Blog Post #12: Final Blog Post - How I can achieve Personal Balance with my daily Tech Usage

Over the course of the semester as I have taken this class, I recall how often I spend using technology and what I have been doing with my devices. Before taking this class, I knew that I had to exercise certain restraints when it comes to using technology, but now that I have been a legal adult for more than a year now, I know that it is important for me to be more responsible on my end to make sure I am careful with the amount of time I spend on a daily basis using my devices.

The 1964-65 NY World's Fair "Futurama" Exhibit

"Mad World" Music Video

The videos we watched in class spoke volumes to how much technology has become integrated in our lives, with each video highlighting the positives and the negatives. The World's Fair "Futurama" video did highlight many forms of technology that we discussed in class that exist today, despite some innovations mentioned in the video having been established in our modern lives. I was surprised to see how many advances we have created over the course of a few decades. However, "Mad World" highlighted the negative effects of technology, as we are engrossed in our devices to the point that negative images of how our bodies should look, who we should follow, and how we should present ourselves online, chip away at our self-esteem and mental health. Personally, I have faced times where I know I need to put my devices down and take a break, but there is such an ease of access to devices that makes it hard to put our phones down for even one minute. We have gotten used to having various devices in our homes that make it hard to cut them off, even for a shorter period of time. It takes a lot of willpower to shut off our devices and take a deep breath, and as we use our devices, we become oblivious to our outside environment.

I did not use a lot of technology in my life regularly until I got to middle school, in my early teenage years. The school provided laptops for students to take home and use to complete homework, and many students, myself included, would use our laptops to play games as well as using homework. Around this time, I developed my love for video games and familiarized myself with the characters I have grown to love as I became more versed in the different genres and intellectual properties (IPs) that companies were introducing. The first traditional video game console I grew up with was the Nintendo Wii, and that really sparked my love for gaming and my desire to go into the games industry. As I got older, I was granted more access to technology, having received my Chromebook when I was around 16 or 17 years old. I use my Chromebook mainly to complete assignments for class and for recreational time, such as watching YouTube videos or streaming services. I received my first phone, the one that I am still using until I decide to upgrade to a newer model, during COVID-19 as a primary way for our parents to keep in contact with us at home when they had to go back to work in person. After my parents got my siblings their own phones, they let me keep the old one that my siblings and I shared. Over time, I have noticed how my use of tech has grown and how much of a valuable asset my devices have been to me. That is not to say that I am not distracted by my phone from time to time.

Because I received my phone later into my life compared to some of my peers, I feel like I have not grown as attached to it, but at times, it has been a distraction. Sometimes, I know that I need to get to bed, but I want to watch one more video or read one more article. The more I keep doing this, the more it becomes a bad habit, an ensnaring cycle of the same problem. I need to think about how all of this screen staring will affect my eyes later on into my life. Because of my total tech usage on a daily basis, I feel like my eyes tend to be more irritated than others when it comes to using devices, which goes to show how much extended tech usage can harm the body. There are resources relating to eyestrain and habits to implement to reduce fatigue and irritation of the eye. In training myself to know when I am spending too much time on my phone, I can start making strategies to better balance my relationship with technology every day.

Blue Light Blocking Glasses for better device usage

Because of how I have used my technology recently, I want to do better to balance or limit the amount of time I spend on my devices daily. Of course, because of the world we live in, it is (almost) completely impossible to cut yourself off from technology, but there are some habits I can start to put into practice to make sure I am taking care of myself. There are plenty of articles online that discuss different solutions that I can start incorporating into my life to help give myself a break from devices even for a little while. For starters, I can limit how much I use my phone at night. If I absolutely need to check my phone, setting up a schedule to use "Night Mode" and "Blue Shade" will aid me in protecting my eyes during later hours of the night. Reading physical books from genres I enjoy will enable me to distance myself from a screen for longer periods of time. Taking frequent breaks to stretch my body and clear my head is a good way to refresh my mentality as I am completing my work, which is something I can incorporate even while sitting at my desk. Even something as simple as making origami models or frequent blinking when using screens gives me a few minutes to re-center myself mentally. The writers at Polygon published a special issue with some articles discussing the interesting ways to intersect video games and improved health as a whole. The articles discuss select topics from over-training to themed workouts, all to help "gamers" and "non-gamers" alike focus on improving their health. One article discusses how our desk setup - although specifically related to gaming, it can be applied to different scenarios - may not be the right fit for us and what we can do to change it.

As I reflect on what we learned in class, I know that the tech I use on a daily basis is a valuable resource, but can become a big distraction in my life if I let it. I need to be more willing to change my habits so I can live freely in tandem with how I use my devices. Some of the above solutions I mentioned are things I can start implementing right now. Looking forward, I want to be careful with how I use my devices as well as establishing a much more healthy relationship with the technology I use every day, whether it is how long I use a device and for what I am using my device for.

Blog Post #11: Each One Teach One Review #2 - Five Eyes and the Increasing Importance of Internet Safety

As I go about my day, I rarely think about how my privacy is being violated. we use our phones, tiny supercomputers we carry around in our pockets, but little do we think about how we may be tracked or potentially seen as a threat. After learning more about Five Eyes, I was only a little surprised that some of the world's leading governments have been tracking us to monitor whether or not a citizen is a terrorist. I am surprised that this group was hidden for so long.

Savanna's presentation taught me more about Five Eyes, a secret surveillance organization run by 5 world governments to keep tabs on everything we do. The reasoning of terrorism is always used, but it really does make you, as a citizen, think, how much data does my government have on me. Now that they are out as a group, there is more reason in my mind for people to start taking actions to protect their data. However, not many people knew about this group before some information released. In fact, I really do not know if people around the world still know this group exists.

The start of Five Eyes happened shortly after the conclusion of World War II, as the United States and the United Kingdom continued to maintain country relations after the war. The United States and the United Kingdom created the UKUSA Agreement in 1946 with Canada, Australia, and New Zealand joining shortly after. Each member of the group can theoretically cover a different "region" of the globe, depending on the proximity of the country to one another. In doing so, these countries have access to information of their own citizens, as well as people and countries who are close by. 

Being a part of the organization gives these countries the ability to keep tabs on their citizens and who can be seen as a threat, since other countries collect data and information and share among the group. Other countries have been known to want to have that connection of secrecy with the US and other countries, meaning more countries want the ability to keep tabs on their citizens without being found out. The only line the group does not cross when it comes to spying and keeping tabs is that they do not gather information of other world leaders who are members of the group.

The organization has been around since the 1940s, and I am concerned that I did not know about Five Eyes beforehand. As we were taught in class, as well as what I have seen in the news, a lot of news that is designated "more important" or more "fear-inducing" is brought up into the forefront, when other pieces of news seem to be pushed to the side. Ever since the growth of technology, using the internet has always been a mixed bag. The systems that we use each day are the same systems we allow to track what we do and say, often thanks to cookies we choose to use willingly. The governments have taken advantage of the internet to observe what we like and dislike, and use it to link who we are as people, at a much faster rate than we were a few years ago. I personally feel a bit ashamed that I have not been more careful to keep my interests a bit more secretive when using the internet, but there are steps that we can take to be more cautious online.

As I have mentioned previously, Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, help keep your data safe from being tracked online. VPNs are mainly designed to keep your data encrypted until it reaches its destination, to protect from hackers and scanning systems that try to scan and read data only meant for one person. Some good VPNs to look into include ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and SurfSharkVPN. Most of these VPNs may cost you some, but it is worth it to keep your data and sharing safe in the long run. The video above goes into more detail about what a VPN is and isn't, as well as what it is designed to do. Clearing your browser history would also help to keep yourself safe as, in a way, your browser and search history are "footprints" to who you are, where you have been online, and what your interests are. So being careful and aware of what you search can help you to be much safer online. Also, disabling cookies for sites you don't use or frequently visit can help you to limit how your information. Passwords are a big thing as well, as there are many different ways to keep yourself safe through passwords that are easy to remember, yet hard for others to guess.

After hearing about Five Eyes, it is concerning with how much my government knows about me already, as well as what is gained every time I log in. I want to practice being more safe, but I do fear that based on recent issues of race in our country, I could be put at much more of a risk of racial discrimination in the systems we use today. As I become more aware of how we operate in our systems, I want to be smarter in the things I search, the websites I visit, and the information I share when I go online.

Blog Post #10: AI Development and Privacy Concerns

The development of AI has always been a recurrent conversation around the world. Many scientists have developed AI to perform different roles and to provide systems to improve how we live our lives. Alongside AI, algorithms have been created to track the things we like to do as users, and using our information to see and observe what we like to do. As the use of AI has improved over time many existing systems and industries have changed in order to best make use of the new systems in the workforce.

As I was not really aware of what AI systems are being used today, I feel that it is the same for people in my situation who have likely never used an AI system before. CNET's article on AI discusses how AI are able to process large amounts of information for different purposes, the most often being essay writing and proofreading, and image creation. Large amounts of code are what keep these algorithms running, and it takes a lot to store and use data on a daily basis. Looking into some processes in the documentary piqued my interest, yet made me nervous about the potential misuse of AI systems.

Frontline Documentary: "In the Age of AI"

As we watched Frontline in class, I was honestly surprised with how many existing systems are controlled by artificial intelligence that I was unaware of today, such as how online shopping for companies such as Amazon work. I thought about how long it takes developers to make and establish these systems, especially after the large amounts of fine tuning that systems need to go through in order to fit the certain requirements needed in a specific field. Lately, I have been hearing a lot about ChatGPT, and was largely unaware of what it was before we started discussing it in class. It seems like a good system in certain scenarios, even if not for someone like me, but then again, AI systems need to be used for the right purposes and reasons, or else many biases will be more evident over time. CNBC created a brief video documentary on ChatGPT and its impact across the board so far.

Throughout the documentary, many people who were interviewed talked about how the big tech companies use algorithms to track what we watch and view online, a process I was already aware of. However, I did not know how much biases these practices could cause. When I try to use the internet, I want to be more careful of what I do, as I know that as soon as I look up an upcoming video game, or a laptop, or recommendations for new glasses, for example, only a few seconds later do I see an advertisement targeted at me to buy these products I either need or want. As convenient as it is a bit creepy, the AI we use in our lives are helpful to our living and well-being. Another video discusses the initial reaction to ChatGPT on release, in a short video covered by NBC News.

A big concern I have with AI algorithms is how easy it can be for people to manipulate the systems to fit their own biases. Even the basic things we consume on social media is tracked and analyzed and, unfortunately, not everyone on the internet is there for good reason. Many people are trying to take advantage of AI and open-source systems in order to illegally collect data. The FBI does use advanced strings of code to keep track of malicious hackers, but it is still a problem to deal with if people do not feel safe online. Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, are localized networks that protect your information on all forms of wireless signals, and are being offered via affordable and effective monthly subscriptions. I mainly learned about VPNs from watching YouTube, as many VPN groups were sponsors for plenty of the YouTube channels I tend to watch. Mainly I feel that people who purchase VPNs use them to watch content not readily available in their home country, which goes back to my previous blog on cord cutting and getting rid of cable, but having a system allowing users to browse and shop safely without the fear of being tracked, or worse, hacked and shutdown, helps to reassure people online. Hacking is, in a way, virtual robbery, and VPNs keep your devices safe from anything that wishes to corrupt your systems, one of the reasons I am looking to get a VPN in the near future. Two of the most popular are NordVPN and ExpressVPN, and I would suggest looking into their prices and "perks" that come with purchasing access. Here is also a link comparing the major VPNs, as well as what they offer compared to their competitors. No matter what choice you make, each one is dedicated to protecting your online information in both public and private spaces.

Personally, I feel that AI is good to have, especially in certain ways it has been implemented into our existing systems. More methods, however, need to be taken to prevent such negative and offensive biases from affecting the internet space, as well as being careful how to use these systems within our lives.

Blog Post #9: Each One Teach One - The Effects of Cord Cutting on Today's Entertainment Consumption

As technology has been improved and upgraded on as time has gone on, our systems of entertainment have largely improved how we view stories and events that occur in our lives. More people gained access to shows and programs through cable television than they would have had through local providers. Even having had cable for a few years in my household, I am glad that I have access to the channels I used to watch when I was younger and were not readily available to me. Even through the growth of entertainment, there has been a larger movement to streaming services and online programming that are not accessible through cable. Many households around the world, including my own, have taken more of an interest in exclusive shows on multiple platforms, and although the indulgence of entertainment is good, there are a quite a few negatives to "cutting the cord" and the exclusivity of programs viewers may be interested in streaming.

The act of cord-cutting is getting rid of the use of cable boxes and cable television and switching to streaming services. Cord-cutting comes with its benefits but also a fair amount of lacking areas. Cord-cutting and switching to streaming gives users the ability to subscribe to one or multiple streaming services, and are given access to the shows and intellectual properties that a company owns. For example, I enjoy using Disney+, and I have access to Disney's owned properties, such as Marvel movies and TV shows, Star Wars media and other Lucasfilm-owned media, and even some programs from Disney's other properties not promoted as much, like 20th Century Studios (formerly 20th Century Fox) movies and television programs. Netflix is very popular, having pioneered the ability for streaming services to make their own exclusive programs, such as "Stranger Things" and "Wednesday" under the "Original" brand, a business tactic that other companies have started to take after, if not already.

As streaming services were setting the foundation in the early 2010s, people were able to stream services from their computers, tablets, game consoles, phones, and televisions, often through cable or the internet. One of the reasons why owning a game console was so popular more than 10 years ago was that it was more cost effective to get a game console such as a PlayStation that could play games and run video streaming services such as Netflix and YouTube without having to pay much more money for a cable box solely dedicated to watching shows and movies. There is a downside to using many streaming services, with the biggest being that using more than one is going to cost a lot more over time. Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu's services per month combined cost $22.97. Yearly, the total price comes down to $275.64. For the basic plan for each service, except for Netflix, the others have started to implement ads onto the streaming services. To pay for the intermediate or "Standard" plan for Netflix and Hulu, and Disney+'s "Premium" plan, which removes ads, prices surpass $10, with the total yearly cost for all three services being $41.47, if the user does not want to pay for ads on each platform.

The growing move to streaming services over time is also a detriment to all of the cable companies that currently exist, and are likely struggling to hold on. As we discussed the Diffusion of Innovations Theory, I think about how there will always be some people who are the "Laggards" of streaming services, and people have a variety of reasons not to get streaming, whether it is from not having a lot of interest in the programming or a lack of money to be able to pay for the services in the first place. No matter what the specific reason is, for every person who is using a streaming service and is not interested catching new shows on television, that is one person who will not likely continue their subscription to a big television company such as DIRECTV or Dish. Compared to streaming services, cable and satellite companies charge a lot more for access to channels. Dish charges customers $99.99 a month for it's more balanced or "better" plan, and DIRECTV's satellite plan costs $64.99 a month with added taxes and fees for 2 years. A big issue with such expensive prices is that people who use these platforms are not often watching shows on every single channel they have access to, so people on streaming are paying more than what they are actually using.

As of right now, it seems like streaming services are a good choice to make in most respects, however, streaming services such as Netflix have started cracking down on who gets access to their systems of usage. There are a variety of articles on how Netflix has gotten on users' cases for free password sharing to gain access to accounts, as Netflix wants more individuals or families to pay for their own account and access to the platform. However, this system of account management does not seem to be widespread yet.

From a personal standpoint, I like using streaming services, the main one I use being Disney+. I can watch a lot of shows I used to watch when I was younger that are no longer on television, as well as watching some of the shows and movies my parents watched when they were younger. However, as I am becoming an adult and am more aware of the responsibilities I need to take care of every day, I often feel like I don't have enough time, or I want to dedicate myself to other things. Especially since I do not have a full-time job as some other students have, I need to be careful with how I use my funds not just for things I want, but especially for what I need to purchase. The balance of being a college student always involves what I should spend time on now and what I need to devote time to later on, and money for college students is not so easily available. As for my family, we all share the Disney+ account as a family and enjoy watching it together. Being able to watch a show with loved ones brings us closer, even when a little distance keeps us physically apart. My family enjoys watching shows as a whole, but again, we, as a family, need to be careful with how much these services cost as a whole, and how much we are willing to pay for these services that we don't necessarily need.

Being really big into gaming, I frequently play on my Nintendo Switch. I am already an active member of Nintendo Switch Online, an online service for Nintendo Switch owners that enables users to play online as well as have access to classic games on certain platforms, I have to keep in mind how much money I am spending and using across the board. My current plan costs $19.99 per year, as I am on an individual plan. If, out of the blue, I were to suddenly purchase access to a Disney+ account just for myself, on the "Premium" service, no less, I would have to pay $151.87 per year. The cost of using streaming services does add up over time.

Streaming services are a good source of media consumption, but take plenty of time and investment from the consumer. A streaming service is only useful if the consumer is actively using the service. As the way we engage with our entertainment changes, consumers should think about how they can, and should, best use their money in a means to help them relax after a long day's work, to socialize with friends, and to gauge the amount of media consumption they receive. The tech we use each day is becoming more expensive to manufacture and produce, and streaming services over time are on the cheaper end of spending costs. Users should be careful of how they are spending their money, and what is worth to pay for to get an all inclusive package. From a personal standpoint, high-end game consoles, such as the PlayStation 5, fill out the recreational requirements with the ability to install and watch streaming from home, without the need for consumers to feel like they have to pay extra for external hardware. After everything is considered, it is all based on a user's personal feeling towards using a subscription service. There are plenty of resources online to help users decide how much they want to pay for a subscription, and what is the best option for streaming. We are all different people, and enjoy different forms of media. We each can watch what we want, but should be able to find a more affordable way to enjoy our content.

Blog Post #8: The Diffusion of Innovations Theory and Modern Video Game Promotion

The Diffusion of Innovations Theory discusses how different forms of technology have emerged and changed over time, often through the widespread use over time throughout a population or certain group of people. The theory helps to illustrate how more people in a society become more used to an invention or innovation, and how many people join the majority in getting the new invention or innovation. For example, our smartphones are consistently getting re-releases and upgrades, which pushes more people to buy newer versions or models of their current smartphone. Games can also be analyzed under The Diffusion of Innovations Theory in the same way, as innovations and changes within the industry occur all the time.

In analyzing video games under the theory, I want to focus on the 2010s era of video games, where the internet started to become more mainstream and many people were able to contact one another globally. New games that still hold up today, such as Minecraft, were introduced to the world in the 2010s. As more people got smartphones, mobile gaming was easily accessible, as people with phones could now bring games with them on the go. More modern consoles that were higher in processing power were created, and games overall looked better and had way more improvements than before. E-Sports was coming to the forefront in the minds of gamers everywhere, as more citywide teams were developed to compete nationally and globally.

Some notable pioneers of the Game Industry at the time would be Reggie Fils-Aime, former Nintendo of America president, who largely changed how Nintendo was viewed in a positive light throughout his time as the CEO. He took a modern approach to Nintendo's appeal in the eyes of the public, as well as helping to innovate new ways to play and enjoy Nintendo games, especially during a time when Nintendo was viewed only as a company making video games for kids. During E3 2014, Nintendo teamed up with Robot Chicken to create skits based on the Nintendo characters during the event, an unexpected action by Nintendo at the time.

A short video compilation on all of the E3 2014 Robot Chicken skits.

A big movement for the growth in video games was bolstered by the easy access to the internet and online gaming, another reason why E-Sports was on the rise. As more people gained access to the internet, more video games offered great support options to be able to play with their friends and other players on a global scale. More countries are starting to integrate internet, and as a result, are introducing more people to game culture as a whole.

In comparing video games to the Diffusion of Innovations Theory, the Innovators of the industry are mainly people who pioneered the use of internet and online gaming within the industry. Many good games came out during this time, as well as new iterations of the consoles, with Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft coming out with the Wii U in 2012, and the PlayStation and Xbox One releasing in 2013, respectively. The Early Adopters would be composed of people who did not own video games, and wanted to become a part of the culture. Early and Late Majority would likely be the long-term consumers of video games that were engaged in video games and may not have had the means to purchase a new console at the time. The Laggards are likely people who are not interested in video games, however, the people in this group most likely started to play video games during COVID, especially after the release of the Nintendo Switch in 2017.

Some negative effects of a world full of games are that it can be hard to find a balance between work and play. Especially for people who enjoy games as a hobby, it can be hard to make time to play video games. On the opposite spectrum, some people can spend plenty of time in front of a stream which can lead to long-term health effects if there is a severe lack of exercise. Also, some tech developers try to innovate too quickly, part of the reason I am so adverse to VR in some aspects.

Overall, video games have cemented themselves as a favorite, still-growing pastime of many people around the world, as it leads to connections formed and stories to be experienced among many people, even becoming a recognized sport with millions of viewers a year. The use of video games continue to grow in access, enabling people with disabilities to play with adaptive controllers, and the games industry is becoming more focused on accessibility in gaming so many people with different characteristics can play to what's comfortable and challenging for them.

Blog Post #7: Each One Teach One Review #1 - Technology Presentations

The technology presentations we conducted in class informed me on the origins of different technologies that I was not familiar with before. I enjoyed all of our presentations, as well as hearing how many of the different platforms and modern day inventions gotten their start. Out of all of the ones we discussed, I want to talk about the effects that YouTube and podcasts have had on our society in terms of the spread of information to many people at one time or various times.

Personally, I use YouTube almost, if not, everyday, whether it's for listening to music or watching videos on my interests and recent news in the Games Industry. I follow Nintendo, PlayStation, and independent news outlets that cover the latest information in gaming, from game and accessory reviews to convention coverage, and even game developer interviews. YouTube has been a good platform for me to use as it is easily accessible for millions of people to find relevant news, funny videos, educational content, and entertainment media for whatever purposes people need. YouTube's systems, albeit imperfect, enable users who create channels to upload their content to the platform for free. It is a good way to spread information to others, however, not all of the videos on YouTube are age-appropriate nor content-appropriate for younger ages. Also, many verified streamers and content creators often claim having difficult issues with YouTube's monetization rules, often one of the primary ways these content creators are earning their money if they are not working a job other than YouTube. The platform, being free to use, covers a variety of topics from news to fashion, and from sports and fitness to technology and gaming. The content is very open to all users to publish their personal works to show off their creativity or to get others to laugh at funny videos.

I was interested in the discussion of podcasts, because I don't listen to the radio that frequently. Podcasts allow people to come on talk shows and voice their opinions on a topic, as well as providing a steady platform to record and replay messages from people over a matter of time. I enjoy podcasts, whenever I have a chance to listen to them, for the variety in topics and diverse opinions, especially in an age where a lot of our media comes from mainstream, potentially biased and skewed sources. During my freshman year, I listened to a podcast series titled "Dolly Parton's America", where the host of the podcast had a chance to interview Dolly Parton and what inspired her to create her songs that are well known throughout the country. Podcasts cover a variety of topics that fit a person's specific interest, and I am glad that podcasts are such an open-ended form of getting the news or word out. In a way, if the concept of "universal" open-ended speech was truly carried out within our site, podcasts would truly feel like the exercise of the First Amendment right, just by allowing these podcast creators to voice their opinions in a respectful, constructive manner.

I found a great link to a website listing suggested podcasts to listen to during this year. As I browsed through the summaries, a few titles caught my eye. I noticed how different and varied each topic was, from an analysis of African-American history in the form of a podcast on the Green Book, to a few that interviewed different true crime cases, especially some absurd ones. I also found one on The New York Times' website where Dr. Nikole Hannah-Jones speaks about the facts of her book, The 1619 Project, in a podcast. The varied topics that people can cover is a testament to how diverse podcasts are and will continue to be over the years.

Looking at how these two major forms of communication are used in our daily lives, I think about how YouTube and podcasts enable people to spread their views, both good and bad, that can reach globally with our current technology. A big downside to these forms of technology are the negative views that can lead to discrimination and disrespect towards members of marginalized groups. Although these views are not protected by the First Amendment, based on what we learned in class, people who choose to spread views not agreeable with the majority still gain support in some ways. However, these same sources of media can be used to spread positive messages and open-ended ideas enabling listeners and viewers to reflect on their actions and their personal response to the topic in conversation. Personally, I want to learn how to better use and verify my sources, as well as gaining diverse opinions on global topics, and what I can do to exercise my free rights in order to change things.

Blog Post #6: Modern News Output and the Silence of Contrasting Views in our Media

Based on the topics we have discussed in class, a lot of the mainstream media we viewed has been tailored to each person's likes and dislikes. One of the reasons we wrote a blog post on our top media sites was to see how what we watch, read, and pay attention to influences our perceptions on certain news outlets. I just feel that a lot more of the diverse opinions that should have an equal say or statement are just being silenced.

After taking a look at the websites listed, I feel that no one really knows about the opinions of people who are anti-war, as many of those opinions are often pushed aside to make room for the majority. That is not okay, especially not with how far we have come within our own society. America has not lived up to its standards of being a place for everyone, especially when minorities, such as myself, are still fighting the same battles that should have ended over 50 or so years ago, yet we are still dealing with social and institutional racism, as well as microaggressions, a lack of overall love and respect, and leaders of countries who are not willing to work with one another other than profits.

I read an article from antiwar.com on how the Western countries apparently barred attempted peace negotiations that the Israeli Prime Minister was trying to facilitate between Russia and Ukraine. The article goes to show just how much the government keeps hidden from us, and it seems like we don't have enough sense or understanding at times to call out the government on the mistakes made, despite having plenty of rights and support to do so. I, personally, want to see a more positive change, but often get caught up in my own life and forget political and social activism. A lot of these forms of conflict were mainly based on the profits that countries involved gain from the war, and many lives are being lost at the time of writing this. Knowing that these issues are happening, and not taking the actions to speak up, either because I don't want to get silenced, or I don't know what to do, it really makes me upset.

Another article discusses how soldiers in the United States, often because of negative stereotypes and stigmas, are not able to get the proper help they need to live a normal live after combat. These "fentanyl soldiers", as they are called, are suffering from severe drug addiction and are not getting the help they need. We have people who formerly served our country with the highest honors, not getting the proper respect or support needed for when they return home. I still wonder how we, in a country dedicated to keeping freedoms and rights alive, still struggle with providing basic needs to people of all backgrounds.

It's a shame that after all of these years of the establishment of a formal United States, not many people are aware of the rights they truly have, or how our rights actively work. Because of the many outdated aspects of the Constitution, I believe that there should be a big overhaul of how the Supreme Court interprets the Constitution, as well as making more amendments that facilitate equal treatment under the law, while simultaneously keeping the core concepts of personal freedoms, as outlined in the amendments, safe for everyone to use freely.

Blog Post #5: Each One Teach One - The History of Video Games - The 1940s to 2023

Over time, it has been interesting to see the new advancements of technology within our surrounding environments. Many people have made new discoveries to improve existing technologies, and I become really excited to know how we are making games look better, feel cool to play, load faster than before, all with new tests, results, and ideas. However, we did not get to video games being like they are today without proper cause. Video games got their humble start to become the global entertainment machine they are today.

Video games first emerged around the 1940s, but did not come more into the public view until the introduction of "Spacewar" in 1962, created by students from MIT. The game served as a basis for more to come down the line, especially with the growth of new, lifechanging technologies after the end of the war. The Magnavox Odyssey was the "first home video game system", created by Ralph Baer in 1968.

Moving into the 1970s and 1980s, the world saw the development of educational video games, such as "Oregon Trail", as well as the introduction of Pong, Atari's rise as a recognizable video game company, and its unfortunate fall, and the establishment of more modern game companies we see today. The Video Game Crash took place in 1983, as a result of a crowded market, too many options, and a severe lack of sales. The Nintendo Entertainment System, released in 1985, helped pave the way for many of the most recognizable characters to take the forefront, all starting with Super Mario.  A personal favorite, the first "The Legend of Zelda" was released in 1987, giving rise to one of Nintendo's more popular franchises, with a number of releases over the years and in different forms of media.

A video of the game "Pong", released in 1972.

The 1970s also introduced new technologies that would improve how games and code were stored and played. Jerry Lawson, the first African-American game designer, was a leading developer in the industry for inventing the Fairchild Channel F, the first game console to use cartridges that the player is able to swap. After this new invention, many companies took after his work. Jerry Lawson is a personal inspiration to me, especially being a leading African-American working to improve how we all play video games today.

The first PlayStation, released by Sony in 1994.

Throughout the 1990s, gaming starts to take more of a trend towards 3D capabilities. As more technology was introduced, more companies were taking advantage of the new capabilities that 3D games could offer. New companies were created, and more established companies were getting used to the expanding competition. Sega, a company in competition with Nintendo, needed a good mascot who could connect to players, as well as being a sort of foil to Mario. They came up with Sonic the Hedgehog, a blue mammal with a cool personality and the ability to run at high speeds. Sega released Sonic's first outing in 1991, along with the release of their new console, the Sega Genesis. During the 1990s, one of the game industry's heavy hitters, as well as being a lead competitor in today's environment is PlayStation, established by Sony in 1994. The first PlayStation console started out with 3D graphics, and was targeted at a much older audience, often people who grew up playing video games. Because of these reasons, games developed for the PlayStation often tended to be more mature in content compared to Nintendo, to better fit their target audience. The Entertainment Software Ratings Board, otherwise known as the ESRB, was created in 1993 in response to a concern of increased violence, graphical content, and explicit themes in video games. The ESRB is still used today, as well as more establishment of regional rating systems in other countries, such as CERO and PEGI.

A Nintendo Wii bundle featuring Mario Kart Wii, one of the more popular Wii games.

Moving into the 2000s, the first Xbox was released in 2001, to much fan appeal. The Xbox released with a popular franchise that continues to live on today in the Halo series. The further development and improvement of the internet today also led to more improvements in online play as the years go on. Mobile gaming sees a rise in popularity and accessibility as more phones become easily accessible for everyone to have, among the most popular being Angry Birds in 2009. Nintendo releases the Wii in 2006, a console that changed the way many video games are played, as the console introduced motion controls into many games on the platform. The Wii was also marketed as a family console, so many families could come together to play games from their favorite Nintendo franchises.

The 2010s get us closer to the modern age of gaming, as more indie games take center stage. Before being bought out, Minecraft, created in 2010, was at the forefront of many gamers' minds, kids to adults alike. The 2010s also saw the rise in toys-to-life gaming, which was the marketing strategy of buying figures or physical toys that could interact with the game using an NFC reader. The main toys-to-life gaming series were the Skylanders series, created by Activision, Disney Infinity, and Warner Bros.' LEGO Dimensions. All three sold well over the course of their lifetime and gathered many fans of their respective franchises with what each series allowed the player to do or become within the respective game worlds. E-Sports starts to take hold as a growing media platform through platforms such as YouTube and Twitch, allowing users to stream media live around the world. Augmented and Virtual Reality, abbreviated as AR and VR, respectively, began to emerge as a forefront. Augmented Reality games, among one of the most popular being Pokémon Go, which released in 2016, led many people to think about how games and gameplay could be creatively merged within the real world. After the commercial failure of the Nintendo Wii U, as well as lagging behind their competitors, Nintendo releases the Switch in 2017, a hybrid console allowing the user to play games docked and connected to a TV or to take on-the-go throughout their day. The competitors came out with the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One a few years before, and were dedicated to traditional couch console gaming.

Finally landing at the 2020s, COVID likely caused a greater rise to playing video games, as COVID locked everyone in their houses for months at a time. Animal Crossing: New Horizons, was a game that helped alleviate the boredom many players felt having to constantly sit in their homes. The adorable life simulator enabled players to connect with friends near and far by visiting their islands, collecting materials, and making gifts to give to your wandering villagers on your personal island. New big names have been released, and "The Game Awards", a Hollywood-type awards show for the biggest games has gotten its name out to many people worldwide as the most prestigious show to celebrate our love of video games not simply as a pastime, but as a part of our expanding pop culture.

From a young age, I have loved playing video games. Video games have become a meaningful part of my identity, and is what I am studying right now. The industry is always changing and expanding because of the emergence of new tech and ways to create videogames, so there is a lot to learn and a lot of hard work in order to become a game designer. There are also huge numbers of teams working on video games over the course of a few years, that have the chance of being really good, or something that could flop. I feel that when people were originally working with programs in the 1940s, their aim was to create simple simulations or tests of scientific experiments. Little did these computer engineers know, they started one of the most popular pastimes globally, one which is still growing today.

Looking back at how video games have made its way into the mainstream, many good and bad things have resulted from it. Gaming has allowed people to connect with one anther on a large scale, especially during the mainstream pandemic, when people were unable to physically see one another. Games have served as an output of creative stories and lovable characters for all ages. No game is the same, and each game is marketed towards a targeted audience or fanbase. However, there have been many reported incidents of gender discrimination and harassment from various companies, as well as there not being enough minority representation within the industry, something I hope to change. Games also take a lot of time to make, and because there is no one universal set plan for creating a game that a business can rely on, the varied game industries often don't have the type of workers' support as some other industries have employed. As more of these issues come to light, more change is being made in a flexible, ever-growing industry.

Blog Post #4: The Recurring Problems of Free Expression and lack of Complete Racial Acceptance in our Society

The discussion we had in class on the "8 Values of Free Expression" really helped me to see how many policies the US Government is not following. As I go around this world and think about how many people have to deal with being disrespected because of their identity and beliefs, I wonder what I could do to make things better and more respectful for everyone in our current world. I can relate my feelings about free expression to the value of promoting tolerance.

Based on the recent events we have heard in the news, as well as the movement Congress is making to potentially pass a bill that can criminalize hate speech, I was on the fence about my position on the matter. On one hand, I feel that racism is completely unacceptable, especially in today's society, as well as being a member of a prominent minority group in the United States. On the other hand, the points made in the values noted how hate speech, unfortunate as it is, is protected by the 1st Amendment right of free speech. As much as I hate to say it, we do not need a law to combat hate speech and racial intolerance, but rather non-violent action.

Previous events on our own campus, events that have facilitated thoughts and actions of disrespect towards many African-American students, have upset me in that there are some students on campus who I may not know that do not respect me for who I am. (Insert link of flyer in blog.) For example, one of the most recent events at the time of writing this was an event that the College Republicans of High Point planned on hosting. They planned on watching a documentary titled "The Greatest Lie Ever Sold: George Floyd and the Rise of BLM". In my personal opinion, it is okay for someone or some group to be affiliated to a specific political party. However, based on the way it was presented, I felt offended by this event not just because of the content, but the fact that this same group made the same mistake of making another event not just offending myself, but members of student population who look like me. As I previously mentioned, this is not the first time something like this has happened, as "incidents" like these occurred back in my freshman year on campus. As it relates to the topic, I just want people to be more aware, and I feel that the establishment of a law that criminalizes hate speech would not only increase the output of mass silence on social media, a repetitive action that the government has started to use, but also would be hard to penalize someone for using hate speech unless secret tech is activated on the mini computers we carry around with us every day. As much as I hate being disrespected, especially for the color of my skin, I still know that it is important to communicate to my friends and family to make more positive change, as challenging as it can be sometimes.

After reading a few different articles on the uses of free speech, I noticed how many touched on the uses of free speech within our lives. One article I found from NBC News discusses how students felt with the uses of free speech within the school system. Based on the results of gathered statistics, many students felt like they were limited in what they were able to say, and that they felt their free speech was not as well protected as it used to. Knowing about what the government has been doing, I do not blame what students like me are saying. I read another article from TechCrunch where the article discusses issues that are hurting the ways we think about free speech, and how to promote a good, beneficial form of free speech as a whole. The sad fact is that this is not the only example of racial discrimination that has been promoted by hate groups on the internet, and it is just as prevalent a problem today as it was throughout the 1950s-1970s.

We live in a time where our voices can be silenced in an instant, and I want to put an end to that. So, what can I do? I really feel like I can do better to help facilitate the message to others, but I need to be willing to get out of my comfort zone in order to truly promote a more racial tolerance, and to be present in places where people may not want to see someone who looks like me. One good way to spread the word is through this blog, which could be a good way to inform others about the issues that often go unnoticed in the public eye. We also need to be more willing to talk with those groups promoting harmfulness and hatred, while being safe of course. To sum things up, we don't need laws to protect us from hateful messages. What we need is positive activism to take charge against a corrupt system that continues to victimize others voices and actions on a daily basis.

Suggested articles on Free Speech:

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/meet-the-press/students-value-free-speech-feel-theirs-threatened-n1288217

https://www.vox.com/2019/3/4/18197209/free-speech-philosophy-politics-brian-leiter

https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/16/scaling-civility/

https://www.dailydot.com/irl/leslie-jones-twitter-abuse/

https://techcrunch.com/2014/10/18/gamergate-tactics/

https://www.npr.org/2022/04/04/1090894221/whats-really-behind-americas-free-speech-problem

Blog Post #3: The Powers and Abilities of the U.S. Supreme Court

After watching the videos about the Supreme Court, I know that there is a lot more that goes into being a Supreme Court Justice than meets the eye. I thought that it was interesting how the Supreme Court is one of, if not, the only court systems in the world that has the power to keep other government branches in check. The justices also have to keep the faith of the people in their positions, so they can make the right decisions when it comes to make cases and verdicts.

Based on the accounts that some of the justices said, they practice hospitality and respect towards one another in their offices. They also have to take on the cases that are appealed to the Supreme Court and make decisions that align with the Constitution and Amendments. Lawyers need to be well-trained in the law and governing in order to make a fair verdict on the decisions of the case, otherwise, the decisions made within the courtroom would not be sound. As some of the judges were interviewed on their experiences, many mentioned how nervous they were at first to enter the courtroom, but became used to the team that they worked with. The use of having 9 judges in the courtroom leads to varied opinions on different aspects of a specific case, as well as how to best decide the outcome. I can understand how the judges have to be so precise and why they face so much pressure. Having to take on roles where you decide verdicts that are based on the founding laws within the country are important, and that is a lot of pressure to have to deal with. Fortunately for the judges, they are on a team with one another to work through the issues they face with having to interpret the Constitution and the laws that govern our lives.

As for something I did not know, I did not know that only 100 cases that are appealed are actually seen and tried in the court. I am surprised that it was so few that actually made it to the Supreme Court. I know that the justices are very busy, so in retrospect, I would know that they would have to skip over some cases that come their way. An important takeaway I got from the video and my personal knowledge, is that the judges in our court system are in their roles until they die. I am surprised that such a role like being a judge is so demanding to the point that retirement from the position is not really an option. Overall, our judges serve an important role to define our basic rights and freedoms within our country, through the interpretation of the Constitution, amendments, and laws that govern our lives.

Sources:

Davis Stephens. (2013, Sep. 11). Comm3390 Supreme Court, Pt. 1 [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWRoXYRsaeo.

Davis Stephens. (2013, Sep. 11). Comm3390 Supreme Court, Pt. 2 [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca8qSuWxcG8.

Blog Post #2: Internet Privacy and its Daily Effects on our Lives

The videos we watched in class really opened my eyes to how careful we need to be online in this day and age. It is so easy for people to access this information, and through research and methods, I want to be better at using encryption systems and better internet safety measures on a daily basis.

When we performed the activity in class where we had to look up our own names, I was surprised to find images of myself at different events after a few minutes of searching. I was interviewed for receiving a scholarship to attend the university, and I forgot that the article has my picture which is now publicly available on the internet. The TED videos we watched in class also showed how much of a problem the devices cause around us, and I think about all of my different accounts on multiple platforms that different companies may have access to.

Based on the information given, I want to be much safer online and when I go out. A problem I have found is that it is hard to disconnect from a system that a user has used for a long while, but it is a good habit to change the ways that I have used to utilize the internet as a whole. For starters, I could get a VPN to protect myself online, and many YouTube channels I've watched have been sponsored by cheap, yet effective options in terms of VPNs to use. As long as I subscribe to a VPN that will keep my encrypted information safe, the better. I also know that it is worth the money to have, especially with how cheap some options are to purchase and use. 

One topic I wanted to mention relating to Internet Privacy is the escalating issue of cyber-bullying. Fortunately, I have never faced cyber-bullying myself, but there may be some people around me who are silently suffering, feeling that there is no way out of the situation. Because of how widespread technology is, many people can stay anonymous (or will think that they are anonymous) and can cause a lot of damage to someone's reputation, often an issue or threat of blackmail in bad relationships. The TED Talk presented by Darieth Chisolm focused on digital domestic violence touched up on the issues of cyber-revenge, and the terrible processes to arrest perpetrators of a crime. However, if the proper authorities can't track people, then it's hard to charge the right perpetrator for a crime.

One last thing I want to mention is how there are emerging systems to combat different forms of hacking and privacy violations. After watching Andy Yen's TED Talk on ProtonMail, a startup that he and his team made, I want to research if I want to use ProtonMail to send my emails, or if I can add a VPN extension for all of the devices I use on a daily basis. Here's a link to the TED Talk if you want to watch it.

As a whole, the advances of technology are a great thing, but it is very important to be safer on the internet now more than ever, especially with what motivations some people may have. Having my important information just out for everyone to see does not make me feel comfortable, and I want to take steps to better myself and my internet safety as a whole.

Sources:

Chisolm, D. (2018, June). How revenge porn turns lives upside down [Video]. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/darieth_chisolm_how_revenge_porn_turns_lives_upside_down.

Yen, A. (2014, Oct.). Think your email's private? Think again [Video]. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/andy_yen_think_your_email_s_private_think_again#.

Blog Post #1: Five News Sources that I Frequently Use

Being a game design major, much of the news I tend to view are often focused around new, emerging technologies, especially within the games industry. I want to develop a personal habit of learning more about current events, so I can stay in the loop with what is going on around the world. In the meantime, I can do more to branch out, and still be informed of important developments in the tech world.

A site that I visit very frequently is Nintendo Life, a news outlet dedicated to recent developments with the game company, Nintendo, as well as reviews for games and software from Nintendo and game partners. I like to read reviews for games I may want to buy, on different gaming accessories that I may be interested in, or even some cool new products that are highly favored in the community. I frequent their YouTube channel, where the hosts discuss their opinions on new, emerging technologies, commentary on the site's own game reviews, and some reviews on physical accessories that make gaming much easier to use on a daily basis. Because of these reasons, I feel that Nintendo Life is a really useful source for me as a player and upcoming game designer. An article I found discusses a writer's opinion on the best games from "The Legend of Zelda" to play before "Tears of the Kingdom", the next entry in the series, releases this upcoming May.

The New York Times is a news outlet that I frequently visit, as I know that many of their works tend to be very credible in terms of what news is given. Whenever I am able, I like to read plenty of interesting stories about technology and lifestyle, or even interesting things people have invented around the world. One article I really enjoyed was this article on the arcade scene in Los Angeles.

I will read articles of The Guardian for sources on papers, and it is a great source for information on events happening around the world. This news outlet is a great place for me to learn more about things that are occurring around the world, and the articles posted are more credible than others. I will often find an interesting article that I want to read on the site. Here is an interesting article on racial inequity and inequality and what people who are part of the majority can do to have a better, more positive, impact on the communities that are close to us.

Wired is a site dedicated to discussing news on recent technology, inventions, and entertainment around the world. I enjoy going to the site to read reviews on devices I may be interested in purchasing. I have been searching for a gaming laptop recently, and Wired has been a great source for finding what I need that will work for me. One good article I've been using is on best budget gaming laptops, which is very useful for me, being a college student. The editors and writers take their time to test these devices to make sure that the readers are getting their money's worth once they choose to buy a product.

Of all of these sites mentioned before, I love going to Polygon. The site is devoted to discussing everything media, whether it's games, film, or television. I enjoy how much information I can get from the articles I read, especially with the variety of topics available on the site that relate to my interests. The gaming articles may also have some videos relating to the topic that I will watch when I have time. There is a really great video from Polygon on the legacy of Bruce Lee and his effect on the modern fighting game genre as a whole. It's a really interesting watch, and I highly suggest you check it out here.