The private diary that wasn't.
Blogging has taken off in a fashion that is truly noteworthy. If blogging has any singular claim to fame, I would purport it to be that notion that the worlds collective imagination is finding its way out of hidden diaries and the collective psyche, into the online realm. As a creatively inclined person, this is an exciting phenomenon. As as extension of this phenomenon, the psychological benefits are what stand out to me at this time.
Many would agree that people love talking about themselves. Up until the age of two our 'ego boundaries' are universal, we cannot differentiate between what is 'me' and what is the rest of the world, for it's all one contiguous realm where 'me' and 'they' are irrelevant. The 'terrible twos' strike as many mothers can attest to, from then on we have developed ego boundaries that fall within our shoulder width and we are essentially all about 'me', for the world is an extension of 'me'! We like in others what relates back to ourselves, and we hope that others like us, even if we don't act like it on the surface. We crave acceptance, and we yearn to be understood by others.
How does this incorporate into blogging? Simple, we (bloggers who write reflectively about themselves) are taking the march online, into a public forum. For the exception of those who store what they blog in a personally read-only format, the rest of us write our words and then place them on display for all to see. On a fundamental level, we are extending our egos onto the internet in a deep way. Adding a comment to a youtube video is an act of ego, but it's nowhere as meaningful as what you're likely to commit to a blog. In writing a personal blog, to begin with, we are getting out there and exclaiming our personal presence, and (perhaps secretly) hope others will read it. Beyond that, we are hoping that others will contribute for varying purposes. We may want someone to agree with what we're saying, or fill a purposefully placed knowledge gap with a solution. We may even be testing a notion in hope that someone may disagree with us. Even a blog written about a holiday adventure is there to first publicise the event, and hopefully seek positive reinforcement from others: "What an amazing beach you're on, lucky you!". As humans, with ego's, we love that from other people, infact we need it. Blogging sets the platform where external input is available to any string of 'articles', and goes about connecting the collective ego-net more than ever!
Zak
Memories taken from the Dr M Scott Peck book called "The road less travelled"
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Week 3 - Weekly Update
"The status quo"
After having covered off on the blogging sub topic one overriding thought sprung to mind: What if the volume driven status quo has got it wrong?
I'll refer to sites such as Blogger, where the masses create the points of interest and decide where others should go, and where the most efficient information lies. So if we're talking about a topic that is less well understood, isn't there an inherent risk of the people in a way mis-informing others? As much as I support user driven content, I think that there should be (and well could be) a stop-gap in place to stem the sway that the populous has. Two examples to explain further: Wikipedia and Youtube. Wikipedia is a site that people go to for information covering a wide array of topics, they expect that information to be highly accurate. The controls covering what is added to the pages within this site should be kept tightly monitored, as we all know how random humans can be, and special interest groups love to have power over information. The issue is less magnified with sites like Youtube or flickr. This is so because the content that is uploaded is serving a more creative than informative purpose. Any informative aspect to a photo or video is static, another user cannot go in later and edit part of the video (however they could download, edit and upload that video).
A more extreme example is http://www.urbandictionary.com/, The Urban dictionary, there are other such sites but I'll cover this one. So, a dictionary site where people can add their own descriptions to any key word? Interesting concept, where is this placed in terms of Mirriam Websters wide spanning influence? The urban dictionarys' slogan is "Urban Dictionary is the dictionary you wrote. Define your world". Now, what if I go and write a summary for "Australia" that is completely incorrect, scrambled and illogical? Someone may need to submit an edit request. What if I write a sparkling summary with a high level of detail and clarity, only to have someone lobby to have changes made that would in effect falsify my work and perhaps link in to a piece of information that I would not want it linked with? A voting system could be introduced, I suppose, to bring back that mass audience and their much respected combined viewpoint.
This post ultimately ties in with democracy as it manifested online. Misinformation has always been a threat to precise, free-flowing stream of information. I'm just not sure if Web 2.0 will alleviate that risk or exacerbate it.
After having covered off on the blogging sub topic one overriding thought sprung to mind: What if the volume driven status quo has got it wrong?
I'll refer to sites such as Blogger, where the masses create the points of interest and decide where others should go, and where the most efficient information lies. So if we're talking about a topic that is less well understood, isn't there an inherent risk of the people in a way mis-informing others? As much as I support user driven content, I think that there should be (and well could be) a stop-gap in place to stem the sway that the populous has. Two examples to explain further: Wikipedia and Youtube. Wikipedia is a site that people go to for information covering a wide array of topics, they expect that information to be highly accurate. The controls covering what is added to the pages within this site should be kept tightly monitored, as we all know how random humans can be, and special interest groups love to have power over information. The issue is less magnified with sites like Youtube or flickr. This is so because the content that is uploaded is serving a more creative than informative purpose. Any informative aspect to a photo or video is static, another user cannot go in later and edit part of the video (however they could download, edit and upload that video).
A more extreme example is http://www.urbandictionary.com/, The Urban dictionary, there are other such sites but I'll cover this one. So, a dictionary site where people can add their own descriptions to any key word? Interesting concept, where is this placed in terms of Mirriam Websters wide spanning influence? The urban dictionarys' slogan is "Urban Dictionary is the dictionary you wrote. Define your world". Now, what if I go and write a summary for "Australia" that is completely incorrect, scrambled and illogical? Someone may need to submit an edit request. What if I write a sparkling summary with a high level of detail and clarity, only to have someone lobby to have changes made that would in effect falsify my work and perhaps link in to a piece of information that I would not want it linked with? A voting system could be introduced, I suppose, to bring back that mass audience and their much respected combined viewpoint.
This post ultimately ties in with democracy as it manifested online. Misinformation has always been a threat to precise, free-flowing stream of information. I'm just not sure if Web 2.0 will alleviate that risk or exacerbate it.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Week 2 - Weekly update
"In this ideal text"
I had a spike in interest after reading excerpts from George Landow's 1992 book, 'Hypertext'. He discusses reading in hypertext, how it differs from reading a paper novel and provides ideas for future uptake of the concept. Aside from books such as the "choose your own adventure" series wherein which the reader would refer to differing sections of the novel based on their intended decision, it never really picked up pace.
So we look at linear vs non-linear narrative. Do you read from A to Z or do you choose the path that best suits you? As i see it, we are by our very nature destined to move further towards non-linear narrative. We are human, we are random and we are non-linear. I recently sat in a class at ANU. The tutor was using a pre-prepared work book produced by a local publishing company. She had used this book to lead classes many times before. After completing the first chapter she exclaimed "I loathe this book! They don't know how to arrange chapters, we're going to jump around a bit". We had no option but to trust her not to completely perplex us. So we took a windy, seemingly random adventure through chapters 2,4,3,6,5 etc. Ironically, and to my relief, it made sense! The book was written by someone who had their own idea about how it should have been read, our brave tutor had other ideas.
When reading technical textbooks I will usually learn about something, then need to read another chapter to understand it, it suits me learning style and if the chapters are organised to a decent extent, I shouldn't lose my way.
The web has thrust us into the world of non-linear narrative. We will start off seeking one piece of information, find it, and through doing so quite possibly wander onto something else that is associated. Through completing this very blog, my fiance Shayla may decide to comment in response to what I have written, to offer another viewpoint that readers of this blog may move to. And so on until you're reading a post from Eric Schmidt about the future.
One area where linear narrative may continue to reign supreme are fiction novels. The linearity of the authors text is one thing that probably drew you to his or her work in the first place. You like the way the book proceeds, develops, twists, turns, and you wouldn't change it for the world. And speaking of novels, they can be taken anywhere, unlike your pc, oh to lounge by the pool with my Dual Core PC and a glass of wine - I don't think so.
Zak
I had a spike in interest after reading excerpts from George Landow's 1992 book, 'Hypertext'. He discusses reading in hypertext, how it differs from reading a paper novel and provides ideas for future uptake of the concept. Aside from books such as the "choose your own adventure" series wherein which the reader would refer to differing sections of the novel based on their intended decision, it never really picked up pace.
So we look at linear vs non-linear narrative. Do you read from A to Z or do you choose the path that best suits you? As i see it, we are by our very nature destined to move further towards non-linear narrative. We are human, we are random and we are non-linear. I recently sat in a class at ANU. The tutor was using a pre-prepared work book produced by a local publishing company. She had used this book to lead classes many times before. After completing the first chapter she exclaimed "I loathe this book! They don't know how to arrange chapters, we're going to jump around a bit". We had no option but to trust her not to completely perplex us. So we took a windy, seemingly random adventure through chapters 2,4,3,6,5 etc. Ironically, and to my relief, it made sense! The book was written by someone who had their own idea about how it should have been read, our brave tutor had other ideas.
When reading technical textbooks I will usually learn about something, then need to read another chapter to understand it, it suits me learning style and if the chapters are organised to a decent extent, I shouldn't lose my way.
The web has thrust us into the world of non-linear narrative. We will start off seeking one piece of information, find it, and through doing so quite possibly wander onto something else that is associated. Through completing this very blog, my fiance Shayla may decide to comment in response to what I have written, to offer another viewpoint that readers of this blog may move to. And so on until you're reading a post from Eric Schmidt about the future.
One area where linear narrative may continue to reign supreme are fiction novels. The linearity of the authors text is one thing that probably drew you to his or her work in the first place. You like the way the book proceeds, develops, twists, turns, and you wouldn't change it for the world. And speaking of novels, they can be taken anywhere, unlike your pc, oh to lounge by the pool with my Dual Core PC and a glass of wine - I don't think so.
Zak
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Week 1 - Weekly update
The single most memorable thing that stood out this week was a particular piece of information set forth: J D R Licklider's in 'The computer as a communication device" in 1968.
To think of a modern computer simply as a 'communication device' would not begin to allow it due credit.
Moving along, to quote: "In a few years men will be able to communicate through a machine than face to face". I'm certain many at the time thought of Isaac Asimov and facetiously giggled. In many ways he was spot on. We can now communicate in a such rich way, and it's an amazing thing.
Speaking as a highly visual learner, I would think that a scenario that shows how immensely far we've come would be two people on the phone, one trying to explain a design to another person. The ability to send a copy over email now or link to a website link lets these people something they are both looking at, at the same time. This might have been created 5 minutes prior to the phone call, and they would be able to even simultaneously edit and improve it on the fly.
The aspect where I think there is still a way to go is communicating feelings over the internet. One obvious sure fire way to do so is to record it in video, however that's not normally what happens. For most, putting feelings into words (and to a further extent, emoticons) is frought with the risk of misinterpretation by the receiving party. A sentence ending in a ;) Wink could be a cheeky, facetious, mean, playful or spiteful. Even the "Well we all know what that's about" that precedes it can be open to interpretation. The only element that is not accounted for is the tone of voice behind the words, that will inevitably uncover the remaining elements of the communicator's intended message. Making communication more 'human' will be huge step forward, showing things like moods, faces and colours will help things along in the meantime!
To think of a modern computer simply as a 'communication device' would not begin to allow it due credit.
Moving along, to quote: "In a few years men will be able to communicate through a machine than face to face". I'm certain many at the time thought of Isaac Asimov and facetiously giggled. In many ways he was spot on. We can now communicate in a such rich way, and it's an amazing thing.
Speaking as a highly visual learner, I would think that a scenario that shows how immensely far we've come would be two people on the phone, one trying to explain a design to another person. The ability to send a copy over email now or link to a website link lets these people something they are both looking at, at the same time. This might have been created 5 minutes prior to the phone call, and they would be able to even simultaneously edit and improve it on the fly.
The aspect where I think there is still a way to go is communicating feelings over the internet. One obvious sure fire way to do so is to record it in video, however that's not normally what happens. For most, putting feelings into words (and to a further extent, emoticons) is frought with the risk of misinterpretation by the receiving party. A sentence ending in a ;) Wink could be a cheeky, facetious, mean, playful or spiteful. Even the "Well we all know what that's about" that precedes it can be open to interpretation. The only element that is not accounted for is the tone of voice behind the words, that will inevitably uncover the remaining elements of the communicator's intended message. Making communication more 'human' will be huge step forward, showing things like moods, faces and colours will help things along in the meantime!
Welcome to my blog!
Hi all,
This blog has been set up to track through each week's learning material, and to keep my ideas and thoughts organised.
This blog has been set up to track through each week's learning material, and to keep my ideas and thoughts organised.
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