Bad Friday

I spoken a lot about smart phones here at Blogaboutech. It is fascinating to see how quickly they have influenced our lives. On this very blog, I've talked about how we become attached to them, how they are like our private club houses. I've pondered about how we use them to augment our lives. Are smart phones good for our long term progression? I don't have an opinion on that yet. However, I can say this much.

Smart phones are bringing us closer. Smart phones keep us better organized. Smart phones help to consolidate our domestic devices and the menial tasks associated with them. And, yes, smart phones are causing us to lose just a bit more faith in the human race with their ability to capture some of our most incredibly stupid moments.

Such moments were on full display during this year's Black Friday. Sure, we've all hear about the woman who pepper sprayed people in Walmart (which I'm convinced is an ancient Latin phrase for "enter at ye own risk"). But, I've got an even better one. In another undisclosed Walmart location a riot broke out...over $2.00 Waffle Irons.

Cue the YouTube clip! And, please beware of the butt crack

The Blogaboutech Mixtape, v. 3

I had every intention on NOT doing a mixtape today, but there has been so many cool things going on in the tech world over the last week that I just couldn't help myself. So...since I can't focus on a clear topic to write about I'll share some of my thoughts on today's more interesting tech news in The Blogabout-ech Mixtape.

South Korean Prisons are Employing... Robots!

Yeah, you think I'm kidding don't you? I'm not. Beginning next year, South Korea will be using 150cm-tall robots on wheels to police their prisons. The $850, 000 machines will be used mainly at night -- those damn overtime hours -- using sensors to report suspicious behavior to the other lifeforms we call, uh, people.

The robots will be tested out for a month, but if it works out we know its a copycat league. Be prepared to see more robot police guards, followed by Robocops, Termintors, then those freaky-spider things we saw in the Matrix movies. Fucking Cylons!

Attempting to assuage such fears Kyonggi University professor, Lee Baik-chul had this to say:

"[T]he robots are not terminators. Their job is not cracking down on violent prisoners. They are helpers. When an inmate is in a life-threatening situation or seriously ill, he or she can reach out for help quickly.”

Isn't that how all of these movies start!?


Video Game Controllers and Google Chrome Sitting in a Tree...

Arizone State University professor, James Paul Gee is one of the reasons why I applied to the Multimedia program. We've got a lot in common. Both of us grew up in the Bay. We share the same alma mater (Go Goucho's!), but it was his theories around video games that really peeked my interest. Namely, his belief that "video games are a new literacy." They are literally something that one must learn how to play in order to access the information and experiences one can get from them.

Yeah, people use to think I was a nerd for thinking that sort of thing. Cue the recent announcement that video game controllers will soon be compatible with Google's Chrome web browser. No announcements yet on why Google decided to do this although my guess is were going to see the end of video game consoles soon. What I do know is the people who used to think I was crazy, nerdy or otherwise making excuses for playing Grand Theft Auto 4....Ha!!


I SPIT on My iPhone!

Phones these days have an app for just about anything, right? Well, they don't have a doctor app -- not yet, anyway. New Scientist is reporting that the Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Learning is working on, hell, something that will allow the way a touch screen reads your dingertips to read a person's saliva.

Stop laughing! I'm not finish.

Apparently, they've already taught the device how to detect chlamydia through a persons loogie. They anticipate that the company can become billionaires over night with the San Francisco market alone.


Geek Porn


I swear -- I've not nothing.

Sony Planning to Cut Out the Middle Men

In the Blogaboutech Mixtape, volume 2 I briefly wrote about Youtube and its $100 million plan to get star power onto its channel. My thoughts, besides the pun about Ashton Kutcher, Shaquile O'Neal and the Armageddon, were how this could be the beginning of the end for cable television. Well, here goes another potential nail in the coffin for it.

Sony is in talks with several big media companies to create internet streaming televisions that will cut out cable service providers. The idea is to bring television back to the way it use to be with a few channels. Y'know, quality over quantity.

I gave up cable television a long time ago. Paying over $80.00 a month for a ton of channels I won't watch nor care for got old a long time ago. Every once in a while I'll head over to my neighbors crib for a little Walking Dead or to watch the football game, but the commercials make it almost impossible to enjoy it. Television advertisements are so intrusive that I feel like I've tuned in to watch commercials with a little dramatic or comedic break in between.

Netflix on the other hand allows me to watch shows back to back and pause them when I'm tired without someone trying to convince me to use Tide with bleach or buy a new Ford. Sure, I'm about a year off or the show is probably canceled but I rather like the idea of paying for real, customizable options.

Being able to watch television streamed live on a television connected to the internet presents so many possibilities. I for one am excited if it really works. That is, until advertisement companies figure out a way to ruin the whole thing. Yes, that day will come.

PSO: Stop Hating on the Pirate

So, I'm sitting in my Trends in New Media class one day and we're talking about piracy, copyright laws and the idea of a free culture that had me thinking about episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Gwyan was spitting hot fire that day. It was a good lecture and one thing he said really stuck out for me. While discussing Adobe he talked about the companies philosophy for dealing with the piracy of its products. It was pretty simple:

If you're a student then you have more time than money so you find the time to get Adobe for free. If you're employed then you probably have less time and more money so you'll pay the 600 beans for their Master Collective. Adobe makes their money off of those guys.

However, that might change soon if the Stop Online Piracy Act receives the seal of approval. Yes, this is another public service announcement.

My first few weeks of Web Design was a pain in the ass. I had no idea how to design a website so walking into the class, I was pretty intimidated. But, that wasn't what was so bad about it. What sucked was that I didn't have Dreamweaver. Sure, I was using the program on the lab computer but that strategy wasn't very useful. It wasn't until I got the "bootleg" versions of CS3 and CS5 that I started learning since I was able to tinker away during long night hours.

It's as clear as a crystal ball. If I had to throw down for these computer programs I would be in some serious trouble, so I was mighty glad that I could down my Jack Sparrow pirate cap and grab a free copy, something I almost never do. Generally, I believe in making sure people get their money. When I was working six days a week I wouldn't hesitate to pay for something like this. Hell, I'd tip if I could -- take my dough -- but, desperate times, y'know.

Back to the bad news. Apparently, Apple, Microsoft, Adobe, Intel and ton of other companies are backing the "That Sucks for Multimedia Students" campaign. Its defense sounds pretty straight forward. They own the product. They want you to pay if you want to use it but, here's some great commentary against SOPA:

The internet has exploded because of these seemingly trivial freedoms—the freedom to mess around and create interesting stuff. Experimentation without fear of federal imprisonment leads to some pretty awesome stuff. Stuff that's then used with the very software and equipment these SOPA backers sell. So it's not just that they're supporting an awful censorship law—these BSA [Business Software Association] cronies are biting our hands that feed them [Giz].

In the remix age, the age of finding something in just a few clicks, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to charge people for something they'll eventually pay for once their working because, y'know, now they're hooked on your product.

Moore's Law Makes Me Feel Good About Tomorrows Films

I read over 10 blogs per day on subjects ranging from technology, video games, education and film. The other day I went over to site Racialicious -- my new crack by the way -- and I made one of the top 10 discoveries of the year.

I'm a pretty legitimate scifi/fantasy fan. I don't geek out like some of my friends do. Though, I'm more partial to a good yarn about anything I'm really a big story fiend, and the sci-fi/fantasy genre has a way of taking small ideas and making them profoundly big and majestic.

But, over the years I have yearned to see some movies that have a little something different to say. Simply put, most good television or big budget movie is centered on a white cast, protagonist, world and/or mythology. I still enjoy watching them, sure, but it would be nice to see an Asian superhero, a black cyborg or a Mexican-female savior of a post-apocalyptic world. I'm messing around a bit, but the point I'm trying to make is the country -- let alone the world -- is filed with people who are not white and male and I just want to watch movies about them from time to time.

With very small audiences interested in this sort of thing and historically big budgets and/or small distribution options getting these films done would be impossible. But, with the decreasing cost of film production equipment and easy distribution channels like Vimeo, Blip.tv and YouTube, apparently there's this new boom of cool web series that I have since become hooked on.

You can check the article with a, sort of, Top 10 list of cool web series here. I'm pretty excited about them, not just because they give me something to watch but also of the possibilities for a budding Multimedia graduate major.

Robot HR 3035 is Coming to Attack Your Cell Phone

I have two phones, a cell phone and a land line. I got the land line for the internet service and I have a cell phone. Guess which phone rings the most? Yep, the land line despite the fact that I never use it and none of my friends have that number. I couldn't even tell you what it is. So, why does that phone ring so much? I mean, who the HELL could be calling me numerous times per day? Robot callers. Those damn robots callers! And, if the Mobile Information Call Act of 2011 is passed by a Congress that loves corporate business, Robot HR 3035 will find you where ever you go.

Robot callers are basically phone calls from God-knows-which company to sell you something, or they could be from a bill collectors or something. We've all experienced them and we hate it. We hate it when someone, whether it's a robot or a real person, calls a number that we did not knowingly give them and tries to sell us shit, bug us or otherwise wastes our precious time.

Apparently, the cleverly worded Bill finds a way to get around the laws that currently restricts them from calling your cell phone. Prepare to be horrified!

First, since an automatic dialing system is illegal the bill redefines what that is. Their argument? They don't use automatic dialing systems anymore. Dialing is old technology (sneaky bastards). The new technology will allow them to 'target' specific callers. But, how in the name of star 69 can it be legal for them to target you, huh?

The second strategy from HR 3035 states that your phone number is your consent. Can you believe this load of crap? Consider how many times you sign up for something and you are required to give them a phone number. Well, if this bill passes it will be legal for them to call that number for any reason they want, for as frequent as they want and in any way they choose to (consider text messaging) because you gave up your phone number. As far as they're concerned, if you didn't want them to call you you wouldn't have left you phone number.

And, the last most witty strategy that Robot Bill HR 3035 is using to strip you of your cell phone privacy is they promise not to call you to deliberately sell you anything. That's good news, right? Wrong. What this means is the dogs we call bill collectors will have their leashes completely removed. As for everyone else they will most likely change the way they call you. For example, since your purchasing habits clearly show that you like shopping at the Gap they will call or text you from time to time to inform you that the latest V neck sweaters and matching art-less t shirts are available at your nearest store.


We love our smart phones. We love the many things we can do on them and more importantly, the way they are private extensions of our self. It hurts almost when we break a phone or someone steals it. The endless applications and customizable options of today's smart phones attaches us to them unlike the old rotary phones or pagers even.

A cell phone is your club house. An Android phone is someone's country club. An iPhone, your studio apartment. Today's phones are your haven of privacy. But, prepare people, for the HR 3035 Robot callers are coming!

All kidding aside, if you're just as pissed about this as me click here. It's a petition. Easy and quick to fill out.

Life is a Phone

In William Gibson's latest novel, Zero History, he has this great line where he talks about how the idle time that we spend on our cell phone in social settings have replaced cigarettes. Think about it. If a person is sitting outside waiting for someone to pick them up they might fire up their Android phone instead of a stick of Camel Lights. Trying to look cool at the bar by yourself? Pull out your iPhone and pretend like you're doing something.

This brief little description stuck with me mainly because I see myself doing it all the time. But, I bring it up here because it was exactly the type of thing I was thinking about when I read this post.

In a brief commentary on comedian Louis C.K.'s annoyances with smartphones, the writer has this fantastic line.

Nowadays when something interesting happens, people get so wrapped up in proving they were there, they neglect to experience the actual moment... Is a life that's distillable to a 3.5-inch retina display a life truly worth living?

It's such a simple but poignant statement. The quick answer, one would expect, is that life is certainly worth living with out the 3.5 inch display, however you can't deny that smartphones are creating a significant cultural shift in the way we experience life. They are far more than devices that we use to call other people. As a matter of fact, we probably spend more time using them then we do actually talking to someone.

Last Wednesday, during the Occupy Oakland March there were hundreds of people using their phones to aid their experience. Smartphone, in retrospect, seemed like an augmentation that people used to:

• Capture the moment.
• Share it with people who are there and not there.
• Speak with people who are there and not there.
• And, to ensure that they were able to maximize their experience using numerous phone features to help navigate through the march (accessing Mapquest, for example, or the BART schedule to plan the exodus back home).
  

All of this happened en masse and simultaneously creating a phalanx of augmented, connected and similar experiences. It sounds like a beautiful idea, and the march was a great experience, but in leau of C.K.'s comments, I wonder what we may have missed at that protest.

Further, I wonder what we miss in life as we attempt to squeeze everything into a 3.5 inch display. Are our senses (hear, smell, touch, taste and see) being gradually replaced by an augmented and arguably different set of senses (connectivity, capture, and a layered form of communication that involves text, video, pictures and to a lesser degree, voice)? If so, what does this mean for our future? Are we becoming better humans or less than human?

At the end of the clip of Louis C.K.'s rant he jokes that one day Jesus will show up and everyone will be caught up in experiencing it through their phones; taking pictures, texting, tweeting and posting to their friends or YouTube. They will be so caught up with their phones that the value of the experience of standing before Christ and listening to him without any tech support...will irritate the heck out of him.