Author Archives: Jessi Meets the Internet

The How It Works Project

The How It Works project definitely happened thanks to everyone’s knowledge about html and css coding, especially Steven. I think the end result, everyone websites, will look great. I like how html and css coding is so simple but so difficult at the same time. So simple because it is just codes. If you put the right code in the right place then it works! It’s all up to the human that is creating the code. It was difficult for me, because it is so meticulous. Having everyone in the class to help me when I put something in the wrong place helped me to create my website. I tried to use hypertext in the post I just wrote about week 4 and I accidentally made the whole post hypertext! I couldn’t find out what I did wrong so I wasn’t able to include it.

Mr. Groom brought up the fact that the html coding doesn’t create most websites today, but the utilization of php. However the coding we did used to create most websites. Also, that css was a huge innovation. This was a good project to do for me, because whenever I heard anyone say anything about “coding” before I tuned out. That was due to my lack of knowledge and that it seemed too complicated. To be able to go through the process of creating a simple website and seeing the simplicity of the code, was invaluable to me. I know the technology will continue to evolve, but it’s good to know where it is coming from and what can still work. Thanks again Steven.

Week 4 Idea

I wanted to take a minute to write a post about another idea for next week. Will and I spoke shortly about a what we might do and he brought up a survey idea using surveymonkey.com. On my way home I was trying to think how we could make it happen and logistically I think it would be difficult to bring together in 4 days. If the class would like to do it we will make it happen!

I am proposing we go global for social impacts. Just as an idea I propose we each pic a topic (a social movement, political movement, regulations, movement regarding the internet) and create a wiki explaining WWWWH and the impact it has had on a group of people. In addition I propose we create a map similar to the one created by my class in HIST 297 for the Taiping Civil War. That map was centered on China because that is where the War took place. Each of us could have a map that correlates to the part of the world we are discussing and plot relevant points (such as where it started, pivotal events, etc.). My class worked with Ryan Brazell and on his website I found a summary of the mapping project. I have uncluded the link below and I hope he doesn’t mind that I am borrowing it. A Google Doc spreadsheet would be used to create the map points. Let me know what you guys think!

http://ryanbrazell.net/mapping-the-taiping-civil-war/

“What Next?” I have no idea…

Below is the last video from the 1983 Bits and Bytes series titled “What Next?”. In the episode they are talking about the future of computers. This included possibilities for the technology and concerns for the effects it may have on society.  One of the biggest concerns discussed was how computers would be used in a classroom. One woman expressed her belief that not every child would be sitting with a computer in a classroom while others, teachers, were excited to get computers into their classrooms to use as a tool to teach students. It’s interesting to think back when this was a controversy. Since we are 30 years out from when the series was created we have seen the affects computers and the internet have had on a classroom. Some schools provide computers and in most other computers are welcome. New classroom rules had to be created to accommodate the computers. The classrooms themselves changed to include more wall sockets so PCs could be plugged in. Now UMW is encouraging its students to create a domain and choose whether to maintain a personal identity. As Mr. Groom pointed out in class the internet was not a mainstream tool at the time, but I don’t think in 1983 people were thinking about their identity in relation to their computers and what it can do. Makes me wonder what my kids will be doing in their classrooms.

 

My Blog’s Special Purpose

I have never blogged before and I have never read a blog. So clearly I am not an expert, but it seems like to be effective a blog should have a purpose. I would not have started blogging unless I was required to do so by a class, but that doesn’t mean it’s a negative thing. I have also been forced to learn how to use twitter. Next week I will learn how to use html. Staying with that theme I think the purpose of my blog is to grow. I am a strong believer that trying new things, a few things aside, isn’t bad. It can only open your eyes to a new experience that you may want to incorporate into your life. Who knows! Years from now there could be a book released called “Jessi’s Best Blog Posts of the 2020s”, and people may even read it! Probably not, but getting back to reality I am going to graduate soon and I will be on the job market with everyone else. These new skills can only be an asset. I have no idea what my future employer is going to ask of me, but I want to be able to deliver.

blogging

The Internet Timeline Project

Making a timeline for the internet seemed so easy when the class chose to split the timeline responsibilities up by decade. Also, we had a great timeline to build off of about the 1960s that was created by the spring class. I was so wrong. There are so many important ideas, creations and innovations that came about just in the 1990s (what I am responsible for). Technology, and the way it impacts society, changes so quickly. To get all of the information for the timeline everyone is working very hard. Alex and Kimberlee have been great project managers and if they feel like they need any help inputting data into the timeline I hope they let me know. I know it can be tedious to fill in a spreadsheet. During the fall semester I worked on a website project in HIST 297 about the Taiping Rebellion. I learned in that class that there are so many great services online that can bring information to others in interesting ways. I also learned, and am confirming in this class, that even though there are great services there is no way to speed up the research and thought that goes into how people choose to use the services to portray the information. Makes me think about Licklider’s “Man-Computer Sybiosis” and the relationship that we have with computers and the internet.

A Visitor

Howard Rheingold dropped into class today via Google Hangout and spoke to the class about The WELL and other counter culture communities. The WELL was an early online community that Rheingold described as being all text that appeared on the screen very slowly. Users felt so connected in the program to the other users that they endured the speed. He said he felt a personal connection with the other users long before they ever met in person. It was very important to hear a description of the counter culture’s communities and their intent from someone who was a part of them. I want to thank Jim Groom and Paul Bond for convincing Rheingold to come visit and I want to thank the internet for making it possible. I hope we are able to hear from him in the future.