Artifact #4: "Uncanny Droid" and "Old School? or What?"

The "Uncanny Droid" video was personally a bit nerve-recking. It took me a second to catch on that that person was really a robot. The way that the robot could move it's facial features is amazing and so life like. It is very weird to think that in the near future there will be robots walking among us humans. Or hey, they might be walking on this earth now and we just can't tell the difference. I wonder once this happens, if scientists are going to find a way that humans can tell if it is a robot or not. I know it kind of defeats the purpose, but I think I would like to know if my best friend or boyfriend was a human or not.

To be honest, I cannot believe that the person who created this "how to" video. I mean if YouTube was around when the pencil and pencil sharpener came out, then I would understand because it's new to people. But the pencil and sharpener have been around long enough that I would think everyone knows how to use them. And quite frankly, I don't even remember the last time I saw someone using a manual sharpener. All throughout high school we had electric sharpeners. Oh, and the occasional manual one stuck to the wall, but I don't think anyone ever used that one unless there was something wrong with the other one. I find it funny because if I find this video ridiculous now, what will people in 60 years, or even 20? People then might find it ridiculous that we have "how to" videos about how to use an iPhone, or blackberry. Technology is an amazing thing and I find it fascinating how fast it moves.

Artifact #3

In this lecture, Nicholas Carr talks about how technology affects the way we think. He says that it negatively impacts the way we think, but technology is always going to exist so we must learn to balance it. I completely agree with him when he says this. Since we can multitask using technology we are not giving our full attention to one thing. For example, if I am doing homework on the computer, I am bound to wander on to my Facebook and start talking to people. Technology allows me to do my homework and talk to my friends at the same time in different windows, but by doing this I am not focusing on my homework or talking to my friend. Also he says that humans enjoy being interrupted. Part of me agrees with this and part of me doesn't. I agree with this because sometimes people don't want to do something, they find the first thing that will interrupt and distract them. I disagree with it because sometimes when you need to get things done and you're on a roll, if someone or something interrupts you, it is very irritating. In the previous lecture we listened to in Artifact #2, William Powers talks about disconnecting yourself. While in this lecture, Nicholas Carr says that it might be a bad thing. It would be negative thing because people may need to get a hold of you at your work place, family member, ect. Also disconnecting yourself may make you feel less sociable, but on the positive side it will enhance our deep thought.

Artifact # 2: Hamlet's Blackberry

While I was listening to William Powers video, I found it very interesting. The first that that caught my attention was when he was telling the story about when he was sitting on a bench people watching and almost every person he saw was either talking, texting or holding their cell phones. When he said this it made me realize that where ever you go, someone is always doing one of those three things. I know when I leave my house, I feel naked without having my phone even on me. Just the feeling of knowing I might have missed a call or a text kills me. I I also would not be surprised if his theory about paper being replaced by screens. People use computers now more than they use paper. But I find it very interesting that it could be a possibility.
        In today's society we are so dependent on things like computers cell phones. When I heard him talk about how his family disconnected themselves for a night, I was shocked! I think that if my family disconnected the modems in our house or turning off our cell phones, we would not get through the night. My dad can't even get through one dinner without texting someone. In my opinion, I think that it is a good idea for people to do this. I mean, who wants to rely on their computers or their phones for everything?

Artifact # 1: Which is Your Perferred News Source?

I completely agree with this article about the internet being the main source for the news. Personally, I find it easier read the news rather than watch it for many reasons. My main reason is I simply don't have enough time or want to watch something else. Also when I do find the time to sit down and watch the new I find myself dozing off or thinking about something else every time. I believe that the reason for the decrease in television is because convenience. If they are too busy doing something that they miss their favorite show or movie that airs no big deal, they can just watch it online the next day when they have time. And the same goes for the news; they can just read it online whenever they have free time. I found this article very interesting. I had some idea that the Internet percentage was up but I had no clue how low the percentage was for TV viewers.