The movie The Circle explores the idea of no privacy in society as a company known as The Circle unveils ever-seeing cameras all a crossed the country. The companies hope is to promote activism as they know when individuals are doing wrong in the world. This film opened my eyes to the reality of a battle between freedom and privacy that is unfolding today. As this project follows May around you begin to see the brain washing effect of the technology as she only sees the good in the all-knowing system. Characters such as Mercer and Annie display the stress and fear that The Circle can cause. Annie is in fear of her parents being found because they did not save a man drowning. additionally, Mercer, a love interest of Mae’s, begins to be stacked by these cameras as he attempts to fall off the grid by living in a cabin in the woods. This shows that the system has no room for stragglers and will go to any length to monitor anyone and everyone. Ultimately a drone attempting to keep up with Mercer in a chase, crashes into his windshield and kills him. In class we have discussed technologies ever-growing impact on everyday life and this Movie falls right into that category. Although the idea is a stretch in terms of our human rights there is still glimpses of this overlook today. Ads have shown that they know what we search as recently viewed items pop up on the side of your screen all the time. I believe that it is important to maintain a level of privacy for the mental satisfaction of solitude within people. In certain situations an eye over you would be overwhelming and if the circle was reality everyone would be hesitant instead of free willed.
Author: George Lowe
Life Body VR
My Virtual Reality realm explores the impact of your life choices and its impact on your body throughout your life. This world would relate to the subject of health education in high schools as students prepare to leave their parents and make decisions on their own. This world allows you to interact with individuals who influence your decisions in an excelerated life. The program takes into account the decisions you make on your diet, exercise as well as your drug and alcohol choices. The first stage is between the age of 18 and 25 and the habits you develop stay with you until the end of the simulation. Additionally, if the choice is deferred you have the option to add a choice into the next stages. At the end of each stage you get to see an image of your body that directly correlates with the choices you have made throughout the simulation. Ultimately you get to see how your body reacts over the years over the years, predicting an age of death as well as an accurate image of you in your last days. This idea provokes empathy due to the fact that you see your own body progress. In a traditional health class setting you are only able to see negative choices impacting others, giving students the idea they will never be like the image they see. Overall, this realm should influence students to make the right decision early on in their real life so they can live the healthiest life possible.
Avatar
Scene 12 Provocation
Within scene 14, Papa and Woodnut are conversing within the hideaway about Woodnut’s infatuation towards Iris. Papa advises him to not get attached as it seems that Woodnut isn’t using the realm to its full potential. Papa believes that if Woodnut continues with the program he may climb out of his fear.
Although Woodnut has not maxed the potential of the realm, why is it so important to Papa (and the realm as a whole) that he take advantage of all the realms perks? Shouldn’t the experience be what you want?
Online Reading: Helping or Hurting
George Lowe
English 151
Licastro
Online Reading: Helping or Hurting
As we grow up in a time of constant innovation, it is necessary to reflect on the changes that have occurred. With computers and phones being a part of everyday lives, we have adapted to reading information off of a screen. Although the internet is easily accessible, it can have hindering effects. The benefits of reading online, such as convenience and variety come at the price of your focus. Students in the digital era have a tougher time focusing on online articles than on hard back books. I understand that online reading is here to stay, but paper text should not vanish.
To begin, the real problem with online reading is the setting itself. Mass media clogs the internet and ultimately is hard to stay focused on one specific passage when you have several to choose from. Nicolas Carr, author of “Is Google Making Us Stupid”, describes how his “mind now expects to take in information the way the Net distributes it: in a swiftly moving stream of particles” (Carr 4). When going about reading on the internet I find myself skimming and analyzing rather than thinking critically. On the other hand, reading from a hard copy of text allows me to hone in on each word knowing that another source is not just a click away. Carr brings light to the issue when he portrays himself as once being “a scuba diver in the sea of words. Now I zip along the surface like a guy on a Jet Ski.” Today it seems that readers have developed a habit of reading one to two paragraphs then hopping to the next site at their convenience. This causes a huge disconnect from literature as a whole as deep reading through novels becomes obsolete. In addition to the Internet’s vast sources, other distractors are just one click away. Carr also illustrates how “hyperlinks, blinking ads, and other digital gewgaws…surrounds the content with the content of all the other media it has absorbed.” These side bars diffuse focus and create the change we see unfolding. A constant need for the next new topic drives us to continue to use the internet but distracts us from a true connection to the text. Overall, the Internet has shifted the way we learn due to constant flow of information and aimless side distractions. As we lean toward a different outlet for literature it is important to limit the skimming and scanning that we do, to further our deep minds.
Additionally, we need to consider the changes that arise from reading on a screen rather than paper. More importantly, Ferris Jabar, author of “The Reading Brain in the Digital Age: The Science of Paper versus Screens” asks “How do our brains respond differently to onscreen text than to words on paper?” (Jabar). The answer is that E-reading does not have the same appeal as paper text leading to lack of comprehension. Jabar recalls a studies from polls and consumer reports show that “navigational difficulties may subtly inhibit reading comprehension.” (Jabar) In retrospect, paper books are tangible and clearly defined with borders, as you know where the book begins and ends. Also, the turning of pages leaves a satisfaction of progress as you witness the book getting closer to the end. Jabar raises another good point when he states how “most screens, e-readers, smartphone, and tablets interfere with intuitive navigation of text and inhibit people from mapping the journey in their minds” (Jabar). Digital reading outlets can online provide one virtual page of content, intangible and lifeless. A study at the University of Stavanger in Norway tested students see if reading and navigating on a screen really impacts your comprehension. The results showed that students who read from a pdf file struggled with finding important information as they alluded to the text. Ultimately, navigating a book comes easier to the consumers of the text and continues to harness a particular appeal when it comes to learning.
Nicolas Carr stressed upon the constant lack of focus that comes with online reading and that is true for so many millennials. When I reflect on my own experiences with online reading, I have found that I can never retain the information because I am constantly distracted. If I am reading on my laptop I find that the notifications, such as email, Facebook or even software updates, draw my attention away from the content. In addition, when I use my phone to read up on sports or politics, I am easily grabbed in by a text message or an Instagram like. Additionally, the eye fatigue that comes with a screen is tough to bare after reading for a while. Although I have become accustomed to reading online, I feel it is easiest for me to learn through paper text. When I discover an interesting subject in a textbook or novel I can maintain my focus and its deration, allowing me to thoroughly understand what I am reading. Due to my experiences, I feel that online reading is not good enough. If you want to genuinely comprehend a topic, a real book would be your best bet.
From hieroglyphics to paperbacks and now computers, the way we read has been evolving for years. Learning from history we can duct that change will follow suit when something new arrives. It is important to continue to read deep and think deeper as we face a time of disconnection. Who knows if a textbook will even be found in grade schools’ years from now. Overall, the importance of paper text from a learning perspective is tremendous and rapid advancement in technology should only draw us closer to our tangible, enlightening paper back.