Google - *** Extra Credit ***

Well… man. Let me start by saying that I guess I'm a bit of a cynic because I just assume that everyone is data-mining the crap out of every move I make on the internet so one company's efforts aren't any more dubious than another's. I didn't realize that Google had committed actually crimes or that it blatantly lied about it's product and the Safari debacle. I have to admit that I haven't been following what was happening closely. Oh sure, I did the obligatory adjustments to my Google and YouTube history, but that was more of a reaction to the subliminal messages various tech sites had placed in my head through their warnings of changes at Google. I should have looked into it more. I also didn't know about their positioning their products and services above more relevant results… probably because it really didn't make any difference to me. I have an organic built-in spam filter that runs in the background in my brain-pan whenever I search the web. I know what I'm looking for and I generally don't get distracted by less-helpful noise.

But honestly, I don't see what Google is doing as any more or less 'evil' as anyone else. Perhaps more desperate, although I doubt they would admit it. They certainly are fighting to stay relevant and I certainly don't see Google+ as a killer app or an answer to their information access problem. I have a Google+ account and haven't done a damn thing with it. Even with their attempts to mimic the original exclusive nature of Facebook with limited invites (at least that's how I saw it). I never felt like getting mine was like finding a golden ticket. Facebook was/is enough work, and it's where I keep in touch with people I normally would get to talk to. I consider daily status updates a welcome alternative to getting the multipage family newsletters at the holidays. There's no need to add another layer to my social networking. Maybe in the future as a professional page. It might be nice to have my work that separate from Facebook. Or maybe not. Maybe clients wouldn't be comfortable with Google's recent practices. Hmmm...

I've been hearing the little rumors floating around - some a bit hyperbolic, but interesting - about a Facebook buyout of Google… or that Facebook is going to become the new 'world wide web'. Rumors that it's partnerships and integrations are overtures of a planned web take-over that would see Facebook properties as an interface layer that works much in the same way as the web does now for the infotubes. I once heard similar rumors about Google. I guess only time will tell. Skynet anyone?

15 Top Trends *** Extra Credit ***

I have to admit… I spent a good deal of time playing with the links and checking out different flash websites. While I never thought that Flash would go away completely, I didn't think it would be sticking around for many of the uses it still is. After the dozens of tech and interactive demos for HTML5 that I saw over the last year I thought that by now it would be providing much of the same experiences that Flash does. Not so much it seems. At least not yet.

We had a chance to discuss and look at examples of responsive design in Bob's class. The Boston Globe site was a good example, although most aspects past the main pages aren't upgraded yet.

Appification has already taken over Mac OS… and now today Facebook announced App Center. Even Apple's traditionally higher end professional software has gone 'app' and Adobe has included iDevice apps as a part of their Design Cloud strategy.

I was surprised to see 'skeuomorphic' design as a future tend… it's been around in one form or another for a while for websites, front ends for DVDs and video games. Just interesting is all.
I guess some of this doesn't seem very prescient… more like following trends to their logical evolution. The 'Respect Beyond Aesthetics' section was the most intriguing and nerve-racking to me… it's sort of my kryptonite… I'm the designer who needs to get on board with code. GAH! I wish I was that person. Distributed Workforces also intrigued me, although it's something that's been in motion for a while and in my opinion was just hastened by the recession.


Other than that, nothing overly engrossing or surprising on the list… interesting though. I was surprised that there wasn't any mention of video trends or AR. Oh well.

iPhone Privacy *** Extra Credit ***

Where to even begin… GAH! While this article focuses on the iPhone (and why not given that everyone assumes that anything Apple is impervious to viruses, malware and security failures), this is an epidemic. Honestly, there is no privacy unless you are truly 'off the grid'. Multi-page user agreements and enticing free apps with ambiguous permissions descriptions claim victims from all consumer electronics. Even video game systems - portable ones included - ask for your permission to grab 'anonymous, user identity free' metrics and information in the background or even after you've powered the system down.

I found it interesting how many Android users were parroting the bravado normally associated with Macheads… so many statements about Android devices being impervious to infiltration unless the user does something stupid or illegal. That's a pretty bold statement… especially in light of Apple's recent issues with privacy and viruses. I own an Android smart phone and have had Android on my last 3 phones. The most recent and presumably secure phone (Droid Incredible 2) has been overrun with spam apps and text ads. There was nothing in the permissions of any of my apps that would overtly account for this, and yet there they are. My phone is also loaded with Verizon bloatware… some of which is collecting data.

Amazon is tracking content on the Kindle… how and what people read… and even what they highlight. They even make efforts to follow you as you travel through the interwebs after you've left their online store. If you use a loyalty card at any store for any reason, your information is forfeit. Homeland security was even using loyalty cards to track shopping habits and purchases. One of their big red flags? Hummus consumption. Profile much?

I guess my point is that as shitty as it is that this is happening on the iPhone, it's nothing new and it certainly isn't unique to Apple devices. Hell… DMVs have been selling our info for years. Buyer beware doesn't even cut it anymore; most user agreements are either ridiculously long and riddled with legalese or ambiguous at best. Unless you have your lawyer present, it's a crap shoot. And it sucks. Welcome to the real world, Macheads.

Digital Divide

This article kind of goes hand in hand with the Rockford library article, in my eyes at least. While I could go off on a tangent on how this relates to disenfranchising minority and low income voters and the creation of the low-information voters, I'll try to just stick to a narrower definition of the subject matter. This is also timely for me as a parent, as our school district is getting reading to vote on whether or not to upgrade our school's internet and computers. Some of the school's computers are as much as 12 years old, and none of the schools have a wireless network. At home, my daughter has access to a netbook, mobile devices, a Mac PowerBook, an iMac and other devices... but we know families in town who don't have so much as one computer and don't have internet access.

The city's library weekday hours are VERY limited and there are no Sunday hours.. At the same time, our elementary school is the third largest in the state due to the number of communities it serves. Couple that with the lack of internet service to the rural areas surrounding town and the smaller communities in the area, and you have a perfect example of the problems and challenges the article speaks to. I find it hard to believe that there is an active movement in this state and elsewhere to refuse funds and cancel projects related to rural broadband. And yet it is very real. And very sad.

Rockford Library Dilema

The article did a good job of presenting both sides of the argument, but ultimately this will be a game of give and take. While the argument that traditional libraries provide better access for disadvantaged/low income patrons seems valid on the surface, the numbers and statistics don't seem to support the argument... at least not as presented. What is clear is that if the Rockford Library system doesn't get onboard the push to digital media now, the expense of playing catch up ad the missed opportunities for the very people SOL purports to be concerned about will far outweigh any perceived short-term benefits of directing funds toward a traditional library model.

School Spies Article

With regards to the article 'School Spies on Students at Home With Webcams: Suit'
There is no conceivable argument that could possibly explain or justify the actions of the Lower Marion School District. To install tracking and remote access technology to secure their computers is one thing. To use this technology to spy on students... to invade their privacy and their homes... is both morally bankrupt and blatantly illegal. Even in an era of dwindling rights and increasingly more invasive government surveillance, even local law enforcement needs to obtain a warrant and permission for wire taps and cameras. It is creepy and it raises questions: Just when these cameras were active? Who was viewing them? Were these activations recorded? A larger question that I didn't see addressed in the article is the idea that the laptops more than likely were used in minors sleeping areas... bedrooms. That opens the door to possible child pornography charges if anyone activated the cameras/recorded while the students were changing etc. That is some scary shit.

QR Code... in addition to printed codes...

http://encode.i-nigma.com/QRCode/img.php?d=Oh%2C%20butterscotch...%20I'd%20love%20to%20play%20around%20with%20QR%20codes%20for%20a%20while%20longer%20but%20I%20have%20sooooo%20much%20homework%20to%20do.%20I%20think%20I'll%20be%20taking%20a%20powder%20for%20my%20last%20class%20and%20heading%20home%20to%20take%20care%20of%20Goomba%20while%20I%20do%20my%20Technical%20Writing%20homework.%20&c=Gotta%20jet...%20peace!&s=6

Norman Mailer vs. Marshall McLuhan

I've watched the movie, I've thought about the men and their views and I've come to view Mailer as a tool. His contributions to literature are far enough removed from their newness and from the context of the period in which they were written that whatever innovations they may have represent have no impact on my opinion of him. Beyond that, I'm not sure what constitutes 'notes' in this case. It was kind of entertaining to watch them duke it out in an existential battle of the wits the first time, but it was harder to watch the second.

Group Think

Wow. This really struck a chord with me. This has been a struggle for the last year or so. While I am compelled to be a social creature and feel pressure (and guilt) to spend time with my family, I've come to realize that all of my best work that I've ever done has been when I've been able to throw the blinders on and focus of my work. No interruptions, no guilt about not helping enough around the house, no worries that my daughter needs more daddy time. Just me locked away with my imagination.

Lately I been overwhelmed. My brain is one big, tender, exposed nerve. Every sound, every smell, every light makes me feel a little more claustrophobic… And I'm highly overstimulated and agitated. I wish I could just spend a week working on my projects and schoolwork and then painting… or drawing… or taking a road trip to do some photography. All of it by myself.

I love my family and I would never want to lose them. I enjoy spending time with them. I'm not saying that I want to be single again, just that I wish I could do what I have to do without feeling guilty about spending the time alone or for even thinking about it. I've gotten better with the guilt at home, but I'm still not as productive as I should be and alone time would help. I just feel the pull of various responsibilities to others when I am alone.

In other words, I completely agree with the opinions of the author; without alone time with my thoughts, I'm about 1/3 the designer/artist/student/creative soul I could/should be. I may just have to be a bit more selfish… for the greater good. Because when I'm making art/producing, I'm a lot happier of an individual.

Social Media Applications in the classroom...

Flickr - A great way to share photos, videos and artwork with an entire class. With the various levels of permissions, it lends itself nicely to creating a class viewing environment. With a Flickr account, a design or art class could be taken to the next level by allowing students and instructors alike to comment on both finished art and works in progress. It creates a whole new feedback experience that could fill in the gaps in interaction between classes. The instructor could then download the finished project at size for a critique/grading.

Skype - This takes the instructor-student interaction beyond the limits of class time and allows for more time for collaboration on group projects. By having Skype in the classroom, it would be far easier to have guest speakers who might otherwise not be able to leave the office to come and speak, but do have 20 or 30 minutes to Skype in from their office allowing them to seamlessly return to their workday.

Foursquare - An app like Foursquare (or Yelp) would allow for the creation of interactive field trips, and location-based homework assignments. For a museum experience, the student could check in an then describe the pieces of art work they are looking at and post a photo. The class could then comment on each others posts and exchange opinions and experiences. The same would apply to something like a music class where the requirement is to see for example several concerts and review them during a semester. The student could check in, give a brief impression of the event and encourage the class to comment and post questions. The instructor would then know that the student was in attendance and the students initial thoughts in the moment.

That which we were to read and comment about...

I'm honestly not sure WHAT to say. I read through the articles and looked at the infographics. It's fairly alarming the rate at which social media has grown and diversified... especially when you consider the amount of personal information out there. It has grown into a juggernaut that really has a life of it's own. It has helped to share breaking news before the networks were able to report it and it's helped to save lives. It's helped to promote worthy causes and been a vehicle of hatred, stalking and bullying. It's redefined how we do business and advertise and how we communicate with one another. I have seen social media help to bring down corrupt governments. It has many times been a human rss feed of information and news you won't find main-stream sources covering. I am amazed at how it has changed the way we play... and what it means to 'game'. Social media and it's many tentacles is all at once mesmerizing and enthralling and horrifying and invasive.

When I look at how mobile devices, wifi enabled cameras and video cams, apps and social media connect us all, I see an artificial neural network... each of us and individual 'neuron' and sensory organ for the whole. I would imagine if interactions were mapped and animated it really would resemble brain activity... more-so than any previous comparisons to the web. Maybe it's not the next step in human evolution, but some days it feels that way. Just this side of a true 'cyborg'. 

I guess it comes down to the humanity of it all. There is so much potential and so far some of that has been harnessed for good. We have new and compelling ways of exchanging information and promoting worthy causes. Social media has made it easier for us to organize and come together to do great good... or just hang out in person... and to find lost friends and loved ones. There is a dark side of stalkers, bullying, ID theft, the selling of lives by third parties, tracking our every move on the interwebs, etc. It's unknown territory in some ways. 

That's my two cents.

Social Media Landscape

I wasn't really clear what if anything that I am supposed to take from this article. Facebook is a monster and it tentacles are far-reaching and in everything. That is what I took from it. It's also no longer the coolest kid on the block... it's just the most popular. That's not enough these days. The connectivity is awesome, but also a bit disturbing.

And so it begins...

This is my first official blog post for Instructional Media Systems. The assignment posts will follow.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!