Rhymes of History Technology
Introduction
 |
| Globe as Digital Organism |
Kelly (2008) has indulged our attention to three
ways in which the “Global Web Machine has transformed our lives. Some
technologies have set the stage for others to succeed and all are
simultaneously working. The categories are Embodiment, Restructuring and
Codependency.
Embodiment
It is believed that machines are the extension of
human senses, on the other hand with the level of accuracy and consistence of
machines to include personal technology, industrial technology, and commerce
technology one could say that humans are the extension of machines since humans
are the operators. Communication Technology devices are used as interactive
devices all linked to the World Wide Web. This conglomeration of dependency on
the Web makes the chip indispensable. The ubiquitous use of the web linked to
social networking sights include technology that compares to natural
communication without auxiliary and storage devices. Kelly likens the web to the perception of the
“black hole” that nothing escapes. Old technology is transformed to digital
information that becomes web “material” the technologies might seem to do
different work but once a part of media all will obey the same rules for
communication, consequently their embodiment.
Restructuring
The global economy is linked for communication,
marketing and distribution. Since the renaissance period of the industrial
revolution logistic enabled commercial reliability. As the internet became an
open source computers began to link to send and retrieve information. All computers were connected to a mainframe
that was constantly maintained and upgraded for information traffic.
Restructuring has alleviated the cumbersome use of the mainframe to cloud
linking. Computers are connected wireless to other computers without any
cumbersome axillary and supporting devices. Business and transactions are made
smoother as there are hyperlinks and sites that all computers with compatible
browsers can access. The semantic web, web 3.O
and other sensitive technology enables pages of information to be
accessed. An idea can be typed in Google and a host of informational sites
become available. With the design of smarter browsers, restructuring of technology
access is from computer to computer, links to links, pages to pages and the
advent of personalized comfort in accessing detail information.
Codependency
It is believed that humans are creatures that
collaborate. If this was never so, the advent of technology is changing and
transforming how and who people interact. I use social networking to
disseminate my thoughts about something that I want to share. Other people uses
the network to create friends, and chat to people they have never met and will
probably never meet. But the common communication language, jargon, symbols and
rules allows some level of acceptance for each other. Everyone would like to feel
that they are individuals with privacy comfort while on the web. Kelly notes
that transparency is the price we pay. We will have to pay for multimedia
access to exist on the web. This must be
regulated by government, but it will mean no privacy for anyone. When this is
allowed, for those who are willing to participate then the convenience that we
seek for ideas, information, contacts, medical history, educational background
and so on will be realized.
According to Kelly (2008), “There is only one
machine; the web is its operating system; all screens look into the one; no
bits will live outside the web; to share is to gain; let the one read it; the
one is us.” This is the global machine
that we all share. We did not ask for it, but we took the opportunity to try
it, we have proven its capability. The question is do we want to continue with
it?
Rhymes
of History (Resurgence of the Pocket Picture-Book)
“History doesn’t repeat
itself. At best it sometimes rhymes.”—Mark Twain. This famous proverbial talk
is used as a significant reference by Dr. Thornburg in introducing Rhymes of
History Technology. There are many
technologies that are surfacing to take its rightful position. Every idea
invention and thought for action needs a place and time to emerge, grow, establish critical mass and
move on to either flourish and grow or wither and die. There was once in recent history when photo-books
were a popular way of keeping fond memories of loved ones and friends. Visit to
historical places would call for photographing artworks and historical
artifacts. Some of the first pocket photo books were carried by world war
veterans who would have pictures of their fond memories in their back pack or
in their jacket pockets.
As computers and software came into prominence the
pocket picture book disappeared. The qualities of pictures were not as well
defined as those loaded on to the computer. The storage of pictures required
great care and protection from weathering. Soon the pocket picture book ceases
to exist and became treasured artifacts.
 |
| AdoramaPix Photo Books |
References:
Fiorina, C. (2000). Digital renaissance, medieval
policy [Speech]. Speech delivered at the Aspen Summit 2000: Cyberspace and the
American Dream VII, Aspen, CO. Retrieved from: http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/execteam/speeches/fiorina/ceo_aspen_00.html
Kelly, K. (2007). Kevin Kelly on the next 5,000 days
of the Web [Speech]. Speech delivered at the EG 2007 Conference, Los Angeles.
Retrieved from: http://www.ted.com/talks
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer).
(2009).Rhymes of History: Evolutionary technologies. Baltimore, MD: Author
Photo Books. (2012). AdoramaPix Photo Books. A gift
that they'll treasure for a lifetime. Retrieved from: http://www.adoramapix.com/app/products/books/inspired#/inspired/Photography
Hi Cecil,
ReplyDeleteDigital photo books or web spaces as well as cell phones, iPads and computers are becoming more and more common. This does rhyme with the traditional photo books or albums. In my experience, digital photo storage has two drawbacks.
(1) If you have stored your photos on a single local machine, and it crashes, you lose your valuable pictures. This is what happened with me. But luckily, I had the photos on partition G. When my C partition crashed, I loaded UBUNTU on G drive and pulled all pictures out.
(2) If your photo book is online, either you end up paying a recurring fee or there may be piracy threats. If hackers can get into financial institutions how can the stuff of a common person be safe? Just my opinion.
Good post.
Anwar
Hi Anwar,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the extended information that secures the pocket photo book for the future.
The main rhyme here is that the pocket photo book is a tangible spin -off as a result of the evolution of digital technology; for multimedia and the technological development of film strips that can produce pictures of higher quality in color durability and the psychology comfort and convenience to glance on your loved ones and friends with a brush in your jacket pocket, hand bag or knapsack without the need for electrical energy.
Great ways are being created for three dimensional animated pictures that react to the movement of your eyes or hand. Pictures that repel darkness to produce image in the dark are transforming technology to a comforting feeling of relaxing and reflecting.
Thanks for reading.
Cecil,
ReplyDeleteI remember looking at my grandparents photo albums as a child. The photos were yellowed and the pages had turned brown. Digital photos are definitely the way of the future. Several years ago, both my brother and I gave our parents digital photo frames for Christmas! We downloaded family photos, both old and current on a flash drive to insert into the frame. It was a novelty that lasted a year. They now sit on different tables in different rooms turned off. That's technology! Digital photo books do rekindle the old pocket and even larger photo albums. I have a couple of photo albums, but most of my photos are stored on my computer or cell phone. After reading Anwar's response, I will definitely back them up on a flash drive. Great Post!
Tracy