DAI 227 Week 15

Andrew Redoble

DAI 227 Rethinking Digital Visual Media

Week 15

1)     In the article "Between a Blob + a Hard Place" Steven Skov Holt & Mara Holt Skov argue in the File InCA_Spring05.pdf (on page 20) that the 'blobject' phenomenon really took off in the ID (industrial design) profession in the 1990s. Why?

According to Steven  Skov Holt and Mara Holt Skov, the ‘blobject’ phenomenon took off in the ID profession in the 1990s because of the increasing power of CAD, modeling techniques, new materials, and production methods and rapid prototyping. It was possible to apply these to push the expressive possibilities of plastic. The year 1998 included the release of many famous blobjects such as the new VW Beetle and the Apple iMacs.

2)     Which year in the 1990s was a watershed?

The year was 1998.

3)     What three other products were introduced this year that were good examples of blobjects?

Three products that were introduced in the year 1998 were the new VW Beetle, the “five flavor” Apple iMacs, and the Triax watch from Nike.

4)     On page 29 of "Shaping Things" Bruce Sterling describes when a 'gizmo' becomes a 'spime'. Copy the sentence here.

“Suppose, however, that you become genuinely interested in gadgets – not as symbols of wonder to be deployed as sci-fi stage props, but as actual, corporeal physical presences. It may dawn on you that you are surrounded by a manufactured environment. You may further come to understand that you are not living in a centrally planned society, where class distinctions and rationing declare who has access to the hardware. Instead, you are living in a gaudy, market-driven society whose material culture is highly unstable and radically contingent.”

5)     On page 45 of "Shaping Things" Bruce Sterling describes a defining characteristic of a Synchronic Society. Quote him here

“A synchronic society generates trillions of catalogable, searchable, trackable trajectories: patterns of design, manufacturing, distribution and recycling that are maintained in fine-grained detail.”

DAI 227 Week 13

1.       Squash and Stretch- As the ball is stepped on by Luxor Junior, it squashes and stretches according to the amount of force applied to it by him.

2.       Timing and Motion- As the ball rolls towards the lamp it bumps off and rolls away a small distance. This action shows that the ball is lighter than the lamp, and is too light to push it and instead bounces off.

3.       Anticipation- This principle can be seen when Luxor Junior wiggles his behind and prepares to jump on the ball.

4.       Staging- When the ball pops and is flat on the floor it is obvious that Luxor Junior is saddened by this, with the pitiful push,  the lack of music and the shaking of the lamps head.

5.       Follow Through and Overlapping Action- The cord of Luxor Junior responds to the hopping and waves about in relationship to the hops.

6.       Straight Ahead Action and Pose-to-Pose Action-  Luxor Junior is the definition of Straight Ahead Action. The younger lamp bounces around from left to right or right to left, creating wild scrambling actions. When both lamps interact with each other, it is crucial to have excellent timing in order to get the idea across (for example, a sad Luxor Junior who comes to realize the death of the ball after interacting with the older lamp).

7.       Slow In and Out- The varying speed of the ball displays this principle. From the initial hit to the descending speed, this shows the subtlety of timing and movement.

8.       Arcs- Luxor Junior constantly jumps around in an arc. Also, the pivoting of the lamps’ heads is in an arc.

9.       Exaggeration- The wave effect on the cord of Luxor Junior is exaggerated, but to the right amount so that it does not appear unrealistic. It is exaggerated to Luxor Junior’s excited hopping accordingly.

10.   Secondary Action- The cord, which is an example of many principles, is also an example of secondary action. It is a response to the actions of Luxor Junior.

11.   Appeal- The reintroduction of another ball to ensure that it is a happy ending. In addition to the happy ending, it is also an even bigger ball that gives it a more amusing finish.

DAI 227 Week 12

1)      What was the name of the film made by Edwin S Porter that made use of a double-exposure to show a train window view of passing landscape?

The name of the film was The Great Train Robbery.

2)      Who invented the traveling matte shot in 1916?

Frank Williams invented the traveling matte shot in 1916.

3)      How many weeks did it take to animate the main character in 1933’s KING KONG?

It took 55 weeks to animate the 1933 King Kong.

4)       Which film made use of the ‘slit scan’ process in the 1960s?
The film 2001:A Space Odyssey (1968) by Kubrick used the ‘slit scan’ process.

5)       In his essay “Industrial Memory” theorist Mark Dery argues that the silver fluid T1000 cyborg character represents a ‘masculine recoil’ – but from what?

Mark Dery argues that the silver fluid is ‘masculine recoil’ from what Springer calls the “feminization of electronic technology.” The muscular cyborg imagery asserts the dominance of a phallic metaphor for technology i.e. female genitals, which are commonly considered to be concealed, passive, and internal, like the workings of a computer.

6)       Tim Recuber in his essay “Immersion Cinema” describes the key idea – that of immersion cinema itself – what is it? What makes it unique?
Immersion Cinema represents a new set of technological and aesthetic criteria in which sensory experience and the physical immersion of the spectator within the medium is important. It is unique because it creates physical and special experiences for the viewer to make them feel as if they are actually there in the picture they are viewing.

7)       In the special effects history links, in the Time magazine history of special effects, there is a description of ‘motion control’ cameras developed for “Star Wars” in the 1970s. What is motion control?(1 paragraph)
Motion control refers to the Dykstraflex motion-control system (named after special-effects supervisor John Dykstra) that is hooked up to a computer and issues a complicated series of movements to a camera. I allows filmmakers to create new shots that have never been done before.

8)       Out of the 14 minutes of Jurassic Park’s dinosaur footage, how many minutes were computer generated imagery or CGI?

Only four minutes were computer graphics.

9)      In the ‘denofgeek’ website, what is the name of the film that features an army of sword fighting skeletons, made in 1963?

The film that features an army of sword fighting skeletons is Jason and the Argonauts.

10)   In the ‘denofgeek’ site, which 2005 film used a special effects shot to sell the idea of a remake of a famous science fiction story to Steven Spielberg?

The film that used special effects to sell Steven Speilberg’s remake was War of the Worlds.

DAI 227 Week 11

1.) In Margaret Crawford's Essay "The World in a Shopping Mall she outlines that 'the size and scale of a mall reflects "threshould demand" - what is meant by this term?

What Margaret Crawford means by this statement means that the correct size of the mall that will make profit reflects the region surrounding it. Crawford goes on to explain different tiers malls can have such as neighborhood center, community center, or regional mall. Based on the demographics in the area a mall will be designed a certain way to make sure that it makes profit where it is located.

2) In the same article Margaret Crawford describes something called "spontaneous malling" - what does this mean?

“Spontaneous Malling” refers to the occurrence of malls replacing areas such as parking lots or old buildings. No new areas are developed, there is only reconstruction.

3) According to Michael Sorkin in his essay 'See you in Disneyland', how did Disneyland have its origins?

There are several myths about the origins of Disney. One myth is that Disney came up with the idea for the park in 1938 when he was on a trip to the Chicago Railroading Fair. He was invited don engineer’s overalls and climb behind the throttle of a historic locomotive, fulfilling a childhood dream. Another myth describes a visit by the Disney family to a conventional amusement park that disgusted Disney because of its failure of hygiene. Regardless, Disneyland will be based on ideals and dreams.

4) Michael Sorkin writes in his essay that Disney's EPCOT Center was motivated largely by frustrations Disney felt at his Anaheim CA park. What were those frustrations?

The huge success of Disneyland attracted developers who took up miles of the surrounding countryside. Disney lost millions to people housing his visitors and created a land of unregulated hotels and low commerce, a sight he did not want surrounding his park. These problems inspired Disney’s EPCOT Center.

5)In his essay "Travels in Hyperreality" Umberto Eco describes Disneyland as 'a place of total passivity' - what does he mean by this?

Umberto Eco suggests that the visitors act like robots for Disneyland. Each attraction is regulated by a maze of metal railings in which all visitors are made to walk through and guided along the way. In addition, those running the attraction are dressed accordingly and command the visitor what to do as they give them access to the ride. There is no opportunity for individual initiative at Disneyland.

DAI 227 Week 8 Geert Lovink

1) In his introduction, Lovink quotes G.H. Mead who describes "Sociality" as what?

G.H. Mead describes “sociality” as the capacity of being several things at once.

2) Where did Silicon Valley find inspiration in the post 9/11 reconstruction period? (two things)

Silicon Valley found inspiration in two projects which were the vital energy of the search start-up Google and the rapidly emerging blog scene. Blogging enabled companies to perform targeted advertising and although the information was free they found that they could profit from placing ads in the right places.

3) With tools to oversee national IP range, it is possible for countries to do two things with these technologies. What are they?

It is possible for countries to block users outside the country from viewing certain material and also prevent citizens from visiting foreign sites.

4) Lovink argues top-down considerations with Web 2.0 are less interesting than 'bottom-up' ones. What does he mean by this?

Top-down considerations with Web 2.0 refers to the simple use of market information. Bottom-up will be much more interesting because it encompasses the notion of “activists” using their own Web 2.0 tools to create their own. The spontaneity and natural element will make it more interesting since top-down mainly generates information for advertisers and large corporations.

5) What is the function of profiles abstracted from 'user generated content' - how is it then used?

“User generated content” is sold to advertisers as direct marketing data. Lovink mentions social networking sites not originating from a social movement setting. With this in mind the function of profiles is to give out information for marketing purposes.

6) What is 'massification'

Massification is the sheer number of users and the intensity in which people engage the internet.

7) Geert Lovink describes the Internet as an 'indifferent bystander' as a revolutionary tool in the global recession. What does he mean by this?

By describing the Internet as an ‘indifferent bystander’ Lovink means that it does not lend itself easily as a revolutionary tool. It all depends on how it is being used. It allows regimes to control the population through technological means such as blocking content and monitoring the inside population.

8) Lovink says that power these days is not absolute but ________ ?

Lovink says that power these days is no absolute but dynamic.

9) "Managing complexity" is the aim of authoritarian uses of the internet such as the Great Chinese _______________?

Great Chinese Firewall

10) What are "organized networks"?

“Organized networks” are organizations of social change against the administrative approach of governments.

DAI 227 Week 7 Questions

Andrew Redoble

DAI 227

Week 7 Questions

1.     Who invented the first computer game on the PDP1?

 Steve Russell invented the first computer game on the PDP-1

2.     What was the name of the game?

 The name of the game was Spacewar

3.     What was the name of Morton Helig's amusement device that let you smell, hear and see in 3D filmed experiences?

Morton Helig’s amusement device that let you smell, hear and see in 3d was Sensorama

4.     What early 1970s movie does an arcade console machine of Spacewar appear?

The early 1970s movies that Spacewar appeared in was Soylent Green in the year 1973

5.     What was the name of the man who developed the first TV tennis game?

Ralph Baer was the man who developed the first TV tennis game by 1967.

6.     Who was the man whose company Atari commercialized the idea of the arcade computer tennis game?

Nolan Bushnell founded Atari.

7.     What was the name of this version of the game?

Instead of being called tennis, it was called Pong and Atari was immediately sued due to its similarity to Ralph Baer’s home-tennis game

8.     What are vector graphics?

Vector graphics consist of straight lines that are often used to create perspective and geometric shapes.

9.     What types of games do vector graphics lend themselves to?

Vector graphics lend themselves to games with perspective such as Tempest and Battlezone.

10.  When home computers were first made available, how did owners load games into them?

Videogames came on cassettes for the first home computers.

11.  What is the name of the 1985 film in which a young Matthew Broderick starts World War III with his home computer and modem?

The movie that Matthew Broderick starts World War III was Wargames.

12.  From what sources did the designer of the Space Invaders aliens draw inspiration?

Tomohiro Nishikado drew his inspiration from The War of the Worlds. He also had some inspiration from Star Wars, which made him consider the space fad and made the crab-like creatures space invaders.

13.  What is the name given to the contemporary subculture of 8 bit music made with gameboys and other 80s game technology

The name given to the subculture of 8 bit music is Chiptunes.

14.  "Escape from Woomera" was a videogame which was used to draw attention to the plight of inmates at a remote detention center in desert town in what country?

“Escape from Woomera” drew the attention to inmates in Australia.

DAI 227 Week 6 Questions

1.       Steve Mann describes his wearable computer invention as a form of ________ for one person (fill in the blank)
(see youtube link to Mann interview in web resource page)

Building; architecture of one

2.       Steve Mann's concept of opposing camera surveillance with "Sousveillance" is described as a form of “reflectionism”. What is meant by this?
(in ReadingsF)

Sousveillance described as reflectionism refers to the philosophy and procedures of using technology to mirror and confront bureaucratic organizations. Organizations were observing people to an increasing extent and reflectionism especially relates to “detournement,” which is the tactic of appropriating tools of social controllers and resituating these tools in a  disorienting manner to equal the playing field between the surveiller and the person being surveilled.

3.       In the section of "Sousveillance" called "Performance Two" Steve Mann describes how wearing his concealed device becomes more complex when used in what type of spaces?

Spaces such as shopping malls which are semi-public rather than fully public make his concealed device become more complex. Since the potential for confrontation between the wear and security is increased it becomes more interesting, however, if this boundary is crossed too much it becomes less playful.

4.       The final paragraph sums up what Mann considers the benefits of "sousveillance" and "coveillance". What are they?
(ReadingsF)

The benefit of Sousveillance is that it allows those being surveilled to surveil the surveillers. Essentially, it is empowerment for the common people in a situation that used to be one-sided and favored large hierarchical organizations.

5.       In William J Mitchell's 1995 book "City of Bits" in the chapter "Cyborg Citizens", he puts forth the idea that electronic organs as they shrink and become more part of the body will eventually resemble what types of familiar items?
(ReadingsF)

As electronic organs shrink they will become small cameras that can reach small scales that we could not even grasp before. These electromechanical bugs can act as miniature spies, which relates back to the idea of sousveillance.

6.       From the same book/chapter, list two of the things that a vehicle that 'knows where it is' might afford the driver & passengers.
(ReadingsF)

Vehicles that ‘know where it is’ can also look up interesting information that is related to the designated location. With a little more programming it can even learn what the driver cares about and will highlight specific information that pertains to the owner. No matter what the driver is looking for, the vehicle will know the facts. It will even be able to calculate efficient routes, finding the shortest and quickest path.

7.       Mitchell tells the story of Samuel Morse's first Washington-to-Baltimore telegraph message. What was it?
(ReadingsF)

The message was “What hath God wrought”

8.         Donna Harroway in "A Cyborg Manifesto" argues that women should take the "battle to the border". What does she say are the stakes in this border war?
(in ReadingsF)

The stakes in this border war are territories of production, reproduction, and imagination.

9.        Harroway posits the notion that:
"We require regeneration, not rebirth, and the possibilities for our reconstitution include the utopian dream"
What is this dream?
(in ReadingsF)

This dream is a monstrous world without gender.

10.   Many have argued that 'we are already cyborgs' as we use devices such as glasses to improve our vision, bikes to extend the mobility function of our legs/bodies etc, computers and networks to extend the nervous system etc. What do you think? Are we cyborgs?
(one paragraph)

The majority of the human population may not literally be extending their bodies, but the human dependency as well as the infrastructural dependency is definitely significant. In a sense, we are now cyborgs. Not yet literally, but if we lost our computers today society will crumble since many systems are embedded in technology. One example would be this class; we would have to reconstruct the entire structure of this class since homework is done online and the lecture runs on technology.