Final Post - Relationships with Technology

Technology: Good or Bad?

Self-Driving Tesla

The question on wether technology is good or bad has been a long argued debate. However, it is hard to dispute the effect technology has on completely transforming our world. Inventions such as computers, cell phones, and now AI technology, have provided us with all new connections and ways to communicate. Computers and cell phones are able to provide you with a network of information with just a touch of a button, this information also can be received within a few milliseconds- which is way faster than having to go to the library and looking through books until you found what you needed. AI technology has also widely changed our productivity by either solving complex equations in seconds, using previous data to develop medical cures, and even perform tasks that require precision and care. Self-driving cars are also now possible thanks to the evolution of technology; the hundreds of sensors and cameras within the car system also provides an extra layer of safety we didn't have before.  

However, these technological benefits have also come with some not so good aspects. For example, after cell phones were created, social media apps grew in popularity and terms such as "cyber bullying" came into existence. Many adults and teenagers were not educated on the dangers of apps like Facebook and Twitter, as many did not know there were any dangers at the time. The delete button made it seem like you could post whatever and if you wanted it gone you could just erase it and it would be gone forever. Unfortunately, as we know now, that just isn't the case. Whatever you post is permanent (whether you hit delete or not) and can always be retrieved from servers. Over the past decade we have seen a handful of teenagers that were rejected from college due to old posts that were either recovered or the teenager hadn't thought twice about posting. I have also personally seen an increase of people my age or younger who are choosing to not go on social media. Some of my friends are even limiting their own screen time. An article about a 14 year old girl who decided to not go on social media is an example of how more and more teenagers are starting to realize the downsides of social media.

I think I have a healthier relationship with technology than I used to in middle school. Being away at college and having the ability to send my mom a quick text or even video call her is such a helpful tool. I've been getting better at my relationship with social media by realizing when I may need to take a break from it. I do my best to think about what I am putting out on the internet and minimizing my digital footprint. As of recent, I have also been more cautious of the websites I give my email to and making sure the site is trustworthy. 

As a child of two parents in the Navy, I think they were more concerned and alert to the dangers of the internet and in turn, warned me early on so I would have the chance to make more educated decisions. I do think my parents have healthy relationships with technology. For example, they both recognize the benefits of technology as they work in the government and they are able to see exactly how these technologies have improved our military capabilities. My dad doesn't really use social media very often and when my brother and I were younger, he was always encouraging us to stay off screens as much as possible. I really value his advice now (as I didn't at the time) and find it very helpful as it taught us there were other things to if we are bored, instead of going straight on  our phones.

So, is technology good or bad? In truth, I think it is both. There are so many different aspects and types of technologies that it becomes hard to have one general answer. Everyone has their own story of how technology has helped them one way or another, but they also have ways its been more of a burden. As technology continues to evolve and computer systems such as AI begin to become more developed and wide spread, we will all have to continue to learn and shape our relationships with technology.

Disinformation, Misinformation, and Malformation- What I Learned

 As consumers of online media and constant sources of information, it is critical that we know how to decipher the information we see. Based on my classmate, Chase Eller's blog and presentation, here is what I learned about disinformation, misinformation, and malinformation. 

Disinformation

Disinformation is defined as false information that is deliberately and often covertly spread to influence public opinion. This type of information is also used by terrorists to spread propaganda in other countries.

Misinformation

This type of information is very similar to disinformation as it is incorrect and misleading. However, misinformation is not spread and posted with malicious intent. This is seen a lot on social media and can be very easy to spread.

Malinformation

The last case of false information to be aware of is malinformation. This uses real life details which are based off facts but then cuts out important pieces of context for the purpose of misleading and manipulating the reader. Slandering and encouraging fake news for the negative effects are big aspects of malinformation we see a lot of today. 

What can we as readers and consumers do to combat this fake information? Firstly, we can fact check it against similar information and articles of the same topic. We can even go right to the source, for example, if we are viewing information on a political figure giving a speech and see that they apparently said something troubling, we can look up and watch the full speech on our own. During big political races, a lot of speeches are taken out of context to make that person look bad. As readers we can also search for opposing views on the same topic and see what lines up as our biases may lead to us believing false information.

We are surrounded by all kinds of information channels such as news, radio, social media, and online web services like Google. It's no wonder we are susceptible to believing everything we see, but we must learn how to combat the constant stream and be critical of our news. 

Living in the Age of AI

In the past few years, we have seen an increase in AI use, but what is AI? Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be defined as computer systems which are able to perform complex tasks that are normally done by human reasoning, decision making, and creating. However, there is no simple definition of AI as a whole because it can perform many different types of tasks. 

Pros

Like most everything in life, there are good aspects and bad aspects. So, what are some of the good aspects of AI? For starters, AI has enhanced healthcare as it is able to assist researchers in developing cures for illnesses. Self- driving cars have also become possible with the help of AI, and it has also improved navigation systems. AI can be helpful in the classroom by giving teachers examples to teach off, as well as helping students structure their papers. 

Cons

However helpful AI has been, there are also some downsides to it. AI is run by data and the software can only become more advanced by inputting more data. Some countries, such as China, are using this new technology to monitor their citizens. According to the video: In the Age of AI, Chinese citizens are being scanned by AI technology on the street. Their devices are also built with many different data chips that ultimately give the Chinese government the data they need. 

As a whole, AI has been and will continue to transform our world and how we complete our everyday tasks. The main concern of this new technology, however, is the lack of privacy. All of the devices we use- cell phones, computers, and smart gadgets you have around your home, are all tracking you. The way you talk in a conversation to the time you go to bed, it is all data that the computer systems are getting to make their overall software better. 

The Quiet "Anti War" Voices

The American news reports for the past two decades have seemed to highlight conflict after conflict, war after war. You may be an American citizen who is supportive of these governmental actions or maybe you are opposed, but think no one else shares your opinion? The constant reports of conflicts the United States is involved in abroad makes one wonder if the whole country really does support war? While perhaps in reality, the number of war supporters is a lot smaller than we think, but they just happen to be the loudest...

Flashback to the period of time after WW1- the Progressive Era, where people were attempting to solve and reform the issues brought up in the earlier Gilded Age. Many Americans during the Progressive Era were speaking up about how the U.S should not go to war- these people were then thrown into jail. 

Eugene V. Debs- 1921

One person of note is Eugene Debs. In 1912 he was running for president and at the time had received almost 1 million votes. During one of his speeches he spoke about how he opposed the war at the time and although he was careful not to advocate any illegal activity, he was arrested and convicted of 'obstructing military recruitment and enlistment'. Debs was then sentenced to 10 years in prison. 

The First Amendment is known to protect our right of free speech, but as we saw with the Debs v. United States case, where his conviction was upheld by the Espionage Act of 1917, free speech becomes less protected during times of war.

Fast forward to present day and you may think, "Well, we certainly don't do that anymore!" While citizens may not directly be thrown into jail for opposing war, they definitely get quieted. Articles posted on sites such as, AntiWar and The American Conservative showcase a variety of authors with strong anti-war voices. 

The role of dissent plays a big part in democracy as it enables citizens to voice their opinions and participate in the governance of their nations. So then why are these voices and websites not more well known? I personally have not even heard of these websites until this course, and it makes me wonder how many more 'underground' articles and sites there are with similar opinions?

 

All About Alternative Media

Media streams and news reports are always right in front of us, sometimes these media outlets are so loud that we don't even realize there are other sources of information. Alternative media is defined as: Newspapers, magazines, or online sites that are privately owned and circulate messages that are felt to be underrepresented by 'mainstream media'. AntiWar, Democracy Now, and The American Conservative are all examples of alternative media sites. 

So, what are the pros and cons that alternative media provides citizens? For starters, alternative media isn't owned by large corporations and therefore will provide readers with more diversity in political topics. Publishers within these private companies have more unfiltered information as they do not have a brand identity to keep. Lastly, alternative media can make readers feel more connected to their peers as certain topics that they feel passionately on may be brushed over by mainstream media and these smaller websites allow them to see that others feel the same way.

However, like most things, there are some cons to alternative media. For example, even though these smaller platforms are privately owned and therefore less controlled, the downside is the information posted may not be fully accurate and you want to make sure you are being critical of the accuracy of the material that you are reading. Alternative media sites also don't make as much money as the high profit media corporations and unfortunately, may not have enough funds to be on air for a long period of time. They also may miss out on research and reporting opportunities due to money. While smaller sites create a tighter knit community as you are all sharing opinions on topics, these communities can be highly biased and sometimes even ostracized to those on the opposing view.

Society as a whole can really benefit from alternative media as it gives citizens a space to receive political information on a broad range of topics. These articles also provide different levels of analysis as well as show different viewpoints from both extremes. As a Generation Z student, alternative media also allows me to research political topics that may not be highlighted in mainstream media. Having the ability to read about issues from both perspectives also helps me gain a better and more educated opinion on the world around me. 

Alternative Media doesn't just affect me or society as a whole, but it also affects the different groups within our society:

   Old vs Young: Older generations may prefer regular news stations as they can be accessed easier and they are more trusting of the government than younger generations. The younger people are more likely to use alternative media sites due to their lack of trust in larger corporations and interest in niche topics.

Majority vs Minority: Alternative media sites can be very helpful to minority readers as they may feel not fully represented in larger media programs and connect with the smaller sites more as they feel seen and heard. 

Overall, Alternative media is a helpful resource to those wanting to be more informed on topics not often talked about or even for a student wanting to make their own judgments on political issues around the globe. 

Diffusion of Innovations - Apple's iPod

As consumers there might be products that we adopt early on and when it becomes popular you say, "Hey I've been using that for years!" Or perhaps there are those products that we hold off on buying, whether its because we feel we don't need it or just don't want to hop on the bandwagon. This concept of buying into products or ideas stems from Rogers's Diffusion of Innovations (or ideas) can be seen more clearly in Roger's Diffusion of Innovations Model. 

2001 Apple iPod

The innovation and evolution of music has been tracked throughout the beginning of time. There is archeological evidence that humans having been making music and musical instruments for around 40,000 years. Ancient Greek vases portrayed people playing flute type instruments and singing. In the Middle Ages, aristocratic courts and churches used music and evolved later into the Classical Period. The Classical Period lasted from 1732 to 1827 and composers such as Beethoven and Mozart helped develop the sonata and concerto. 

Fast forward to 2001 when the technology company, Apple introduced their iPod. The iPod combined the past innovations of the record, cassette tape, and radio all into one small gadget that could fit into your pocket. The iPod caught on and spread to consumers as people realized that this gadget was more convenient and reliable to their old cassette tapes and radios. You were now able to plug your headphones into a smaller device and didn't have to carry around your clunky cassette player. The sound quality was also better on the iPod and ran less risk of the tracks being scratched and worn down. However, people may have adopted this technology later than others on this technology was extremely new, and they didn't feel like they had to join in as their radios, records, and cassette players still worked just fine. 

 

Diffusion of Ideas

It's now 2025 and we are seeing the downsides of what used to be brand new technology. We now have small pocket-sized computers that not only replace the old iPod but now replace our telephones and cameras. While this technology has improved our society in many ways, the technology has evolved from being helpful to hurtful as governments and large social media corporations are stealing our data. The government and large companies are now able to gain private information on citizen's day to day lives through phones and voice command technologies. 

Looking back at the revolution from early music to a small gadget that combined all of the past music innovations, to current cell phones in our hands, the positives of this technology outweigh the negatives. However, it's hard to say if in the future, will the negatives begin to outweigh the positives?

What I Learned About the Typewriter

We go about our day-to-day lives surrounded by many different types of technology. All of the technology that we use today started from somewhere. For example, the computer I am using now to write this blog post, wouldn't be possible without the invention of the typewriter. 
In this post I will be sharing a few interesting facts I learned about the typewriter from my classmate, Destini Hunt's presentation and blog post; I will link her blog here: Destini Hunt's Blog

Sholes Glidden Typewriter in 1874

The story of the typewriter we know today began way back to the year 1714 when Henry Mill had patented a writing machine. Although, it would take almost a century for inventors to finally turn Henry Mill's dream into reality.

There were many types of writing machines that were patented over the years, however the first breakthrough for the typewriter didn't occur until 1868 when Christopher Latham Sholes, along with his colleagues, created the Sholes and Glidden typewriter.

Early typewriters no doubt began to pave the path for the technology and communication we know now, but these early machines still needed some tweaking. For instance, the typewriters up to 1878 (when the shift key was introduced) were only capable of writing and printing in capital letters. The early 20th century was also the first time writers were able to see their work in real time, rather than typing a full page only to see errors in the beginning of your writing and having to start all over again. 

The last part of the typewriter's transformational change is when electric typewriters came into existence. Allowing for faster and more efficient work to be produced as well as less strain for the typer. 

QWERTY Key Layout

The Typewriter's Legacy

Even though typewriters aren't commonly used today, it's legacy can be seen in the QWERTY set up on our phone, computer, and any other online keyboard we use today. So, while typewriters may be a thing of the past now, we wouldn't be able to communicate as effectively without its existence.