ON-LINE ESSAY - Item 3 due Friday week 12

CHOSEN TOPIC:

THE IDEA OF THE INTERNET AS CYBERSPACE HAS BEEN A PART OF OUR CONTEMPORARY CULTURE FOR SOME TIME, PARTICULARLY IN THE POPULAR MEDIUM OF FILM. BUT IS THE CONCEPT OF

CYBERSPACE STILL RELEVANT TO OUR CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY? DISCUSS WITH REFERENCE TO YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE OF CONTEMPORARY MEDIA.

To analyse this statement effectively, it is vital to establish an understanding of the term cyberspace and its relation to the internet and our contemporary culture, before addressing its' relevance to our contemporary society, reflected through popular mediums such as film and my experience to contemporary media.

The research of this relatively new phrase 'cyberspace', coined by cyberpunk science fiction author William Gibson, revealed diverse and varied opinions that have circulated since Gibsons' novel titled Neuromancer was released in 1984. British critical thinkers Manuel Castells and Donna Haraway's writings (consolidated by author and lecturer David Bell) in Cyberculture Theorists, note that Gibson used the term to describe "the imaginary 'datascape' which his characters entered by 'jacking in' - connecting their consciousness directly to networked computers." (2007, p.2). For the purposes of this essay though, I will try and quote the most current factual and common definitions.

• Firstly cyberspace is defined by the Australian Oxford Dictionary as "the notional environment in which electronic communication occurs; virtual reality." (2004, p.312)
• Another definition of cyberspace is given in on-line lecture notes from Griffith University, Parkwood as "a conceptual space where words, relationships, data, wealth and power are manifested by people using Computer Mediated Communication technologies..." (Stockwell, Dr S. 2009. 1501HUM New Communication Technologies Lecture (2) Notes - A Short History of Computing and the Internet).
• Lastly (but definitely not least) a concept delivered in a ProQuest Social Science Journal titled Cyberspace and Virtual Places explains a "metaphor used to understand computer networks is cyberspace. In a word, the metaphor of cyberspace is about disembodiment. A system of nodes is a kind of space, defined by interaction ..." (Adams, 1997).

Furthermore the internet (not to be confused with the Web which I liken to the 'mind') is the network of networked computers utilizing a globally unique address space sharing the the same set of communications protocols - the 'brain'.

Therefore we may deduct that cyberspace is a virtual 'space' experienced by and contributed to by millions of people around the globe within the internet. Human relationships and the contents of their minds through computer networks.

Subsequently our contemporary culture, that is what we think, what we say, what we do, the foods we eat, the restaurants we dine in, the music we listen to, how we vote, the clothes we wear, the movies we watch - generally who we are, is part of this internet as cyberspace.

Contemporary culture depicts cyberspace in many mediums, particularly in the popular medium of film. Many films have showcased the idea of cyberspace, such as Johnny Mnemonic (a 1995 cyberpunk film, loosely based on the short story of the same name by William Gibson), Tron (a 1982 American science fiction film by Walt Disney Pictures where a man/gladiator is trapped inside a world inside a computer - an electronic arena - fighting inside the video world he created), eXistenZ (a 1999 film that explores the world of games and how obsessive play can warp reality, showcasing a game that requires a 'bio-port' into the spine where players plug the organic gaming device that immerses them in virtual reality), to name a few, but by far the most popular* seems to be the 1999 science fiction-action film the Matrix. The Matrix is a film that"pushes the boundaries of computer-generated effects as it explores a possible future

world where machines dominate humans but keep them in ignorant bliss of their real state. The machines in Matrix create a totally illusory reality for people, constructing their identities to suit the purposes of the machine ..." (Stockwell, Dr S. 2009. 1501HUM New Communication Technologies Lecture (11) Notes - Virtual Philosophy).

An example of a recent film exploring internet as cyberspace (released this month) is Surrogates, an action-thriller where people live their lives remotely via a robotic surrogate representation of themselves. (Just for the record, not the cutting edge and revolutionary standard of special effects pioneered in the Matrix - nor plot for that matter).

This concept of cyberspace that our culture depicts in the medium of film brings this exploration to virtual reality. Virtual reality, as Dr Stephen Stockwell referenced in a Griffith University Lecture, is "an example of imagery becoming part of reality ..." (1501HUM New Communication Technologies Lecture 11, 2009 - Virtual Philosophy)..

Like Plato's Allegory of the Cave theory, our vision or version of reality is probably 'imperfect', as it is shown to us via other people's imagery and perception, or their desired perception for us. Our reality could be our response of what is 'virtually' given to us. It is worth remembering that Immersive Virtual Reality (Stockwell, Dr S. 2009. 1501HUM New Communication Technologies Lecture 11 - Virtual Philosophy) is not real, but the senses and feeling experienced are real, so is it reality or not? I suppose this is our fascination with this topic and the reason we explore it through various mediums, including film.

I believe that contemporary society realizes that the effects and implications of cyberspace is part of our culture and we are a part of it. Maybe because of our explorations, we deem cyberspace as a logical positivism and deal with it as true and real because we have proven to ourselves that in fact this intangible space is real, now and for our future.

Ultimately the concept of cyberspace is relevant to our contemporary society as it mirrors our contemporary society. It is represented through our culture in the choices we make and the way we live and subsequently represented through our society by way of the films we produce and watch. The future is already promising anticipations for the cyber society, based on current trends documented in the paper The Cyber Future - 92 ways our lives will change by the year 2025 by Edward Cornish, technology such as Infotech - a chip implanted somewhere in our bodies holding credit card details, identification, passport, diary etc and then there is the ultra tiny computer - a nanomachine - that may contain intelligence that could be injected into our bodies to perform such tasks as repairing muscle and brain cells. (1996, p.2).

My own experience with contemporary media is reflected in Daniel Downes book Interactive Realism where he aptly writes:

"a student searching he web for information" or "banking on-line" or "downloading a movie or music file from the Internet - reflect a level of sophistication in the lives of people who rely on computers for the most basic of tasks. Representations of computers are representations of the tools we use in contemporary life. On the Internet, media 'collapse', in the sense that all media (visual, auditory, textual) are used at the same time, complicating the ways in which we process information. Individuals routinely engage in practices that were once considered .... unavailable to the general public. Such practices have become, in a profound sense, sites of convergence of business, technology, regulation, and culture. ...The more people use such media in everyday life (instead of passively consuming media content) and the more such media use is socially reinforced, the more it can affect who we see ourselves to be. Computer programs are scripts or blueprints for world - and self-construction. Because of this, they provoke thinking about the boundaries between matter, life, and mind. Through digital communication, we create new collective and individual identities, as well as new environments for human interaction." (2005. p.4)

Furthermore, due to a recent university assignment, I have also recently 'produced' (and I use this term very lightly) a fictional news report via my mobile phone, uploaded it with added sound effects to the website www.ireport.com. The ireport website is a site in which anyone can upload 'news' reports. Ireport can offer this because of their disclaimer that advises users that the content is not checked or verified. Therefore this use of contemporary media empowers my usage, and potential influence in our culture.

My other experiences with contemporary media are numerous - which is the 'norm' of course for our times and my current contemporary culture. Facebook, Blogging, texting, digital gaming to audio recording, are all part of my life. With this comes the benefits as well as the pit-falls, such as creative commons, privacy, identity fraud, and even a future threat to mainstream journalism - but that is a whole separate essay!

LIST OF REFERENCES:

Adams, Paul C. 1997. Cyberspace and virtual places. Geographical Review 87, no. 2, (April 1): 155-171. http://www.proquest.com.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/ (accessed October 21, 2009).

Australian Oxford Dictionary 2004 (2nd ed). Ed. Bruce Moore, Oxford University Press, Australia.

Bell, David. 2007. Cyberculture Theorists Manuel Castells and Donna Haraway, Routledge. Abingdon, Oxon.

Cornish, Edward. 1996. The Cyber Future - 92 ways our lives will change by the year 2025. World Future Society. U.S.A.

Downes, Daniel. 2005. Interactive Realism the poetics of cyberspace, McGill-Queen's University Press. Montreal & Kingston.

Stockwell, Dr S. 2009. 1501HUM New Communication Technologies Lecture (2) Notes - A Short History of Computing and the Internet. Griffith University, Parkwood. https://learning.secure.griffith.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_71280_1&content_id=_945745_1

Stockwell, Dr S. 2009. 1501HUM New Communication Technologies Lecture (11) Notes - Virtual Philosophy. Griffith University, Parkwood.

https://learning.secure.griffith.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_71280_1&content_id=_1015546_1

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/2/3/2/1/0/p232107_index.html

http://digitalcontentproducer.com/mag/video_film_biz_cyberspace/

http://www.directessays.com/viewpaper/81277.html

Fishwick, M.W. 2002. Popular Culture in a New Age. The Haworth Press. New York.

Hakken, David. 1999. Cyborgs@Cyberspace. Routledge. New York.

Jordan, Tim. 1999. Cyberpower. Routledge. London.

https://learning.secure.griffith.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_71280_1&content_id=_945742_1

https://learning.secure.griffith.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_71280_1&content_id=_945745_1

https://learning.secure.griffith.edu.au/courses/1/1501HUM_3095_GC/content/_963548_1/1510HUM_Wk4_BigScreenToSmall.pdf?bsession=31199073&bsession_str=session_id=31199073,user_id_pk1=256069,user_id_sos_id_pk2=1,one_time_token=

https://learning.secure.griffith.edu.au/courses/1/1501HUM_3095_GC/content/_986678_1/cinema02.pdf?bsession=31199073&bsession_str=session_id=31199073,user_id_pk1=256069,user_id_sos_id_pk2=1,one_time_token=

https://learning.secure.griffith.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_71280_1&content_id=_1015556_1

https://learning.secure.griffith.edu.au/courses/1/1501HUM_3095_GC/content/_986701_1/Consumption%20and%20Production.html

https://learning.secure.griffith.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_71280_1&content_id=_1015552_1

https://learning.secure.griffith.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_71280_1&content_id=_994962_1

https://learning.secure.griffith.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_71280_1&content_id=_1015559_1

https://learning.secure.griffith.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_71280_1&content_id=_1002802_1

https://learning.secure.griffith.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_71280_1&content_id=_1015546_1

http://www.levity.com/corduroy/gibson.htm

http://mashable.com/2009/10/16/social-media-changing-lives/

http://mashable.com/2009/10/01/social-media-public-safety/.

http://www2.northampton.ac.uk/portal/page/portal/Arts/home/Media%20English%20Culture/contemporary%20media%20practice

http://www.rogerclarke.com/II/IEthics99.html

http://www.salon.com/tech/books/1999/07/15/cyberspace/index.html

Silver, D. & Massanari, A. 2006. Critical Cyberculture Studies. New York University Press. New York.

http://www.stelarc.va.com.au/

Strate, L. & Jacobson, R. 1997. Communication and Cyberspace - Social Interaction in an Eletronic Enironment. Hampton Press, Inc. New Jersey

http://utpcr.org/conflict_in_contemporary_culture.php

http://www.veryshortmovies.com/onlineVSMFestivalVoting.asp?nf=70&cid=5&qtr=&vid=208&vb=6&aid=sideNarrow.asp&bid=bot1.asp&pv=208&vlk=1

http://whatisthematrix.warnerbros.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuromancer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Matrix

http://www.wmin.ac.uk/mad/page-707

Footnote:

* Most popular graded by a continual reference to this film in various readings for this essay, as well as overwhelming response to the question raised of most popular cyberspace film to many members of my community.

WK11: THURSDAY LECTURE "Virtual Philosophy"

As Dr Stephen Stockwell has authority on Political Campaigning, he referenced this and its imagery as an example of imagery becoming part of reality and not just a representation or a replacement of it (reality).

Like Plato's Allegory of the Cave 'theory', our vision or version of reality is 'imperfect'. It is shown to us via other people's imagery/perception or their desired perception for us.

What is Reality? Is it our response of what is 'virtually' given to us?

Some interesting 'theories' are broached in movies such as 'Matrix' and 'Exertions' and another recent movie is 'Surrogates' - although this is a pretty bad movie (sorry Bruce Willis).

It is worth remembering that 'Immersive Virtual Reality' is NOT real, BUT... the senses and feeling experiences ARE real...... So is it reality or not?

Dr Stockwell also touched on the 'Construction of Virtual Reality' (audio/touch etc) and the 'Applications of Virtual Reality' (Militery training/education/weather simulation/surgery etc).
The interaction of this technology through HMD (head mounted displays) and the Data Glove giving 6 degrees of movement via, for example, an LCD screen is not widespread due to some problems....therefore other technologies such as VRML to give a 3D sensation of moving through the virtual environment, are being produced....

Finally the term ' Logical Positivism' was introduced. It was explained as humans only dealing with the true and the real which we can PROVE to be true and real. This lead to some of our problems with various issues including proving and dealing with our 'climate change issue'.

WK10: The University of NSW -study of mobile use amongst young Australians

I thought I would include this in my blog as we have been talking about research and the study of new communication technologies (this week was the video game).

A researcher from the University of New South Wales is conducting and investigation on "Young, Mobile, Networked: Mobile Media and Youth Culture in Australia". They hope to learn how young Australians make use of mobiles to create and maintain friendship networks, to share and create media, and, more generally, how mobile use fits into the everyday lives of young Australians.

As participants we will receive a copy of the final report - which I believe would be very interesting and help with individual 'market research' and 'business plans' undertaken for a product and means of advertising etc.....not to mention useful information for a university teaching a course of relevance.

I felt socially responsible to be taking part in such an investigation ...... but just for the record I was a little disappointed - when reading the consent form half way through the tapped participation - when I discovered that I was not actually in the research groups target demographic of 18-30! I guess the 'young' part of the topic should have given it away.....I still think I am 25 when there are no mirrors around!

WK10: Assignment - 1000 word essay - due in week 12

I have had some difficulty in deciding on a topic, and wanting to K.I.S.S - I decided not to choose a topic of my own because the 1000 word limit suggests, in conjunction with a brief from Jules, that it is our understanding of a topic once researched that is required and our viewpoint, not a thesis requiring the pursue-al of new answers.

At this stage my choice of topic is:

2. The idea of the internet as cyberspace has been a part of our contemporary culture for some time, particularly in the popular medium of film. But is the concept of cyberspace still relevant to our contemporary society? Discuss with reference to your own experience of contemporary media.

Some initial research from the library databases (mainly Jstor) has produced some interesting journal articles and I have some lecture notes that I can reference for this topic as well. This topic seems very relevant to this course and finally this topic appealed to me because I would like to have an informed opinion about it.

WK10: THURSDAY LECTURE - The Great Game/Studying the Video Game

I must admit, in my ignorance, I thought this weeks lecture would not be relevant to me until Josh opened his lecture explaining that we would be looking at Why and How we study the 'video game'.

Demographics and Market Delivery where the main focus areas.

Josh explained that prior to 2005 no real or in-depth research has been carried out on the demographics in relation to video gaming usage. It was in 2005 that the Nelson Active Game Marketing Group found that the previously perceived conception that 80% of 'gamers' where 18-25 year old males.

Their survey found that 59% of gamers where actually 18-40 year old males and a staggering 41% of gamers where females.

Now males and female gamers differ not only in their choice of game genre's but also in their mode of playing these games.

Males tend to dominate the console, on-line, pc etc delivery of games and females tend to dominate the mobile phone and Wii delivery of games. The Arcade game is frequented equally by both male and female gamers. I think Josh's conclusion that this could be because both male and female gamers know they may be able to 'meet' fellow gamers in this environment, is quite viable.

Females are probably attracted to more fitness and nurturing style of games because females are generally more fitness orientated and nurturing. Males are probably attracted to more first person shooter (FPS) and strategy style games because they are, well..... male.

The above brings about many questions, so the Why we would want to study a video game is then followed by How to study the 'video game'.

Josh suggested 3 methods to study the video game.

1. Social Science Approach

2. Humanities Approach

3. Industry & Engineering Approach

Interesting to note:

* Advancement of the video game, brings about the need for New Technology - eg. faster video graphic cards etc etc etc etc.

* Gamers have been found to be better at split decision making, have better peripheral vision, better short term memory and better manual dexterity skills. NB: what is not know is if these gamers had a predisposition to these attributes or if they where developed through gaming.

* Mediums like the Wii are being used in retirement villages for fitness - Which I think is great. BUT what is not great (in my opinion) is the usage of the Wii in primary schools for abled students and in gyms..... Crazy .... Stupid.

Anyway, the study of the video game can give a world of useful information for a variety of 'areas' for a variety of uses.

BREAK WK: "Level 26" - The first interactive digi-novel

Level 26 is the first ever interactive digi-novel - A book, movie and website!

It is not just a book, it's a crime thriller novel by CSI's creator Anthony E Zuiker with interstitial video episodes. It pushes the boundaries of traditional publishing by providing the reader with 'calls-to-action' that immerse you further into the action and put you inside the mind of the serial killer.

Hmmm - interesting.....

Mr Zuiker (during an interview in September 09) said "...when the book [is] finished...., I wanted the experience to continue online and in a social community." Cool.

BREAK WK: Watch out for the SHOE PHONE!

No, not referring to 1960's Maxwell Smart, but speaking of current

telecommunications.

Flinders University's Dr Paul Gardner-Stephen says his handmade shoe phone is the first that actually works. It can be walked on for long distances without breaking and is even aviation-approved. He wants the technology commercialized to relay medical information on patients with chronic conditions. He also made a cone of silence that was as functional as the original.

Have a look at www.realshoephone.com

and check out the ABC report on the shoephone's potential use:

BREAK WK: Australian Web Week - Sydney Oct 2-9

This could be of interest if in Sydney between October 2nd and 9th.

“Australian Web Week celebrates the best of the Australian web industry - sites and applications, designers and designs, innovative Australians taking it to the world. Over ten days professionals across the industry from around the country and the from around the world will come together to connect, learn and celebrate the strength of the Australian web industry.

Featuring workshops, conferences, networking events, meetups, awards nights, exhibitions, parties, immersive mobile experiences, and more, Australian Web Week will be the focal point of the local web industry in 2009.

Australian Web Week bridges the gap between web industry professionals and the broader web-interested community. Web Week not only features events for people who work on the web, but events for the general public showcasing the Australian industry's expertise and exciting local companies and individuals making a global impact, including exhibitions, mobile web based interactive experiences and more.

Australian Web Week is organized by Web Directions, world leading conferences for the web industry. Web Directions, founded in Australia, now hold events in Japan, the US and the UK for thousands each year.”

REF: http://www.webweek.com.au/

Check out the Australian Web Week map.

WK9 FINAL ENTRY REQUIREMENT: Overall course evaluation

Fast paced!

That is no longer a concern of mine as I believe one of the objectives of our Convener, lecturers and our clever tutorial staff (yes that is an attempt to gain half a point) is to provide an atmosphere that enables us to think, discover and learn in the area of new communications technology.

I now believe this is a must as new communications technology is such a fast and ever changing, enhancing, morphing and updating real

m. If we were not encouraged to research further and to 'have a go' we would not be able to keep up with emerging technologies and concepts.

In addition to all our readings, links, lectures and hands on help we have been gifted with useful advise in regard to what we, ourselves, can be capable of in this genre. That is to say, prior to participating in this course I really thought I needed to engage the help of a professional IT technician for just about everything related to computing and the internet. I am not saying I now don't need that help, but now I can confidently say I only need that help when I have exhausted my own investigation/s.

We have also been provided with useful websites to enhance our abilities and knowledge as well as save us valuable time and MONEY! I speak of freeware here and on-line help avenue's.

Finally I would like to contribute by saying that I believe this course is very relevant in our modern culture and will enhance all other other areas of my study as well. It has also raised my confidence (and it did need raising) in regard to applying for employment and ideally creating my own business using contemporary avenues.

Sincerely.....Thank you.

WK9 TASK: Create Something in a Chosen Software

This was created using Gimp - freeware I down

loaded because of a previous task. I used the 'banner' option which I manually resized and manually chose colour codes from the internet and used. The text is in

two separate text boxes so I could move them around.

I know - not ground breaking, but I didn't even know how to create a blog 9 weeks ago!

I have to admit that when given this task I tried to produce something in Flash, because I thought that would be more impressive and af

ter todays lecture from Jason Nelson realized that Flash would be an asset for Digital Writing (if I still decide this is a course for me). I did what Jason suggested and tried to 'self learn' this new software program for me. I had touched on this Flash during a course last semester, but still, after a

bit of time within tutorial time and a few hours in computer room G31-2.18, I could not get the timed banner I produced to successfully upload. I made the decision to postpone this endeavor until the christmas break.

So I 'mucked around' in the Gimp software and because I had just a little more use Photoshop, I managed to produce this banner above.

I have also added a photo that I took during a recent trip to Western Australia of a rose in someone's home garden during a walk . I used my mac iphoto edit (I have only used it to crop and invert before) to alter it. After some experimenting (cropping, playing with colour etc) I came accoss the sepia options which lets you focus on the roses form rather than the colour . My favorite altered picture has been cropped, edges blurred and colour altered, then boosted, as the original lacked the colour intensity of the real thing.

WK9 TWITTERED by opinion on "No Clean Feed"

s2715810Save the net for our children, not the children from the net - that's where good parenting should prevail.3 minutes ago from web

WK9 POLITICAL REPLY!

Tickled to receive a reply (all be it an automated one) from my comment to my local member MP John-Paul Langbroek, on his speech in parliament regarding a bill to ensure honesty and disclosure from all members of government - which believe it or not... is not enforced at present!

23 September 2009


Ms Jackie Clarke

S2715810@gmail.com

Dear Ms Clarke,

I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank you for writing to me to express such kind words of encouragement. I certainly appreciate your support.

I have taken on board your comments and views and appreciate your feedback on this important issue.

Once again, I am grateful for the effort you have taken to bring your views to my attention so that we can work together to improve Queensland’s future.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if there is any other State Government issue with which I can assist you.


Yours sincerely


JOHN-PAUL LANGBROEK MP
Leader of the Opposition

Leader of the LNP

Member for Surfers Paradise

This email, together with any attachments, is intended for the named recipient(s) only; and may contain privileged and confidential information. If received in error, you are asked to inform the sender as quickly as possible and delete this email and any copies of this from your computer system network.

If not an intended recipient of this email, you must not copy, distribute or take any action(s) that relies on it; any form of disclosure, modification, distribution and /or publication of this email is also prohibited.

Unless stated otherwise, this email represents only the views of the sender and not the views of the Queensland Government.

Please consider the environment before printing this email.

WK9 LECTURE 24.09.09 "TEACH YOURSELF SOFTWARE"

Jason Nelson spoke on how to discover and learn software packages - for ourselves.

We need to figure out:
what we need

what we want

Then "play around" - begin something! Just start anything.
Remember you cant learn new software in a few days - takes time and effort.

Jason exampled FLASH software to give tips on discovering/learning it:

(note to self: Self teach this software if want to take on 'Digital Writing' in year 2 as Jason advised if that course is undertaken, Flash is extensively used!)

* Use 'help' option (but is mainly targeting the intermediate and advanced user)

* Use the 'try' and 'experiment method (note the saving tip below)

* Use 'google' (best to google good sites rather than expressions)

*Join forums (make sure a good active community with lots of timely reply's

eg: www.flashkit.com forum)

* Use video tutorials (eg: Lynda - but costs, so not sure why this was recommended)

* Also (and this is my thought) ask friends who know the software.

REM: To save work to a different version (ie not over same file) at every new step.

REM: Don't pay for any help

REM: The easy stuff to do a a particular software is used by everyone - so can be boring! Try to do something that doesn't look like it has been edited by a particular software and again check the forums for inspiration and some guidance.

WK8 TASK: "Clean Feed" by Australian Government

The Australian Federal Government is investigating the option to regulate Internet Service Providers to censor the Internet for all Australians in a bit to block 'harmful and inappropriate' content not only for children, but for all internet users in Australia.

Even with my limited understanding of the internet, I think this would be impossible to achieve at 100% efficiency. To filter all content with 'producers' cleverly naming/grouping their 'harmful or inappropriate' content to avoid the filters doesn't sound to difficult. Also with 'hackers' willingness to break code I think that the filter/s would soon be obsolete and the constant need to keep on top of this would surely prove costly in time and money.

Ideally censorship of the internet for children should come from their parents, but I know that with broken families, working families etc etc this does not always happen, but I don't believe it is something that should be taken on by our government. What next...... censoring our mail that comes in via Australia Post - see concerns from the group "No Clean Feed" on

http://nocleanfeed.com/learn.html

http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/SaveTheNet&id=776

I believe that we need to save free speech and the internet for our children, not save our children from it. Thats where good parenting should prevail (I know I live in a Utopia!). I know I don't want my children to be NARROW MINDED because they do not have the ability to grasp/search a worldly TRUE view of a topic.

Censorship's place in a democracy: Does it have a place? Do we want to model out internet use on the way China does? Chinese government can and have just pull(ed) the plug on the entire internet for the chinese people when they deem something available/reported on the internet is not appropriate or damming to themselves! Control of the people, instead of people controlling their own lives. I realize that to various degrees all governments, through propaganda etc etc ETC, control us, but this is something we can recognize and protest.

WK8 TASK: Lecture Readings - Pursue topic

My eyes are tired, I have read, read and read through Dr Stockwell's notes, suggested readings, links (all the while referrencing 'Dictionary.com') and looking up 'other' information via the internet. I am overwhelmed.

I did 'tune in' to the debate of "Direct Democracy" and "Representative Democracy". Direct democracy being a form of government under which we (the public) vote directly on issues, rather than the the existing Representative Democracy in which we elect a government to make all 'the' decisions for us.

I was unaware that Switzerland have been practicing Direct Democracy for over 150 years! Wow. When first reading on I thought that this practice would be ideal, but would surely be expensive and impractible, but upon further reading (via a link from lecture notes) it seams not and infact, Switzerland is moving toward voting, at their quarterly 'referendums', via an on-line medium.

This then brings to mind the debate on types of public opinion. [Now which come first - the chicken or the egg / direct democracy or the ideal (in my opinion) deliberative democracy?]

Deliberative democracy which is founded on the principles of reasoned ideas/talk and deliberation. Where as teledemocracy or democracy at a distance, is political discourse with the 'new' use of technologies such as satellites, TV, computer networks etc. Enabaling things such as interactive satellite hook-ups, radio call-in programs, and live computer conferencing.

I can't decide right now what heading 'twitter' would fall under.....

WK8 ACMI EXHIBITION in Melbourne - "Screen Worlds" - Opens 20th September 2009

A free

permanent interactive exhibition

called "Screen Worlds"

It charts the history of screen-based entertainment, from cinema’s early beginnings to the rise of television, games, the internet, new media and the digital age.

Location: Melbourne’s Federation Square

Opening: This Sunday 20th September 2009

In the “emergence” section of the new Screen Worlds exhibition, visitors will be able to get hands-on with the pioneering Magnavox Odyssey as well as classic games like Space Invaders, Tempest, Super Mario Bros 3, Tomb Raider and pioneering Australian classic Way of the Exploding Fist.

(I think Mr Josh Nicholas may find this especially interesting...?)

See ACMI site for further details:

http://www.acmi.net.au/open_day.aspx

or click word link

WK8 TASK: Contacting MP Langbroek on latest speech to parliament

My comment was sent via the link:

http://www.jplangbroek.com/contact/

Also: this is a video of MP Langbroek speaking to ABC Stateline in April 2009 on various issues (including Day Light Saving).

WK8 TASK: Qld Hansard - Langbroek last spoke in parliament

My local representative, Mr John-Paul Langbroek, last spoke in in parliament on Wednesday 19th August, 2009 (at the time of this post).

He moved that a bill be read for the second time. This bill if passed is to restore "true honesty and integrity into the Queensland parliament."

In 2006 'honesty' by members of parliament

was destroyed by the government when it used its numbers decriminalise the offence of

providing false evidence to parliament or its committees.

The need for codification of criminal offences concerning parliamentarians in the Australian Law Journal in 2008 where our very own namesake Sir Samuel Griffith was cited: "In terms of ‘best practice’ legislative drafting, the approach

of Sir Samuel Griffith in drafting the Criminal Code provisions to include parliamentary offences was almost a century ahead of its time."

Given the time constraints, Mr Langbroek seeked leave to have the remainder of his speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave was granted and he introduced amendments to the Criminal Code 1899 and Parliament of Queensland Act 2001.

The amendment to the Criminal Code will intro

duce the offence of providing false evidence to Parliament. This offence is a crime and carries a maximum 7 years imprisonment. The community should be able to expect that as members of this House who sit in parliament or before one of its committees they do so knowing that they will be required to tell the truth and be honest......GO FIGURE!

Link to the official speech:

http://parlinfo.parliament.qld.gov.au/search/

WK8 Premier Anna Bligh - PR in OVERDRIVE!

What next??? (Well at least it's not more Anna at the football!)

This is Anna on TV show "Masterchef"

WK8 TASK: My local, state & federal representatives are:

LOCAL:

MP Mr John-Paul Langbroek

Contact Details:

PH: 07 55389 833

Fax: 07 5538 5560

Contact Form: http://www.jplangbroek.com/contact/

STATE:

Hon. Anna (Maria) Bligh

Contact Details:

PH: 07 3224 4500

Fax: 07 3221 3631

Email: anna.bligh@queenslandlabor.org

Email: premier@ministerial.qld.gov.au

FEDERAL:

Prime Minister Mr Kevin Rudd

Contact Details:

Parliament House

Suite MG 8

PH: 02 6277 7700

Fax: 02 6273 4100

Web: www.pm.gov.au

PLUS: Kevin's on almost every social network forum you can think off! Fair Shake...

WK8 TASK: Respond to Professional Blogger of Major News Site

The Sydney Morning Herald

NEWS SITE OF CHOICE FOR THIS TASK:

This took hours!

Read and read and then read some more. Not usually one to voice my opinion, (unless on a personal issue after a few glasses of a good 'red') I had to find a topic I felt I had an opinion on and one in which I thought my opinion may be of any interest to a professional blogger of a major news site.

So in the end I 'twittered' (had to join 1st!) in reply to The Sydney Morning Herald reporter Kirsty Needham on her topic "Ferry stoush brewing" posted in a smh blog on September 18th, 2009.

She blogged about the group "Save Our Sydney Ferries" and the privatization of this heritage ferry service.

My response was: s2715810#fdftqa http://smh.com.au/national-... Has anyone investigated any link between Labour and Veolia before this is even considered?

9 minutes ago from web

WK8 TASK: What is Barrack Obama up to today?

"What ever needs doing!"

For the most current information, please click on one or all of the links below

http://twitter.com/BARACKOBAMA

http://www.barackobama.com/

http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/696264

WK8 TASK: Sign an e-petition

Well my political for and against's is abysmal - I wanted to focus on a current local topic that effects me/business - so I signed a (current) petition for DAY LIGHT SAVING to be followed by SE Queensland (more specifically the early referendum for a say).

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/daylight-saving-for-southeast-qld/sign.html

Done.

WK8 LECTURE THURSDAY 17.09.09 "Political Possibilities"

Overloaded with Information by Dr Stephen Stockwell (a genius to use his own words).

We have numerous "suggested readings" and books and movies to plough through to get a true sense of this topic of Political Possibilities. Dr Stockwell briefed over them and gave us a TASK of blogging a suggested reading. (I assume to get us to actually read them!)

The term "Golden Thread" was used by Dr Stockwell which he explained as being free and frank speech through the history of democracy.

Defining Democracy:

Cyber Politics vs. eDemocracy

Cyber Politics is the politics of the internet. The organization ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) was mentioned with this topic. The mediums of Forums, On-line Games, "Second Life", blogs etc are used to interact with politics within 'Cyberspace'.

eDemocracy is the real world politics (ie. off the internet). NGO's (non government organizations) seeking to change government policies/decisions etc. Dr Stockwell referenced the ancient Greek tradition of 'the males' (around 6000 of them) would meet near the Market Place in Athens to discuss and debate political decisions. They were likened to the sovereign force or the base of the political power.

Note: Cyber politics was a move to move this type of ancient debates and the modern street pickiting forums to the internet.

SO: What are the effects?

Three more pages of notes remain....but overall Democracy was defined, but the many more links and references will have to be explored!

WK8 Gold Coast Mornings around 5:30am via Smartphone

A friend of mine is a personal trainer and meets some of his clients at the beach nearly every morning around 5:30am. He is thoughtful enough to share the current glorious sunrise's with me by taking a photo with his mobile phone and sending it to my mobie

phone. I have uploaded some of the shots .....because I can! ENJOY!

Wednesday 16th September 2009

25th August 2009

16th June 2009

I have suggested to him to upload a shot every morning to his own website/facebook business a/c.

WK7 TASK: Use Freeware Apps and review

I chose to look around www.portableApps.com for this task.

I chose the freeware "GIMP PORTABLE" (Download 2.6.7 Rev 3) to download and review.

http://portableapps.com/apps/graphics_pictures/gimp_portable

I chose this freeware application because I am interested in 'photoshopping' images, but not enough to come up with a few hundred dollars to purchase the software PHOTOSHOP from Adobe.

I am not really experienced with using Adobe Photoshop (or any other image software for that matter), so I still struggled with using Gimp, BUT for my needs - all the tools needed seem to be there.

I did have some trouble downloading the freeware (just my inexperience I guess), but once onto USB - fun!

WK7 LECTURE: THURSDAY 10.09.09 "OPENWARE"

Another entertaining lecture given by Mr Jason Nelson!

Jason spoke of free software available online, such as

http://portableapps.com/
http://sourceforge.net/
http://www.freewaregenius.com/

Good to know that there are alternatives to buying expensive software. A good example is OpenOffice instead of Microsoft Office.

I learnt that you can find deleted files on a hard drive - yourself (No tech needed!) by downloading a free application from a openware/opensource site. For instance from www.portableapps.com this is an application called ERASER PORTABLE that can be downloaded and used to retrieve deleted files. (Something every wife should have! - oh so jaded).

Jason also went over the drawbacks for using freeware, such as virus's, having to manually update the software and no help available (unless through a blog style forum). Lastly the creators of the software don't really much money, so there is a move toward MICROCHARGING which will enable a governing body to charge 'everyone' for a software package - pool the amount - and distribute to the software owners as per usage.

WK7 New Product: Nokia N97

I know I should not be impressed with this as I 'knew' it, but had not given it thought until Josh Nicholas mentioned during one of his lectures earlier in the semester, that a smartphone now is really a PC that you can also make a phone call with.


This product released by Nokia has just show cased this for me.

As per Nokia's website "The era of convergence is here." There's that word again!

The N97 is a true mobile computer which puts the ‘personal Internet’ in your hand. You can choose between 3G HSDPA and Wi-Fi for the fast connection to Web sites on a 3.5 inch screen (and full QWERTY keyboard) with full support for Flash video services such as YouTube. You can also customise the N97’s home screen with ‘widgets’ to show anything you want to see at a glance such as live news and weather, FaceBook updates and your email inbox.

You can send and receive email through your personal or ISP account, business systems such as Microsoft Exchange as well as Google Gmail and your free Nokia Ovi Mail account.

Load up tracks – there’s plenty of room for thousands of songs on the inbuilt 32GB drive. Listen through your headphones or beam the music over the FM band with the N97’s inbuilt FM transmitter. You can also watch videos on the 16:9 screen or connect the N97 to any TV set with the supplied video cable kit.

The 5.0 megapixel digital camera fitted with a Carl Zeiss lens and bright dual LED flash ensures high-quality still photos and full motion video clips. Make use of the fast Internet connection to share the moment via email or instantly upload them to sites such as Flickr, YouTube and Share on Ovi.

Find where you are and get where you want to go with the N97’s assisted GPS receiver, multimedia city guides and Nokia Maps, including a free three month trial of Walk and Drive guided navigation. The digital compass automatically find true north and orients the map so it’s pointing the same direction that you are.

For fun you can enhance and personalise your N97 with the online Ovi Store. There are specialised applications covering dozens of categories as well as fast-paced mobile games, widgets, ringtones, wallpaper and videos. Going travelling? Get recommendations on relevant content for whatever city and country you’re in.

REF: http://www.cnet.com.au/explain-series/nokia/n97/

WK7 TASK: ireport.com "CULTURE JAMING"

UPLOADED TO "ireport.com" for a Culture Jaming Exercise.

My daughters just minding their own business - swooped by a UFO - yes a UFO!

As you can plainly see from there sincere real time account of the attack, they were scared out of their minds!

Link: http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-326762#

WK6 TASK: Scetchcast

A little insight to my technological mind!

WK6 THURSDAY LECTURE 03.09.09 "Consumption & Production"

Today Josh spoke on the topic of Consumption and Production. He 'charted' the mediums of consumption on the Big Screen being Cinema, TV and the PC - their experience of being shared and/or private and the subsequent implications. Then the Small Screen being Personal Media Players, Mobile Phones (3G) and their link to what is then produced, by the consumer finding a niche market to consume new response/related work (on the small screen) either "on the go" or "on the fly" and their requirement of shorter 'screening' times.

Josh suggested we could produce content with our mobile phone - not only watch content via it. The current problem of SOUND quality though does inhibit this, but...

Some examples of content produced by consumers for other consumers can be found on:
http://www.fanfilm.net/

Some examples of 'Micro Stories' or 'Webisodic Drams'produced by editing/re-genring original footage/trailers can be found on:
http://www.thetrailermash.com/

We were also given the task of producing a 'fake' piece of news footage with our mobile phone and uploading to the site below. We can do this because the site has a disclaimer that advising that user loaded content is not checked or verified(only checked content is marked 'ON CNN'.
http://www.ireport.com/

WK6 Expanding my horizons!

Ok, I will admit I have a facebook account....but I am not really into the whole "social networking" as a passtime. I don't want to know everything about everyone and I dont think my life is interesting enough to warrant me posting everthing about myself. BUT: Going through the links that Jason Nelson put in his lecture notes I am amazed at the amount of 'useful networking' going on around our planet.

Already from the site http://mashable.com/ I found a posting from a credable human resourses director about using 'twitter' for hiring staff. A very interesting and informative read, so I forwarded the link to a friend of mine who runs Tuffstaff Enterprises on the Gold Coast and he was appreciative of the new information.

In addition, as I was going through the site http://turbulence.org and found a link to http://networkedbook.org/members and realised (yes I am a bit slow on the uptake) that I have to tools to meet and speak and learn from an infinate number of people on an infinate number of subjest.

So this smalltown Gold Coast girl can learn from experts and people with hands on experience in my chosen field of knowledge. Something countless number of costly networking workshops, dinners etc could not compete with - except for the fun factor I guess! Anyway a good balance of all things technically available can only enhance ones mind and capabilities.

Finally (for this post) I have had fun adding http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/index2.php to my Bookmarks Folder and feeling 'intouch' with the worlds crisis'. For instance just this weekend there was an earthquake in China scoring 5.0 on the scale. It was in a remote area and no report of major damage given, but as I am also studing Mandarin and now have a couple of Chinese friends, it gave me topic of conversation with them that they appreciated. Xiexie!

WK6 TASK: My Google Map

My love of coffee and chocolate makes me an 'expert' in the field of Best Coffee & Chocolate on the Gold Coast - could give you locations in other parts of the country and world....but havn't been 'everywhere' in that scenrio, so wont. ENJOY this though:

View Best Coffee & Chocolate Locations on the Gold Coast in a larger map