From my perspective, I feel this phrase from a source I came across gives an accurate answer to the question above.
According to the source,
"Cyborg, a compound word derived from cybernetics and organism, is a term coined by Manfred Clynes in 1960 to describe the need for mankind to artificially enhance biological functions in order to survive in the hostile environment of Space. Originally, a cyborg referred to a human being with bodily functions aided or controlled by technological devices, such as an oxygen tank, artificial heart valve or insulin pump. Over the years, the term has acquired a more general meaning, describing the dependence of human beings on technology. In this sense, cyborg can be used to characterize anyone who relies on a computer to complete their daily work."
From the above, there an indication to the fact that we are not technology itself.
The basic idea here is that to simply use technological device for biological functions, we have extended the usage to a complete reliance on these technologies. Consequently, everything about us seem to become technologised and we appear to live and behave as though we are technology.
Monday 3 December 2007
Can A Robot Be Human?
It's quite amazing what the world is turning into.
Imagine a robot looking like a human being with the ability to think , reason and in some cases, give us some dancing steps.
One wonders what technology has made of us.
Imagine a robot looking like a human being with the ability to think , reason and in some cases, give us some dancing steps.
One wonders what technology has made of us.
What Do We Mean By The Term Cyberspace?
Came across a definition of cyberspace which I kind of explains my view about cyberspace.
According to my source, "Cyberspace is a domain characterized by the use of electronics and the electromagnetic spectrum to store, modify, and exchange data via networked systems and associated physical infrastructures. This term originates in science fiction, where it also includes various kinds of virtual reality experienced by deeply immersed computer users or by entities who actually exist inside computer systems."
A notable example of this is seen in the film - "The Matrix"
According to my source, "Cyberspace is a domain characterized by the use of electronics and the electromagnetic spectrum to store, modify, and exchange data via networked systems and associated physical infrastructures. This term originates in science fiction, where it also includes various kinds of virtual reality experienced by deeply immersed computer users or by entities who actually exist inside computer systems."
A notable example of this is seen in the film - "The Matrix"
Is The News Still News If It Has Already been Told To Us By Someone Else?
Firstly, I see news as the dissemination of new pieces of information for public use and benefit(s). News deals with information, ideas, events, occasions from all works of life as the
N stands for the Northern part of the world
E stands for the Eastern part of the world
W stands for the Western part of the world and
S stands for the Southern part of the world
Most journalists agree that defining the term 'news' is quite a difficult task. However,one major factor deeply associated with news is the issue of time. News is a time dependent phenomenon.
In addtiton to this, I also see news as a media concept that deals with details.
A news story, although concise, yet must be very detailed in order to be regarded as news.
A scanty and shallow news information (first heard from an incomposed source) is as good as a fairy tale. On the other hand, a more detailed, information loaded and juicy news message will no doubt be regarded as a news message.
So, I feel that news is still news even if it has been told to us by over two people, as long as it is more detailed, more informative, and more educative than that which we may have previously heard.
Such type of news message, due to its nature, would always be relevant in the society.
More often than not, political news about past Presidents, Prime Ministers, political happenings (e.g 911 bomb blast in America) are news messages that have their relevance and still retain a form of freshness (because of its long lasting effects) in the minds of the audience.
N stands for the Northern part of the world
E stands for the Eastern part of the world
W stands for the Western part of the world and
S stands for the Southern part of the world
Most journalists agree that defining the term 'news' is quite a difficult task. However,one major factor deeply associated with news is the issue of time. News is a time dependent phenomenon.
In addtiton to this, I also see news as a media concept that deals with details.
A news story, although concise, yet must be very detailed in order to be regarded as news.
A scanty and shallow news information (first heard from an incomposed source) is as good as a fairy tale. On the other hand, a more detailed, information loaded and juicy news message will no doubt be regarded as a news message.
So, I feel that news is still news even if it has been told to us by over two people, as long as it is more detailed, more informative, and more educative than that which we may have previously heard.
Such type of news message, due to its nature, would always be relevant in the society.
More often than not, political news about past Presidents, Prime Ministers, political happenings (e.g 911 bomb blast in America) are news messages that have their relevance and still retain a form of freshness (because of its long lasting effects) in the minds of the audience.
Friday 30 November 2007
What Is A Robot?
A question just came to my mind now.
A Robot - when we say this, what does it imply?
Literarily, a robot is a machine that can automatically do tasks normally, controlled by humans and mostly used to perform repetitive tasks on an assembly line.
Source: http://www.nanohand.eu/index.php?page=114&include_link=glossary
Yeah! a robot is supposed to do all these. However isn't it going the other way round now? Isn't humanity gradually being faced with the fear of being controlled by 'living machines' they themselves have made?
">
A Robot - when we say this, what does it imply?
Literarily, a robot is a machine that can automatically do tasks normally, controlled by humans and mostly used to perform repetitive tasks on an assembly line.
Source: http://www.nanohand.eu/index.php?page=114&include_link=glossary
Yeah! a robot is supposed to do all these. However isn't it going the other way round now? Isn't humanity gradually being faced with the fear of being controlled by 'living machines' they themselves have made?
">
Tuesday 27 November 2007
Our Identitiy And Subjectivity In Cyberspace.
In his article on 'Gender, Subjectivity and Identity in Cyberspace', Peter Spittle opined that in cyberspace, we have a clear sense of our corporeal bodies exchanged for 'atomised virtual bodies' in what is thought of as life behind the screen.
According to Spittle, 'citizens of the internet appear to be taking their cultural and social baggage with them on their journey to the other side of the mirror.'
He further says that in the realm of cyberspace, we become arbiter of the identities and positions paraded before us. Our existing cultural ties have a considerable impact on who we choose to identify with us, but we cannot ignore the co-presence of other identities, which call into question the construction of our own.
According to Texter,"the social construction of the body becomes clear in cyberspace, where every identity is represented, rather than 'real'. The consensus of cyberspace is a precarious one; identification is entirely contignet, based on a consensual agreement to take one's word for it." (Texter, 1996:3)
Spittle states that Texter suggests identity in cyberspace is often about 'pass off', offering up a fluid sense of self, projected onto an imaginary virtual body.
(Source: http://www.aber.ac.uk/~jmcwww/Misc/spittle01.html)
According to Spittle, 'citizens of the internet appear to be taking their cultural and social baggage with them on their journey to the other side of the mirror.'
He further says that in the realm of cyberspace, we become arbiter of the identities and positions paraded before us. Our existing cultural ties have a considerable impact on who we choose to identify with us, but we cannot ignore the co-presence of other identities, which call into question the construction of our own.
According to Texter,"the social construction of the body becomes clear in cyberspace, where every identity is represented, rather than 'real'. The consensus of cyberspace is a precarious one; identification is entirely contignet, based on a consensual agreement to take one's word for it." (Texter, 1996:3)
Spittle states that Texter suggests identity in cyberspace is often about 'pass off', offering up a fluid sense of self, projected onto an imaginary virtual body.
(Source: http://www.aber.ac.uk/~jmcwww/Misc/spittle01.html)
Usefulness of Robots to Humans
According to Rodney Brooks, (http://web.mit.edu/museum/exhibitions/robots.html) one key area where robots are making a difference to the quality of human life is in the haptic technology; which allows robots or robotic arms and legs to stimulate a sense of touch. Advances in 'virtual touch' have had a significant impact on the sophistication of artificial limbs, restoring sensory sensation and fine mobility skills to those who have lost hands and arms.
His article, 'Robots and Beyond' features walking, hopping and running computers that give scientists the information they need to develop better tools for people with mobility impairment.
In the same vein, the experiment conducted by Warwick's team in which electrical signals were fed into the implant so that he became a signal receiver is also aimed at the possibility of giving movement back to paraplegics.
This no doubt raises the possibilty of having ones body and mind controlled by external signal; a situation which research agencies are already seeking solution.
For instance, the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is involved in a Brain-Machine Interface Program which seeks to develop new technologies for augmenting human performance by accessing the brain in real time and integrating the information into external devices. (Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/08/020820071329.htm)
In addition, Robots will soon be a useful tool in assisting surgeons correct a common cause of abnormal heart beats as a British hospital is already pioneering a new kind of surgery which uses a robot to operate on a patient's heart.
See clip below.
His article, 'Robots and Beyond' features walking, hopping and running computers that give scientists the information they need to develop better tools for people with mobility impairment.
In the same vein, the experiment conducted by Warwick's team in which electrical signals were fed into the implant so that he became a signal receiver is also aimed at the possibility of giving movement back to paraplegics.
This no doubt raises the possibilty of having ones body and mind controlled by external signal; a situation which research agencies are already seeking solution.
For instance, the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is involved in a Brain-Machine Interface Program which seeks to develop new technologies for augmenting human performance by accessing the brain in real time and integrating the information into external devices. (Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/08/020820071329.htm)
In addition, Robots will soon be a useful tool in assisting surgeons correct a common cause of abnormal heart beats as a British hospital is already pioneering a new kind of surgery which uses a robot to operate on a patient's heart.
See clip below.
What Is Meant By Demassification of Mass Media?
The demassification of media simply refers to the restructuring of media industry into smaller independent operating entities.
This of course cuts across the major mass media: Print (newspapers, books, magazines), film (commercial film), and Broadcasr Media (radio and television.)
According to my source: http://pinoykomixbiz.blogspot.com/2005/09/media-demassification-and-filipino.html, with the arrival of new technologies and increased market segmentation, the power and influence of these "second wave media" (as they are called), progressively diminished worldwide during the latter part of the 20th century.
The radio's influence has for example diminished through the years with the advert of MTV- a music video cable channel launched in the 1980s, to MP3 in the 1990s, and more recently by the Apple l-Pod in the early 21st century.
Similary, (still from the source), Television's mass audience has also been splintered by the arrival of cable and satellite television and its myriad channels serving different splintered audiences, electonic video recording, and electronic games in the 1980s, to the internet, dvds, and computer online games.
In same vein, the print media, especially newspaper and magazines have suffered a progressive decline in circulation over the years in most countries worldwide especially today with the advent of the internet.
No doubt, newspapers are facing a crisis of both leadership and credibility. Subsequently, as their audience migrates in droves, so do their advertisers. Not many bother to read dailies this day, opting to get their news from the internet or other sources. In addition, young people, especially, are tuning out altogether, preferring the more visual and entertaining distractions offered by TV and the interactivity that is inherent in the internet. They see newspapers as old, tiring- boring , redictable and as preachy as their parents are. (Source: http://www.pcij.org/imag/Media/newspapers.html)
This of course cuts across the major mass media: Print (newspapers, books, magazines), film (commercial film), and Broadcasr Media (radio and television.)
According to my source: http://pinoykomixbiz.blogspot.com/2005/09/media-demassification-and-filipino.html, with the arrival of new technologies and increased market segmentation, the power and influence of these "second wave media" (as they are called), progressively diminished worldwide during the latter part of the 20th century.
The radio's influence has for example diminished through the years with the advert of MTV- a music video cable channel launched in the 1980s, to MP3 in the 1990s, and more recently by the Apple l-Pod in the early 21st century.
Similary, (still from the source), Television's mass audience has also been splintered by the arrival of cable and satellite television and its myriad channels serving different splintered audiences, electonic video recording, and electronic games in the 1980s, to the internet, dvds, and computer online games.
In same vein, the print media, especially newspaper and magazines have suffered a progressive decline in circulation over the years in most countries worldwide especially today with the advent of the internet.
No doubt, newspapers are facing a crisis of both leadership and credibility. Subsequently, as their audience migrates in droves, so do their advertisers. Not many bother to read dailies this day, opting to get their news from the internet or other sources. In addition, young people, especially, are tuning out altogether, preferring the more visual and entertaining distractions offered by TV and the interactivity that is inherent in the internet. They see newspapers as old, tiring- boring , redictable and as preachy as their parents are. (Source: http://www.pcij.org/imag/Media/newspapers.html)
How Does YouTube Affect TV (News) Quality?
"Fifteen years ago, the world marveled at the effect of CNN (TV). The expectation was that the unblinking eyes of TV cameras, beyond the reach of censors, would bring greater accountability and transparency to government and the international system. These expectations were, in some sense, fulfilled. But YouTube seems to be more intense. Although TV stations such as the BBC, CNN and other international news operations employ thousands of professional journalists, they can never be compared to the millions of people watching over 100million video clips a day that have been posted on YouTube, the popular video-sharing website."
Source: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3676
Source: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3676
Friday 26 October 2007
Is the expression ' the Media' simply another way of saying the News?
Before commenting on this question, I guess it is going to be more helpful if we first acquaint ourselves with the key terms 'Media' and 'News.'
From my own perspective, 'Media' simply refers to the various media through which information is being received, processed and disseminated to the public. Such media include: the electronic media e.g television, radio, internet, computer e.t.c, the print media e.g newspaper, magazine, advertisement, journals e.t.c, and digital devices e.g cameras, phones, work-man, wristwatch e.t.c
On the other hand I see 'News' as relating to something 'new', 'factual', and 'conflicting'. In other words, News tells us new things about different things e.g our environment, occasions, events and happenings.
Subsequently, all of these information find a way of expressing themselves through the medium of Media (which could be any of those listed above.)
According to Bell (1991),
"within the media, News is the primary language genre. It fills pages of the daily news paper and hours of radio and television time. Even in broadcasting where it occupies a small minority of airtime, news is seen by both media organizations and audiences as the focus of media content."
Bibliography
From my own perspective, 'Media' simply refers to the various media through which information is being received, processed and disseminated to the public. Such media include: the electronic media e.g television, radio, internet, computer e.t.c, the print media e.g newspaper, magazine, advertisement, journals e.t.c, and digital devices e.g cameras, phones, work-man, wristwatch e.t.c
On the other hand I see 'News' as relating to something 'new', 'factual', and 'conflicting'. In other words, News tells us new things about different things e.g our environment, occasions, events and happenings.
Subsequently, all of these information find a way of expressing themselves through the medium of Media (which could be any of those listed above.)
According to Bell (1991),
"within the media, News is the primary language genre. It fills pages of the daily news paper and hours of radio and television time. Even in broadcasting where it occupies a small minority of airtime, news is seen by both media organizations and audiences as the focus of media content."
Bibliography
Thursday 18 October 2007
Media and Cyberculture.
From class attendance and lecture notes, I realise that the module 'media and Cyberculture' is a course that examines the interaction between the cultural practices of a society and a whole wide range of technology and digital devices such e.g computers, mobile phones, cameras, websites, e.t.c. In other words, it discusses the social and cultural effects (among others) of the use of technologies in the lives of a society.
For this basic reason (according to lecture notes), scholars from different disciplines such as ethnographers, sociologists, literary critics, to mention but a few, have carried out a number of theory based research to study the cultural practices surrounding the use of computers and other technologies.
Notable among some these research is that of the On-Line issue. Class discussion reveals the fact that internet, though very wealthy in information has its own flaws with respect to the reliability and validity ot the source, citation, depth of analysis and the inconsistencies of locations of websites. To all these I concur.
Bibliography
Lecture notes.
For this basic reason (according to lecture notes), scholars from different disciplines such as ethnographers, sociologists, literary critics, to mention but a few, have carried out a number of theory based research to study the cultural practices surrounding the use of computers and other technologies.
Notable among some these research is that of the On-Line issue. Class discussion reveals the fact that internet, though very wealthy in information has its own flaws with respect to the reliability and validity ot the source, citation, depth of analysis and the inconsistencies of locations of websites. To all these I concur.
Bibliography
Lecture notes.
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