Message is the Medium

In the article it discusses how technology evolving today is taking away jobs, and that is something I completely agree with. But it also states in the article how automation creates roles for people which is to say depth of involvement in their work and human association that our preceding mechanical technology had destroyed. It also discussed the instance of the electric light and how it may prove illuminating this correction. It is the medium without a message unless it is used to spell out some verbal ad or name. I found this article to be very complex. I am not exactly sure where it is they are going with it, and it is also very difficult to understand, and see the article. General David Sarnoff made a statement that “ we are too prone to make technological instruments the scapegoats for the sins of those who wield them. The products of modern science are no in themselves good or bad ; it is the way they are used that determines their value. I found this to be very interesting because I feel that our generation has many technology advances and we begin to abuse this. When I was younger I didn’t rely on video games to keep me entertained. I was outside riding my bike, rollerblades, and playing with all of my friends in our court. Today, I am a nanny and the girl I watch only ever wants to sit and watch TV. She can’t even focus without knowing she will be able to watch a show later. Once she is done with her homework she will ask, “what can we do now?” implying that she wants to watch TV.

Consequences of Online Social Networking

In the article it discusses how social networking today has changed our way of communicating and expressing our emotions. I do agree with that, and especially when it comes to relationships. I see so many people who get into relationships and the first thing they do is put up a picture of them and change their "status" to in a relationship. Also, I think it is even worse when people break up, because I have noticed this numerous times where a couple will breakup and they immediately change their "status" to single, and put up obnoxious status' about what they are doing and what is going on, almost trying to brag to the person they recently broke up with. Sometimes people go too far on Facebook and get far too personal and that is not what it should be about. Facebook should be about keeping in touch with friends and family and share exciting things that are going on in your life. I thought it was very interesting to see that 80% of high school students make a Facebook before they go to college, because that is exactly right what I did when I was finishing up my senior year. I also found it to be very interesting that under Anxiety it talked about how having a Facebook could reduce stress, allowing you to communicate with your friends and other support groups is negatively correlated with perceived
life stress.  And for the people who are too busy to keep up with their social life or extremely shy, it allows them to be more social when convenient for them. I know I enjoy hearing from my friends and being able to see what they are up to, and we are able to communicate when it is a good time for us.

AT&T begging and groveling smacks of desperation

I loved reading this article. It is so true and all of us can realate to it. I am a guilty customer of ATT that had to have the Iphone. My mom and I considered switching to Verizon once they got the Iphone because for the same price we could get a lot better service. We decided to stick it out with ATT for awhile untill all of the glitches are fixed from the Verizon Iphone and once it all settles in. My only complaint with ATT is I do have a lot of dropped calls, but there are rumors that Verizon will start having dropped calls if there is a drastic switch from other carriers to Verizon since they now will have the world's greatest phone. I love my Iphone and I could not imagine going back to any other phone. I am curious to see if ATT will start coming out with better deals in order to keep people at ATT. Another reason I would like to stick with ATT is because they will come out with the Iphone 5 in May/June and it won't for Verizon atleast untill January.



http://www.zdnet.com/blog/apple/at-t-begging-and-groveling-smacks-of-desperation/9509?tag=mantle_skin;content

Online Social Relationships

The article discusses friendships that are based online. One of the main points I felt was how online friendships were not exactly the same as in person friendships. People tend to not feel as close to someone when it is online based. The article discusses surveys in order to get a more accurate understanding of how online communication is being affected. The first survey of an international bank where employees describe the value of particular communication sessions; which were in person, by phone,  or email. Those who conducted by email were perceived as less useful for building or sustaining working relationships. Another study of new internet users showed that they felt less close to people who they kept up with by email than those who were face to face. I do agree with these surveys. Although I love being able to communicate through email and text, it has negatively affected the way we communicate. It is far less personal and harder to understand since there is no face to face interaction. I do feel that people need to find more of a healthy balance and leave some conversations left to be face to face and not done through technology.

Man-Computer Symbiosis

I learned a great deal from this article. Man-Computer Symbiosis is not something I am familiar with nor do I know anything about. I learned that the main aims when using Man-computer symbiosis is to let computers facilitate formulative thinking as they now facilitate the solution of formulated problems and to enable men and computers to cooperate in making decisions. I learned by using the computing machines it will operate more effectively than by a man. I found the Symbiosis to be very interesting, yet very complex. The article describes it to be a "subclass" of man machine systems. In the man computer symbiosis of the past the human operator supplied the initiative, directions, integration, and the criterion.  The article discusses how the mechanical parts of the systems were extensions of the human arm and human eye, and they did not consist of dissimilar organisms living together. I never looked at it in that way. The more technology they come out with the more it begins to replace everyday things that we used to use.

Super Bowl Ad

This article discusses Super Bowl ads and this year what ad companies would like to see happen. I thought this was an interesting topic because companies spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on ad campaigns. I am not a commercial fan myself, I DVR all of my favorite shows just so I will not have to watch the commercials. Once the show has been on for a little bit I will turn it on and fast forward through every commercial. I will admit, when it comes to the Superbowl, I watch every ad, because they are usually humorous. The article discusses how last year there was still room for more commercials, and this year the space was gone by October. For only 30 seconds of air time is selling for $3 million.
Advertising is expensive, I currently work at NBC in the advertising department and a 3 minute segment is $98,000. We work on projects to get companies to advertise for certain tv shows. This has taught me a lot about the advertising world and it is not cheap.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110204/ap_on_en_ot/us_super_bowl_ads;_ylt=AnFyzRRU3vrNjNamNjIZErgjtBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTJpbzIwajc5BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTEwMjA0L3VzX3N1cGVyX2Jvd2xfYWRzBGNwb3MDMQRwb3MDMwRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3J5BHNsawNmdWxsbmJzcHN0b3I-

The Evolution of Media

I loved reading this article because I have had many issues with communicating through media lately. When sending someone a text or email it is so hard to tell the tone of the message. It can easily come off rude when you are not face to face and cannot read peoples emotions, body language, or facial expressions. My roommate is very anal, and I will always hear about it if I left something out, made a little bit of a mess, or something with the apartment isn't in place. She never seems to do this in person, she will send me a text. The text messages always come off extremely rude and I can't help but get defensive. It would be a lot easier if she could nicely just tell me in person because it is so hard to read her through text. Because of this issue whenever I am texting or emailing an important conversation I always make sure to sugar coat and say whatever it is as nice as possible and will usually use happy faces and other typing lingo.