CCT205+-+Labs


 * CCT205 - Labs**


 * January 13/2011 - Lab 1**
 * Q: What "digital innovation" do you feel best deserves the title of "revolutionary" and "why"?**

In my opinion, I believe that facebook is one of the top, if not the most revolutionary innovation today. Our generation is so dependent on this new online social networking site that it if were taken away people would be at a huge personal loss as well as a a great social loss. Facebook has changed the way we as a community interact with each other. Even though technology has continued to improve and grow (i.e. iphone) it has not replaced the use of Facebook as a social network. People no longer rely on calling, or emailing but rather "posting, poking, or sharing" on ones Facebook wall.

Facebook is a site that is available to anyone who wants it. There are people of all ages who use Facebook to connect with friends, family, potential new friends etc. Facebook has also been opened up past people, accounts for animals and pets such as dogs and cats have been created to also socialize and gain multiple new friends. Obviously the account isn't actually made by them, but the fact that they have an account and people are adding them to their friends lists definitely shows that Facebook has surpassed the general public and is moving on to revolutionary ideas.

Overall, Facebook is a social networking site that up to date, no other innovation or company has been able to take over in popularity or use.


 * January 20/2011 - Lab 2**
 * Q: What do you think of the app store?**

The app store is a program which creates even more convenience for the public. With all the options and available apps offered on the apps store people can perform personal tasks such as physical health routines (i.e. gym workouts or nutritional information and suggestions) or even entertain themselves with different gaming or movie applications. The apps store has also taken programs that are restricted to only PC computers to now be available to Mac computers. This adds to the convenience factor where the app store is trying to make things easier and more compatible to the public and their customers.

Looking at the gaming application, there are both positive and negative sides to it. The games are extremely convenient in both purchasing and accessing. Once they are purchased they are available at the touch of your finger. However, due to certain regulations conducted by apple, not all games are available for purchase. An example of this would be with any violent games that include violence against people or animals. In their rules and regulations for the mac app store they state that they will reject your computer if you try to make or buy a violent game. This could be viewed as a negative factor depending on the type of gaming consumer.

This new mac app is a program that has a lot of restrictions and rules, but is still in my opinion, a very useful and positive tool. People may complain about all the rules and restrictions that they have to follow when using the mac app, but in the end, the purpose of the program is still to serve the public and make our lives more convenient and easier.


 * January 27/2011 - Lab 3**
 * Q: Choose one of the six senses and discuss a real-world example that demonstrates it.**

After reading "A Whole Knew Mind" I found it interesting that play had such a huge role in creating design, and being a useful tactic when trying to be successful at what you do. Reading about the laughing groups in India was surprising and somewhat amusing; laughter was literally used as a form of medicine. I've never really thought too much about it before, but having a playful aspect in your work atmosphere can really help to get by or through a tough situation if you're stuck. After giving your mind a rest, and focusing on a less strain-full idea or problem, a solution comes along much easier.

I can recall an example where I was working on a design project for another Sheridan class with a friend. It was a project that took about a week to research, write and produce, in other words, a project that took up a lot of time and effort. We often got stuck when going through the brainstorming process and to get past that stump we often would just take a break, grab some food, and have some fun. This form of play could incorporate things from internet surfing, playing games, or talking etc. By just doing these fun, mindless activities, we were able to eventually (after a lot of procrastinating) come back and be way more productive than if we were to just sit there for hours and not giving our brains a rest. By playing and being a little delirious and silly, we were also able to think of out-of-the-box ideas that wouldn't have come to us in a more serious state of mind.

Having a playful atmosphere makes the work you are doing more fun and enjoyable to finish. You come in excited about what you're contributing to and anticipating the playful events that could happen while your there.


 * February 3/2011 - Lab 4**
 * Q. Respond to this article with your own contextualized opinion.**

I agree with Sherry Turkle's view that technology is a great invention and tool, but that we just have to figure out how to use it properly. Networks such as Facebook and twitter are more convenient and increase communication between friends and family. They make keeping in touch possible especially if the other person lives half way across the world. But like Turkle stated before, there has become this obsession over technology and people aren't just using it to keep in touch with long distance friends. People use the programs to do tasks such as "Facebook stalking" which doesn't benefit anyone, and intrudes on people's lives and privacy.

As our society continues to grow and improve we need technology to do so as well. So the creation of these networks have been created to satisfy our wants but not our needs. We don't need networks like twitter to know someones every thought and move. Again this is just another form of "twitter stalking" - knowing unnecessary things about peoples lives (who you might not even know). This is just extra information that won't benefit our lives. The fact that Katy Perry just ate a burger with lettuce and no onions doesn't enhance my knowledge or life.


 * February 10/2011 - Lab 5**
 * Q. Talk about your views/concerns about the future of privacy.**

Privacy is something that everyone is entitled to; it is up to you whether you want to share any personal information, or so it seemed up until recently. Privacy these days now appears to be a lot less attainable, and even more difficult to keep. With the constant updates with technology, privacy in all aspects of our lives seems to be a harder task to keep to ourselves. There are these new devices and programs/networks that are purely designed to breach other people's privacy. Many people would argue that an example of one of these networks would be Facebook. This program is more of an intrusion of privacy, and stalking opportunity than the social, connecting network it is labeled and advertised as.

Seeing as in the past decade privacy has diminished in our society, it would be likely to assume that this trend will continue. People will eventually have no privacy at all, even if it's not the choice of the beholder; people will invade for their own interest. Users surfing the net are losing their common courtesy, and are giving in to their curiosity instead. People no longer ask for permission to view something personal of someone else, they just dig and creep as far as they want/ are willing to go. However, this disappearance of privacy is not all the intruders fault. Users posting personal information on the internet or anywhere that is accessible for someone to find has to know that it isn't truly private anymore. Once you post or share something outside of your own head or possession, you have to accept the possibility that someone else will find it and look through it.


 * February 17/2011 - Lab 6**
 * Q. Talk about a rule that inspires or interests you.**

Rule 6**: A good tactic is one your people enjoy. “If your people aren’t having a ball doing it, there is something very wrong with the tactic.”**


 * I believe that this rule is extremely accurate and applicable in all aspects of life. If people enjoy something, then most often it will turn out much better than a project that the people involved hate or are uninterested in. It is human nature that if people don't enjoy what they are doing, they simply will not try as hard, and therefore will not receive maximum results. **

When people go to work, or are applying for a job, they are probably going to go for something they are trained and therefore interested in, so by not "having a ball" while performing a task, clearly something went wrong in the process. If people enjoy what they are taking part it, the progress of the project or activity will also tend to go by faster and smoother. Because everyone likes what they are doing and want the project to succeed they will most likely put more effort and their best ideas into it. This evidently will result in a great response or idea because a large group of deeply involved and interested people are putting their maximum effort and more brilliant ideas into the mix. When multiple bright minds come together it is very rare for the outcome to be negative.

This rule can relate to the element of play. Play would be a method that people enjoy, and have "a ball" doing, therefore it is a tactic that should definitely be applied to any political and/or social movements.


 * March 3/2011 - Lab 7**
 * Q. Write a response to the idea/concept of e-learning.**

The online program, e-learning, is a system invented to help students learn with the convenience and comfort of not actually coming into the classroom. It also includes a sort of online community so the student doesn't feel disconnected from the other students or professor in the lecture. Even though there has been a positive reaction to this e-learning system, I believe there are some definite setbacks. In my opinion, this program was made with good intentions, but I feel that in the long run it isn't as effective as it was originally planned.

While taking a course online students may be easily distracted by different things around them like the easily accessible Internet. People can be inclined to simply browse the Internet for social networks, or media related sites, instead of paying attention or contributing to lecture. Having the course available online may also not encourage the student to actually attend the online lecture. I can relate to this example because last year in one of my sociology courses, the tutorials were offered online. These tutorials were not mandatory, and had no concrete location to meet therefore no student was actually motivated to participate. I can recall that multiple students, including myself, didn't even look up the information on how to sign up for the tutorials let alone attend one.

Another set back of e-learning is that lack of visual contact. While discussing or adding your opinion in lecture no one can see the body language you are portraying, or hear the tone in which you are delivering your words. This can effect the responses to your comments or questions because people can't hear the different expressions in your voice such as anger, curiosity, urgency etc.

Overall, I believe e-learning is a great idea, but needs to be perfected to fit the public, who are Internet addicted and becoming more and more ADD as new technologies and programs are being introduced to feed their computer-media lifestyle.


 * March 10/2011 - Lab 8**
 * Q. Post a poster design from InDesign.**




 * March 17/2011 - Lab 9**
 * Q. What will/ should web 3.0 be about?**

I believe that web 3.0 will include a lot of cross searching tools to share information. As technology continues to grow, the computer will be able to search various types of sources and information that may have nothing to do with each other - polar opposites. However with this expansion of information and possibilities there is also a downfall. Seeing as computers are purely digital and not personal (as in they do not feel or have any qualities offered by the right brain) they will only respond to logical, and straight forward questions and as a result only deliver the same kind of specific answers. Anything related to emotions or creativity, the computer will not pick up, and therefore will not be able to search or share.

This specificity could lead to problems regarding computers that the public begin to heavily rely on. This could include technological systems belonging to the government that play important and crucial roles on society. If we begin to completely rely on the new web 3.0, we may start to lose some of our own perspective, and begin to just follow and listen to anything we're told without even questioning it.