Digital Culture blog: Fall 2007

Take Your RFID and "Put it Where the Sun Don't Shine"

2007-11-06T13:15:00.001-05:00

I read an article today on Yahoo.com about a school in the UK that is piloting a surveillance device in youths' school uniforms --RFID Chips in School Uniforms Track Students.
The devices are embedded in the uniforms of children between the ages of 11-16.

I was rather alarmed by the article. My first thoughts were "why are they tracking school age children?" I know some parents out there will say "it's for their protection." For their protection from who or what? If the assumption is the device will protect them from sexual predators, I still ask how. It is a known fact that most crimes committed against children occur from people they know. So how is a tracking device going to save your child when they are being molested by the baby sitter, a priest or a family relative. Are you hoping to protect them from being kidnapped? Most news reports I hear about youngsters being kidnapped always ends in the children being murdered. And I'm sure the criminals are aware of the RFIDs in the uniforms; a quick tug, rip, and toss of the uniform and you have a half-dressed child being taken from the school playground.

I ask again, what is the purpose of tracking your child? Is it a matter of trust? So Johnny or Jenny say they are going to be at a friend's house but they end up somewhere else. Do you think they are going to keep their uniform on to go to this new location when they know it has a tracking device in it?

How do you explain to your child this evasion of their privacy, this lack of trust?

The advocates for such surveillance devices on children like cell phones, video cameras in bedrooms and RFIDs will always say is to protect them...and I ask again "protect them from who and what."

I say get to the root cause of why children need to be protected and start there. I say harsher punishments for perpetrators of crimes against children, more intensive treatment for released sex-offenders, stricter rules about where they can live and work and be more critical of the companies that sexualize youth...put RFIDs in their attaché cases and wallets. I say more public dialog in schools, churches and communities about real people, real crimes and real motives.

All in all, the notion of surveillance creating safety is a hyped-up myth; it's an illusion that some people cling to because looking at real life is too hard for them to handle; looking at real life means you need to think and take action; it means you have to make some sacrifices on the weekends; it means you have to talk to other people and get involved in collective work; it means you have to hang up the cell phone, turn off the PDA, pause your iPod, and see, hear, feel what is going on around you; it means you have to be present; it means you have to be human.

Look around here in Baltimore; blue lights on every street corner, the "man" is watching you; police surveillance to "protect" you, keep you safe, cut down on illegal activity...yet the crime rates and drug traffic here tops the charts.

I say take your RFID and "put it where the sun don't shine."

Beyond 2nd Life

2007-11-05T18:31:00.000-05:00

Virtual world software applications' review

How Cell Phones Are Killing Face-to-Face Interactions

2007-11-05T16:41:00.000-05:00

In my quest to find other "like-minded" individuals, I ran across this article that talks about how inter personal relationships are suffering due to the new reliance on computer mediated communications.

While I love computer technology, I think there are some social aspects that people should be aware of and approach the subject with a critical lenses.

Go here to read the article

What are you doing? Twittering

2007-10-31T10:51:00.000-04:00

I came across an article in Wired magazine about a "new" social networking application called Twitter http://twitter.com.

It combines the technologies of instant messaging, blogging and texting. I would like to know what is the difference between twittering and texting?

Anyone know off the top of their head?

Digital Media and Copyrights

2007-10-25T21:49:00.000-04:00

During tonight's lecture I started thinking about an incident in which me and a friend made a documentary about members in our community. To make certain segments more engaging, we added music to the background. We thought about selling the DVDs for a fund raiser for our grassroots organization; but the idea was shot down when the issue of copyrights to the songs we used in the background came up.

My initial responses to this topic is who cares if you old song tracks are in a community based documentary...it's not like the film is going to be screened in Hollywood and draw in huge revenue. Are there some type of "copyright cops" who are going to swoop down and sue us???

I believe music, video, pictures, animations, etc should be open to public use for non profits, documentary makers, people in education and maybe there more out there who I missing that should be able to re-use and re-purpose various types of media.

The Digital Divide 2.0

2007-10-24T22:28:00.000-04:00

Why the gap is not closing:

There is a new trend with computer technologies that are more available and accessible to the common folk. The trend consists of non-profits and community based organizations using computers and internet technologies to promote and advance their work. However, there is still evidence of a digital divide among the users and usages of this newly accessible technology.

People seem to forget that the same "Johnnie" from inner-city ville, who grew up in the mid-nineties--during a time in which studies showed even though there were computers in his school, he was either not allowed adequate time to use them and/or the types of software applications on them did not foster critical thinking and problem-solving--is now the adult "Johnnie" residing and working in inner-city ville. With this in mind, further examination of the factors that discouraged or prohibited "Johnnie" from becoming computer literate and savvy in his younger days have carried over to his resistance or lack of participation in the new trends of computer technology within communities to promote change.

I believe questions about attitudes, perceptions, experiences, and relevancy in regards to access and usage need to be addressed in order to truly understand why the digital divide has not been closed yet.

(Note to myself: The Digital Divide 2.0 draft ideas for research paper. Questions to come...)

And the World Goes Around

2007-10-24T22:21:00.000-04:00

Privatization and the Internet...
(just getting my thoughts together...more to come about the battle to get access at cheaper prices to the masses...a reversal of what was done in the past)

Virtual Environments and Cultural Considerations

2007-10-24T21:42:00.000-04:00

Fantasy Island
In the Chapter One of The Virtual Community, Howard Rheingold presents a picturesque community in which people come together to share personal stories and offer advice and techniques on “good” parenting. He describes a virtual environment in which total strangers start out communicating about topics of interests and end in building deep, long lasting interpersonal relationships. After a certain number of years communicating online, the Parenting Conference decided to meet in person; providing evidence of human bonds being made in the virtual world. “Over the years, despite the distances, those of us who made heart-to-heart contact via the Parenting conference began to meet face-to-face (4).”

This community sounds appealing. It sounds like a place in which human interest is put before self-interest. And even though there are times in which community members disagree and become upset, there is still an over arching sense of a pleasant place, an open, accepting place, a place in which people come together and take care of one another, a place in which your gender, class and ethnic identities do not seem to matter; a fantasy place, a fantasy island.

The community and social environment of the WELL described by Rheingold is not the indicative of the experiences I had in the 2^nd Life online society.

Disaster Island
When we were given the assignment to create avatars and join the 2^nd Life community I was excited! I have always been extremely interested in virtual communities. Virtual communities, whether they are online games or chat rooms, provide a social space for intellectual stimulation and a vehicle to live out fantasies. With this mind, I anxiously set up my member identification, downloaded the software and created my avatar.

The more I interacted with the system, the more my excitement started to fizzle. It all began with the selection process of creating an avatar. I could not find an avatar that “looked” like me. In the initial setup there are mainly Caucasian characters and some sort of furry animal. I later learned that you can customize your avatar once you get further along in the tour.

The next wave of disappointment came when I tried to navigate through the online environment. Using arrow keys to walk, Alt+ functions keys to gesture, dance, and make sound effects, reminded me of back in the mid-80’s when Commodore 64 personal computers were on the market. This way of navigating and controlling your avatar seemed so antiquated and clunky. I could not believe the creators of 2^nd Life would have the nerve to publish such a usability nightmare.

After hearing other students discuss their experiences I decided to give it another try. I learned in class about the Search feature and the ability to Teleport off the tutorial island onto more fun and exciting places. I started my search with key terms of points of interest, but to no avail. Since I like sports, I decided to do a search for basketball. I was Teleported to a park in which people were dancing and music was playing in the background. I saw avatars with nice clothes and jewelry. In an effort to make my presence known and try to connect with the other avatars on the scene, I introduced myself as someone new. Once the other avatars saw I was a “furry” they tried to kill me.

I am not sure exactly what happened. My screen turned from displaying the park to displaying the sunset. I could not see the back of my avatar’s head or body. I desperately typed on my keyboard for help, for some type of understanding of what just happened. What were they doing to me? Could anyone else see me?

My experience in 2^nd Life was nothing like the experiences Rheingold describes about the WELL. Instead of entering into the vortex of fantasy island, I was teleported onto disaster island.

Imitating Real Life
“Third places exist on neutral ground and serve to level their guests to a condition of social equality (7).” This is a great concept of third places or virtual worlds, but it is not realistic. The reason it is not realistic is because the same humans who propagate negative images and stereotypes and who contribute to the oppression of marginalized people exists in virtual worlds too. The “isms” of society that contribute to social inequality are present in third places.

Wherever there is money, there will be capitalism. In real life you have dollars and cents; in 2^nd Life you have “linden” dollars and “none-sense.” The setup of the Marketplace gives birth to capitalistic behaviors and patterns. Classism and social elitism have the potential to take root and create an environment of the “haves” and “have nots.” This is evidenced by the land purchasing option, ownership of material items like clothes and jewelry and the pre-occupation with the avatar’s physical appearance. Sexism has been demonstrated through the objectification of female avatars. Whether it be sexual assaults on female avatars or posters of naked women lining windows, the same misogynistic attitudes and socialized behaviors that play out in real life carry over into third places.

Until we change the mindset of how we view the world and human kind, we cannot create a third place or virtual world that is not imitating real life.

Ideal Island
I want to go to a place where I can be free; free to be you and free to be me. A place in which I am not judged by the color of my skin, the style of my hair, or the clothing I choose to wear. A place, in which women are valued, respected and recognized as equal; a place, in which men are allowed to be sensitive, caring and compassionate. I want to go to a place where all children are feed three healthy, balanced meals a day; a place in which schools are safe and nurturing environments used to cultivate the minds of children. I want to go to a place in which senior citizens are perceived as wise elders filled with life’s lessons to in part upon us. I want to go to a place in which sick people have access to resources to heal them; diseased people have access to medicines to cure them. I want to go to a place where the air is clean and the water is pure. I want to go to a place where natural resources are valued as vital resources to protect and cherish. I want to go to a place where guns and ammunition have been banned from society. I want to go to a place where war is illegal.

There is no utopia in real life; so what are we left with…a place of equality, a place of humanity…a place beyond the real world, a place beyond the WELL, a place beyond 2^nd life…a place called ideal island.

Tips for High Traffic Websites or Blogs

2007-10-02T10:16:00.000-04:00

Another note about blogging...here is a site that lists 10 tips for creating high traffic websites or blogs...

Build a high traffic web site or blog by following these simple steps

Moms Make a Business Out of Blogging

2007-10-02T10:08:00.000-04:00

In my quest for understanding the whole blog phenomena I came across this blog site that is conducted like a business -- Silicon Valley Moms Blog.

This blog has adds, areas of media coverage, a newsletter and links to sister sites. Now I can see how blogs are being used to communicate various forms of information.

A Type of Meme: Word of Mouth Marketing

2007-10-02T09:48:00.000-04:00

I found this interesting article about a Canadian author who used her friends as "selling agents" for her new book. She basically asked all her friends and family to carry her book, cover facing outward, with them every where they ventured. This "word of mouth" tactic helped her book get noticed in the market place.

I thought this was a type of "meme."

Go to article

Assignment One | Virtual Radio Producer

2007-09-20T13:45:00.000-04:00

My idea is based around merging internet/ satellite radio with the act of being a disc jockey.

What is it An internet based radio service (like XM) in which you can personalize your channels/ station through programming and through voice overs.

How it Works The user sets up an account. Once the user has an account, they can pick and choose which genre of songs they want on their station. They can record themselves hosting the station, giving background about the station they've created, maybe having special discussion topics, maybe advertising upcoming community events, then they save the station profile and distribute it to their friends, post it to their blogs, etc.

Technologies Needed The "tool" would have software that walks the person through recording their voice, downloading or compiling the songs and making it public.

Internet radio service provider
Online recording/ editing soft
File compiler

The final product could also be saved and downloaded to a disk/ ipod, etc.

The Idea in Action:
1. I create me a station with a theme of revolutionary art through music, spoken word and commentary.
2. I go out and select artist through the online catalog who's lyrics reflected my theme; like Marvin Gaye or Donny Hathaway, etc.
3. I record myself reciting revolutionary poetry or reading from text, etc.
4. I combine the music tracks and my recordings on a timeline.
5. I post/ publish my "broadcast" all over the internet.

Whalla, I'm a virtual radio producer!

A Humorous Life

2007-09-19T03:54:00.000-04:00

For those days when I log on the computer after a long day out in the world...images like this put a smile on my face...and help make life humorous...more to come :-)

Beginning the Journey

2007-09-19T03:43:00.003-04:00

I returned to graduate school after working in the industry for 10 years to study how new media (information and communication technologies) are being used by not-for profit organizations and community based groups to promote social change. During one of the foundation courses, Digital Internet Culture, I decided this was the opportune time to start researching and collecting articles of interest that fit my plan of study.

And so here is the first of many to come this semester...it is an article about a center that conducts digital storytelling workshops. This article discusses how accessibility to new media technology like digital video cameras and digital editing software, enable non traditional stories to be told, collected, and disseminated.

This article is of particular interest to me b/c it is an example of how new media is being used to bring voice to people who are often rendered invisible and unheard.

Read the complete article:
Center for Digital Storytelling helps people hold up a lens to their own lives