Less than one hundred pages remain for myself and the ending of Snow Crash. The transition from the Librarian to the Raft shenanigans was jerky and not entirely clear to me. In a sense, the style of the novel echoes the technologies used within the story: rapid, nonlinear, superficial, changeable.
It's indeed a scary world when the reappearance of the Mafia gives the reader (or at least this one) a sense of relief.
"You know that chick Y.T.? The one you have been using to spy on us?"
"Yeah." No point in denying it.
"Well, we have been using her to spy on you."
"Why? Why the hell do you care about me?" (334)
Hiro isn't at all phased that Y.T. is, in fact, a "double agent." Alliances seem superficial at best, and friendship and trust have fallen by the wayside. If someone gets shot or horribly mutilated, as seen later when the Mafia group approaches the Raft, the others react indifferently. Life moves too quickly for mourning. As networked as we may be to each other -- more intensely than ever before, in fact -- we still seek our own survival above the needs of others.
This section, however, was great:
"Until a man is twenty-five, he still thinks, every so often, that under the right circumstances he could be the baddest motherfucker in the world. If I moved to a martial-arts monastery in China and studied real hard for ten years. If my family was wiped out by Colombian drug dealers and I swore myself to revenge. If I got a fatal disease, had one year to live, devoted it to wiping out street crime. If I just dropped out and devoted my life to being bad." (271)
Note that it's not "China Burbclave" or "Neocolombia" or anything along those lines. It's the world as we know it. It's why some people gravitate towards video games and any sort of virtual reality/fantasy that they can participate in -- to be the hero, the villain, the most famed or feared person in a "biomass" of anonymous faces.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Friday, February 23, 2007
Love and Facebook
http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue11_12/boyd/index.html <-- I took Dr. Reid's advice and googled Danah Boyd, and found this research piece on the importance of "Friendship" on websites such as Myspace. It's interesting, funny, and true.
My best friend and I bounced around a few ideas about social networking. She pointed out the importance of one's relationship status in a public profile. The jump from "In A Relationship" to "Single," and vice versa, is a significant public annoucement. Additionally, college students often joke in Facebook about being "Married to" or "In An Open Relationship with" someone of the same gender. Regardless of whether we're taken or if "It's Complicated," there's something about the public declaration of a relationship status that fascinates us.
I don't have too much to say about Snow Crash at the moment. I've hit the wall in the middle of the book, where Hiro and the Librarian have seemingly endless discussions about Sumerian legends and writing. It's started to feel like The DaVinci Code or some sort of international intrigue novel, with the obligatory "true historical backstory." But fear not -- I shall push through!
My best friend and I bounced around a few ideas about social networking. She pointed out the importance of one's relationship status in a public profile. The jump from "In A Relationship" to "Single," and vice versa, is a significant public annoucement. Additionally, college students often joke in Facebook about being "Married to" or "In An Open Relationship with" someone of the same gender. Regardless of whether we're taken or if "It's Complicated," there's something about the public declaration of a relationship status that fascinates us.
I don't have too much to say about Snow Crash at the moment. I've hit the wall in the middle of the book, where Hiro and the Librarian have seemingly endless discussions about Sumerian legends and writing. It's started to feel like The DaVinci Code or some sort of international intrigue novel, with the obligatory "true historical backstory." But fear not -- I shall push through!
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Online class and snow days
The good thing about online classes: you can get to them regardless of weather conditions.
The downfall of online classes: weather conditions are no excuse.
--
Which returns, really, to the pervasiveness of technology: We are expected to be "on" all of the time. Shut off your cell phone and turn off the computer. What happens now? Who can find you? Who will try? Who will be concerned?
--
Another assumption about an online class is that every student has his/her personal computer. What if you had to "commute" to the library or a computer lab? Some of my friends prefer to do work on the computers at the library, though they own computers. As the library tends to be more of a social gathering place, I'd rather work in my room. Yet I'm distracted by messages from friends, the idea to Google something random that I might not do with a stranger sitting next to me, etc.
All of our work turns social, in some way, it seems.
And if you do "commute" to a computer, can you legitimately get a day off for poor weather? :-)
The downfall of online classes: weather conditions are no excuse.
--
Which returns, really, to the pervasiveness of technology: We are expected to be "on" all of the time. Shut off your cell phone and turn off the computer. What happens now? Who can find you? Who will try? Who will be concerned?
--
Another assumption about an online class is that every student has his/her personal computer. What if you had to "commute" to the library or a computer lab? Some of my friends prefer to do work on the computers at the library, though they own computers. As the library tends to be more of a social gathering place, I'd rather work in my room. Yet I'm distracted by messages from friends, the idea to Google something random that I might not do with a stranger sitting next to me, etc.
All of our work turns social, in some way, it seems.
And if you do "commute" to a computer, can you legitimately get a day off for poor weather? :-)
Thursday, February 15, 2007
NeoVox considerations
I don't pretend to be "in the know" about the latest technology, software, etc. Only recently did I discover how wondrous Youtube is, and I didn't have iTunes until this class.
But I do know about the urgency of social networking/feeling the need to be in constant interaction with others through AIM, Myspace, Facebook, OpenDiary, Blogger, etc. I'd venture to say that the majority of college students have either used one or many of these networking sites themselves, or have friends who do (and perhaps that's why they stay away from it). I'd like to write about my observations of social interactions from this networking, though I don't have a particular thesis in mind yet.
But I do know about the urgency of social networking/feeling the need to be in constant interaction with others through AIM, Myspace, Facebook, OpenDiary, Blogger, etc. I'd venture to say that the majority of college students have either used one or many of these networking sites themselves, or have friends who do (and perhaps that's why they stay away from it). I'd like to write about my observations of social interactions from this networking, though I don't have a particular thesis in mind yet.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Snow Crash on a snowy day
"That's okay, really," Hiro says. "You're a pretty decent piece of ware. Who wrote you, anyway?"
"For the most part I write myself," the Librarian says. "That is, I have the innate ability to learn from experience. But this ability was originally coded into me by my creator." (109)
The innate ability to learn from experience. Haha. The further the novel takes us into Metaverse and technology-operated Burbclaves, the more we see that technology cannot compensate for basic humanity. People can and will be assholes, expecting a "cyber shield" of sorts to protect them. As Hiro's victorious swordfight over the Nipponese businessman demonstrates, being an avatar does not make you safe to do or say what you want.
"This is the gender that invented the polio vaccine?" Y.T. wonders (80). Instead of an androgynous, machine-like future being, the characters have clear genders and personalities. Stephenson implies that gender divide will persist, even if both sexes have equal technological knowledge, like Juanita and Hiro.
"You spend too much time goggled in," she says. "Try a little Reality, man."
"Where we are going," Hiro says, "we're going to get more Reality than I can handle." (120.)
The "Reality" of the Burbclaves, Mafia, taxis, and intense advertising seems to be more garish and unnatural than the software-constructed environment of Metaverse. At least in the Metaverse, people can walk and converse with each other without getting run down or attacked with loogie guns. Here, technology has created a haven for humans to express themselves through "natural" interactions.
"For the most part I write myself," the Librarian says. "That is, I have the innate ability to learn from experience. But this ability was originally coded into me by my creator." (109)
The innate ability to learn from experience. Haha. The further the novel takes us into Metaverse and technology-operated Burbclaves, the more we see that technology cannot compensate for basic humanity. People can and will be assholes, expecting a "cyber shield" of sorts to protect them. As Hiro's victorious swordfight over the Nipponese businessman demonstrates, being an avatar does not make you safe to do or say what you want.
"This is the gender that invented the polio vaccine?" Y.T. wonders (80). Instead of an androgynous, machine-like future being, the characters have clear genders and personalities. Stephenson implies that gender divide will persist, even if both sexes have equal technological knowledge, like Juanita and Hiro.
"You spend too much time goggled in," she says. "Try a little Reality, man."
"Where we are going," Hiro says, "we're going to get more Reality than I can handle." (120.)
The "Reality" of the Burbclaves, Mafia, taxis, and intense advertising seems to be more garish and unnatural than the software-constructed environment of Metaverse. At least in the Metaverse, people can walk and converse with each other without getting run down or attacked with loogie guns. Here, technology has created a haven for humans to express themselves through "natural" interactions.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
The first Crashings of Snow
"He is supposed to use the intercom to talk to drivers, he could say anything he wanted and it would be piped straight into the Deliverator's car, but no, he has to talk face to face, like the Deliverator is some kind of fucking ox cart driver" (10).
First off, this novel is a great deal of fun. Good choice, Dr. Reid!
"Face to face" immediately caught me, referencing back to Smart Mobs and our discussions. Face to face is slower, more time consuming, and has more meaning than a quick digital message or a soundchip traveling through a medium (i.e. a telephone). We try to come as close to face to face as possible without human contact.
Metaverse is an excellent example of attempting to bridge the "face to face" gap without interacting in real life, and therefore creating a commons. It requires a certain sort of integrity -- people can't create digital selves taller than who they really are. This commons also creates a class hierarchy, with the black and whites and "Wal-Mart Brandys" at the lower end of the technological spectrum. It reminds me of World of Warcraft, an interactive computer game that my boyfriend is quite the fan of. People create characters who play certain roles and have distinctive looks and clothing. They can communicate and work with other characters to do all sorts of questing/killing/noble things. The players all seem to speak their own language, through various abbreviations, commands, and fantastic names of places in the game.
And though Metaverse is conveniently programmed to allow people to run through one another, the opening chapters of the book demonstrate that despite, or perhaps because of, the overload of technological developments, traffic will always be a problem.
First off, this novel is a great deal of fun. Good choice, Dr. Reid!
"Face to face" immediately caught me, referencing back to Smart Mobs and our discussions. Face to face is slower, more time consuming, and has more meaning than a quick digital message or a soundchip traveling through a medium (i.e. a telephone). We try to come as close to face to face as possible without human contact.
Metaverse is an excellent example of attempting to bridge the "face to face" gap without interacting in real life, and therefore creating a commons. It requires a certain sort of integrity -- people can't create digital selves taller than who they really are. This commons also creates a class hierarchy, with the black and whites and "Wal-Mart Brandys" at the lower end of the technological spectrum. It reminds me of World of Warcraft, an interactive computer game that my boyfriend is quite the fan of. People create characters who play certain roles and have distinctive looks and clothing. They can communicate and work with other characters to do all sorts of questing/killing/noble things. The players all seem to speak their own language, through various abbreviations, commands, and fantastic names of places in the game.
And though Metaverse is conveniently programmed to allow people to run through one another, the opening chapters of the book demonstrate that despite, or perhaps because of, the overload of technological developments, traffic will always be a problem.
Friday, February 9, 2007
Chapter Eight
"They found that although people claim that they know the difference between humans and machines, their cognitive, emotion, and behavioral responses to artificial representations of humans are identical to the reactions they have to real people" (Rheingold 192).
This, again, begs the question: Do we risk losing our humanity as our lives become increasingly dependent on technology?
We yell at our computers when they freeze (nothing like the good ole, "Fatal Error" -- you've all been there) and cell phones when they lose service. But they cannot respond. Nor can people in the same way when we argue with them, besides face-to-face. "Anyone who has experienced a misunderstanding via email or witnessed a flame war in an online discussion knows that mediated communications, lacking the nuances carried by eye contact, facial expression, or tone of voice, increase the possibility of conflicts erupting from misunderstandings" (192). One of my friends was once yelled at by another friend because she had the audacity to "put up an away message in the middle of the conversation and leave."
We come to know people by their user name, screenname, ringtone, number on speed dial, misspellings, and even font. Something mechanical and anonymous takes on a personality and a name. Someone cracks a joke or writes especially clearly with the bland text of WebCT. Sometimes "fighting" online gives us time to reflect on exactly what we wish to say, and edit it before sending.
Certainly, colors, noises, and images which come from all directions threaten to overwhelm us at times. But their intent is to appeal to us. All strive to make machines human, rather than vice versa.
This, again, begs the question: Do we risk losing our humanity as our lives become increasingly dependent on technology?
We yell at our computers when they freeze (nothing like the good ole, "Fatal Error" -- you've all been there) and cell phones when they lose service. But they cannot respond. Nor can people in the same way when we argue with them, besides face-to-face. "Anyone who has experienced a misunderstanding via email or witnessed a flame war in an online discussion knows that mediated communications, lacking the nuances carried by eye contact, facial expression, or tone of voice, increase the possibility of conflicts erupting from misunderstandings" (192). One of my friends was once yelled at by another friend because she had the audacity to "put up an away message in the middle of the conversation and leave."
We come to know people by their user name, screenname, ringtone, number on speed dial, misspellings, and even font. Something mechanical and anonymous takes on a personality and a name. Someone cracks a joke or writes especially clearly with the bland text of WebCT. Sometimes "fighting" online gives us time to reflect on exactly what we wish to say, and edit it before sending.
Certainly, colors, noises, and images which come from all directions threaten to overwhelm us at times. But their intent is to appeal to us. All strive to make machines human, rather than vice versa.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Pod(/RaD)casting Reflections
As the lovely Miss Rachel discusses in her blog, we found ourselves surprisingly entertained by the podcasting process. Once we oriented ourselves with Garage Band and the recording/editing process, we were able to add the "cool special effects" and festive photos.
I really had no comprehension of what a "podcast" was before this class, though Dr. Boynton mentioned them several times last semester. Unfamiliar computer programs make me nervous. I think I've figured something out, and the person next to me is doing all sorts of insane things that make me want to go back to drawing on a literal piece of paper.
But due to editing movies on the computer in high school, and DJing here, I found Garage Band to be extremely accessible, fast, and unintimidating. It's the sort of technology that you really do participate in -- through audio, photos, and video -- and can personalize. For me, these sorts of recording/editing programs are easier to use than a strictly graphic design program like, for example, InDesign. It's another way of communicating. Though I don't know if anyone would pay me to make podcasts all day long, it's a medium that I've never thought of before and look forward to using again in the future.
--
New York City proposes banning the use of iPods, cell phones, and similar devices in crosswalks, as per msn.com. Is this realistic? Packs of thirty people often roam across the street in the middle of traffic. While headphones mute outside noises, it's often so chaotic that one may not be able to pick out the sound of an oncoming vehicle, without headphones, until it's too late.
Any thoughts?
I really had no comprehension of what a "podcast" was before this class, though Dr. Boynton mentioned them several times last semester. Unfamiliar computer programs make me nervous. I think I've figured something out, and the person next to me is doing all sorts of insane things that make me want to go back to drawing on a literal piece of paper.
But due to editing movies on the computer in high school, and DJing here, I found Garage Band to be extremely accessible, fast, and unintimidating. It's the sort of technology that you really do participate in -- through audio, photos, and video -- and can personalize. For me, these sorts of recording/editing programs are easier to use than a strictly graphic design program like, for example, InDesign. It's another way of communicating. Though I don't know if anyone would pay me to make podcasts all day long, it's a medium that I've never thought of before and look forward to using again in the future.
--
New York City proposes banning the use of iPods, cell phones, and similar devices in crosswalks, as per msn.com. Is this realistic? Packs of thirty people often roam across the street in the middle of traffic. While headphones mute outside noises, it's often so chaotic that one may not be able to pick out the sound of an oncoming vehicle, without headphones, until it's too late.
Any thoughts?
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Who technology is for
A few words have jumped out at me in the midst of Rheingold's technical descriptions: translation...health...defense intelligence..."His frequent travel to India and the entire Digital Nations consortium is based on a belief that pervasive computation can provide relief to some of the more urgent problems in the world's poorest countries."
Why hasn't technology been cultivated to help those who may truly benefit from it?
The idea of "wearable computers" especially poked me. Wearing headgear that explains everything about all of the items around you seems to be an inundation of the senses; unless, of course, as Rheingold mentions, the words can be translated. Wearable computers overall, however, are toys for the rich and technologically savvy. The "Wearable Internet Appliance, combining a head-mounted display and eleven-ounce computer...was around $2,200" in 2002. Are they necessary for, well, anything? Who wants to converse face-to-face with someone while that person is constantly distracted by e-mail and answering questions with the help of a search engines?
Since technology is indeed for the rich, I suppose I can see why companies don't strive to be philanthropic. But the offshot of these advancements seems to be to further our personal communications and knowledge, relying on the recommendations of those like us instead of holding a more global perspective.
Why hasn't technology been cultivated to help those who may truly benefit from it?
The idea of "wearable computers" especially poked me. Wearing headgear that explains everything about all of the items around you seems to be an inundation of the senses; unless, of course, as Rheingold mentions, the words can be translated. Wearable computers overall, however, are toys for the rich and technologically savvy. The "Wearable Internet Appliance, combining a head-mounted display and eleven-ounce computer...was around $2,200" in 2002. Are they necessary for, well, anything? Who wants to converse face-to-face with someone while that person is constantly distracted by e-mail and answering questions with the help of a search engines?
Since technology is indeed for the rich, I suppose I can see why companies don't strive to be philanthropic. But the offshot of these advancements seems to be to further our personal communications and knowledge, relying on the recommendations of those like us instead of holding a more global perspective.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
the intellectual commons of the classroom
Is the classroom for everyone or only for some?
Are all students, in some sense, free riders on the knowledge of the professor? In some classrooms, it surely appears to be so. He nods at everyone's point, but then follows up with his own interpretation. I take notes on the intelligent things he says that seem appropriate for a ten-page paper. There are times when students have nothing original to add to the subject. Heavily-cited research papers exemplify that students ought to look to the opinions of others before their own.
Is it free riding when we develop a classmate's or professor's point that we found interesting? Not plagiarizing, mind you, but running with a phrase that we realized we agreed with, or that sent our argument in a different direction. Or is this only free riding when nobody takes an interest in your ideas?
How can one truly write a "creative, free piece" when the professor ultimately makes the judgement and assigns the grade? There appears to be a limit to the amount of intellectual property that a student can contribute to the commons within a classroom. Without grades, perhaps, there would be more freedom and less emphasis on an "absolute" response. Yet grades also provide a motivation and sense of competition. Our responses become self-serving, as Rheingold discusses in Chapter 2, striving to be more articulate than those of our peers. The better we define and defend our thoughts, the better chance of receiving a higher grade. If our thoughts happen to build with those of our classmates, and together we reach a greater understanding, that's excellent. If not, then we could care less about the grade they receive, as long as ours is higher.
Are all students, in some sense, free riders on the knowledge of the professor? In some classrooms, it surely appears to be so. He nods at everyone's point, but then follows up with his own interpretation. I take notes on the intelligent things he says that seem appropriate for a ten-page paper. There are times when students have nothing original to add to the subject. Heavily-cited research papers exemplify that students ought to look to the opinions of others before their own.
Is it free riding when we develop a classmate's or professor's point that we found interesting? Not plagiarizing, mind you, but running with a phrase that we realized we agreed with, or that sent our argument in a different direction. Or is this only free riding when nobody takes an interest in your ideas?
How can one truly write a "creative, free piece" when the professor ultimately makes the judgement and assigns the grade? There appears to be a limit to the amount of intellectual property that a student can contribute to the commons within a classroom. Without grades, perhaps, there would be more freedom and less emphasis on an "absolute" response. Yet grades also provide a motivation and sense of competition. Our responses become self-serving, as Rheingold discusses in Chapter 2, striving to be more articulate than those of our peers. The better we define and defend our thoughts, the better chance of receiving a higher grade. If our thoughts happen to build with those of our classmates, and together we reach a greater understanding, that's excellent. If not, then we could care less about the grade they receive, as long as ours is higher.
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