'Digital Nation' Write Up (ART 343/381: Critical Play)

Is technology harming my generation, or making us better?

After watching "Digital Nation," a film on the effects of constant connectivity to technology and the Internet, I pondered this question for quite awhile.

While the Internet has increased multitasking and access to knowledge for most people — at least college students, which the film studies — it may also be making my generation dumber. This notion is particularly interesting since the very thing the Internet creates for some people — knowledge — may also be actually decreasing that entity in people.

The Internet, and connections to it via mobile phones, allows us to have access to endless amounts of information within seconds. In many ways, it is making us smarter. For example, I can easily and instantly look up a reference someone makes in passing conversation to educate myself on a subject. I would likely not gain that extra knowledge if I had to go to the library to research the topic. As "Digital Nation" notes, the Internet gives people a broader range of knowledge.

However, these advantages come with consequences. Since people are less likely to deeply research a topic in the stacks of the library — expertise on subjects is becoming less frequent for my generation. On the topic of multitasking, "Digital Nation" studies proved that most people can't do it well.The Internet and technology also brings plenty of non-educational uses for people to spend (or waste) their time.

So the question remains: Is technology harming my generation, or making us better? Are the benefits of constant connectivity and access to information worth the cost?

Arduino: 2 (ART 350: Advanced Digital Media)

I have been working on building a wave shield for my arduino. The device allows for SD memory card input, so original audio can be used as opposed to the tones stored in the arduino software's library.

This feature allows the sounds produced based on user input to be more unique and suitable for the concept of this project.

I have also started working on some code for the project. I've been playing with some of the sketches to get a better feel for how the inputs and outputs work. Here is one that I am modifying for my project:

/*
Multiple tone player

Plays multiple tones on multiple pins in sequence

circuit:
* 3 8-ohm speaker on digital pins 6, 7, and 11

created 8 March 2010
by Tom Igoe
based on a snippet from Greg Borenstein

This example code is in the public domain.

http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/Tone4

*/

void setup() {

}

void loop() {
// turn off tone function for pin 11:
noTone(11);
// play a note on pin 6 for 200 ms:
tone(6, 440, 200);
delay(200);

// turn off tone function for pin 6:
noTone(6);
// play a note on pin 7 for 500 ms:
tone(7, 494, 500);
delay(500);

// turn off tone function for pin 7:
noTone(7);
// play a note on pin 11 for 800 ms:
tone(11, 523, 300);
delay(300);

}

I want the sounds to loop over each other for an extended period of time. As seen in this code, the sounds start at different times, but end up playing all at the same time. I need to continue working on importing my own sound from the wave shield.

Arduino: 1 (ART 350: Advanced Digital Media)

Here is my mock up for my arduino project. I hope to make an interactive piece that also reflects something about society.

Second Life Performance (ART 343/381: Critical Play)

Artist's Statement: I made my "performance avatar" in the likeness of Abraham Lincoln. I think it would be an interesting virtual performance to see how people react when approached by presidents and first ladies. Our class could make avatars that look like various presidents and in some cases, their wives. When talking to others in Second Life, we could either completely perform our personas and talk about something significant from each of our individual time periods; or act and speak like something unexpected, possibly gangsters. :)

Second Life Portrait and Object (ART 343/381: Critical Play)

Artist's Statement: I created my Second Life avatar in my likeness. I paid special attention to unique features on my face, such as the beauty marks by my lips. This project was an interesting opportunity to look deeper into my self appearance and attempt to honestly replicate that in the virtual world.

'Art & the Avatar' Questions (ART 343/381: Critical Play)

1. Where do the lines between reality and the virtual world overlap? Is it possible for avatars to start dictating reality? For example, can artists start to or work to embody the characteristics of their "idealized selves" (or avatars)?

2. What do these avatars represent in contemporary art?