Sunday, December 9, 2012

Project 3 Reflection: Argument

I have thought that I have done a well enough job in recording. I also think I have done a well enough job in planning out the project .I have found it quite calming in audio editing. Even though I was not able to have the all the recordings I was able to have an E-mail sent to me and read that off, but what I was given I was able to record and edit that. With what I was able to record I was able to edit that in and put that in. I was able to record a students reaction and edit that and make it effective. I think I was able to make an argument but if I did not I would take in to consideration all other sides and apply what my opinion covers and use specific examples. I think I have struggled with putting it all together, while I was turning in my project it was late at night and my internet connection was slow and acting off I was a little overwhelmed. I was unable to get attain an interview with one of the people who work in the office but I was able to receive a reply from Kris Knapp, who works in the clicker department of the UTO. I was not able to receive an audio file from him but I was able to record his email. I also struggled with making a instance where the UTO had impact so I looked at some web news articles and used those and had said where I had found and had stated who had wrote the article and where it was published. What I will do in the future I will use my time more effectively to interview people. This has altered my writing process by making an argument more effectively. This has shown me to make the why and the how. How I would use this outside the university would be just like making an argument most the work outside of college would require to make a statement and prove that statement with specific examples. I would need to have examples that are specific to the nature of the statement with those specific examples they would need to also answer the "so what" question. I think I might have had something out in the audio but I have had it in the transcript. While writing the transcript I had  been little overwhelmed in putting the whole thing together. In the draft I was explaining mostly what everything was and not letting the interviewee explain a thing and so I had a wall of text so what I had to do was cut out some of the things and also explain somethings.

Overall I had enjoyed audio editing but I think I could have done better in some areas.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Script Draft: UTO


Morgan: We use technology every day we come in to contact with a computer and we use one for buying or doing assignments for classes. Almost all of the classes require work done online; it can be through a certain application like Pearson or Knewton.  Other classes have other means of completing their course work like a blog.  Not everything is so happy in Internet land. There are some People who misuse the internet whether it is for hacking or for pirating music. The University technology office otherwise known as UTO is a major resource to Arizona State University with it offered assistance with the internet and assistance with clickers .

Thesis; The UTO office is important due to the legal deterrence and the offered technological help.
-Legal
Morgan: The office requires a message sent to the students about pirating and copyright law and what disciplinary actions will take. This is deterrence because it details what actions will take ranging from a large sum fine and time in jail and academic actions will take place. Having received the message I honestly thought I had done something wrong and freaked out, which was the point of the message .Having deterrence is useful because students are not tempted to pirate music or take other actions because it is scary in my opinion receiving that message and knowing what will happen. Talking with another person who works at ASU told me that that was the point of the message.
Knowing another person who works in the UTO office I knew about the rules regarding the issue. I have learned that there are, ”sniffers” who are able to let the office know if there is an issue, they receive notifications from the recording companies  if one is downloading music illegally. So knowing what will happen will make one think twice before doing something they shouldn’t. Not only to they to the things already stated they also offer advice I have received a message stating that Internet explorer has had some issues and there is a potential threat, Malware, which is one of the highest threat which can render a computer useless, and not use Internet Explorer. This could be compared to the ASU alert system but for computers.

I had the opportunity to sit down with ” x” who works in the UTO  office and ask him some questions.
If I may ask is pirating a rampant problem?
Response:
Are there any other things that the UTO office does in a legal sense if so what is it?
Response:

Clickers:
Morgan: Most students have to use clickers for class ranging from Biology to Criminal Justice.  A clicker is a little PDA looking thing that has a number pad and has frequencies that can be set. A clicker is used to answer questions with the answer on the corresponding key number. Those clickers are from a student’s standpoint difficult to use sometimes and it is an inconvenience not only to the students but also the teachers.  From a firsthand account I have seen students have to pry open their clickers with sharp tools and replace batteries for them. The UTO office offers assistance for those in help of clickers. In fact the clicker branch has office hours, feel free to drop by. They offer help ranging from” why won’t this turn on?” to “it broke and what do I do?”  Ryan McGovern, a Freshman student at ASU had asked me before thinking that I would know how to fix his clicker. Knowing about the UTO office I had sent him to the UTO office and he had sent me a thank you text saying they were help with his problem.
Are there many people who come in here for help with their clickers if so how many?
What is the most issues you guys see with the clickers?
Response:


Student Response: 


We know that we use our computers everyday even though we do not think about it; it is just a natural part of our day. At Arizona State University we have to use computers and clickers for course work, knowing the UTO office is a good recourse to have. The UTO Office are regulators of the school's internet.The office offers assistance in clickers and will direct one to the right place when the issue is not covered in the office .The office makes sure that everyone is following the rules and is doing everything by the book.  They also do not want malware and other malicious software spreading from computer to computer.  

Sunday, November 18, 2012

ASU Reacts: Lincoln


Morgan: Most of the times when we see movies sounds are computer generated and we cannot tell the difference. However In the movie Lincoln we have a game changer. Ben Burt creator of the star wars light saber sounds had a helping hand in this movie. The movie actually has recordings of the movie like his carriage and his pocket watch. Burt states that it is better to have actual sounds to get a feeling for the history otherwise people will not question it. The argument is that actual recordings are better and one can get an actual feel for history  

Ryan: So I personal think that is cool that they got actual legitimate recordings of the actual things in the movie like the carriage I found that really cool and the pocket watch I remember them talking about that its really true to the period I think that is better to get a more accurate things that is true I just do not think that is necessary I think that they could have done just as good as with computers gen sounds so now I am aware that they are using real sounds instead of computer generated sounds it feels more real to me and I feel that I should go see that  sound really cool if it was computer sounds  if it was just computer sounds I would not question that the is the real sounds I just do not find it necessary I just find it cool that they did

Morgan: Most people would not actually care if it was real or not that is more to the user I would agree with him to some extent but I would find it necessary because it more sounds true and you will get more a feel for historical accuracy so to speak. There are some sounds that are not really able be reenacted like a laser or something along this lines but I would agree with him to some extent

Sunday, November 11, 2012

'Genre Analysis:Hearing History In The Sounds Of 'Lincoln'


I have listened to the story of the reaction of sounds recorded for the upcoming movie Lincoln. The sound engineers had recorded authentic sounds and detail sounds. One of the sound engineers is one of the most recognizable sound engineers; he has created the sound for one of the most recognizable movies Star Wars.  This story is in the form of the interview. The interviewer, Ross asks questions to the interviewee, Ben Burt. The style also formal, the writer is like an interpreter and he summarizes what his interviewee says. However there is a point where the writer will ask a silly question asking if Burt will add a sound from Star Wars. This story recreates the sounds not only what Burt has created but also the sounds in the movie. The sounds range from church bells, ticking pocket watch, and even the opening and closing of a horse carriage. This story is very organized; it flows and has the sound clips flow.  The questions flow as well as the answers.

The idea was not only to recreate old sounds they wanted to create authentic sounds. The sound engineers also had the ability to get their hands on one of Lincoln’s actual pocket watches and wind and record it. They were also able to record even the sounds of Lincoln’s carriage. The sound engineers wanted to record authentic sounds because this movie is based on a major historical figure, America’s 16th president Abraham Lincoln. In the beginning of the story they play a sound clip of actor Daniel Day-Lewis speaking as Lincoln. The writer uses these sounds to reinforce the authenticity of the sounds of the movie and to state that there will things too sacred to cut corners. The sound engineers could have recorded the sounds on a sound stage and no one would have known the difference and to get a sound of history and feel the history.  "I felt, well, here's a chance to get in touch with actual history. I always do research when you're collecting sounds and making sounds for a film, and authenticity is normally not necessarily the prime directive in doing sound design. You're always searching out sounds that have the right emotional impact and they may not even be authentic at all. But for this film I didn't want to make guesses. I wanted to essentially capture the spirit of what might have been."  (Burt) 

The topic I would like to outline is the UTO office at ASU. The office is helpful not only helping in computer needs but also in maintaining the safety to the students on the internet by offering them advice. I would like to talk with the people who are in the department of Clickers and the people who work on the school's servers.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Project 2 Reflection: Criteria


The object of Project 2 was to create an annotated map and create an evaluation. The place I chose was CPCOM, otherwise known as Computing Commons. My evaluation was that it was a good place for computers. At first I had the idea of saying that it was an advanced learning environment but there were no criteria to go off of. I have received feedback stating that there were no criteria to go off of and the annotations had not effect in supporting my thesis. Later I had reviewed and corrected what was wrong and I have made a strong thesis, strong annotations to support my thesis, and not only have I  used visuals to better understand where the annotation is but also used the Google map to help the reader understand where CPCOM is . 

 I think that I have used MLA citations correctly in regards to in text citations  and that I have cited the visuals correctly, even if they were my own I have also not struggled with making a works cited page. I did not struggle with making a map through the Google Map engine, I have understood how to do that fully. I also had no problem linking the annotations to the map and linking my works cited page. I had struggled with gaining criteria and understanding how to use it. Later I have understood what criteria were and how to use and I have understood it and made it into a strong thesis, I think. I also had struggled in the beginning with making the page layout just the map until I had played around with the page layout sidebar. Through trial and error I have grasped an understanding of how to evaluate and use criteria to support my thesis. I also had no problems using visuals and how to incorporate them into my annotations. I had either went to the ASU website and cited where I have used it or I have taken my own pictures with my computer or phone and saved that to my computer.
 
I would use what I have learned and apply it to evaluating the use of programs and use evaluations to the site "rate my professor" and give a strong thesis and criteria on how well a professor did in his/her class in regards to teaching. I would also give an evaluation for sources of entertainment for example movies and video games. 

I would first think of all possible outlets and how those outlets would plan out. I would then evaluate using the criteria that the assignment sheet has given. I would also use the "outcomes" section if there is any. This assignment has been not only been a learning experience but also an important experience.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Research Sources: CPCOM

I have decided to evaluate CPCOM located on the Tempe campus next to the bookstore. I had decided to evaluate CPCOM because I find it interesting and I would like to know why we have a building like this. This building is important to the students of ASU where not only does this building offer aid with computer need but also gives security to the students through their e-mail. The topic I wanted to propose is that it is not only a computer lab but also an advancement to the learning environment to students. I will evaluate the effectiveness of the Building and what it offers ie the tech studio and the learning of the students.  I have acquired the sources Display Computers by Lisa Min-Yi Chen Smith Doctor of Philosophy at Texas A&M. I also have acquired Learning styles: individualizing computer based learning environments by Anne Groat and Tim Musson of Napier University. Dr. Smith's dissertation is 279 pages while the other is about 10 pages.  Dr. Smith's dissertation deals with the uses of a computer while the other paper deals with the learning styles with a computer her statement of,"Display Computers are for everyone. No one will be left behind. If you can “see” a Display Computer, you can access it" (Smith 2). I find these sources interesting because they are critical to my topic that the CPCOM building is important  to the students of ASU because we are learning while advancing as a generation in the digital age. We use our computers for everything we like to check our facebook every hour so not only do we use computers to be social but also we use the computers to learn. There are programs that are installed on the computer that we use to learn like learning studios.

To summarize, I have decided to evaluate CPCOM proposing the topic of the building is an advancement of learning and computer human interface. I wanted to do this topic because I plan on having my major in Computer Information Systems .This building is also a security center that gives students protection in defense against computer threats. I have used the sources  Display Computers by Lisa Min-Yi Chen Smith and Learning styles: individualizing computer based learning environments by Anne Groat and Tim Musson. Both of these are scholoary and I have also used the ASU website as another source. These  sources will help me in my proposal in saying that the CPCOM building is an advancement in the learning environment. In Dr. Smith's dissertation of Display Computers, she states,"Display Computers are for everyone. No one will be left behind. If you can “see” a Display Computer, you can access it" (Smith 2).
That statement holds true to the Building of CPCOM.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Evaluation: Toddlers and Tiaras


When we see beauty pageants we think of the Miss. America pageant or the Miss Universe Pageants. We do not think of televising child beauty pageants. This is what T.L.C.'S Toddlers and Tiaras are. The pageants range from the southern region like Georgia and      North Carolina to Pennsylvania. I have seen commercials for it and have seen bits and pieces of it on the channel T.L.C owns. I am in disbelief that people find that interesting. My mom likes it and so does my younger sister so my dad told me to analyze it. What I will most focus on is the plot or lack thereof. 

There is really no plot to this show. The most there is the children are trying to achieve the title of Grand Supreme. There are even pageants that are requirements of "Glitz".  The regulations encourage tanning and the use of "clippers", a form of dentures. The pageants range from 0-7 years and they have their own divisions for the age brackets. The parents are encouraging their children to tan at the age of 7. This is slightly horrifying to some. The idea of tanning and the use of false teeth on a 5 year old are inane. The children do not like the tanning and they are rather fussy when it comes to the tanning the parents are hiring people to spray tan their child. The parents also “want their kids to be in pageants". Clearly one can tell that the parents are strongly encouraging their child to participate in some cases. They show the child’s room with all their crowns and ribbons from their previous pageants. Most of the children on the show have done previous pageants before. The children say they like to do the pageants because they want to win the crowns. However they are complaining each time they get ready for their pageants like the hair and makeup.
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The company airs the children misbehaving and throwing tantrums. The parents are justifying their actions and making excuses. The parents are teaching their children to be divas. The children are disrespectful to their parents and are sometimes get physical. While the children are preforming their parents are doing their routine behind the judges. How people find this entertaining is beyond me but there is a spin off Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, a fan favorite who proclaims her southern heritage many times.  

This is supposed to be reality TV. There is not really a plot to this show, just showing children being difficult to their parents. They are also trying to win a crown and the title of Grand Supreme and cry when they get something less that that title .However it has have made enough popularity to make a spin off series. We see children turn in to divas and spray tanned 7 year old's. There is no sportsmanship, just children being divas.  What is even more mind blowing, is that there are 2 year olds who beat out older age brackets like 14 and 16 year olds because they have won the title of Grand Supreme.