Final Post-Blog #12

In the Futurama Video, the ride showed a depiction of what the world would have looked like 60 years in the future, being 2024. The historical context of the ride reflected the 1960s optimism about technological process and humanity's potential to overcome environmental challenges. It emphasizes themes of exploration, innovation, and the transformative power of technology. 

Like with most aspects of things, there are both positives and negatives. Technology is known to have both positives and negatives to it, but it has also advanced over the years, so these positives and negatives have changed over time. 

Positives of Technology: 

Improved Communication

1. Technology enables faster and broader communication through tools like Cellphones, email, and video conferencing. Another way to put it is that it connects people in real time.

Advances in Healthcare

 2. New technologies like telemedicine, robotic surgery, and AI diagnostics have made healthcare more accurate and accessible. 

 

Access to Information and Education

3.  The internet provides unlimited learning opportunities, from free courses to educational videos and digital libraries.

Increased Productivity and Efficiency

4. Automation, AI, and smart software have boosted business productivity and allowed for more efficient workflows.

Now, on the other side are the Negatives, 

Negatives of Technology: 

Decreased Face-to-Face Interaction

1. Heavy reliance on digital communication can weaken in-person social skills and relationships.

Spread of Misinformation

2. Social media and instant messaging can spread false information much faster than traditional media.

Privacy and Security Concerns

3. Personal conversations, data, and communications can be hacked, leaked, or misused online. 

Information Overload

4. Constant exposure to emails, texts, and social media notifications can overwhelm users and reduce focus. 

Cyberbullying and Online Harassment

5. Anonymity on digital platforms can lead to increased instances of bullying and harassment.

 After looking at the positives and negatives of technology, another thing that has to be taken into account is whether everyone's relationship with technology is healthy or unhealthy. The length someone spends on technology and whether it's an appropriate length of time or not. 

EOTO 2 React-Blog#11

 Alternative media is a form of media that differs from mainstream media in terms of its content, production, or distribution. Many individuals turn to alternative media due to concerns involving biases, corporate influence, and many other factors found in traditional news outlets. Alternative platforms aim to provide content that challenges dominant narratives and offers diverse viewpoints. (Rise of alternative media and citizen journalism) 

Some of the Pros are: 

More Diverse Perspective

1. Alternative media often highlights voices and viewpoints that mainstream outlets overlook.
2. This diversity helps challenge dominant narratives and promotes a richer public dialogue.

Less Corporate Influence

1. Many alternative outlets operate independently of large corporations and advertisers.
2. This reduces conflicts of interest and can lead to more authentic reporting.

Unfiltered and Authentic Information

1. Alternative media often avoids heavy editorial filtering, offering content that feels raw and real.
2. This can lead to greater trust among certain audiences.

Encourages Critical Thinking

1. Exposure to a range of opinions forces readers to think more critically about the information they consume.
2. It supports media literacy and independent thought, especially among younger generations like Gen Z.

Some of the Cons are: 

Smaller Audience Reach

1. Alternative media usually has a much smaller audience compared to mainstream outlets.
2. This can limit the impact and visibility of important information.

Risk of Misinformation

1. With less formal editorial oversight, some alternative sources may spread inaccurate or misleading information.
2. Not all outlets maintain strong fact-checking practices.

Vulnerability to Censorship and Deplatforming

1. Since they often operate outside mainstream channels, alternative media platforms are more vulnerable to being shut down or restricted.

Difficulty Establishing Credibility

1. Without the established reputation of major outlets, alternative media can have a hard time being seen as trustworthy, even when their reporting is solid.
2. Readers must spend extra time evaluating source credibility.

Age of AI-Blog #10

 With AI advancing, Jobs are being threatened by AI and could be taken over by AI in the next 15 years. AI is predicted to automate many jobs, especially those involving repetitive tasks like data entry, customer service, for example. It's also expected to create new roles in areas like AI engineering and prompt engineering. While some see significant job displacement, others believe AI will ultimately increase efficiency and create new economic opportunities. (University of Michigan Journal of Economics) 

Google is a search engine that we practically use for everything. We use it to look up information, navigate where we are going, translate different languages, and even explore images, but did you know that, when we are searching Google, Google is searching us too? A federal court has ruled that Google illegally monopolized key segments of the digital advertising market. It marked a significant development in antitrust against Big Tech. (https://www.nytimes.com) 

Key Findings of the article: 

• Monopoly in Ad Tech: Judge Leonie Brinkema determined that Google violated antitrust laws by dominating the publisher ad server and ad exchange markets. ​
• Anticompetitive Practices: The court found that Google engaged in "tying" practices, requiring publishers to use its ad exchange to access its ad server, thereby suppressing competition and inflating costs for advertisers and publishers. ​ 

Right now, in the current age of AI, new digital rights are emerging. So what does that mean for us? It means people are demanding the Right to know when their data is being collected, and the Right to say no to companies selling their personal information. (https://www.accessnow.org) In some places, like California, for example, there are laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) that are in early steps towards empowering individuals against big tech overreach. 

As time goes on and AI continues to advance, AI has gotten better at predicting human behavior. Which is a little bizarre, right? But studies have shown that it can identify individuals at higher risk of suicide and depression, and sometimes more accurately than the traditional screening methods. (National Library of Medicine ) While on one hand, it could help save lives, on the other hand, it raises serious privacy and ethics questions about who controls that information. 

EOTO 2:False Flag-Blog #9

The overall definition of False Flag is a harmful, often militant, event or action designed to appear as though perpetrated by someone other than the person or group responsible for it. False flag operations are often calculated to generate sympathy for the attacked group. The term is sometimes used to describe a deliberate misrepresentation of one’s motives, although this sense is less frequent in contemporary usage. (Britannica)

 The term "false flag" originated in the 16th Century as an expression meaning an intentional misrepresentation of someone's allegiance. (en.wikipedia.org) Some more well-known examples of false flags that happened in the last ten years were, 

Georgia (2008): Russia allegedly sent unmarked soldiers to Georgia to provoke a response, which they then used as a justification for invading. 

Ransomware Attack (2017): The U.S Embassy & Consulates in Italy report that a joint investigation found the Russian Government responsible for a ransomware attack on Ukrainian businesses. (https://it.usembassy.gov)  

Gleiwitz Incident

Background: The Gleiwitz incident was a planned German attack against the radio station “Sender Gleiwitz” in the German town of Gliwice on the night of August 31st,1939. The goal of this was to create the false impression that Poland had attacked Germany, justifying the impending German invasion. (Facinghisotry.org) 

The fabrication/Victim: German agents dressed up in Polish uniforms, stormed the radio station, causing damage and leaving behind a body dressed in a Polish Uniform. That body left behind at the station was a Silesian German farmer, Franciszek Honiok. He was known to be sympathetic to Poland. He was arrested by the Gestapo, drugged, and then shot. (National WW2 Museum-New Orleans) 

The Narrative/Justification: The Naztis presented this staged attack as proof of a Polish attack on German territory, framing Poland as the “Aggressor”. This fabricated incident, along with other similarly staged events,  served as a causes for belli (war for Adolf Hitler’s invasion of Poland the next morning (September 1st). (Facing History.org)

St Nazaire Raid

Background: The St Nazaire Raid, also known by the name Operation Chariot, it was a daring WW2 commando raid on March 28th, 1942. The objective was to destroy the dock, which was the only one on the Atlantic coast large enough to accommodate the German battleship Tirpitz. (National Army Museum)   

The fabrication/Victim: The raid was a fabrication in the sense that it involved disguising HMS Campbeltown as a German vessel to gain entry into St. Nazaire deceived the German forces, as explained by the National Army Museum. ( www.bbc.co.uk) 

The Outcomes: The raid resulted in the successful destruction of the dry dock. While the raid was strategically important, it came at a high cost with significant casualties on both British and German sides. (US Naval Institution)

The concept of this is when an action is carried out to disguise the true source of the responsibility and to blame another party. 

Possible Good Implications (Strategic/Advantageous): 

 A. Psychological and Strategic Advantage 

1. Manipulates perception: Can shift public opinion or political will.
2. Gain support: A state might fabricate an attack to justify war or extreme action, rallying national support.
3. Discredit opponents: Useful for weakening opposition groups by associating them with violence or crimes.

B. Operational Effectiveness

1. Confusion and misdirection: In warfare or espionage, false flags can effectively divert attention and resources.
2. Undermine adversaries: Create distrust within enemy ranks or between allies.

Possible Bad Implications (Dangerous/Unethical): 

A. Loss of Trust and Legitimacy

1. Erodes credibility: If exposed, the instigator loses moral and political legitimacy.

2. Backlash: Citizens or the international community may respond harshly, creating blowback.

B. Escalation of Conflict

1. Justifies war or repression: False flags have been used to provoke large-scale violence or wars (e.g., Gulf of Tonkin incident, possibly Reichstag fire).

2. Destabilizes regions: Misinformation can spiral into real conflict or civil unrest.

C. Ethical and Legal Violations 

1. Violations of International Law:  Deceptive tactics in warfare can constitute war crimes.

2. Targeting Innocents: False flags often involve harm to uninvolved people, which is morally reprehensible.

D. Fuel for Conspiracy Theories 

1. Even the possibility of a false flag feeds skepticism and erodes public trust in institutions. 

2. Can delegitimize real events and cause confusion (e.g, people denying real tragedies by claiming they were staged, for example, People thought the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting was staged). 

Diffusions of Innovations-Blog #8

The Camera was able to catch on and spread because of technical advancements, affordability as well as its ability to capture and share moments easily.  Early Cameras were bulky and required specialized knowledge to operate. However, advancements like the development of more compact cameras, simpler operating mechanisms, and inexpensive film made them accessible to a wider audience. For example, in 1900 Kodak introduced the brownie camera, which was less bulky and a lot cheaper. The selling price was a dollar. (Everpresent.com)  

The first spread through a combination of scientific innovation, public demonstration, and industrial production. Early Cameras were initially presented as scientific marvels and artistic tools, gaining popularity through demonstrations and publications.

The main reason people were early adopters of the camera is because of its ability to preserve memories, document events, and share experiences. Another reason people were early adopters of it was because, at the time, photography was a new and upcoming art form. (aaronhertzmann.com)

What are the overall reasons Many individuals became late adopters of cameras due to a variety of factors, including the perception of high cost, limited convenience, and the preference for traditional methods like film photography. The issue regarding the perceived high cost and limited convenience is that Early digital cameras were expensive, and the technology wasn't as refined as it is today. This made them less accessible to the general public, and film cameras offered a more affordable and simpler alternative. (www.cnet.com)

The negative consequences of camera technology can be categorized into environmental, ethical, and societal impacts. Environmental concerns include the mining of metals used in camera components, the energy consumption for digital image storage and transmission, and the use of non-rechargeable batteries. The environmental impacts are Mining and Resource Depletion, Energy Consumption, E-waste, and battery waste.

                                                        

Mainstream Media- Blog #7

You don't hear from the anti-war voices in the mainstream media because of Advertiser Influence. The definition of Advertiser Influence is when how advertising shapes public perception, behaviors, and opinions. Which often influences what content is deemed newsworthy and how it's presented by media outlets. 

This impact on media is that advertisers can exert pressure on media outlets, potentially leading to a prioritization of content that aligns with their interests and commercial goals that can potentially impact journalistic integrity. This can involve the selection and prioritization of news stories. (library.fiveable.me)

Another reason why you don't hear anti-war voices in mainstream media is because of Nationalism and Framing. During war or conflict, the media tends to adopt a nationalist framing or in other words a US vs Them. Anti-war voices can be painted to be unpatriotic or some people look at it as sympathetic towards the enemy which in a way, makes it harder for them to get airtime without being discredited. (www.media-diversity.org) 

We have to seek out these obscure websites to hear these strong anti-war voices because in a way mainstream media servers power and do not challenge it. Mainstream outlets often operate within these set boundaries that are made by political, corporate, and cultural power. They rely on government sources, military briefings, and corporate sponsors, all of which can be hostile to the anti-war stance. So they tend to favor voices that don't question foundational systems. 

EOTO Reaction: Carrier Pigions-Blog #6

 After listening to all my classmates' presentations, I realized that the topic that stood out was the history of carrier pigments. In ancient civilizations, the use of homing pigeons for messaging dates back thousands of years, with evidence of their use in accidents in Egypt for conveying news. 

The first message-barring pigeon was loosed by Noah. The ancient Romans used pigeons for chariot races, to tell owners how their entries had been placed. Genghis Khan established a pigion relay posts arcoss asia and much of Eastern Europe. 

Charlemagne made pigeon-raising the privilege of nobility. The Rothschild fortune is said to have been seriously augmented by a pigeon bearing news of the British victory at Waterloo. The thought of pigeons flying across the sky with a message tucked securely in their legs may seem like a scene from history. But, in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, pigeons still play a role in police operations, serving as a poignant reminder of their once-critical role in communication. Another thing that pigeons are used for is pigeons were used to smuggle drugs across international borders.