MediaTech: Social Media and Web 2.0: Facebook and the Zuckerberg Story (U10-P2) Fa14

How did Facebook come to be? What is Mark Zuckerberg's story?
Fact and Fiction

You might know some of the story from the 2010 film, The Social Network.



However...



If you are curious, you might also want to check out a recent article "Zuckerberg reveals he found The Social Network 'hurtful'."

A documentary or news story would be a better way of getting to the true story.



If you are curious, you might also want to check out a full bio on Bloomberg's Game Changers series.

How is his story similar to past media tech visionaries?



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MediaTech: Internet/New Media: Winston's Model and the Internet (U9-P2) Fa14

How much do you know about the development of the Internet and the use of computers as communication tools?  What do you recall from previous readings, notes and discussion?

Can you trace the development of the Internet using Winston's model?

Source: Media Technology and Society: A History From the Telegraph to the Internet







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InterculturalCom: Effective Intercultural Com: Discrimination, Prejudice and Racism (U9-P3) Fa14

How do you tear down this brick?

How do you tear down this brick?

Note that there are two definitions of racism given here.

Notice any connection between racism and prejudice as previously defined?

Also, what is the differences among racism, prejudice and discrimination?  They are related terms, but they are not the same thing.

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MediaTech: The Invention of Radio - Ken Burns' "Empire of the Air" (U2-Activity) Fa14

Now, a great way of using the previously discussed media tech theories is to apply them to the development of a past media technology, for example radio.  Filmmaker, Ken Burns, told the story of radio in his documentary "Empire of the Air."  Notice the story is not as much about the technology as it is about the people (the innovators).  Media tech is people too.

The documentary is available...
on Amazon (Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio) and on Netflix (instant streaming).

The companion book to the film is also available (Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio)

Did you watch it?

How did the theories previously discussed help to understand the development of radio?

In the documentary, Burns highlights the story of Lee de Forest, for example. How does his story compare to modern-day media tech innovators like Steve Jobs?  Is there a common story for media tech innovators?

Here is a short YouTube video on de Forest's audion.




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DigPhotog: Becoming a Photo Doctor (Photo Editing, etc.) (U11-P1) [VID] Sp14

Photo by Richard MasonerUsed under Creative Commons.

Let's get a little metaphorical.

Somebody who edits photos is a photo doctor.  A photo doctor diagnoses a photo and then prescribes a treatment for a photo disease.

For example, diagnose the photo to the right.  What's the problem with it?  What photo disease does it have?

It is underexposed.  Is that your diagnosis?  In your favorite photo editing software, how would you treat that disease?

A medical doctor uses a variety of tools to treat medical problems (e.g., a scalpel). As a photo doctor, what tools would you use?

As you begin your internship as a new photo doctor, I'd suggest you start with a small set of "diseases" that you can diagnose (recognize) and treat (fix) and a small set of tools to learn how to use.  As you progress as a photo doctor, become an expert in treating more diseases and learn how to use additional tools.

I'd suggest you start with a set of photo diseases like below and learn the 2-5 general steps that are usually needed to treat the disease.

• Underexposed Photo (whole photo)
• Overexposed Photo (whole photo)
• Part of Photo Underexposed
• Part of Photo Overexposed
• Unwanted Elements in Photo
• e.g., See Photoshop tutorial for how to treat this disease.
• Distracting Background
• e.g., See Photoshop tutorial for how to treat this disease.
• Washed Out (Low Contrast) Photo (See the before photo below.)
• e.g., See how to treat "washed out" disease

For steps on how to treat the photo disease listed above and many more, see Digital Photo Doctor.   The book takes a similar metaphorical approach.  Check out the book.  You should be able to get it for $5 or less.

Of course, you could also do a YouTube search for helpful photo editing tutorials that deal with the disease you want to treat.



As a beginning photo doctor, you should also start learning how to use a small set of of photo editing tools and techniques. Here are some basic photo doctor tools and techniques that you'd need to treat the previously listed photo diseases.

• Crop Tool
• Levels
• Brush Tool
• Burn Tool
• Dodge Tool
• Clone Stamp Tool
• Selection Tool
• Layers
• Blur Effects

When learning how to treat the diseases and how to use the tools, I'd recommend that you learn how to use the tools at a general level so that you can move from one photo editing software to another.  Don't get to caught up in the key-strokes used in specific software (e.g., press Shft+Ctrl+U to desaturate in Photoshop).

Speaking of photo editing software, I'd recommend GIMP, a free photo editing software package that you download to your computer (see info video).  I'd also recommend Pixlr.com, a free, powerful, photo-editing site that allows you to edit photos right within your browser.   Go to Pixlr.com right now and try some the things discussed above.

As for free photo editing apps, I'd recommend Pixlr Express (Apple | Android), Photoshop Express (Apple | Android), Aviary (Apple | Android) and Snapseed (Apple | Android). If I had to choose just one app, it would be Pixlr Express.  I like the number and type of editing tools.  However, I'm starting to warm up to Snapseed. With Snapseed I especially like slide user interface and the "Selective Adjustment" tool which allows for some dodging and burning. What's dodging and burning, again?  See above.

Do recognize the limitation of photo editing apps.  The apps do not even come close to all that photo editing software can do on a desktop or laptop.


Cosmetic Photo Surgery

The above discussion may leave the impression that the only thing you can do with photo editing tools is fix or treat photo diseases or problems (e.g., underexposure).  However, photo editing tools are not just used to treat a disease, but can also be used to “beautify” or modify the photo   You could think of this a cosmetic photo surgery.  You are not really fixing a problem with the photo, you are adding to it.

You could turn a color photo to black and white and then colorize only one item in the photo.




Of course, there are tons of other interesting photo editing techniques you could learn.  Have fun adding to your cosmetic photo surgery skill set.




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DigPhotog: Controlling Light (F-Stops, Shutter Speed, ISO, etc.) (U6-P1) [VID] Sp14

As a photographer, your task is to control light. You are a master of light.

When you turn that dial from "auto" to "manual", you are taking control of the light coming into your camera.  Two key ways of controlling the amount of light coming into your camera are by setting the f-stop and the shutter speed.

For a partial introduction to f-stops and shutter speed, check out the following video excerpt from Brian Ratty's video series (Digital Photography - The Camera (Tutorial DVD)). The videos are now a little dated, but still cover the basics well.




F-stops and shutter speeds are not the only ways you can control light.  You can adjust the ISO settings or use flash, for example.  You can adjust f-stops, shutter speeds, ISO, flash, etc. to get just the right amount of light into your camera -- that perfect exposure.



"Let's Get Techie" does a good job of adding some further details.  Note the exposure triangle.




There are apps that allow you to see the f-stop, shutter speed and ISO settings for your photographs.  If you recall, the f-stop, shutter speed and ISO data and other data (e.g., date, time, GPS location) is what is called EXIF data.  For android devices one EXIF viewer app is Simple Exif Viewer.  For iOS devices an EXIF viewer app is Exif Viewer. A Google search will also show EXIF viewers for laptops and desktops.

Use one of the EXIF viewers and check the f-stop, shutter speed and ISO settings for your photographs. See if the settings or values make sense.  For example, would an ISO setting/value of 800 for an indoor photo make sense?  Why?   Would a shutter speed of 1/2 second for a blurry sports photo make sense?  Why?



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DigPhotog: Finding Mentors: Finding Vivian Maier - Official Movie Trailer (U3-P4) [VID] Sp14

Speaking of street photography...

I mentioned before the importance of finding photography mentors.  I suggested Gordon Parks as one possible mentor.  Vivian Maier is another.

Who was Vivian Maier?




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MediaTech in the News: The Death of Visionaries & The Creation of Innovators + MORE [VID]

If for some reason your browser does not show the above news stories, then see the stories on Dr. Hart's Storify account at http://storify.com/WilliamHartPhD#stories. You may also want to consider updating your browser (Explorer or Chrome).


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InterculturalCom in the News: Katy Perry, Kanye West & Ketchup + MORE [VID]

NOTE: If for some reason your browser does not show the above news stories, then see the stories on Dr. Hart's Storify account at http://storify.com/WilliamHartPhD#stories. You may also want to consider updating your browser (Explorer or Chrome).


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MediaTech: Connection - Past & Future: The Trigger Effect and the Future (U13-P4) Fa13

Now, back to the Trigger Effect.


Start at about 3:40 and play to the end.



What are the ways by which changes comes about?  Still happening today?



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MediaTech: Connection - Past & Future: Cannon Balls, TV and Film (U13-P3) Fa13

How are cannon balls connected to film and television?
Can you make the connections using Burke's approach?














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MediaTech: Connection - Past & Future: Mr. Burke & His Connections Approach (U13-P2) Fa13

Recall...

What's the "Trigger Effect" that Burke speaks of?


Play video from 0:00 to about 4:50.



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MediaTech: Connection - Past & Future: Previous Theories (U13-P1) Fa13

Time to add another theory to our understanding of how technologies develop.

Enter Mr. Burke.

Don't forget The Evolution of Technology discussed recently.

But first, a quick review.

Also recall "technology evolution" covered last week.  Be sure to add this one to the list.

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MediaTech: The Evolution of MediaTech and You: The Third Screen and You (U12-P3) Fa13

So, according the previous post, technologies evolve.  New ones are created and some old ones go extinct.


Focusing specifically on media technologies, what new media tech has evolved recently?  Is there a new species of media tech?  It could be argued that "the third screen" is a new species.  Martin writes about it in his book, The Third Screen: Marketing to Your Customers in a World Gone Mobile.   What is the third screen and how has it evolved?  And, what does it have to do with your future?  What do you see evolving in the future?  Do you see a fourth screen?  No screen? What is the connection between your future and the future of media tech?



What could a media professional do to develop content and applications for this third screen?
If a 12 year-old, middle school student can do it, so can you.  Got an idea for an app?  Why not develop it?  Need help, let me know.




"The process to develop an iPhone app is not as hard or as simple as one might think."
How to develop an app?  Read and study the steps in this article.  Many of the steps you can handle on your own, but you may need to get help on some of them.  Got an idea for an app?  Why not develop it?  Need help, let me know.

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MediaTech: The Evolution of MediaTech and You: The Process of Evolution (U12-P2) Fa13

Evolution is a process.
What are the steps in the process? Recall the steps in the Blackmore video clip in a previous post?

In this short clip the process is explained in a different way. Slow the process down and catch each step. It starts with organisms vary.



Now, instead of rabbits, what if we were talking about mobile phones or any other media technology?
Would the process be similar?  How so?


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MediaTech: The Evolution of MediaTech and You: Genes, Memes and Temes (U12-P1) Fa13

Previous posts have offered theories for how technologies come to be and develop over time.  We've discussed, for example, Winston's model and we've discussed the Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations.  We now turn to our last theory -- technological evolution.


This theory is based on the biological theory of evolution.  One of the best explanations of biological evolution and the mechanism that drives evolution is found in Carl Sagan's Cosmos video series which was based on the book Cosmos.

As you are watching this clip from Cosmos, be sure to identify and be able to explain the mechanism that drives evolution.  Does this mechanism explain technological evolution?



Now take those basic ideas of biological evolution and see how they apply to technological evolution.  What do Kelly and Blackmore add to this theoretical perspective?

First, "Kevin Kelly on how technology evolves"
(You may want to start the Kelly video at about 8:20.)

 Second, "Susan Blackmore on memes and 'temes'" Share this post with others. See the Twitter, Facebook and other buttons below. Please follow, add, friend or subscribe to help support this blog. See more about me at my web site WilliamHartPhD.com.

MassMedia: International Journalism: The CNN Effect & the Social Media Effect (U14-P2) [VID]

In his book, Global Communication: Theories, Stakeholders, and Trends, Thomas McPhail defines the CNN effect as "the process by which the coverage of a foreign event by CNN causes that event to be a primary concern for its audience, which in turn forces the [U.S.] federal government to act."  See video clip.

One could add to this process how the  U.S. government may influence foreign governments/peoples through direct action (e.g., war) or through sanctions.

Does CNN still have this influence on foreign policy?  Any other news networks, U.S. or otherwise, have this influence?  Any other form of media now has this influence?  Think: Arab Spring (see first 2 minutes).  Think: Kony2012 (see short clip).  What role does social media play in shaping foreign policy?  How's that process work?

The "social media effect" is defined here as the process by which the coverage of an event on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc. causes that event to be a primary concern for its audiences around the world, which in turn forces foreign governments to act, thus further influencing the event.

See clip below for more the idea of social media effect.

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MassMedia: Being a Journalist in a Foreign Place (U14-P1) [VID]

Imagine being a journalist in a far off land.

Wouldn't be easy, would it?

First, you may, depending on where you are and what you are covering, be physically harmed or killed.  See Anderson Cooper clip below, for just one example.  And, if you are curious, check out some recent news about about foreign journalists being hurt or killed in the past month.  

The video clip below is from February 9, 2011

It is also not easy being a foreign journalist because you may misread/misunderstand what you are covering in that foreign land.  It is a challenge.

P. Eric Louw, in his chapter "Journalist Reporting from Foreign Places" in Global Journalism: Topical Issues and Media Systems (4th Edition), writes about the challenges of being a foreign journalist.

Thesis of chapter:

• “Journalist coverage of foreign places increasingly influences the governance of those places.” (e.g., CNN effect.)
• “The emergence of international governance based on foreign news-driven mediated realities has inherent dangers."

“Double Misreadings”?

• “Relying on the news media to understand distant places inherently produces a double misreading because…”
• Journalist can misread the news event and
• We (the audience) can misread what the journalist is saying.
• “journalists generally are not equipped to read distant contexts, and neither are their audiences.

Journalist misread for several reasons.

1. “First, journalists arriving in a new context are foreigners [who don’t know the history, the religions, etc.]
2. “Misreadings also occur because journalists carry their cultural biases with them when reporting in a foreign context.”
1. e.g. American values/ways of doing things being seen as normal. Seeing foreign ways as “incomprehensible” or “despicable”.
3. “…the journalistic practice of deploying simplistic labels.” 
1. Taking a complex, sometimes chaotic situation/place and putting into 20 words or less and putting it in a way that U.S. audience will relate to.  “ethnic cleansing” label “white supremacy” label used in coverage of S.A.
4. “…journalists routinely use binary oppositions when describing foreign contexts”   Related to #3  
1. Common characters in a news story: “good guys” vs. “bad guys” Other characters?  Common plot?  Again, oversimplification.
5. “…when sent to report on foreign contexts, journalists tend to (subconsciously) select contacts with whom they feel comfortable working…”
6. “…foreign issues are read in terms of ‘home’ understandings and agendas.” 
1. e.g., S.A. anti-apartheid struggle = U.S. civil rights struggle.  Similar to # 3

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MediaTech in the News: The Tale of Twitter, The Future of Gaming, The Nth Screen + MORE [VID]

If for some reason your browser does not show the above news stories, then see the stories on Dr. Hart's Storify account at http://storify.com/WilliamHartPhD#stories. You may also want to consider updating your browser (Explorer or Chrome).

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DigPhotog: Becoming a Photo Doctor (Photo Editing, etc.) (U11-P1) [VID] Fa13

Photo by Richard MasonerUsed under Creative Commons.

Let's get a little metaphorical.

Somebody who edits photos is a photo doctor.  A photo doctor diagnoses a photo and then prescribes a treatment for a photo disease.

For example, diagnose the photo to the right.  What's the problem with it?  What photo disease does it have?

It is underexposed.  Is that your diagnosis?  In your favorite photo editing software, how would you treat that disease?  A medical doctor uses a variety of tools to treat medical problems (e.g., a scalpel). As a photo doctor, what tools would you use?

As you begin your internship as a new photo doctor, I'd suggest you start with a small set of "diseases" that you can diagnose (recognize) and treat (fix) and a small set of tools to learn how to use.  As you progress as a photo doctor, become an expert in treating more diseases and learn how to use additional tools.

I'd suggest you start with a set of photo diseases like below and learn the 2-5 general steps that are usually needed to treat the disease.

• Underexposed Photo (whole photo)
• Overexposed Photo (whole photo)
• Part of Photo Underexposed
• Part of Photo Overexposed
• Unwanted Elements in Photo
• e.g., See Photoshop tutorial for how to treat this disease.
• Distracting Background
• e.g., See Photoshop tutorial for how to treat this disease.
• Washed Out (Low Contrast) Photo (See the before photo below.)
• e.g., See how to treat "washed out" disease

Clipped from: digital-photography-school.com (share this clip)

For steps on how to treat the photo disease listed above and many more, see Digital Photo Doctor.   The book takes a similar metaphorical approach.  Check out the book.  You should be able to get it for $5 or less.

Of course, you could also do a YouTube search for helpful photo editing tutorials that deal with the disease you want to treat.



As a beginning photo doctor, you should also start learning how to use a small set of of photo editing tools and techniques. Here are some basic photo doctor tools and techniques that you'd need to treat the previously listed photo diseases.

• Crop Tool
• Levels
• Brush Tool
• Burn Tool
• Dodge Tool
• Clone Stamp Tool
• Selection Tool
• Layers
• Blur Effects

When learning how to treat the diseases and how to use the tools, I'd recommend that you learn how to use the tools at a general level so that you can move from one photo editing software to another.  Don't get to caught up in the key-strokes used in specific software (e.g., press Shft+Ctrl+U to desaturate in Photoshop).

Speaking of photo editing software, I'd recommend GIMP, a free photo editing software package that you download to your computer (see info video).  I'd also recommend Pixlr.com, a free, powerful, photo-editing site that allows you to edit photos right within your browser.   Go to Pixlr.com right now and try some the things discussed above.

As for free photo editing apps, I'd recommend Pixlr Express (Apple | Android), Photoshop Express (Apple | Android), Aviary (Apple | Android) and Snapseed (Apple | Android). If I had to choose just one app, it would be Pixlr Express.  I like the number and type of editing tools.  However, I'm starting to warm up to Snapseed. With Snapseed I especially like slide user interface and the "Selective Adjustment" tool which allows for some dodging and burning. What's dodging and burning, again?  See above.

Do recognize the limitation of photo editing apps.  The apps do not even come close to all that photo editing software can do on a desktop or laptop.


Cosmetic Photo Surgery

The above discussion may leave the impression that the only thing you can do with photo editing tools is fix or treat photo diseases or problems (e.g., underexposure).  However, photo editing tools are not just used to treat a disease, but can also be used to “beautify” or modify the photo   You could think of this a cosmetic photo surgery.  You are not really fixing a problem with the photo, you are adding to it.

You could turn a color photo to black and white and then colorize only one item in the photo.




Of course, there are tons of other interesting photo editing techniques you could learn.  Have fun adding to your cosmetic photo surgery skill set.




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Please follow, add, friend or subscribe to help support this blog.
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