WEEK 1 1. New Communication Technologies - Posted: 27 FEB 2012 The phrase “New communication technologies” is a recently invented, developed scientific knowledge applied in our everyday life. They offer fresh and a new ways of communication, something different what was used by previous generations or perhaps just a few years earlier. These new communication technologies certainly influence and change the way we live and manage our communication, social and business activities. One of these new communication technologies is the so-called “smart-phones”, which are the combination of cellular phones and computer based technology. “The growing capabilities of handheld devices and transmission protocols have enabled a growing number of inventive and fanciful applications—for instance, augmented reality” (Hosch Encyclopaedia Britannica2012) They incorporate a whole list of features, example touchscreen (which is almost a standard application these days) internet browser, high resolution camera, capable to take High Definition Videos apart from HD still shots, navigator, Mp3 music player, document viewer, Bluetooth, USB, alarm clock, calculator, calendar. It brilliantly works with Wi-Fi and after all, it is also capable to make phone calls too. Reference: smartphone 2012. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 25 February 2012, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1498102/smartphone 2. Definition of technology & relevance - Posted: 28 FEB 2012 The definition of “Technology” by the Oxford Dictionaries: * The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry: * Machinery and equipment developed from scientific knowledge: * The branch of knowledge dealing with engineering or applied sciences.
The most relevant part of this definition to this course is probably the “application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes”. As the technological evolution steams ahead, it changes inevitably the methods of communication on organizational and on personal level as well. These changes are partly positive partly negative. The positive side of the changes is the time and cost effectiveness and the ultimate convenience, the negative side is the loss of personal, face-to-face or even “ear to ear” involvement. In context: as an example of new communication technologies – presently we are participating in a virtual classroom, called “discussion board” instead of the classic university theatre. “ New communication technologies indeed allow unprecedented control over information exchange, which seems associated with membership in multiple communities that exist by virtue of new communication technologies” (DiMaggio, Hargittai, Neuman, & Robinson, 2001; McKenna & Green, 2002; Rayner, 2006).

Reference: DiMaggio, P., Hargittai, E., Neuman, W. R., & Robinson, J. P. (2001). Social implications of the Internet. Annual Review of Sociology, 27, 307-336. WEEK 2. Posted: 5 March 2012 3. I was in my early 20s when I acquired my first computer, a Commodore 64, in around 1986. By todays standard, the C64 was a fairly primitive computer, with 64Kb RAM. I mainly used this computer for word processing saving my files on large, 5.25-inch floppy discs. Later, when I realised its potential, I used it for editing music, through a MIDI interface. Miraculously, it worked, in spite of the C64's modest computing power. “ What grabbed musicians' interest was the C64's built-in 6581 Sound Interface Device (SID)”(Vail, 2003) from that point, the Commodore 64 changed my life. I spent three times more time with my computer than with my family. I became almost isolated from the rest of society, except the time I spent at work. However, this has changed and my life returned back to normal, because the C64 kept on breaking down, as its memory chip could not handle the constant high volume load and I could not afford to have it repaired every two weeks. My next computer was an IBM with a whopping 1Mb memory. Reference: Vail, Mark 2003, Keyboard 29.1(Jan 2003) 128 Vintage Gear: Commodore 64 4. Contradictions of NBN - Posted: 6 March 2012 3:51 PM “The word dialectic describes a philosophical concept that means thinking systematically using a process of logic” (Hirst, Harrison 2007, p.17). This concept, in context of media technologies is realised by the logical arguments of the contradictions and dilemmas of the Australian National Broadband Network. The contradictions discussed in connection of the broadband network are: 1. The open access and network neutrality – only the fibre optic cable and wireless technologies are capable to deliver a multitude of high quality services from several providers simultaneously. Network neutrality was also an important issue as it promotes a (content) restriction free (from governments and/or service providers) customer access to networks. 2. Questions were raised regarding the issues of delivery and price. “It is often said in general phrases that ‘‘Prices shall be in line with costs’’(Frederiksen, 2011) however, this would contradict the equality of services provided for urban, rural and regional consumers. Designing broadband infrastructure for a country of large landmass and low population density, as Australia, both a technological and economical challenge. Reference: Frederiksen, 2011 Broadband access, regulatory issues and profitability analyses Vol. 13 NO. 5 2011, pp. 19-28, Q Emerald Group Publishing Limited. WEEK 3 5. Convergent technology - Posted: 9 March 2012 15:26 pm Convergent technology - is the development of a new product, which is a combination of two or more existing technology. An example of the convergent technology is the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (or drone), which combines several different types of technologies. “Drones are technological systems that operate unmanned (guided by the US Global Positioning System, GPS, for example) or by remote control. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or systems (UVS) can be as small as an insect or as large as a charter flight." (Volker Eick, Bone, 2003,p1) In drones the different technologies are example, guidance - by remote control (GPS) surveillance - where various sensors and cameras are used and it is equipped with several various military applications. Convergence is recognition of the potentials of technologies that are already is in use. Convergence is a step forward in developing and utilising separate technologies, thus it appears as a driving force behind technological advancement. Another example of convergent technology is the Quadrocopter, which is similar to drones without the military functions and the use of GPS. This is a remote controlled, relatively small size helicopter. It has four engines in order to ensure a smooth flight, as a camera is attached to it, which can take video footage during the flight. One of these Quadrocopters can be observed on Youtube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG1LZ2LChj4

Reference: Bone, E.; Bolkcom, 2003. C.: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Background and Issues for Congress, Washington D.C., p. 1

6. Browser Posted: 11 March 2012 11:35pm
Browser is software, written for the use of finding and displaying information on web pages.
Tim Berners – Lee wrote the first browser in 1991 on a NeXT computer, called WorldWideWeb at CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research), however, this browser was used by academics only. Marc Andreessen and Eric Binna at the National Centre released the first popular browser, the “Mosaic” for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA). Mosaic was the first browser with cross platform support; it worked on Mac, Windows and Unix. It was the first to introduce the use of bookmarks, history files, supporting text, sound and graphics, video clips and “point-and-click” graphical manipulations” (browser 2012 Encyclopædia Britannica Online)
“The original Mosaic browser was rather clunky and network connections were still fairly slow, but the combination of text and visual communication was instantly recognized as revolutionary”. (Kovarik, 2011).
A web browser is the single most important and convenient software for accessing the Internet. It is not impossible to access/surf the net without a browser; however, it is somewhat more complicated as a different program is utilized.
Reference:
1. Browser 2012. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 10 March 2012, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/638480/browser
2. Kovarik, Bill (2011)”Networks, in Revolutions in communication: media history from Gutenberg to the digital age, The Continuum International Publishing Group, New York, Chapter 11,pp. 293-313.

7. RE: Week 3: Post 5: convergent technology – Somnus-Neu®. - Posted: 16:11pm Hi Miranda, Your choice of convergent technology, the “Coolest bed in the World” by Somnus-Neu® was fascinating. It is a real convergence of technology and luxury, engineering, design and imagination. As you have mentioned, it has all the audio and video entertainment and Internet connection “(Wi-Fi or Ethernet”(freshome.com 2009) somehow there seems to be no reason to get out of this bed, although this bed needs a large room and a large income, too. Reference: http://freshome.com/2009/07/27/bed-with-high-tech-features-somnus-neu/ 8. RE: Week 3-Q2 -The Great firewall Posted 14 March 2012 13:13 pm The “Great Firewall of China” is probably the equivalent of the “Iron Curtain” in the Eastern-Block in Europe during the Cold War era. Both, the firewall and the “iron curtain” served the same purpose, controlling freedom, the flow of information and during the cold war era also the physical freedom of movement of the population behind “Iron Curtain”. As the “Iron Curtain” fell in 1989, most likely in the future the “Great Firewall of China” will be torn down too, either by political or technological solution. WEEK 4 Posted: 15 March 2012 9:32am 9.
The development of the wireless technology represented the most robust growth in the communication industry. This technology was developed from the invention of the radio communication over a hundred years ago.
Cellular systems evolved fast and currently there are about two billion users around the globe. Mobile phones became a tool in business and important part of the everyday life, even in under developed countries. The advancement and the use of mobile phones surpass the use of landline systems in many places. The high volume sale of mobile phones and laptop computers signal a definite great future for this technology. Wireless technology has several different uses apart from phones and computers.
“Wireless devices include cell phones, two-way radios, remote garage-door openers, television remote controls, and GPS receivers”. (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2012) I wonder if one day a tiny mobile phone (or some instrument of that effect) would be implanted into the human body and enable us to communicate in a similar way as telepathy works.

Reference: wireless communications 2012. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 15 March 2012, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/869784/wireless-communications 10. SLR Posted: 19 March 2012 21:34pm Photography has fascinated me since I saw the film: Blowup. That is where I first learned about the Single Lens Reflex Camera or SLR and I had an irresistible urge to purchase one. It was fairly new and expensive type of camera but it promised almost endless opportunities for creativity. “The introduction of the SLR design, with its inter-changeable lenses of different focal length, was highly successful because it offered hobbyists a highly flexible and sophisticated tool that enables them to take all manner of subject matters. (Windrum, 2005 p1050) One of the most unique features of the new SLR design was that the image that appeared in the viewfinder was actually acquired through the lens, by all means what you saw was what you photographed. The other feature that the new design offered was the ability to forward the film to the next frame faster than before. This new film forwarding system enabled the photographer to take several photos in a shorter period of time. The SLR cameras had a remarkable long journey through decades, arriving to the latest digital versions loaded with high tech features. Reference: Windrum, 2005 “Industrial and corporate change” vol. 14. No.6, pp 1043-1074 11.
RE: WEEK 4 QUESTION 2 Posted: 20 March 2012 4:23 PM
It is quite interesting the invention of TV, as the first still image transferred over wires was a way back in 1862 by the inventor Abe Giovanna Caselli. The word – television – was used first in Paris, in 1900 during the International Congress Of Electricity by Constantin Persky. Charles Jenkins and John Baird transmitted the first moving images over wire in 1925. . Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover commented in 1927 by initiating the first long distance use of TV. “Today we have, in a sense, the transmission of sight for the first time in the world’s history. Human genius has now destroyed the impediment of distance in a new respect, and in a manner hitherto unknown.” (ThinkQuest) By 1936 there were about 200 TV sets connected via coaxial cable. BBC started its first High Definition broadcast in U.K. 1940, the first colour TV was invented by Peter Goldmark. Sometimes it sounds quite astonishing that certain technologies were invented several decades before it becomes available to the general public. Reference: Mass Media Timeline Thinkquest.org 1455 –Joanne Gutenberg 12. RE: Week 4 Q.2 Posted: 21 March 2012. 12:52pm Hi Ellysha,
It's nice to see like - minded people here :) I had several SLRs, started with Canon EOS 1000 - that was the analogue camera some years back, when I changed over to digital I bought Nikon cameras first (i.e. Nikon D5000) but I somehow expected more from it. It was only 12 MP camera and the video it produced was HD 720p. So I switched over to Canon not long ago. I have now the Canon D600, which is in my opinion an excellent camera. It produces superb still shots and a very high quality HD 1080 video. At this stage I am quite satisfied with it. There are obviously far better cameras by Canon also by Nikon but they cost around the $5000 mark.
Regarding your aim to buy digital SLR - I think that's the way to go. The analogue cameras are slowly going out. I think you meant Nikon D7000 - seems to be a good choice. Check the website, link is below. I should have checked it before I bought the Canon 600D http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/dslr/d7000/spec.htm 13. WEEK 5. Question1. “Cyberpunk - a science – fiction sub-genre characterised by countercultural antiheroes trapped in a dehumanised, high-tech future.” (Encyclopaedia Britannica.2012) Cyberpunk is a futuristic science fiction, mixed with a great dose of elements of the good old film-noir and some of the hard nose detective films, set in an electronic age. Frequently featuring large ruthless multinational corporations, estranged and recluse characters living on the dark side of a super-graphic dirty world, where sentient programs take over traditional human functions and technology tend to have negative effects on humans. Computer hackers are often the heroes fighting an uphill battle against evil corporations or mafia style organized criminal gangs. Cyberpunk tends to obscure the essence of humanity, driving them to the edge of society. Cyberpunk portrays the world as a gritty, dire place where computer systems controlling life. Reference: Cyberpunk 2012. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 25 March 2012 Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc., 14. Q2. Posted: 25 March 2012 21:04pm The film titled “The Matrix” is fundamentally the embodiment of cyberpunk. It contains all the essential elements of a good cyberpunk – the characters (with their own cyberpunk properties), the story line, the message, locations and themes centring on human existence. The protagonist of The Matrix is a programmer/hacker realising (through Morpheus) that his gloomy reality is only a dream world controlled by robots and computer programs. “In The Matrix a reality of millions is declared to be due to cognitive manipulations effected by machines and computers. “ (Stacy Gillis. Ed. (2005, p107). In he plot of The Matrix, which is a program designed by the “bots”, human are hunted and used for creating energy for the robots, a hacker, Neo is the hero saving humanity, fighting off computer programs, the Agents, in a virtually demolished society. The Matrix satisfies the long list of criteria of a true cyberpunk film. The Matrix, (science-fiction /cyberpunk) released in 1999. Reference: Stacy Gillis. Ed. (2005) p107 The Matrix Trilogy: Cyberpunk Reloaded Wallflower Press: London and New York

15. WEEK 5- Question 1 Posted: 27 March 2012 22:38pm “I define cyberspace as an evolving man made domain for the organization and transfer of data using various wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum” (Todd, H. 2009) This definition of the “cyberspace” is strictly technical, where the domain is ”a combination of private and public property governed by technical rule sets designed primarily to facilitate the flow of information.” (Todd.2009) William Gibson used this word “cyberspace” first in his novel Neuromancer; naming a global computer network that connects people around the globe. Cyberspace is comparable to an imagined electronically controlled and managed multidimensional parallel world, where all activities, properties and identities can be found that exists in reality. Cyberspace has cyber-culture, cyber-crime, cyber attacks, and cyber-sex, cyber-war, cyber-sociology, cyber bullying, cybernetics and possibly many more will come. Cyberspace is a new dimension and it is not always a pleasant one. Cyberspace is limitless and it has no borders. It is a platform where multitudes of communications take place, information exchanged freely or sold or stolen. Reference: Todd, H. 2009, "Armed Attack in Cyberspace: Deterring Asymmetric Warfare with an Asymmetric Definition", The Air Force Law Review, vol. 64, no. 00948381, pp. 65-102.