Tin Can Telephone Communication Model explained December 8, 2009

Holy cow reading the article “Communication Models” was an exercise in understanding and cognition! I think the webpage used The Shannon-Weaver Mathematical Model to explain the information on the webpage. Using a tin can telephone system to explain the following terms:

Sender: the person who originates a message to be spoken into the tin can phone.

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Encoding: As the message travels along the string it is encoded into sound vibrations that are received at the other end of the string.

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Channel: is the physical act of the string channeling the sound vibrations along the string.

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Noise: In a tin can phone it is hard to have noise, which acts as an interference factor. However if someone touches the string the message is convoluted or disrupted between sender and receiver.

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Decoding: Occurs at the opposite end of the string, when the message is sent to the receiver, who interprets the message depending on the amount of noise and quality of the channel the message it is sent out upon.

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Receiver: The person who receives and interprets the message into his/her own words and can then resend another message via feedback, or pass along the message to another receiver thus becoming a sender who can interpret the original message thus causing noise upon the original message.

In my own design work I have had experience with this communication model, when I was working with a client that needed some design work for a webpage. The sender of the message would be the client who contacted me to create his website. The contact would occur as the messages sent via email regarding his needs, acts as the decoding of the message he sent. Email and telephone calls acted as the channel of information sent from him to me. When I received the message, I as the contracted employee acted as the receiver, who in turn decoded his needs into technical explanations of the work to be created, feedback also played a part as we communicated more in order to reach a mutual understanding of his wants, needs, and actual completion capabilities within his budget. Noise, was created by the person who referred me this client. The referral came from a common friend who had no design experience and began to tell (my future) client what was possible and easily accomplished within his small budget.

1st Amendment mission November 20, 2009

The mission:

Working alone, find  people from different age groups:

Ask them the following question:

“If Congress were considering the following law:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, or the right of ht people peaceable to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

would you approve it or not?”

• Once you have read the “law” which of course is the 1st Amendment, ask your subjects the following questions:

1. Do you agree or disagree with the freedoms? Explain:
2. Which do you support, and which do you think are excessive or provide too much freedom?
3. Ask them if they recognize the law. NOTE how many identify the law as the 1st Amendment and if they did not.

The Responses:

Alaina (13 years old, cousin)
1. yes, because people should get to say what they want and believe what they want
2.i support free speech or of the press I think it provides too much freedom for press
3.it’s the first amendment

Starr (61 years old, mother)

Yes I’d approve it. Our country was founded on freedom – of religion as well as individual freedoms – and that should not change.

1. Do you agree or disagree with the freedoms? Explain: Yes, our right to choose how we each live our own lives is something that our country was based on and what our military fights for every day.
2. I think that our laws regarding aliens are too loose, or maybe just not enforced. If a person is going to live in the US, they should be subject to the same laws as citizens. If you don’t work, you don’t receive benefits, whether medical, food, lodging, schooling, etc. It’s only right.
3. Do you know if this is an actual law? Yes, it is a law, but again, not as well enforced as it should be.

Bryce (33 years old, brother)

1.  yes I agree with freedoms, it is what makes this country this country, I don’t however agree that we should be going out and trying to make the rest of the world exactly like our country, I feel that they should be on their own. Spreading freedom? let them figure it out on their own.

2. Which laws do I support? pretty much all of them, I don’t really have any problem with any of the laws in the bill of rights, the only thing that I see as a problem is the people who want to make a deal of them in either direction. take for example gun rights, it’s all crap, people who follow the law will carry the permit and gun, and whether or not they have a permit, the criminals are going to carry regardless. but because we all have a say, let them say it.

3. did I know it was a law, um, yes. I actually have a little bit of an idea of the constitution, unfortunately, most people in this country probably don’t

Duane (31 years old, former co-worker, friend)

1.  Do you agree or disagree with the freedoms? Explain:
I agree to the law. There are far too many variations and interpretations of various religious faiths (particularly of Christianity) to settle on a “true” interpretation. This is a democracy, not a theocracy. As for freedom of the press and speech, who is to tell us what can or cannot be said publicly? Without it, we would be an intellectually neutered culture/society where we cannot challenge or question authority. Those questions are what keep us pushing for new ideals and a pursuit of knowledge. Not to mention we wouldn’t have many works of literature, art, and movies

2.
All of the above have my support and I really don’t have a preference for one above the rest, they’re all rather important. There are safeguards in place for what might be considered “excessive” though. For example, you can’t holler “Fire!” in a crowded theater and we have laws for libel and slander. Nor can you hold a significant gathering (parade, protest, etc.) without a permit in some cases.

3. Do you know if this is an actual law?
It’s the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights, hooray!

Felicia (72 years old, mother’s co-worker)

would you approve it or not?”  If I understand the above statement – I would not approve Congress getting involved at all in these particular rights by passing any kind of law.  Besides, why would Congress even think about getting involved with that? I think they have more important issues on their plate right now.  (don’t get me started….)

1. Do you agree or disagree with the freedoms? Explain: I agree with all of the freedoms listed above because that is what our country was founded on and having those freedoms is what has separated the United States from any other country in the world.  Very probably one of the main reasons that people do want to live here.
2  I support all of these rights but I do think that they are easily and too often abused and probably too much freedom for some people.  That is the key phrase…..some people…..and those people will do what they want and for as long as they want regardless of any laws.
3.
Didn’t respond to third question, because she believed it was not an actual law.

Wrap up: although we originally were supposed to interview six persons, only 5 responded to me within the allotted time. I find it interesting and weird that the oldest interviewee did not believe that the first amendment was an actual law, yet still she  wanted to support it as if it were a law. This means that 4 out of the 5 people I interviewed knew it was an actual law, even though all 5 supported the laws wholeheartedly.  I learned that I need to converse more with my mom about what exactly she seems that we as a country are not enforcing enough in regards to freedom of speech,press and religion. I also learned that my cousin doesn’t pay too much attention in school, although she identified it as the 1st amendment she contradicted her understanding of how the law is applicable to our lives.

Fair Use: Fairey vs. Associated Press November 8, 2009

An issue that “began” in 2006, but did not come to light until the 2008 presidential campaign of Barack Obama, is the poster created by artist Shephard Fairey. The poster Fairey created was an overnight iconic symbol for the campaign and its message of hope for the future. The only problem, is that Fairey did not create the image from originality.  The poster was modeled from a 2006 Associated Press photograph at a National Press Club meeting. The original photo is being debated over who exactly owns the photo. It was taken by a freelance photographer, who was contracted by AP for the NPC.Then in 2008 Fairey created the iconic poster, and profited from the design. Is this fair use? Fairey claims to have used the profits to create more campaign posters. He also claims to have changed the original photograph enough so that it has now become his design, not the photographers.

Personally I agree with the Associated Press, in that Fairey was not ethical in his actions. He in reality did nothing illegal, but has proved during the current lawsuit over the artwork that he has not been truthful in his actions.  If he had cited a reference during the early stages of the premiere of the photo/poster debut, then he might have been ethical and just in creating with a purpose. However, he seems to operate in a shady manner, changing his story on the facts of who took and how he chose the toke photograph.

I haven’t had much experience in the way of ethics in business as I am just starting business for myself on a small scale. Yet I can identify fair use in exchange of work. I had a potential client approach me a couple months ago, who needed a website and branding identity package. Having met with the client in order to gather informational specifics, I was excited to start working. Once we started to talk price though, the client’s mood changed. Being a new business himself the client had little budget to work with. I was planning to work with him in the confines of his budget, but he decided he didn’t want to pay. Instead he wanted to offer a trade in services, his logging business for my design business. Is it ethical? yes and no. Yes if we mutually agree upon a transfer of services. No, because we exclude the government in taxes, plus how would I be able to judge X$ amount of his work and he the same for me.

In a past class we briefly touched on ethics in art. What we discussed was an almost agree upon practice when using someone elses art for your own purposes.

1. Cite and reference the original.

2. If you are changing someone else work, it must be changed a minimum of 70% difference from the original.

3. Financial profits, must be given to original artist if he/she so agrees to let you use their work, at an agreed upon rate.

 

History of Instant Messaging October 26, 2009

Good topic choice, as I really don’t know the history of Instant Messaging. IM began in 1996 with a simple program called ICQ (for I Seek You) that communicates with the client program on your computer. ICQ was created by Mirabilis, spent 1997 fine tuning and “shopping” to potential buyers. In 1998 IM entered the mainstream, with AOL purchase of Mirabilis, making IM standard on its internet service provider programs.

But IM wasn’t good enough, we just couldn’t talk one-on-one via the web, we needed the ability to talk to more than one person at a time. In a chat room, a group of people can type in messages that are seen by everyone in the “room.” Instant messages are basically a chat room for just two people.” Jarkko Oikarinen in about 1988 created the front runner of the chat room call IRC (Internet Relay Chat) which allowed his colleagues in Oulu

Sources:

http://communication.howstuffworks.com/instant-messaging.htm

http://im.about.com/od/imbasics/a/imhistory_2.htm

The new media in my background October 22, 2009

I felt like I should have called in to KUOW podcast to speak on my thoughts about the new future of business in a globally connected work environment. One of the main point I took away and recently observed/participated in, is how easily we connect via the net. Specifically a twitter craze. I know that twitter is communication “tool” to allow different clients and customers to link up with out ever meeting in person. Twitter is now being used for a news distribution source. On the flipside, how can you get a complete news story in only 140 characters of typing? In regards to business connectivity, I recently purchased my first home, during the searching process my real estate agent, would update us (even though neither my wife nor I have a twitter account), her bosses, and loan brokers via twitter as the different phases we were currently involved with in the buying process. This kind of “overkill” ( i think a phone call would be more appropiate when dealing with finances of this magnitude) is a good/bad situation. Good for our agent because she was able to maximize her productivity, yet bad because who really need to know “clients looking at their dream house” as one of her tweets?

In regards to my own applications for the new future of my profession as graphic designer, I need only look at my schooling. I started design school originally to be a print designer with focus on logo and branding. I quickly adapted new learning after more self research on the “death of print”, and expanded into multimedia design to ensure more of a productive and financially stable future for my family. I still don’t have a twitter account, but do use apps like Facebook and myspace to connect with clients as well as my business website. Heck, I don’t even have internet service at home yet… I need it so bad, but we are still adjusting to paying for our house and all its glorious expenses.

Connectivity is the future, and it’s no longer directly related to the PC , laptop, or web machines. Now with the influx and explosion of cell phones we can link up, create, and communicate  “on-the-go” with mobile phones. My next creative endeavor is to possibly learn how to design for phone applications.  I think that is the direction we are headed… although I still love my MAC…until I get an Iphone, or whatever the next craze in electronics will be.

2012 examined (briefly) October 15, 2009

Personally I am glad this movie is not a requirement to see for my Mass Media class. John Cusack is a favorite actor of mine, but I don’t think he can redeem this movie. 2012 is a film based on the Mayan Calendar which “ends” on 21 December 2012. Those Mayans are jerks, how can they deny us one last Christmas?

All joking aside, the calender created by the Mayans is a cyclical nature calender, that revolves around period endings. The periods in question are related to the different gods (i.e. seasons/months?) , and the dedications, rituals, and offerings involving each “character” on the calender involving 19 characters. The Calendar is a 260 day cycle, according to the Goodman-Martinez-Thompson correllation studies conducted in 1905, 1926, and 1927. These studies are concur that the calendar began on 11 (or 12) August 3114 BC.

Why is the calendar so important in our culture today? We as a people have a fascination with doomsday, demise, and the unexplainable. We want almost need to know what is coming, so we can prepare for it. Remember Y2k? All that panic for nothing. A little deeper research, and you can discover the Mayans had a calendar prior to this current one, when that one ended, this one began. This is the last calendar created likely because of the decline of their culture. I can find no facts for their demise being the reason for this final calendar.

2012 the movie produced by Sony Pictures, is not the first time this doomsday theory has entered into the mass media stratosphere. You tube has bunches of conspiracy theory videos about the subject. Evidence older that the net’s biggest time killer are: The Bible Code 1,and 2 by Michael Drosnin. These two books touch on the topic, but are mostly concerned with the “code” in the Bible and it’s own doomsday predictions, plus the second book has a “scientific” (hilariously ridiculous) reason for why we can’t decode the message properly due to our inability to survive in extreme salt water. Television has also taken a stab at the doomsday hoopla with several specials, actually decent for viewing on The History Channel. What is nice about THC is they remain neutral on the issue, while presenting facts for and against the validity of the Mayans predicting the end of the world. Back in the 1980′s Cosgrove Meyer Productions, present Unsolved Mysteries. This was the earliest evidence I could find of TV airing a piece on the Mayan Calendar. Believe or not, I couldn’t find it on You Tube, but TV.com had an episode guide showing it originally aired in1991.

In the end, I guess we will find out in a amount of time, whether or not the Mayans were right. 2012 is coming, is it the end as we know it, or just the end of a lost cultures timeline? Mass Media would like you to believe, it is the end, so go buy a ticket and go out happy entertained. I suggest do a little research, try to approach the “end” with intelligence. If it is the end, I wanna cash out my investments, go crazy with a credit card shopping spree, and discover what the Nazca Lines are all about. Those things creep me out, and enthrall me at the same time.

sources:

The Bible Code

by Michael Drosnin, Doron Witztum – 1998 – 276 pages

2012: official movie site:

http://www.whowillsurvive2012.com

Unsolved Mysterires:

www.tv.com/unsolved-mysteries/show/4540/summary.html

Media and Communication defined October 5, 2009

In the past I earned a degree in communications and broadcast journalism, and worked in my field for Infinity Broadcasting for six years. I find the easiest way to define the extremely rough and broad terms of “Mass Communication” and “Mass Media” through the use of music. I specifically choose my favorite song “Distress” by The Mad Caddies. Ever since I first heard this song  it has been a favorite because of it’s style. Distress is classified as punk/ska/ ja(rasta)/ hepcat in my eyes. The song mixes musical style from different regions of the world giving no specific style except enjoyment through. Keeping that in mind this is how I would define “Mass Communication” and “Mass Media”  .

Mass Communication: is an idea or expression of one culture message that is accessible and identifiable to another culture. In regards to music it can break down or forge new cultural and social bonds and has no specific age requirements for receiving the message.

Mass Media: is the demographic distribution of creativity. With the invention of Braille, audio books, and color expression machines it has no niche that it cannot reach for education or entertainment.

Mass Communication types September 28, 2009

B-Tadpoles:

Electric:
Twitter, Emoticons, you tube, iphone, myspace, video games, facebook, blogs, skype, angel/blackboard, texting,, online gaming, ebay, craigslist, pod cast.

Art/Music:
Plays, ballet, opera, symphony, photography, color, art, tattoos, music, propoganda, comics, political cartoon.

Architecture:
Monuments, EMP, churches.

Non-verbal/ Kinetic:
Had gestures, brail, sign language, morse code.

Miscellaneous:
Currency, Sign holders, clothing, corn maze

Section 2:

Morse code is one of our original choices for a type on Mass Communication. It has it’s own special niche of users (Navy, Army, Air Force….possibly Marines too) Not nearly as old as the printed type, but just as effective in reaching the globe, as the signal can be sent across the world with a simple wire reaching numerous persons. B-Tadpoles:B-Tadpoles: http://www.questia.com/library/encyclopedia/morse_code_for_s_f_b_morse.jsp

Podcasts in this age of satellite radio, have become in a sense our own personal radio station. There is (or will be) a podcast for every idea, group, interest, team… that is in existance. Listening to the podcast is like tuning into a favorite topic, and learning/hearing ideas about it. It can allow citizens to connect globally and not just locally in the concept of fan following. I myself was raised on the Red Sox, so I love podcasts as it allows me to follow, even though I am not local to the Boston area. http://www.newdimensions.org/podcast.php

Architecture could be classified as one of the earliest forms of mass media or communication in the modern civilized world. Think back to medieval times, class struggles were communicated by land and castles the peasents were forced to see in their countryside. More currently buildings (Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, Singapore towers, Sydney Opera House) can easily inform and remind the viewer of a certain location/region of our globe. http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?tid=6615&ttype=2

Churches, like architecture can serve to communicate a message or advertisement of a certain niche group in the world. Different religions have identifiable buildings (Mosques, Cathedrals, Buddhist Temple, Stonehenge…) as the religion spreads across the globe, so does the church building that houses it, most without some drastic changes to the building otherwise the message of communication among followers is likely lost on the new “flock” who don’t regularly recognize the building as a home for their religion. http://www.strategicnetwork.org/index.php?loc=kb&view=v&id=15192&fto=1023&

Billboards, quite possibly some of the most annoying and effective forms of mass media in regards to advertising. We have all been stuck in traffic, and been innundated by the large billboard on the side of the road. With the potential to reach thousand of viewers in a single day, it could be the last effective print media. We as aconsumers don’t pay for them like we would with a magzine subscription that come with the advertisements, but we do pay by having the message of the billboard placed into our subconscious through repeated subliminal advertising messages. http://www.massmediany.com/mobiletruck.html