Week 4 - Big Screen to Small Screen

Where and when did usable online video start? (provide some refs. and an example if possible)

This question caused some difficulty in answering correctly as the term usable can vary. On the website dembot.com by Andrew Baron, a Decade in the History of Online Video, Baron states that there were online videos on the internet before a feasible audience was there to receive them. Online videos were really born during the 2004 US election when audiences were becoming equipped with a faster dial-up system accessible means to receive the receive the online videos.

While this was the first instance where online videos could be accessed by the mass population, those that new where and how to find online videos and were equipped with the adequate programs could access online videos years before the rest of us.

http://dembot.com/post/310798115/a-decade-in-history-of-online-video

In the lecture we heard about technological innovations that were used by the studios to lure audiences. (mostly to combat the popularity of TV)
What recent innovations are being used to lure us to the movies? What are they luring us from?

Going to the movies used to be classified as a big night out. It was used for first dates, for catch up with friends, for entertaining kids on those long school holidays. However with the introduction of movies online, pay tv and the ever-so-popular pirated DVDs from Bali or Thailand, the movies are copping a thrashing. However, the movie theatre is coming back. The recent introduction of 3D movies, Imax, Gold Class and loyalty cards, people are still coming back to the movies. People are encouraged to see the film at the theatre to gain the full experience of the movie and the special effects.

Are short films still being made? Why? Who pays for them to be made?

The enthusiasim towards the Tropfest Short Film Festivals proves that the short film culture is still alive. Tropfest was founded by award-winning actor/director John Polson in 1993. Tropfest is renowned as being a stepping stone for aspiring short film directors to get their work noticed.

The term viral is thrown about adhoc but what does it mean in film/movie arena? Give some examples.

The term 'viral' is something the moves quickly with a exponential growth rate. Whether is be a video clip, a picture, a computer virus, it moves quickly through the internet. Viral marketing is a popular tool. Using pre-existing networks to market a product,

Online video distribution isn't limited to the short film format. We are now starting to see television styled shows made solely for internet release (webisodes). Find an example of this style of content and discuss how viewing television content in this way can positively and negatively affect the viewer's experience.

Webisodes, like all things, have their positives and their negatives. The positive side to webisodes is the convenience, the when-ever-where-ever factor. You can pause, fast forward, rewind and record and you are not bombarded with long-winded commercial breaks. On the negative side however, the fact that websidoes exist merely on the low budget the quality is disadvantaged from that if you were to watch a television episode. One example I found of a webisode was Man in the Box.

Week 5 - Culture Jamming

Culture Jamming is defined as an "organised social activist effort that aims to counter the bombardment of consumption, oriented messages in the mass media" (Cardillc, 2006, p116). Culture Jamming is an act of social and political activism; it is the manipulation and fabrication of mainstream institutions.

Culture Jamming is said to have been coined in 1984 by Negativland, a performance/activist group (Cardillc, 2006). Culture Jammers want to evoke reaction through behavioural and political change. They strive to achieve social change by achieving reaction. This is done by corporate sabotage, media hoaxing, trademark infringement and billboard liberation (Cardillc, 2006).

Memes are the basic tool that is used for culture jammers to transmit their message. A meme is a cultural idea, symbol or practice which is transmitted through writing, speech, gestures and rituals (Harold, 2004). Effective jamming is the use of an easily recognisable and already establishing meme, manipulating it and making society view it in a different manner.

One very memorable and historically recognisable instance of culture jamming is Orson Welle’s “War of the Worlds”.

Reference List

Carducci, V 2006 "Culture Jamming - A Sociological Perpective" New School for Social Research, vol 6(1), pp. 116 -138, viewed 23 August 2010, http://joc.sagepub.com.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/content/6/1/116.full.pdf+html

Harold, C 2004 'Pranking rhetoric "Culture Jamming" as Media activism' Critical Studies in Media Communication, vol 23, no3, pp. 189-211, viewed 23 August 2010, http://www.informaworld.com.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/smpp/section?content=a713696057&fulltext=713240928

Week 5 - Ireport.

This week in New Communications Technologies we have been introduced to the world of 'Culture Jamming'. We have been instructed that as a group, inject a fabricated story into the world of the mass media and see how far our story can go.

We are begining with producing a fabricated article using quotes taken from other already produced new stories. We will follow this up by producing a mash-up video clip to be uploaded with the article.

This will be followed by a Facebook Group opposing the article. We will suggest others to join the facebook group and hopefully we will gain quite a few followers and gain some media attention.

Week 3 - Non-Electronic Commmunication Devices

digital: electronics responding to discrete values of input voltage and producing discrete output voltage levels as in logic circuit

analogue: a description of a continuously variable signal or a circuit or device designed to handle such signals.

communication: exchange of information, thoughts, messages by speech, signals, symbols, writing or behaviour representation.

electronic: of, concerned with, using or operated by devices which electrons are conducted through a semi conducter, free space of gas


3 non-electronic digital devices:-

Typewriter

The typewriter was first introduced in 1870 and was an undispensable tool until the incorporation of the word processor. This device uses a set of keys, which when pressed transcribes the character onto the paper.

Smoke Signals

Smoke signals are one of the earliest forms of communication. They are basically a visual telegraph. Native Americans use smoke signals as a means of communication to portray messages while they are away from their families. The common communication message portrayed from smoke signals is that of distress and the need for help.

http://www.ehow.com/way_5681743_smoke-signals-method-communication.html

Morse Code

Morse code is the transmission of information using clicks, on-off tones and lights that is heard and understood by someone who specialises in understanding Morse Code. Each letter has an individual squence of dots and dashes. Before electronic communication, morse code was used by many ships to communicate with eachother their location.

WEEK 4 - SHORT FILMS

Short Film - Kiwi

Pixar has managed to do it again; creating another successful animated short film. Kiwi, appears to one of the more simple short films created by Pixar however is just as effective. This short film captivates the Kiwi, a flight-less bird trying to fly and the determination this bird has to reach the goal.

Short Film - Mankind Is No Island



I loved this short film. Mankind Is No Island was shot completely on a mobile phone. The film was based on the photos and footage shot on the streets of New York and Sydney. The director used pictures of words to tell a story. This concept, combined with effective music established a very effective movie and portrayed the message that the director was trying to. The director was capturing the less fortunate in both cities and portrayed that even though the two cities were half a world away from each other the characteristics were very alike. This short film won the 2008 Tropfest Short Film Competition. I think this movie was effective because it was such an emotionally charged clip, but displayed in such a simple way.

Short Film - Marry Me



The short film Marry Me, was entered in the Tropfest Short Film Competition. Marry Me is the timeless tail of girl liking boy, boy liking his toys and girl feeling rejected. This short film is a simple but effective piece. The film appears as if it would be have cost effective in production. It appears as if it was shot in the same location, with one video camera. Though the piece portrayed the intended story effectively, I personally found the movie to be a little dull and was dragged on. The same story could have been portrayed in a much shorter timeframe and still would be been successful.

WEEK 3 - TREASURE HUNT

"Just Google it". This phrase would have to be one of the most common that comes from my mouth and after participating in this Treasure Hunt I have come to the realisation that Google is my very best friend. I have taken Google for granted all these years and have never truly appreciated how much it does for me, and how much easier is makes my life! Let us all hope that we will never live in a world without Google!


1. What is the weight of the world's biggest machine? How much did it cost to build?

The world's biggest machine is the Large Hadron Collider. It weights 38,000 tones and costs UK34 million per year.

http://www.neatorama.com/2008/09/12/10-things-about-the-large-hadron-collider-you-wanted-to-know-but-were-afraid-to-ask/

http://www.bukisa.com/articles/40463_worlds-largest-machines-ever-built

2. What is the quickest and most reliable way to contact Ozzy Osbourne?

The quickest and most reliable way to contact Ozzy Osbourne is via Fan Mail.

http://www.contactvip.com/?c=ozzy%20osbourne%20contact&gclid=CLmtqpiztaMCFRe5bwodSAhSaw

3. When and what was the first example of global digital communication?

The first example of global digital communication was the Line telegraphy in 1837.

http://vig.pearsoned.co.uk/catalog/uploads/Glover_Digital%20Comms_C01%20reduced%20file%20size.pdf

4. What is the cheapest form of travel from the Gold Coast to Melbourne?

We the constant battle between the airlines for the cheapest rate, the cheapest way to travel is by plane, however the cheapest airline changes week to week. I found the following link through bing.com which searches the net and airline companies for you and finds the cheapest flights available to you on your selected day of travel.

http://www.cheapflights.com.au/

5. Who is Hatsune Miku? What company does she belong to? What is her birthday?

Hatsune Miku is the virtual idol for the company Volcaloid. Her birthday is 31 August.

http://gendou.com/t/24363

6. Find a live webcam in Antarctica.

On the Australian Government Department of the Environment Water Heritage and the Arts website (I accessed through Bling), the Australian Antarctic Division has several links to webcams in Antarctica. Below is a link to the webcam at Mawson Station.

http://www.antarctica.gov.au/webcams/mawson

Find a place to stay in Antarctica.

There are several accommodation options in Antarctica either aboard ship or on land. Attached in the web address for an accommodation website.

http://www.addictedtotravel.com/accommodation/default.aspx?regionid=12

7. What song was top of the Australian pop charts this week in 1980?

Call Me by Blondie hit the top of the Australian Pop Charts in 1980.

http://www.famousinterview.ca/top_40.htm#1980

8. How would you define the term 'nano technology'? In your own words, what does it really mean?

Nanotechnology is the engineering of functional systems at the molecular scale. It is a manufacturing process which requires refined equipment because of its size.

http://www.crnano.org/whatis.htm

9. What type of camera is used to make ‘Google Street View’?

The camera used for the Google Street View (aka one of the biggest time-wasters I have found, ask my boss) is called the Immersive Media Camera. This is a picture of the camera:-

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/office-voyeurism/the-google-maps-street-view-camera-264972.php

10. Translate these questions into Klingon.

Now, you might think I have been living under a rock my entire life, but I honestly had no idea what Klingon was. I honestly thought it was a made up word. However, after some in depth research I realised it was the language spoken in Star Trek (now I understand why I had no idea what it was). Below is a link I found to translate English in Klingon. I found this site by using bing.com.

http://forums.startrekonline.com/showthread.php?t=9025

However, to actually use the translator you need to become a member. I'm not exactly a sci-fi fan, but if you are please use the link to the translator.

Week 2 - So Far From Home