There is a lot of tech ideas we covered in this class, many I was already aware of and some new things. After reflecting on the entire course and all it entailed i believe that social issues with technology are the most important. Life with advanced technology has changed society as a whole and how humans live and interact with each other. Since some of the biggest communication tech inventions like the world wide web, cell phones, and email, society has become drastically more connected however more distant. It is an interesting phenomenon on how technologies that were supposed to keep us always connected hinder our ability to connect without technology. Everywhere you go someone is distracted by their phones or laptops. This has become a huge problem with humans ability to connect on a physical level. The trend is only rising at a rapid rate as well. I believe at this rate communication technologies are going to become a lot more immersive and invasive. I would not be surprised if some form of telepathic communication got developed and devices like phones or computers became fully integrated into our bodies. There are a lot of different impacts communication technology has on society not just how we communicate.

The digital divide is another big problem that was created with the integration of communication technology. The digital divide is a huge problem for most people outside of North America and in more rural areas. Third world countries and places in the united states with lower socioeconomic status struggle to keep up with today’s ever-expanding technology. We create and expand on technology at such an exponential rate to the point where if you aren’t in the economic situation to keep up, you get left behind. I believe that before we keep advancing in technology and leave many demographics behind we need to provide knowledge and supplies to people who either cannot afford this technology or are unaware of how to use it. Devices like cell phones have become such a huge part of our daily lives, I don’t think anyone should be walking around today without a cell phone. it is such a crucial communication technology that allows you to contact others faster than ever, stay updated with the world around you, and many other things like taking photos and apps for productivity.

A lot of these reasons I discussed in the above paragraphs were the main driving points for our Kickstarter project. We wanted to develop an idea that would not only allow students to stay connected to their classrooms but not feel left out due to unforeseen circumstances. I would hate to see a student being restricted from learning due to an illness, natural disaster, or any other situation that is out of their control. Technology in our world is so powerful and that power needs to be put towards empowering others and spreading valuable information. Together we can utilize these technological advancements to our advantage instead of letting it be our demise.

I think FOMO is a real thing that everyone has experienced at some point in their life. This feeling has been around long before social media but the element of social media definitely amplified it. Social media causes people to get instant fear of missing out. With apps like snapchat and instagram you are constantly seeing what your friends or family are doing. I is hard not to feel left out even if you didn’t want to participate in the first place. For me FOMO is a particularly interesting phenomenon. I get it every once In a while and I don’t know why. Even if there is an event activity I don’t want to be involved in or deliberately said “No” too I still feel left out sometimes. Or if I am doing something that I obviously want to be doing than something else I still can get FOMO from looking on social media. I think it is dangerous and can be harmful to peoples mental state and self esteem. I have heard people complain to me about FOMO and it makes them feel like their friends or family didn’t want them there. Even if they didn’t show any interest in going whatsoever. I also believe there is a feeling that is like the opposite of FOMO. There are times where I’m not missing out but feel like I would rather be at home. I think this comes from the fact that most people try to make moments seem more fun or interesting then they really are. Social media has created such a false sense of reality for some people trying to perfect every feeling or moment. So next time you get anxiety from social media or a fear of missing out, remember that what you are doing is probably not so bad. Put down your phone and enjoy every moment life throws at you.

I think that the way France treats the issue on photo manipulation is a good concept. The user and audience should be aware if a photo is not the original image. It provides transparency and an honest connection between content creators and viewers. I do not think that retouching photos is bad, especially if it enhances the message or fixes flaws that get in the way of the original picture, like accidental lens spots, etc. However, providing the original image as well might make the viewer more knowledgeable on what they’re exactly looking at.

I think the United States might benefit from adopting this model, although almost all commercial photography is retouched or manipulated. This might cause every picture to be tagged with a “retouched” flair and might become very redundant or off-putting. An idea would maybe be to create some kind of scale that determines how retouched or manipulated a photo is and if it passes a certain threshold then it has to be stated.

The Getty images policy seems a bit extreme in my opinion. I understand they don’t want to strictly promote false ideas of models bodies but accepting none at all seems limiting as a business. One thing I thought seemed kind of confusing about this new policy is how do they know? Are the modeling agencies required to send the original files or Photoshop files to Getty Images? If that isn’t the case then some might still get away with it, unless Getty has an in house team that inspects every image with a fine comb. Most studio photos of models are at least slightly retouched so Getty might be able to just adopt a policy similar to France. Instead of completing banning manipulated images they could just clarify case by case which photos have been retouched and which ones haven’t.

Video games have a strong impact on players and allow them to feel accomplished and rewarded. These things teach an array of lessons and skills to the users. When the players feel left out though or not represented in character choices or customization it hinders that experience. Some games are so narrow in the choices that it seems like the majority is underrepresented. In something as little as hair color choices or body size can have a big impact one the player feeling included. I myself have played games in the past where I was restricted in my player design and had to compromise on many aspects that make me feel like me. When you include more options and representation it not only better represents a broader amount of the population but it actually makes the game itself better. People tend to like more customization and features so it seems like a win win situation for both developers and players.

Video games are an important and influential aspect of many younger people and adults lives. They allow the user to feel many different emotions and learn important skills. Users want to feel that they can resonate with the characters they are playing, as well as the NPCs (Non Play Characters) in the game. It is important that video games have diversity and many options so everyone can feel included and represented. For the longest time video games main protagonist and villains have been majority straight white male. That was fine and got the job done in terms of storyline and gameplay, but having a more diverse and inclusive cast not only gives the game more uniqueness but allows everyone to feel represented. I myself play video games a lot and have been since I was 3 years old. I have noticed myself a dramatic shift in the amount of diversity. The newer games coming out are doing a lot more work in diversity among character rosters and expanding on the current levels of player customization. For example in the new battle Royale game Apex Legends Out of the 8 player characters to choose from there is only one straight white male. Multiple characters are of various ethnicities and even gender identities. I think including themes like this is a good idea especially in multiplayer based games because it docent really affect the story and allows for creative character design and a broad representation of users different backgrounds.

The digital divide is a huge problem for most people outside of North America and in more rural areas. Third world countries and places in the united states with lower socioeconomic status struggle to keep up with today’s ever-expanding technology. We create and expand on technology at such an exponential rate to the point where if you aren’t in the economic situation to keep up, you get left behind. My idea for closing the digital divide would focus on providing a basic smart phone or laptop to people in need. Similar to food banks that offer individuals and families under the poverty level.

Internet access is growing the fastest in metropolitan cities. We already have good access to universal Wi-Fi in cities but it could be better. This I think would benefit my idea by allowing someone who received a free subsidized laptop to have continuous internet access regardless of the living situation. This could be further expanded by providing free Wi-Fi hotspots in local areas like city parks and bus stops.

I think there aren’t many tangible items needed to work devices with the internet today especially laptops and mobile devices. I would like to set up each device with accessible use features and little to no maintenance upkeep. This will allow the users to feel confident and secure in their devices and not be overwhelmed. Setting up workshops alongside the stands that will give out laptops will allow people to gain knowledge of the internet and how to navigate on the devices. If the funds warranted I think a good feature would be to implement eye-tracking technology or voice to movement technology into the computers. This will bridge the gap between people with disabilities and electronic devices. 

The music industry has changed a lot of the last 25 years and it will continue to do so. For commercial purposed we started with Vinyl records then moved to tapes and CDs, now we’re at mostly MP3 and streaming. While most of the music these days is streamed and download sales revenue down 25% (IFPI, 2018), people still like tangible forms of music. I have seen a steady increase in people wanting to buy and collect vinyl records again. In 2017 physical music sales revenue still took up 30% of the distribution (IFPI, 2018). This gives me hope for the music industry and opportunities for music enthusiasts and the artist themselves. Digital streaming is still by far the most popular and lucrative form of music right now but with this rise in interest in physical forms of music again i believe the future looks bright for the industry. My prediction of how the industry will develop is that streaming will continue to be the most popular but until digital files can produce the same quality audio as a vinyl record, records are here to stay. While digital is the least expensive and most convenient, it takes away a lot of the appreciation of the music itself. Buying a record allows you to further appreciate the entire body of work from the artist, enjoy the tangible packaging, and listen to the highest quality sound without compression. The main reason I think that vinyl will not lose its value to music enthusiasts and consumers is because of how much it has to offer. People still drive cars from the fifty plus years ago because they appreciate the craft. It would be easy to buy or stream a digital album but then you don’t get to go through the entire process of unwrapping a record, playing it for the first time, and adding it to a collection of your own favorite types of music. With that being said digital will continue to be the forefront of the music industry but records aren’t going anywhere just quite yet.

Rubin, P. (2018, October 30). The WIRED Guide to Virtual Reality. Retrieved from https://www.wired.com/story/wired-guide-to-virtual-reality/

This article is useful because it provides context and a background about virtual reality.  The article goes over the history of virtual reality and where it is at today. The article also mentions augmented reality which ties into the entire topic of our research. The future implications of VR are also discussed.

Schulze, E. (2019, February 19). A new $6,000 virtual reality headset lets you see with ‘human-eye’ resolution. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/19/finnish-start-up-varjo-launches-5995-vr-1-headset.html

This article discussing breakthroughs with virtual reality. The price on this innovation is high but provides hope for the quality of VR. The new headset discussed in the article will have 20 times better picture than headsets on the market, replicating what the “human eye” sees.

There are many different types of communication technologies that interest me. However I feel like the technology that has the most current potential impact is virtual reality. Virtual reality is on the brink of becoming a very influential technology. We are starting to see it more and more integrated into online videos, gaming and other applications. I think it can provide huge benefits for communicating on a more personal level compared to an online chat mic or a cell phone. Virtual reality can allow us to be somewhere we are not and interact with things that are either out of reach or simply in our imaginations. Virtual reality is particularly interesting because it allows media to become more dimensional. Instead of hearing audio and seeing visual from a 2d plane, VR fully immerses you into your environment and gives the user a 360 view of the content. Vr is no where near perfect, but with the help of funding and more innovation I believe it will get to a place where everyone can enjoy it. The biggest obstacle right now is computers graphical interfaces and the price of good VR headsets like the Oculus. 

I would like to learn more about not only there applications of VR but what allows it to operate. As a graphic designer I am always intrigued by communication technologies that have relevance with media, art, and video games. VR has applications in each of those categories and potential for many more. Another reason VR seems to have a lot of potential is because it is pretty innovative compared to many technologies today. An integration of VR I would like to see is pairing it with a virtual voice assistant like Alexa or Siri. I believe the will allow VR to become an a lot more interactive experience and the two communication technologies will mesh together well. Virtual Reality has a long way to go as a communication technology but I believe that it is not too far in the future.

Links: Nintendo 64, Nintendo Gamecube, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo Switch

I am a California based Visual Designer, originally from San Dimas, California. I will receive my B.A in Communication Design from California State University, Chico. I’m Skilled in Adobe Suite and multidisciplinary aspects of design including brand identity, typography, and user experience. My main passion is design, other than that I’m into Fashion, Video Games and many different types of music.