"Describe the experience of a fictional technophile student in 2020"
Christophe awoke to the smell of freshly brewed coffee eminating from his alarm-controlled beverage dispenser. In a relaxed voice he commands "Blinds - Open" to which the house computer, interpreting his voice opens the blinds in his room. His accomodation has only just been built and it's some of the most high tech student housing at MiT.
Whilst travelling down the hall he repeats his command to which the blinds open behind him at the window he just passed. Upon entering the kitchen his toast pops at the right time from his alarm trigger toaster. He then strolls into his motion-sensored shower preset to his favourite temperature. Upon finishing, the shower turns into a dynamic air dryer that dries his hair and whole body. Once dressed and in the lounge, he uses the universal remote to check his emails, call his course mates and bring up the latest news feed from the university.
After his morning ritual he jumps into his computer-controlled Mercedes which runs of hydrogen fuel cells. Whilst he is being driven to uni (by the car) he watches a selection of videos which his friends had uploaded to YouTube the night before from their watch cameras. He spends the morning attending various lectures and seminars and during his lunch break he takes a stroll in the local park. It is very sunny so he puts on his sunglasses which have got integrated internet. He checks emails and also checks at the online accessible Uni library database to quickly skim a couple of chapters of a reference text before his next lecture.
He then returns home later in the evening, uttering the commands of "Blinds - Close".
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Week 9: Question D
"Describe the daily frustrations of a fictional neo-luddite at Uni now in the UK."
Gilbert spent the majority of his morning trying to find where he was going for his morning lecture. He had been told he could find his time table on a Blackboard but he couldn't find it and thus spent the morning looking through the copious amounts of paper he received from the University.
He luckily saw someone on his course, and he explained his tales of being unable to find his timetable. Much to his coursemates amusement, he was informed that it wasn't an actual blackboard it was the Blackboard site on the university's website. Gilbert was greatly embarassed by his lack of technical knowledge, but he didn't particularily want to start using a computer. His course friend gave him a helping hand and showed how to print it off, mentioning about the "PIN" number needed to use the printer. After help from the librarians he got a copy of his timetable and he headed to his day ahead of him full of lectures and seminars.
While he was in his lectures, he noticed a few people had laptops and thought he "Is there any need?" He looked at his pen and paper and admired the beautiful craftsmanship and ingenuity of his leather bound notebook and premium fountain pen. After the lecture he was encouraged by his lecturer to speak to his group mates and establish some communication methods, as a cause of concern.
He was asked by one spirited group member "What's you name on facebook?" Gilbert was greatly confused and had to ask what facebook was. After being told the ins and outs of it, he still considered the idea gingerly due to his reluctance to use a computer. Although he could see the usefulness of such a website and knew he had to get some kind of modern communication technology.
Finally his group mates asked for his mobile number so they could get in touch about group meetings. He had to tell them he didn't have a phone either and noted the reactions of shock and disbelief from his fellow peers.
After this lecture he headed into town and went into the bank with his money book to buy some food from the shops. Gilbert didn't know how to use a "Chip and PIN" card, or a cashpoint for that matter although he had his signature on the back of a small plastic card (which he practiced proudly beforehand) given to him by the bank. They gave him information about online banking which Gilbert confusedly read through, not taking much in.
With his groceries he headed home, but unfortunately earlier that morning he had dropped his electronic key fob into his daily infusion of tea. Thinking nothing of dropping this unobtrusive black object into his tea, he didn't realise the connection to the technical failure when trying to gain entry to his accommodation.
It began to rain and he didn't have a phone so he couldn't contact his flatmates to let him in. Neither could he work out how to operate the electronic buzzer system to buzz his flat - not that he wanted to figure out how to use it. He thought to himself "Give me a proper door any day!". Whilst waiting he was approached by a group of youths who asked him "Give us your phone you c***"
He politely told them he didn't have a phone. However being the pacifist he is, he didn't retaliate when the group of youths set about him whilst going through his pockets. He finally got inside and had a cup of tea and wondered why technology was working against him. For the rest of the evening he felt as if he should be embracing this technology as pushing it away was making it harder. He pondered the fact that before Uni he hadn't had these sorts of trouble and wondered whether "Is this what Uni is all about?" Finally, before drifting off to sleep his mind wandered back to the few months before Uni when applying to University. With help from teachers who were always thinking and asking "Are you going to be more in touch with technology from now on, Gilbert?"
Gilbert spent the majority of his morning trying to find where he was going for his morning lecture. He had been told he could find his time table on a Blackboard but he couldn't find it and thus spent the morning looking through the copious amounts of paper he received from the University.
He luckily saw someone on his course, and he explained his tales of being unable to find his timetable. Much to his coursemates amusement, he was informed that it wasn't an actual blackboard it was the Blackboard site on the university's website. Gilbert was greatly embarassed by his lack of technical knowledge, but he didn't particularily want to start using a computer. His course friend gave him a helping hand and showed how to print it off, mentioning about the "PIN" number needed to use the printer. After help from the librarians he got a copy of his timetable and he headed to his day ahead of him full of lectures and seminars.
While he was in his lectures, he noticed a few people had laptops and thought he "Is there any need?" He looked at his pen and paper and admired the beautiful craftsmanship and ingenuity of his leather bound notebook and premium fountain pen. After the lecture he was encouraged by his lecturer to speak to his group mates and establish some communication methods, as a cause of concern.
He was asked by one spirited group member "What's you name on facebook?" Gilbert was greatly confused and had to ask what facebook was. After being told the ins and outs of it, he still considered the idea gingerly due to his reluctance to use a computer. Although he could see the usefulness of such a website and knew he had to get some kind of modern communication technology.
Finally his group mates asked for his mobile number so they could get in touch about group meetings. He had to tell them he didn't have a phone either and noted the reactions of shock and disbelief from his fellow peers.
After this lecture he headed into town and went into the bank with his money book to buy some food from the shops. Gilbert didn't know how to use a "Chip and PIN" card, or a cashpoint for that matter although he had his signature on the back of a small plastic card (which he practiced proudly beforehand) given to him by the bank. They gave him information about online banking which Gilbert confusedly read through, not taking much in.
With his groceries he headed home, but unfortunately earlier that morning he had dropped his electronic key fob into his daily infusion of tea. Thinking nothing of dropping this unobtrusive black object into his tea, he didn't realise the connection to the technical failure when trying to gain entry to his accommodation.
It began to rain and he didn't have a phone so he couldn't contact his flatmates to let him in. Neither could he work out how to operate the electronic buzzer system to buzz his flat - not that he wanted to figure out how to use it. He thought to himself "Give me a proper door any day!". Whilst waiting he was approached by a group of youths who asked him "Give us your phone you c***"
He politely told them he didn't have a phone. However being the pacifist he is, he didn't retaliate when the group of youths set about him whilst going through his pockets. He finally got inside and had a cup of tea and wondered why technology was working against him. For the rest of the evening he felt as if he should be embracing this technology as pushing it away was making it harder. He pondered the fact that before Uni he hadn't had these sorts of trouble and wondered whether "Is this what Uni is all about?" Finally, before drifting off to sleep his mind wandered back to the few months before Uni when applying to University. With help from teachers who were always thinking and asking "Are you going to be more in touch with technology from now on, Gilbert?"
Week 9: Question C
"Person known to you who most threatens the notion of native/immigrant in digital culture"
This would be my uncle who is 47 years old and is a senior advertiser at his own advertising company. He didn't grow up with computers which makes him a digital immigrant. However as he is now an advertiser with his main task being using computers he isn't really seen as being a digital immigrant due to his level of skill and ability to use programs to create adverts. He uses an Apple Mac, has an iPhone and many other gadgets which is unsual for a stereotypical digital immigrant.
He is therefore a threat to the notion of the digital divide.
This would be my uncle who is 47 years old and is a senior advertiser at his own advertising company. He didn't grow up with computers which makes him a digital immigrant. However as he is now an advertiser with his main task being using computers he isn't really seen as being a digital immigrant due to his level of skill and ability to use programs to create adverts. He uses an Apple Mac, has an iPhone and many other gadgets which is unsual for a stereotypical digital immigrant.
He is therefore a threat to the notion of the digital divide.
Week 9: Question B
"The youngest digital immigrant I know"
My mum and my dad, especially my dad who has no idea of what to look for until he's shown how to. He often asks things like "Would you mind looking at this website for me?" as he doesn't know enough about the computer to turn it on and get what he needs from it. It was only until a few years ago that he was introduced to computers, however he has used a mobile phone before using a computer but there wasn't a great deal of time between the two of these.
My mum was introduced to computer 25 years ago due to her occupation but didn't persue her usage outside of work. Then she has recently been introduced again to using a computer and has attended a basic ICT course and looking to study further.
My mum and my dad, especially my dad who has no idea of what to look for until he's shown how to. He often asks things like "Would you mind looking at this website for me?" as he doesn't know enough about the computer to turn it on and get what he needs from it. It was only until a few years ago that he was introduced to computers, however he has used a mobile phone before using a computer but there wasn't a great deal of time between the two of these.
My mum was introduced to computer 25 years ago due to her occupation but didn't persue her usage outside of work. Then she has recently been introduced again to using a computer and has attended a basic ICT course and looking to study further.
Week 9: Question A
"The oldest digital native I know?"
Is my 22 year old brother who grew up with game consoles and the family computer. He is seen as the technical helper with not just the computer but other technical appliances such as the TV and the DVD player. Anyone older than that that I know didn't grow up with computers as they were too expensive and not really available in the home.
Is my 22 year old brother who grew up with game consoles and the family computer. He is seen as the technical helper with not just the computer but other technical appliances such as the TV and the DVD player. Anyone older than that that I know didn't grow up with computers as they were too expensive and not really available in the home.
Week 10: Question 6
"How does it differ from Web 3.0"
The key principles behind Web 3.0 are vastly differnent to those of the semantic web. In Web 3.0 it is theoriesed that there should be fewer internet sites which are large collections of information rather than in a semantic web where information is spread around but more intelligently labelled.
There are examples of Web 3.0 on the internet today, and these include Facebook, Myspace and YouTube. The other main theories of Web 3.0 are that content should be user generated rather than insitutionally created. It also states that information should be moderated by the users themselves, thus creating a self contained community. Take YouTube as a good example, it's content is created by the users (produsers).
The key principles behind Web 3.0 are vastly differnent to those of the semantic web. In Web 3.0 it is theoriesed that there should be fewer internet sites which are large collections of information rather than in a semantic web where information is spread around but more intelligently labelled.
There are examples of Web 3.0 on the internet today, and these include Facebook, Myspace and YouTube. The other main theories of Web 3.0 are that content should be user generated rather than insitutionally created. It also states that information should be moderated by the users themselves, thus creating a self contained community. Take YouTube as a good example, it's content is created by the users (produsers).
Week 10: Question 5
"What is the semantic web?"
The semantic web is a theory of how the Internet could be designed and run in the future. This theory rotates around the idea that all information on the internet has it's semantic meaning defined. The idea is that it makes the web more "intelligent" when a user is searching/using a program to find information so that there is more relvancy and usefullness to what they find.
For example a web site about car mechanics will have the semantic meanings of learning, referencing, skills and hobbys. This means when someone is trying to find information about learning a mechanical procedure they will find pages which have a semantic meaning of learning that are related to mechanics. This is opposed to how the internet functions today where a user searching for "car mechanics" will find every page on the internet that features the phrase "car mechanics" and they will have to manually filter out all the pages not related to what they are looking for until they find the relevant information.
Tim Berners-Lee originally coined this theory in an article in Scientific American, May 2001. However it must be pointed out that in a more recent article by himself he stated that "This simple idea, however, remains largely unrealized."
The semantic web is a theory of how the Internet could be designed and run in the future. This theory rotates around the idea that all information on the internet has it's semantic meaning defined. The idea is that it makes the web more "intelligent" when a user is searching/using a program to find information so that there is more relvancy and usefullness to what they find.
For example a web site about car mechanics will have the semantic meanings of learning, referencing, skills and hobbys. This means when someone is trying to find information about learning a mechanical procedure they will find pages which have a semantic meaning of learning that are related to mechanics. This is opposed to how the internet functions today where a user searching for "car mechanics" will find every page on the internet that features the phrase "car mechanics" and they will have to manually filter out all the pages not related to what they are looking for until they find the relevant information.
Tim Berners-Lee originally coined this theory in an article in Scientific American, May 2001. However it must be pointed out that in a more recent article by himself he stated that "This simple idea, however, remains largely unrealized."
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