History of Computers

The documentary shown in class today, gave a really good time line of the history of computers and how they were developed. One thing that I found interesting was that Xerox was the first to develop a computer-like machine but who gave up on the project because they believed that other individuals were not be interested in a computer for personal use. Looking back they must very upset with themselves. Meanwhile, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozinek developed the personal computer and founded Apple from a large box at first that was able to sing. Comparing the computer that they first developed to a Mac book there are huge differences, especially in looks to the point that you not even know that the first computer that they built was even a computer or that they same people developed the two products. I remember using my neighbors Apple computer when I was younger and how small the screen was but I recall it looking extremely similar to that of the Apple II and it may have even been that. I can remember playing really simple but some how extremely fun games on it.
After exploring the History of the Internet website, I never knew that internet first grew out of a networks started by MIT and other colleges. The way the internet spread across America and then into the World Wide Web was interesting. I was aware that the government controlled the Web and investigated it deeply before allowing it to be released for public use. Meanwhile, I can't imagine not having the web since now you can google anything and almost every business or person has a website.
While watching the development of video games and how they came about from computers may me realize that the development of the quality of video games is extremely young and new. The time that it took to go from Pong to Halo really was a short period and to imagine what video games will look like in ten years could be beyond belief. The fact that they are trying to get machines to respond to how a player plays a character will impact the way that we play a game. The game will become more involved and possible be more emotionally involved. While you don't really think about the characters that you are playing or beating such as the enemies, if you are trying to develop the toughest character, you will take into account their personality and may become so attached to the character that you treat it as your child. I'm not sure if this is a good respond to video games or not, but is definitely the direction that video games designers are going.

History of Television

After exploring the Museum of Television website, I learned more about how television came to be, how the stars came about and about TV themselves. The interactive program that they have on the website that you can select a TV and learn about that particular TV was cool. I also explored the World Fair again which was fun to see all the different things that happened at the fair and what was going on. I found it funny that there were such different things displayed at the fair such as plastic and television. I also looked at Marilyn Monroe's progress through television and found that her image developed the more she was featured in television and her roles also seemed to decrease in intelligence.
The website, History of Computing Science, gives a really nice time-line and explaination of the invention and development of computers. While it was not as fancy as the Museum of Television website, it was much more detailed in a science sense. I thought it was really cool that a lot of the names I recognized due to chemistry and in particular due to physics that I have taken.
In class, I thought the documentary we watched was really interesting and informative. It helped to follow the development of television from radio and how or why things we have today are the reason they are called RCA or why we have electric tvs rather than mechanical. One thing I learned today was that television was developed out of radio not film. Seeing that TV and film both involve images, I suppose this is why I always assumed that TV was developed from film. Although now the sense of signals and being able to spread the signal to millions of people makes much more sense that the TV was developed through the radio not film.

Radio Days

Radio days was interesting in class on Wednesday. Seeing that during the depression there wasn't extra money for entertainment such as the theater and Broadway plays we had learned about earlier. I found it really funny that the sound of radio at that time was something so new that people actually believed that the War of Worlds was actually happening. I suppose its similar to that of a 3-D movie today or a ride at an amusement park. The invention of radio seems like it is something that has evolved with culture and time but yet has remained the same in a sense. Radio is there to provide free entertainment. The entertainment can be in the form of music, news talk or other radio shows.
Listening to Andy Helps Rudy Make Amos Jealous on the Old Time Radio website kind of takes you back in time. Although I've never witnessed this time period, one can imagine it in your head. As the characters talked, I imagined what Andy or Amos looked like and also questioned why Rudy never spoke. You heard Andy speaking and asking questions, but you never heard Rudy. Maybe it was at this time, women were not featured in radio. Another clip I found was the Pearl Harbor attack. The technology that was developed at this time allowing London and America to communicate clearly over radio to deliver their news updates was fascinating. Seeing that the ability to connect like this at the early stages of radio allows me to understand more about how radio is today and how technology is rapidly evolving.

Tim Igoe EMAT Lecture

Tom Igoe presented an EMAT lecture today at UT that was very interesting and that increased my awareness of design and production. I was not aware of all the different ways to design and creative these new devices, even devices that I have that Igoe talked about. One design he spoke about was the Sniff toy that would be used for blind children to read story books. Not only did this touch my heart but also was so creative in the name, look and process of the toy. I love how the dog would sniff out the story. It seems so simple, yet you do not realize that there is a large team and company behind this product in order to create and promote it.
One of the funnier items that stood out of the designs that Igoe lectured on was the three stuffed animals that were co-dependent on one another. I thought it was hilarious that when one would be hugged the other two would talk trash about it. The actions of the animals reminded me of sibling rivalry and how humans do this every day but it takes stuffed animals for us to realize this.
Overall, the most important factor that Igoe spoke about to me, was the breakdown of these designs and how we need to prepare for the day that they no longer work, nor is there a need for them. The fact that designers are looking to be more eco-friendly and also recycle products to make new ones is great. I think that it is awesome that the Olympic medals in Vancouver this year are being created from old metal taken from computers and other electronics. I'm glad that finally people are using what we have to create new products. Not only does it help the earth, but it can also help our pockets.

Flipbook!

Here are some pictures of my flip-book. After several days, many hours and 4 sharpies, my project is complete. I was surprised at the various ideas and themes of my classmates. Some were very creative and I would have never thought of such ideas. I thought that this project was a little overwhelming at first, but I found it to be a lot of fun and enjoyed it. My finished project pleases me and I think that hard-work pays off in the end. This experience really demonstrated to me what it takes to make a flip-book and also opens my mind to how cartoons, and movies were first made from photos.
My idea of the mad scientist came from wanting to create a funny/ fun character to draw throughout the book. Being a chemistry major, it also allowed me to draw familiar objects and things that are easily for me to draw. Basing the project off something familiar also allowed me to make better and smoother transitions throughout the flip-book. I also found it easier to have a storyline instead of just drawing random things that hopefully would come together in the end. Overall I enjoyed this flipbook project even though it was quite intimidating in the beginning.

Blondie and Singing in the Rain

Blondie's music video Rapture featured a scene that was based off Singing in the Rain.  Her version of a black man dressed in all white instead of the white man in a black suit allowed Blondie to become influencial during the 70s and 80s.  Before this class, I had never seen Singing in the Rain nor had I even realized that Blondie was influenced and influencial in that manner.  I had just looked at her as another artist of that period and nothing more.  Now after learning about Singing in the Rain, I immediately picked up on the character and the lyrics in the music video.  Now I'm starting to realize that new things aren't created, there are just variations on how others see it.  And the fact that everyone has a different view and opinion, allows the story to take on a completely different sense and therefore creates the illusion that it is a new story.

Singing in the Rain vs. Clockwise Orange

The movie Clockwise Orange featured today was completely different and bizarre from that of Singing in the Rain that was presented in the last class period.  Singing in the Rain was very bright and cheerful, with the dancing and singing throughout.  While the film's focus was figuring out how to create a talking picture, Clockwise Orange was using new special effects and drama.  Clockwise Orange seems to be might to shock the public and present a way of life that is completely different but present during the time.  The film was probably use as they're way of telling the public how bad it was to follow this group and that it was unacceptable according to society.  

Although Clockwise Orange already had the talking picture and color figured out, the special effects were still evolving during this time.  I think that both were contributers to today's films that are produced because one built on another.  Without Singing in the Rain, there wouldn't be the performance and speaking effects, and Clockwise Orange set a new stage for new topics, colors and effects.

Black and White Film

Today's class featuring black and white film was very entertaining.  The film featuring Joan of Arc was moving, which surprised me due to its lack actual speaking.  The music however added great emphasize to the film, which I feel made the film so emotional.  However, the black and white film, Casa Blanca which featured speaking, used music for emphasize, while the first time I watched this movie, I did  not realize that the music playing at the end was the famous song in the beginning.  It will be interesting to see how film continues to change when color, editing and sounds become more advanced through the years.

19th Century Film

19th century film featured in today's class was interesting to see the quick transition of the quality of film in just a few short years.  How Edison changed the clarity of his films in just one frame and how at the end of class films were using the technique of actually moving the camera itself to capture footage was very interesting.  It's amazing to think that movies today were inspired and developed by the technologies that were so simple but innovative for the 19th century.

BROADWAY

Today's class on broadway was awesome.  The musicals performed on broadway are entertaining and are one of the greatest forms of entertainment.  While I've never seen a broadway play or musical in New York, I've seen many films of them.  The talent and creativity that is expressed in these performances are the best.  The Cats musical featured today was very creative with the costumes and dance and I found caught my attention most because of this.  My other favorites were the ones featuring tap dancing seeing that I tapped for 16 years, I tend to love watching it.