Friday, December 7, 2007
Monday, October 1, 2007
Websites
Here is a website that I think is really well laid out, and also original
http://iso50.com/iso50.html
I like the animation in this one, better than just a boring loading screen.
http://www.webleeddesign.com/#toplist
Here is my own personal website
http://iso50.com/iso50.html
I like the animation in this one, better than just a boring loading screen.
http://www.webleeddesign.com/#toplist
Here is my own personal website
Monday, September 10, 2007
Second Writing Assignment
A cord of Firewood
Vannevar Bush's Differential Analyzer
My view on the internet sides with Vannevar Bush. I feel that the advancement in technology is more helpful than lotheful, as seen by Nathanial Hawthorne.
I feel that the internet has greatly consolidated physical things into smaller digital forms which allows for easier storage. Bush felt similar in that keeping up with all sorts of physical records and having to constantly update them (sec. 2 par. 1). Having a digital record, such as can be found on the internet, allows for easy updating without the hassle of having to update physical records. One such example is Wikipedia. It is a large database that is able to be altered in great numbers, but nothing is ever wasted or physically thrown away. Another example is this blog, I am able to go back and edit my prior posts as much as I want and nothing is wasted.
Hawthorne did realize the efficency the stove had over the fireplace, much the same as Vannevar Bush had about the Memex. Hawthorne said "His yearly allowance of wood, according to the terms of his settlement, was no less than sixty cords. Almost an annual forest was converted from oak logs into ashes..." (par. 5) This was his realization that although the stove lacked much in his mind, it was still an efficient way of doing things. Bush said "A memex is a device in which an individual stores all his books, records, and communications, and which is mechanized so that it may be consulted with exceeding speed and flexibility."(sec. 6, par 4) He knew it would be an efficient way of sorting and remembering things with a high efficiency.
In Hawthorne's quote "...it was he who devoured London and Moscow, and many another famous city, and who loves to riot through our own dark forests, and sweep across our prairies, and to whose ravenous maw, it is said..."(par. 2). This description is similar to what the internet has become, although not quite as frowned upon as Hawthorne did of the stove. Blogs are the same way, they are very popular now and can be found from people all around the world.
Vannevar Bush's Differential Analyzer
My view on the internet sides with Vannevar Bush. I feel that the advancement in technology is more helpful than lotheful, as seen by Nathanial Hawthorne.
I feel that the internet has greatly consolidated physical things into smaller digital forms which allows for easier storage. Bush felt similar in that keeping up with all sorts of physical records and having to constantly update them (sec. 2 par. 1). Having a digital record, such as can be found on the internet, allows for easy updating without the hassle of having to update physical records. One such example is Wikipedia. It is a large database that is able to be altered in great numbers, but nothing is ever wasted or physically thrown away. Another example is this blog, I am able to go back and edit my prior posts as much as I want and nothing is wasted.
Hawthorne did realize the efficency the stove had over the fireplace, much the same as Vannevar Bush had about the Memex. Hawthorne said "His yearly allowance of wood, according to the terms of his settlement, was no less than sixty cords. Almost an annual forest was converted from oak logs into ashes..." (par. 5) This was his realization that although the stove lacked much in his mind, it was still an efficient way of doing things. Bush said "A memex is a device in which an individual stores all his books, records, and communications, and which is mechanized so that it may be consulted with exceeding speed and flexibility."(sec. 6, par 4) He knew it would be an efficient way of sorting and remembering things with a high efficiency.
In Hawthorne's quote "...it was he who devoured London and Moscow, and many another famous city, and who loves to riot through our own dark forests, and sweep across our prairies, and to whose ravenous maw, it is said..."(par. 2). This description is similar to what the internet has become, although not quite as frowned upon as Hawthorne did of the stove. Blogs are the same way, they are very popular now and can be found from people all around the world.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
I guess I should post a little about myself, after looking at the syllabus. My name is Eric Kramer and I am taking this class because it is my minor. I am a Graphic Arts and Imaging Technology Major and an Internet Studies Minor. I'm a Senior. I don't have a particular random website to share right now. I will probably come back and add something but...the haven for all great random websites is "Stumbleupon." It's an add-on for Firefox. You just set it up by checking off what your interests are. Then all you have to do is click a button up in the top left corner and it will take you to a random website you might like. You can vote, thumbs up or thumbs down to help refine what you stumble upon. I think its a lot like "Digg" but I don't know because I've never used that system before.
For example, I just hit the stumble button and got this totally random website.
For example, I just hit the stumble button and got this totally random website.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
First Memories of a Computer
My first memory of using a computer was back in elementary school. We would play Number Munchers. I didn't like that game, I hate math. Then on Thursdays (I think) it was 'Oregon Trail Day' where all we did was play Oregon trail. I thought it was cool because we were getting to play an actual game and not just solving some sort of math or grammar problem.
In middle school everyone was required to take a typing class. I didn’t do that great. I managed to pass but I never typed that fast…..Until AOL came along and the wonders of Instant Messenger. Instant Messenger made it natural to type much faster. It probably started out slowly but once I got the hang of typing on a more consistent basis, I was able to type much, much faster. It improved my typing overall, just on the basis of necessity to talk to friends more efficiently.
Another thing I remember during my early years of computer use was deleting some important system file. Why exactly I deleted it, I don’t know. But what came from it provided me with a new internet experience. To solve the problem I got online using our other home computer. I posted on a message board after doing a yahoo search probably. This was long before the days of google. I asked for help on how to solve the problem I was having. See, the system file I deleted happened to be an important one because the computer wouldn’t boot without it. I received a few replies and tried to fix it using other peoples advice but I had no idea what I was doing and thus, did not solve my problem. But the fact that it opened up the view of help from strangers was an interesting new thing.
More recently I have used message boards for help/ideas regarding my truck. Through that message board I have really learned what it is like to get help from complete strangers. I have gone so far as to actually meet these people sometimes. Having a common interest through a message board helps you develop friendships. Having a chance to go out and go 4 wheeling with a group of people with the same interests as you is one of the greatest things. I have made some great friends through a simple message board.
In middle school everyone was required to take a typing class. I didn’t do that great. I managed to pass but I never typed that fast…..Until AOL came along and the wonders of Instant Messenger. Instant Messenger made it natural to type much faster. It probably started out slowly but once I got the hang of typing on a more consistent basis, I was able to type much, much faster. It improved my typing overall, just on the basis of necessity to talk to friends more efficiently.
Another thing I remember during my early years of computer use was deleting some important system file. Why exactly I deleted it, I don’t know. But what came from it provided me with a new internet experience. To solve the problem I got online using our other home computer. I posted on a message board after doing a yahoo search probably. This was long before the days of google. I asked for help on how to solve the problem I was having. See, the system file I deleted happened to be an important one because the computer wouldn’t boot without it. I received a few replies and tried to fix it using other peoples advice but I had no idea what I was doing and thus, did not solve my problem. But the fact that it opened up the view of help from strangers was an interesting new thing.
More recently I have used message boards for help/ideas regarding my truck. Through that message board I have really learned what it is like to get help from complete strangers. I have gone so far as to actually meet these people sometimes. Having a common interest through a message board helps you develop friendships. Having a chance to go out and go 4 wheeling with a group of people with the same interests as you is one of the greatest things. I have made some great friends through a simple message board.
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