CulturJam
So this week we were asked to produce culturejam ourselves..
After a lot of thinking we came up with the idea of crating a report about an ongoing campaign here at Griffith uni.
It all started with Body Shops Campaign ' Dugs, Kids, Guns: sold on a street corner near you'. With awareness activities and fundraising, Griffith University Gold Coast and their students have jumped on the charity bandwagon, raising their voice against child labor.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Week 3 Lecture Notes
A Short History of the Computer and the Internet
First thing first; the computer...
It all started with Charles Babbage’s 19th century Difference engine, a machine designed to calculate and print mathematical tables, considered the first digital computer. A hundred years later (1950), the computers were first commercially produced by IBM, as large and expensive machines for military, government and corporate work. Another 15 years, and the first PC (called the 0) was released. This was the century of the computer nerds, and whilst others was wearing headbands and smoking for peace, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak started the companies with the biggest share on today’s’ market, Microsoft and Apple.
The Internet…
The first idea of the internet came from RAND Corporation in the 1960’s, who along with researches from the US created a network for communication connecting computer systems across a long distance. Today we know the internet as a global information system that is logically linked together by a unique address space (http:// etc. ) creating a high level communication tool.
Tutespark
To successfully complete this week’s tutespark I’ll first have to define the terms digital and analogue technology.
So…
Digital technology is electronic technology that generates, stores, and processes data in terms of two states: positive and non-positive. Positive is represented by the number 1 and non-positive by the number 0. Data transmitted or stored with digital technology is expressed as a string of 0's and 1's. Each of these state digits is referred to as a bit.
Analogue technology conveys data as electronic signals of varying frequency or amplitude that are added to carrier waves of a given frequency. An analogue signal can be represented as a series of sine waves.
Analogue technology conveys data as electronic signals of varying frequency or amplitude that are added to carrier waves of a given frequency. An analogue signal can be represented as a series of sine waves.
My task this week was to find three examples of digital devices that are not electronic. The first thing that came to my mind reading this task was smoke signals, a way of communicate across long distance, first use by Native Americans.
http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/survival/wilderness/how-to-send-smoke-signal.htmThe second device I thought of was Morse codes (Telegraph), which also is used to send signals (a coded message) and communicate over a distance.
The final device I could think of were walkie talkies, ‘are portable communication devices consisting of low-level radio transmitters and receivers’ 
Week 4 Lecture Notes and Spark
Big Screen to Small
This week we talked about digital technology and its impact upon filmmaking. Even though the web offers few benefits for the art and craft of filmmaking, the web allows filmmakers to publish and express their vision to a tolerant and wide audience; the ‘population of the web’. Cheap technology allows easier and more accessible production. However, the level of quality is no longer the same; poorly made and no meaning what so ever-films dominates the web, whereas most of them won’t ever get seen. Even though availability is a good thing and the fact that any up and coming filmmaker can get their chance on the web is a good thing, with all its badly written, badly shot and badly produced films, the web sort of takes the ‘fame from the game’; on the web anyone can call themselves a ‘filmmaker
This week we talked about digital technology and its impact upon filmmaking. Even though the web offers few benefits for the art and craft of filmmaking, the web allows filmmakers to publish and express their vision to a tolerant and wide audience; the ‘population of the web’. Cheap technology allows easier and more accessible production. However, the level of quality is no longer the same; poorly made and no meaning what so ever-films dominates the web, whereas most of them won’t ever get seen. Even though availability is a good thing and the fact that any up and coming filmmaker can get their chance on the web is a good thing, with all its badly written, badly shot and badly produced films, the web sort of takes the ‘fame from the game’; on the web anyone can call themselves a ‘filmmaker
TuteSpark
1.Where and when did usable online video start? (provide some refs. and an example if possible)
Usable online video was created by the web’s first online video sharing company ShareYourWorld, funded by Chase Norlin.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/chase
2. In the lecture we heard about technological innovations that were used by the studios to lure audiences. (mostly to combat the popularity of TV)
Even though it’s far from a new invention (it’s been around since 1952), 3D (with provided 3Dglases!!) seems to be a popular way of luring the audience out of their chair and to the cinemas.
3. Are short films still being made? Why? Who pays for them to be made?
Even though it’s doubtful that shortfilms will find their way back to the commercial cinema, shortfilms are still being made. In fact it has never been easier and cheaper to make and distribute shortfilms; with the internet, YouTube and video streaming the shortfilm is far from dead. The production of shortfilms are either funded by the filmmakers themselves or sites and funds such as www.virginmediashorts.com, a website supporting up and coming film talents, ran by executive director of digital entertainment at Virgin Media, Cindy Rose.
4.The term viral is thrown about adhoc but what does it mean in film/movie arena? Give some examples.
A viral video, is a video that become popular trough internet sharing, for example a youtube clip such as ‘Christian the lion’
Week 4 Tutespark
This weeks tutespark asked us to find three different shortfilms made for internet distrubution.
To find the shortfilms I surfed the website www. atom.com, a site dedicated to shortfilmmakers, producing films for the web.
First film I found was a film calles 'Fantasy Footbal Holdout' ;
After a record setting breakout year, it's possibly no surprise that a star performer might be a holdout going into the new NFL season. But when it's Dave holding out on the Turf Bangers Fantasy Football league? That's a little surprising.
The last film I wanted to share with you is the worlds first edited short film made with an Iphone 4. Not too much to say about this film, other than i'm impressed by the quality of Iphone 4's technology.
To find the shortfilms I surfed the website www. atom.com, a site dedicated to shortfilmmakers, producing films for the web.
First film I found was a film calles 'Fantasy Footbal Holdout' ;
After a record setting breakout year, it's possibly no surprise that a star performer might be a holdout going into the new NFL season. But when it's Dave holding out on the Turf Bangers Fantasy Football league? That's a little surprising.
I found the film bizarre but funny, and with it's already over 20.000 views since August 2010, I reckon it's a quite popular shortfilm.
The next film i found was ' Boys will be girls: Night out', where they follow a group of boys and a group of girls on a typicall night out, but where the roles are changed. Whilst the girls are farting and playing poker, the boys are beeing dramatic and emotional over a round of cosmopolitans. So true, so hilarious.
The last film I wanted to share with you is the worlds first edited short film made with an Iphone 4. Not too much to say about this film, other than i'm impressed by the quality of Iphone 4's technology.
World's First Short Film Made with iPhone 4 from garrettmurray on Vimeo.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Week 3 Treasure Hunt
It's week three and time for a treasure hunt..
1. What is the weight of the world’s biggest machine? How much did it cost to build?
The biggest machine ever built is the Large Hadron Collider, with a length of 27 kilometers and an unknown weight, is this machine a true champ. It is built and funded by 10,000scientiests and engineers from a 100 countries. The LHC costs the members of CERN and other participating countries about US$ 6.4, and will cost about extra eur. 1.43 billion for extra things like detectors, computing capacity.
http://www.neatorama.com/2008/09/12/10-things-about-the-large-hadron-collider-you-wanted-to-know-but-were-afraid-to-ask/
The biggest machine ever built is the Large Hadron Collider, with a length of 27 kilometers and an unknown weight, is this machine a true champ. It is built and funded by 10,000scientiests and engineers from a 100 countries. The LHC costs the members of CERN and other participating countries about US$ 6.4, and will cost about extra eur. 1.43 billion for extra things like detectors, computing capacity.
http://www.neatorama.com/2008/09/12/10-things-about-the-large-hadron-collider-you-wanted-to-know-but-were-afraid-to-ask/
2. What is the best way (quickest, most reliable) to contact Ozzy Osborne?
The best way to contact Ozzy Osbourne is to call or mail his manager Sharon Osbourne or his agents Greenburg and Emanul.3. When and what was the first example of global digital communication?
4. What is the cheapest form of travel from the Gold Coast to Melbourne?
I reckon walking, running or if you have a bicycle that will be cheap as well. If you want to travel more comfortably on the other hand, you should look away for a moment and swipe your card for cheap airfare.
I reckon walking, running or if you have a bicycle that will be cheap as well. If you want to travel more comfortably on the other hand, you should look away for a moment and swipe your card for cheap airfare.
5. Who is Hatsune Miku? What company does she belong to? What is her birthday?
Hatsun Miku was 'born' 31. August 2007, and is the first and most popular installment in the Vocaloid Character Vocal series, a singing synthesizer application produced by Yamaha.
Hatsun Miku was 'born' 31. August 2007, and is the first and most popular installment in the Vocaloid Character Vocal series, a singing synthesizer application produced by Yamaha.
6. Find a live webcam in Antarctica. Find a place to stay in Antarctica.
If you want to discover antarctica you should book a Heritage Antarctica expidition, traveling with the ship 'Spirit of Enderby' , where you enjoy the company of 47 other passengers and enjoy an excellent cousine prepared by top NZ and australian chefs.
see:
http://www.tourism.net.nz/listings/nztg/tours/33982?from=http://www.tourism.net.nz/region/antarctica/tours/expedition-cruises/
A live cam from Antarctica can be found at:
7. What song was top of the Australian pop charts this week in 1980?
Cliff Richard 'Dreamin'/Dynaminte' ruled the pop charts at this time back in 1980.
8. How would you define the term 'nano technology'? In your own words, what does it really mean?
Nano tehnolgy means to manupalate materials into very small tiny ojects, in order to build michroscopic machinery.
9. What type of camera is used to make ‘Google Street View’?
The camera used is Immersive Media's new 'Dodeca 230', which is the worlds first 360 degree, full motion, high resolution camera
10. Translate these questions into Klingon.
nuq 'oH [the] [weight] vo' [the] [world’s] [biggest] [machine] chay' 'ar ta'ta' 'oH [cost] Daq chen
nuq 'oH [the] [best] [way] [quickest] HochHom [reliable] Daq [contact] [Ozzy] [Osborne]
ghorgh 'ej nuq ghaHta' [the] wa'DIch [example] vo' [global] [digital] [communication]
nuq 'oH [the] [cheapest] [form] vo' [travel] vo' [the] SuD baS [Coast] Daq [Melbourne]
'Iv 'oH [Ha [a] yIn [webcam] Daq [Antarctica] tu' [a] Daq Daq [stay] Daq [Antarctica]tsune] [Miku] nuq [company] ta'taH ghaH [belong] Daq nuq 'oH Daj qoS
nuq bom ghaHta' [top] vo' [the] [Australian] [pop] [charts] vam [week] Daq
chay' [would] SoH [define] [the] [term] ['nano] [technology'] Daq lIj ghaj mu'mey nuq ta'taH 'oH [really] [mean]
nuq [type] vo' [camera] 'oH [used] Daq chenmoH [‘Google] [Street] [View’]
[Translate] Dochvammey [questions] Daq tlhIngan
nuq 'oH [the] [best] [way] [quickest] HochHom [reliable] Daq [contact] [Ozzy] [Osborne]
ghorgh 'ej nuq ghaHta' [the] wa'DIch [example] vo' [global] [digital] [communication]
nuq 'oH [the] [cheapest] [form] vo' [travel] vo' [the] SuD baS [Coast] Daq [Melbourne]
'Iv 'oH [Ha [a] yIn [webcam] Daq [Antarctica] tu' [a] Daq Daq [stay] Daq [Antarctica]tsune] [Miku] nuq [company] ta'taH ghaH [belong] Daq nuq 'oH Daj qoS
nuq bom ghaHta' [top] vo' [the] [Australian] [pop] [charts] vam [week] Daq
chay' [would] SoH [define] [the] [term] ['nano] [technology'] Daq lIj ghaj mu'mey nuq ta'taH 'oH [really] [mean]
nuq [type] vo' [camera] 'oH [used] Daq chenmoH [‘Google] [Street] [View’]
[Translate] Dochvammey [questions] Daq tlhIngan
Week 2 Cine Speak
Cine-Speak
Learning the language of the cinema.
This week we talked about how to use shots as words, focusing on different methods and techniques used in making a film. How can we, by using different shot sizes and angles, answer the 6 questions; who, what, where, when, why and how? To get a better idea of how to influence your story by using the right shot size, the different shot sizes were evaluated;
Very long shot/wide shot (WLS/WS), long shot (LS), medium long shot (MLS), mid shot (MS), medium close up (MCU), close up (CU), big close up (BCU), extreme close up (ECU). For example, the close up shot can answer the question ‘who’ by showing the character in detail.
Different shot sizes can also make a photo tell a ‘different ‘story, than what is act
ually the reality. In photojournalism for example, the photographer may attempt to use a ‘close up’ leaving parts of the subject/scene out of the frames, and in that way create a stronger photo. This photo, ‘Afghan girl’ by photographer Steve McCurry of the young girl Sharbat Gula, a student of a refugee camp (originally surrounded by other kids), is a good example of how the close up can be used, her capturing her strong facial expression.
The lecture also covered the usage of talking room and head room. With the right amount of headroom and right positioning of the character in the frame makes it look like the character is actually having a conversation, rather than talking to a wall or just out in the air.
With some new techniques on our hand, it’s time we have a go, and the results can be seen in this weeks tute*spark.
TUTESPARK - The Lost Keys
After taking all the photos, we realised that we had used the wrong angle on the camera, and had to do it all again. Anyway, we managed to get it all done and here's the result. Enjoy!
Learning the language of the cinema.
This week we talked about how to use shots as words, focusing on different methods and techniques used in making a film. How can we, by using different shot sizes and angles, answer the 6 questions; who, what, where, when, why and how? To get a better idea of how to influence your story by using the right shot size, the different shot sizes were evaluated;
Very long shot/wide shot (WLS/WS), long shot (LS), medium long shot (MLS), mid shot (MS), medium close up (MCU), close up (CU), big close up (BCU), extreme close up (ECU). For example, the close up shot can answer the question ‘who’ by showing the character in detail.
Different shot sizes can also make a photo tell a ‘different ‘story, than what is act
ually the reality. In photojournalism for example, the photographer may attempt to use a ‘close up’ leaving parts of the subject/scene out of the frames, and in that way create a stronger photo. This photo, ‘Afghan girl’ by photographer Steve McCurry of the young girl Sharbat Gula, a student of a refugee camp (originally surrounded by other kids), is a good example of how the close up can be used, her capturing her strong facial expression.The lecture also covered the usage of talking room and head room. With the right amount of headroom and right positioning of the character in the frame makes it look like the character is actually having a conversation, rather than talking to a wall or just out in the air.
With some new techniques on our hand, it’s time we have a go, and the results can be seen in this weeks tute*spark.
TUTESPARK - The Lost Keys
After taking all the photos, we realised that we had used the wrong angle on the camera, and had to do it all again. Anyway, we managed to get it all done and here's the result. Enjoy!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Week 1 - Lecture Notes/Tutespark
WEEK 1 LECTURE NOTES
One lecture down, heaps more to go. So far, so good. The first lecture was held by lecturer/course convenor Joshua Nicholas and lecturer/tutor Jules (sorry, I missed your last name), and was basically an introduction to what this course is about; learning and understanding communication technologies and its history.
As we find ourselves living in year 2010, a time also known as the digital age, digital media is a massive part of our everyday lives; with our mobile phones, m3player s and now the newest Ipad on our hand, we’re being socially available and able to communicate at anytime, anywhere.
So what is communication? Communication involves a sharing of ideas or information, or as Aristotle described it; ‘the speaker produces a message that is heard by the listener’. The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary defines the term communication as; 1. The activity or process of expressing or of giving people information. 2. Methods of sending information; especially telephones, radio, computers etc. In other words, communication is about giving and receiving some kind of information.
Communication relies on interpretation (or sometimes misinterpretation). When a speaker provides the listener with some kind of information, the listener converts this in to an understandable message. But there are a couple of factors that complicates this communication process: intersubjectivity and intertextuality. Intersubjectivity means that the listener interprets the message received in the light of their own experience, changing the meaning of the message as they send it along. Intertextuality means that no message is ever complete. The message is understood in the light of information already known. When two people communicate, the message gains its complete meaning from all the other messages that s already sent back and forth.
In the last part of the lecture we talked about technology, in which can be defined as a tool for communication. We differ between old and new technology; old technology involves analogue devices or media such as printed press, TV, radio etc., and new technology involves digital media such as blogs, IM, social networking, MMS/SMS, YouTube etc. It’s sometimes hard to differentiate between what’s considered to be new or old technology, and when they turn from old to new, but for me I would say that technology become old when it’s replaced by something newer, more innovative and better (even though a lot of the new gadgets usually cannot measure up to the old gadgets qualities).
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