Pictures that lie- Examples of photographs that have been altered. This was just an example and to be honest-not the best examples but enough to get the point through that the main weakness of digital media is the ease in which it can be manipulated and how historians and journalists alike will have to be careful about using media from unknown sources. I can remember a few more famous examples like the mars rover that showed a bottle cap or the face on mars-both had wide media coverage for a time and drive home the issue of how easy it is to manipulate digital media. However, this is nothing new-photographs have been altered for decades, perhaps shortly after the advent of the photograph. The article “Keeping it Real” attempts to show how
algorithms in image-authentication software can help detect when pictures have been manipulated. The article “Can Photos be
Trusted” gives other examples of just how easy it is to manipulate digital media.
The article About Facebook and libraries was a little light in my opinion. The point seemed to be that Facebook and google should try to work with libraries so libraries could become more digitally connected. It seemed to be kind of wishful thinking that companies would do that. Sad truth is as Americans we are at ground zero for corporate greed. While many companies donate to charities (it’s a tax write off) the moment you ask a company to do something for the good of the community someone shouts “Socialism” and there goes that idea. In my opinion the whole way corporations operate in this country needs to examined let alone large tech companies helping the library. People are motivated by money. The onlyway to bring libraries into the digital age will be federal money paid to people to do it.
Changing libraries
This is the point where I get that crushing feeling in my chest and my breathing becomes labored and the whole world seems to be closing in on me. As soon as tech words start flying about is when I find my safe place, curl up in a ball and start sucking my thumb. I know I need to embrace the changes in our world but God Dammit! I’m not ready!
I really respect people who understand this stuff so I hope that techies understand that when I say nerd it is with a degree of respect for people who can do something I can’t. But honestly when Dan and Roy start talking I feel like I’m listening to Russian. I read as much as i could but when i tried to recall it I got as far as website..blah…blah…blah and random letters. Sorry for my lack of techno savy. I will work on it.
The podcast stuff was really cool. I will try to make a podcast in the future or perhaps incorperate it into my project. I must note that i think it is kind of funny that I have all of these wonderful technologies but i never usee them. For example, I have a computer that has a webcam and i have used it about ….never times. Also, I have a new high-tech video camera and I love movies and the idea of making movies but I have use it for the purpose of making a movie of sorts….never times. This is why I am here and I will try harder.
Wikipedia and the Future of the Past-
Wikipedia…I like it. I don’t like it as a true source of scholarly information. However, I think it is the best startingpoint on the
web for learning about something for the first time. I like to
read and watch TV and when there is a a word or reference
that I don’t know I look it up. When I hear about a
interesting group of people who live somewhere in the world I
look it up. I usually find that there is a great deal of
information on the subject. The question is how good is the
information? I have heard many criticisms of the site mostly
saying that the site is full of bogus information. Others claim
the site is no place for scholarly reasearch. Duh, regular
encylopedias are no place for scholarly research either.
As for scholarly recognition, there is no reason why scholars
should not get some recognition for contributing to wikipedia.
In the end the quality of any scharly work should come down
to the research. I don’t know about basing promotions solely
on contributing to Wikipedia, but it could be a part of the
promotion or tenure process.
Googling the Victorians-
There is no doubt that the internet has revolutionized the
research process. Unlike the standard research methods a
great deal information about a subject and the minutia of a
subject from various perspectives can be found in great detail.
There is no doubt that the past will be recorded in greater
detail than ever before. Also people from around the world
are being linked up in an unpresidented way. The only question
is will we be able to store all the information.
No Computer Left Behind-
What has become of the education system in this country?
As a teacher I am acutley aware of the failure of No Child Left
Behind legislation, the fact that is unfunded, the focus it places
on standardized testing and the fact that it is not concerened
with good teaching only numbers. I think kids today are becoming operators of technology but are losing out on good education.
Digital History-This was a ton of reading! basically the upshot was about the digital history and the digital historian. I found it funny that the article stated that information stored digitally was fragile because digital information was fragile. Really? Compared to what, papyrus? Books burn, get moldy, I think that discs are not meant to last because its not profitable, but digital information has a better chance of lasting longer than books, scrolls, and just about anything short of stone or clay tablets. I also think that this is a fantastic time to be a historian due to the many advantages that the digital age provides us.
Promise of digital history- Kind of more of the same. People giving thier opinions on how the new digital age will be revolutionary.
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