A sentence starts out like

A sentence is a new born baby.  At first its doting parents find rest by counting its toes and fingers, making sure there are five on each hand and five on each foot. As the baby grows its parents realize there is much more to worry about and they raise the baby the way they want to. Through its childhood it might get a few cuts or bruises, but those are healed and and everything seems to be in order again. Its personality develops according to its parents. Its parents form the baby the way they want him or her to be throughout its life. They teach the baby right from wrong and they tell the baby what its purpose is. Everyone is important, we all must work together to make the world complete. When the baby is ready it goes out to the world on its own. It is indeed a necessary piece to a much larger puzzle.

Rediscovering Central Asia

The best technique used in Rediscovering Central Asia was its imagry. Every aspect of the essay is very well described and it is very possible for the reader to see a picture in his or her mind. Other than the imagery I found the essay quite bland. It was more historical and picturesque than exciting. It was harder for me to find the purpose of the essay and it was also hard for me to pay attention to it for the entire time.

The Magazine "Doesn't Work"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXV-yaFmQNk&feature=player_embedded

This video of a one year old baby shows how technology will continue to effect our younger generation. Picture books are no longer sufficient and hands on technology will soon morph into its place. It is fairly obvious that a baby or a young child would much rather play with something with more effects as well as something that responds to their senses. These children will grow up knowing for the most part only of technology as soon enough print text will become more and more scarce.
The most interesting quote however, is the one displayed at the end of the video. It makes a remark that the baby has an OS (operating System). This goes along with my idea that computers are essentially humans and visa versa. Everything is becoming technological, why not human beings?

What's your relationship with your reader?

I cannot be sure my reader is here. Sometimes their presence is more distinct then others, especially if they leave a comment; other wise I doubt that anyone looks at my work. I wonder what would be their purpose of reading any of the things I have written. Most of my work is not posted on Blogger let alone online anyway. Even though I feel that no reader would have reason to look at my writing, it is still scary to put it out there. This is why my reader is a ghost. No one knows whether they are present or not, but everyone has a fear of the possibility.

[Place] is like... (start)

My grandmothers house is cold, it is not cozy or warm and it is not the place I remember from my childhood. It is not bright and it is certainly not hopeful.

My grandmothers house is not home baked cookies, warm dinners or big comfy chairs; it used to be.

It used to be soft blankets, hot soup, bags of candy, comfort tea; Stay home sick days, holidays,any days; But this is no more.

Ink Shedding

Media is becoming a part of the natural world. It surrounds us in every part of our every day lives; almost to the point that it is invisible or unrecognizable. Technology is thus becoming organic. Most people do not consider how technology has grown on us so enormously or so rapidly. For the new generation it would be nearly impossible to do so, considering they have never lived in a world without technology. Even so, it is important to learn about the past in order to grow for the future. For now, the media continues to grow in an organic sense as it branches off in many directions and continues to spread naturally.

What is Happening to Writing?

Catherine Manett                                                                                               

10/16/11

WSC                                                                                                                       

Project 2

           

The most notable feature of technology is its ability to cooperate with a human being rather easily. Nearly all aspects of life are being simplified with the use of computers. This new generation of advancement, however, seems to frighten those who value more traditional mediums. One of the most distinct transitions has taken place in the writing industry. Hypertext and the Internet have seem to slowly taken the place of the printed book as discussed in Writing Space by Bolter. It is important to note that computers and technology have become such easy methods of exploration because in many ways they mimic the human mind and thought pattern.

The word processor is the closest resemblance to print text that is found on the computer. This is because the words typed on the document do not travel. For the most part, word documents are a collection of private works known only to its author until it is connected to an outside source. All though it is not the most innovative program on the computer, it still contains many components that resemble the work of the human mind, which is taking print text one step farther. Tools such as spell check and grammar check allow the machine to correct a human being when mistakes are made.  Word processors also allow for fast and easy change to any error made on the screen, unlike the traditional print text. Computers accommodate to human error and make correction simple, fast and unnoticeable.

The closest resemblance between technology and the human mind stems from both of their sources of ambiguity, relativity and exploration. Computers allow the human being to see writing in a three-dimensional form, much like the human thought process. Because humans do not think in one-dimensional terms, print text cannot be a sufficient medium for growth or education all the time.  Videos, graphics and links help to bring the bond between technology and its users closer as they feel that they are one with the machine and soon barely notice its presence. This idea is known as transparent media. “The medium is supposed to function as a window through which the viewer can see the objects represented” (Bolter, 25). The comparison of technology to a window expresses the idea that the human can see past the technological hardware itself. Although one cannot quite make the hardware disappear, it is simple to let oneself enter the three-dimensional world that technology has created. This is innovative and explorative like human instinct and it creates a desire to learn. Involving the reader in the text most easily keeps their attention. This is necessary in order to create a more enjoyable and over all productive environment.

Technology resembles the human mind through its three-dimensional and hands on ways of bringing the reader closer to reality than any other writing space ever before. Is it possible that technology resembles the human body as well? Seeing past the hardware of a computer or any form of technology is a form of advancement, however, the hardware itself also aids its user by morphing to the human body. Light and compactable phones make it easy to be connected with the world at all times. Keyboards on computers also allow the writer to express their ideas more quickly and more concisely then they would with paper and a pencil. ““I only wish I could write with both hands,” noted saint Teresa. “So as not to forget one thing while I am saying another””(Bolter, 33) Computers accommodate too the human body so well that they are almost becoming a part of it. It is not unusual to hear someone say that they would die without their handheld phone or laptop. Technology is becoming close to the human heart and most people are open to letting advancement into their lives because of the way it brings ease to their every day schedule.

A computer is like the human mind because of its speed and ambiguity. A computer is like the human body because of its importance, ease, size and attachment. Because the computer is so much like a human being does this mean that a computer is one? Finding the answer to this question is tricky because every individual has his or her own definition of what a human being is. Does having rationality make you a human being or does being human require a heartbeat? “Man is by nature a social animal; an individual who is unsocial naturally and not accidentally is either beneath our notice or more than human. Society is something that precedes the individual. Anyone who either cannot lead the common life or is so self-sufficient as not to need to, and therefore does not partake of society, is either a beast or a god. ” (Aristotle). Although Aristotle’s lived much before computers came about, his quotation does have relevance when considering the definition of technology. Computers are social in the way that they help to unite people from around the globe. Print text however, is most unsocial because it cannot travel and is often stable and not shared with others. According to Aristotle this would most likely make print a beast compared to hypertext because print is not without its faults. Hypertext allows for communication and the flow of ideas, which is an important aspect to all social and political change.

“We put all of our information out on the Internet, and this makes the Internet grow stronger each and every day. We made the Internet, and now it needs us to continue to exist. Where would the Internet be without us? Or is the real question, where would we be without the Internet?” (Dayna S) Daynas point on her invention blog is one that may be considered by many technophobic users. Most people who want to stick to traditional print text are afraid of how powerful technology has become as well as the level of dependency humans have began to have on it. Many writers have explored Daynas idea of super human computers and evil creations come to life, such as James Cameron in The Terminator and Marry Shelly in Frankenstein.  Although these two works are mostly fantastical, it can be frightening to some to think of how humanistic computers have become in various ways. Of course the idea of being taken over by something we have created is also bit frightening as well, be it mangled carcasses sewn together or a computer. Because computers resemble the mind and body of a human being they may soon be considered human or maybe even super human as time goes by. What is happening to writing? Writing has become seeing, hearing, feeling and experiencing what the author wants their audience to. This can be accredited to technology and its ability to touch the human senses.

The link to our Prezi: The New and Improved Tree

http://prezi.com/y1qvif3a7z82/writing-space-chapter-3/

What role does performance or writing space play in the making of meaning?

The spoken word is a strong. It gives meaning to a work as a whole. Words are one of the strongest tools we have as human beings because we have the power of communication. However the younger generation have been less confident in their speech and it is heard clearly through their speech.
Mali debates what the reason of this new speech is. Is it not cool to sound smart?  This is not the case. There is a different purpose of using words such as "like". By using such language there is always a way out of anything that is said. Instead of directly making a statement it is easier to say something with out meaning. By using the word "like" no statement is ever certain. The younger generation wants to use such uncertain word choices because they never want to be wrong, and by using this language it is almost impossible to be wrong.

Group Prezi analysis's for 10/12/11

Both of the groups that presented their work today in class had distinct ways in which they depicted the main points of their presentations. The first group did an approach that connected the chapter to the human being while the second group connected the chapter to nature. Both expressed their points clearly in different ways with focused analysis's. Both of these ideas worked well with Bolters point in chapter 2 as he expressed the transition of writing spaces as the growth tree.

Are you ever afraid to write?

Writing is criticizing in one way or another and at times it can be frightening. One must remember that it is okay to challenge the beliefs of others and that it can only lead to advancement and diversity. I must remind myself of this idea on a daily basis. Sometimes it is not only frightening to write, but it is also frightening to think. Everyone has those moments when they are in a state of shock and disappointment over what they are beginning to believe in or what they are beginning to doubt, especially when they know that those close to them feel the opposite way. Writing these ideas down and expressing them is another step even farther. Being accepted by the outside world is a necessity to most people for good reason, and it is very easy to feel different than those around you in a negative way. Although it is easy to be apprehensive over new thoughts or feelings, they are a necessity to discovering who you are growing into. We all lead different lives and we should be proud of being our own person. We should let no one stand in the way of who we are, what we believe or how we feel. No one should ever be afraid to wear their own skin or write their own words.

Bolter quiz chapter 1 rewrite

In chapter one of Writing Space, Bolter preaches the great power of technology and digital forms of writing. He argues many points in which critics try to praise the advantages of print text. "Such conventional novels as Brave New World and Jurassic Park have been digitalized and read by an audience of hundreds or a few thousands" (5). Through his words, Bolter depicts his belief in the future of digitalized work and advancement in the thought of human beings, which is just what technology allows its users to do.
Another point to consider when reading chapter one of Writing Space is whether or not a reader will obtain the same information as another reader when using technology. Perhaps this may not be a disadvantage in reading digitalized text. Because not one set of web searchers will read the same set of works or share the same beliefs, technology has allowed for text to become diverse. Digital text breeds human thought and over all growth of society more rapidly then print text. Technology not only allows for human thought but it also connects almost every human being to one another with a click of a button. Any one can share their beliefs and maybe make a drastic change in the way everyone will think in the future.

Is the Machine Using Us?

Because human beings have created computers it is some times difficult to consider that these machines can  manipulate a living, breathing person. Computers are advantageous to to people in many ways be it for business, communication or recreation. However when using technology and the internet one consider two questions. How much technology is too much? And am I endangering myself and or my friends and family  by the way I am using technology? Technology is power, no matter good or bad, and lately it seems that more and more people have been using it the wrong way. Technology has become so important in our world that cellphones have seem to become an extra limb connected to ones body. It is not rare to hear a person say that they cannot live without their smartphone as if it is a wire that is connecting them between life and death. Dependency on technology is in fact one of the biggest cases of people letting the machine use them, and this epidemic is growing exponentially.