunk’ science fictional movies appear farfetched, some of theme actually point to current developments in science technology. As a result, ‘cyberpunk’ science fiction has been “accorded the status of a sociology of new media cultures” (Lister et al. 2003: 288).
The sciences pertaining to these facets of ‘cyberculture’ are “biotechnology, robotics and AI research, genetics and genomics” (Lister et al. 2003: 287).
Research surrounding ‘cyberculture’ often explores the relationship between culture, technology, and nature. As a result, these studies fall under what is now understood as ‘cybercultural studies’.
‘Cybercultural studies’ also explores the blurred “distinctions between science fiction, sociology and philosophy” (Lister et al. 2003: 288). This post is a first of a series of explorations into these blurred distinctions.
This is evidenced in our increasing dependency on machines in carrying out our daily activities, such as waking up in the morning (alarm clock), brushing your teeth (electric toothbrush), making breakfast (stove, microwave, kettle, and toaster), etc.
In the greater scheme of things ‘cyberculture’ is primarily understood in terms of communication networks, software and programming. However, ‘cyberculture’ also constitutes “artificial intelligence, virtual reality, artificial life, and the human-computer interface” (Lister et al. 2003: 287).
In addition to the above, ‘cyberculture’ explores the:
- “construction and politics of artificial life
- “complexity and technological resources of organic bodies
- and “the indissociability of biological and technological systems”
(Lister et al. 2003: 287).
To help you contextualise the above, simply consider movies such as Blade Runner (1982, 1992),Gattica (1997),The Matrix (1999), ),Artificial Intelligence: AI (2001), and i, Robot (2004).
Although some of the prospects envisioned in these ‘cyberpunk’ science fictional movies appear farfetched, some of theme actually point to current developments in science technology. As a result, ‘cyberpunk’ science fiction has been “accorded the status of a sociology of new media cultures” (Lister et al. 2003: 288).
The sciences pertaining to these facets of ‘cyberculture’ are “biotechnology, robotics and AI research, genetics and genomics” (Lister et al. 2003: 287).
Research surrounding ‘cyberculture’ often explores the relationship between culture, technology, and nature. As a result, these studies fall under what is now understood as ‘cybercultural studies’.
‘Cybercultural studies’ also explores the blurred “distinctions between science fiction, sociology and philosophy” (Lister et al. 2003: 288). This post is a first of a series of explorations into these blurred distinctions.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Click and Clone
Recently I came across a rather interesting website: Learn.Genetics- Genetic Science Learning Centre. The website is hosted by the University of Utah, and is meant to “[help] people understand how genetics affects their lives and society” (the website’s mission statement).
Learn.Genetics covers an array of issues pertaining to genetic engineering, ranging from stem implantation to cloning. What I enjoy most about this website is that it doesn't just launch you into uncharted area- it eases you into it with interactive step-by-step infographics.
If you are not familiar with the configurations of a cell or DNA molecule, then you should probably start off with the 'Tour of the Basics’. Among other options, you can choice to explore what are genes, chromosomes and DNA molecules.
My favourite interactive infographic is ‘Click and Clone’, whereby as a user, you get to clone a mouse called Mimi. You ‘literally’ (well, maybe 'virtually' is the better term) conduct the scientific procedure yourself. You have to ‘click and drag’ the nucleus and cells using the instruments provided. The audio accompanying each interaction brings some degree of life and immediacy into the animation.
Step-By-Step
Before you embark on the experiment, you are introduced to the mice and tools you will be using to clone Mimi. There is:
- Mimi: the brown mouse you will be cloning
- Megdo: the black mouse, which will be the egg cell donor
And finally
-Momi: the white mouse, which will be the surrogate mother in which the Mimi clone is grown.
Your instruments are a:
- Microscope
- Petri dish
-Sharp pipette
- Blunt pipette
And
- Chemical to stimulate cell division.
Afterwards you have to click on ‘Let’s Clone Mimi’ to proceed to the initial step. At this stage you get to examine each step in the procedure, as follows:
-Isolate donor cells from Mimi and Megdo.
-Remove and discard the nucleus from the egg cell.
-Transfer the somatic cell nucleus into the enucleated egg cell.
-Stimulate cell division.
-Implant the embryo into Momi, the surrogate mother.
-Deliver the baby mouse clone of Mimi.
I do not want to spoil the experience for you so I will not go through the steps. However, I do encourage you to do so yourself. Just a word of warning- read the instructions on each step before you start clicking and dragging.
History
This interactive infographic is based on a research protocol that was used in one of several milestone experiments on cloning. The last slide reads as follows:
In 1998, scientists at the University of Hawaii made mice genetically identical to the mouse from which the cumulus donor cell was taken. The first-born survivor was named Cumulina.
The scientists learned that allowing between one and six hours for the newly transferred nucleus to adjust to adjust to the enucleated egg cell was crucial before activating the cell to successfully develop into an embryo.
If you are still unclear with the procedure and terms described above, just go through ‘Click and Clone’.
The scientists learned that allowing between one and six hours for the newly transferred nucleus to adjust to adjust to the enucleated egg cell was crucial before activating the cell to successfully develop into an embryo.
If you are still unclear with the procedure and terms described above, just go through ‘Click and Clone’.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Human cloning- the next ‘natural’ step from stem cell growth?
Graphic courtesy of Michigan State University. There have been numerous cases of stem cell growth for therapeutic purposes, such as the regeneration of skin and heart tissue, and the pharming and transplantation of animal organs into human patients, i.e. the Robert Pennington case.
Our generation of bio-scientists has also cloned mice and sheep, i.e. the case of Dolly. Therefore, is not the cloning of humans the most ‘natural’ next step in our progression in human enhancement?
The process followed in stem cell regeneration is similar to the one followed in cloning. The only distinguishing factor is the final stage, whereby the cloned cell could either be used for stem cell regeneration or to impregnate- refer to the graphic above.
Theoretically this is possible, and to some extent practically possible as displayed in the case of Dolly, the first cloned sheep. However, some bio-scientists have gone as far as brazenly claiming to have successfully cloned humans. Dr Brigitte Boisellier of Clonaid is one of them.
In an interview with Sir David Frost on "BBC Breakfast with Frost" (November 23, 2003) Dr Boisellier claimed that her cloning company had already cloned five babies (without any defects), and the eldest was almost a year at the time of the interview (having been born in December 26, 2002).
According to Dr Boisellier it is “[e]asier to clone human beings than it is to clone any other mammals”. She also claimed that Clonaid had already been cloning humans for over 25 years.
In recent years Clonaid has been shadowed with fraud claims as Dr Boisellier has failed to provide any evidence of her clone babies. This was her argument during the interview:
DR BRIGITTE BOISSELIER: "Okay. For me it's not a problem, it's for the parents. You know, they have their baby, they want to lead a happy life and they want to protect the child, the children. So for me, I respect that even if it was hard. Can you imagine like last year when I had to say well it's impossible to give the proof because of them saying no. But in the second, I think the second generation might be easier, ... the second ... babies ..."
Although I am eager to jump onto the Clonaid train of endless possibilities, I am afraid that I remain as sceptical of her abilities at cloning humans as bioethicist Professor Nigel Cameron of the Centre for Bioethics and Public Policy.
NIGEL CAMERON: "I think virtually every scientist in the world would say that it is impossible at the moment to clone live-born human beings. That's one clear fact. There's a lot of research into aging processes but this stem cell stuff is so hard to control at the moment I think it will be a long way away."
Until further evidence I too share this sentiment. However, I suspect I am far more positive about the prospect of successful cloning of humans than Professor Cameron.
Stay tuned for the next blog post, which will be an infographic on how one (theoretically) goes about cloning a human. Then decide for yourself if human cloning is or isn't the next 'natural' step from stem growth in human enhancement.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
International Day Against Homophobia vlog
Below is a vlog of a picnic hosted by OutRhodes (the Rhodes University gay and lesbian student society) on the International Day Against Homophobia- 17 May.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
The debate around human enhancement
Human enhancement is any attempt, natural or artificial, at overcoming human body limitations. However, the term is often applied to the use of "technological means to select or alter human aptitudes and other phenotypical characteristics, whether or not the alteration results in characteristics that lie beyond the existing human range".
Human enhancement entails the application of specific technologies- i.e. neuro-, cyber-, gene-, and nano-technologies — onto human biology. The uses of these technologies ranges from medical purposes (or therapeutic- such as the common use of laser eye surgery to rid one of cataract), to more cosmetic purposes (non-therapeutic- such as breast implantation).
The use of human enhancement technolgies on healthy bodies has raised some significant ethical, legal, and social concerns. Bioethicists are concerned with the ethical consequences of the relationships among life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, law, philosophy, and theology. Bioethicists such as Arthur L. Caplan argue that the use of biotechnologies on healthy humans is merely an indication of vanity, and that this will result in a greater divide between the "haves" and the "have-nots".
However, transhumanists including Ray Kurzweil and Nick Bostrom argue for human enhancement. They view the science as a means to unify humans and technology in the progression towards human evolution. They argue that evolution should be in our hands.
The purpose of this blog is not to take either side of the argument. It is merely to offer insight into human enhancement and provide a forum for the debate to continue.
Which side of the debate do you fall under?
Human enhancement entails the application of specific technologies- i.e. neuro-, cyber-, gene-, and nano-technologies — onto human biology. The uses of these technologies ranges from medical purposes (or therapeutic- such as the common use of laser eye surgery to rid one of cataract), to more cosmetic purposes (non-therapeutic- such as breast implantation).
The use of human enhancement technolgies on healthy bodies has raised some significant ethical, legal, and social concerns. Bioethicists are concerned with the ethical consequences of the relationships among life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, law, philosophy, and theology. Bioethicists such as Arthur L. Caplan argue that the use of biotechnologies on healthy humans is merely an indication of vanity, and that this will result in a greater divide between the "haves" and the "have-nots".
However, transhumanists including Ray Kurzweil and Nick Bostrom argue for human enhancement. They view the science as a means to unify humans and technology in the progression towards human evolution. They argue that evolution should be in our hands.
The purpose of this blog is not to take either side of the argument. It is merely to offer insight into human enhancement and provide a forum for the debate to continue.
Which side of the debate do you fall under?
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
The SuperHuman Race
Imagine waking up one day to the realisation that the world as you know it is actually an isolated high-tech compound and that you are a clone whose organs are soon to be harvested?
This is the plot to Michael Bay’s recent science fiction blockbuster 'The Island' (2005). The protagonist Lincoln Six-Echo (played by Ewan McGregor) goes on the run after discovering that he is actually a clone kept in a utopian facility, only to be later harvested.
If you thought that this was far fetched, think again. According to Director of Research at the Royal College of the Art (in London) Professor Sandra Kemp, “we are already doing [this] with stem cells but not with fully grown people or babies. Scientists are already cloning human stem cells and animal stem cells”, for transplantation purposes.
In 1997, Robert Pennington (of Dallas, USA) faced acute liver failure and no available human match. He underwent a pioneering surgical operation that connected him to a transgenic pig’s liver, whilst he waited for a human donor. To date, Pennington believes his life was saved by Wilbur the transgenic pig. Organs of transgenic animals are genetically modified to be human compatible. This process is known as animal Pharming.
Although Professor Kemp says she has not come across any case whereby a human clone had been harvested in this manner, she does not see why this would not be possible in the near future.
Genetic engineering has seen a shift in recent years from medical to cosmetic purposes, to help curb our limitations as human beings. In 2002, cyborg professor Kevin Warwick gave himself an ultrasonic sensory ability. The professor of Cybernetics at the University of Reading (in England) said, “those who want to stay humans, you’re going to remain a sub-species”.
Professor Kemp predicts that in our search for the perfect human race, we will arrive at a future form of racism, whereby the genetically modified being will be considered superior to those who are not.
Kemp admitted that if she was in the position of genetically enhancing her embryo to bear a superior being, she would, considering everyone else would be doing it and if she did not, her child would be at a disadvantage.
Here are a few questions Professor Kemp asked the audience at her ‘Human enhancement: Future designs and bio features’ lecture:
- Would you enhance your body and/or mind?
- Would you have a genetically engineered baby?
- Would you accept an animal part?
Respond with your answers.
Stay tuned for my next blog post for a video/audio slide of the interview with Kemp.
This is the plot to Michael Bay’s recent science fiction blockbuster 'The Island' (2005). The protagonist Lincoln Six-Echo (played by Ewan McGregor) goes on the run after discovering that he is actually a clone kept in a utopian facility, only to be later harvested.
If you thought that this was far fetched, think again. According to Director of Research at the Royal College of the Art (in London) Professor Sandra Kemp, “we are already doing [this] with stem cells but not with fully grown people or babies. Scientists are already cloning human stem cells and animal stem cells”, for transplantation purposes.
In 1997, Robert Pennington (of Dallas, USA) faced acute liver failure and no available human match. He underwent a pioneering surgical operation that connected him to a transgenic pig’s liver, whilst he waited for a human donor. To date, Pennington believes his life was saved by Wilbur the transgenic pig. Organs of transgenic animals are genetically modified to be human compatible. This process is known as animal Pharming.
Although Professor Kemp says she has not come across any case whereby a human clone had been harvested in this manner, she does not see why this would not be possible in the near future.
Genetic engineering has seen a shift in recent years from medical to cosmetic purposes, to help curb our limitations as human beings. In 2002, cyborg professor Kevin Warwick gave himself an ultrasonic sensory ability. The professor of Cybernetics at the University of Reading (in England) said, “those who want to stay humans, you’re going to remain a sub-species”.
Professor Kemp predicts that in our search for the perfect human race, we will arrive at a future form of racism, whereby the genetically modified being will be considered superior to those who are not.
Kemp admitted that if she was in the position of genetically enhancing her embryo to bear a superior being, she would, considering everyone else would be doing it and if she did not, her child would be at a disadvantage.
Here are a few questions Professor Kemp asked the audience at her ‘Human enhancement: Future designs and bio features’ lecture:
- Would you enhance your body and/or mind?
- Would you have a genetically engineered baby?
- Would you accept an animal part?
Respond with your answers.
Stay tuned for my next blog post for a video/audio slide of the interview with Kemp.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Scifest- getting started
Planning each story beforehand was slightly difficult. I tended to not really know what to expect and I was afraid of being caught up in the web of my own preparation and missing the real story once I was faced with it. So I did enough research to gain an overview perspective on the topic, without formulating my own preconceptions on the subject. This was not easy.
It was when I started being more flexible to the context of each story that I was able to do each story individual justice. Instead of subscribing all of them to a set formula I was open to the possibility of each story unfolding in its own way.
An example of this would be the 'Posthuman Race' story. Initially I had intended on basing my photo-story on Case Rijsdijk's Scifest lecture on 'Physics and Film' but after attending Professor Sandra Kemp's lecture, 'Human enhancement: Future designs and bio features', I realised that her lecture would make for a much more invogerating multi-media package, so I investigated that aspect of science and film.
Working with the information I had gathered in Prof. Kemp's lecture, I was able to research relevant material and reliable sources, and not waste hours surfing the internet whilst hoping for the best. My energies and resources were directed and therefore I believe I bore better fruit then I would have researching everything on the subject. And at this point I was starting to formulate an angle to the multi-media package.
So in this way, the newsgathering process was made less daunting.
It was when I started being more flexible to the context of each story that I was able to do each story individual justice. Instead of subscribing all of them to a set formula I was open to the possibility of each story unfolding in its own way.
An example of this would be the 'Posthuman Race' story. Initially I had intended on basing my photo-story on Case Rijsdijk's Scifest lecture on 'Physics and Film' but after attending Professor Sandra Kemp's lecture, 'Human enhancement: Future designs and bio features', I realised that her lecture would make for a much more invogerating multi-media package, so I investigated that aspect of science and film.
Working with the information I had gathered in Prof. Kemp's lecture, I was able to research relevant material and reliable sources, and not waste hours surfing the internet whilst hoping for the best. My energies and resources were directed and therefore I believe I bore better fruit then I would have researching everything on the subject. And at this point I was starting to formulate an angle to the multi-media package.
So in this way, the newsgathering process was made less daunting.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Why is it important for an African journalists to have a solid grasp of the technical language of HTML?
Teaching journalism students how to design and maintain HTML structures helps “reinforce many important journalism principles"[1] , such as the importance of precise writing. A journalist’s credibility is measured according to how accuracy they relay information.
Getting to grips with the technical jargon of HTML equips journalists with the ability to tackle and decipher technical documents, such as government statistics or budgets. HTML students learn how “to see content divorced from its presentation”.[2] Pretty colours and fonts do not easily fool them. As a result, corrupt governments and corporations are unable to hide behind (otherwise) intimidating technical jargon and documentation.
The ability to see content removed from its presentation trains the journalist’s (eye) and mind on how to critically and objectively report news. Therefore, an HTML journalism student does not merely identify irregularities in technical document structures; they can also conduct critical analysis of the content itself.
HTML also nurtures the journalist’s natural curiosity of how and why the world functions the way it does. Without this curiosity, the journalist is without his or her spark.
And finally, knowing how to code HTML style sheets puts a student journalist in a favourable position for when they do enter the journalism field; it is “a key concept for anyone who wants to take advantage of the ability to republish content across multiple media”.[3]
However, Travis Smith (a journalism and HTML educator) does not seem to fully agree with this:
“While knowing HTML code is useful today, we're not that far from an era where it won't be.
How many paginators can read and write postscript, or untangle a PDF document using BBEdit? Virtually none. Software provides an abstratction (sic) layer and allows them to spend their time on the presentation, not nitpicking the code.
From my perspective, and speaking on behalf of my students as well, that day can't arrive soon enough.” (2005)[3]
Considering that our continent is bandwidth[4] poor, we cannot afford to be thinking in this manner.
“Effective bandwidth management can only happen by applying a combination of technical computer skills, effective network monitoring, and a sensible policy that is understood by all users.”[5]
If we are to operate as responsible journalists, then we are to embrace the technicality of information communication technologies. This is one of the objectives the Highway Africa News Agency has been attempting to fulfil.
References:
[1] http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/050113niles/
[1] http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/050113niles/
[1] http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/050113niles/
[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandwidth
[1]http://wiki.bwmo.net/moin/English/Chapter1
Getting to grips with the technical jargon of HTML equips journalists with the ability to tackle and decipher technical documents, such as government statistics or budgets. HTML students learn how “to see content divorced from its presentation”.[2] Pretty colours and fonts do not easily fool them. As a result, corrupt governments and corporations are unable to hide behind (otherwise) intimidating technical jargon and documentation.
The ability to see content removed from its presentation trains the journalist’s (eye) and mind on how to critically and objectively report news. Therefore, an HTML journalism student does not merely identify irregularities in technical document structures; they can also conduct critical analysis of the content itself.
HTML also nurtures the journalist’s natural curiosity of how and why the world functions the way it does. Without this curiosity, the journalist is without his or her spark.
And finally, knowing how to code HTML style sheets puts a student journalist in a favourable position for when they do enter the journalism field; it is “a key concept for anyone who wants to take advantage of the ability to republish content across multiple media”.[3]
However, Travis Smith (a journalism and HTML educator) does not seem to fully agree with this:
“While knowing HTML code is useful today, we're not that far from an era where it won't be.
How many paginators can read and write postscript, or untangle a PDF document using BBEdit? Virtually none. Software provides an abstratction (sic) layer and allows them to spend their time on the presentation, not nitpicking the code.
From my perspective, and speaking on behalf of my students as well, that day can't arrive soon enough.” (2005)[3]
Considering that our continent is bandwidth[4] poor, we cannot afford to be thinking in this manner.
“Effective bandwidth management can only happen by applying a combination of technical computer skills, effective network monitoring, and a sensible policy that is understood by all users.”[5]
If we are to operate as responsible journalists, then we are to embrace the technicality of information communication technologies. This is one of the objectives the Highway Africa News Agency has been attempting to fulfil.
References:
[1] http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/050113niles/
[1] http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/050113niles/
[1] http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/050113niles/
[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandwidth
[1]http://wiki.bwmo.net/moin/English/Chapter1
Why is accessibility of webpages of concern to you as a journalist?
Journalists are faced with the responsibility of having to provide the public with enough information required to make informed decisions. This means that for the public to effectively engage in democratic processes, it needs to be informed about its options.
This is not always feasible), when considering that some countries (especially in Africa) are without sophisticated Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) and are bandwidth poor. Under these unfavourable conditions, it is often difficult for a journalist to effectively fulfil this responsibility. How can we as digital journalists overcome the ICT divide and increase accessibility in marginalised communities?
One of the main objectives of media organisations such as the Highway Africa News Agency is to address the issue of accessibility in the continent. However, even that audience with access to communication technologies, accessibility to the information itself is still a problem.
Consider webpages for instance; many digital journalists are not familiar with HTML coding and the crucial role it plays in structuring website content in such a way as to render it easily accessible to its users.
“Content developers should make content understandable and navigable. This includes not only making the language clear and simple, but also providing understandable mechanisms for navigating within and between pages. Providing navigation tools and orientation information in pages will maximize accessibility and usability.”[1]
Digital journlists need to know how to do this in order to be able to efficiently structure their media packages in ways that make them accesible to their online audiences. We also need to consider the often marginalised disabled communities.
“Through better authoring, Web information providers can avoid shutting out the world's disabled population from the information age, and can garner a good portion of this largely ignored market.”[2]
ICTs such as braille displays and screen readers render your website content accessible also to the blind population.
Here are a few guidelines on accesibility as outlined by W3C1:[1]
References:
http://www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT/
http://htmlhelp.com/design/accessibility/why.html
This is not always feasible), when considering that some countries (especially in Africa) are without sophisticated Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) and are bandwidth poor. Under these unfavourable conditions, it is often difficult for a journalist to effectively fulfil this responsibility. How can we as digital journalists overcome the ICT divide and increase accessibility in marginalised communities?
One of the main objectives of media organisations such as the Highway Africa News Agency is to address the issue of accessibility in the continent. However, even that audience with access to communication technologies, accessibility to the information itself is still a problem.
Consider webpages for instance; many digital journalists are not familiar with HTML coding and the crucial role it plays in structuring website content in such a way as to render it easily accessible to its users.
“Content developers should make content understandable and navigable. This includes not only making the language clear and simple, but also providing understandable mechanisms for navigating within and between pages. Providing navigation tools and orientation information in pages will maximize accessibility and usability.”[1]
Digital journlists need to know how to do this in order to be able to efficiently structure their media packages in ways that make them accesible to their online audiences. We also need to consider the often marginalised disabled communities.
“Through better authoring, Web information providers can avoid shutting out the world's disabled population from the information age, and can garner a good portion of this largely ignored market.”[2]
ICTs such as braille displays and screen readers render your website content accessible also to the blind population.
Here are a few guidelines on accesibility as outlined by W3C1:[1]
- Mark up documents with the proper structural elements. Control presentation with style sheets rather than with presentation elements and attributes.
- Ensure that tables have necessary markup to be transformed by accessible browsers and other user agents.
- Provide clear and consistent navigation mechanisms -- orientation information, navigation bars, a site map, etc. -- to increase the likelihood that a person will find what they are looking for at a site.
- Ensure that documents are clear and simple so they may be more easily understood.
References:
http://www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT/
http://htmlhelp.com/design/accessibility/why.html
Style Sheeting
In designing an HTML structure, one should consider the purpose and meaning of the website’s content.
Ask yourself:
What is the purpose of this website?
Who is my target audience?
How would they prefer to have the content presented to them?
How do I go about packaging the content to fulfil this preference?
The more research and planning you do, the easier it will be “to make informed decisions on technological or design issues; like choosing a suitable hosting package, for example”[1].
One of the informed decisions you might make is to use the div-element to efficiently structure your content blocks in terms of related meaning. This will assist your user in their navigation through the website- making your content easily accessible.
Once you have designed your HTML structure accordingly, it will be easy for you to simply “[add] the appropriate content in the appropriate divisions of the page”2. As a result, editing the content of your website (even once it has been posted) will also be conducted with the same ease.
A well structured HTML website is uncluttered and simple- each element is used “for its logical structural purpose”2.
In designing an efficient HTML structure, “[y]ou need to create a strong hierarchy for the site and breakdown content into small [logica] units”1.
You might want to consider including the following features in your HTML design structure:
In terms of user navigation- it is important to practically and logically structure your content so that your users are able to quickly access the information they are searching for. Including context-based links that take the user to other pages on your website will also assist in the swift navigation of the website.
Internet users read web content differently to how they read printed text- “they tend to be more impatient”1 in their consumption of web textual content. Hence, we sometimes refer to them as browsers. As a result, you might want to consider an ‘overview' and 'details' structure to your website, “giving people a choice in how deep they want to delve”1.
Finally, consider 'future proofing' your website. In doing so, you are enabling your website to expand, without you having to rebuild it from the ground.
[1] http://www.getawebsite.friezedesign.co.uk/plan.htm
[2] http://www.wise-woman.org/tutorials/cssplanning/
Ask yourself:
What is the purpose of this website?
Who is my target audience?
How would they prefer to have the content presented to them?
How do I go about packaging the content to fulfil this preference?
The more research and planning you do, the easier it will be “to make informed decisions on technological or design issues; like choosing a suitable hosting package, for example”[1].
One of the informed decisions you might make is to use the div-element to efficiently structure your content blocks in terms of related meaning. This will assist your user in their navigation through the website- making your content easily accessible.
Once you have designed your HTML structure accordingly, it will be easy for you to simply “[add] the appropriate content in the appropriate divisions of the page”2. As a result, editing the content of your website (even once it has been posted) will also be conducted with the same ease.
A well structured HTML website is uncluttered and simple- each element is used “for its logical structural purpose”2.
In designing an efficient HTML structure, “[y]ou need to create a strong hierarchy for the site and breakdown content into small [logica] units”1.
You might want to consider including the following features in your HTML design structure:
- a heading with your logo and site name
- a main content page
- global site navigation
- subsection navigation
- a search form
- a utility area with shopping cart and check out
- a footer with legal stuff[2]
In terms of user navigation- it is important to practically and logically structure your content so that your users are able to quickly access the information they are searching for. Including context-based links that take the user to other pages on your website will also assist in the swift navigation of the website.
Internet users read web content differently to how they read printed text- “they tend to be more impatient”1 in their consumption of web textual content. Hence, we sometimes refer to them as browsers. As a result, you might want to consider an ‘overview' and 'details' structure to your website, “giving people a choice in how deep they want to delve”1.
Finally, consider 'future proofing' your website. In doing so, you are enabling your website to expand, without you having to rebuild it from the ground.
[1] http://www.getawebsite.friezedesign.co.uk/plan.htm
[2] http://www.wise-woman.org/tutorials/cssplanning/
Thursday, March 1, 2007
My journey through the CARR assignment
I have only included one graph because it more or less
indicates my findings and what the other graphs look like.
When Jude[1] gave us the CARR[2] assignment, my main concern was my limited experience with Microsoft Excel. The only time I ever work on Excel is during my music library shifts at RMR[3]. Compiling the music catalogue simply entails numbering and listing the albums and tracks onto an Excel document, that’s it.
The most challenging thing I have ever done on Excel is conduct a content analysis on newspaper clippings as part of a research project in my second year. Believe me, it sounds more hectic than it actually was.
So it was pretty much of a surprise (not to mention a major frustration) when just researching for the data itself proved to be a mission (and a half). We had a seminar on CARR before Jude gave us the assignment. Going on my lecture notes I figured http://www.statssa.gov.za/. would be a good place to start.
I could not believe just how useless this site was. They have the population statistics, but the only thing is, they are according to provinces and not cities or towns. Brilliant.
So I just decided to shift my focus for a while onto the other aspect of the assignment. Finding the crime statistics was less of a headache. It turned out that everything I needed was on http://www.saps.gov.za/. But then I still had the specific populations to find.
First I just googled, and all sorts of junk came my way. I couldn’t quite figure out which population statistics to go with. I didn’t know when they were released or if the sites they were on were in fact credible sources.
Then Melissa[4] and I tried doing things the good old fashion way- pouring over census publications at the library. No luck there either. Then it hit me- why not search for the data on the municipal sites of the specific towns.
I found some statistics and was ready to run with them, until Jude told us that the population statistics were in fact conveniently listed on an Excel document on http://www.statssa.gov.za/. So I went back to were I had started. Turned out the site wasn’t as useless as I had thought it was.
After about another hour of agony, searching the labyrinth of a site, I finally found the municipal population statistics. Only problem was that they were listed according to municipal codes. This is where Galen[5] comes in and “saves the day” (well at least that’s what he keeps telling himself). He found the codes and we correlated them with the population data I had found. Good team work.
Once again, strangely enough it wasn’t so hectic working on Excel. Well, I must admit Lauren[6] did help me a little (in exchange for helping her find the statistics). After a while, I found that my little experience working with the RMR music catalogue actually came in handy. I figured out how to calculate the per capita for each city, without having to re-type the formula every time. Just click & drag; I do this all the time on the music catalogue.
This gave me the confidence to play around a little with Excel. Its amazing the things it can do. Did you know that you don’t need to redo your graphs if you have entered the wrong figures? You just edit the list and the graph shifts accordingly. Wow.
The findings weren’t what I expected. It turns out that Grahamstown is supposedly more dangerous than Johannesburg. I don’t know. I’m still not sold on this one (even though it is my own research findings telling me this).
I think maybe the results might have been a whole lot different if we had listed all the crimes, and not just sampled a few. And we do need to consider the different populations. Grahamstown’s sparse population means that no matter how few our crimes there are, they will appear concentrated. Unlike in Johannesburg were the population is 3 225 309. Maybe we need another CARR assignment to investigate this further.
Anyway, that outlines my adventurous journey through my first CARR assignment in New Media.
[1] Our New Media theory lecturer
[2] Computer Assisted Research and Reporting
[3] Rhodes Music Radio station
[4] cloudsinmycoffee-meg.blogspot.com
[5] confessionsofajournstudent.blogspot.com
[6] lauri-seeing-stars.blogspot.com
indicates my findings and what the other graphs look like.
When Jude[1] gave us the CARR[2] assignment, my main concern was my limited experience with Microsoft Excel. The only time I ever work on Excel is during my music library shifts at RMR[3]. Compiling the music catalogue simply entails numbering and listing the albums and tracks onto an Excel document, that’s it.
The most challenging thing I have ever done on Excel is conduct a content analysis on newspaper clippings as part of a research project in my second year. Believe me, it sounds more hectic than it actually was.
So it was pretty much of a surprise (not to mention a major frustration) when just researching for the data itself proved to be a mission (and a half). We had a seminar on CARR before Jude gave us the assignment. Going on my lecture notes I figured http://www.statssa.gov.za/. would be a good place to start.
I could not believe just how useless this site was. They have the population statistics, but the only thing is, they are according to provinces and not cities or towns. Brilliant.
So I just decided to shift my focus for a while onto the other aspect of the assignment. Finding the crime statistics was less of a headache. It turned out that everything I needed was on http://www.saps.gov.za/. But then I still had the specific populations to find.
First I just googled, and all sorts of junk came my way. I couldn’t quite figure out which population statistics to go with. I didn’t know when they were released or if the sites they were on were in fact credible sources.
Then Melissa[4] and I tried doing things the good old fashion way- pouring over census publications at the library. No luck there either. Then it hit me- why not search for the data on the municipal sites of the specific towns.
I found some statistics and was ready to run with them, until Jude told us that the population statistics were in fact conveniently listed on an Excel document on http://www.statssa.gov.za/. So I went back to were I had started. Turned out the site wasn’t as useless as I had thought it was.
After about another hour of agony, searching the labyrinth of a site, I finally found the municipal population statistics. Only problem was that they were listed according to municipal codes. This is where Galen[5] comes in and “saves the day” (well at least that’s what he keeps telling himself). He found the codes and we correlated them with the population data I had found. Good team work.
Once again, strangely enough it wasn’t so hectic working on Excel. Well, I must admit Lauren[6] did help me a little (in exchange for helping her find the statistics). After a while, I found that my little experience working with the RMR music catalogue actually came in handy. I figured out how to calculate the per capita for each city, without having to re-type the formula every time. Just click & drag; I do this all the time on the music catalogue.
This gave me the confidence to play around a little with Excel. Its amazing the things it can do. Did you know that you don’t need to redo your graphs if you have entered the wrong figures? You just edit the list and the graph shifts accordingly. Wow.
The findings weren’t what I expected. It turns out that Grahamstown is supposedly more dangerous than Johannesburg. I don’t know. I’m still not sold on this one (even though it is my own research findings telling me this).
I think maybe the results might have been a whole lot different if we had listed all the crimes, and not just sampled a few. And we do need to consider the different populations. Grahamstown’s sparse population means that no matter how few our crimes there are, they will appear concentrated. Unlike in Johannesburg were the population is 3 225 309. Maybe we need another CARR assignment to investigate this further.
Anyway, that outlines my adventurous journey through my first CARR assignment in New Media.
[1] Our New Media theory lecturer
[2] Computer Assisted Research and Reporting
[3] Rhodes Music Radio station
[4] cloudsinmycoffee-meg.blogspot.com
[5] confessionsofajournstudent.blogspot.com
[6] lauri-seeing-stars.blogspot.com
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
XHTML tutorial reflection
I believe it is important that as a new media or digital journalist I understand the use of XHTML. New media is multifaceted. It embraces all media under one technology, the Internet. Not only do I need to be familiar with the technicalities of these varied media, but also most importantly I need to know how to bring them all together.
Each medium has specific characteristics, which have made it successful in its own right. A complication arises when all these media are brought together under one sphere and compete for attention. This is where XHTML comes in.
An understanding of XHTML will help the digital journalist configure the varied media in such a way as to avert conflict of the diverse elements from each medium. A harmony on the web page is created when all the elements of the different media work together to convey the same message.
Furthermore, in our digital age its is advised that a journalist acquire a multitude of communication skills in order to successfully market himself or herself in the profession. As journalists we are expected to be able to put together a media package all by ourselves, from newsgathering, content to presentation.
http://www.w3.org/MarUp/
http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/2004/xmlevents-for-html-authors
Each medium has specific characteristics, which have made it successful in its own right. A complication arises when all these media are brought together under one sphere and compete for attention. This is where XHTML comes in.
An understanding of XHTML will help the digital journalist configure the varied media in such a way as to avert conflict of the diverse elements from each medium. A harmony on the web page is created when all the elements of the different media work together to convey the same message.
Furthermore, in our digital age its is advised that a journalist acquire a multitude of communication skills in order to successfully market himself or herself in the profession. As journalists we are expected to be able to put together a media package all by ourselves, from newsgathering, content to presentation.
http://www.w3.org/MarUp/
http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/2004/xmlevents-for-html-authors
Sunday, February 25, 2007
How new is 'new' media
The uniqueness and functionality of ‘new’ media is best understood in the examination of the characteristics of Digital Journalism:
- Hypertextuality:
The ability to set up pathways (or links) from one text to another; this may be in the form of an RSS feed.
- Interactivity:
This pertains to the active engagement of human (or machine) interaction, for instance, commenting on a news story.
- Nonlinearity:
There is no traditional ordering of time and space; this means you may choose to search for the weather forecast first, before engaging with the hard news stories of the day.
- Multimedia:
The merging of various media forms; telling the story from different platforms.
Therefore, apart from written text, a news bulletin may also consist of video footage, streaming audio, photographs, and other graphical representations (such as infographs and comic strips).
- Convergence:
The merging of technological services, for instance, an iPod receives and stores songs, videos, photographs, and other forms of data.
- Customization and personalization:
The option of having only those services and content that interest you, sent to you.
This may be in the form of links on your page, which select and filter what you wish to engage with.
- Digitality:
The ability to create content, digitize, duplicate, manipulate and transfer it.
(Kevin Kawamoto 2003: 4)
- Virtuality:
The use of pseudo-realistic programs such as 3-dimension. These provide you with virtual environments and richer media experiences.
(Martin Lister 2002: 13)
Media theorists, Jay David Bolter and Richard Grusin argue that no medium is ever in its entirety new, but merely a re-fashion of preceding media.
Bolter and Grusin “refer to this process as the reciprocal logic of remediation- the repurposing or re-fashioning of old media with new media, not just in terms of content or retelling of stories but through the incorporation of old media into new media forms” (Erik Bucy 2005: 50).
According to the remediation theory, there is no such thing as new media, just the repurposing of already existing media. However, the process is reciprocal. This means that new media forms would fashion themselves on old media forms, so as not to alienate existing media markets. In response, old media forms would re-fashion themselves on new media forms, in order to attract new media markets (Bucy 2005).
“New media have not historically obliterated their past… [and old] media forms change when newer forms appear and there is a different accommodation of a media mix” (David P. Marshall 2004: 4).
Once the new medium has established itself amongst its users, it will have to develop its own characteristics and content specific to its platform. Most of our media is currently undergoing this process of remediation. The bloggers’ sphere is such a medium.
Blogs range from personal online diaries to critical commentary on particular subjects. However, blogs are rapidly becoming popular media for Citizen Journalism. Ordinary people function as journalists, reporting on stories within their proximity, and post the news onto their blogs. However, traditional media practitioners have questioned the legality of calling such bloggers, journalists.
“Who qualifies for press credentials? Who (or what) is the press in the twenty-first century? Should all Web sites that claim to post “news” be designated as news organizations?” (Kawamoto 2003: 2). This brings us to the above-mentioned concept of digital journalism.
Kawamoto tentatively defines digital journalism as “the use of digital technologies to research, produce, and deliver (or make accessible) news and information to an increasingly computer-literate audience” (2003: 4).
Additional to the above quoted media studies’ critiques; there is critical debate of whether there are renewed cultural struggles, shifts and raptures in identity as the result of new media (Marshall 2004: 2).
“[T]he emergence of ‘new media’ as some kind of epoch-making phenomena, is seen as part of a much larger landscape of social, technological and cultural change; in short, as part of a new technoculture” (Lister el al. 2002: 11).
As a result, Marshall suggests the “cultural production thesis” be used in the analysis of new media (2004: 10-11). Under this thesis, the audience is understood in terms of users who engage with the media and not passive consumers.
References:
Bucy Erik (ed). 2005. Remediation in Living in the Information age: A New Media Reader.
Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth Thomson Learning
Kawamoto, Kevin. 2003. Digital journalism: emerging media and the changing horizons of journalism in Digital journalism: emerging media and the changing horizons of journalism.
Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield
Lister, Martin [et al.]. 2002. New Media and Technologies in New media: a critical introduction.
London: Routledge
Marshall, David P. 2004. Introduction: new media and cultural studies in New Media Cultures.
London: Arnold; New York: Distributed in the US by Oxford University Press
- Hypertextuality:
The ability to set up pathways (or links) from one text to another; this may be in the form of an RSS feed.
- Interactivity:
This pertains to the active engagement of human (or machine) interaction, for instance, commenting on a news story.
- Nonlinearity:
There is no traditional ordering of time and space; this means you may choose to search for the weather forecast first, before engaging with the hard news stories of the day.
- Multimedia:
The merging of various media forms; telling the story from different platforms.
Therefore, apart from written text, a news bulletin may also consist of video footage, streaming audio, photographs, and other graphical representations (such as infographs and comic strips).
- Convergence:
The merging of technological services, for instance, an iPod receives and stores songs, videos, photographs, and other forms of data.
- Customization and personalization:
The option of having only those services and content that interest you, sent to you.
This may be in the form of links on your page, which select and filter what you wish to engage with.
- Digitality:
The ability to create content, digitize, duplicate, manipulate and transfer it.
(Kevin Kawamoto 2003: 4)
- Virtuality:
The use of pseudo-realistic programs such as 3-dimension. These provide you with virtual environments and richer media experiences.
(Martin Lister 2002: 13)
Media theorists, Jay David Bolter and Richard Grusin argue that no medium is ever in its entirety new, but merely a re-fashion of preceding media.
Bolter and Grusin “refer to this process as the reciprocal logic of remediation- the repurposing or re-fashioning of old media with new media, not just in terms of content or retelling of stories but through the incorporation of old media into new media forms” (Erik Bucy 2005: 50).
According to the remediation theory, there is no such thing as new media, just the repurposing of already existing media. However, the process is reciprocal. This means that new media forms would fashion themselves on old media forms, so as not to alienate existing media markets. In response, old media forms would re-fashion themselves on new media forms, in order to attract new media markets (Bucy 2005).
“New media have not historically obliterated their past… [and old] media forms change when newer forms appear and there is a different accommodation of a media mix” (David P. Marshall 2004: 4).
Once the new medium has established itself amongst its users, it will have to develop its own characteristics and content specific to its platform. Most of our media is currently undergoing this process of remediation. The bloggers’ sphere is such a medium.
Blogs range from personal online diaries to critical commentary on particular subjects. However, blogs are rapidly becoming popular media for Citizen Journalism. Ordinary people function as journalists, reporting on stories within their proximity, and post the news onto their blogs. However, traditional media practitioners have questioned the legality of calling such bloggers, journalists.
“Who qualifies for press credentials? Who (or what) is the press in the twenty-first century? Should all Web sites that claim to post “news” be designated as news organizations?” (Kawamoto 2003: 2). This brings us to the above-mentioned concept of digital journalism.
Kawamoto tentatively defines digital journalism as “the use of digital technologies to research, produce, and deliver (or make accessible) news and information to an increasingly computer-literate audience” (2003: 4).
Additional to the above quoted media studies’ critiques; there is critical debate of whether there are renewed cultural struggles, shifts and raptures in identity as the result of new media (Marshall 2004: 2).
“[T]he emergence of ‘new media’ as some kind of epoch-making phenomena, is seen as part of a much larger landscape of social, technological and cultural change; in short, as part of a new technoculture” (Lister el al. 2002: 11).
As a result, Marshall suggests the “cultural production thesis” be used in the analysis of new media (2004: 10-11). Under this thesis, the audience is understood in terms of users who engage with the media and not passive consumers.
References:
Bucy Erik (ed). 2005. Remediation in Living in the Information age: A New Media Reader.
Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth Thomson Learning
Kawamoto, Kevin. 2003. Digital journalism: emerging media and the changing horizons of journalism in Digital journalism: emerging media and the changing horizons of journalism.
Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield
Lister, Martin [et al.]. 2002. New Media and Technologies in New media: a critical introduction.
London: Routledge
Marshall, David P. 2004. Introduction: new media and cultural studies in New Media Cultures.
London: Arnold; New York: Distributed in the US by Oxford University Press
Monday, February 19, 2007
oops! wrong pic. direction
Lets make that, the top RIGHT-hand corner of this blog. Hheheehe!
Sorry about that. Ok, cheers. Bye!
Sorry about that. Ok, cheers. Bye!
working on my blog
I think I'm starting to get the hang of this whole blogging thing... Although Jude (he's one of my New Media lecturers) says my blog needs focus. I guess he's right. I mean, I haven't given the actual content of my blog much thought. Right now I'm just pretty much trying to get a grip on the technical side of things. Like this morning...
This morning (with alot of help) I was finally able to attach a couple of feeds to my blog. Yeah!! Its a small victory, but worth celebrating anyway, considering the trouble I went through.
And now, I just added a picture to my blog. Turns out you don't need a URL to attach a pic. (as you would when attaching a feed). This is great because I have few pics. of my own in my pic. folder. I've been collecting them since my 1st year. So I've grown rather attached to them. And would very much rather use one of them, than some other pic. from the net, just because its has a URL and mine don't... I wonder if the pics. I have, originally had URLs. I guess they did... I mean if I got them from the net, then they should... don't they? Hmm!...
Oh well, @ least that's one headache I don't have to deal with right now. I wont say anything about the pic. I chose itself. Just look up at the top left-hand corner of this blog.
And about the content and focus of this blog... we'll work on that as time goes by. For now, it'll only serve sort of as a diary of my progress in this New Media course. (Howz that Jude?)
Ok, that's about it for now.
L8er!
This morning (with alot of help) I was finally able to attach a couple of feeds to my blog. Yeah!! Its a small victory, but worth celebrating anyway, considering the trouble I went through.
And now, I just added a picture to my blog. Turns out you don't need a URL to attach a pic. (as you would when attaching a feed). This is great because I have few pics. of my own in my pic. folder. I've been collecting them since my 1st year. So I've grown rather attached to them. And would very much rather use one of them, than some other pic. from the net, just because its has a URL and mine don't... I wonder if the pics. I have, originally had URLs. I guess they did... I mean if I got them from the net, then they should... don't they? Hmm!...
Oh well, @ least that's one headache I don't have to deal with right now. I wont say anything about the pic. I chose itself. Just look up at the top left-hand corner of this blog.
And about the content and focus of this blog... we'll work on that as time goes by. For now, it'll only serve sort of as a diary of my progress in this New Media course. (Howz that Jude?)
Ok, that's about it for now.
L8er!
Sunday, February 18, 2007
getting started
Hi there!...
I ain't exactly sure who I'm actually typing this for. To tell you the truth, I'm new to this whole blogging thing. Yes, I know: "Where the hell have you been living girl?!!". Cut me some slack wont you; all of that is about to change now (thnx to my New Media course).
Setting up our own blogs is our first set assignment. We are also meant to attach feeds onto our blogs. I subscribed to bloglines' news feed. At least I think I did. I might have gotten lost with all those forms I needed to fill in. I must admit, the whole process did get abit confusing at some points. But I reckon I nailed it.
Well, lets see if this baby works.
L8!
I ain't exactly sure who I'm actually typing this for. To tell you the truth, I'm new to this whole blogging thing. Yes, I know: "Where the hell have you been living girl?!!". Cut me some slack wont you; all of that is about to change now (thnx to my New Media course).
Setting up our own blogs is our first set assignment. We are also meant to attach feeds onto our blogs. I subscribed to bloglines' news feed. At least I think I did. I might have gotten lost with all those forms I needed to fill in. I must admit, the whole process did get abit confusing at some points. But I reckon I nailed it.
Well, lets see if this baby works.
L8!
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