Blog #2

“Think about a certain digital device or software interface that you use on a regular basis and discus how you look through it (its transparency) and how you look at it (its reflective quality.)”

My computer is an obvious digital device that I use on a regular basis and contributes to many things in my every day life. The first thing I do every morning is check my email using my computer. When I first use my computer in the morning I am simply looking AT it. I see the figures, characters, shapes, colors, etc. on the screen in front of me. All of this completes the screens style of images, the decorum of the screen. To even begin to look through what im seeing I have to look AT it. Once I take in all of these aspects I can then begin to look through what I am seeing, interact with its transparency. I can use the images and create a thought. I can see through a word, a color, or a shape and depict a meaning from it. Maybe a feeling, opinion, a fact, or something new in the world such as news. My brain has to look AT these things to see THROUGH them. These images are learned at an early age so that when we see them they become “a transparent window into conceptual thought.” (pg. 266) Its just the same as looking at the logo of a company and knowing exactly what the product is. When I see the cougar emblem I know the meaning of Washington State University is behind it and everything that comes with that particular university.

Blog #1

"In regards to these two articles, how do you think the university views multimedia authoring?"

In regards to the two articles, Stroupe and Kress, I think the university views multimedia authoring as a hopeful tool for the future but an inconvenience in the classroom because a large amount of professors and staff do not know how to use the media available. When teachers at the university do not allow technology in their academics as a tool of communication or teaching, it makes it harder on the students today because our generation is so immune to it. Even though the university is trying to move into a no paper era, which brings media into academics, those teachers that don’t use it are never going to give up their paper handouts. Its not fair to the students today if they lose their copy and aren’t able to print their own from an online database.

The main cause for media not being used in all classrooms is because there is such a large generation gap between teachers and students, more so then there ever has been. The older generations just don’t want to deal with it because it may be more confusing for them and out of the ordinary comfort zone. There are places at the university that are more than welcoming to multimedia. The CUB for instance has all sorts of screens displaying information, TVs for entertainment, and auditoriums for academic showings. The library is also another facility that is growing right along with the incoming generation of students. You are bale to access many computers and printers, as well as computer labs for entire classes to use together. Multimedia on campus is growing but only being accepted in certain environments.