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.