1) In his introduction, Lovink quotes G.H. Mead who describes "Sociality" as what?
"Sociality is the capacity of being several things at once."
2) Where did Silicon Valley find inspiration in the post 9/11 reconstruction period? (two things)
It found inspiration in Google, and also the Blogging industry.
3) With tools to oversee national IP range, it is possible for countries to do two things with these technologies. What are they?
They're able to block users outside the country from viewing things, and they can prevent citizens from visiting foreign sites.
4) Lovink argues top-down considerations with Web 2.0 are less interesting than 'bottom-up' ones. What does he mean by this?
He thinks that it's more interesting to see what Netizens create with the use of Web 2.0.
5) What is the function of profiles abstracted from 'user generated content' - how is it then used?
They're then sold to advertisers as direct marketing data.
6) What is 'massification'
It is the notion that considers the pure number of people that use the internet and engage online. Because of massification, internet is strongly integrated into our society.
7) Geert Lovink describes the Internet as an 'indifferent bystander' as a revolutionary tool in the global recession. What does he mean by this?
He means that the internet is something which doesn't lend itself easily as a revolutionary tool. This is because it is easily censured by governments who don't want certain information getting out, or certain individuals expressing their opinions.
8) Lovink says that power these days is not absolute but ________ ?
Dynamic
9) "Managing complexity" is the aim of authoritarian uses of the internet such as the Great Chinese _______________?
Firewall.
10) What are "organized networks"?
They're networks intended to “set events in motion,” meaning oppose certain viewpoints and inspire change.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Wk7 Questions
1) Who invented the first computer game on the PDP1?
Steve Russel
2) What was the name of the game?
Spacewar
3) What was the name of Morton Helig's amusement device that let you smell, hear and see in 3D filmed experiences?
The Sensorama
4) What early 1970s movie does an arcade console machine of Spacewar appear?
Soylent Green
5) What was the name of the man who developed the first TV tennis game?
Ralph Baer
6) Who was the man whose company Atari commercialized the idea of the arcade computer tennis game?
Nolan Bushnell
7) What was the name of this version of the game?
Pong
8) What are vector graphics?
Graphics which are representative of geometric forms, points, and lines.
9) What types of games do vector graphics lend themselves to?
Those tending to be more realistic, simulations.
10) When home computers were first made available, how did owners load games into them?
They were loaded via cassette tape.
11) What is the name of the 1985 film in which a young Matthew Broderick starts World War III with his home computer and modem?
War Games
12) From what sources did the designer of the Space Invaders aliens draw inspiration?
H.G. Wells' “War of the Worlds.”
13) What is the name given to the contemporary subculture of 8 bit music made with gameboys and other 80s game technology
Chiptunes
14) "Escape from Woomera" was a videogame which was used to draw attention to the plight of inmates at a remote detention center in desert town in what country?
Australia
Steve Russel
2) What was the name of the game?
Spacewar
3) What was the name of Morton Helig's amusement device that let you smell, hear and see in 3D filmed experiences?
The Sensorama
4) What early 1970s movie does an arcade console machine of Spacewar appear?
Soylent Green
5) What was the name of the man who developed the first TV tennis game?
Ralph Baer
6) Who was the man whose company Atari commercialized the idea of the arcade computer tennis game?
Nolan Bushnell
7) What was the name of this version of the game?
Pong
8) What are vector graphics?
Graphics which are representative of geometric forms, points, and lines.
9) What types of games do vector graphics lend themselves to?
Those tending to be more realistic, simulations.
10) When home computers were first made available, how did owners load games into them?
They were loaded via cassette tape.
11) What is the name of the 1985 film in which a young Matthew Broderick starts World War III with his home computer and modem?
War Games
12) From what sources did the designer of the Space Invaders aliens draw inspiration?
H.G. Wells' “War of the Worlds.”
13) What is the name given to the contemporary subculture of 8 bit music made with gameboys and other 80s game technology
Chiptunes
14) "Escape from Woomera" was a videogame which was used to draw attention to the plight of inmates at a remote detention center in desert town in what country?
Australia
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Week 5
Student Name Dan Wilbur
Today’s Date 02/02/11
Game Title Examined Missile Command
Year of Publication 1980
game Publisher Atari
Game Developer Atari
1 - What is the game genre (e.g. shoot-em-up, racing, sports, puzzle, MMORPG, ‘sandbox’, music sequence following game (e.g. DDR, guitar hero)
I would classify this as an accuracy and timing based shooter.
2 -What is the type of game ‘world’ or environment (e.g. flat environment, puzzle/maze space, 3D world?)
2 -What is the type of game ‘world’ or environment (e.g. flat environment, puzzle/maze space, 3D world?)
It is a flat environment.
3 - What is the perspective taken by player (e.g first person, third person perspective, top down, isometric) in relation to main player controlled character.
It’s an isometric view.
4 - What is the actual gameplay – what does the player have to do?
The player is in control of three missile stations, and shoots the missiles in order to intercept incoming missiles that are headed towards your cities. In order to complete the level, you have to defend your cities from all of the incoming missiles.
4 - What is the actual gameplay – what does the player have to do?
The player is in control of three missile stations, and shoots the missiles in order to intercept incoming missiles that are headed towards your cities. In order to complete the level, you have to defend your cities from all of the incoming missiles.
5 - Is the gameplay intuitive? (i.e. is it easy to understand what to do without instructions?) describe.
It is incredibly intuitive. There are hardly any instructions to begin with.
6 - Is the gameplay patterned (game does the same thing over & over) or is it random (happens differently every time?)
Well, it is sort of both. The missiles always come, and there are fliers that go across the screen that bring variety to the scene. The gameplay is always the same; you shoot the missiles down before they hit your cities.
7 - What does the type of graphic approach used as well as the audio tell you about the limits of the technology at the time the game was published?
7 - What does the type of graphic approach used as well as the audio tell you about the limits of the technology at the time the game was published?
The technology was very primitive, and was incredibly limiting as to what could be displayed both audibly and visibly.
8 - Describe your views about the game from the point of view of
1. ease of play
8 - Describe your views about the game from the point of view of
1. ease of play
It is pretty easy once you get the hang of it. You just need to destroy the main missiles before they break up into smaller missiles, and also you can conserve your missiles by deploying them to destroy multiple enemy missiles at once. The enemy missiles cause their own explosions too when detonated, which can start a chain reaction of explosions.
2. Enjoyability
This game is definitely a classic. However, the gameplay is incredibly repetitive, and can get old fast.
c) level of engagement/immersion
c) level of engagement/immersion
There is little to no engagement and immersion. The graphics and sounds are definitely not developed enough to bring me into the game. However, It is still fun.
9 - Had you played this game prior to this time? If so, when?
Yes, I played this on my dad’s computer in the early 90’s.
10 - what does playing the game remind you of in terms of other games/media?
10 - what does playing the game remind you of in terms of other games/media?
It reminds me of when computers were just little babies, and DOS was king.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Google Sketchup
This scene could be used for many different video game scenarios. The first of which could be an RPG or "Sims" style game where there are people who may live in the house. The scene could be used to show someone entering the house, and letting the viewers know the setting of the area even if there isn't much going on outside.
It could also be used to set the setting of a racing game. It may even be used to show the garage area of a track, where you could go to modify your cars.
It could also be used to set the setting of a racing game. It may even be used to show the garage area of a track, where you could go to modify your cars.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
week 3
1) In Paulina Boorsooks Book "Cyberselfish" she contrasts the development of technologies that were group efforts and thus stand in stark contrast to the myth of the lone 'hero' entrepreneur. Name two such more group-based technologies. (Under the heading "Closer to the Machine")
a) The World Wide Web
b) Microsoft Windows
2) In the section labelled "Human, Too Human" Boosook describes one type of technolibertarian - the "Extropians". What do extropians want or yearn for?
They want to maximise human potential by integrating themselves with machines and computers. They want to try and eliminate the defects of being human, and become more algorithmic, to make less mistakes.
3) In her film BIT PLANE, Natalie Jeremijenko describes Doug Englebart as being a pioneer - of what? (view film via VIMEO link in separate post)
A pioneer of personal computing.
4) In "Silicon Valley Mystery House" writer Langdon Winner compares the Silicon Valley to the Winchester Mystery House. In what way does he consider them similar?
5) In Langdon Winner's essay "Silicon Valley Mystery House" he describes East Palo Alto as a very different kind of place from areas such as upscale Stanford and downtown Palo Alto. What type of area is East Palo alto, "just across highway 101"?
6) In her Processed World article "The Disappeared of Silicon Valley" Paulina Boorsook's "Deep Throat" (inside information source) describes some unpleasant realities of most Silicon Valley startups and how they end up. List two.
7) What is the Long Now foundation and why was it formed?
It is an organization which is trying to promote a different way of thinking as opposed to the faster/cheaper way of product development and ideas. They want a more substantial thought process more focused on sustainability and long term slower/better ideas.
8) In the documentary DOCUMENTARY - SILICON VALLEY - A HUNDRED YEAR RENAISSANCE (1997) Steve Jobs describes the joy of successfully making "blue boxes" which let he and his friends make free phone calls. What aspect of this experience does he say was so important to the creation of Apple computer?
9) List three aspects of the work of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) - (see the "Our Work" section of their website)
8) In the documentary DOCUMENTARY - SILICON VALLEY - A HUNDRED YEAR RENAISSANCE (1997) Steve Jobs describes the joy of successfully making "blue boxes" which let he and his friends make free phone calls. What aspect of this experience does he say was so important to the creation of Apple computer?
9) List three aspects of the work of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) - (see the "Our Work" section of their website)
They seem to be concerned with
-preserving rights
-helping aid disabled and accessibility
-privacy
10) According to Richard Stallman's website, what is his status in relation to the social media site Facebook?
10) According to Richard Stallman's website, what is his status in relation to the social media site Facebook?
He is fully against it and the way it tracks your browsing and supposedly gives it to the CIA.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Week 2
1) Why was the period at the turn of the 20th century so important?
The industrial revolution saw many new inventions and much more mechanization that ever seen before. There were many new inventions such as the light bulb and cinema, which in turn enabled new art forms to be invented as well.
2) What aspects of the Dada art movement are important from the point of view of the rise of the computers and digital visual media? (for example Marcel Duchamp's "readymades"?)
Duchamp’s readymades are basically the introduction of sampling to the art scene. Before the dada movement, the idea of just taking something and presenting it as art, or using it as a piece of your art wasn’t even considered. The dada art movement also brought forth the idea of random placing and random events being considered a part of art as well. These two ideas are used quite often in modern times, and both were introduced in the dada movement.
3) Name one aspect that links "The Man with a Movie Camera" with digital media according to Lev Manovich (ReadingsB)
It was Vertov’s attempt to break the limits of normal viewing, which is a common thing done in digital media.
4) What was 'constructivism'?
It was an art movement that tried to throw away “art for art’s sake,” and wanted to use it as something produced for social betterment.
5) Read pages VI (6) to XXII (22) of "The Language of New Media"
in ReadingsB: what does Lev Manovich suggest are the 'three levels' of "The Man with a Movie Camera"?
The three levels are:
-the camera man filming the movie
-the audience’s reaction
-the actual final film
6) Who first developed the idea of "Cybernetics"?
Norbert Weiner…
7) In "Computer Lib" Ted Nelson describes Hypertext as "Non ___________" writing (fill in the blank)
sequential writing
8) (Lecture) why were transistors, even though 100 times smaller than vacuum tubes considered impractical for building computers in the 1960s?
They were considered impractical because people didn’t think it would be possible to wire a computer with transistors due to it being perceived as too complex.
9) What was the name of the first commercial available computer (kit)?
Altair
10) Write a paragraph:
In your own words: What are things going to look like in 20 years from now in the average living room in terms of digital visual media? What types of digital media will your kids be using around 2030?
I believe there will be much larger televisions screens, if not higher quality projector based screens that will cover much larger of an area than we see today. The screens will be interactive, and much sharper quality. I think television and internet will no longer be two separate things. We will be able to chat and comment on live television through on screen displays, and post suggestions or reactions to whatever is being shown. Our kids will no longer read from textbooks, but instead e-books. This will save paper and encourage further human-computer interaction. Digital art will also become more common than it is today, and children will start to use it at a younger age than we have, thus being capable of producing things we haven’t yet considered. Programs will be created to further stimulate their minds at a younger age as well, and they will be incredibly easy to use.
The industrial revolution saw many new inventions and much more mechanization that ever seen before. There were many new inventions such as the light bulb and cinema, which in turn enabled new art forms to be invented as well.
2) What aspects of the Dada art movement are important from the point of view of the rise of the computers and digital visual media? (for example Marcel Duchamp's "readymades"?)
Duchamp’s readymades are basically the introduction of sampling to the art scene. Before the dada movement, the idea of just taking something and presenting it as art, or using it as a piece of your art wasn’t even considered. The dada art movement also brought forth the idea of random placing and random events being considered a part of art as well. These two ideas are used quite often in modern times, and both were introduced in the dada movement.
3) Name one aspect that links "The Man with a Movie Camera" with digital media according to Lev Manovich (ReadingsB)
It was Vertov’s attempt to break the limits of normal viewing, which is a common thing done in digital media.
4) What was 'constructivism'?
It was an art movement that tried to throw away “art for art’s sake,” and wanted to use it as something produced for social betterment.
5) Read pages VI (6) to XXII (22) of "The Language of New Media"
in ReadingsB: what does Lev Manovich suggest are the 'three levels' of "The Man with a Movie Camera"?
The three levels are:
-the camera man filming the movie
-the audience’s reaction
-the actual final film
6) Who first developed the idea of "Cybernetics"?
Norbert Weiner…
7) In "Computer Lib" Ted Nelson describes Hypertext as "Non ___________" writing (fill in the blank)
sequential writing
8) (Lecture) why were transistors, even though 100 times smaller than vacuum tubes considered impractical for building computers in the 1960s?
They were considered impractical because people didn’t think it would be possible to wire a computer with transistors due to it being perceived as too complex.
9) What was the name of the first commercial available computer (kit)?
Altair
10) Write a paragraph:
In your own words: What are things going to look like in 20 years from now in the average living room in terms of digital visual media? What types of digital media will your kids be using around 2030?
I believe there will be much larger televisions screens, if not higher quality projector based screens that will cover much larger of an area than we see today. The screens will be interactive, and much sharper quality. I think television and internet will no longer be two separate things. We will be able to chat and comment on live television through on screen displays, and post suggestions or reactions to whatever is being shown. Our kids will no longer read from textbooks, but instead e-books. This will save paper and encourage further human-computer interaction. Digital art will also become more common than it is today, and children will start to use it at a younger age than we have, thus being capable of producing things we haven’t yet considered. Programs will be created to further stimulate their minds at a younger age as well, and they will be incredibly easy to use.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The Machine That Changed the World Questions
1) How was unique about Charles Babbage Analytical Engine, compared to his original Difference Engine?
The difference engine was capable of doing only one thing at a time, calculate by the method of differences. The purpose of the Analytical Engine was to do many different things at a time. It was programmable by punch cards.
2) What role did Ada Lovelace play in the development of the Analytical Engine?
She was Babbage’s interpreter to the world. She was considered to be the first computer programmer because she helped write programs for his machine.
3) How was the ENIAC computer reprogrammed?
Individual people would have to set up to 6000 switches and rewiring and replugging hundreds of cables connecting different parts of the machine. The individual would have to have extensive knowledge of the inner workings of the machine.
4) Name an innovation that helped make programming faster post ENIAC (see ep. 2)
Punch cards were used to program computers, followed by newer programming languages that were more similar to human speech.
5) What is it about binary counting that makes it so well suited to computers?
This is because it requires a single digit to process the counting. A zero would represent off and a one could represent on. Because the switch only has two possible modes, they were much faster than the gears used in earlier computers.
6) In what ways did UNIVAC influence the portrayal of computers in popular culture in the 1950s? Give an example. (see ep. 2)
It was the iconic “flashing lights” big computer upon which many science fiction movies would portray their prop computers in that time period. It was a room sized, large computer with a lot of flashing lights and witches.
7) Codebreaking required the automatic manipulation of symbols to unscramble messages during WWII. What was the name of the rudimentary computer at Bletchley Park in England that unscrambled Nazi codes.
It’s name was the Colossus.
8) Alan Turing who understood the implications of such machines later went on to describe them as __________ machines.
He described them as learning machines.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
Write two paragraphs for each:
9) Describe when you first used computers and what types of tasks you performed on them.
I first used computers around 1992. My dad worked for Texas Instruments at the time, and we had two computers in the house. Back then, I was only around four years old. My dad would show me how to use DOS to bring up games or programs, but I never really grasped the technology until later on, when DOS wasn’t used anymore. I remember seeing wireframe models of cars on the computer as well.
Later on, after I moved from Texas to California, we had better computers in the house. I remember playing 3d games and flight simulators with joysticks. Other than gaming, I didn’t use the computers for much at all. I may have used it as a calculator, but I honestly cannot remember much about my first experiences with computers that doesn’t have to do with playing video games.
10) How restricted do you think computers are in terms of what they can do compared to how they are most often used?
What it all really boils down to is what the programmers design for people to use. Without having knowledge of the underlying process, a person can only do what is visible and initially available for them to select to do. In today’s world, most programs are limited specifically by the way they are laid out and prepared for use. That being said, most programs are produced to do a certain set of tasks which are then selected for use by the user.
Having a program where the user is able to program and create their own processes and essentially reprogram the program to do exactly what the want is going to be the future of most programs, outside of the ones where this idea has already been implemented. The only thing limiting the computers themselves are the speeds of the hardware.
The difference engine was capable of doing only one thing at a time, calculate by the method of differences. The purpose of the Analytical Engine was to do many different things at a time. It was programmable by punch cards.
2) What role did Ada Lovelace play in the development of the Analytical Engine?
She was Babbage’s interpreter to the world. She was considered to be the first computer programmer because she helped write programs for his machine.
3) How was the ENIAC computer reprogrammed?
Individual people would have to set up to 6000 switches and rewiring and replugging hundreds of cables connecting different parts of the machine. The individual would have to have extensive knowledge of the inner workings of the machine.
4) Name an innovation that helped make programming faster post ENIAC (see ep. 2)
Punch cards were used to program computers, followed by newer programming languages that were more similar to human speech.
5) What is it about binary counting that makes it so well suited to computers?
This is because it requires a single digit to process the counting. A zero would represent off and a one could represent on. Because the switch only has two possible modes, they were much faster than the gears used in earlier computers.
6) In what ways did UNIVAC influence the portrayal of computers in popular culture in the 1950s? Give an example. (see ep. 2)
It was the iconic “flashing lights” big computer upon which many science fiction movies would portray their prop computers in that time period. It was a room sized, large computer with a lot of flashing lights and witches.
7) Codebreaking required the automatic manipulation of symbols to unscramble messages during WWII. What was the name of the rudimentary computer at Bletchley Park in England that unscrambled Nazi codes.
It’s name was the Colossus.
8) Alan Turing who understood the implications of such machines later went on to describe them as __________ machines.
He described them as learning machines.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
Write two paragraphs for each:
9) Describe when you first used computers and what types of tasks you performed on them.
I first used computers around 1992. My dad worked for Texas Instruments at the time, and we had two computers in the house. Back then, I was only around four years old. My dad would show me how to use DOS to bring up games or programs, but I never really grasped the technology until later on, when DOS wasn’t used anymore. I remember seeing wireframe models of cars on the computer as well.
Later on, after I moved from Texas to California, we had better computers in the house. I remember playing 3d games and flight simulators with joysticks. Other than gaming, I didn’t use the computers for much at all. I may have used it as a calculator, but I honestly cannot remember much about my first experiences with computers that doesn’t have to do with playing video games.
10) How restricted do you think computers are in terms of what they can do compared to how they are most often used?
What it all really boils down to is what the programmers design for people to use. Without having knowledge of the underlying process, a person can only do what is visible and initially available for them to select to do. In today’s world, most programs are limited specifically by the way they are laid out and prepared for use. That being said, most programs are produced to do a certain set of tasks which are then selected for use by the user.
Having a program where the user is able to program and create their own processes and essentially reprogram the program to do exactly what the want is going to be the future of most programs, outside of the ones where this idea has already been implemented. The only thing limiting the computers themselves are the speeds of the hardware.
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