Thursday, October 21, 2010

FINAL ESSAY

"I have travelled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing’s is a fad that won't last out the year."
- The editor in charge of business books for Prentice-Hall, 1957
Computers have grown and shrunk in size. In a bygone era it was thought impossible that a machine could be capable of such things as processing, printing and accessing the world. Today, it is another story. As a culture, the human race relies and is most oblivious to the dependency which is placed on a machine. However, this essay will discuss the significant roles which Ada Lovelace and William Gibson had on the revolutionary computer.
Ada Byron, countess of Lovelace was born in London on December 10, 1815. She was tutored in mathematics and music .Though intellectual noblewomen were not encouraged in the 19th century it was mathematic which really caught Lovelace’s attention.

In a nine-month period in 1842 to 1843 Charles Babbage, an English mathematician, philosopher and mechanical engineer, enlisted Lovelace to translate the  article Notions sur la machine analytique de Charles Babbage (1842)which Italian mathematician, Louis Menebrea published regarding Babbage’s most recent invention the “analytical engine.” It was on this project where Lovelace dedicated her skills and knowledge, making notes and appending them to the back of the original article. [O’conner, Robertson , 2002]
After the article was published in Richard Taylor’s Scientific Memoirs Volume 3 in 1843, Charles Babbage made comment that:
“These two memoirs taken together furnish, to those who are capable of understanding the reasoning, a complete demonstration - That the whole of the developments and operations of analysis are now capable of being executed by machinery.”  [Babbage 1864 p. 317]
From these notations was where Ada Lovelace claimed her fame. According to Toole [1992 p. 286] Lovelace declared;
“The distinctive characteristic of the Analytical Engine, and that which has rendered it possible to endow mechanism with such extensive faculties as bid fair to make this engine the executive right-hand of abstract algebra, is the introduction into it of the principle which Jacquard devised for regulating, by means of punched cards, the most complicated patterns in the fabrication of brocaded stuffs. It is in this that the distinction between the two engines lies. Nothing of the sort exists in the Difference Engine. We may say most aptly that the Analytical Engine weaves algebraical patterns just as the Jacquard loom weaves flowers and leaves.”
Though Bubbage’s machine was never created during his lifetime, further studies conducted by The London Science Museum constructed a perfectly functioning ‘difference engine’ from Babbage’s original plans in 1991. [2010] This reflects the importance which Lovelace had, as her notations were in fact the programming algorithms for the machine.  It was from these notes that Ada Lovelace was coined the first computer programmer as the algorithms she noted were concluded they could program a machine (the difference machine) inevitably a computer to carry out such commands. [Baum, 1986]
 Jumping forward a somewhat 100 years to the 20th Century, William Gibson an American-Canadian writer, a fore-front to the insight of the technologies surrounding computers coined the term “cyberspace.”
Cyberspace defined to its most simplest is the Internet a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange.” [Princeton University,2010]
William Gibson was a student at the University of British Columbia where he then went on to write his debut novel the Neuromancer which envisaged cyberspace. It was this novel where Gibson created an iconography for the information age, prior to the revolution of the internet being revealed in the 1990’s. [Poole,2003]

Cyberspace at the time when Neuromancer was first published  it held an insight to the futuristic possibilities that the computing world may have. It could be considered that Gibson planted the seed for such a form that without his novel the internet may not be what it is today.
At the time that Gibson published Neuromancer computer systems were a technology that people thought a pure privilege, even a novelty. However it has come to, in today’s 21st century society, the ideals of a computer become much more present and necessary in running what one could consider the world.
Gibson [1984] defined cyberspace in Neuromancer as  “A graphic representation of data abstracted from banks of every computer in the human system. Unthinkable complexity. Lines of light ranged in the nonspace of the mind, clusters and constellations of data. Like city lights, receding.” 

Considering the gigantic leap that this essay has entailed highlights the dramatic difference and advancements in technology for today’s computer systems. Though both these characters have neither created the actual device, it was through their determination and their individual mindset which drove them to discover and hypothesise what is now a modern and much underappreciated mechanism.
Comparatively Ada Lovelace was in a time where modern computers where on the brink of discovery. Through her optimism and determination it was inevitable that the basic ‘Difference Machine’ would revolutionise. According to Toole [1992 p. 287] Lovelace spoke of the basic computer doing more than just counting figures;
“Again, [the Difference Engine] might act upon other things besides number, were objects found whose mutual fundamental relations could be expressed by those of the abstract science of operations, and which should be also susceptible of adaptations to the action of the operating notation and mechanism of the engine . . . Supposing, for instance, that the fundamental relations of pitched sounds in the science of harmony and of musical composition were susceptible of such expression and adaptations, the engine might compose elaborate and scientific pieces of music of any degree of complexity or extent”
It is comparable that though separated by time both Ada Lovelace and William Gibson had an eye for technology, an eye that would see them steer the modern world into developing and creating a device which is now so common it is neither revolutionary nor eye-boggling. However, it can be concluded that without these two significant leaders and pioneers in the development of the computer and surrounding technologies, a world which is so dependent on computers and cyberspace may not have advanced and boomed in such a way.
Babbage, C, Passages from the Life of a Philosopher, London, 1864.
Baum, J. The Calculating Passion of Ada Byron. Archon Books, 1986.
Toole B A, Ada, the enchantress of numbers : a selection from the letters of Lord Byron's daughter and her description of the first computer, Mill Valley, California, 1992.
Hook, Diana H.; Jeremy M. Norman, Michael R. Williams, Origins of Cyberspace: a library of the history of computing, networking and telecommunications, Norman 2002.
Noah Shachtman, 23 May 2008, Pentagon Define, Wired, viewed 19 October 2010, http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2008/05/pentagon-define/
O’conner, J, Robertson, E, August 2002, Ada Lovelace a history, viewed 19 October 2010, http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Biographies/Lovelace.html
Steven Poole, 3 May 2003, William Gibson, Guardian UK, viewed 19 October 2010, http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2003/may/03/sciencefictionfantasyandhorror.williamgibson
Word Net Web, 2010, Princeton Univeristy viewed 19 October 2010, http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=cyberspace 

Change of Essay Question

I have decided to change my essay question after doing a quick research on the people from essay question one i have decided that i would like to change my essay to that. I think that this essay will deal with the basics of new technologies and inform the general reader of the significance that these people had in the development of the "computer."

In my essay i plan to highlight the significance of both the people i have chosen and then compare and contrast these two pioneers.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

FINAL ENTRY

Over the course of the semester we covered a broad range of old and new communication technologies. When choosing this subject as an elective I was not 100% aware of what the subject entailed. However, I think it has been to my benefit that I took this subject as I now understand concepts of new media that i was completely unaware of. I think that it is important that people doing a degree such as journalism understand these topics as the industry itself is changing to work and utilize the technologies available. Obviously when working in a field that is the basis of communication for the general public it is important to have a knowledge and understanding of devices and technologies which can be used.

We began the semester by investigating the difference between old and new communication technologies clearly identifying and gate-keeping what is considered old and new. What devices are still used, what technologies are being developed and what items are from a bygone era.

The second week we discussed the language of the cinema and what devices and terminology is used. Considering that television is the most popular way of communicating with the masses it was interesting to see how the construction of televisions shows is though out.

Third week saw the history of computing and the internet. I would not call myself a computer genius so I found this weeks topic quite informative and beneficial to how I use the internet and how and when certain things were developed.

Week four was a week were we investigated from big screen to small - the revolution of Youtube! I also found this week rather interesting as it is something that people now take-for granted. I think that this week really highlighted the way in which technology has developed and I think that it is important for people (especially gen y) that there never used to be a google and look something up on youtube.

The fifth week investigated consumption and production where in the tutorials we made a culture jam, aiming to leak in to the media in some way. This activity was rather fun and I thought stepped away from the mundane tasks which uni sometimes presents.

Week six focused around media, new media and social media and as a tute task had to investigate social networks such as Facebook and identify who owns the rights to things published through such websites. I found this quite interesting as facebook  recently had changed their agreement with subscribers where they owned the rights to everything published through their social networking sight. I think most people in the course related to this as they have succumb to the facebook fiasco.

Week seven investigated creative commons and how it is used in society at large and what this means for the publisher of the content. I was unaware of any such thing and found this topic rather interesting.

The eighth week was centered around virtual philosophy and virtual reality. I found this topic very interesting and it just proves how much technology is advancing.
In this tute we looked at cyperpunk genre and i think that it is a genre that revolutionized cinema, allowing the imagination to run wild.

I think that overall i have learnt a great deal about topics which I normally would have never known about. I am glad that I now have a more complex understanding of communication technologies and how we, as society rely so heavily on them.
All in all I think that this is an essential subject for people who want to pursue a career in anything that involves communicating to people at large.

Week 9. Tute Task/Spark.

ESSAY TOPICS
For the essay I have chosen to do topic six which is



Increasingly mobile devices are an aid to the gathering and reporting of information, both by professional journalists and “citizen journalists”.  Outline the advantages and disadvantages of this sort of news gathering. How might it impact on journalistic practices and news values and ethics?

I chose this topic because i feel that i can relate to it the most and i have the most interest in it. I think the way of comparing and analysing the use for such device in the 21st century and what role it provides in the news gathering is important as it could mean what makes and breaks the weekly news. Also as i am studying a Bachelor of Journalism i feel that i have some connection to this topic and how it will in some day affect the way i will do my job. 

I plan to discuss in the essay the pros and cons of such devices and what it could mean for the journalism and news gathering industry. Also i think i want to investigate what the impact these devices has on the people using them. I'm thinking at this stage that i may research what some of the old fashioned information gathering devices were and look at the reliability and ethics behind this hand-held device which is so heavily relied upon. I think the main point of my essay will be whether or not the mobile  phone has be a benefit to the industry or has just made people lazy.  

INITIAL RESEARCH





Week 8. Tute Task and Tutespark.

Week 8 focuses on virtual philosophy and its abundance ability to relate to reality. The lecture was centered around relating topics such as virtual reality, virtual rationality and virtual language. Collectively these three items on the agenda for the lecture are core principals in virtual philosophy.

When confronted by this weeks tute task/spark I was drawn to the idea of Fusion of Man and Machine. I find this topic ever present in todays society and loosely reflects how society uses technologies to enhance human life. This is prominent in especially within the health and medical factors of society where more and more machines are implanted to supplement damaged and unhealthy organs in humans to ultimately extend the life of those in need and better their lives. Examples of this would be artificial heart transplants and pace makers which are machines inserted in to a persons body and effectively programmed to have human functions.

Ultimately i think that this idea of the fusion of man and machine extends from a child's mind with the thought of characters as Astro Boy, Million Dollar man and Bionic Man. The idea of a human exterior and robotic insides is what could be considered in my mind a means of blurring the line between reality and the virtual world.

Examples of this are obviously matrix which was a considerable high note for the genre of cyberpunk however "I Robot" and "Ironman" are more recent movies which use the cyberpunk genre and were widely accepted.










The original article I found relatign to this topic was written by Kevin Wawrick for CNN international. The original article is as follows:

The fusion of man and machine

By Kevin Warwick for CNN
Monday, July 4, 2005 Posted: 1732 GMT (0132 HK


(CNN) -- By 2020 exciting advances in bio-interfacing will make it possible for a wider range of diseases to be treated electronically.
Initially Parkinson's disease and epilepsy will be successfully dealt with. But the effects of multiple sclerosis, paralysis and motor neurone disease will also be much reduced as the individual is enabled to control their environment and even drive their car, by their thoughts alone, using implanted technology.
Other problem areas such as senile dementia and schizophrenia could perhaps be tackled in a similar fashion.
The whole area, termed E-Medicine, will spawn a plethora of new companies.
As well as being used for therapy, the use of implant technology for enhancement will also become more acceptable.
Initially there will be a backlash among those who consider the prospect of being able to "upgrade themselves" ethically inappropriate.
But once the technology has been proven and is commercially available at relatively low cost, it is expected that the range of people making use of it will increase dramatically.
Memory enhancement, an increased range of senses, dieting control and thought communication will all be on the market, while technology to allow for multi-dimensional thought will be at the planning stage.
All of these upgrades will be based on a direct link between a human and a machine brain.
In this way the ever increasing power of machine intelligence can be used to provide an improvement in human capabilities, rather than allowing intelligent machines to make important decisions.
Nevertheless the use of networked intelligent computers to control all the financial markets will present a worrying trend -- it will no longer be clear who exactly is making the key decisions; a machine based on human criteria, or a machine based on purely machine criteria been learnt through market experience.
The military sector will witness some of the most dramatic changes. Fighter planes will be completely computer controlled, without any human intervention. Clearly it will be computers that think and learn fastest that will win the day.
The big question, though, is whether there will still be room for human soldiers at the frontline.
By extending their senses through networked implants military personnel could be kept safely out of harm's way while being virtually connected to the battlefront via a brain-network connection.
Finally, it will be interesting to witness the phasing out of the old style printed passport. Once everyone is fitted with a Radio Frequency ID implant containing individual data it will be difficult to imagine how we managed without them.
It's incredible to think it was only as long ago as 1998 that the first human tested out such an implant. Since then progress has indeed been swift.
-- Kevin Warwick is professor of cybernetics at the University of Reading and the author of "I, Cyborg." In 2001 he became the world's first "cyborg" after having a chip implanted in his arm.


My version of the article. 


With the rampant growth and development of implant technology, Professor Kevin Warwick believes that it will soon become a cure for illnesses and diseases such as Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, diseases affecting paralysis and motor neurone disease, senile dementia and schizophrenia. being coined as "E-Medicine" it is hypothesised that it will create a new plethora of companies and practitioners. Warwick accepts that the acceptance of such new technologies which pose ethical inappropriateness will eventually be broadly accepted and become a common way to cure diseases which impact a broad demographic of people. 
The initial idea is to create memory enhancement and  increase the range of senses such as thought communication. 
The basic understanding of this technology is that these upgrades to the human body will allow for a direct link between a human and a machine brain. Inevitably the ever increase in machine intelligence will be used to provide improvement to the human brain capabilities. 
Professor Kevin Warwick  put himself forward for the research of the  fusion of man and machine in 2001, where he inserted such technology into his left arm. Research is still being conducted however the results have provided the physicians with information which will further develop and understand the coexistence of man and machine. Overall this idea of fusing men and machines allows for the human race to utilize and exploit the abundance of technology advancements which occur around the world,  using it to improve the quality of lives for people in need. 

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Week 5. Tutorial Task.

Culture Jamming
Jasmine, Madelyn & Taylor. 

Ideas for Culture Jam

  • Lowering the driving age to 15 instead of 17
  • People can get their Learners license at 14 and their Driving permit at 15 years.
  • This is being assessed in QLD only by Anna Bligh, with a quote:
  • "Keep Australia in tune with America, where this driving rule is already in place." (post photo of young girl with L sticker) maybe take a video of a child opinion of the age change.
  • Twitter page with a petition for people to follow (URL of page on Ireport.com) 
  • using people like anna bligh and parliment officials to agree to pledge. 





Twitter Name: Sarah Jones 
Username: YouthDrivers Password: blogspot 
URL: https://twitter.com/YouthDrivers 




The Report for iReport
Queensland Transport and the Queensland Government have come together to announce a possible change to the driving age laws for Queensland youth. The current laws of obtaining a driviers permit licence at 17 years of age and a learners license at the age of 16 years old is being re-examined, with the full support of Anna Bligh, premier of Queensland. it has been stated that the driving age will be lowered to 14 years old for obtaining a learners license and at 15 years old, after one year and the 80 hours of driving experience, will be allowed to obtain a permit license.

The new law is being discusse and has recieved both criticism and positive support from Queenslands youth and parents Anna Bligh is seen to be a huge supporter of this proposition, with several coments being Tweeted on the 'Youth Drivers' support page on Twitter. To show your support for this new possible law or express your opinion about it, follow their page on Twitter: 
https://twitter.com1/YouthDrivers.



This report was unable to be posted on CNN ireport, due to the blocking of Griffith University's pages. 

Week 7 Tutorial Task.



 What is creative commons and how could this licensing framework be relevant to your own experience at university?




Creative Commons: (CC) is a non-profit organization headquartered in San Francisco, California, United States devoted to expanding the range of creative works available for others to build upon legally and to share.[1] The organization has released several copyright-licenses known as Creative Commons licenses free of charge to the public. These licenses allow creators to communicate which rights they reserve, and which rights they waive for the benefit of recipients or other creators. An easy to understand one-page explanation of rights, with associated visual symbols, explains the specifics of each Creative Commons license. This simplicity distinguishes Creative Commons from an all rights reserved copyright. Creative Commons was invented to create a more flexible copyright model, replacing "all rights reserved" with “some rights reserved”. Wikipedia is one of the notable web-based projects using one of its licenses.
The organization was founded in 2001, with support of the Center for the Public Domain. The first set of copyright licenses were released in December 2002. In 2008, there were an estimated 130 million works licensed under Creative Commons.  Creative Commons has been embraced by many as a way for content creators to take control of how they choose to share their intellectual property. 
Creative commons is relevant to university study as it allows for peoples essays and journal articles to be easily accessed and viewed for future assignments. 


 Find 3 examples of works created by creative commons and embed them in your blog.


































 Have a look at Portable Apps (a pc based application) – provide a brief description of what it is and how you think this is useful.


A portable app is a computer program that you can carry around with you on a portable device and use on any Windows computer. When your USB flash drive, portable hard drive, iPod or other portable device is plugged in, you have access to your software and personal data just as you would on your own PC. And when you unplug the device, none of your personal data is left behind.  http://portableapps.com/about/what_is_a_portable_app
I guess the initial benefit of portable apps is that it is 100% free, it allows people to have access to their computer (in a sense) without having to carry around their PC. It means that you could bring all of your stuff to uni on one USB and work from their. allowing quick easy access anywhere any time.