“hypertext as a lens”

This week we took another look at George Landow’s ‘Hypertext 3.0: Critical Theory and New Media in an Era of Globalisation.’ Here is something I found useful

“Hypertext narrative clearly takes a wide range of forms best understood in terms of a number of axes, including those formed by degrees or ratios of

  1. reader choice, intervention, and empowerment
  2. inclusion of extra linguistic texts (images, motion, sound)
  3. complexity of network structure
  4. degrees of multiplicity and variation in literary elements, such as plot, characterisation, setting, and so forth”

I like that Landow talks of ‘degrees or ratios’ of form. This way the different forms don’t become too limiting.

Prior to this reading, I would imagine a jumbled mind map whenever the work hypertext popped up. Perhaps this was due to a limited understanding of the concept, but I thought information could become easily lost within hypertext. This, however, was cleared up for me when Landow stated that “hypertext, the argument goes, makes certain elements in these works stand out for the first time.” This isn’t a surprise when you think about the potential of links to highlight information.  “This approach therefore uses hypertext as a lens, or a new agent of perception, to reveal something previously unnoticed.”

For more: http://vogmae.dropmark.com/133224/2234767

Week 5 Non-Symposium

Due to the National Tertiary Education Union calling a strike, we were provided with three YouTube links instead of a symposium. Like the previous symposiums, these links involve thinking about thinking and learning about learning.

The first link ‘Do Schools Kill Creativity’ featured Sir Ken Robinson talking about the importance of creativity in education. He believes that we [educators] squander children’s talents. I believe this is particularly evident in VCE. Doing well in VCE is more about remembering and regurgitating facts, then having talent or skill in a particular area. Subjects like legal studies and business management, require little to no interpretation. To do well you simply need to remember the information you have been taught.

Robinson believes that the education system needs to change. It needs to nurture creativity and recognise that it is as important as literacy. He makes a very valid point – educators are educating for a future that they don’t yet know about. For this reason, there is a great deal of unpredictability and a need for creativity. We don’t know what the world, or jobs for that matter, will be like in even five years’ time. Today’s students will need to be adaptable, and having the skill of creativity will ensure this.

On a side note, I found Sir Robinson very amusing. Follow the link to learn more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Michael Wesch ‘From Knowledgeable to Knowledge’ looks at changing students from being knowledgeable to knowledge-ABLE. This means that rather than dumping students into lecture theatres and relaying information, students should be taught how to create new information. Adrian is demonstrating a similar thought process by moving away from lectures and towards symposiums.  Wesch also looks at new mediums of communication. Such mediums bring new opportunities for transparency and participation but, also new opportunities for control and monitoring. For this reason, we need critical thinking.

For more of Wesch, follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeaAHv4UTI8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Given the structure of Michael Wesch’s ‘The Machine is Us/ing Us,’ I found it easier to list the key points rather than summarize them

  • digital text is more flexible than written text, especially hypertext which can link virtually anywhere
  • digital allows form and content to be separated thus, exported free of construction constraints
  • data exchange extends beyond just text and includes images, videos, etc.  
  • we create databases
  • every time we link things we are teaching ‘the machine’ an idea
  • the web links people, not just information

This is a quick piece which conveys the key points in an easy and interesting way. Take a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

Landow

The extract from George Landow’s ‘Hypertext 3.0’ was very long. Luckily, it was straightforward and contained useful information regarding blogging. Landow notes that blogging hasn’t created a new style of writing. It is the same style that has been used in diaries and journals for centuries, it is just the medium within which this writing occurs that has changed. He says that blogging encourages hypertextuality and allows “the active reader-author envisaged by Nelson.” More so than ever, the reader is an active participant. They choose what to read and when, and can leave comments or post links regarding what they have read. Landow writes that hypertext “moves the boundary of power away from the author in the direction of the reader.” This statement makes me a bit uneasy. It is true that allowing readers to leave feedback and comments on your blog, places them in a position of power. As much as I like the idea of receiving feedback, I only really want positive feedback. I suppose I could settle for constructive criticism but receiving ‘hate’ can come along with this. Once you allow comments or participation, you are opening yourself up to the unknown and have therefore lost some power. Correctly, Landow states that the web is an “antihierarchical medium of information.”

For the full extract follow this link: http://vogmae.dropmark.com/133224/2214098

Shakshuka

When it comes to food, I am anything but adventurous. To me, there is nothing worse than paying X amount of dollars for a meal and not enjoying it. But, last Thursday I went out on a limb and reaped the rewards. I was out to lunch celebrating my father’s birthday. We decided to go to ‘porgie + Mr Jones,’ a hip café in Hawthorn. My family have raved about their smashed avocado dish for years, and often try to recreate it. I had only been to porgie + Mr Jones once, years ago for a quick coffee and honey joy. I loved the eclectic yet refined décor of the ex violineri workshop but, hadn’t had the chance to return.

Anyway, Thursday was freezing so I inhaled a generously sized hot chocolate on arrival. I then tossed up between poached eggs with a side of roasted tomato and mushrooms or Shakshuka. Poached eggs, tomato and mushroom is my go to order at any café. I figure it is a dish you can’t really stuff up, and breakfast is great any time of day. Shakshuka, however, is something I had never tried before. For those of you like me who have never come across the dish, it consists of two baked eggs with spiced tomato. Porgie + Mr Jones version also includes slow roasted red onion, silver beet and feta. My desire for warmth saw me gravitate towards the ‘spiced tomato’ but I was unsure if I was prepared to venture out of my comfort zone. I quickly trolled the internet for images and information on Shakshuka, hoping that this would help me make my decision.

You may think that I am being a tad dramatic, and I may very well be, but you simply don’t understand the bad luck I have when it comes to food. Typically, my meal is the last to arrive at the table or what does arrive isn’t what I ordered.  Then I will undoubtedly find something wrong with the dish, a hair, a bone or it will simply not be to my liking. This isn’t because I go to bad cafes or restaurants, because I don’t. Bad food luck just seems to follow me. My friends and family think I look for things to complain about. I am fussy I will give them that, but even they cannot deny that more often than not there is something wrong with my meal.

Now, back to the Shakshuka. The waiter had arrived to take our orders and I was still umming after everyone had placed their order. Then my dad said “come on, we’ll both try the Shakshuka.” Not wanting to disagree with the birthday boy I said okay, and was somewhat relieved that this decision had been taken out of my hands. The dish arrived in a timely manner and the presentation was lovely. The dish was served in a shallow, rustic green bowl. Some sort of thin pita bread accompanied it. The dish itself was lovely, to say the least. The tomatoes and egg melted in your mouth. There was a beautiful crumb scatter over the translucent eggs which provide a crunch. The spice was somewhat sweet and the pita was perfect to mop up all the juices. Added bonus, I didn’t find a hair. It was the perfect winters dish and I am desperate to return. At a reasonable $16.50 it was money well spent, especially because it wasn’t my money.

Though this experience was a pleasant surprise, I don’t think it has cured my trepidation towards new foods. It is however, a step in the right direction.

“the greatest single technological change in the history of writing”

Jay David Bolter redefines writing as a technology in ‘Writing Space.’ Bolter seeks to “broaden our definition of technology to include skills as well as machines.” After reading this extract, it seems obvious that writing is a technology. “Even if the capacity for language is innate . . . Writing is certainly not innate.” Writing is a skill that involves learning and practice before it can become second nature.

To illustrate his point, Bolter looks at the history of economies of writing. Writing materials and techniques have always varied between cultures. The Egyptians etched hieroglyphics into stone, whereas the Sumerians adopted a wedge-shaped stylus which they etched into clay. Today, English speaking cultures have adopted an alphabet and write horizontally across the page. Conversely, the Japanese use characters and write vertically.

An important distinction is made between hard and soft structures. Bolter defines hard structures as “tangible qualities of the materials of writing,” such as stone. “Soft structures are those visually determined units and relationships that are written on or in the hard structures.” This includes characters or symbols drawn, painted or etched into the hard structures.

Bolter goes on to address how electronic technologies have changed the conditions of writing. He contends that new electronic structures “constitute perhaps the greatest single technological change in the history of writing.” These new hard structures take away from the connection between the words and the reader. “The author no longer writes on the page, but must instead work through layers of technology and a number of middlemen.” Online, language is coded, re-coded and decoded before it reaches the reader. But, electronic hard structures also provide rapid access to writing and ensure long periods of storage. Like all technological advances, there are pros and cons.

Follow this link for the reading: http://vogmae.dropmark.com/133224/2214097

 

Week Four Lecture

Here are my ‘take home’ points from the lecture. . .

What separates design fiction from science fiction?

I am glad this question was asked as I was unsure what separated the two concepts. Brian noted that science fiction has a lot to do with technological fetishism, whereas design fiction is interested in the broader context within which technologies fit i.e. communities and institutions.

NEW TERM: ‘Wicked problem’

A ‘wicked problem’ doesn’t have a single answer or even an answer at all. The issue of asylum seekers was used by Adrian to explain this concept. Society has to combat this issue but, there is no clear answer. Design fiction can help to think through this complex issue, by imagining the outcome of new laws or programs.

As content producers is it more important to speculate far into the future or pay more attention to the present?

Elliot made a point about the ability of foresight, which I very much agree with. He said that it is less obvious how a design will unfold if you look too far into the future. Instead, design for the next thing after the next mass invention. This way you can more accurately foresee society’s future needs.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Adrian stated that for any design to be relevant, it needs to be designed for mobile phones. This makes a lot of sense considering that mobile phones have become the medium through which we seem to do . . . well everything. No longer simply a way to call or text, we can now access the internet thus bank accounts, emails and pretty much everything else. For this reason society has become attached to their mobile phones.

 

Hypertext synonymous with confusing?

I’m glad Nelson said it was okay not to ‘get it’ because I didn’t really. Hypertext seems and intriguing way to write, and I will definitely attempt to apply the structure to my writing in future posts – maybe this will help my understanding. What I took away from the reading was that many of his predictions have already happened. He also reminded me of childhood books that allowed the reader to pick the ending they desired. I hated these books. It annoyed me that people only read one ending, I would always read both. My logic was that I (correction my parents) had paid for it so I may as well read it. Additionally, the book would sit there taunting me if I didn’t read both endings – what am I missing out on?? This fear of missing out (fomo) has always haunted me hence why I often find myself going to events I know I want enjoy. Another reason I don’t like stories that let you pick the ending is because I like need structure and these sort of books are just out of my comfort zone.

http://vogmae.dropmark.com/133224/2190062

A new world

Nothing gets my blood pumping more than discovering a good buy. I love nothing more than strolling down Chapel Street or forging my way through crowded laneways of Melbourne’s CBD. But, my search for ‘good buys’ is now seeing me look no further than my computer screen.

New to the online world of shopping, I haven’t discovered all its pros and cons but my experiences so far have been positive. When ordering a skirt from the UK last week I was a tad skeptical. Would the skirt I ordered differ from the one I received? Was it all a scam to empty my bank account? Now the happy recipient of a new skirt, I cannot ignore the advantages online shopping has over traipsing store to store.

The navy body con knitted mini with cable knit finish, received many compliments when worn for coffee with the girls. Frequent victims of same-outfit-syndrome, they were curious why they hadn’t seen the skirt before. Being the wonderful friend I am, I told them about the website.

Price competiveness and convenience are the driving forces behind Internet purchases. Savvy shoppers are trying on clothing, only to go online and order the same piece cheaper. The strong Australian dollar is allowing Aussies to buy cheaply from offshore websites, and money conscious individuals have grasped the opportunity.

Those with little time, who live far from mainstream stores or hyperventilate at the thought of pushy shop assistants lingering outside their changing room, listen up. Buying online offers the chance to save some pennies and experience leisurely shopping.

Every clothing size and colour is at your fingertips. Gone are the days of driving a mile to find what you are looking for. Online shopping offers instant gratification, and will surely increase the number of shopaholics. The bonus of having purchases delivered to your door cannot be denied either, and who doesn’t enjoy receiving mail?

It seems as the retail industry is beginning to peter, the simple of joy of snail mail is being revived. To think the advent of online shopping has led to letterboxes being filled with more than just bills. Mornings spent waiting by the front gate for the mail have been resurrected and people have been reintroduced to the thrill of tearing open whatever has arrived.

Rose coloured glasses aside, the recent surge of Internet purchases caused Australia Post to upgrade its parcel delivery service. Australia Post was flailing with the 10.9 per cent increase in parcel deliveries they noted last year and the system was given a serious overhaul. Twenty-four hour collection facilities and happy Aussies were the result.

The popularity of online shopping has exploded over the past few years and is evident why. Research undertaken by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, found nearly 62 per cent of internet users bought something online in the six months prior to April 2011.With winter fast approaching, why not snuggle up by the fire while revamping your wardrobe?

Next time I find myself dealing with a surly shop assistant or queuing for the cash register, I don’t know if I will be as patient.

Lecture

Take away points

  • structure emerges through practice
  • knowledge is something we construct from information so it varies between individuals
It was also stated that ‘education is an experience not a commodity.’ I don’t agree with this statement. I believe education is both an experience and a commodity, I don’t believe the two are mutually exclusive. Information can be ‘bought’ and knowledge acquired and then traded or shared. Elliot shared this view point when stating that University is a type of transaction – and personally I want a return on that investment. Adrian noted that lecturers and tutors can’t give knowledge but can facilitate students in finding that knowledge. I agree with this statement but it doesn’t mean I don’t view Uni as some sort of monetary exchanged. I understand there has to be a meeting of the minds so to speak, tutors and students have to meet each other halfway. But, I feel as though this meeting of the minds should be led by the teacher so in a way perhaps they could be likened to a shop assistant (that sounds demeaning but I am simply in keeping with the metaphor used in the lecture). Typically it is the buyer telling the shop assistant what they are looking for and then the shop assistant helping them find it (which is kind of what was said in the lecture, but the metaphor of the shop assistant was seen negatively). As I am unpacking the ‘shop assistant’ metaphor I am confusing my thoughts. But, I think I have made my observation clear??