In the eyes of Walter Benjamin, ‘Aura represented authenticity.’ His idea being that anything perceived to be replicating original art form, lacked authentic value. Nowadays, contemporary digital media such as, music, film and television would be viewed by Benjamin as unauthentic as well. An example of this would be viewing a movie. This is replicated due to camera and would only be considered authentic if an audience were to watch it as a live performance. Walter Benjamin believed digital things were not genuine forms of art, due to their lack of ‘aura.’
In this day and age, it is possible for anyone to digitally produce “Art.” This will no doubt continue on into the future due to the progression of technology, and due to the inevitably of this being the trend, it is crucial to distinguish the two types. Therefore when keeping Benjamin’s ideas in mind, the line can be drawn at digital technology in terms of when art loses its authenticity.
With this in mind, I firmly believe that “Art”, whether it be in the past, present or future, has its place in society. History represents change and will continue to do so as long as the earth keeps revolving. Yesterday’s artist is today’s graphic designer. Who knows what tomorrow’s artist will be???
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Search Engines
How do search engines rank the stuff they find on the internet?
Although search engines work in different ways, they all have one thing in common. This commonality is called a web crawler, it retrieves information from websites and saves it in their database. The reason they differ is because Google stores only main important phrases, whilst something like Altavista stores all information. Another factor that determines order is the success of the website (or the number of hits the website has had).
Who, or what, makes one page (that you might get in your search results) more useful than another one, so that it is put at the top of your search results?
This is determined by the popularity of the website, as well as how relevant the searched words are with the information in the website.
What are some of your favourite search engines?
Why do you like one more than others?
My favourite search engine (and the only one is ever use) is www.google.com, i find it the most popular one, so it should have the most results on it right? Its also easy to use and always seems to be the homepage for computers. Sounds good to me.
Although search engines work in different ways, they all have one thing in common. This commonality is called a web crawler, it retrieves information from websites and saves it in their database. The reason they differ is because Google stores only main important phrases, whilst something like Altavista stores all information. Another factor that determines order is the success of the website (or the number of hits the website has had).
Who, or what, makes one page (that you might get in your search results) more useful than another one, so that it is put at the top of your search results?
This is determined by the popularity of the website, as well as how relevant the searched words are with the information in the website.
What are some of your favourite search engines?
Why do you like one more than others?
My favourite search engine (and the only one is ever use) is www.google.com, i find it the most popular one, so it should have the most results on it right? Its also easy to use and always seems to be the homepage for computers. Sounds good to me.
Scavenger Hunt Questions
1. Who was the creator of the infamous "lovebug" computer virus?
Onel De Guzman
Website- www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4572123-103690,00.html
2. Who invented the paper clip?
The modern paper clip was patented on November 9, 1899 to William D. Middlebrook of Waterbury, Connecticut.
Website- www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/paperclip.htm
3. How did the Ebola virus get its name?
The virus gets its name from a river in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it was first recognized.
http://ebola.emedtv.com/ebola-virus/from-what-place-did-the-ebola-virus-get-its-name.html
4. What country had the largest recorded earthquake?
the largest being in 1737, and was the worst natural disaster in India in more than 50 years.
http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/archives/secondary/casestud/india/2/earthquake.html
5. In computer memory/storage terms, how many kilobytes in a terabyte?
The definition of a megabyte is 1,024 kilobytes; however many people think of it as 1,000 kilobytes.The definition of a gigabyte is 1,024 megabytes; however many people think of it as 1,000 megabytes.The definition of a terabyte is 1,024 gigabytes; however many people think of it as 1,000 gigabytes
Therefore 1024 x 1024 x 1024 = 1 073 741 824 kilobytes = 1 terabyte
http://www.fortypoundhead.com/showcontent.asp?ArtID=764
6. Who is the creator of email?
A computer engineer called Ray Tomlinson invented internet-based mail in late 1971.
http://inventors.about.com/od/estartinventions/a/email.html
7. What is the storm worm, and how many computers are infected by it?
It starts with an email, and once the email is opened, the file attached is executed, and then it spreads. The computer becomes apart of the "Storm Botnet", which basically means a network where the RAM, hard disk space, and computing power is used in a "collective" net. It is estimated to have infected betweem 2 and 5 million computers.
http://what-is-what.com/what_is/storm.html
8. If you wanted to contact the prime minister of australia directly, what is the most efficient way?
Through either of these sites:http://www.alp.org.au/people/qld/rudd_kevin.phphttp://www.myspace.com/kevinrudd
9. Which Brisbane-based punk band is Stephen Stockwell (Head of the School of Arts) a member of?
The Black Assassins.
http://www.griffith.edu.au/school/art/staff/stockwell.htm
10. What does the term "Web 2.0" mean in your own words?
Most people believe that web 2.0 is the collection of networking programs. These include Limewire, Google, Wikipedia, BitTorrent etc.
http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html
Onel De Guzman
Website- www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4572123-103690,00.html
2. Who invented the paper clip?
The modern paper clip was patented on November 9, 1899 to William D. Middlebrook of Waterbury, Connecticut.
Website- www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/paperclip.htm
3. How did the Ebola virus get its name?
The virus gets its name from a river in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it was first recognized.
http://ebola.emedtv.com/ebola-virus/from-what-place-did-the-ebola-virus-get-its-name.html
4. What country had the largest recorded earthquake?
the largest being in 1737, and was the worst natural disaster in India in more than 50 years.
http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/archives/secondary/casestud/india/2/earthquake.html
5. In computer memory/storage terms, how many kilobytes in a terabyte?
The definition of a megabyte is 1,024 kilobytes; however many people think of it as 1,000 kilobytes.The definition of a gigabyte is 1,024 megabytes; however many people think of it as 1,000 megabytes.The definition of a terabyte is 1,024 gigabytes; however many people think of it as 1,000 gigabytes
Therefore 1024 x 1024 x 1024 = 1 073 741 824 kilobytes = 1 terabyte
http://www.fortypoundhead.com/showcontent.asp?ArtID=764
6. Who is the creator of email?
A computer engineer called Ray Tomlinson invented internet-based mail in late 1971.
http://inventors.about.com/od/estartinventions/a/email.html
7. What is the storm worm, and how many computers are infected by it?
It starts with an email, and once the email is opened, the file attached is executed, and then it spreads. The computer becomes apart of the "Storm Botnet", which basically means a network where the RAM, hard disk space, and computing power is used in a "collective" net. It is estimated to have infected betweem 2 and 5 million computers.
http://what-is-what.com/what_is/storm.html
8. If you wanted to contact the prime minister of australia directly, what is the most efficient way?
Through either of these sites:http://www.alp.org.au/people/qld/rudd_kevin.phphttp://www.myspace.com/kevinrudd
9. Which Brisbane-based punk band is Stephen Stockwell (Head of the School of Arts) a member of?
The Black Assassins.
http://www.griffith.edu.au/school/art/staff/stockwell.htm
10. What does the term "Web 2.0" mean in your own words?
Most people believe that web 2.0 is the collection of networking programs. These include Limewire, Google, Wikipedia, BitTorrent etc.
http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html
Alphaville
In week 3 of New Communication Technologies, we viewed the French New Wave/Science Fiction film, Alphaville. Directed in 1965 by Jean Luc Goddard, the movie is set in the future and portrays the belief that in the future people are controlled by computers…(or in this case a computer known as alpha 60).
Alphaville was a ground breaking film back when it was first produced. But in all essence it seemed more like a comedy when viewed by today’s modern audience. This is greatly because of the advancement in technology, i.e colour, effects.
An interesting fact about the movie is despite it being extremely futuristic and ahead of it’s time, no special effects were used. It is all filmed in Paris using modern settings to give a futuristic feel. This place is known as Utopia, where the citizens and technology are in harmony.
Overall Alphaville was an experimental movie that was unbelievably well-crafted for its time. It shows a concept of humans being controlled in the future by technology and computers. Now over fifty years later, it seems like today’s society has come to that, in a much more subtle way, and those original ideas from Goddard don’t seem so crazy anymore.
Alphaville was a ground breaking film back when it was first produced. But in all essence it seemed more like a comedy when viewed by today’s modern audience. This is greatly because of the advancement in technology, i.e colour, effects.
An interesting fact about the movie is despite it being extremely futuristic and ahead of it’s time, no special effects were used. It is all filmed in Paris using modern settings to give a futuristic feel. This place is known as Utopia, where the citizens and technology are in harmony.
Overall Alphaville was an experimental movie that was unbelievably well-crafted for its time. It shows a concept of humans being controlled in the future by technology and computers. Now over fifty years later, it seems like today’s society has come to that, in a much more subtle way, and those original ideas from Goddard don’t seem so crazy anymore.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
How do I use new communication technologies to communicate with family and friends
When asked what new communication technologies I use to communicate with family and friends, two words come to mind. Email and Myspace.com. Email is of course the classic and most common way of communicating over the internet, whilst myspace (as their logo would agree) is “A place for friends”
Since I live away from my family, (and have since I was 16) email has always seemed the most effective and obvious option. Its quick, easy and a great way to share photos and small video files. With the added benefits of msn and web-camming it makes it the perfect tool for keeping in touch with Mum, Dad and my two little brothers.
Myspace is the more sociable of the two for remaining in touch with old friends, meeting new ones and also just a cheap way of communication for my group of friends of today. Its easy to use format makes it great to communicate, whether it be in private or publicly. It also gives users the opportunity to exchange photos, listen to music and even watch videos.
I think the reason myspace.com is the more preferred option of the two, for teenage socializing is because of the more open format and creating a sharing cyber community. Whilst email still remains private, this is a more appropriate way for family to communicate. Unless of course your Mum gets myspace…….NOT COOL
Since I live away from my family, (and have since I was 16) email has always seemed the most effective and obvious option. Its quick, easy and a great way to share photos and small video files. With the added benefits of msn and web-camming it makes it the perfect tool for keeping in touch with Mum, Dad and my two little brothers.
Myspace is the more sociable of the two for remaining in touch with old friends, meeting new ones and also just a cheap way of communication for my group of friends of today. Its easy to use format makes it great to communicate, whether it be in private or publicly. It also gives users the opportunity to exchange photos, listen to music and even watch videos.
I think the reason myspace.com is the more preferred option of the two, for teenage socializing is because of the more open format and creating a sharing cyber community. Whilst email still remains private, this is a more appropriate way for family to communicate. Unless of course your Mum gets myspace…….NOT COOL
Virtual Reality, Spam and Blogging!!!
The information that I’ve found interesting over the last week in New Communication Technologies include Virtual Reality, Spam and Blogs.
When has Virtual Reality gone too far?
One topic that has been discussed in the first few weeks of New Communication Technologies, were the good and bad points of virtual reality. We looked at people whose lives have changed for the better from playing the online virtual phenomenon “Second Life”. Whilst other people whose lives have been ruined from the game. It raises the question of when does virtual reality step over the mark and start affecting our real lives?
What is Spam?
Is it
a) Sending multiple, sometimes thousands, of unwelcome messages to a newsgroup or mailing list to promote a commercial product or Web site.
OR
b) Delicious "meat" in a can
Unfortunately for all the butchers and fine meat loving connoisseurs out there, spam is not the classic “spiced ham” product we have all learnt to know and love. Nor was spam invented in 1934 by Professor Edward Spam even though some wikipedians out there will disagree.
We have all received those emails before where Nardoni Al Bolandri has $1,000,000 to deposit into your bank account or Michael Jones had received a bulk order of Viagra and he wants to pass the savings on to you. But the truth is that if it’s too good to be true, IT IS.
Billions of spam emails are sent each day because there are still some people out there who are ill informed about the cyber world. The spammers make their money by that 1 in a millionth person who operates on about 4 brain cells. So whether we like it or not, they’re here to stay for a lot longer. Or at least until the old man down the road stops replying to all those Viagra emails.
Blogging, Blogs and Bloggers
Another topic that is worth raising is Blogging, Blogs and Bloggers. Are they journalists? Are they a reliable source of information? These questions aren’t able to be answered as easily as the spam questions. But I’ll give it a go anyway.
Are bloggers journalists with a reliable source of information? Well now that I’ve written this on blogger.com, technically I’m now a blogger. However I don’t feel any more important, wiser or journalistic than half an hour ago. And I’m not hooked on the whole idea that I am a worthy source of information.
In my opinion, a blogger could be classed as an entertainer. With the chance to upgrade as a journalist or informative information teller if they are highly regarded enough and withstand the test of time, with factual and interesting information.
When has Virtual Reality gone too far?
One topic that has been discussed in the first few weeks of New Communication Technologies, were the good and bad points of virtual reality. We looked at people whose lives have changed for the better from playing the online virtual phenomenon “Second Life”. Whilst other people whose lives have been ruined from the game. It raises the question of when does virtual reality step over the mark and start affecting our real lives?
What is Spam?
Is it
a) Sending multiple, sometimes thousands, of unwelcome messages to a newsgroup or mailing list to promote a commercial product or Web site.
OR
b) Delicious "meat" in a can
Unfortunately for all the butchers and fine meat loving connoisseurs out there, spam is not the classic “spiced ham” product we have all learnt to know and love. Nor was spam invented in 1934 by Professor Edward Spam even though some wikipedians out there will disagree.
We have all received those emails before where Nardoni Al Bolandri has $1,000,000 to deposit into your bank account or Michael Jones had received a bulk order of Viagra and he wants to pass the savings on to you. But the truth is that if it’s too good to be true, IT IS.
Billions of spam emails are sent each day because there are still some people out there who are ill informed about the cyber world. The spammers make their money by that 1 in a millionth person who operates on about 4 brain cells. So whether we like it or not, they’re here to stay for a lot longer. Or at least until the old man down the road stops replying to all those Viagra emails.
Blogging, Blogs and Bloggers
Another topic that is worth raising is Blogging, Blogs and Bloggers. Are they journalists? Are they a reliable source of information? These questions aren’t able to be answered as easily as the spam questions. But I’ll give it a go anyway.
Are bloggers journalists with a reliable source of information? Well now that I’ve written this on blogger.com, technically I’m now a blogger. However I don’t feel any more important, wiser or journalistic than half an hour ago. And I’m not hooked on the whole idea that I am a worthy source of information.
In my opinion, a blogger could be classed as an entertainer. With the chance to upgrade as a journalist or informative information teller if they are highly regarded enough and withstand the test of time, with factual and interesting information.
About me ..... (Danny)
Hi, my name is Danny and this is my blog page. I’d give you a warm welcome and encourage you too look around, but since this is my first EVER blog all you are really going to be looking at is the few lines of text below here.
How about I start off with a brief description of myself.
Im currently in my first year at Griffith University studying Media and Communication because i would love to get a job in the media one day and .....well....communicate. I've lived all around the world and just generally like chillin with mates, going out and having an all round great time.
My job over the next 13 weeks is to enter the “Blogosphere” and write to you about what I have learnt in the lectures, tutorials and the voluntary research I do during the week. Please note- No voluntary research has yet to be conducted, but when I run out of beer we will be underway.
How about I start off with a brief description of myself.
Im currently in my first year at Griffith University studying Media and Communication because i would love to get a job in the media one day and .....well....communicate. I've lived all around the world and just generally like chillin with mates, going out and having an all round great time.
My job over the next 13 weeks is to enter the “Blogosphere” and write to you about what I have learnt in the lectures, tutorials and the voluntary research I do during the week. Please note- No voluntary research has yet to be conducted, but when I run out of beer we will be underway.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)