The Future for Digital Cultures

What is the Future for Digital Cultures?

Stated by David Glover in 'The Sociology of the Mass Media, 'the technology underpinning the mass media has been constantly changing throughout this century and probably never more rapidly than at present.'

Glover entails that all around the world technology is evolving; the digital world is becoming more and more popular, even communication has changed; people now find it easier to interact with one another online rather than face to face. It has been said that People have approximately three times more friends on Facebook they do in real life.

Looking at Facebook as a basic indication, it is easy to see that technology is the way of the world and so in turn the digital world will be of even greater importance to people that it is today.

Facts and statists such as ‘there are more than 250 million active users currently accessing Facebook’ and that’s solely through their mobile devices’, supports my opinion that many people are involved in networking via digital means; it can only get more popular.

http://www.facebook.com/press/info.php?statistics

French sociologist, philosopher and cultural theorist, Jean Baudrillard says 'reality has fallen prey to virtual reality’, Baudrillard who has worked on post modernism and structuralism elaborates on the idea that reality in terms of hierarchy has ‘fallen’ and that virtual (online) reality has taken over. The ‘take over’ includes many aspects of our everyday life (something as simple as getting something to eat can be done via digital means).

Some believe that the thoughts and ideas behind digital evolution and expansion of digital culture was first developed in the public eye in 2004 with release of the film iRobot. With the film starring Will Smith suggesting that reality would one day be taken over by virtual life.

In iRobot (film), robots are developed and used a ‘servants’ to human needs, doing the jobs that we wouldn’t want to and obeying the command of humans. This however goes wrong and the robots take over- a clear example of cyberspace becoming more important than real life.

                                                                    

People can get so drawn into cyberspace that they forget their surroundings, it’s almost as though we ourselves are turning into robots or cyber-bots when we sit down in front of a computer screen.

It is even logical to say that cyber space in some sense is coming into our reality... Imagine if the world became so overwhelmed by technology that it story line of 'irobot' where machines do the things we don't want to, became reality.

 Again, from Glover's 'The Sociology of the Mass Media',1984 ; 'Whatever the future holds we can expect that it will not only raise new problems but also, as the story of the mass media to date has shown, it will re-kindle old criticisms from the past.' Although written in 1984 and reproduced only in 1990 its context is still correct. Glover's statement is one that does not differ over time.

Technology is forever evolving. Its development over the years has been massive, especially in the case of technological convergence.

There are so many, now affordable forms of technology that have so many functions that generally, in some respects, makes life easier. In the future this will develop further, leading me to the belief that technology will never stop growing and expanding. This can be seen as a positive or a negative thing.

One negative thing, relating back to the Glover’s statement, new technology is always accompanied by new problems, one of these problems revolves around young people, although ‘global media, through encouraging brand identity, plays an important role in providing young people with a common language among their peers’ (Ralph, 1999: 105)* children will become materialistic, even more so than they are now.

People will live there life’s based on the belief that if they have the latest gadget their lifestyle will dramatically improve and although in some respects it will, overall it may not be such a good thing. People may begin to value possessions rather than people as well as becoming lazy which could possibly in worst case scenario lead to obesity; the chain of links is never ending. 

Weighing up the pros and cons of digital culture development there are more positives than negatives, so overall the future for technology looks bright, so long as awareness are raised about the negatives and precautions are taken.

*(Ralph, 1999: 105): Youth and the Global Media. Luton: University of Luton, 1999.

Technology and Globalisation

How has Globalisation grown and influenced people?



Globalisation has had a massive impact on people in both positive and negative ways. Either way it has greatly influenced lives.

Every day we (in the UK) use various types of technology; from mobile phones, television, mp3 players, play station and video games to internet resources such as Skype, bringing everyone together.

Philosopher Marshall McLuhan studied the idea of technology evolving and the new 'mediums' in the world being ‘the message’, hence his famous phrase, 'the medium is the message', he took this concept and joined it with the idea of globalization, together creating yet another famous phrase, the ‘global village’, this is based on the idea that technological globalization has taken place, that countries have technology in common.

Globalisation plays on the idea that it is not only one country that is privileged to have such advanced means of communication, nor is it only internationally that people have media technology, but globally.

The word ‘village’ is used due to the fact that a village itself is a closely integrated community rather than looking at size in terms of numbers of people. This explains what the entire world has become in McLuhan’s eyes thanks to the development of electronic machinery.

The ever changing world that we live in is constantly being updated and upgraded, especially in terms of technology. Society today compared to 100 years ago has developed immensely. The huge leap in knowledge and equipment from the 19^th to the 20th Century has enabled people in the world to become more integrated; the world has come a long way.

One way to look at the growth in technology is by seeing the world as getting smaller, as everything is now at our fingertips; all it takes is a simple push of a button. Multi use technology has captured today’s society, particularly young people. The release of the Blackberry and iPhone is a perfect example.

                                      

It may be seen that we are living in a Global Village today as we live in such an advanced world where there are several types of machinery for different things, whether it is for communication, education, politics and even entertainment, all these relate to media technology. This supports Marshall McLuhan’s idea of a global village as he claimed the world to be interconnected through means of communication. The fact that there are now so many ways to communicate completely backs this up.

Considering the enormous amount and variety of media technologies that are in the world today and with such easy access the term ‘global village’ seems to be very accurate as when the term is looked at broken down, it is clear that people all over the world are now as one large society as we are binded together thorough new inventions of communication which are forever evolving.

Although there are many good points on the side of technology development, there are also many bad points, these include;

A divide in generation- the older generation may feel left out or excluded from the world of technology due to the fact that it is new to them, they don’t know how to use it. The same goes for less economically developed countries where technology isn’t even accessible to them.

Some people don’t have the funds or equipment to get to all the new technology in the world, causing yet another divide. This then leads to people to aspire to new things; not to save money to obtain a better house, not to educate themselves but instead to go straight into work where they can get money fast in order to buy these forever updating technologies.

Some people, mostly in less economically developed countries try to obtain wealth but go the wrong way about it. ie. Getting a phone or computer, when money should be saved or invested in something more long term or even the basic necessities in life. They lose track of things that are actually important.

“The development and spread of digital media across the world has culminated in the centrality of these media in the social, political and economic activities of people and organizations in many countries, especially in the developed world…”  Creeber et al.: Understanding Media.

                                                   _______________________________

Everyday New Media

Where do we use new media?

New media has become incorporated into our everyday lives. Many people would find it challenging to go all day let alone one week without technology. Technology has all the answers. If you’re bored you turn to it, stuck on homework, it’s a great help, even if you want to socialise, you can, online.

I created this diagram/image t show just how much we use technology on a daily basis. We take for granted the fact that technology is so widely available to us.

'When we think about the future, we may reveal more about how we understand the present than make reliable predictions about what will happen. Thinking about the future can be enabling, offering us images and hopes worth working for'. New media is so widely available to us because of the urge we had to own the latest gadget. Curran's 'Power without responsibility (sixth edition) 1998, explains that.

People make predictions about the future; hopes are high and so when creators of technology mange to make something that appeals to people and seem like it will be revolutionary/ a new thing for the future people automatically want it. This is the reason that technology is so wide spread and that it is used every day.

New media/ technology is also portrayed almost as a fashion statement, having the newest phone, loudest headphones, cutest phone case ect. all comes down to peoples’ wants, no jus in term of using the product, but also visually.

Eldridge in 'The mass media, Power in Modern Britain states that 'societies appear to be subject, every now and then, to periods of moral panic, I believe that if all technology was taken away from a developed society such as the UK, there would be uproar as well as a moral panic. People wouldn't be able to function normally and would feel they were at a loss.

Kitzenger says, 'The way in which people use the media and incorporate soap opera plots, media stories, or slogans from advertisements into their everyday lives can strengthen rther than weaken (Kitzenger1997: Britain's Media) . Looking at peoples devotion to soap operas on television is a simplistic way of showing just how attached people are to even a simple technology that was created in the early 19 hundreds.

If people attachment to TV soaps are so strong now, peoples attachments to something like the internet in a short 20 years’ time could be 10 times worse.

brazil and india.. fake microsoft

How do less developed countries get online?

The scene is much like any other modern office: an open-plan work space crammed with desks, telephones and computers.
But there's one big difference. The word 'Microsoft' is nowhere in sight.
Instead, computers here now use the Linux operating system. It has many similar functions to Microsoft's Windows - but unlike Windows, it is available for free.
Increasingly, Brazil's government ministries and state-run enterprises are abandoning Windows in favour of 'open-source' or 'free' software, like Linux.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/4602325.stm


Countries such as
brazil , russia and  india
are currently behind when it comes to the the inernet and getting online.
People in the UK take the internet for granted as they can surf the web when ever they feel to, people even have access to the internet on their mobile phones. Some people in Brazil have to walk two hour just to get to a point in their country that has a low level signal and a generator for the form of the internet to work. It makes you think, would people in countries such as England and Amercia walk to hours everyday in order to use the internet.

Indian and Brazilian government have chosen to instead of using internet such as 'internet explorer' but instead to use Linux, this should save the countrymoney, enabling them to use the money on something more beneficial.

This chose has benefited these countries greatly, the cost is lower, more people can use it becasue they can afford to, it is described as the countries own resources, it shows that they have some freedowm and don't want to be completely influenced by the technlogy that other countries have  unless it is going to benefit them. The Brazilian's government are spending their money wisely.

People in the Uk take the internet for granted, its alomst as thought they don't realise how far it has got them.
For many a university level education would not have been possible with out the internet, or it would have been alot harder, everone would have to rely on books, and there just arn't enough in a niversity environment to give to everyone.

Game and its Development

How have games changed over the years?


'Game'Definition :
.An activity providing entertainment or amusement; a pastime. A competitive activity or sport in which players contend with each other according to a set of rules
. An organized athletic program or contestd. A period of competition or challenge

(http://www.thefreedictionary.com/game)

Games are one of the oldest forms of entertainment. Dating all the way back to the 19 hundred the basic video game way brought out, the original Super Mario in 1985.

Since then games have changed, becoming more advanced in aim. They have become a lot more technical and require a lot more brain power. A game such as flux for example...

Fluxx is a game that alows you as the player to change the rules, it is one of the most advanced card games. It involves a numerous amount of cards that each have their own purpose.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=fluxx

Cheating:    cheating is possible in the game fluxx just as it is in most other games. A way to cheat in fluxx is, like any other card game, to hide the cards you think will be useful in later in the game orto look at the cards of the person next to you, althoguht this however doesnt always work.

People choose to cheat in games as they feel that they have beaten their opponent even if they havent in a matter of speaking actually won.

Fluzz is a game I have chose to look at as it is not like other games, it is advanced, however not in terms of graphics or annimation but in terms of it outlook and basic overall rules.

Hitchem 1997: Gamers World says '...addicited, youth continue to play'... many people, particuarly young people as they are more easilyinfluenced can get addited to games, especially video games.

(recap lesson) Media Influence

how Digital convergence

Technology; Cameras, Video cameras

Everywhere we go we are being watched, filmed, photographed; from speed and security cameras to home video and personal photographs. Today's world is all about technology that revolves around being recorded.

On something as simple as a phone, you have: a camera, video recorder, voice recorder and video chat. All of which allow you to record yourself and/or others in one way or another.

There is ongoing debate about whether CCTV is a good or bad thing in society. Some argue that it helps keep the streets safe, where as other say it is an invasion of privacy.

I think that although it is uncomfortable knowing that almost everywhere you go you are being viewed or recorded on camera, they have been put in place for good reasons. I do believe that they help to protect people and additionally help catch those doing wrong, breaking the law ect.

Other points:

Above are bullet point lists of positives and negatives I created to clearly show the good and bad points of having CCTV cameras. There are clearly more positives than negatives as CCTV helps to make society a safer place. With the threat of being caught on camera less people are likely to do something against the law as there is always the chance they can be caught and have video evidence held against them.

Books Vs. Electronics

How did books lead present technology and how do they compare t what we have now?


Since the beginning of time mediums as means of mass communications in the media have developed. A medium being anything from newspaper, television, radio ect. The original medium used was the book. Going from the book to electronically run devices is a massive jump.

Books have a clear structure, a beginning, middle and end, is it because the internet is a new advanced way that has no controlled path the lead to its success. 

It makes you wonder what other miracle media will be brought forth in the future, wowing the younger generation of today who will then by that time, be the grandparents of the children of the future.

The kindle vs. the book

Although this video is a little bizzare it has deeper meaning, the book is being phased out, not because it is useless but because something 'better' and electronic has been made. The media advertise the kindle as the a great new invention, especially for loves of book however in my opinion is is also a way for the creator of a basic and over exaggerated invention to get praise and gain money from the public. The book is being pushed out to make way for new electonic devices.

Search Engines

How do search engines work and how have they developed?

I find it so annoying when I'm quickly trying to search up a simple term, word or something of interest and the search engine brings up something completely different, for example typing the word 'mobile information' into Google, you get loats of different electronic devices, I simply asked for a mobile but I now have to myself search through useless and unnecessary information, just to find one web page of what I want.

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/search-engine.htm

The link about takes you to a page that fully explains how search engines works and why we use them. This article explains that a search engine such as Google holds millions if not billions of pages, all with their own separate links. When a specific word is entered into the search engine the program is filtered and the site finds and suggests users with the best or most popular pages.
  
Search engine results are mostly based on what the public have entered into the search engine the most, almost like a popularity contest. if a website is often looked for more that another this site will appear high up in the list of search results. Some companies pay the creators of certain search engines so that their website appears first in the selection of websites that has offered to internet browsers.


An example of this can be seen if you type 'homer' into a web search engine such as Google.

Homer is a famous ancient Greek poet; his work had an enormous influence on the history of literature. however when searched under Google images there are 23 images of  'Homer Simpson' a children’s cartoon character before the actual historical 'Homer' from 850BC!

What a time waster. Some people may see it as a small problem, however it can cause a great inconvenience if in a rush and trying to find a piece of information quickly, additionally some may say that it is a great disrespect that a cartoon comes before a influential man that help evolve linguistics.

 When thinking of unreliable search engines, the 'Bing' advert comes to mind:

These adverts comically shows how annoying it is to be looking for a particular thing in a search engine and come up with something else that has no real relation to it. It could be a simple as a similar spelling and you receive on your screen a load of information that you didn’t want. Carew says, in 'Teaching our children' that 'reliable information is key...', 1990, it's true, getting the correct information when using it for academic purposes is very important, so it is 'key' that information is expressed to the public in the best way possible.

Eletronic Immersion

Eletronic Immersion; harmful or helpful?

Everyday people are working on what could possibly be a great new invention that can help the public. There so many new forms of ‘help’ in the form of electronic devices that are available to the public, the biggest and most successful being the mobile phone and laptops/computers.

In the past phones were used simply for making and receiving calls, now you can do almost anything that you can do on a computer or a mobile phone, you can use the internet, record yourself, upload music, play games ect. Because of this a mobile phone can be labelled as a electronic immersion as it combines a telephone with a computer (because of the internet and writing programmes) as well as a games console and a camera and/or video camera.

Many inventions and upgrade of technology are very helpful and benefit people every day. In one day for example a person may use their phone as an alarm to wake them up in the morning, they could check the weather on their phone rather than watching the television, listen to their own choice of music rather than the radio on their way to work, as well as emailing the boss if late to work or stuck in traffic; the list of things different technologies that all roll into one (the mobile phone) is immense.

But do these wonderful inventions help us or just make us lazy? Psychologist Marcus Zumbera researched whether doing online food shopping made people generally more lazy or actually helped them, it was discovered that food shopping online was a great benefit to the elderly or those with disabilities however many fit, healthy and able bodied people were choosing the ‘lazier’ option, Zumbera states that his later research will compare statics with the levels of obesity since the creation of online fast food purchase. This will enable us to see if this idea of which is a luxury to us in turn harms or helps.

Robots & AI

Are Robots and AI getting smarter?

robots
AI

how and ewhy they might be getting smarter...


What would the world be like if we had robots


like the film Irobot

... robots could become smart and take over... deep blue sea... film about sharks getting smarter
... all due to the evolution of technology.

A team of scientists in a sea based science lab, Aquatica, are searching for a cure for alzheimer's disease, when a member of the group goes against ethics as well as her team and genetically changes theDNA of sharks they are working on. The aim is to increase the sharks brain size in order to get more of the fluid and tissues needed that cures alzheimers. Unaware that giving the shark a larger brain for more tissue to extract will in turn increase the harks brain power; making them, smarter, stronger and even more dangerous. This

How does this relate to real life? 
 

http://www.chatbots.org/

osmose, avatars, msn chat bots and other chat bots

smarter child... an msn smart bot

Cyborgs and Artificial Life

Could artificial life be a step foward in eveloution? Is robotics, machineney and computer models an underestimated way foward?(Where would we be without the Internet today and what would come of the world if the Internet was taken away)



Artificial life could be a step foward in evloution, a step that we ourselfs have created. I would be a reveloution if we as humans could help

Touched on in the film iRobot starring Will Smith...
is this science fiction, action film a slight insight into what the future could be like? In the distant future people that suffer today could be cured, it may be possible for people that



Although this has only been seen with fictional characters or super heros it may be possible for something of this nature to have a great effect on the world
this could greatlly influence the world and in a positive way and in many different ways. There is already a mild version of this kind of thing available in the world.

 Having a disibality can be an everyday challenge, this can be reduced or even removed with the help of specific technology like that shown in the video above. If this scientiv experiment was practiced more widely, if there were funds available and if it was safe and secure it would be a great option for people that have lost a limb.


The growthh of science, and technology, especially when it comes to computers has allowed researchers to come this far