I have been, and still am, feeling extremely sick. I have overlooked the past three blog entries but here goes #9. I don't think points are awarded to late entries but I will go back and do the three I missed another day.
Music:
I don't have an Ipod or a Zune or any type of mp3 player like most students do. I mostly use my car radio and CD player, and if I'm at home my computer is loaded with music. I listen whenever I work out, do homework, take a ride....I pretty much listen all the time.
And I listen because it moves me. Whatever mood I am in, there is a song to match it. I can relate to the rest of the world through music. I have a constant playlist running in my head even when I'm not listening, and often times it leads to me losing focus. I feel like I'm in my zone when I listen to the perfect song, and there's nothing better.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Blog Entry #5
The first experience I had with a computer. That one is tough. I can't recall the very first time I used a PC but I can remember a couple times from early in life. I remember my mother coming home one day after school bearing a large box. I had used a computer in school by then (playing Oregon Trail in kindergarten and the like) but this was the first computer that my family owned. It was an old model that ran the original windows. I remember playing all kinds of games on that PC: The Amazing Spiderman, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, We're Back A Dinosaur Story, real classic stuff.
The thing I remember most about my early experiences with computers though, is getting on the internet for the first time. Even at a young age, probably no more than eight, realizing the limitlessness of it all. Anything you could ever want to know, just type it in and hit enter. Before that it was books, dictionaries, encyclopedias. If you wanted information you actually had to go look for it. Now it's anything anytime anywhere. Maybe it has made us all lazier, but I'd like to think it makes us all a bit smarter. At least, we all now have the potential to be much more intelligent than generations before us. But we have to utilize the resources we have wisely.
The thing I remember most about my early experiences with computers though, is getting on the internet for the first time. Even at a young age, probably no more than eight, realizing the limitlessness of it all. Anything you could ever want to know, just type it in and hit enter. Before that it was books, dictionaries, encyclopedias. If you wanted information you actually had to go look for it. Now it's anything anytime anywhere. Maybe it has made us all lazier, but I'd like to think it makes us all a bit smarter. At least, we all now have the potential to be much more intelligent than generations before us. But we have to utilize the resources we have wisely.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Blog Entry #3
This week I'm focusing on radio, and what factors might cause a person to listen or push them away. A motivating factor to push people towards listening to the radio is simply the cost. Radio broadcasts are completely free to anyone with an antenna. People receive free music and talk shows with numerous different stations to choose from. The value far outweighs any cost.
One inhibiting factor for radio could be it's repetitious and mainstream nature. Many stations will play the same fifty or so songs in different orders throughout the day. Also, there is about three hundred times more music that is never played on the radio than music that is played. If people want to hear anything that isn't played constantly on the radio then they will often choose a CD or MP3 player as an alternative.
As for which factor is dominant, I would definitely think that the FREE broadcasts would outweigh anything. That's why radio has been growing ever since it began, and still is today. Nothing beats free, especially something that everybody loves, like music.
One inhibiting factor for radio could be it's repetitious and mainstream nature. Many stations will play the same fifty or so songs in different orders throughout the day. Also, there is about three hundred times more music that is never played on the radio than music that is played. If people want to hear anything that isn't played constantly on the radio then they will often choose a CD or MP3 player as an alternative.
As for which factor is dominant, I would definitely think that the FREE broadcasts would outweigh anything. That's why radio has been growing ever since it began, and still is today. Nothing beats free, especially something that everybody loves, like music.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Comm Tech Entry #2
This week's entry will be on the topic of digital television, and how to switch from analog to digital might affect the everyday lives of the people in our society. From my point of view, the process of transferring from analog to digital affected people more than the actual change itself. Many people had no idea what the facts were, and had no clue that they needed to purchase a digital converter box in order to utilize their analog televisions after the switch. There was a converter box coupon system in place for those who knew about it, but it wasn't well publicized for the most part. The process of switching to DTV created more confusion than necessary.
As far as the effects that DTV will have on society, I believe they will be minimal, at least in the minds of most. People will become used to the fact that everything is in 'High-Definition' and they will eventually forget that this incredible leap in technology ever happened. DTV will become the norm and society will take it for granted, crystal clear video and audio will be expected. It will simply be one among the many technologies that have stormed into society and worked everyone up, only to be had by all and thought of as nothing special (see: cell phones, CDs, televisions, microwaves, personal computers, MP3 players). It's somewhat disturbing that we rely on so many things that we take for granted, because what would we do if we somehow lost it all?
As far as the effects that DTV will have on society, I believe they will be minimal, at least in the minds of most. People will become used to the fact that everything is in 'High-Definition' and they will eventually forget that this incredible leap in technology ever happened. DTV will become the norm and society will take it for granted, crystal clear video and audio will be expected. It will simply be one among the many technologies that have stormed into society and worked everyone up, only to be had by all and thought of as nothing special (see: cell phones, CDs, televisions, microwaves, personal computers, MP3 players). It's somewhat disturbing that we rely on so many things that we take for granted, because what would we do if we somehow lost it all?
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Blog Entry #1
So this week we are tasked with choosing a favorite theory from class discussions and writing a short description for why we chose it. If there is one theory that has caught my interest then it would have to be the social learning/social cognitive theory. The theory focuses on how people learn by modeling others. Behavior that is demonstrated by one person will be modeled by the observer (or not) depending on how the behavior is reinforced (negatively or positively) and whether the observer believes they can perform that behavior. What really caught my attention was the example in the textbook about video games. This is where the cognitive portion of the theory comes in. Someone can play Grand Theft Auto and steal cars, shoot cops or drive drunk, but that same person won't go out and do any of those things in real life; Self -Regulation.
So new technologies can find great success or incredible failure depending on how people see it when used by others. If someone that has a new IPhone looks like they enjoy it and have a great use for it, any observers will be more inclined to purchase or try out that product. Word of mouth can have a tremendous effect on the lifespan of a new technology.
So new technologies can find great success or incredible failure depending on how people see it when used by others. If someone that has a new IPhone looks like they enjoy it and have a great use for it, any observers will be more inclined to purchase or try out that product. Word of mouth can have a tremendous effect on the lifespan of a new technology.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
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