DTC 356 "Extra Blog Post"

In light of our reading about "Exhibitionism", why don't you share the first viral video you remember watching "back in the day".

Here's the one I most clearly remember:

    As suggested in the prompt, Stiglitz seems to be more focused on deriving a general model for how changes in technology correlate to changes in economics. Stiglitz doesn't give any “real-world” analogies in his paper, choosing instead to build a standardized view of how a market works, regardless of what machines or technology is being used at the current moment. Stiglitz explains in detail how the risk-reduction put into place by every major business while on the verge of a recession does not stave off the recession, but only hastens its arrival.

    Stigltiz also makes the noteworthy observation, stating that a free markets are “institutions that have evolved to solve information problems ”. In one sense, a free market is self-regulating computer, that, when one issue arises, acts in a certain way to counteract that issue.

    Shapiro and Varian, on the other hand, argue that they (like Stiglitz) do not seek to predict the future, but rather seek standardized models that work in any economic situation, no matter what technology is currently being used. While they conclude their paper, saying that they wish to avoid analogies in their arguments, their entire introduction relies on real-world examples of what has and hasn't happened with certain technologies and tech companies.

    Now, this does not mean that S & V had nothing to contribute. In fact, I found many of their arguments and points very interesting, especially the part about “A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention”. I think that phrase, in particular, is very relevant in our current society (see my last post, the comic strip, for my opinion about that).

    As for who I align myself with ideologically, I'd have to say that I don't really like either situation. Now, I'm no Communist, but personally, I hate it when people think of money as the highest, best standard of value. Yes money is necessary and important, but I really wouldn't mind working for a 501c3 non profit one day. 501c3's do not work to earn money for their stockholders or even their owners. They work to provide a service or resource to the public. Most museums are 501c3's. All money earned from ticket sales, train rides, donations, tours, etc. goes back into the organization to fund and further improve the organization's achievement of its mission statement. And yes, some of that money can be used to pay employees to keep the organization's doors open. I would love to be able to support myself and possibly a family one day, while providing a service and educational resource to the larger community.

So, I never draw comics, but I felt that this would be the best medium for expressing my observations on why the "Memex" would never work with the modern mindset. So here it is, a commentary on both the consequences of never building what you design, and the problem that I think modern man faces when it comes to technology: it's too entertaining. 

So, here you go; a 6-frame comic strip. Enjoy :)

Randomness & Information: English 356

Prompt: "Gleick, in considering the relationship between randomness and information, makes a distinction between interesting and uninteresting numbers. As we start thinking about the midterm, I'll be looking for interesting projects from you. What might "interesting" mean in a DTC project, and what would its opposite be? Offer examples (in whatever media you choose) to help you make your point."

"Interesting" & "Random" are two different possible interpretations of information. Someone who determines certain information "interesting" is intrigued by that information, and will likely rule that that information has some effect on his life and actions to some degree. On the other hand, "random" information  has little to no bearing on that person's life/ course of action, and is considered "useless" or "un-needed". 

In a DTC project, we deal with information. The hard part is taking that information and making it applicable to our audience. We want the information we present and the way we present it to be interesting. Even if the information is interesting, a poor presentation of that information will quickly lose you your audience. 

Now, one interesting way to present boring information is to use a method that, at first, at least, seems random. There is definitely an order to the information being presented, but a "slippery slope" argument can definitely be entertaining to your audience. I think a good example of this are the DirecTV commercials, which try to make an otherwise uninteresting message interesting (or at least memorable) by using a slippery slope argument to entertain their audience (which will, hopefully, cause their audience to remember the DirecTV name when upgrading their TV service): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtdBe4ILXyM

The other, and perhaps better option, though, is to have an interesting message to begin with. Rather than using comedy to disguise a weak message, interesting information with an interesting presentation might be used instead. One of the best examples I can think of for "interesting information presented in an interesting way" is the ending of the "Bioshock: Infinite" video game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOBELxAoztM 

This ending takes some complicated theories about reality and parallel universes and makes it visual, using lighthouses standing in an ocean to represent each separate reality (if I understand it correctly). 

Media that share information in an interesting way usually become hailed as a "classic", and are often remembered well-after current technology has rendered it "obsolete". Though the media may be dated, the message and the way that message was given becomes timeless.

When it comes to creating a mid-term DTC project, I think the hard part will be creating media that is interesting in and of itself. Creating a method to give a message in an interesting way isn't too difficult. Coming up with a good message in the first place could prove to be the hard part.