Blog Post #6: Technology from EOTO

 

From today’s Each One Teach One presentations, I learned about the invention of the printing press in the 15th Century, and how it changed communication around the world. The printing press was a major game-changer for spreading religious ideas, political reform, and social movements. It led to freedoms from government and oppression, since people could access the means for expressing themselves when they could not easily or affordably before. Modern mass media would not have emerged without the printing press sharing information worldwide.

Before the printing press existed, people could only share information if they wrote by hand or copied types manually. Books were made using scrolls, papyrus, and parchment before there was paper. Monks in monasteries would spend everyday copying the writings in books to share with others. This tedious and lengthy process limited how many people could access knowledge.

The printing press was originally created as a movable printing press in 1439 by Johannes Gutenberg in Strasbourg, Germany. The printing press then established multiple different printing shops throughout Europe that would print opinions, papers, studies and more. In 1517, Martin Luther was able to publish and share his 95 Theses because of the printing press. This technology was an important part of the Renaissance and Scientific Revolution. 

During the 17th Century and 18th Century, printing technology expanded to Asia and the Americas. It allowed for the development of typography and fonts, since printing became more consistent across the globe. The press was a reliable, effective, and efficient way to publish and share. As such, the printing press made it easier to access information. Books and Newspapers were able to be shared because of the mass printing made possible by no longer printing manually. The printing press helped shape modern media and changed communication. It had some negatives like we experience now, for example: fake news, hate speech, propaganda. Even so, the printing press was a revolutionary and iconic communication development. 

Blog Post #5: Privacy Online and Off

 Issues of privacy online affect everyone in today’s world. Anyone can track phone calls or hack into text messages. Law enforcement can use Stingray technology to locate cellphones inside private homes. Sensitive information about personal lives can be overheard and ruin social relationships. Lack of privacy can even result in financial consequences like identity theft or fraud when a criminal learns what your credit card number, security codes, or account passwords are. 

I use apps and websites daily that collect my personal data. For example, TikTok will show me specific videos according to an algorithm that tracks what types of content I like and how long I watch videos in that style. Oftentimes, an Instagram ad will pop up not even five minutes after I mentioned something on the phone. These occurrences feel like being stalked. It is annoying and creepy to see all the ways my privacy is at risk from technology.

The government can accuse you of a crime that you did not commit. Or they can take very little information of what was done and make it seem bigger than it was. Government can invade your privacy. No one would watch me 24/7 in real life, but government officials have access to my online life any time of day. They can monitor my social media accounts, check into my banking account, control all of my personal information and who it gets shared with.

To prevent invasions of privacy, we can use encrypted apps and messaging services where others cannot look into conversations or what was said. You can try to create legislation. Even though there may be challenges to passing and enforcing laws about privacy online, it is still worth trying. This is especially true for examples like cyber harassment where people’s professional lives, personal relationships, and mental health get severely impacted. I think it was really interesting and useful to reflect on the dangers of the internet and being online. These TED Talk videos reminded me to make sure my personal information is as private as it can be online. 

Blog Post #4: EOTC Communication Technology Timeline

 An average pencil can write 45,000 words and draw a line that is more than 35 miles long. During the Civil War, pencils were given out as basic equipment. The most expensive pencil in the world was made with wood from an olive tree that was over 240 years old. It had white gold details and sold for almost 13,000 dollars. Each year over 1 billion yellow pencils are produced, and they could stretch around the Earth five times.

 In the late 1700s, the first early version of today’s pencil was created by a scientist in Napoleon's army. The pencil was a mixture of water, clay, and graphite. Over the next 60 years, Americans and people in Germany fought over who would get credit for inventing the pencil. When erasers were first added, they were made out of old bread. As the pencil evolved from Konard Genser’s design of a paintbrush filled with animal hair to Hymen Lipman’s version made out of wood with the added component of the newer eraser, it continued to change until it became what we know and love today. 

  For almost 200 years the ability to write was reserved only for the wealthy who used ink and feathers. With the more affordable pencil, people all over the world were attracted to this evolving invention. In America, pencils were made from cedar wood in Tennessee and California, where large forests helped make the materials more affordable. Soon pencils began filling every home and classroom, but some people did not like the new advancements. For example, teachers previously could see all of the mistakes students had made, but now with the eraser, teachers could only see the final version. Another concern was the dust created by the graphite which NASA solved with their first space pencil. Nothing could stop the use of a pencil. 

 Pencils gave everyone around the world the ability to write. This meant they could make lists, record their ideas, draw, communicate with other people and more. Pencils also impacted the art world because this was the first tool that allowed artists to edit their art work in real time. Imagine waiting for your paint to dry because you had to make a change versus now the ability to erase just because you don't like it. 

 Some people might think pencils are not as common because of the increase in technology; however, they are still being sold worldwide. For example, in elementary schools, students throughout the world only use pencils in classrooms. Standardized testing often requires not only a pencil but a number 2 pencil, which has harder lead and does not smudge, to ensure an accurate response. Ticonderoga is the largest manufacturer of pencils in the world. It makes over 1.5 billion pencils each year, of which two thirds are number two yellow pencils. By 2030, the pencil market is to be projected to be a $30 million industry.  

There are 14 billion sold each year. You find them in every country. You use them from Kindergarten until 5th grade and nothing else. You find them in every house. You use them to express yourself. Imagine a world without pencils. 

Blog Post #3: Eight Values of Free Expression

Freedom of Speech is a really important and well known right granted in the first amendment. The Founding Fathers had good logic and experience to put this in the Bill of Rights. Expression has evolved over time as our country has evolved. For instance, “press” used to mean town criers and printed newspapers. Now it’s cable news and twitter feeds, but the same values still shape the structure and integrity of the U.S. today.

The Eight Values of Free Expression represent reasons why the First Amendment is so important to the American people. The founding fathers wanted Americans to be able to share their opinions, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Allowing freedom of expression grants people a marketplace of ideas. It lets everyday citizens participate in government and serves as a safety valve to prevent violence. Free speech promotes tolerance, builds empathy, and encourages innovation. Freedom of the press lets Americans learn about abuses of power within government. It is extremely valuable to be able to criticize the government without fear of punishment.

Since all of these values apply to the entire U.S. population, I had a hard time personally connecting with most of them. However, individual self-fulfillment and self-actualization resonated strongly with me. Talking freely lets people discover who they are. You cannot form your identity without trying new things, learning from different perspectives, and growing from experiences. Without freedom of speech, you can’t freely express yourself and find people you connect with. I agree with self-actualization being an important value. Even though I don’t like to give my opinion in group settings, when I feel comfortable sharing my opinions I build stronger relationships with friends and family.

Freedom of speech and freedom of press are also so important for enabling the content I see online. I benefit from watching other people being creative throughout social media because it helps me figure out my own life. Watching TikToks helps me understand things going on around me. Seeing experiences on Instagram and hearing other people’s opinions helps me form my own. I get to see restaurants, tourist spots, things I want to try and explore. I get exposed to different people’s views on topics than I would get just walking around and meeting people.

For example, there is a limited edition restaurant in New York City called The Corner Store that I heard about online. I have seen photos of the food options, videos of the creative drinks, and reviews of what people thought. I visit New York City frequently, and without freedom of expression, I wouldn’t have this exciting inspiration for a new adventure to try. The self-fulfillment that others experience builds my own, and then as I grow I get to share things with other people in my life to build their identities too. 

Outside of my own life, there are lots of other examples showing how self-expression leads to self-fulfillment. Artists express themselves with music and lyrics and songs. Actors express themselves with their performance. Broadway shows like Hamilton aren’t allowed to be made or performed if citizens cannot talk about government leaders. Even movies talk about tough topics and make changes in the world, like the movie Bombshell revealing gender inequality at Fox News. Women in the workplace try to survive daily. They want to get ahead and do what they need to do. Without freedom of speech, working women wouldn’t be able to call out toxic behaviors, and the harassment would keep happening. There wouldn’t be change individually or systemically the way there is starting to be. 

Blog #2: Supreme Court

I learned that after deciding on a case, the Supreme Court Justices of the United States will publish an official opinion to explain how they decided to vote and to share their individual opinions on the decision. Drafts of these written opinions take approximately four week to write, and then they still can be revised for months before being published. The writings will be published at the end of June by the end of that court’s term. Copies of the written opinions get released to the press to be seen by everyone in the country.

The most important take-away point about the Supreme Court is that it has no secrets. Everything that is done in the Supreme Court is open to the public to see. Citizens can learn everything that goes on in the decision process. The transparency of the court is so important because we get to know exactly how the response was made. We get to understand how that decision will then change things throughout the country. Although the Supreme Court gives only thirty minutes to each side of a case to present their arguments, the decisions they make affect our lives for years. 

The most surprising thing I learned was that there was an unexpected friendship between Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia (Rosen, 2023). They hated each other politically and had many political disagreements, but outside of politics they were actually great friends. This surprised me because even though the two justices did not see eye to eye in the court room, they were able to put their differences aside to have a friendship. This surprised me, because it is not an easy thing to do. It shows that Ginsburg and Scalia were both really passionate about their opinions to be able to hold onto them and still be friends. 

 After watching these videos, my thoughts on the Supreme Court changed because I realized how difficult it must be for the justices to make their decisions in line with their political and personal values. 

Blog #1: Top 5 Sources of News

1. TikTok

I get celebrity and political news from TikTok. I learn what’s going on in the world, what people are talking about, and what people think about certain things. I like hearing others’ perspectives on TikTok and how their culture influences their point of view. For instance, I learned about the D.C. plane crash with the ice skaters from TikTok. This source spreads new information quickly and efficiently. I would recommend using TikTok to hear daily entertainment news and watch quick clips about current events.

2. Instagram

Instagram is a great source for news from people’s lives. It lets you hear about updates from people you haven’t connected with in a long time. For example, you get to learn about old friends getting married or having kids. In addition, you can see people’s opinions about political news events. I like Instagram because it is a good way to stay in touch with people you care about and witness their values in life.

3. NY times

The New York Times is my preferred news source when I want to know what is going on in the world in general. I like that it provides more details than social media. It also presents information in a way that is objective and not slanted. It is useful for reading articles, seeing pictures, and watching videos. The New York Times even publishes rankings like an annual list of the 100 Best Restaurants in NYC. 

4. NBC News

The NBC News website has a helpful organization of different news categories. It lets you sort national versus global news. I like the section of Editor’s Picks that feature interesting stories. I would recommend NBC News as a news source because it is trustworthy and organized. You can see new things you didn’t know before. It also leans more liberal, for people who are interested in that.

5. Fox News

The Fox News website keeps people updated on important news and current events. Similar to the NBC News website, the Fox News website also has categories labeled for readers to pick. Both sites are reliable sources. The Fox News website also politically swings a certain way, for anyone who wants to see the more conservative opinions.