Sad by Design
This podcast talks about how we, as humans, must overcome the corporate tech monopoly and their tactical methods which forces us to become dependent on their applications and technology. The podcast first introduces tactical media, and how it uses interactive media to promote the human agenda. This then leads into platform capitalism, where tech giants such as Facebook, uber, and etc. makes money by integrating these platforms into our everyday lives. I think it was interesting how they talked about distinguishing the real vs. the virtual, and how it is all intertwined. With the emerging technologies of VR, imagine how much harder it will be to distinguish the two worlds. I also found it relatable when the podcast stated that the world of distraction leads to a world of sadness, and how we get not only addicted to this sadness, but are drawn into it as well. They talk about the “rabbit hole of sadness”, and we hide in these targeted holes and sink deeper into them. That’s why a lot of the news sources focus on the negative things happening around the world.
Like the podcast states, how can we (if we can) overcome the smart phone?
Would you use a (lightphone)?
Programmed Visions This article begins with a parable of the six blind men and comparing it to the topic of New Media. Because New Media and technology is such a big topic, they state that it is difficult to know what it exactly is as a whole, and we can only know bits and pieces of it at best (individually). However, the article states that out of all things New Media, software is the universal thing that we may use in an effort to understand it. The article describes that the software becomes a metaphor for culture, while nature is the metaphor for hardware; however, it is difficult to understand software as well so there is a paradox that occurs. I also found it interesting when the article stated that software empowers users and helps us navigate through our increasingly complex world.
Should we learn how to read code? Would it be necessary in the near future?
The reading states that software helps us navigate through our increasingly complex world. Does that mean as technology advances, will it be more difficult for the elderly to adjust? How can we make technology more accessible globally?
How to be a Geek This article talks about how learning about the gap between those who understand software and are over enthused, over informed, and over excited about it, and those who aren’t. The article also talks about how it is difficult for people to get into software and how it discourages strangers (i.e. writing on software is also partially inside software, when it is presented as a paper book). The article also talks about how the geeks/ tech giants run the world in shadows, trying not to get too much attention. The article also talks about the myth of Icarus, and how we might fall trying to understand software (maybe referring to AI)?
What are some ways we can introduce coding/ software without people getting frightened/ intimidated by it?
New Ways of Hiding
This article talks about the different ways metainterfaces hides and collects your data and how it is both omnipresent and invisible. The hidden information between objects and how data and software are now integrated into the global cloud, should force us to become more afraid and unfamiliar since interface has become more abstract. The article talks about the two different ways that it “hides”: Minimalist hiding and environmental hiding, and how we are agreeing to this surveillance by “voluntarily agreeing to its terms” and being manipulated. The article argues that we should increase our critical literacy so that we can design less manipulative metainterfaces.
Would you give up your information for more comfort/ accessibility?