Week 5: The culture jam.

Culture jamming and the influence of the individual in the world of information technology and broadcasting, this is the subject of week five New Communication Technology.

In the lecture it was all about consumption and production and how the influence of technology allows for anyone, anywhere to either produce or consume news and information of the twenty first century.

With the advancement technologies such as mobile phones, Internet and television, news and information is readily available at an astronomical rate. I am talking about mobile phones that record video and the Internet in conjunction with world news. Without these technologies the information that is available to the general public of today would not exist and ultimately the influence of the individual in turn using these technologies to spread information would not exist. Now it is all about culture jamming and the way in which general society can contribute to the news and events that happen around the world.

Culture jamming can be explained as, citizen journalism. Where everyday people use the technologies available to them to broadcast news and information. A culture jammer can be a person that uses a mobile phone to record an event also known as a mo-jo (Mobile journalist) or someone that specifically looks for events to cover (Independent journalist).

Some examples of culture jams and citizen journalism are posted below:

Current culture jam that shows the effects of the UNSW fires, posted August 29^th August 2010. Shot by a by standing person watching the smoke rise from the building.

A university student, who documented the effects of the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake, shot one of the most influential culture jams. The culture jam was so successful that it was shown on many global news programs.

The most damaging culture jam to date would be that of Senator George Allen calling campaign volunteer a racial slur known as ‘macaca’ This video was spread virally and effectively destroyed the senators campaign, earning him masses of negative exposure.

Without the wonders of technology, culture jamming would not be present today. The way we view and receive information would not be as easily accessed or consumed. Without culture jamming and citizen journalism we would have missed out on vital events and world information. In fact, culture jamming is to thank for making the production and consumption of news and politics so vital to society today.

Week 4: Tutetask

As we all know, but dread to think about in an age that is reliant on technology. There once were no computers, Internet, Facebook, Myspace or YouTube. Once society had to read books to find answers to questions, not Google it. Once we were not able to socialise and network, there were only landline phones and even once we could not freely watch or upload movies, videos and films on the Internet. The world that I am talking about seems like a long time ago compared to what is available to society in this modern technological age.

This week’s theme was all about the Internet in collaboration with film, specifically short film. We were asked to answer and research certain historical and general elements about these two influential, advancing pieces of technology.

This blog will be answering those questions and emphasising on certain facts about these technologies.

1.Where and when did usable online video start? (Provide some refs. and an example if possible)

Usable video started in no other place than on YouTube. Before the creation of YouTube web searchers were able to view videos online but were not able to upload their own. This was until three PayPal employees, , Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim decided to dedicate a website specifically for the uploading of videos by the general public. In February 2005 YouTube was created and over time has developed into a multi-million dollar company that is recognized globally.

Url: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1482289_81.html

Brief history of YouTube below:

2.In the lecture we heard about technological innovations that were used by the studios to lure audiences. (Mostly to combat the popularity of TV)

What recent innovations are being used to lure us in the movies?

What are they luring us from?

The release of 3D films in 1952 was one of the tools used by the film industry to help lure people back into the world of film and away from the new technological revolution of television. Though the release of 3D movies was semi-popular the creation of these film were often poor in quality and cheaply made, mainly consisting of low budget horror films.

3.Are short films still being made? Why? Who pays for them to be made?

Short films are definitely still been made today. In fact, the distribution of films and production of short films in modern society is so popular that there are many dedicated websites devoted to the distribution of short films and independent short films.

In relation to the question of, ‘who pays for short films?’ It depends on whether the film is sponsored, created by a film company or independently made.

Independent film makers have a range of offers available to them including loans, funding support, marketing support and production support from such film companies as ‘Screen Australia’ Where as sponsored films and companies usually have set budgets available to them in the production of film.

Screen Australia Marketing & industry support: http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/industry_support/GW_Overview.asp

4.The term viral is thrown about but what does it mean in film/movie arena? Give some examples.

A viral video is a video that has become so popular that is it socially networked amongst a great amount of people. Viral videos can be passed on through word or mouth or through the art of social networking on the web. This networking of viral videos can be passed on nationally and even internationally, usually depending on the subject of the content.

Some videos that have become viral include, ‘The Pokémon theme song’ (9 Million views worldwide), ‘Beached whale’ (5 million views worldwide) and ‘Powerthirst’ (20 Million views world wide)

Pokémon:

Powerthirst:

5. Online video distribution isn't limited to the short film format. We are now starting to see television styled shows made solely for Internet release (webisodes). Find an example of this style of content and discuss how viewing television content in this way can positively and negatively affect the viewer's experience.

‘Clark and Michael’ is a comedy series exclusively available to Internet audiences. The webisodes are short stories in the day of the life of two best friends. It stars Michael Cera and Clark Duke. The episodes can be found on various websites that host web series, although on CBS online all the episodes can be found and watched on the same page. The first episode of Clark and Michael is below:

I believe that webisodes positively affect the way audiences view television content, as it allows for individuals to gain knowledge of the Internet and the process or researching on the web. In addition, webisodes can be viewed more easily than on television, this is because access to the Internet in modern society via Internet lounges and kiosks is more easily accessible than television. For someone that does not have TV available to him or her it is easier to view TV content from a two-dollar Internet lounge than buy a television.

In concluding, in an age that is dependent on technology it can only be expected that innovations like, YouTube and the creation of Webisodes is only the start of a much more broad spectrum of influential internet technology.

TuteSpark Week 4: The wonders of the internet and short films.

Since the creation of cinema in 1985 film has come a long way. From the birth of the talkies in 1927 to the first movies on television in 1955 and now to films that are specifically designed for an Internet audience.

This week in the lecture it was all about cinema, once again. Though it was not about the big screen, motion picture, blockbusters, that we all are familiar with. Instead it was about the little guy, the short film and the distribution of films via the World Wide Web.

Typically, cinema and the World Wide Web do not go hand in hand, for obvious reasons. (Everyone has seen the illegal downloading is a crime ads) and though this may be the case for feature length films it is completely different in relation to independent short films.

The Internet in conjunction with short films allows for many emerging, talented producers and moviemakers to advertise themselves and distribute their films to a wide audience. As a result of this the popularity of short film distribution on the Internet is bigger than ever.

There are many websites devoted to the uploading of short films and in addition, an amounting number of filmmakers prepared to showcase their work to an audience of the Internet.

In saying that this blog will be uncovering such websites and videos, which have been and are primarily, focused towards an audience, that is watching from no other place than the comfort of their…computer screen.

The most common place that film distribution occurs is YouTube. YouTube has been the home to masses of independent short films. Some that have become famous due to their accessibility and universally available content.

One such company that is devoted to uploading films on the Internet is ‘College Humor’. College Humor started out on YouTube and after gaining a wide fan base created their own website dedicated to the uploading and streaming of their short films.

Website: http://www.collegehumor.com/videos

Video Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBPPNmdYEjI

‘Smosh’ is also another web-based comedy duo that began their short film career on YouTube and are now a company devoted to presenting videos to the general public through the Internet.

Alternatively to short comedy sketches on the Internet like Smosh and College Humor, there are also websites specifically designed for the showing of webisodes.

A webisode can be explained as a short episode that initially airs on the Internet for Internet television.

Some examples of Webisodes include, “Michael and Clark’, a webseries staring Michael Cera and a ‘made for the web’ horror series by Stephen King.

The following is a link to the first episode of Stephen King’s web series:

http://www.simonsays.com/specials/stephen-king-nishere/?bcpid=1659850666&bclid=1659879445&bctid=1670082224

Although the Internet has created a negative market for feature films, it has done wonders for short films and short web episodes. In concluding, it can be stated that as a result of the vast rate of the advancement of technology, the Internet has once again changed the way we view films all over the world.

Yes, It's a Treasure Hunt (Week 3)

Week 3 Tutorial seemed to be something a little different.
I definitely think that no one in New Comm Tech would have expected what this tutorial had in store for us. For some it might have taken us back to childhood and for others it may have proved to be challenging yet exciting. What I am talking about is the good old Treasure Hunt.

This treasure hunt wasn't like any other, it didn't involve running around a park looking for clues, rather it was a treasure hunt of a far more extensive space, the internet.

This may seem easy, information can be so easily accessed on the internet today. You may think, "Well I can just type it into Google or ask Wikipedia."
Wrong!

In this treasure hunt we were asked to find answers to certain questions on the internet without using handy old Google or Wikipedia. Which are of course the ones responsible for being the life savers to many late assignment questions and the ones which hold the answers to all of humanity.

So in this post I will be answering these questions and having a change of lifestyle, it could be considered that just for now I am breaking up with Google and Wiki and testing out a different road.

With out any more babble here are the answers to the riveting questions asked in week 3's tutorial, thanks to the search engine Yahoo!

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

The world's largest machine on land is a German manufactured Earth-hauling Truck.
The truck was designed in 2004 , costs $3.5M and weighs at maximum capacity 365 tonnes. URL: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/40463_worlds-largest-machines-ever-built

2. What is the best way (quickest, most reliable) to contact Ozzy Osborne?

The quickest way to contact Ozzy Osbourne would be through his management.

Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Osbourne Management
9292 Civic Center Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Phone: 310-859-7761

URL: www.contactanycelebrity.com/cac

Or alternatively Ozzy can be contacted via Twitter:

twitter.com/OfficialOzzy

3. When and what was the first example of global digital communication?

To be found.

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

The cheapest form of travel from the Gold Coast to Melbourne would be via Tiger Airlines.

Tiger can provide a return flight from Gold Coast to Melbourne for $58.95
However for baggage an extra cost of $25.00 applies.

The flight is on the 11 Aug leaves at 8.45pm and lands at Melbourne at 10.59 pm.

URL: www.iwantthatflight.com.au/general-links.aspx

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

Hatsune Miku was the first and most popular installment in the vocaliod Charcecter vocal service. She is a singing synthesizer application produced by Yamaha.

Hatsune's birthday is on the 31/08/2008

URL: www. vocaloid.wikia.com/wiki/Miku_Hatsune

6. Find a live webcam in Antarctica. Find a place to stay in Antarctica.

A live web cam in Antarctica can be found on the Australian Antarctic Division Website.

The web cam updates every ten minutes and certain locations can be chosen to view.

URL: www.aad.gov.au/asser/webcam/casey/default.asp

As for places to stay in Antarctica, there isn't any?

7. What song was top of the Australian pop charts this week in 1980?

The song that was top of Australian top charts in 1980 according to a wedding site was
'I call me" By Blondie

8. How would you define the term 'nano technology'? In your own words, what does it really mean?

None Technology is, 'technology for microscopic devices.
It is the art of manipulating materials on a very small scale in order to build microscopic machinery.

URL: http:uk.msn.com/dictionary_18617140381/nanotechnology.html

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

A 360 degree camera was used to made Google Street View was from Immersive Media.

The camera can be mounted on cars and backpacks and is light weight and relatively small.

URL: www.news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Google/ss/events/tc/012006google

10. Translate these questions into Klingon.

-1 nuq 'oH [the] [weight] vo' [the] [world’s] [biggest] [machine] chay' 'ar ta'ta' 'oH [cost] Daq chen

-2 nuq 'oH [the] [best] [way] [quickest] HochHom [reliable] Daq [contact] [Ozzy] [Osborne]

-3 ghorgh 'ej nuq ghaHta' [the] wa'DIch [example] vo' [global] [digital] [communication]

-4 nuq 'oH [the] [cheapest] [form] vo' [travel] vo' [the] SuD baS [Coast] Daq [Melbourne]

-5 'Iv 'oH [Hatsune] [Miku] nuq [company] ta'taH ghaH [belong] Daq nuq 'oH Daj qoS

-6 tu' [a] yIn [webcam] Daq [Antarctica] tu' [a] Daq Daq [stay] Daq [Antarctica]

-7 nuq bom ghaHta' [top] vo' [the] [Australian] [pop] [charts] vam [week] Daq

-8 chay' [would] SoH [define] [the] [term] ['nano] [technology'] Daq lIj ghaj mu'mey nuq ta'taH 'oH [really] [mean]

-9 nuq [type] vo' [camera] 'oH [used] Daq chenmoH [‘Google] [Street] [View’]

-10 [Translate] Dochvammey [questions] Daq tlhIngan

TuteSpark Week 3: Digital and Non Digital Comunication Technologies

In relation to the Tute Spark this week, we were told to find three Non Digital Communication Technologies.

I didn't realise how hard this would be. It made me think how much people in the Twenty first century rely on technology and the constant advancements of technology.

However, I did find three Non Digital Communication Technologies. Although they are aged they have still influenced society as much as Digital communication technologies.

The first analog technology I thought of was an obvious one, the am radio. Without Guglielmo Marconi's Noble prize winning invention of the radio telegraph system, created over a century ago, people throughout history would not have been able to gain from the benefits of this influential technology. Without this technology this means that society would have been without current world news, communications in wartime, live broadcasting, music and altogether general entertainment.

The second non-digital technology I thought of happens to be even older than a.m. radio, although it is not used today it has aided society throughout history. This technology is known as Morse code. Morse code was influential, much like the radio, in it's use in war time. Morse code was used in war as a quick communication method from one place or person to another. The most famous message in Morse code known to date, would be

. . . - - - . . .

otherwise known as SOS.

Lastly but none most unimportant is the landline telephone. This communication technology is one of the more recognized non-digital communication methods known to twenty first century society. The landline telephone runs on a transmission that is via radio waves.

This technology is still being used to date, although it has somewhat been replaced by mobile phones, this technology that has been around for one hundred and forty years is still one of the most largely used communication devices today.

Although digital communication devices are considered an essential to society today, we should consider the non-digital communication devices and their many uses that have aided society throughout history.

A history of Computing (Week 3)

The History of Computing:

The lecture this week concerned the history of one of the most influential devices known to man, the computer.

According to, ‘The Triumph of the Nerds: A history of the Computer”, the development of the computer started with electronics. The ‘Nerds’ believe that Conrad Zuse’s invention of the programmable calculator in 1941 was the start of the electronic evolution.

They were right, the calculator made way for expanding electronics and even before Zuse knew it his invention was followed by many innovative and influential electronic devices. These included, the Colossus, a code breaking computer created by the British in 1943, UNIVAC- Universal Automatic Computer created in 1951 and the IBM 360 was that developed in 1964 and became the standard institutional mainframe computer.

This is only a short and brief history of computing, as we know the IBM 360 wasn’t the last of the computers created. Rather, it was only the beginning of the continuing advancement of computer technologies that is still happening to date.

Without the growing advancements of computers and computer technology there would be no Facebook, Twitter, Google or Wikipedia, society would rely on analog technology in order to gain information and knowledge. Though, thanks to of Gordan Moore, we can rest in peace knowing that as technology and computing advances it becomes even more powerful, cheaper to manufacture and easier to produce.

All I can say if thank god we were not stuck with the IBM 360 and its single use applications!

The Trapped Tutorial. (Week 2)

In relation to the tutorial this week, our task was to make a movie from photographic shorts taken on a mobile phone. The movie was to present a certain theme that was randomly chosen out of a hat. In addition it was to reflect the language of cinema, cine-talk and the elements of cine-talk that we learnt in the lecture including, shot size, sequence and composition.

The theme my group chose was 'Trapped'. We decided to use this to our advantage and create a story the focused around the day in the life of a student who is forced to attend University and feels trapped by all aspects University life brings.

Take a look at what we created below.

Hope you Enjoy!

Cine-speak: The language of Cinema (Week 2)

Louise Lumière may have been the mastermind behind the invention of the motion picture camera also known as the 'Cinematographe’, and he may have created one of the most influential pieces of technology that is still advancing to this date. Though Lumière’s invention has changed the way in which we function in everyday life, he failed to see the opportunity behind this great apparatus, stating,

‘ The cinema is an invention without a future.’

I could not disagree more with Lumière’s statement. Since the breakthrough of the invention of the motion picture in 1895 the cinema industry has expanded and in this expansion it has influenced many ways of life on a global scale.

The motion picture has changed the way we receive information and news, expand on knowledge, express ourselves creatively, make change, and has even affected the way we speak through visual interpretation, otherwise known as Cine-Speak

Cine-Speak is the language of cinema in all forms. Cine-Speak is initially the way in which cinematographers send messages to the audience about the film through the use of shot sizes, positions and sequencing. As a result of this the cinematographer can provide the following answers to the audience about their film:

-Who it involves?

-Where it is?

-What is happening or taking place?

-Why it is happening?

- How it is happening?

-When it is happening?

Though, to answer these questions the right shot has to be placed the right sequence. To answer the question of who the movie is involved with or centered on, a close up of the character in detail would be used. Similarly, for where the action is talking place a long shot at the beginning of the scene would be used by the filmmaker.

In addition through the use shot size, sequence and position the cinematographer can also set a scene and create emphasis and emotion. For example to create emphasis the filmmaker would use a close up on the object or subject they are filming.

Through the art of cinema and its techniques, the possibilities that Lumière never thought possible of cinema have been created and although Louise Lumière may have not seen the potential of cinema, the advancement of technology did and in this event the language of cinema was soon born.

Communication Technology and the way of the future

The last tutorial and lecture I had was for New Communication Technologies.

The lecture contained a brief introduction to the course and the expectations of the students enrolled.
We were told what our assessment items were and given definitions of 'communication' and 'technology'

Communication was explained to be, ' a process that transfers, transmits or makes information known to other people.’

Technology is defined as, ‘scientific study of mechanical arts and their application to the world.’

Communication methods have developed immensely since the dawn of man. Beginning with our early ancestors drawing on the walls of caves, to the twenty first century and the use of mobile phones and the Internet.

Though, technology and communication come hand in hand. As technology advances so do the methods of communication. The old technology is replaced by new and methods of communication transform.

An old communication technology would be classified as a landline phone or radio and a new communication technology would be considered as a mobile phone.

As these 'mechanical arts' both old and new continue to be recreated, the ways of communication will in hand also continue to revolutionise the way in wich society interact.