What did I learn? Statistically speaking I learned an high but unquantifiable amount of information about how much information is now our there and available to anyone with just cursory knowledge of how to use the internet. In addition I am fearful of how much information and therefore power could be gained and wielded by an individual or organization.
People have been manipulating people for a very long time and we have evolved defenses if you will to protect ourselves from the interpersonal types of manipulation that takes place from day to day. (Ok some protection, except from women, though I do recognize it but that to is part of the evolutionary game.) In Fact there is a movement to teach our students to recognize manipulation by studying such things as the Nazi propaganda campaigns, and yes even some time spent on the American propaganda being used. Our students are being taught to recognize manipulations in advertisement as well. Still as has been brought up in this course by others what type of training is being done for those students entering the Cyberworld and what implications do the new naivete's have for manipulation of future generations.
Will we evolve technical defenses against the invasion of privacy, ID theft and manipulation by marketers?
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Week 3 blog
How did blog three follow blog 4, well technology assistance that is how. I was misled into believing that I had already completed the 3rd blog when I went to name the blog it gave me the option of naming it "Week 3 blog" which I assumed meant I had completed blog 3 but alas that was a very old blog three not the 520 blog three that I am currently working on.
It is a small thing this tech assistance but I find it very helpful and miss it when I move between my two computers. Each Sunday night I send my students there weekly what to do email. Using my laptop means that when I type in the subject line to the email that choice will appear for each of my classes when I click on the proper field. This saves mere seconds but I become aggravated when using my PC and performing the same task when this particular word processing assistance does not automatically give me the choice.
It is not such a time saver as a mental break from having to repeat a step, I mean it only saves me a couple of seconds but I feel a great relief incompatible with the time saving convenience, very interesting. These may be the simple things that make users happy and from someone who spends most of his time online, the happier the better for this user.
It is a small thing this tech assistance but I find it very helpful and miss it when I move between my two computers. Each Sunday night I send my students there weekly what to do email. Using my laptop means that when I type in the subject line to the email that choice will appear for each of my classes when I click on the proper field. This saves mere seconds but I become aggravated when using my PC and performing the same task when this particular word processing assistance does not automatically give me the choice.
It is not such a time saver as a mental break from having to repeat a step, I mean it only saves me a couple of seconds but I feel a great relief incompatible with the time saving convenience, very interesting. These may be the simple things that make users happy and from someone who spends most of his time online, the happier the better for this user.
Week 4 blog
So in a troubling display of the power of Data we were introduced to Bill Trancer. He might be a very nice guy, obviously a very smart guy, but his use of data and trends to manipulate online users and other consumers gives men the willy's. What Willy's are I am not sure (too busy to look up the root, if you know please add a comment.) but the thought that all the key strokes online by everyone are analyzed and dissected with hopes of better being able to sell me products gives me pause.
It isn't that I am particularly naive (though in some ways I certainly am)I understand the capitol economic system and the apparent wealth and value it has given to the American people. I also understand it is the job of the marketing department to manipulate us into buying their products. What worries me is my understanding of brain studies that have shown that we are very susceptible to emotional, visual and other stimuli that bypass what we wrongly believe is our cognitive logical abilities to consider and think.
So it worries me that the Marketers will get ahead of my brain in the arms race that is consumerism. Do I really need that Ford Mustang Convertible or do I just want one? OK so I choose a bad example the Mustang is so obviously a need. In many instances our need for things may be influence with ever increasing sophistication changing our wants into needs. Thanks for reading the ramblings got a go buy some more stuff I just saw online.
It isn't that I am particularly naive (though in some ways I certainly am)I understand the capitol economic system and the apparent wealth and value it has given to the American people. I also understand it is the job of the marketing department to manipulate us into buying their products. What worries me is my understanding of brain studies that have shown that we are very susceptible to emotional, visual and other stimuli that bypass what we wrongly believe is our cognitive logical abilities to consider and think.
So it worries me that the Marketers will get ahead of my brain in the arms race that is consumerism. Do I really need that Ford Mustang Convertible or do I just want one? OK so I choose a bad example the Mustang is so obviously a need. In many instances our need for things may be influence with ever increasing sophistication changing our wants into needs. Thanks for reading the ramblings got a go buy some more stuff I just saw online.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Welcome to the Big Apple!
I was in New York City, Wow! I had planned on writing my week 2 blog while in New York, I figured I was there for four whole days. I would take a walk to a cafe with my computer some morning while my wife slept in. Or maybe sit in a cafe in the afternoon or some evening and reminisce about technology in New York. Well New York was awesome, the only time I set down was to eat! The Technology presence in New York was evident in Time square, where almost every building outside our apartment had some sort of plasma display with vivid pictures and colors displaying all the beautiful items and people money can buy. I was also able to use my BlackBerry everywhere in Manhattan, and I mean everywhere; From the top of the Rock, to the underground subway, on the Brooklyn bridge and on the Staten Island ferry.
With that said, even if for a minute I headed out with my briefcase(or attaché perhaps it's really a satchel, man purse?) I would have been hard pressed to find a place to hook up. (with my wireless that is) It did make me stop and think, how we need a wireless infrastructure in this country. Well need may be a bit strong. I would like one is more appropriate. If it is good for me though it may well be that it is good for commerce in general. How much would it cost, how much would it help? I wonder.
While wondering I wondered as Mic Jagger once said "all over Manhattan" actually perhaps those aren't lyrics in a Rolling Stone song but they are close, related or someone may consider them tangential at the least. Which through the fun of word association and rambling leads me to another New York Minute.
I had just assumed I would hate New York, just in the same way I hate driving in downtown Chicago and just how I hate the Yankees. (Yes I came home with two Yankee hats, what's a fella to do.) Hadn't Jagger told us all about it in that song "Don't mind the maggots" (Now I know they sang that!) Well if you have not been there in a while it is time to go back. It was like a Walt Disney vacation set in a huge city. Really everyone was happy, I even thought I say Mikey Mouse walking around Santa was there in full force it must have been some kind of conference there were hundreds of them mostly in groups of 7-10 and very few sober and it was not crazy expensive though signs of rich people were everywhere. Which was kinda fun though puzzling as well as we never did see anybody who was rich, how do you think they manage that, probably pay folks like me to make sure they don't see folks like me. Interesting huh?
With that said, even if for a minute I headed out with my briefcase(or attaché perhaps it's really a satchel, man purse?) I would have been hard pressed to find a place to hook up. (with my wireless that is) It did make me stop and think, how we need a wireless infrastructure in this country. Well need may be a bit strong. I would like one is more appropriate. If it is good for me though it may well be that it is good for commerce in general. How much would it cost, how much would it help? I wonder.
While wondering I wondered as Mic Jagger once said "all over Manhattan" actually perhaps those aren't lyrics in a Rolling Stone song but they are close, related or someone may consider them tangential at the least. Which through the fun of word association and rambling leads me to another New York Minute.
I had just assumed I would hate New York, just in the same way I hate driving in downtown Chicago and just how I hate the Yankees. (Yes I came home with two Yankee hats, what's a fella to do.) Hadn't Jagger told us all about it in that song "Don't mind the maggots" (Now I know they sang that!) Well if you have not been there in a while it is time to go back. It was like a Walt Disney vacation set in a huge city. Really everyone was happy, I even thought I say Mikey Mouse walking around Santa was there in full force it must have been some kind of conference there were hundreds of them mostly in groups of 7-10 and very few sober and it was not crazy expensive though signs of rich people were everywhere. Which was kinda fun though puzzling as well as we never did see anybody who was rich, how do you think they manage that, probably pay folks like me to make sure they don't see folks like me. Interesting huh?
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