Week 5 - Tutorial Task

Questions asnwered without Google or Wikipedia.

1.Where was the first University established and in which year?

According to WolframAlpha.com, Plato founded his Academy as the first University, in Athens, 387BC.

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=first+university+ accessed 24/08/11

However other sites argue that other universities are the first to be established. Through Yahoo I found sites that said the first university was in Timbuktu, and another that claims it was one in Cairo Egypt.

http://africanlegends.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/timbuktu-the-worlds-first-and-oldest-university/

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060729054252AAiUY0V accessed 24/08/11

2.What is Stephen Stockwell's band called and what does he play?  Can you name a couple of their songs?

Through using youtube, I found a music video by Stephen Stockwell and searching through sites linked to each other I found that he was in a band called “the black assassins.” Once finding their Band page, I found out that Stephen Stockwell played the keyboard and sang for the band. A few of their songs include: Planet X, Death Take Me Now, Run Ronnie Run, ASIO, Pain Barrier, and Barricades.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~toxicoh/blackas.htm accessed 25/08/11

3.What is the weight of the world’s biggest machine? How much did it cost to build?

Using Yahoo.com I found that the weight of the world’s largest 'digging' machine is 45,500 Tons and cost $100 million taking 5 years to build.

http://www.oddee.com/item_97210.aspx accessed 25/08/11

4.Who is Justin Bieber's lawyer, and what is the best way (quickest, most reliable) to contact the lawyer?

Through aceshowbiz.com, It is found that Justin Bieber's Lawyer/Attorney is Kenneth Feinswog.

http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/w0006112.html accessed 25/08/11

found on yahoo, the best way to contact him is by phoning him on (310) 277-8211. 

http://www.manta.com/c/mms3lh1/kenneth-a-feinswog-attorney accessed 25/08/11

5.What is the cheapest form of travel from the Gold Coast to Melbourne?

By searching around on ask.com I found the cheapest travel from gold coast to Melbourne would be to fly with airfaresflights.

http://www.airfaresflights.com.au/flights/Melbourne/Gold_Coast-OOL/ accessed 25/08/11

6.Who is Hatsune Miku? What company does she belong to? What is her birthday?

Searching Ask.com it shows that Hatsune Miku is a voice synthesizer program for the Crypton Future Media for creating Japanese music by fans who write their own lyrics and music. Her Birthday is on 31^st August being first introduced in 2007. the company that created her have also created a hologram of Hatsune that performs her various songs on a stage in front of a crowd.

http://kyourankyodai.com/2008/08/31/happy-birthday-hatsune-miku/ accessed 25/08/11

7.Find a live webcam in Belarus. Find a place to stay in Antarctica.

Using ask.com I found a live webcam stream from Kirova street in Minsk, Belarus at:

http://www.webcamsmania.com/webcam/kirovastreetwebcam accessed 25/08/11

Answers.com told me that tourists can stay in either the stations in Antarctica or even tents. Another answer said little houses called carbines.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_do_tourists_stay_in_Antarctica accessed 25/08/11

8.What song was top of the Australian pop charts this week in 1991?

Using Yahoo.com I found various sites that led me to believe that the song “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” was the top popular song in august 1991.

http://mag.weddingcentral.com.au/music/songs/songs1991.htm accessed 25/08/11

http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-50-singles-1991.htm accessed 25/08/11

http://australiancharts.com/weekchart.asp?cat=s&year=1991&date=1991 accessed 25/08/11

http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bryan+Adams&titel=%28Everything+I+Do%29+I+Do+It+For+You&cat=s (this last link takes you to the page where it says it lasted 11 weeks making it the Hit song all through August.) accessed 25/08/11

9. What type of car is used to make ‘Google Street View’?

According to Yahoo, the car used for Google street view is a Volkswagen New Beetle.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/01/take-a-look-at-the-vehicle-thats-taking-a-look-at-you/ accessed 25/08/11

10.Translate these questions into Spanish and then translate them back into English.

Using babelfish.com: http://au.babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_txt accessed 25/08/11

Spanish:

1. ¿Dónde la primera universidad fue establecida y en qué año?

2. Cuál es Stephen Stockwell' ¿la venda de s llamada y qué hace él juega? ¿Puede usted nombrar unas par de sus canciones?

3. ¿Cuál es el peso de la máquina más grande del mundo? ¿Cuánto costó para construir?

4. Quién es Justin Bieber' ¿abogado de s, y cuál es el mejor contacto de la manera (lo más aprisa posible, el más confiable) el abogado?

5. ¿Cuál es la forma más barata de recorrido del Gold Coast a Melbourne?

6. ¿Quién es Hatsune Miku? ¿Qué compañía ella pertenece? ¿Cuál es su cumpleaños?

7. Encuentre un webcam vivo en Belarus. Encuentre un lugar para permanecer en Ant3artida.

8. ¿Qué canción era la tapa de las cartas australianas del estallido esta semana en 1991?

9. Qué tipo de coche se utiliza para hacer el View'? de la calle de Google del `

10. Traduzca estas preguntas a español y después tradúzcalo nuevamente dentro de inglés.

Back to English:

1. Where the first university was established and in what year?

2. Which is Stephen Stockwell' the bandage of called s and what he does plays? Can you name a pair of your songs?

3. Which is the weight of the greatest machine of the world? How much it cost to construct?

4. Who is Justin Bieber' lawyer of s, and which is the best contact of the way (possible, more fast most reliable) the lawyer?

5. Which is the cheapest form of route of the Gold Coast to Melbourne?

6. Who is Hatsune Miku? What company she belongs? Which is its birthday?

7. It finds webcam alive in Belarus. It finds a place to remain in Ant3artida.

8. What song was the cover of Australian letters of the outbreak this week in 1991?

9. What type of car is used to make the View'? of the street of Google of `

10. It translates these questions to Spanish later and tradúzcalo again within English.

Week 5 - Response To Content

The Language of Film

In this week’s lecture, we talked about films discussing why and how they are made. Having already done Screen Analysis last semester none of the content we went through was new to me.

When asked why films were made, the most common answers were: entertainment, to tell stories, express creativity, and reflect on life. Another question was “what’s the biggest aspect of most films?” The answer, that they were largely personal.

When watching a film, usually you spend a lot of time following around one specific character; the Protagonist. The majority of films are based on creating a story through the protagonist’s desire or fear that invokes a necessity to accomplish a goal.  This takes you through the character ark as the protagonist changes and learns how to overcome the most difficult boundaries. A lot of the time the main source of conflict is caused by an Antagonist; the character that is usually the polar opposite of the protagonist and seen as the ‘enemy.’ But an antagonist is not always needed or used. In order for a film to be fully successful, the audience must respond to the film through emotion whether it be feeling sorry for a character in pain, or laughing at one of their expressions. (Thomson, 2010)

In making a film, there are 5 essential plot elements and 3 plot points that need to be incorporated into a 3 part act.

Act 1: The Setup, allows time for the 1st essential plot element to be created; the introduction of the character in such a way that they are a believable character and we learn to sympathise with their life. Act 1 is also where the first plot point should be.

Act 2: The Confrontation, develops the midpoint by introducing an urgent/difficult problem to overcome and follows the protagonist as they attempt to overcome it; the 2nd and 3rd essential elements. The 4th essential element follows soon after as the ‘climax,’ the last problem to overcome. This is usually where the protagonist learns how to accomplish his goal which is the 2nd plot point; the midpoint.

Act 3: The Resolution, holds the final essential element; where everything is resolved which is not always happy. This is the final plot point.

The film ‘Rubber’ follows these steps correctly through its set up. We watch as a guy arrives in a peculiar way to come and stand in front of an audience we don’t see until he is finished to explain what we will be watching. The first plot point of the full film is created when we realise the audience within the movie and watch as they settle down with binoculars to watch a film some distance away. This ‘setup’ shows us that what we are about to see is quite absurd and out of the ordinary. We view the crowd of people watching the tyre as the protagonists as we journey with them through problems like hunger and understanding what they are watching in their own film. We feel sympathetic towards this group of people because we understand what it is like to watch movies. While they watch their own film, we are observing them and their reactions.


References:


Thomson, K 2010, 'Film Art', McGraw-Hill, p. 61.

Week 4 - Tutorial Task

Facebook and how it owns you:

I believe that Facebook wants to help you keep your privacy, as they allow you to choose who see's your posts, who can view your pictures and who can contact you.  However they say nothing about deleting your information, status' etc. after you delete the account. According to Amanda French's article on Facebook's Terms of Service; they leave out the lines in the terms and conditions that say they delete all information once it is deactivated. (Amanda, 2009). French also mentions that if you apply a link or widget to your page, Facebook takes it as an agreement to a whole lot of other claims on the content of your page. 

Facebook allows a lot of different content but will allow you to change your own preferences to seeing or not seeing particular things. For example; if you set your preferences to "do not show coarse language", it will hide other peoples coarse words with asterisks. Facebook also stops you from annoying a person, page or group too much if they find you interacting with their wall too much. First they will delete comments you make on that page, then they will send a pop up saying you have been banned from all commenting for a certain period of time. Facebook also sends you a warning when you are doing something wrong before they straight out Ban you.

French, A 2009, “Facebook terms of service compared with MySpace, Flickr, Picasa, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Twitter”, Wordpress.com.

viewed 12th august 2011.

~Blue-Inspiration

Week 4 - Response To Content

What is cyberspace?

Cyberspace has a different meaning everywhere you look. The broadest explanation I could find was a network of technology joined by a matrix called the ‘Net.’ Information is shared between these technologies through microwave transmitters that beam it into orbit to be received by any technology that seeks it out. (1). The idea of satellites in space bouncing the sent information back to the Earth could be one of the reasons why we think of the words ‘Cyber’ and ‘Space’ together a lot of the time. (2).

Is it real?

Some places you look say its ‘real,’ explaining it as a group of computers joined together in order to interact with each other. (3). others say it’s “an extension of the idea of virtual reality.” (1). Reality could mean anything in this case. Is ‘real’ being able to touch it as an object? Or is ‘real’ something you know to be true? The question can only be answered for someone by themselves because it also depends on their definition of the word ‘real.’

Where is it?

Depending on which way you choose to look at it, it’s either ‘real’ in the physical form of computers joined together or an image in your head fuelled by the imagination. While conversing as a class about the different meanings of the word ‘cyberspace,’ my tutor summed it all up in an interesting way.

“The physical is the technology; the idea is the notion that stems from imagination.” (4).

References:

(1) View from the Edge-The Cyberpunk Handbook. 1988, R. Talsorian Games Inc.

(2) Discussions in Tute.

(3) Gibson, W 1987, ‘Burning Chrome’, New York: Ace.

(4) Lauren Horner, 2011.

~Blue-Inspiration

Week 3 - Tutorial Task

TASK 1


1. What was Stephen Stockwell's first article in an academic journal? What year? Provide a full citation. What database did you use?

'Kuranda police shooting' was Stockwell's first journal article which was puplished in 1981.

Stockwell, S 1981, 'Kuranda police shooting', Legal Service Bulletin, vol. 6,  pp. 48 - 49. viewed 10th August 2011via Griffith University Library database. 

2. In which comic did Governor Slugwell appear? Which Issues? Give their full citation for the earliest. Where did you find this information? What database did you use? (Check the trial databases)

The character Govenor Slugwell was introduced into the world through the Flaming Carrot Comics. He made an appearance in issues 7, 10 and 11.

Burden, B 1985, 'When the shoes aren't worth the shine', Renegade press, no. 7, p.p. 3 - 31. Viewed 11th August 2011 via. Trial Database undergound and independent comics.

3. What is the latest medical thinking on the dangers of mobile phones? Provide a full citation.

The most recent article relating on dangers of mobile phones is 'Signalling the health risks of mobile phones' printed by the Irish times.

Anonymous, 2011, 'Sigalling the health risks of mobile phones', The Irish Times, 7th June, p. 4. Viewed 11th August 2011 via. Griffith University Library database.

4. In Bladerunner, what is Leon's reaction when Holden asks him about his mother? Quote the 1982 draft script and provide a full reference. (Check the trial databases)


Leons reaction is:

"Leon looks shocked, surprised. but the needles in the computer barely move. Holden goes for the inside of his coat. But big Leon is faster. His laser burns a hole the size of a nickel through Holden's stomach. Unlike a bullet, a laser causes no impact. It goes through Holden's shoulder and comes out of his back, clean as a whistle. Like a rag doll he falls back nto the seat. Big slow Leon is already walkng away, but he stops, turns, and with a little smile of satisfaction fires through the back of the seat."

Hampton, F. Webb, D. Roland, K 1982, 'Blade Runner', (script), Warner Brothers, Los Angeles, CA. Viewed 11th August 2011, via. Trial database American film scripts online.

5. What does Paul Soukup say Walter Ong saw as the main paradox in 20th century communication? Cite your source.


Soukup states that Ong says. "a society that is given so much to the use of diagrams and to the manoeuvring of objects in space... should at the same time develop means of communication which specialise not in sight but in sound"


Soukup, P 2004, 'Communication research trends', Centre for the study of communication and culture, vol.23, p. 23. viewed 12th August 2011, via. 'access my library' database.





TASK 2


IRC also known as Internet Relay Chat was a program that creates an opportunity for people to log into a site and be able to interact with other people also using the program. It held features where you could have a public conversation for all to see or even a private chat between you and a select few. (1). It allowed people to interact not physically but through text on a screen. The IRC program was created by Jarkko Oikarinen in 1988 and was one of the first technologies involved in sending not voice but text to others through use of computerised technology. The idea of chatting through text instead of voice was introduced because as there were so many people using the program if everyone chatted by voice alone it would be utter chaos. (2). Oikarinen also developed the idea of allowing people on the program to choose who's activity they wanted to view and who they wanted to chat with if they wished to have a private conversation. (3). Viewing peoples activities ended up becoming a sort of way to change channels. 


At IRC's most popular point they had over 100,000 users and was one of the top 4 most used sites. Unfortunately due to heated arguments as to how IRC should evolve, other sites began to appear an eventually it has been left behind. (4). IRC helped other creators in developing the other chat features such as the application MSN messenger, Yahoo, and even the thought of sites such as Myspace and Facebook.


References:


(1)  Ludlow, P 1996, "Communication and Community on Internet Relay Chat: Constructing Communities." In Conceptual Issues on the Electronic Frontier. MIT Press: 1996.

(2) "Social Issues on Internet Relay Chat." Media Information Australia. No. 67 (February 1993). Pp. 62-70.

(3) "Electropolis: Communication and Community on Internet Relay Chat." Intertek. Vol. 3.3 (Winter 1992). Pp. 7-15.

(4) Stenburg, D 2011, ‘History of IRC,’ Irchhistory, vol. 1

~Blue-Inspiration

Week 3 - Response To Content

It really is amazing how far technology has already advanced over the many years humans have inhabited the Earth. It's fascinating how our brains comprehend the thought: "I need this," and then proceed to come up with a construction to help us achieve our goal. For example, the Abacus. The abacus laid down the foundations for the construction of a calculator. (Ifrah, 2003). Back before we had the technology to produce something as technological as a calculator or even the idea of simple numbers, we needed a more simplistic idea of how to help us with calculations. The abacus provided that for us. a simple device used to make calculations that were too big for a pair of human hands to make. Before the abacus was invented, ordinary everyday objects like sticks and stones were used. But through the years, our understanding of technology has increased and now we have the calculator, and even smaller versions of them on computers or even mobile phones.

Calculations aren't the only thing that has been progressed through the rise of technology though. There is also as I mentioned in Week 1 Tutorial task, the ability to write and read as been enhanced. From simple cave drawings to the invention of the Greek alphabet then through to books, manuscripts, printed works, and now e-books accessed through technologies such as the computer. Technology is increasing all the time. (Graur, 1992). It's a wonder where our world will end up. Will the environment still be beautiful or will we be living in a barren land taken up by all the technology we can thing of to make our lives better? Would more technology make our lives better? or just worse?

References:

·                     Ifrah, G 2003, 'Universal history of numbers', Wiley Press 2000. 

·                     Gaur, A 1992, ‘A history of writing’, British Library, London, vol. 2, p.236.  

Viewed 12th August 2011.

~Blue-Inspiration

Week 2 - Tutorial Task

1. Video on Communication technologies: enjoy. It's in a different language but still funny: subtitles in English!

2. Has anyone ever heard of Google Talk before? Well if you need any help understanding it or getting the most out of it just go here: http://blog.syberplanet.net/10-tools-to-get-the-most-out-of-gtalk/.
This site gives you 10 hints on how to use Google talk or G-Talk to the best potential. 

3. Questions Answered:

1. How long have you been using these communication technologies?What influenced you to start using these particular technologies?  How did you find out about them? 

Even before I was born, my father was one who always wanted the new technologies, when he was at a young age he found a great deal of interest in the communication device called the 'radio.' To this day he still has a call sign and talks to people all over the world daily by use of the newer versions of the radio. as technology developed further, he took interest in the newer releases and loves to play around with things to find out how they work. Currently he is fascinated by a hand controlled mini helicopter which has a gyroscope and flies rather well considering the size and complex design it would need. All my life I have grown up around the new technologies my father constantly brings into our house, I am really lucky to have this kind of contact because I am used to a lot of different technologies. I never really understood how lucky i was, because when I was in primary school a lot of families were lucky to have one computer in the house whereas my family had about three. I always thought my life was normal but i now realize that really i was lucky to have my father.

2.  Is privacy an issue for you when using new technologies?  What do you think of companies like Facebook and Google who collect information about their users? How do you deal with issues around privacy?

It is a worry for me, i don't like sites asking for a lot of personal info, but not particularly an issue. Growing up with technology and parents who drill me about being careful on the internet i have managed to stay fairly safe. When talking to people online I don't tell them certain things about where i live, work, my last name, or other personal details. If I want to join a site that asks for more information than I am willing to give I usually disregard the site and find something else to do.

3. Do you have friends whom you know only from the internet and have never met in person?   
 I do have friends i have met online but not in person, i got to know them through the online sites where you play games with people all around the world and get to communicate with various kinds of people online. Mostly they live in other countries and agree that it's not a good idea to meet up in person as you never know if someone is really who they say they are. Although I get on really well with them and enjoy talking to them I don't see any reason to meet them in person. I find it just nice to have someone to talk to who knows all your other friends and will gossip about you. 

4. Is this different to people that you know in person?  Describe the difference.

It is different because usually online friends only know you and not the people you hang out with. It's a safe way to talk about what's driving you crazy sometimes about your other friends and they just support you making you feel better, it's also a really good feeling to be able to return the favor for them when they need someone to listen. It's also a really good way to learn about other cultures and ways of living in different areas around the world. Though you also don't get the closeness of friendship that you do with those you do actually hang out with. Having friends online is not a bad thing as long as you keep private info to yourself, but at the same time they can never really be the true friends you spend everyday with, no matter how close you feel to them.


~Blue-Inspiration

Week 2 - Response To Content

The Adaptation people make towards new technology.

Communication is vastly important in our world. If we did not have communication our society would crumble and nothing would even advance in the way it does right now. We humans depend on communication and because of this we have strived to create new ways of enhancing our capability of doing so. (Houser, 1997).

The evolution of technology has only been possible because the human population has adapted to it. (Lecture 2, 2011). It may take a while sometimes but eventually people get used to the new ideas and they become a part of everyday life. Our ancestors adapted to the use of writing when it finally came about, they adapted to books when they were formed, they managed to understand and create the first communication technology of radio when it arrived, and so on through television, computers, phones and now even tablets.

Back before there was even a written language our ancestors used to record history through those they call 'bards'. The people who had the best memories would be held responsible for the tales of their people’s history and would constantly sing it in songs made up on the spot as a form of entertainment for anyone who wants to listen. (Rieu, 1946). Nowadays, we have history recoded in books and these transcripts are slowly being transferred to online material.

Bibliography:

Houser, M 1997, 'The evolution of technology,' Fourth printing.

This book explains the importance of communication to our world.

Referenced: Lecture 2 New communication technologies 2011.

speaking of how the human race has adapted with the evolution of new communication technologies.

Rieu, V 1946, "Homer's 'The Odyssey,'" Penguin Books. 

Tells a tale where many Bards sing songs off the top of their heads about their peoples history

~Blue-Inspiration.

Week 1 - Tutorial Task (This is me)

People know me as Blue, I am 19 years old and love to read, someday hope to be an Author. I have tried writing several books but always seem to come up with 1 to 2 chapters then think of a better idea and start that one instead. Maybe I will get around to finishing some later in life. I started Uni at the beginning of this year and have taken up the 'communications' course. I chose this because of my dream to become an author and my appreciation of Languages. Currently i am studying 2 majors: Creative Writing and Japanese, New Communication Technologies is a prerequisite for my course but i have found it very interesting so far, my other subject it Great Books A which includes reading a lot of great authors such as Shakespeare, Plato, Homer, and many others. I am grateful this course as otherwise i can usually not motivate myself to read the brilliant classics and welcome a change in my reading style. On top of reading and writing I also love to be artistic. Drawing, painting, and creating things have always given me a lot of joy. Sometimes I am more inspired than others but people always seem to like my work. I look forward to learning more this semester.

~Blue-Inspiration