Digital Media, Helpful or Hurtful?

Digital media continues to intercede with everyone's daily lives and is continuing to become more prevalent with every new advance in technology. Whether it's checking your cellphone every morning when you wake up to instantly get a weather forecast of your day or the more subtle effects such as the work and design that goes into the websites you browse while bored at work. It may seem to be helpful to everyone involved, but when are the lines pushed too far on what you can and can't share with people on the internet? A prime example of this that i'll be talking about mainly in this blog post is that of the recent controversy over Julian Assange and his site WikiLeaks. For a little background information before I get into what all this about, i'll just quote the best summary of it from it's inspiration for the website, Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WikiLeaks

"WikiLeaks is an international new media non-profit organisation that publishes submissions of otherwise unavailable documents from anonymous news sources and news leaks. Its website, launched in 2006, is run by The Sunshine Press.[2] Within a year of its launch, the site claimed a database that had grown to more than 1.2 million documents.[6] The organisation has described itself as having been founded by Chinese dissidents, as well as journalists, mathematicians, and start-up company technologists from the United States, Taiwan, Europe, Australia, and South Africa.[2] Julian Assange, an Australian Internet activist, is generally described as its director.[7]

WikiLeaks has won a number of awards, including the 2008 Economist magazine New Media Award.[8] In June 2009, WikiLeaks and Julian Assange won Amnesty International's UK Media Award (in the category "New Media") for the 2008 publication of "Kenya: The Cry of Blood – Extra Judicial Killings and Disappearances",[9] a report by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights about police killings in Kenya.[10] In May 2010, the New York Daily News listed WikiLeaks first in a ranking of "websites that could totally change the news".[11] Russia extended its support to WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange by issuing a statement which suggested that Assange should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, in the aftermath of the United States diplomatic cables leak.[12]

In April 2010, WikiLeaks posted video from a 2007 incident in which Iraqi civilians and journalists were killed by U.S. forces, on a website called Collateral Murder. In July of the same year, WikiLeaks released Afghan War Diary, a compilation of more than 76,900 documents about the War in Afghanistan not previously available for public review.[13] In October, the group released a package of almost 400,000 documents called the Iraq War Logs in coordination with major commercial media organisations. In November 2010, WikiLeaks began releasing U.S. State department diplomatic cables.

WikiLeaks was originally launched as a user-editable wiki site, but has progressively moved towards a more traditional publication model, and no longer accepts either user comments or edits. The site is available on multiple servers and different domain names following a number of denial-of-service attacks and its severance from different Domain Name System (DNS) providers.[14][15]"

WikiLeaks is a site that has been much debated over, and has been all the buzz in the news lately with the release of over 251,287 documented reports of diplomatic communications between said diplomats and the U.S. State Department. While in the past I've agreed with the actions and ideas of the WikiLeaks site, I can't help but wonder if they're pushing the line between what people have the right to know about what they're government is doing behind the scenes, and what should be kept from the public eye for the good of the nation. Personally, I see the recent publication of the diplomatic cables as having no effect but to damage relations between the U.S. and it's allies while hiding behind Assange's claim of Free Speech over the internet. Topics that have been revealed in the past by the site such as the 2007 murder of innocent civilians by armed U.S. air forces even including video of the act were in my eyes, while horrible and perfect examples of the horrors and collateral that come with war, well within the right of people knowing what could come of recklessness and ignorance when trained professionals in the armed forces do not take the proper actions to keep events like that from happening so such events can be avoided in the future. The diplomatic cable leaks have no endgame, no positive purpose in the future other than to discredit and cause controversy between America and it's Allies. Julian Assange seems to be under the impression that the U.S. is wrong for keeping these documents classified because they're keeping tabs on other countries without us knowing of such background activity. While I can see his point of free speech and the right to express it over the internet and it's various forms of media, I can also agree with our country wanting to know what everyone else is doing in the world. Not to sound too paranoid and the typical U.S. of A. fanatic, but it's not like other countries do it to us too, right?

Art without limits: is digital better than traditional?

When thinking of art most people think of a painting or drawing, however art is really limitless. The traditional forms of art are no longer the only forms of art. Digital media has now shown just how wide a topic art can be.

Now the world of digital art can take forms no on e would have ever thought. What you can do with a computer is unbelievable. But does its ease make it less of an art?

Some argue this very topic. Is digital art considered a fine art?

In the past who defined art were museums, schools and other prestige artists. We were told what is and what art isn’t. However with the internet and the unbelievable rate information travels, now new ideas are being thrown at the public from all sides. People are finally able to have a mind of their own when considering art.

When it comes to the ease of digital art, this is a myth. It is not a click away from a masterpiece. True in a way it is less stressful because mistakes can sometimes be resolved but that is sometimes. There is skill involved in digital art just like traditional art. Without a creative, skilled hand the work you do will just be a bunch of scribbles.

Some people seek to send the message that digital art is ruining traditional art. Do to so many people being attracted to digital art the traditional art forms are becoming extinct, according to some traditional artist. They also believe that people do not look at traditional art the same way. When you see a painting hanging in a gallery you are seeing a person sweat, tears, maybe blood, and time all on a canvas. When you see a digital work you could possibly be seeing just a copy. It is true that a digital artist may have gone through the same thing as the traditional one; sweat, blood, tears, time, the whole bit, but you cannot see this in his piece. Maybe his computer would show the signs. A digital piece of art can have multiple copies when a traditional piece has one original piece which copies can only mimic.

When it comes down to it most artist use a little of both digital and traditional steps to get the masterpiece they desire. I don’t think digital art should be looked at negatively. I think it should be looked at with an open mind. Isn’t that what artist strive for? Creativity. It shouldn’t be the medium in which the masterpiece is created it should be what the work is saying and what is stands for, the content. If you are a traditional artist look up some programs and try a digital work. If you are a digital artist bring out the easel and paint brush and try an oil painting. Before you judge another person (or their work) walk a mile in their shoes.

A Very Useful Digital Device ….

What is a digital media device that can do just about anything that most of us use on a daily basis and would not what to do without? If you guessed a cell phone your right at least in my opinion. I know that if I forget my phone at the house I normally turn around to get the phone because I do use my phone daily. But cell phones are just not used to make calls anymore now they are called smart phones because of all the technology that has been put into the device that fits in the palm of your hand. We have just about every tool on are iPhones, blackberry’s and android model phones today. We have the ability to make calls ,send text messages ,picture messages, record video ,watch TV ,play music ,check emails ,send emails, surf the web ,twitter ,updating social media sites, check the weather, use navigation, and play video games . That is just some of the things the phones of today are doing. I use my phone everyday not just with those features but my address book, calendar, and even my alarm clock all of which I use my handy phone for .The phones of today have made a vast improvement from the phones we had just a few years ago. There are more companies that are offering better plans that include everything you need to use all the features that your phones come with and also with prepaid cell phone companies are giving more people the ability to be able to use and get cell phones. With the technology of smart phones I can only imagine what the next few years how the cell phone of today will change and develop to an even more advanced technology. Look at the iPhone and android phones now with all the thousands of different apps you have an app for just about anything. For example they have an app that gives the phone ability to scan a bar code right from the phone and get details like reviews on the products and details with items to apps that will allow to you to play the latest games. I am excited to see the technology that will come with future cell phones and see what else will be on the device that I find to be a very useful tool for all my digital needs.

Advanced Technology the Future at GCCC

Im excited about the groundbreaking and construction of the advanced technology center at GCCC. My mind is host to visions of advanced computerlabs, robotics, digital media, audio/video and solar energy instructional classrooms providing professional quality education to students while preparing them for careers in the workforce. The building design and artist rendering is featured on the homepage of the Gulf Coast College website and details overhead and moving video shots of the entire space dedicated to this project.

Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act

Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act

Over the past few days the U.S. Justice Department seized 82 domain names of websites that they accuse were actively enrolled in the sale and circulation of counterfeit goods and illegal copyrighted works. This is just the beginning of the kind of forceful enforcement we may see if the Congress passes the Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA). The bill, which was recently approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Nov 18, 2010, gives the government remarkable new copyright enforcement powers. In specific the government would theoretically have the ability to make entire websites disappear from the Internet if infringement, links to infringement, or illegal sharing are judged to be "the primary" purpose of the site. The approach by the COICA is quite drastic if you ask me. Simply instead of targeting files that break copyright infringement laws, they go for the destructive option of completely blacklisting entire sites out of the domain name system. The fact of the matter is that “yes” it does provide to be a reliable weapon in the fight against copyright infringement but it is overkill and in the process can undermine Internet infrastructure and quite possibly censor legitimate online speech. If this bill had been passed five or ten years ago many sites such as YouTube might not even have existed today.

The next point this brings me too is how the COICA is a false hope for a way to stop internet piracy. In reality mere hours later a majority of the seized sites were available online again thru other domain names. As pressure is increased on sites and the blacklist continues to grow you will most likely see a large percentage of the Internet will shift to alternative DNS mechanisms that are located outside the US. Sites such as Pirate Bay have been ordered to cease and desist numerous times and have even been seized but within no time they are up and running at the normal rate with a slight change of the domain name. It is very hard to believe that this the best use of our Department of Homeland Security manpower. The mockery in this whole deal is that the U.S. government has recently made a great campaign of fighting Internet DNS blocking and censorship in countries like China. What kind of picture does that represent for America when we are actively speaking out about governments controlling its inhabitants, yet we are engaged in similar procedures here at home? There has got to be a better way to protect artists’ copyrights other than dismantling the fundamental building blocks of the Internet. As Tim Berners-Lee, creator of the Web once said "We all use the web now for all kinds of parts our lives, some trivial, and some critical to our life as part of a social world.”

Where Did the Oil Go II?

In my last blog, I talked a lot about the spill and the fact that there is so little coverage out there in the media. Several studies have been conducted by universities and civilian agencies alike.  However, their findings have not been seen in much of the media coverage.  I know that Florida's tourism is one of the main sources of revenue and we don't want to scare our money away, but that does not mean we need to be sheltered from the truth.  I know I would like to know what my children are out there swimming in when they go to the beach.  I myself am skeptical of letting them get into the water at all. You have the White House advisors saying over 3/4 of the oil is gone.  University of Georgia scientists say that 80% of the oil in the gulf still remains lurking beneath the surface.http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/08/18/national/main6783833.shtml They are saying the data has obviously been misinterpreted for them to say most of the oil is gone, dispersed, or dissolved.   The scientists say these percentages they keep coming up with are practically made up because there is no data to back any of it up. Then they start spraying all this dispersant on the surface water.  The dispersant is supposed to break up the oil so that it will not bunch up and in turn dissolve and be further broken down by the ocean.  It turns out that all it is doing is breaking the oil up and sinking to the bottom. The University of Southern Florida's scientists say, which is also on the link provided. Why has the government not conducted any studies of their own and if they had why have they not shared any of their findings with the public?  USF scientists have found plankton which are at the bottom of the food chain, coated in the dispersant Corexit.  Eventually this stuff is going to make it all the way up the food chain and onto our plates and we have conducted very few studies on the long term affects of the oil or the Corexit.  So we don't know what the future may hold for those that depend on sea life for a living and for food.  The Environmental Protection Agency eventually came in and told British Petroleum to switch dispersents but do you really think they listened?contentMahttp://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0520/EPA-scolds-BP-in-Gulf-oil-spill-dispersant-is-too-toxic-change-it According to this link the volumes BP used of the Corexit far exceeded any previous use.  I wonder if in any of these previous uses any studies were conducted to tell the impact of this poison in those areas. To me it is just as if they swept the oil under the rug, not worrying about the future of the Gulf Coast or any of the life from plankton to humans.  The media isn't covering it anymore and in order to learn about it we must do research ourselves.  BP it seems to me is going to get away just paying the people in the region enough to shut them up for a bit, while our government does nothing to make them due what they promised.  One thing is for sure if we depend on BP or the government to let us know what the truth is we will never know it.

Video gaming and Media uses

When you talk about media consumption, there are few industries that immediately come to mind. Movies, books, music.

But there is a new one floating around, and its called Video games.

How has the rise of video gaming affected the consumption of media? Has it impacted it at all?

Lately I’ve seen more Video game commercials on TV than ever before, These are not just small out of eth way spots, either, but full on advertisements during peak viewing time. These even show up during things like sporting events, as evidenced by Final Fantasy 13.

This is but one demonstration of the growing strength of the video game industry and the rise of the casual gamer. The gamer with kids, the family with the wii’s and the party games, and the just occasionally play attitude. Video games have moved beyond the hardcore gaming crowd into the every day life of millions of Americans.

And with that rise has been the advent of new and interesting was for people to interact with things that they had previously just watched.

I’ve seen games that tackle issues such as the environment, and simulations that are used to train people and prove points. These video games are starting to explore the realm of becoming an legitimate tool.

You have Edicational, songs, movies, books, and now video games. Video games that teach skills such as typing, reading, math, to school age children that may not have been interested otherwise.

I’ve heard of Schools using Games such as DDR, a dancing game, in Gym class to keep kids interested and healthy.

And how many movies have come our lately that have been turned into video games? Video game are quickly become a part of the Franchise packet. Books, Movies, and Videos games. And this changes the way people intersct with their favourite franchises. Not Only can you watch it, or Read it, but not you can interact with it, play it out your self.

Won’t it be interesting to see what new uses for video games that people come up with in the future?

Duirwaigh Studios

I discovered a really great graphic art company online. It is called Duirwaigh Studios and can be found at http://www.duirwaigh.com. You can also find some of their work on my newest favorite website http://www.imagekind.com. Imagekind is a great website that you can showcase, create, sell and buy original unique art from the artists themselves. Imagekind is an online art community. You should really check it out. I’ve found so many awesome original art there. The duirwaigh website defines Duirwaigh as 1)the door on the human heart which, when opened, causes one to remember one’s magical origins 2) the entryway to impossible things happening every day 3) the portal contained with the human psyche that transports dreams into reality. Duirwaigh is a portal to inspiration. The company begins with the imaginative creations of husband and wife team Angi Sullins and Silas Toball. Duirwaigh delivers products and services that inspire creativity. They specialize in the 3 E’s: enchantment, enlightenment and entertainment. They sing, dance, act, paint, create, write but most importantly inspire. They delve to remind us that impossible things happen every day and life is too good to be true. They implore that we remember those ever so imaginative daydreams of our childhoods and bring them back to life. ‘When inspiration knocks on the door…answer.’ They may seem quite far-fetched and a little off their rockers but all of what they say is true and to me a breath of fresh air. Here are some of my favorites from the website.

Imagine is so simple. The colors work so well together. Most importantly it sends a message to the consumer. It sends a visual message and then reinforces that with a written message. Never let reality get in the way of your dreams. The visual and written message is so simple yet striking and sincere.

God Bless the Freaks looks really cool. The colors pop. The composition is cartoonlike. It is reminiscent of Spongebob graphics yet very elegant. The written message is just great. God bless the freaks. It’s a fantastic composition.

Still Life in Motion is so cool because it is so strange yet it is nostalgic and reminds us of something really old and traditional.

Dandemouselings is awesome! It is so whimsical and silly and sweet. The mice are so happy and free. Opposite of how we see them in our day to day lives. It makes me happy.

What You Think on Grows is a nice composition. The written message has an anatomical implication that ties the graphic to the text. It’s smart.

Humpty Dumpty is really cool. It would be great in a kids nursery. The colors are so light and pastel yet warm an inviting.

Twirl is so loud. It’s awesome though. The colors scream. I can hear the big band music and the bass drums in this parade. It’s very teenage girly.

The Circus Just isn’t the same without You is sad and sweet. It makes me think of when I’ve gotten in a fight with my boyfriend and I try to function and forget about him but I can’t.

Impossible things happen every day is awesome. The composition is nice and suiting but the message is the best part about it.

I’m Possible is freaking fabulous! Graphics are great but what a message!

The Work Industry and Digital Media

Digital media has opened so many new doors for the world, especially in the work industry. It has provided the world with more jobs, and has made older jobs more efficient. Today most of the jobs in the work industry need digital media to survive. The entertainment industry is dependent on digital media for various reasons. First, the entertainment industry simply would not exist without digital media. Without digital media, the first cartoon or film would never have been invented. Also, it relies on digital media to spread the word of their movie, song, or new television show. Actors and actresses can use digital media to find auditions or post their resume online making it easier to find work. Through magazines, newspapers, blogs, and other ways of communicating, people can share their thoughts on a movie, song, show, etc. that can either affect it positively or negatively. Publicity is still recognition whether good or bad, and the entertainment industry would not be able to continue without it.

In the beginning of the business industry, it was all about bartering, and the idea of global trade was outrageous. However, today, thanks to digital media it is as simple as ever. Digital media has allowed the business industry to grow to its greatest. The more technology developed the easier it is to import and export goods. Also, contacting partners across the world can be done in a few seconds and it will seem as if the partners are in the same room. Advertising is more exact in targeting the group that the product affects, and franchising in other states and countries is possible. Budgeting, forecasting, and other inner activities in the business industry are less stressful with the technology of today. Although, everything about the business industry is simpler due to digital media, the same effect that it has on the entertainment industry can happen to the business industry. Bad publicity of the company, owners, employees, costumers, etc. can ruin the business.

Digital media not only affects those industries but every other job as well. The medical field relies heavily on technology. The more technology the easier it is to research cures and diseases to save more people. Also, it has made the medical field more efficient. Today, filing systems are more efficient, and a large amount of doctors are putting their practice online so people can schedule appointments online. Teachers have more and more resources available to them as technology progresses. Look at any type of workforce, and you will see the impact of digital media and the way it has advanced the work industry today.

Where Did the Oil Go?

We all live in or around the Panama City, FL area, so I don't really need to go into all the details about what happened at the Deepwater Horizon oil platform.  It has affected our beaches, tourism, and for most in this area our total way of life.  I worked out at the Gulfcrest tiki hut as a bartender by the pool this summer and can tell you firsthand of the loss in sales, profits, and tips.  Beyond those things, even the overall attitude of the guests and employees declined.  The owners who rent out there units would come down asking me about business and the oil, along with even people visiting from Canada.  Everyone had different political views and even some were from different countries, but one thing was for sure; the main thing on everyone's mind was where did the oil go?  Was it on it's way, or had the oil giant, British Petroleum, really done what they said they were going to do and cleaned it all up.  The coverage for the biggest environmental catastrophe ever on United States soil could be seen 24/7 online, and on several different television channels.  It was all they were talking about, so why did it take eighty some odd days for the greatest minds in the world to cap this gusher?  Why did our government not immediately take action to give a helping hand?  Was there some kind of political agenda behind this whole charade?  It's not like the most powerful nation in the world could not help and be reimbursed for their troubles.  It seems like they would want to protect the beautiful gulf coast.  Our little speck of this world might not have been affected too badly by the oil as far as the eye can see, but what of the future.  It doesn't make sense to me that as soon as the well was capped there was very little media coverage.  This is especially confusing; being that most of the media is supposedly very liberal.  I don't know where all the politicians who are supposedly environmentalists are now but they don't seem to be helping.  I was watching a documentary by Spike Lee, "If God is Willing and Da Creek Don't Rise", and these fisherman were using three five gallon Shopvac's to suck the oil off the top of the water in the bayou.  The boat captain said they were out there from dawn till tusk working every day.  When one of the vacuums filled up they would empty them into these fifty-five gallon drums on the boats deck and this sludge looked thick as molasses.  If a hurricane were to come near Louisiana right now all of that sludge would be pushed further up on the land by the storm surge.  Once the water receded all the land as far as the water got would most likely wash away because the oil would kill the vegetation.  The vegetations root systems are what hold the land in place, so bye-bye to a good portion of the state.  That's just one of the state's problems.  The boat captain said that the BP workers wouldn't even get out on the water until around 9:00, losing precious daylight hours every day.  We see BP commercials on the TV and hear them on the radio about them doing everything possible, and when they see the oil they are cleaning it up. They’re not doing to good a job.  I know one thing; I see them on their Polaris all-terrain vehicles five or six deep, not doing a darn thing but driving up and down the beach all day.  So why are they not paying some of those same people to go to Louisiana and suck up this poison that is ruining some of the most precious spawning grounds for marine life in our country.  The people in Louisiana know where a great deal of the oil went but BP doesn't seem to be holding up their end of the deal in sticking with it until all the oil is gone.       

Movies and Television and How they follow us

Movies and Television follow us in our daily lives just about everywhere we go. Today's technology allows it. from mobile devices like our cell phones and ipads we can stream live tv events like football and basketball games, to movies like Avatar and Transformers right to our phones. We no dont have to rush home to catch the game or to catch our weekly programing we can see alot of those programs right in the palms of our hands. just like i have the game pulled up on my cell phone while im typing up this blog, brings a new meaning to couch potatoe. Movies and television is a big part of all of our lives its one of the biggest sources of our daily entertainment. everywhere we go theres something on the televisions from sitting in a dr's office waiting room to sitting at a table waiting on our burgers and fries. I took my son to McDonalds a couple months back and he was even able to catch a new episode of spongebob while we ate. Another example was last month my wife and I went to the philadelphia eagles and jacksonville jaguars football game. We rode the water taxi from our hotel to the landing and during the ride we watched the pre-game on my cell phone and when we got to the landing we watched espn at the bar while we had a few beverages. After that we took another taxi over to the stadium and while we stood in line we watched highlights of the games that have been played earlier in the day. Movies and television is an even bigger part of our lives now than what it was when i was a child and it grows more and more everyday!

Children and Digital Media

The world is full of technology and in this generation children are growing up in a digital media influenced environment. Even before birth technology is an influence we now have at home prenatal heart monitors, music player devices made for the belly so that the baby can hear the different music while in the womb and 4d ultra sound with this amazing technology you can now view what your child is going to look like before they are even born. Once the child is born the fun begins starting with all the new tech toys that are now available starting with the new baby digital image baby monitors allows you to not only listen to the baby but see the baby also there is iPhone app that allows you to track diaper and bottle feedings throughout day. In this day children from birth have access to computers and TV on a daily basics and as they grow look at the toys that are geared towards children in this environment game consoles for example the Xbox, Wii ,and PlayStation 3 are devices that offer so much more than just the ability to play a game. Look at the PlayStation 3 has a blue ray player build in the ability to connect to web and amazing realistic games that you can emerge yourself in and the Wii and now the new Xbox Kinect gives you the ability to feel like you are in the game now with the Xbox Kinect you are now the controller gives you a reason to get up and move. I believe that this is a good thing because with past video games children would just sit and get lost in the game and have limited physical activity with the new system it calls for you to be physical which can be a workout especially with some games I personally like the dancing games. All of these systems offer games in all different age category’s so children and children at heart all have something they can enjoy. Other toys that are digital influenced for young children include some devices that fisher price made like the digital cameras, video recording devices, personal DVD players that are kid made to be tough for little hands and falls and even kid friendly cell phones. All of these devices are good tools that children are getting to learn at an early age so as the digital media environment and technology grows the children of today will be the be the engineers of the future.

Movies and Entertainment: A medium for "Shock Babies"

First off, let me just explain what i mean by the term "Shock Babies". These are the people that love and crave attention, whether that attention is negative or positive. Most of the times, these people will do things that are offensive, arrogant, disrespectful, or outside the "norm" in order to get famous or recognized. They like to push the envelope so to speak. There are shock babies in all walks of life, from politics, to religion. But most times, they are at their best and most creative in the entertainment industry. Here are some examples: remember Kanye West at that award show. Or how about Ms. New York from the Flavor of Love reality show? Classic examples of shock babies.

Not to age anyone here, but does anyone remember back in the day where you could turn on the T.V and see some quality shows? You know, shows that sent a positive message or at the very least, TV shows that don't use profanity. These days, as far as the use of bad language, you can't tell the difference between a made for TV movie or a theatrical release. Now i don't know who the blame should fall upon: do we blame society for the lack of moral standards? Do we blame the producers who make these shows? I am not sure. However, it is very baffling to me that in today's society, every TV show that is produced seems to need a certain quota of ridiculousness (not sure if that's a word)in order to get ratings or even get aired. Case in point, look at every single reality series that is out now, 99% of those are horrible. You have the New Jersey Shore, Kardashian show, Housewives (name one), and a list of others. Now why is it that these shows seem to be so popular? The answer is simple, these shows push the envelope, they encourage drama, and they are often full of shock babies who are willing to make themselves look stupid just to get a name for themselves. I really believe these producers have long ago made up their mind that there is no real entertainment value in "moral" TV, so they create this stuff you see every day. Don't get me wrong though, there are a handful of shows that are not that bad, and that still have a good solid message behind it. One show in particular that comes to mind is the Tyler Perry show Meet the Browns, House of Payne, but even they can have their moments. All in all i suppose entertainment is what it is. It will be used to invoke some sort of emotions, negative or positive. I guess it will continue to evolve as our society evolves; the crazier our minds get, the entertainment has to conform, or is it vice verse. As the old adage goes art imitates life.

Wave of the Future.. Digital Media will Change Over the Next 5 to 10 Years?

Today I can drive down the road and notice electronic digital message boards for road construction or information about detours, I see digital electronic signage posted by the airport informing travelers of delays, arrivals and departures and several other travelers information. Civic centers, sports complexes, hotels, and casinos are now displaying huge digital jumbotrons advertising upcoming events and specials to lure consumers inside and how can tourists miss the 12 story digital message board located at 42nd St and Broadway in New York or the extra large lighted maquis located in Tokyo and Japan advertising and promoting anything that is hot, hip and new in the cities. Will this information be delivered to us on a daily basis?

 Halloween eve I took a trip to Florida's Capitol to attend FAMU's homecoming celebration. I attended a concert at the AL Lawson Convention Center and during a section of the entertainers performance he asked the audience to pull out their cell phones and flip them to the lighted screen and wave to him on stage. I turned around to see the cell phone light show and the entire arena was lit up by hand help portable devices, I think the days of holding up lighters is over. The concert engineers also have different tasks. Throughout the performance the engineers changed light shows, back drops, and digital effects and images as well as fog machines and laser lights. The Back drop featured the entertainers name at one point, his initials at another and song titles then various backgrounds like space, stars and clouds. The digital visual effects were awesome! Can we get this at home? Will we soon have concert access at home?

I attended Church one Sunday and during praise & worship the lyrics to the devotionals are displayed on a screen so everyone can participate and sing. If you forgot your Bible, no problem when the Pastor announces the scripture and the passage is also displayed on the screen. If you were moved or blessed by the service and you want to hear it or better yet see it again, then audio CD's and DVD's are available right after service for a small donation. How many people attend virtual church or watch service from home?

Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Winn-Dixie and Publix all have DVD movie vending machines where you select a movie and pay a rental fee. Blockbuster and the movie rental bussiness are almost all gone. Netflix allows you to order movies from your PC or phone and have them delivered to your mailbox. Will we be able to order movies from our living rooms?

Today is election day, and voter ballots have been replaced by computer touch screens. This addition to the ballot process eliminates lost ballots, manual counting, and toting of heavy boxes filled with voter ballots. Soon will we be able to vote online? or from a home office?       

I think within the next 5 to 10 years people who purchase entertainment will have the option to view it live or view it from home. Some mediums are already in effect. Sporting events, concerts and select movies are already available for "pay-per-view" on cable networks. Most networks offer "movies on demand" that allows the consumer to pay to watch a specific movie of his/her choice at the time they choose. I also think voting, advertisements, religious services, concerts and public information digital media networks will expand.

With the advancements of technology, digital media, flat panel TV's, high definition, surround sound, dolby stereo and 3-D innovations I see this medium becoming more interesting and entertaining and growing to wider audiences. Music, movies and gaming can be seen and heard in audio/visual standards that are vividly rich and crystal clear to see and hear. I see the high def resolution in some movie theatres now, combined with Dolby surround sound. This combination provides an exciting formatt for movie watching, Many phone carriers are offering these features on cell phones, one even promoting a 4.5 inch screen with a stand to view movies and media. Over the next 5 to 10 years I think IMAX theatres will expand, movie theatres will have a 3-D option with some kind of virtual reality movement and viewers input for alternate endings. The Ipad will grow enormously along with the Ipod, cell phones, pc's,and gaming devices. All these formatts will expand to bigger and better titles, while machine, and player performance increases.

I think people who spent serious cash upgrading their home entertainment systems will have the option to purchase a new unreleased movie through their cable provider and watch it in the comforts of home or on a plane or train. Advertisements will be more creative and computers will be operating at much faster speeds and loaded with more memory and quicker drives. Home phones will improve and begin to re-claim its share of the verbal communication market again by adding better audio and video to its services. Conference calls, instructional classes, and personal conversations will have the added feature of viewing the person your speaking with. Computers already have this feature with web-cams so this internet feature should only improve to higher resolution and quicker buffering and "video is loading" speeds.

Gadgets, technology, machines, computers, audio/video, cell phones, televisions, electronic devices and space aged innovations for the future are all exciting new avenues for us all to venture down. I look forward to window shopping as I browse through all the new exciting products designed to make life easier, intelectual, simplified, organized and exciting. The wave of the technological future is upon us and I want to ride the informative jet ski to keep up!

How Digital Media Affects Society

Digital media has become an integral part of society in every way as the age of information is coming up with newer and more life-changing technologies every day. For example, the speed at which an event that happens anywhere in the world, uploaded to an online news website, and read by thousands of people at a time is being more easily done and closing the gap to immediate every day. How this affects society has been debated long before this blog post. The free flow of information and it's accessibility is becoming overwhelming to the point of being intrusive to the lives of people. With sites such as facebook, myspace, twitter, and so on, coupled with the technology of miniature cameras installed in cellphones and other technologies puts anything and everything you do to potentially being permanently posted on the internet. Things like this can be humiliating to anyone who has the ability to access to the internet, costing you a job in the future, or how anyone really views you.
Nonetheless, in my opinion which can of course be argued, digital media has had an overall positive affect on the world. The archiving of information on millions of servers and computer networks around the globe that are readily accessible by literally anyone and everyone is a powerful aspect when you think about it, and provides anyone with the ability to research the world around them including any topic whether is be history, politics, online discussion and debate, etc. The use of a library is nearly to the point of having no use if they didn't install their own public computers with internet access next to the bookshelves. These are but a few of the resulting effects of Digital Media on society as a whole.
Digital media constitutes almost everything we do during a regular day. You wake up to the sound of a news broadcast on your radio, check your facebook, update your blog, and play video games. Some would say that we've become addicted to the digital world as we know it and would be lost without it, and this is true to a certain extent. Could you really imagine yourself not using a cellphone to text anybody, living life without sitting in front of a computer for an hour or two a day, or god forbid checking the twitter of your favorite starlet every five seconds to see if they've finished washing dishes yet?! Even though it seems infantile and pretentious, I see the answer to those questions as a definite "yes". Along with any age in time, there will always be addictions to anything society deems legally and morally satisfying, and in our age, it's one of the constant free flow and access of information regarding anything that can be digitally written to a hard drive.

Video games from entertainment to art

The gaming world has changed so much from the late 80's and 90's. From the simplest of games like Pong and Pac-man. To games of our time period like Halo and Madden. Games are in just about every home now and the audience goes from 5 years old to the elderly everyone plays games. In todays society we are all about expression in everything we do, everyone is trying to display there talents and artistic ability everywhere. With the help of HD televisions and high powered gaming devices that creativity and talent has found its way to the gaming world. Creating lovable characters and worlds that we disappear in as we play. Some play these games almost all day, the deep story lines that designers create totally absorb all of ones free time just to see what lies next around the corner. Some give up there personal relationships because they are so addicted by some games. The skill it takes for those programers to create some of the details they put on there characters and there environments. just like any painter or artist each stroke of a pencil or color from a brush has to be perfect. Just like with video game creators they have to convert there story and images to there digital canvas. they have to breath life into there characters, and warmth and environments from breath taking visuals to excellent sounds tracks. Video games to day not only do they make us smile and laugh, They are the works of our Leonardo Da Vinci of our time! An example i would like to use to show some of the power of art in video games is Super Mario Bros. Wii the reason I'm choosing this game is for the fact that its not on one of the HD gaming machines. Super Mario Wii take the usual characters found in the Mario franchise you play as Mario, Luigi, and a yellow and blue toadstool guy. This game takes the same side scrolling approach it did when it made its debut on the original Nintendo. Same characters just about and same story rescue Princes Peach. The characters were so well created that this game has been so close to so many of us for over 20 years now. There are very few things in the world today that is created by man and 20 years later create the same joy it did when it was first created. Art is why the video game industry has grown into what it is today!

Teen's & Digital Media.

            I tell you what, the teenager's now-a-days have it made. Between the cell phones, computers, games, and even the television they hardly ever have to become creative to know what to do to keep them occupied. Sometimes this can be good but sometimes it can all be a thorn in your side and make you wished they would've never been invented. As a mother of 5 teenagers I can say that with full honesty. Take cell phones for example, as a kid growing up I remember seeing people with cell phones but they were huge and carried in what looked like a suitcase and it was unusual to see a teenager with one. Now, it's unusual to see a teenager without one. I love the fact that I can keep in touch with my kids at all times but I hate the fact that I have to worry about them getting into an accident because their talking or texting on the phone.

            Then there's computer's. This is an invention that I love but, at times, wished would've never been invented. As my kids were growing up I made sure they always had a computer so they could keep up with their school work and to use the different learning programs that I bought for them. It wasn't until my kids turned into teenagers that I started dreading this wonderful invention. I went from making sure they were learning and getting the most out of the computer, to making sure they're not learning things they're not suppose to be learning and that there's not some pervert trying to make them his next victim.

            And games? Wow, between the computer games, such as World of Warcraft, and the X-Box games, such as Halo Reach, I've really had a fight on my hands. My kids laugh at me all the time because I'll watch them play some of these games and all I can say is "whatever happened to Frogger?" My youngest son made me feel really old when he asked me what Frogger was. It wasn't until they became teenagers that I actually realized how much games have changed, especially the violence. The most violent game I can remember growing up was Astroids. But then again the most violent cartoon I remember growing up was Popeye and now they have cartoons like Courage the Cowardly Dog and Southpark.

            It really amazes me how much digital media has evolved just in the past few years, and although I get disappointed at times with some of the ways it's all used, overall I think we should still move forward and look outside the box when it comes to digital media but along with that I really hope that parents do the research on these advancements before they are introduced to their children. That will be the only way that parents can keep a good thing from turning bad.

Digital media and the movies

When you think about movies today, what are some of the most visually inspiring, greates movies you can think of? Some people will give me answer of maybe comedies or chick flicks, but I bet most of you will answer more along the lines of these movies. Transformers, Avatar, and the like.

And what do all these movies have in common? Digital effects and animation. They either use special effects to enhance the movie, the integrate computer animation into the live action of the res of the movei, or even the movie is entirely animated. More and more the movie industry is relying on digital techiniques to supplement and enhance their movies, or even replacing traditional filming all together.

Who wasn’t amazed when they first saw Transformers, and these large robotic creatures roaming around in seemingly the real world? When you first saw the amazing world of avatar, and integration of the human’s into the environment? Even such classics such as the Titanic used digital animation for the sinking of the ship, and and the dinosaurs of Jurassic park?

Many movies now a days would have been impossible without digital touching up, effect, and animation, or at least they wouldn’t have had nearly the quality and visual impact they do now. These special effects allow for an almost realistic escape into the fantastic and unimagined.

These digital effects allow for enhancement of back grounds in subtle ways, such as in Moulin rouge. It allows for changing the appearance of a character, from the changing of age, such as in The Curious Tale Of Benjamin Button, To a comlete revamp of an actors appearnce, such as that of Davey Jones in Pirates of the Caribbean, and Gollum in the lord of the rings. It allows for more Gore in horror movies, and many other ways than you can count. The fantastical creatures of a fantasy film, the space fight of a sci fi film, explosions in an action film, even to to just mess with lighting, filters, and monir things in every genres of film imaginable.

Digital animation and effects is also much easier and cost effective than many effects would have been to prodiuce in real life. They allow for retakes, and reworking of effects not possible in a real life creation of them, allow for much more control over the effects, and allow for a much more fantastic and wide srpead range of effects.

Argueably one of the greatest example of the Integration of live action filming with special effects would be James Cameron’s avatar. The movies combines the actual movement and such of the human actors, as a frmaeworks under the digital animation of the characters. The end product ended up being about 40 percent live actiona dn about 60 percent digital. It would have been nearly impossible to recreate without the use of digital effects and animation.

The digital effects industry has become intertwined with the film industry the two are virtually inseperable. In the future, expect to seen bigger, greater intergration of the two techologies, creating new and greater worlds for us to explore.

Election Time or Bashing Time?

Have you noticed the newspaper, television, internet and radio political advertisements lately? Each candidate is bashing the other, there is so much mud slinging going around and negative talk about each person that Im turned off to voting for anyone. This Nation was on the brink of another "Great Depression" 12 months ago that we are still trying to recover from. These polititians want our votes but when they have the chance to say something encouraging or meaningful they use the opportunity to degrade their opponent.

How about using a 30 second commercial to let us know how your going to make improvements if elected, or how your going to lower taxes and mortgage rates, lower the crime and poverty rate, increase scholarships, lower gas prices, stabilize social security and retirement funds, and increase stimulus rebates.

These are some of the items that should be addressed instead of the political name game thats being advertised. In case you haven't heard heres a few of the adjectives most commonly used:

"lie", "cheat", "steal", "rob", "rude" "uncivil", "angry", "sneaky","thief", "dishonest" and my favorite, "I am not a witch," insists Delaware Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell. These guburnotorial candidates claim to be well educated, literate stand up citizens politicing for votes. I don't think showing meaness is a good way to achieve this.

I talked with some elders who say "this campaign is more nasty and negative than ever". For a change, I'd like to see an eloquent man/woman, with some class and knowledge about reform and the economics of America to benefit our great Nation by making the necessary changes voiced by the people.

Mark Lawrence, Digital Artist

I’m not a big church goer. In fact now that I think about it I haven’t been to any church in at least four years (except for my step-grandmother’s funeral). That’s why I was very unexpectedly surprised to find myself receiving a sermon this morning at Frank Brown Park watching my son practice ball. I’ll try to spare you all my unreasonable reasoning or should I say confusion and doubt on religion or more so religious leaders. My blog is really about artist named Mark Lawrence. I have been a fan of his artwork for quite some time but up until now have not researched.

Mark Lawrence as a child was more interested in doodling than doing his school work. Many times we hear of artists that have had so much training and just grew up submerged in art. Mark Lawrence is not one of those artists. He basically forgot art in high school. He went through all the usual stuff growing up in America…college, marriage, kids and started a small business in Atlanta. In the mid 90’s he found himself in financial disaster. He returned to his childhood love of art to ease stress and became a born-again Christian, finding the two to hold hands. He draws his artistic inspirations from bible scriptures. He stays motivated by hearing from different people he inspires. He hopes to do God’s will and spread his news by inspiring people with his artwork.

That is how I found myself sitting in a church pew at football practice in the park. Listening intently and believing, questioning or denying each and every phrase uttered just as I did for so many years when I was little. I come into these perspective self discovery journeys or interventions hopeful yet doubtful and always disappointed. I leave confused at whether it was a constructive experience or a further confusion. Maybe I should have a little faith that “when God sends a message to us through scripture it is never by accident. It always achieves the special purpose for which it was sent.”

Mark Lawrence work is really awesome. I love everything about his art…the textures… the color combinations. He uses digital sources to create or enhance his contemporary Christian abstract paintings. You can check out his ImageKind.com profile and paintings at http://www.imagekind.com/GalleryProfile.aspx?gid=48ecf2ca-8d14-46fa-bc84-7beb931d1874. You can check out 54 of his creations at his Art.com gallery at http://www.art.com/gallery/id--a28601/mark-lawrence-posters.htm?ui=BCF728CA5382420E92FD5DAAC7071001. You can access his exclusive website at http://www.marklawrencegallery.com.

These are some of my favorites.

Exodus 16:4









Acts 2:17







The Gate of Heaven Genesis 28:17

The Future of Digital Media

The Future of Digital Media

The world of Digital Media is a constantly changing environment. We live in the time frame where PC’s have become man’s best friend, where digital editing and graphic design is practically a trait learned while growing up, and where entertainment rules the generation. Computers have seen more improvement in the past 5 years than ever before. Now instead of only having a PC at home; most of today’s generation can also be caught sporting around the latest cell phones that have the ability of a complete computer crammed into tiny pocket-sized containers and Ipods that have full access to the internet or view YouTube videos at the owners slightest whim. Just one look at the world around you now can show you where the Digital Media future is going.

With PC’s capabilities growing everyday it has now allowed the general public the ability to begin learning skills in digital editing and similar subjects. I know this fact personally because about 3 years ago I was in the same position learning the video effects program Adobe After Effects. Having grown up playing around with Adobe Photoshop and other programs it allowed me to have great success just jumping in and learning a completely new program. Thru online forums and video tutorials I quickly began to achieve the skills necessary to start experimenting and combining several effects or techniques to create CG seen on TV or in movies. Within no time I was creating things I never imagined I would ever be able to before. This by no means is a complete education in certain programs but it shows how the general public can access and teach themselves all the vital programs to create the next blockbuster film or dynamic video game.

The world of how things are viewed is also evolving as time goes by; the creation of sites that allow users to display their works has drastically increased individual recognition. With sites such as YouTube, Vimeo, and Flickr users can upload photos and film of their work for the world to view. This is allowing amateurs to break into the field of Digital Media at an alarming rate. Users such as 18 year old English student Nick Haley, whose amateur iPod Touch commercial was picked up from YouTube and turned in to a high definition television ad, have found out that simple user created material can change your life as you know it. Users are finding them contacted by production agencies to aid in the help of professional advertisement. Advertisement agencies are also using YouTube to get a wide variety of reviews to products, ads, and more. With users able to log on worldwide and view videos at any possible time they can get a range of opinions from every different age, race, gender, and ethnicity without having to spend a dime.

This is just the tip of the icegerg of the ever evolving world of Digital Media and how it is improving itself. Things are rarely created the are perfect but companies take an idea and enhance it till it is. As Steve Yelvington pointed out in an article," Google did not invent search. They perfected it. The did not invent pay-per-click text ads. The perfected them. YouTube did not invent online video. The perfected it. Facebook did not invent online social networking. They perfected it." I believe you will see a lot more of this in the near future as new technology is perfected and further built upon into the unknown.

The Internet: The Good, The Bad, & Kids Stuck in The Middle.

Internet is a major part of all our lives. Whether you need it for professional, educational, or recreational purposes there is a website devoted to your needs. It has been estimated that there is over 2.25 million websites. A lot of these websites are lifesavers. However with the good comes the bad. Between 75% and 90% of teenagers from 13-19 use the internet in the united states. most of these kids use it on a daily basis, spending an hour or more "surfing" the internet. What exactly are your kids "surfing through?
Well parents, there is good news and there is bad news. Good news is the internet is not evil. There are many websites that are extremely positive. People use the internet for research and studing purposes. Before interent a research paper could take weeks to finish, considering the library time and labor hours spent to research your topic. Now with the internet it could be done in days, most of that spent sorting through the vast amount of information at your fingertips.
Another great thing about internet is the social connection available. "Online interactions provide essential socail support for otherwise isolated adolescents." Being able to stay in touch with friends has never been easier. With the internet people can have an assortment of friends. Also it helps shy teenagers make friends. with the internet they are not rushed into speaking and without the face to face contact there is less to be nervous about.
For adults the internet provides entertainment and news that is controlled by what you want from it. With the internet it is simple to hear and see what is going on across the world. Now people with busy schedules can have services done right from home. You can shop, work, get a degree and almost anything without leaving the house.
Now for the bad news. People do have the tendency to be evil which makes things people create have negative impacts even if it was create to better society. The worse things that parents deal with is protecting their kids from the harms in this world. The internet, unfortunately, can provide some of these harms.
Online bullying is a growing epidemic. Mentioned earlier, shy kids do open up more online, well some bold children open up as well. Kids think that what they say on the internet cant be harmful. Also it is not censored or protected by teachers and parents. Normal bullying at school or in a neighborhood is horrible and humiliating. Imagine a child's humiliation being broadcasted through the world wide web.
With the vast amount of information at ones disposal one might think the more available the better. Kids are able to look through this online widow and see things they might not need to see. The internet is practically unrestricted and children can easily find porn or violence. Someone can find a little too much information without even really searching.
With the easy way to stay in touch with friends and family comes an easy way for stalkers to find people. Online stalking is as easy as having a Facebook. most people don't think about who reads their posts when they announce where they are going to be and exactly what they are doing. The internet made a lot of things easier; stalking included.
People who use the internet just need to be wary. the internet is an amazing tool for society and can bring people together. With great power comes great responsibility. Watch your kids, keep the computer in a public area of the house, check history and make sure everyone knows about the dangers of scams, viruses, and spam along with the other far worse things.

Quitting Technology... Cold Turkey.

Technology has come a long way over the past few decades. I've been sitting here trying to imagine what life would be like without any modern technology and I've come to the conclusion that it would be kind of boring. Granted, if I had been born into a world without technology, I would be used to it and probably wouldn't be able to imagine the world as it is today. However, the point is... having been born into today's technologically dependent world, I think everyone would go into panic mode if we were suddenly stripped of internet access, cell phones, radio, television, etc.

Think about it. How many of you have left the house, realized you left your cell phone behind and turned around to go get it? I know I'm guilty of it. And why? I'm sure that I could survive without my cell phone for a few hours, but it drives me crazy not having it. I feel naked without it and it's just a cell phone. How would you react to quitting technology cold turkey?

This idea certainly has it's pros and cons. I feel that it would build stronger bonds between friends and family as the only interaction you would have with each other would be in person. People would probably be more fit than they are in today's society as most jobs would require harder labor and people would be outdoors more instead of staying in and watching tv or sitting on the computer. But if today, in 2010, there was suddenly a technology blackout, I personally feel that there would be a spike in the crime rate everywhere. We rely on technology for audio/video surveillance, metal detectors, and even telephones to call for help and without these things, criminals might take full advantage of it.

Those a just a few random thoughts, but what do you think? How do you think it would affect us? There is no doubt that technology has taken over today's world. From waking up to your alarm clock, turning your tv on to find out the local weather forcast, going through the drive through at a fast food restaraunt, paying with your debit card, banking online.... the list could go on and on! That being said... It would take some serious adjusting to be comfortable in a technolgy-free world.

Digital Media and the Education System

Before digital media, the idea of using technology to enhance the school experience was not available. Now, every school I know of utilizes some type of technology or digital media to further engage the students into learning. Even before children enter school, the world of digital media affects them. From all the cartoon shows that have started to teach children, such as Dora the Explorer, and from the fun computer games that companies make to help enhance their learning ability before parents enter them in school, children today start learning certain things earlier than generations before.

When I was growing up, my elementary school used a computer program called Accelerated Reader to take quizzes on books we had read. We were able to get points when completing the quizzes, and it caused many students to get more interested in reading. Since this program was on the computer, it was an efficient and simple way to test students on their knowledge of certain books. Today, this program is still used, but it is not the only way elementary schools use digital media to help students learn. Some schools get the privilege of having a certain number of iPads in their classroom so they can install applications that help kids with what they are learning. This type of help really helps children engage in learning.

As I grew older and entered middle school and high school, digital media became more and more apparent. Not only did it help with research for certain subjects, it was a way for everyone to be informed. By the morning news, which I was a part of throughout my years of middle school and high school, students and teachers got information on whatever they needed to know about the day or upcoming events. Entering my junior and senior year of high school, applying to college was easier because of digital media. Everything I needed to know was available to me through a couple clicks of the mouse, and everything could be sent electronically so there would be no hassle for lost transcripts or applications.

As a student in college, I know now more than ever digital media is essential. Before 2004, students did not have the internet to sign up for classes, or get information for their classes. When professors decided to design websites for their students, it changed everything. Research is more easily found. If a student is unable to attend the class, the student can get the power points from the lecture online if needed. If changes are made, professors are able to let their students know prior. Students are now able to take online courses, which provide more flexible schedules for someone who has a full-time job, or have children. The list can go on and on for examples of how digital media has helped schools and students learn. Without digital media, I cannot imagine what the education system would be like. Digital media has made the system just much more efficient.