Her's my presentation which I presented today, in case anyone wanted to watch it again. You have no idea how long this took me and my brother to do, it was hell! I only want to do this again if I have plenty of time, or if it's crutially important. Anyways I hope you enjoy it, again!
P.S Let me know if I should do more.
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Monday, 2 February 2009
Mobile Phones
Why mobile Phones ?
Mobile phones are a crutial part of social communication and interaction because they allow us to communicate with each other from great distances and transfer messages via text messaging. But mobile phones did not begin like this, they were once no more useful than a normal phone, except they were portable and if you were on the move you had a means of communicating with others on the go.
The first portable phone used, like any other phone was an enormously useful tool, as there was no wire to connect, just an ariel which connected to the main phone line wirelessly.
Why are they good for Social Communication ?
Whenever you think of social communication the first thing that comes into your head (or my head at least) is either mobile phones or the internet. We all use mobiles to get in touch with each other whether over the phone or by texting (which i should'nt need to explain as i'm assuming that your'e a smart person and that your aware of what day it is. If you don't know what a mobile phone is then welcome to 2009 and we drive automobiles now called cars!). And since mobiles now have the internet capabilities and bluetooth, it has now become the universal source of social communication. They are particularly useful for business people to organise themselves (the new blackberry phones are the most useful if you need a phone to organise your life) but also children as young as 8 (gasp!) now know how to use one and in some cases own one themselves. They have become a huge chunk of our social lives.
How have they Developed, Changed and Improved ?
This is where mobile phones have hypnotised and warped the minds of kids today by changing to better suit their entertaining needs. What I mean is that as mobiles have adapted, so has the people who use them. And not just kids but adults as well, were all turning into texting machines, who pump out dozens of letters a second. Aside from that as mobiles have been changing to keep up to date with technology they have also improved the way we explore and access our information. I mean with the first portable phone being well.....a brick or paperweight, they have changed the way they display information, access it and have even changed the size of the phone itself to give us an easier, quicker and more enjoyable experience (unless the mobile display never gets old and your'e constantly mesmorised by it).
We were provided with mobile phones that could take photographs and record video to show to our mates. We were then given the opertunity to even send these items via Bluetooth. When Mp3 players came along mobile companies decided to slap one on their new range of mobile phones adding yet another feature for us to drool over.
This is all well and good but while these new ideas are spreading and growing, what do we do with our old ones? Most of us give them to our kids like my parents did, of course i could never keep up with the other kids phones. Maybe you handed it into a charity box to go to others less fortunate with no means of communication? Or perhaps you still have it collecting dust on your shelf as a spare in case the first one breaks, or maybe you can't find a use for it now and just leave it there? I'm not trying to get at the fact that we don't know what to do with our old phones, I'm trying to explain that for most of us a mobile phone is like a car. We all use one at some point in our lives, we all take it around everywhere with us and we all rely on it to keep us going. We also need to get a new one every few years or so that has new features that make getting from A to B more comfortable and entertaining. Whenever a new mobile phone comes out with better features or a better looking design or display we cancel out the old one. Even if we've only had the old one for a few months, we want the new one really badly so we get rid of the old one when really we could use it for at least another year or so. Most of us don't care about the main function of a mobile phone anymore we don't want to communicate to each other, we just want the latest new phone with better bells and whistles.
The newest form of phone is now capable of touch screen technology. The most popular model being the iPhone. This is a fine example of what I explained above. Although we still use it to communicate we really only get the iPhone because of all the extras that come with it, such as games, music and the never dull scrolling menu for music.
What is the future ?
If there is to be a future for the mobile phone I would like to see only where it is appreciated for what it is, a communicating device rather than a device with games, music and video and the phon option available. They sould be used to their full operating life, not just thrown away when a newer phone comes out. But I can't really see it changing, it will stay this way for many years until someone finds a better way of social communication or improves the communicating system on the phone to attract the people who want to use a phone as a phone not a gadget. Some mobile phones today have voice activated technology, only for simple commands such as finding contact information, but I would like to see this explored a bit more. Perhaps giving the mobiles AI technology making them not only a form of communication but a best friend (which can already be seen today by how popular it has been).
Mobile phones are a crutial part of social communication and interaction because they allow us to communicate with each other from great distances and transfer messages via text messaging. But mobile phones did not begin like this, they were once no more useful than a normal phone, except they were portable and if you were on the move you had a means of communicating with others on the go.
The first portable phone used, like any other phone was an enormously useful tool, as there was no wire to connect, just an ariel which connected to the main phone line wirelessly.
Why are they good for Social Communication ?
Whenever you think of social communication the first thing that comes into your head (or my head at least) is either mobile phones or the internet. We all use mobiles to get in touch with each other whether over the phone or by texting (which i should'nt need to explain as i'm assuming that your'e a smart person and that your aware of what day it is. If you don't know what a mobile phone is then welcome to 2009 and we drive automobiles now called cars!). And since mobiles now have the internet capabilities and bluetooth, it has now become the universal source of social communication. They are particularly useful for business people to organise themselves (the new blackberry phones are the most useful if you need a phone to organise your life) but also children as young as 8 (gasp!) now know how to use one and in some cases own one themselves. They have become a huge chunk of our social lives.
How have they Developed, Changed and Improved ?
This is where mobile phones have hypnotised and warped the minds of kids today by changing to better suit their entertaining needs. What I mean is that as mobiles have adapted, so has the people who use them. And not just kids but adults as well, were all turning into texting machines, who pump out dozens of letters a second. Aside from that as mobiles have been changing to keep up to date with technology they have also improved the way we explore and access our information. I mean with the first portable phone being well.....a brick or paperweight, they have changed the way they display information, access it and have even changed the size of the phone itself to give us an easier, quicker and more enjoyable experience (unless the mobile display never gets old and your'e constantly mesmorised by it).
We were provided with mobile phones that could take photographs and record video to show to our mates. We were then given the opertunity to even send these items via Bluetooth. When Mp3 players came along mobile companies decided to slap one on their new range of mobile phones adding yet another feature for us to drool over.
This is all well and good but while these new ideas are spreading and growing, what do we do with our old ones? Most of us give them to our kids like my parents did, of course i could never keep up with the other kids phones. Maybe you handed it into a charity box to go to others less fortunate with no means of communication? Or perhaps you still have it collecting dust on your shelf as a spare in case the first one breaks, or maybe you can't find a use for it now and just leave it there? I'm not trying to get at the fact that we don't know what to do with our old phones, I'm trying to explain that for most of us a mobile phone is like a car. We all use one at some point in our lives, we all take it around everywhere with us and we all rely on it to keep us going. We also need to get a new one every few years or so that has new features that make getting from A to B more comfortable and entertaining. Whenever a new mobile phone comes out with better features or a better looking design or display we cancel out the old one. Even if we've only had the old one for a few months, we want the new one really badly so we get rid of the old one when really we could use it for at least another year or so. Most of us don't care about the main function of a mobile phone anymore we don't want to communicate to each other, we just want the latest new phone with better bells and whistles.
The newest form of phone is now capable of touch screen technology. The most popular model being the iPhone. This is a fine example of what I explained above. Although we still use it to communicate we really only get the iPhone because of all the extras that come with it, such as games, music and the never dull scrolling menu for music.
What is the future ?
If there is to be a future for the mobile phone I would like to see only where it is appreciated for what it is, a communicating device rather than a device with games, music and video and the phon option available. They sould be used to their full operating life, not just thrown away when a newer phone comes out. But I can't really see it changing, it will stay this way for many years until someone finds a better way of social communication or improves the communicating system on the phone to attract the people who want to use a phone as a phone not a gadget. Some mobile phones today have voice activated technology, only for simple commands such as finding contact information, but I would like to see this explored a bit more. Perhaps giving the mobiles AI technology making them not only a form of communication but a best friend (which can already be seen today by how popular it has been).
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
The answer to the big question!!!
Here's a video I found while looking for other forms of social communication which i think all of us will find useful:
It's titled: Communication Technologies and New Forms of Social Interaction
She first explains that it is split up into 3 areas:
Connectiveness
Ambiguity
Identity
As the presentation progresses she explains how big of an impact it has made on us as a community, how it has changed the way we live, play and access information. That it is a part of us and that it has evolved into a personal thing. She continues to review examples of this such as mobile phones and says that most of human relationships are now mediated by some form of technology.
If your having trouble gathering your research for the assignment then watch this presentation. If you still don't know what to research, at least it will explain it in plain english.
It's titled: Communication Technologies and New Forms of Social Interaction
She first explains that it is split up into 3 areas:
Connectiveness
Ambiguity
Identity
As the presentation progresses she explains how big of an impact it has made on us as a community, how it has changed the way we live, play and access information. That it is a part of us and that it has evolved into a personal thing. She continues to review examples of this such as mobile phones and says that most of human relationships are now mediated by some form of technology.
If your having trouble gathering your research for the assignment then watch this presentation. If you still don't know what to research, at least it will explain it in plain english.
Thursday, 22 January 2009
Web Cameras
What is a Web Camera?
Web Cameras are PC and Mac tools that improve our communication abilities by allowing us to see each other from great distances. Nearly everyone that owns a laptop has one including myself. Instead of communicating through words on either MSN messenger or Facebook, users can communicate to each other physically (well as close to physically as you can without meeting them in person).
Some web cams are better than others such as, some allow you to speak to each other while less advanced cameras still need you to communicate through MSN and type what you saying however you can still see each other. Picture quality varies depending on what laptop or portable web cam you have purchased but they're all good in some way. The one I have is only 1.3 mega pixels but it is enough to make my conversation experience better. One webcam that i would recommend is the Logitech Quickcam Zoom webcam. Its around £30-£40 and offers you 640-480 pixel visuals and a built it microfone. This is really for those who don't have a laptop and want a portable plug-in one, if your after a good long lasting webcam with basic skills but a reasonable price i would gofor this one, plus it looks good. For more information and a full review on the Logitech webcam visit this website: http://www.ciao.co.uk/Logitech_QuickCam_Zoom__5330773#productdetail
Webcams have even been developed for high definition consoles such as the Xbox 360, which can offer better quality visuals and less lagging.
How is it Changing and is there a Future?
People use webcams on a daily basis for communicating with business partners or coligues, or just chatting with friends. Because of this companies are always trying to best one another and improve their products to give consumers more entertainment and better quality images. One company in particular has shot ahead from the others to produce a new and interesting way of veiwing each other and communicate at quicker speeds.
Teliris has taken the normal webcam design, thrown it away and have upgraded it for company and business use. The Teliris Virtualive Telepresence is a new form of webcam in that you still communicate live but in much much greater detail and a lot less lag. The picture is smooth without skips or jumps like on some webcams (including mine), making it feel much more live and in person. You forget there just video on a wall and think there actually there. They use huge screens instead of a single lens so you can see on a wider scale, these can then be linked up to show an entire room rather than the persons head and shoulders. These are mainly used for things like board meetings and seminars like the images below:
As for the future of webcams Cisco has developed Teliris concept and design and produced a new and interesting way of communication. When i first saw it i thought it was fake and obviously acted out, so I looked into it and realised it was actually in the process of being made. This new form of physical webcam which at the moment is called Virtual Telepresence will completly change the way we communicate with each other and send information. They have developed a webcam that projects the live person from hundreds of miles away (or any distence) onto a stage or room as if they were actually there. Just imagine if you have two places to be at once, say a board meeting and your office to catch up one work. Instead of only having to choose one place to be you can simply go to your office and then project yourself into the confrence room via a camera and projector. Here's one good example from Cisco:
Web Cameras are PC and Mac tools that improve our communication abilities by allowing us to see each other from great distances. Nearly everyone that owns a laptop has one including myself. Instead of communicating through words on either MSN messenger or Facebook, users can communicate to each other physically (well as close to physically as you can without meeting them in person).
Some web cams are better than others such as, some allow you to speak to each other while less advanced cameras still need you to communicate through MSN and type what you saying however you can still see each other. Picture quality varies depending on what laptop or portable web cam you have purchased but they're all good in some way. The one I have is only 1.3 mega pixels but it is enough to make my conversation experience better. One webcam that i would recommend is the Logitech Quickcam Zoom webcam. Its around £30-£40 and offers you 640-480 pixel visuals and a built it microfone. This is really for those who don't have a laptop and want a portable plug-in one, if your after a good long lasting webcam with basic skills but a reasonable price i would gofor this one, plus it looks good. For more information and a full review on the Logitech webcam visit this website: http://www.ciao.co.uk/Logitech_QuickCam_Zoom__5330773#productdetail
Webcams have even been developed for high definition consoles such as the Xbox 360, which can offer better quality visuals and less lagging.
How is it Changing and is there a Future?
People use webcams on a daily basis for communicating with business partners or coligues, or just chatting with friends. Because of this companies are always trying to best one another and improve their products to give consumers more entertainment and better quality images. One company in particular has shot ahead from the others to produce a new and interesting way of veiwing each other and communicate at quicker speeds.
Teliris has taken the normal webcam design, thrown it away and have upgraded it for company and business use. The Teliris Virtualive Telepresence is a new form of webcam in that you still communicate live but in much much greater detail and a lot less lag. The picture is smooth without skips or jumps like on some webcams (including mine), making it feel much more live and in person. You forget there just video on a wall and think there actually there. They use huge screens instead of a single lens so you can see on a wider scale, these can then be linked up to show an entire room rather than the persons head and shoulders. These are mainly used for things like board meetings and seminars like the images below:
As for the future of webcams Cisco has developed Teliris concept and design and produced a new and interesting way of communication. When i first saw it i thought it was fake and obviously acted out, so I looked into it and realised it was actually in the process of being made. This new form of physical webcam which at the moment is called Virtual Telepresence will completly change the way we communicate with each other and send information. They have developed a webcam that projects the live person from hundreds of miles away (or any distence) onto a stage or room as if they were actually there. Just imagine if you have two places to be at once, say a board meeting and your office to catch up one work. Instead of only having to choose one place to be you can simply go to your office and then project yourself into the confrence room via a camera and projector. Here's one good example from Cisco:
I personally think that webcams will eventually all be like Cisco's, as the man said we'll be communicating like Star Trek. Although this methos is currently in development and look to only be used by businesses, I think Cisco or another company will develop it for families worldwide so then everyone can communicate with each other live and 'in person'. I think that in the years to come this new form of communication will be the main form of communication. This could also be incorporated into portable devices such as mobile phones. Imagine recieving a phone call from a friend on a mobile and then when you answer a holographic projection of your friend is displayed live to interact with in a more personal way.
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
What would life be like without the internet, how would our lives change?
I suppose i would certainly not be as lazy as i am now, i blame the Internet for making me like this. If the Internet was not there to distract me i would be more passionate about what i want to do as my profession. I would still enjoy drawing cartoons but it would be more of a hobby than a passion, i would most likely be pursuing my music hobby as a profession. Basically my life would be the opposite of what it is now. I know that for one thing my sense of humour would not be as good as it is today (which is pretty rubbish to be honest) as I spend some time viewing comedians and comics on YouTube.
But without the Internet researching would take much longer and could be more boring than it is now. I mean just look at how quickly we can find information for an assignment or project. The Internet is much more comfortable and entertaining when looking for research and info. But on a brighter note because of the lack of resources, gathering research would be easy as pie, your teacher would never ask you to look at multiple sources for research you could just go to the library for it.
On a sadder note however i would not have the friends i have today. Most of my friends i have met were in school or college classes that were crucially linked to the Internet in some way. I don't trust people easily since an incident involving the Internet. If the Internet doesn't exist, then the incident never happened, which means that i would trust too easily and get walked over by people all of my life (Although it would help me psychologically). We would all have to buy our music from shops instead of downloading it :( .
Another very important matter is that without the Internet, banks would not be able to organise their accounts easily and would be forced to do it manually. There would be not credit crunch and we could all live our lives much happier. Woolworths and Zavvi would still exist and we would'nt always have to go to HMV for music and DVD's, we would have options, choices and variety :).
But without the Internet researching would take much longer and could be more boring than it is now. I mean just look at how quickly we can find information for an assignment or project. The Internet is much more comfortable and entertaining when looking for research and info. But on a brighter note because of the lack of resources, gathering research would be easy as pie, your teacher would never ask you to look at multiple sources for research you could just go to the library for it.
On a sadder note however i would not have the friends i have today. Most of my friends i have met were in school or college classes that were crucially linked to the Internet in some way. I don't trust people easily since an incident involving the Internet. If the Internet doesn't exist, then the incident never happened, which means that i would trust too easily and get walked over by people all of my life (Although it would help me psychologically). We would all have to buy our music from shops instead of downloading it :( .
Another very important matter is that without the Internet, banks would not be able to organise their accounts easily and would be forced to do it manually. There would be not credit crunch and we could all live our lives much happier. Woolworths and Zavvi would still exist and we would'nt always have to go to HMV for music and DVD's, we would have options, choices and variety :).
Thursday, 15 January 2009
My perfect room
While looking through youtube i found lots of interactive items that i would love to have in a single room (if i ever had the money or if they ever were mass produced). The first of the items would be the floor, i had this in mind:
The next would be a table this one made my day, i love this. It would be nice if it interacted with any music but this is a nice start:
Next would be furniture, this one really made me laugh although you would'nt want too many of these moving around:
i'll continue to post more ideas in the future but for now my room is looking pretty cool, if you have any other items i would want to place in my room then let me know.
The next would be a table this one made my day, i love this. It would be nice if it interacted with any music but this is a nice start:
Next would be furniture, this one really made me laugh although you would'nt want too many of these moving around:
i'll continue to post more ideas in the future but for now my room is looking pretty cool, if you have any other items i would want to place in my room then let me know.
ZenZui
Since flash websites was a dead end i have looked further for other systems to research. It occurred to me that since the iPhone no one has come up with any new way of accessing current information. The slide scrolling option on the iPhone was a huge step forward and received great praise but since then no other company has attempted to produce anything new and different. I decided to see if any had.
I found the ZenZui product which is being made by Apples rival Microsoft. The ZenZui is a mobile phone update which can work with any phone of any network. It is a new way of recieving current information via the internet such as news broadcasts anouncements etc. It also allows you to post photographs and things of the users interest onto the menu. The menu itself is split up into 16 tiles which you can zoom into sections of 4 tiles.
Hers a video showing you how it works, as you can see you don't need a touch screen to use it:
Because it is still a work in progress i can't really explain it in much detail and don't have much knowlage on the new product after all it's still in the dark at the moment. This next video explains more on what it does and how it acesses the information. NOTE: he does talk very fast so be prepared to listen carefully.
I can't see this really going somewhere as it is, to be honest not as well presented as the iPhone's menu. it still does'nt feel as smooth as the iPhone. I praise microsoft however for finally coming up with a new menu design and accessability that works with all mobile phones where as the iPhone display is only for the iPhone, which sucks! I hope to see this up and running and being used by lots of people in the near future.
I found the ZenZui product which is being made by Apples rival Microsoft. The ZenZui is a mobile phone update which can work with any phone of any network. It is a new way of recieving current information via the internet such as news broadcasts anouncements etc. It also allows you to post photographs and things of the users interest onto the menu. The menu itself is split up into 16 tiles which you can zoom into sections of 4 tiles.
Hers a video showing you how it works, as you can see you don't need a touch screen to use it:
Because it is still a work in progress i can't really explain it in much detail and don't have much knowlage on the new product after all it's still in the dark at the moment. This next video explains more on what it does and how it acesses the information. NOTE: he does talk very fast so be prepared to listen carefully.
I can't see this really going somewhere as it is, to be honest not as well presented as the iPhone's menu. it still does'nt feel as smooth as the iPhone. I praise microsoft however for finally coming up with a new menu design and accessability that works with all mobile phones where as the iPhone display is only for the iPhone, which sucks! I hope to see this up and running and being used by lots of people in the near future.
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