Digital Media Blog

Screening

2009-05-21T18:18:00.010-04:00

Ahh yes time to screen the images I've got from my catch

Here is a list of the images in order from left to right within rows...
As in 1 -> 2 -> 3 then with the next row starting on the left 4 -> 5 -> 6 and so on...
Also, it will be listed with the number then it's original image name (in case there was a certain given name for it before I rename it). Then when clicking on the original name of the image, it will lead to the actual image and beside that would be the link to where the image was from (ie. the original site and placement of where it was)

Here is an example:

29. googlelogo30.jpg | www.google.ca

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Here's the actual list of images:

1. network.png | Site #1

2. CyNet_Network.jpg | Site #2

3. SystemArchitecture.NET_NetworkMethodology.png | Site #3

4. network.jpg | Site #4

5. NetworkTopology.png | Site #5

6. art_network.gif | Site #6

7. global_network.jpg | Site #7

8. Map-caENTI-network.png | Site # 8

9. 350px-Artificial_neural_network.svg.png | Site #9

10. WMIApplication.gif | Site #10

11. network.jpg | Site #11

12. network.png | Site #12

13. GPO%Firewall$20Policy.jpg | Site #13

14. dish-network-2.gif | Site #14

15. wireless-ap-network.jpg | Site #16

16. 68600-open-network-folder.gif | Site #16

17. network-scr.jpg | Site #17

18. home-network.jpg | Site #18

19. network_magic_map.jpg | Site #19

20. SoftLayer_network.gif | Site #20

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Some information from just looking at the collected images' names:

- Looking at the results of the original names itself, you can see that 2/20 of the images does not have the word "network" in it
- There are 4 images that purely and only consists of the word "network" as the name
- The collected images (within my own database both through the links on my blog and my computer) is a network itself. Similar to the definition that was posted earlier in this blog, a network is an interconnected system of things or people. Though it might not be fully within a "system" it is definitely interconnected with the relativity of network.
- There are 6 PNG images, 10 JPG images, and 5 GIF images. All leading to a system of different images except within different file types though all classified as images.

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Yup, so this is the last post...well for this blog that is haha
The conclusion, the final post is really going to be within phase 4 itself

The title is already made, it will be called: The Sale

The reason is because, after the screening of "fish", it would be put out to sell (whether they'll be living or not is not my problem though)...

PS. sorry if that last sentence sounded REALLY lame!

The Catch

2009-05-21T12:02:00.016-04:00

Well today's the day to do all the image collecting now...
A template is already made and ready to have the images be put into it

Unfortunately though, the time is not right or just that the ongoing/continuous algorithm that was used for Google Images had made the previous image I showed earlier not appear anymore. Therefore I will exclude it from my catch (though it would have been better with it). For the sake of following the concept of collecting what I catch with the first time, I took it out. However, other images that I find within this catch can be taken away but with proper reasoning. If any will be taken away, it will still be in the website I made with the imagemap control so you can see why I took it away...

Here are the images I've found:

Time is the Key

2009-05-20T12:07:00.006-04:00

Going through several searches of net(work) now...

It seems to me that each day or at certain time of the day, the results changes.

Whether it's because new images emerges into the net or just that during certain time of the day the results differ, I think it leads us back to the thought of the past.

Most likely the results depend on the algorithm that was used during that moment...
Since it says here in the page of Google Image Search FAQ:

Google analyzes the text on the page adjacent to the image, the image caption and dozens of other factors to determine the image content. Google also uses sophisticated algorithms to remove duplicates and ensure that the highest quality images are presented first in your results.

From this knowledge, I find that it really does depend on when I search for the images...whether there is a high time of better catch per se...

Awkwardly enough, everything feels like it follows that rule of going back to the past, the origin of what it started with. Ironically enough to even being misleading, I feel that just like the usage of the word net within the past, when the time of the day is nigh there would be supposedly more "fish". Most of the images I've chosen will be picked out tomorrow morning or tomorrow during the evening where the "fish" are more lively (haha...I feel like I'm gonna fail this project cause it's just so weird how I can make this comparison)...

For now, I will create the platform or picture within Photoshop so I can use it for Image-mapping. More to come tomorrow!

Progression V2

2009-05-18T12:57:00.001-04:00

Sorry for the last few days haha
It was Victoria weekend so I decided to put some of my work aside...

Now that I'm back, I just discovered something quite interesting relating to how google orders it's images or more of how they show it.

Depending on the window size, surprisingly...the amount of images shown could change. My Firefox window was basically full-screen (showing my dock at the same time), and the results were 1-18 images only. However when I made the window smaller by 3/4 (horizontally), the results changed to 1-20 instead.

From this intriguing development (haha), it could relate back to the net situation. It seems like the window is the net itself where depending on size of the net it'll manage to catch so and so many fish or in this case images. However, there is one difference, instead of the actual size of the net, it's more of the area it can cover. Looking back now and then, remembering how in math class students were taught that the area of a square was bigger than of a rectangle. Similarly to the situation right now, the window of Firefox is what depicts the amount of result. Throughout this whole process of finding the images, it really makes feel nostalgic. The past, the origin, the feel of how it was just like "yesterday" always comes back while doing things in the present for the future.

Progression

2009-05-13T08:45:00.003-04:00

So where I left off yesterday...

The suggestions that one of my classmates made during my critique was to try searching with different ordering of my keyword(s) since Google Images uses this algorithm to give the results. Though my knowledge on algorithm is like really bad haha, but I do understand what he means.

From his suggestion, I decided to go through some searches but ordering my keyword(s) differently. They are:

*Keywords are not linked to a site this time*

- work and net
- net and work
- work(net)

I was thinking about replacing "and" with "or" but according to my knowledge and common sense, it'll just exclude one term if it does find the first (and vice versa). Similarly, it's like searching for library books, where the or is to exclude while the and is to include. That is why "and" was used instead of "or".

From what I found through the above keywords, the results were quite different. They were more related to pictures of "work" or "work-in-net". What I mean is that it shows me images of work place(s), or conference(s) of work, and little to none diagrams were shown. Unfortunately, one bad mistake was that when I searched for "net and work" it had one image being sexual related, therefore clearly this way of searching was not the best.

More updates to come later today!

UPDATED at 9:15 PM - Nevermind...going to be continued tomorrow

The Search

2009-05-12T10:01:00.009-04:00

For the last few days I've made some searches for images through Google Image. The following are the words I tried searching for and came to my conclusion of what keyword(s) to search for:

*Having the safe search turned off*

- Network
- Net
- Net(work)

Throughout the searches, I found that just searching for "network", I'd get a lot of different diagrams of actual computer/wireless networks. There were a few images that showed the physical connection of a network (ie. multiple wires plugged into a system creating a network). Though there were more diagrams of networks, it showed a variety of them:

- Plain and simple
- Quite detailed (multiple lines connecting to different factors of a 'network')
- Artistic (though it's a diagram it looks very artsy)

When I searh for the word "net", the results differs a lot. There are still some diagrams, but a lot are related to the "Net Framework" of Microsoft. I searched up what this Net Framework is and it says here that it has the intention of bridging the gap in interoperability between applications. In more simple words I guess it's to help create applications easier for the internet and other operating systems (mainly windows in this case). Thinking about this, this "Net Framework" is like a network to connect the "gap" of creating applications for OS's.

Lastly, when searching for "net(work)", the results are quite different from the rest. It doesn't just show diagrams, but the ones that show a picture or a structure which applies more interests when it's being viewed. An example would be this:

The difference between this diagram or image to the other images I've seen from the above searches is that it's more lively. Plus, not only does it show how network is relevant to technology but us human. An online community that is connected not only in an online network but in reality as well. However, what is seem to be reality might not be entirely true, because we are all connected virtually instead.

Anyways...more will be written

PS. Just had critique today...and some ideas were suggested...it will be told in the next post!

Networks

2009-05-10T14:32:00.003-04:00

Through the search of images, I looked at some of the information showed on the FACS 2930 site to see if there are anymore definitions or knowledge/meanings related to networks.

I looked through this section about 'online networks', what I found was that there's this site called the UMBRELLA.net

This site is a project, it's goal is here:

"a project exploring transitory or ad-hoc networks and their potential for causing sudden, striking, and unexpected connections between people in public and urban space. The project focuses on the theme of "networks of coincidence", or how shared, yet disconnected activities can be harnessed into collective experiences. UMBRELLA.net examines how the haphazard and unpredictable patterns of weather and crowd formation can act as an impetus to examine coincidence of need networks. In particular, when umbrellas are opened and closed in public space. The project will attempt to highlight these informal relationships by creating a system of ad-hoc network nodes that can spontaneously form and dissipate based on weather conditions."

What I see from this "network" idea is that within these images of what "network" is, maybe if possible within one whole page of search (without going through many images) that the similarities show in all. Like how UMBRELLA.net works, when someone in public opens up their umbrella, others too start to reenact the same action because of the climate change that affects us. So similar to when I search, there's certain to be some type of pattern of arrangement when going through the results. If that idea or way does not show any, maybe a certain image (second image of each page) shows a relation, a very coincidental or just spontaneous, but somehow has an "informal relationship".

Like earlier stated, how I could literally use the first page of result as my images that's collected because from my previous posts...I talked about how I was thinking about using the word net or maybe incorporating that concept. In this case, what I found, what I got from the search first are my first batch of "fish caught, or in this case the first batch of images caught in my net(work).

More reflection and results will be made...

Update on Phase 4

2009-05-05T12:59:00.003-04:00

Just talked over with Nadine about what I plan to do...

The concept of going back to the primitive ages or from where it all originated is workable. Mainly the representation factor that makes me worry because somehow whatever I show or how I show the phase 4 will impact the meaning of it.

The idea is to create some sort of background of a fish net with the images caught in it. When an image is clicked, on the right or left hand side, it will show the description of what I discovered relating to the images' context, significant and reason(s) why it is a chosen image for my database of what I believe can illustrate the definition of network.

The word net was also usable search word because it relates and is the origin of the word network. The only choice for me, is to decide whether to incorporate images that might not literally be "technology" base within my representation. What my main goal is to show that there's an evolution of the word net become a network. Gathered together, with information, people or things...similar to one of the definitions I've found for the word network.

Definitive

2009-05-05T10:07:00.002-04:00

After a week or so of deciding and drifting off, my choice of phase 4 is to go through an image database such as Google looking up the word Network and seeing what pattern or conundrum appears within it.

The reason I chose Network because it can be easily visualized or represented (well easy saying but hard to do) and I like challenges so this will be a fun task for me.

So far, I've looked up the definition of Network...
What I've found so far that relate to technology mainly are:

Google - Define
- An interconnected system of things or people
- A system of interconnected electronic components or circuits

Dictionary.com - As a Verb
- To connect to a network
- To distribute widely
- To organized into a network

Other Non-Technology Based definitions(From previous sites above)
- An open fabric of string or rope or wire woven together at regular intervals

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The last definition listed above, I find that this could be my representation. The fact that everything really starts from an origin. Therefore, before we had technology in our lives, the more physical of what a "network" would be a net made out of fabric of string or rope. Though it's not an easy job, I think eventually it'll work and hopefully it would make sense of what I mean of using the primitive view of the technology network of images of what it developed into.

More ideas/news to come!

Start of Phase 4

2009-04-28T13:36:00.002-04:00

Ever since last week I still haven't decided on a final choice of which example/idea to use within phase 4. All of them are very intriguing but only to a point to what I'm able to take part/contribute into the final piece or how much control I have over what can be made or what not.

At first, my idea was to use audio and visual only. What I mean is to send a photo out to my classmates/friends, have them edit it, then leave comments on the one beforehand (as audio) comment on their own. In the end, I will combine them into a video but this thought is still going and not finalized...

Today, after talking with Nadine about my ideas/thoughts...I'm still puzzled with what I should plan to do. However, it makes me think more deeply upon my own ideas. Such as the "Google Image Trawl".

What keywords should I use?

How should I present it?

What mindset should I have when selecting the images and trying to create that model or visual/graphical view of what I've discovered about how Google orders their images or what not?

I was thinking about using a globe like model to hold the images found, the linkages will be created both visually and by lines because the lines will be made up of the text used to describe to the corresponding image(s).

I searched up words: rhizomes and network. The results of what has been found definitely differs and questions of whether what is the limit or what linkage or relativity am I to take on in order to incorporate both the images, representation overall?

The Day Before Tomorrow

2009-04-20T08:57:00.002-04:00

Yup so today, or to be more specific, last week's day of tomorrow...

Critiques were made and the sound I made/chose for sound piece B were made by knives. However, instead of using a sound we all acknowledge within movies/cartoon I chose one that's less distinctive for people to identify. Like during the lab last week, I said the normal sound of knives appearing within a scene would be like "ka-cheee-ink", if you're able to imagine that sound then you should understand what I mean.

The other sound I chose was a recording of my friends performing like a human orchestra of Viva La Vida (original song by Coldplay). At first it was just an experiment and I got everyone to record at the same time, but as time passed...an idea sparked up.

Instead of recording everyone at the same time, I recorded each person separately and on different sides (right, left, middle). These are the sides are:

Left = Bilal: The base or "bum" in this case
Middle = Tarif: The lyrics, he's reading it and not singing it
Right = Michael: The whistling/tune of the song

Within this "recording" (bahaha), there is a normal beat to the song or for part of the song but one person messes up and start creating nonsense noise/annoyance which messes up the whole group and cussing/frustrations starts to occur.

Just today I previewed part of the sound to some friends and they said it sounded pretty realistic so I'm quite happy that it's turning out well.

Before ending this whole post for phase 3, I just like to say thank you for those who helped out recording and listening to test whether it's workable. The recordings did take a while but overall it worked out well because of the repetitiveness of the voices or literally the sound itself (like the knives one).

One problem I faced though for construction piece is that I recorded each person in different rooms and separately causing me to ensure each voice is similar enough that they can match in the same room. I'm glad that my friends are able to improv pretty well in order to match with what they hear through headphones and express how they feel if such an event of recording "live" would be to occur.

So long phase 3. Here I come phase 4 :D

Experimental Process

2009-04-12T17:57:00.003-04:00

Sound is everywhere, where ever I go. Even silence is like a sound, that is why it's peaceful and it creates harmony in those who love it.

So far using my MacBook to record sounds on Audacity, it's really hard to choose how I will record a sound naturally so it seems manipulated and constructed.

These are the following materials I tried using:

- Kitchen knives
- Cushion
- Finger(s)
- Handheld vacuum
- Metal studs

All seems useable but I need a test subject, I need a friend or a stranger to test out if the sounds I've recorded sounds constructed and fake that is not within our thoughts of reality.

The materials I've used have been hit together, moving the object further away from the mic or literally touching the surface of the mic to create a manipulation.

The knives I thought worked pretty well because depending on the way the knives passed each other scratching from side to side created a high pitch sound in between.

The cushion and finger(s) were used to be touch the surface of the mic to actually create a sound of interference. Not sure whether it's working or not but it definitely sounds like if someone was to talk this sound is just right to interrupt or interfere.

The handheld vacuum was a little difficult as I would have to swing it side to side to create a loopy sound. Overall it technically sounded quite natural rather than constructed because this sound is heard a lot at home when the cleaning of vacuum is made.

Last but not least the metal stud gave quite a dramatizing affect. It was clattering, loud and repetitive, though I'm not sure if it was repetitive enough to make it sound constructed.

Progress is still very slow. I never knew that sound would be such a difficult topic to approach because I myself might think a certain sound is reality while others might not. How we each perceive the sound is different...

More investigation and experimentation will be made...and hopefully I can get the naturally recorded one finished by tonight.

Phase 3 Update

2009-04-07T11:42:00.002-04:00

Only about 1 week left till it's due...well technically 2 because there's the critique week where we can change/re-edit some of the work

At the moment, or so far actually...there's been a lot more thinking about what can be recorded to be natural. It's hard to think of ways to create a situation where it sounds constructed unless I experiment.

I've talked with Nadine about whether recording a planned orchestra to play a song of Viva la Vida. Each person will have an assigned noise or sound they will make: A beat, a whistle, reading the actual lyrics, and throughout the whole piece each will make a sort of disordered sound.

This phase is really confusing and includes a lot of work because recording for 1 full minute is pretty complicated. Especially with the requirement of how it should sound natural...

More to come...more thinking to do...

One hour of 'Silence'

2009-03-28T20:28:00.003-04:00

So after the Earth hour ended...I somewhat thought about what I experienced during the 1 hour of darkness.

In a way, darkness or blindness in this case because there could be no light makes a person more aware of their senses (aside from sight) in order to protect and know what type of environment one is in. For that one hour, I too had to make sure I know where I was walking in my house though it is so called "safe", I unfortunately fell in the dark...

Though, the fall wasn't critical where it caused an injury it was still a bad experience haha. Anyways, besides the fall...

The darkness caused my hearing to be more effective. I heard my fridge, the humming noise which I usually don't hear, the loud music from my neighbour (I live in a town house), the small little unnecessary noises I usually don't hear would appear. I also have a cat, it reminds me how well a cat can move around in the dark. Probably it's not only that they can see in the dark but feel because their fur, whiskers, and paws are able to sense movement on floor or in the air.

To reflect this upon what phase 3 is about...

The sound I should choose could be similar to what I just heard during the very hour of darkness I experienced. The fact that everything we hear in the world is blinded by our busyness and carelessness. It is the little things that we miss and tend to let it slide by as if that noise/sound did not belong in our 'reality'

Yup...just a thought/idea that came up during Earth Hour. Also big thanks to Nadine for sending out the email about Earth hour being tonight or else I would've forgot haha.

Till next time...

Reflection

2009-03-25T14:39:00.004-04:00

After actually processing in my head what Nadine talked about during the lab this week, it gave me an idea. She said things related to phase 3:

Reality is not what it seems because what we hear is different from what we record or capture through the use of different types of mic creating a quality difference. Similar to a photograph it isn't reality but maybe more of an illusion of the ideal environment or sound that is seen/heard through the piece made.

Right at the moment, it made me think about what sound(s) could be captured/recorded that sounds like it's constructed. I took my cell phone during the lab and I captured the sound of me rolling with my chair around while Nadine was talking, I wanted to explore the quality, details and overall sound of the captured piece. After class, I listened to the piece and in fact the sound of the chair is definitely different from what I expected or what I heard from my human ear. It did somewhat sound constructed...

Through other explorations, I went outside that very day after the lab as well. I stood by the porch area before the fountain, closed my eyes and listen carefully to what was around me. Air, wind, birds, people, physical movements, the polluting bus(es) passing around the bus loop every minute or so.

Also, remembering correctly I learn this one thing about sound in physics. Where if one was to stand but not facing the street and having a car/bus pass by the sound is different when you run with or facing the vehicles. I'll probably explore more about this technique or idea...which might work to capture a natural scene but after transferring through the electrical process in order to depict the sound it will eventually make another world of what "reality" is...

More shall becoming soon...I wonder though what ideas or sound I will hear will spark up. Exploration is a must and analyzing the piece will take time to perceive and understand whether it is worth encountering in phase 3.

Implications

2009-03-23T23:09:00.008-04:00

You might wonder why the title is called Implication...well to be honest, it's just random and yeah...

Though there's a reason why it's called implications.

Basically, Phase 1 --> Phase 2 --> Phase 3.
Or in other words, phase 1 implies phase2 and that implies phase 3 is coming up next.

Anyways, yesterday during lecture I took notes and wrote some of my own thoughts referring to the information I learned/received.

The following are what I typed out during the lecture:

- Can construct something to make it sound real
- Boundaries between something that is constructed and natural
- Francisco LOPEZ recorded the sounds of a Brazilian rainforest:
o The more time you spend listening to the recording, it helps expand the interpretations
o Without visual reference, things become more clearly
- Chris WATSON’s recording:
o Very harsh industrial
o Background noises/sounds
o Did not construct any sound
- There is manipulation going on
- It’s not just recording something but recording in a certain area or place to overlap and create interest and reality
- Jim FASSETT’s recording:
o Sounds very primitive and silly
o The composition is like a melody in a symphony
- Alvin LUCIER’s recording:
o Capturing result of the actual environment but adding in something where it’s created
- Complex sounds even if it’s just seems like a normal tone but it has overtone within the actual sound where it could be similar to a harmony
o These sounds give me a somewhat weird feeling. Like goose bumps because of how frequencies are like and it’s not like any normal sound I would usually hear
o Spending time with the material in order to know what sounds are in it
- Tod DOCKSTADER’s short wave radio receiver recording:
o Often you hear nothing but interferences where other waves are conflicting with each other
o Is it a real environment?
o However it is a documentation of reality where it is man-made
o Electronic voice phenomenon (EVP – 1950’s)
• Electronic engineers hear voices within the interferences of the recordings or radio frequencies
• Thought to be the sound of the dead
• Are these voices really just contextualizations?
• It is something of the imaginary where it helps constructs a certain reality and builds a reality onto it

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More notes and thoughts will be written soon...

Completed

2009-02-25T17:24:00.002-05:00

Finished with the video...

My finish product is here: Phase 2 (FINAL)

I've made a lot of edits while creating the video, though overall when the video was first completed, I added/deleted/changed some things like 2 times.

All the videos are from Youtube. Some are confessions/vlog videos, some were all act videos, gameplays from games and videos that actually advertise certain products/company. Overall I think it worked out pretty well, though I wish, I was able to find more videos that I could use instead of repeating some of them. However, it's not TOO BAD of a thing because repetition creates that image or realization into one's head so they will understand it. If not understanding at least, getting a jist of what it actually is haha.

The theme or idea is a bit confusing to some people. It's mainly about children knowing what their "thing" is. Not the thing that each girl/boy might have differently, but the "thing" that we all have, talent/ideas/traits etc. Instead, I switched that idea around and said sure you can have this "thing" but that "thing" could overwhelm you. In this case, I'm showing technology related items/"things" that tend to have children going berserk depending on the moment(s).

Oh and to some of you, it might seem like that some of the clips don't like children. Technically, you are not an "adult" till 18 so yeah I'm pretty sure most of the clips/videos in this phase 2 are all under 18, not that I researched the users up or what not haha...

Phase 2 Update & More

2009-02-22T20:08:00.002-05:00

Okay so far within my phase 2, I've been going through some of the examples I've seen that was uploaded so far and it gave me some more ideas

I would for sure use clips that I've talked about from before but in a different way. Using clips from CCA (Children Concern Advertisement) commercials (mainly the audio) and using ciips from youtube that represent the opposite of what it means. Or more of what some of the outrageous things teens and/or people do from the result of technology (in this case mainly over excessive gaming).

Now I'm sure you've noticed that "more" part on the title. Basically...what I want to remind myself of how stupid I was. Looking back at Phase 1, I have to admit it is hard...but to a point where I realized I screwed one part up. On the main page of my website that I created, I used the same quote twice by accident. It's a bit too late to turn back now unfortunately...so all I can hope for is that my mark doesn't deduct TOO much because of that fact lol.

Till next time!

Remix?

2009-02-17T13:15:00.003-05:00

Today, after listening/learning more about the open source movement. In a way I could create something that relate to it...just that it might be pointless since the video itself already shows that it's an open source movement? It's remixed, remade, added onto the actual value. Connecting this to my phase 1, it's the same because of how the the GUI was hacked in order to have it more openly use. People would go through the process of recreating or "adding on the value" to what was already made and call it your own.

While typing this, Nadine spoke to me.

Other thoughts came in, she reminded me I had to create a video that doesn't have other clips just put in and just means what it means. I need to generate a different meaning from the original of the videos.

The conclusion...would be to show mainly the negative side or reality of how technology is trying to make the virtual reality. Just that some technology goes too far in terms of what they do to create that feeling for the consumers (i.e. gamers, technology lovers, or practically anyone).

I'm going to have to experiment with videos to make it mean something different...

Gonna be an on-going process...for now

Till later...

Repetidea

2009-02-10T12:33:00.003-05:00

Ideas can be repetitive and over used...but there are times when it works even if it's a constancy. What I'm saying, is that a new idea just came into my head.

I'm not sure if this idea will work or not but hopefully it will.
I think I was inspired by this one song and the surrounding environment around me. The monitors, television screens and so on that seems to show/view other info/ideas. The song that started all this is: Speed of Sound, by Coldplay.

Though, looking closely at the lyrics of "Speed of Sound", I'm sure that it doesn't literally relate fully into my idea that is unfolding here. Even so, I think that having several TV's or even just one would be okay because it all starts from one source out to another source. Creating a similar way of "an open source" database or system that anyone/everyone can use.

More will be written...later today. At the moment, I'm going to test it out on Final Cut Pro.

TUESDAY, FEB 10/09 1:10 PM

New Ideas from Lecture

2009-02-09T08:58:00.003-05:00

Today within the class of FACS 2930, Marc showed a video of a person following a girl with a camera. The title of the film/clip is actually called "Rape", though it doesn't exactly mean what it means literally. However, phyiscally...we would literally think of it like the man is going to rape the girl both brutally and violently.

There are moments within the film where the girl starts to feel uncomfortable because of the camera. Comparing this to the 21st century there are all these surveillance around us that watches us, yet we're not feeling "uncomfortable". Therefore it is definitely questionable why the society now is able to understand or ignore such an act as safe as it is suppose to be for security.

From this, it gives me the idea of imitating someone changing the interface of the place or home where they are in. The environment around them except, in reality instead of virtually.

The framework of this idea could be someone flipping on the tv or just on the computer (having the camera focus on the computer screen itself) to show they want to customize something. Maybe it could be not related to the interaction of the computer but it could be where one imagines and establishes a change within a room? So like switch piece by piece to show the art of "home" or where ever the place I choose to be like...

Hopefully that's workable cause I can definitely "imagine" it happening...

On a side note, going back on the lecture of today...I'm watching a video where there's two screens. Both showing the same scene at times, one could change to show text, and one could show animation of the guide to "drop bombs" for technician. It's interesting how it works, there is also audio within the video (plus subtitles of course) which brings up the fact that I could totally change the audio where no one would understand but using fake subtitles so it seems logical

Going back on this one video Marc showed and explained earlier...the one about JenniCam is pretty interesting. Not that it's showing a girl and it could be similar to pornography of any sort but because it's like a documentary of a girl in her everyday life. Giving the audiences/fans different views (since she set up more than 1 camera) is like having surveillance cameras watching you and "you know it". Though, I'm not sure how I would be able to find videos online to do something similar...it could be worth a try.

Restarting

2009-02-08T21:58:00.003-05:00

Yes, it's finally time to restart school well ever since last week of course...
Focusing back now, and being back to reality where things has to be due...
Phase 2 is going to be due pretty soon...

So far, there hasn't been a lot of ideas...
However, lately...going through clips from YouTube gave me some ideas. The creativity of either shorts, made up subtitles from an actual clip from movies (that make sense of course), and music videos that shows a totally different meaning or just very radical way of showing what the song meant compared to other usual mv's are in a way inspiring me. Wow...what a run-on sentence haha...anyways back on topic...

Some clips would be something like this mv, the user took clips from a movie and added song Creep by Radiohead. Here's a peak at it if you want...

Another clip I found that was definitely humourous caught my attention...One about Adolf Hitler. The user made Hitler angry about this new movie that's coming out even though clearly, we all know what it's not about it and is about WWII.

Those are just a small portion of what I've seen. Many ideas are starting to form, though I have to experiment a bit on how I plan to create such an idea that relates to my phase 1.

Hoping that by the coming Tuesday, I'll be able to get something going...
Then again hoping is not enough, I have to take some action so most likely...I'll start to look back at phase 1 and see what clips I have on the internet that's available/applicable

Last Phase 1 Update

2008-10-27T23:09:00.010-04:00

Looking at the article that I found about the customizing with apple, I think it does talk about the art side of my concept(s). Of course, not as detailed since most people would believe that customizing interface would be tend to be more "technological" rather than artsy. Anyways, just to add the last few quotes/definitions that hasn't been clarified or shown.

Hacktivism: Hacking which is motivated by political or ideological reasons.

Art: Art lacks a satisfactory definition. It is easier to describe it as the way something is done -- "the use of skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences that can be shared with others" (Britannica Online) -- rather than what it is.

Overall, to really finish up this assignment...I think it's really hard haha. Just the fact that I'm so use to putting a complete product that includes both text and images. Feels like that something is lacking...even IF there are external links.

Lets Hope for Completion

2008-10-25T16:54:00.000-04:00

At the moment, I'm hoping that this whole phase 1 will be finished by tonight...why? Well because all my quotes will be within this blog so I think once the whole site has been seen this one quote will lead to my blog. In a way it might not really be useful except for knowing that it's not stolen quotes but referenced ones. To be honest, before typing this up...I thought the same but this changed. If you think about it, it's like another way of showing my information about hacktivism, intermediation, interface, customizing, technology, and art. To put it simply, it's another interface or customized way of looking at how it relates to technology and art. So here goes...more quotes found:

Customization: The design and creation of content that meets a customer’s specific needs. Customized content is not delivered dynamically (eg, personalization); it is created by an author for a specific requirement and is static until changed.

For those who don't know what GUI exactly is even with the full name given: A GUI interface allows users to navigate and interact with information on their computer screen by using a mouse to "point," "click," and "drag" icons and other data around on the screen, instead of typing in words and phrases. The Windows and Macintosh operating systems are examples of GUI's. The World Wide Web is an example of a GUI designed to enhance navigation of the Internet, once done exclusively via terminal-based (i.e. typed command line) functions.

There's this other article in which I found that talks about how Mac OS X use to be one of the best interface because you were only able to change the appearance easily. However, I'm not saying that Mac OS X isn't the best now but within the market, Microsoft is winning the market of ordinary human beings. The fact is, the Mac OS X is mainly for people who know about computers, like the features, the simplicity of it's interface and of course industry (those who actually has the money to buy them). Anyways I'm going to stop side-tracking, here's the article I found about how Mac OS X use to be quite "tweak-able" but not anymore: Mac OS X Interface <--I think this article will help me quite a bit with quotes about customizing/technology

As for the art side, I think tomorrow or later tonight I might be able to find some other articles/definitions/quotes that explain about the art side. Also, I think design could take part since it's creating a new type content for the interface right? Design is like art except it's more about the form I believe rather than the emotion(s)/feeling(s) you would feel...

Phase 1 Update

2008-10-20T22:47:00.000-04:00

So far, I think I have my idea ready for the whole phase BUT one problem is that the amounts of quotes that can help me give interaction(s) to the viewer will be a challenge. Since, I plan to create a menu-like on one side to which the user will be able to choose to customize what they see the on site. As well, the user will experience a process of learning how to "hack" similar to hacktivism except not as realistic but a little jist of the actual action of changing appearances according to what the user expects or want.

Even though for tomorrow's critique, it might feel like it's lacking a lot...I think the idea is still set and that once I get most of my quotes that can do what I said above, things will definitely start to put itself together (well not literally).

Increasing Knowledge

2008-10-20T08:46:00.000-04:00

Watching a video about a person asking questions to another person. Whenever the person gets the question wrong, or he takes 4 to 5 seconds to answer he gets shocked.

Another video was shown about telegarden. Telegarden is like a garden that is made by a robot arm in which it can water, plant, and interact within a small garden of one user. At the same time you're able to look through the garden which is quite interesting because:

1. You can't rush the process since it's Mother Nature
2. Even though it's simple, people could actually enjoy the moments
3. Becomes quite interactive in terms of planting, watering, and exploring
4. Reconnect people from the cyber world to the physical world
5. Can be an influence to people to care and talk about "nature"

Telepistomology: the study of the nature of knowledge gained through remote, mediated sources (internet)

The new media seems to be giving advantages/disadvantages to governments/companies to view their actions/news about what is going to be done within news channel such as BBC World News. However, sometimes it's not 100% sure that the news is right since the company could just be saying it but not actually taking the actions. At the same time, some viewers themselves create a videos in order to have people notice about the problems and have them help the actual community to spread the protest out. In a way, this new media can really give off a negative and positive impact towards both the community of where we live in and companies (both private and public). Another way to say who it impacts, it would be the people and companies of the glocal (global+local) community.

Queued

2008-10-14T14:02:00.000-04:00

So after doing that other note not too long ago. A thought came to mind...

The fact that these companies decide to restrict people from creating or editing their GUI is because of copyright issues? Or maybe it's the loss of money because once the interface is changed, the ownership is changed as well? Similar to how one would unlock their brand of cellphone, or iPod. They have this to keep their customers in contact maybe?

One thing I know for sure though, is that once the iPod or cellphone is unlocked the warranty is no longer in use.

Okay, I'm getting some random thoughts going here but ummm...
Wouldn't changing the GUI be like appropiation? Taking the layout or outline of the GUI and just changing the visual base of it.

Also, through the process of the GUI change, resource hacking programs are used to do such a thing. They use binary codings in order to create a compact way to store the appearance of the interface. So like hacktivism, it's motivated by political or ideological reasons. People believe in freedom in the use of their GUI?...

Ahh random thoughts...not even sure if they make sense.

A Kick Start..not rlly?

2008-10-14T13:16:00.000-04:00

Alright, Thanksgiving had passed and it's time to get back on TRACK! So from last week, the talk with my lab professor cleared most of the things up. What I need now are more terms, quotes, and other materials that is mainly text based or image-based (only usable with links that lead OUT to the image).

One of the definition she told me check up on was: intermediation. According to the FACS2930 wiki of keywords, it says "To occur between two extremes, or faciliate the transfer between those two extremes." Also, another definition that is related to technology (given by Derek G. in the wiki) would be, "As this relates to technology, 'intermediation' would be the role of the computer as the person interfaces with the software, and data on the internet. The GUI intermediates between the user and the magnetic data stored on the hard-drive, so they can come to a common level of understanding.

Similarly, the web browser intermediates between the code (HTML, XHTML, Java, Perl...) and the user to reach a middle ground that they both have the 'code' to understand; the visual website."

From this, I approached Derek about his definition and asked if he could explain it a bit more. He said that intermediation is like the middle of me and the hard drive. In other words, the interface is like an intermedation that let's me see the hard drive in a visual way. Or like even talking about internet-wise, it's like having an extra plugin for Firefox let's say to show the websites the way you want. ie: with a different background or text for every website you open.

If I use this idea with the hacking of interfaces to what the user wants to see it could get me somewhere bigger. Yet...at the same time it doesn't really make me go broader to what I need to find information about. All I know now is that the intermediation of the computer and I is the interface. In this term, I would be talking about the GUI (Graphical User Interface) and how people would try to resource hack it to change visual. Since it's a GUI, it should allow the user to choose how it looks like instead of restricting the user from changing it. However, Microsoft/Apple tend to put up a mini security so that the files would not likely be changed.

I feel like I'm just going around and around with ideas and information...instead of actually getting somewhere. What to do...

Clarified and Starting Slow

2008-10-07T13:49:00.000-04:00

Today, in FACS 2930 Lab many things were clarified for me or for every student that's in it, hopefully. However even knowing what to somewhat do now, some smaller details on what to research about through the art concepts is still bugging me. I would usually ask myself: "What area should I choose to go in depth about?", "Maybe something that interests me?", "Hmm only using quotes within the text (no self made comments)"...all these questions are probably easy to answer but hard to do.

Thinking about it now though, I do like the topic interface...
From what I know so far, taken from the FACS2930 keywords, it says:

"The program or device that controls the way two pieces of equipment or programs work together. The term interface can also be used to describe the look and layout of a program on the screen for interaction with the user." (Reference)

I think what I want to say is that, in terms of interface, I'd like to study or research about the different interfaces that are available to us. Not sure if that's even allowed because in a way it has nothing to do with the concepts, I think. Something like Window Vista for an example, it's one of the interface that Microsoft created. Many people who knows computer or believes in how the desktop and theme of the interface is important wants to change the interface's appearance. Therefore, they hack into the interface in order to access the files of changing all icons and files (appearance-wise). I'm not sure if it even counts as a concept like "hacktivsm" since it's not motivated by political reasons. Ideological...maybe but not so much because it's not against an "activist or activism". I think the only way it might work is that people hack into the interface to change the appearance because Microsoft doesn't allow people to use outsider themes (not from their company). Would that work as an ideological reason...?

Simple Technology/Stelarc

2008-09-29T09:22:00.000-04:00

During the FACS 2930 class last week on Monday, I was unforunately late but still managed to catch up on what the professor was talking about. Mainly about sounds and how it can be made simply with tapes. The sound was a bit weird at first since there wasn't much difference but as it continued to loop, the synchronization of the two tapes failed to stay together. The final results were quite different, the sound and frequency sounded different.

During the weekend, I didn't have much to do...However, I was just surfing through Deviant Art and I found this new visual style for Vista and XP. It's based on a theme called GAIA08 which spreads out the concept about being environmentally friendly digitally. From this, I decided to customize my own desktop (vista interface) and mac (XP on bootcamp) to use this new theme. At the same time, I'm planning to create a wallpaper and an object dock skin that matches the GAIA08 theme.

Today's class of 2930 was about the feedback or delay of sound and the guy by the name of Stelarc. He was the one who made this device or invention that uses volt to control a human's body (arms, legs, etc.). With this way of controlling movement, it's possible to create digital movement like using a "green screen" with the sensor(s) on the body.

Lastly, the phase 1 project is somewhat confusing for me. I know we're suppose to use html, css, frames within this website we create but what do we exactly put in it? A specific theme? From what Mark said today, he said we can put images but that leads to the link or something.

PS. At first, typing up this post was really awkward because I couldn't get use to the normal way of just typing something through the "compose tab" (non-html). So I decided to use the "Edit Html tab" instead...maybe its because I'm already getting use to the way of how the raw process of creating the post is like (html-based).

First Post!

2008-09-28T20:51:00.000-04:00

Ahhh it's Sunday. While driving down to the community I go to church to, I noticed the sky. The clouds having many different colours and depths. It amazed me how clouds could look so plain and still at times but reality proves that it could be so much more when focused closely on them...

This spontaneous moment of mine reminded me of the wallpaper I made during the summer of clouds. Though at first making it seemed hard but afterwards it felt like a piece of cake as I got to create such simple look clouds but with so much more meaning to it. Here is the wallpaper I made, it's called Musing V2. It's a v.2 because v1 was a more contrasting looking of the clouds which I enjoyed more. However, more people enjoy this one because it gave them a happier feel.

On a side note, a daily or at least 5/7 days of the week I usually go to this other blog that John Maeda (a graphic designer, visual artist, computer scientist, and 16th president of Rhode Island School of Design). I visit it a lot because it gives me insights about many things, simplicity, life, design etc. Here is the site if anyone is interested: Our (and Your) RISD

That's it for now...more to come in the future :)