Week 1 – Response to ‘A domain of one’s own’.
After first reading these articles, I was shocked to learn how recent the development of cloud technology is. It seemed to just always exist to me and I would of thought it was around longer than it has. I agree with the concept of how important this is for students and their academic development, and it can really be beneficial for students. Technology has a significant role in our lives, and it is important for us to know how to navigate it well for our futures, both in and out of the classroom.
The second article is very eye opening to the dangers online regarding our data and information. It is clear that we have lost control of our personal data online. We happily hand out our information online with out noticing where it is going or what its being used for. I liked the metaphors of the garden and the stream as it shows the difference of the cloud being full of information like a garden full of flowers and the stream of the normal web and all the information that is thrown at you, both true and false and how it’s gone as soon as you see it.
Week 2 – Response to the Mark Marino article
Teaching Writing in the Post-Blogging Era
I enjoyed Marino’s article, and it describes the change and evolution of the platforms over time and how quickly it happens. I liked the layout of the article, with all the links and photos, it makes the article quick and easy to read and efficiently explains the many changes of these platforms over time and helps us understand them better. Blogging has evolved from such a simple, formal thing to something bigger with so many different ways of blogging, this shows us just how quickly things can grow online over time. It is really interesting to see, as students in this era, how something we take for granted in our everyday lives has progressed from the first blog posted to now.
Week 3 – Response to ‘The Internets Own Boy’
The Internets Own Boy – Aaron Swartz
“Information is power. But like all power, there are those who want to keep it for themselves.” – Aaron Swartz
Aaron Swartz was clearly a prodigy with a huge interest in computers and technology. It is upsetting to hear a story of a person so intelligent and talented whose life was ruined by others who were greedy for knowledge.
I feel the US government has a lot to answer for how they mistreated Aaron for their own agenda. While Aaron was trying to give everyone information that many corporations were keeping from the public. He was tracked, spied on, and arrested by the US government because they were uncomfortable with his work. They felt threatened by Aaron’s greatness, so they inevitably ruined his reputation, causing his tragic end to his life, all to protect themselves and ‘make an example out of him’ to make themselves feel under control again.
Aaron was an inspiration and a genius. He believed in doing the right thing and used his intelligence for good to “make the world a better place.” His story is a prime example of why clarity and openness online are important and how we should always stand up for our beliefs. The documentary was eye opening to just how dangerous the internet can be. Aaron had achieved so much already at such an early age, what else could he have achieved if he made it past 26?
Week 4 – Social Media & the Web – Principles within “a contract for the web.
Principles within a contract for the web.
Principle 5 and 8 are different but both have the same similar idea behind them. Both of the principles care about the privacy of those using the web and ensuring a safe environment for everyone that we can trust. Principle 5 focuses on giving people control and access to their privacy and data rights. It mainly focuses on what the website does. However, principle 8 is more focused on us and how we use the sites. It talks about a safe inclusive community online the idea behind both still remains the same, the safety of those using the web and ensuring they are educated about their privacy and data.
Week 5- Response to – Should all archives be Open Access?
Accessing the Past, or Should Archives Provide
Open Access? – István Rév
After reading Rev’s article, I thought he had mentioned many interesting points about open access archives and the benefits and drawbacks of this.
One of the main points I thought he made was how important these archives are for history. Without the open archives, historians would not be able to do their job properly. There would be gaps in our history. These archives are essential for understanding history. This is one of the benefits of having direct access to archives
A second point he made is that it can be exceedingly difficult to figure out which information is true and what is public and what is confidential information. This is a tricky thing for many to distinguish, which is a negative aspect to this.
A third point made by Rev is how digitized information is constantly in movement. It is always being copied and shared and this means the information is being edited and changed. This can make the information and sources unreliable.
Overall, it seems important that archives are open access for many reasons. We should have access to the information on the internet that is important for us to see, and it is greatly beneficial. But I believe it is important that this data is collected and dealt with in a responsible way, and it is safe for us to access and use.
Week 6 – Response to Bernie Krausse’s Video
This is What Extinction Sounds Like – Bernie Krausse
After watching this video, I am shocked by the change in the ecosystem over the years. Bernie’s work as a soundscape ecologist is particularly important to our understanding of how the world is changing around us, and how we are a main cause of these changes. The way Bernie conducts his work is very exact and precise, using the same equipment in the same spot of the same park so it is clear his work is very dependable.
Each spot around the world he showed us has the same disappointing result. The ‘silent spring’ and the huge change in the Fiji waterways are major signs of climate change and it is very eye opening. There is an extraordinarily strong message about the dangers and effects of climate change throughout this video and how important preserving our ecosystem is
Week 7 – Response to What is Artificial Intelligence ?
New Yorker Magazine – Interview with Prof. Emily Bender.
What is artificial Intelligence?
Artificial intelligence is the science of making machines that can think like humans. It can do things that are considered “smart.” AI technology can process copious amounts of data in ways, unlike humans. The goal for AI is to be able to do things such as recognize patterns, make decisions, and judge like humans and include computer-enhanced learning, reasoning, and perception. AI is being used today across different industries from finance to healthcare with many benefits. It is rapidly improving, and more and more things can be done with it every day.
Is it actually intelligent?
AI is simply a tool that has been programmed by humans, and it cannot work outside of the parameters that have been set for it. As Bender says in the Intelligencer article, “machines that can mindlessly generate text, but we haven’t learned how to stop imagining the mind behind it.” The AI can only produce what it has been programmed to do or say. It cannot act on impulse or think on the spot. So, it can be argued that it is not as intelligent as it seems.
Thoughts on the coming revolution.
After reading these articles, I think the revolution can be both positive and negative. Some positives are it is always available for us to use, and it can be more accurate in things in factories and medical fields. Some negatives that come with this revolution include job cuts in many sectors, ethical issues, and the limits to its abilities.
Bibliography
(No date) Direct.mit.edu. Available at: https://direct.mit.edu/books (Accessed: 05 December 2023).
Homepage – contract for the web (no date) Contract for the Web – Everyone has a role to play to ensure the web serves humanity. Available at: https://contractfortheweb.org/ (Accessed: 05 December 2023).
Insider, W. (2015) A domain of one’s own, Wired. Available at: https://www.wired.com/insights/2012/07/a-domain-of-ones-own/ (Accessed: 05 December 2023).
Marino, M.C. (2019) Teaching writing in the post-blogging era, Medium. Available at: https://markcmarino.medium.com/teaching-writing-in-the-post-blogging-era-ab7848247e33 (Accessed: 05 December 2023).
The Internet’s Own Boy : The Story of Aaron Swartz (2014). YouTube. 1 July. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vz06QO3UkQ (Accessed: 05 December 2023).
This is What Extinction Sounds Like (2016). YouTube. 11 May. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnpsMG0PWRY (Accessed: 05 December 2023).
Watters, A. (2017) Why ‘a domain of one’s own’ matters (for the future of knowledge), Hack Education. Available at: http://hackeducation.com/2017/04/04/domains (Accessed: 05 December 2023).
Weil, E. (2023) You are not a parrot, Intelligencer. Available at: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/ai-artificial-intelligence-chatbots-emily-m-bender.html (Accessed: 05 December 20
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