Potential Speculation Project Ideas

I think that the idea of the "Speculation Project" is extremely interesting.  I never really thought that much about what the future of writing is going to turn into, but when I think back to what writing used to consist of, it amazes me what it has turned into.  I think that because I am a visual learner, and photography is one of my favorite hobbies and something I have had experience with, I would really like to incorporate that into my "Speculation Project." I think that if I can include that with my interest in movies as well...It might make for an interesting project.  I have also had experience working with programs like iMovie and I really love using that program.  I know we might not necessarily use that in this class, but I might be able to use something similar like Flash (although that might be a little too confusing for me.) Digital Photography is something that I love to work with... so Adobe Photoshop, as well as InDesign and Illustrator are programs that I might include in my project.  These are just my thoughts now on this project, but I am sure they might change...

RESPONSE TO "EPIC"

A) EPIC as content: I think that EPIC did a really good job of showing that the world of technology is starting to take over.  Now that blogging has become more and more popular and more than twice as many people are using these sites, writing on paper isn't really what our time consists of anymore.  The way that the video charts the history of the internet and how the popularity of it rises, as the popularity of newspapers for example decrease make it really interesting.  EPIC told us of the term "googlezon"which comes from Amazon and Google merging together to form the "google grid"

B) EPIC as an example of digital writing: I think that EPIC is a great example of digital writing.  I think that the way it uses things like flash animation make us aware of all the new technology programs that we are surrounded by and are becoming more and more popular.  I think the perception it gives us of looking forward couldn't have been done any other way than by using a computer and even more a computer program like flash. 

C) EPIC as an example of something that might be a response to the 'Speculation Project': I think that EPIC is a really good example of what the 'Speculation Project' is going to be like.  We are learning about all of these programs that we can use to make our writing and projects digital, so the idea of writing something on paper seems to be way in the past.  This is not to say that writing on paper cannot be done anymore, because if that is what you prefer than certainly use that technique, but it is hard to deny the fact that technology is taking over a good portion of what we work with on a day to day basis.

Is a Computer a Tool?

I definitely think that a computer should be considered to be a tool because it can be considered to be an instrument that helps us to preform a task.  When I hear the word tool, I think about a 'tool kit' so I think about the things that a tool kit includes.  This means I think of things like a screwdriver, and a hammer, nails, etc.  These things are similar to a computer because they all help us to complete something.  I think that although you do not have to exert as much energy when working with a computer as you do when using 'actual' tools, they are still doing the same kind of thing.  Today the computer is viewed as a more sophisticated tool, performing tasks that should augment our performance as humans. It is difficult, though, to demonstrate that the computer has actually increased our performance in any substantive way. Calling the computer a tool may seem a simple matter of word choice but changing the view of the computer from interactive artifact to tool has a significant impact on how we think about the computer, what we expect of it, how we design for it and how we train for its use.

Hypertext: Of Mouse and Man

Sven Berkerts, in his article "Hypertext: Of Mouse and Man, " gave pros to both written word and technology.  His main point is that writing has moved from "product to process."  It's really more about what comes out of things and what we can get from them, not so much how.  The way that the media has transformed is something that we are all aware of and is very much apart of how we live day to day.  

The End of Books

"The End of Books," by Robert Coover discusses that a lot of things are very outdated.  for example, libraries will be coming museums soon, etc.  Coover talks about how these books are giving out information that is no longer valid.  he also discusses the concept of infinity and it is possible to get lost in that.  A lot of what he was saying wasn't necessarily "bashing" books the whole time, it was really just showing that they give us different things.  Coover says that it is important to keep up with how often things are updated as well because technology is really making things change at a fast pase.  This piece of writing was written for the New York Times which is interesting because since it is such a popular newpaper, so many more people are going to be exposed to this topic.  

Parent Timeline

Interview with dad: Paul Glazer

Q:What if your earliest recollection of writing?

A: Definitely remember writing my haf torah portion for my Bar- Mitzvah.  Wasn't the first thing I ever wrote, but it was the first real thing that had some meaning to my life.

Q: Do you recall turning points in the way you think about writing?

A: Well, when I became a musician, my writing completely changed.  Definitely for the better.  I began to really like the way I was writing because it became much more creative and I was enjoying myself.

Q: What tools do you use to write now? And how has that changed?

A: I use the notebook I've been using ever since I first started the band.  This is where I keep all the words to my songs, and even just thoughts or ideas I have for things I might write in the future...

As We May Think

Vannevar Bush was the director of his office and coordinated an immense amount of activities. He wrote the essay, "As We May Think" a while back.  Bush made predictions as to what he thought would happen in a few years from now and I thought they seemed to be pretty accurate.  He also talked about flaws that he saw in some forms of technologies.  Computers, as well as phones and cameras too are all forms of technology that we use on a daily basis and don't even think twice about.  He looked at where science was going and then made very good guesses as to what would happen in the future and I found it very interesting that he was able to do this.  He may not have known where everything was coming from or what exactly it would entail but he was the FIRST to bring this up.