I never thought there was any danger in the furniture in my home until I read this article which reminded me of particle board which is pressed together with formaldehyde which is a carcinogen. I was also reminded that though furniture can often last along time once it is dated we often get rid of it by simply throwing it away. However, more and more people are reusing old furniture by giving it a new finish. Others at taking parts from discarded materials and combining them with other and creating something new. Personally I love the smell of fresh paint but what it is volatile organic compounds though it fades off it continues to emit off-gassing in our homes. So try to use paints that have a low-VOC or are VOC free. There are also paints that work as a thermal-insulation that help reduce energy consumption.
Marian Perez World Changing response #1 ADP III 10/4/09
The book World Changing is defiantly one of the better books for this class we are reading. It does a really good of approaching the issues in our environment and world by getting straight to the point. The section I decided to read was “Disaffected!” and it was about a video game that got players to think about consumption in our world, myself being very interested in video game design. The company Persuasive Games created this game to place the players inside a Kinko’s so that they could deal with costumers and consumption problems. The game builds the players critical thinking by having to deal with these problems in the store while still being fun. There is humor and the entertaining aspects that come with video games. I think learning through video games is a great modernization and really does get points across to people fast and effectively. I would like to play this game and see how well I would do dealing with employees and customers, getting smarter while having fun.
The topic of leapfrogging was discussed in lecture last week and I thought it would be a good topic to look at for a World Changing post. The four pages dedicated leapfrogging in the book explain what it is, and then continue to use the mobile phone industry as an example. Basically, leapfrogging is where one area of the world takes on a piece of technology, an idea, or a some other piece of societal gain which lets them skip over the inferior method. The perfect example used by the book is where Africa has cell phones everywhere, but no landlines. Of course landlines were introduced first, but because Africa didn’t invest into that, they don’t have to go through the whole learning process of traditional phones; they skipped right ahead to the new technology. The book seems to hold the idea of leapfrogging in a pretty high light, not really showing the drawbacks of it. I personally, must agree and say that it I think leapfrogging is a very good thing in many ways. Being a thorough believer in capitalism, it opens up brand new markets for entrepreneurs with newer technology, but also thinking of the people using the products, it allows them to be mesmerized by something new and up to date that the rest of the world is using. Now, I did hear the argument Joe Trumpey made in class that it can be a bad thing, because (as seen with the One Laptop Per Child program) it can cause money to be invested in an area where it is totally not needed. Africa is in the middle of an AIDS epidemic, there is genocide, and people go hungry by the minute. So why on earth are we investing in laptops instead of cures, food, and aid? I see this argument as valid and very noble, but at the end of the day it just doesn’t work for me. The human mind can only take so much “Fight, fight, fight to help them!” Instead, we’re giving the continent something else: entertainment and productivity. The mind needs to take a step back and see something else, they need to see a larger picture than what is haunting them all day long. With mobile phones and laptops, it might not be saving them, but it does provide a mental refuge and some excitement into their lives. If this argument doesn’t seem valid, find me a student who when they want to mellow out, doesn’t go right to their computer, check Facebook, or pick up their phones and text/call their friends. The mind has to be exercised in many ways, and there are plenty of people looking for a cure and for aid, there needs to be people looking to enlighten underdeveloped countries too.
World Changing Response Trisha Previte ADP III: James Rotz
For this first World Changing response, I would like to comment on the section entitled “Art Meets Technology” (p97). To begin, I am glad this book takes a chance to acknowledge the role and power artists have in today’s society. When most people think of environmental change, they typically associate solutions with scientists; however, creativity is the driving force behind innovation and progress. Without artists of creative minds and daring spirits, the advancement of this world for the better would decelerate dramatically. By posing questions and statements about the surrounding world through visuals, artists provoke and stimulate innovations that might otherwise have been left uncovered or unthought of (After all, a picture is worth a thousand words). As the authors of World Changing state, these artists “trigger new experiences that transform our perceptions of what is and what could be” (97). That is not to say that science holds second footing to artistry and creativity. Instead, there needs to be coexistence between art and technology, as evidenced in the individual art developments addressed in this section. Indeed, I found all of these examples of art exhibited through or in collaboration with technology highly original and wonderfully intriguing. For example, coming from a well-experienced service industry worker (I have worked at California Pizza Kitchen since junior year of high school), the video game Disaffected! seems not only wildly entertaining, but a great way to aggravate people into treating such employees – both as a customer and/or fellow employee - with respect and kindness. Also, I found the Carbon Robot to be a wildly inventive method for eye-opening experience. I imagine that as a viewer, to have the visible art elements as well as its implications literally drawn out before you, and by a robot no less, must be truly astonishing, even shocking. This powerful combination of creative media and bold message set the stage for a memorable piece of art that is sure to make a lasting impression on its audience. Lastly, the only piece in this article that disconcerted me was the hug shirt. Indeed, it is a wonderful idea for someone lonely, but I doubt the sensation of a shirt squeezing you can ever quite replace the warmth and comfort of a live human hug. Granted, what an impressive little gizmo, but I would hate for technology to so infiltrate this world as to deface the value of natural human life and contact. Nevertheless, forever the optimist, I have full faith that the human race will not allow this to occur. That being said, problem solved. Hopefully.
The chapter on using Hydrogen Fuel Cells blew my mind. I knew that both Chrysler and Honda were working on prototypes that drive cars purely off hydrogen gas. I also knew about the many problems involved with this such as storage and subfreezing temperatures. I am excited to hear the Honda has not dropped the ball yet and developed a new model that polishes upon many of the older feature of the first concept. Furthermore, if we could use fuel cells in order to power our houses, we would save a great deal of energy on a renewable product that essentially turn into clean water when it is used up. The only part that I disagree with is that this will become a resource that will truly not need a brand of sorts. Someone is going to have to maintain and service these fuel cells. Also, one of the best ways to receive hydrogen is via pipes underground such as propane. These pipes will have to stem from a company that features a great number of these fuel cell generators. At that point the concept will become capitalized.
I never thought there was any danger in the furniture in my home until I read this article which reminded me of particle board which is pressed together with formaldehyde which is a carcinogen. I was also reminded that though furniture can often last along time once it is dated we often get rid of it by simply throwing it away. However, more and more people are reusing old furniture by giving it a new finish. Others at taking parts from discarded materials and combining them with other and creating something new. Personally I love the smell of fresh paint but what it is volatile organic compounds though it fades off it continues to emit off-gassing in our homes. So try to use paints that have a low-VOC or are VOC free. There are also paints that work as a thermal-insulation that help reduce energy consumption.
ReplyDeleteMarian Perez
ReplyDeleteWorld Changing response #1
ADP III
10/4/09
The book World Changing is defiantly one of the better books for this class we are reading. It does a really good of approaching the issues in our environment and world by getting straight to the point. The section I decided to read was “Disaffected!” and it was about a video game that got players to think about consumption in our world, myself being very interested in video game design. The company Persuasive Games created this game to place the players inside a Kinko’s so that they could deal with costumers and consumption problems. The game builds the players critical thinking by having to deal with these problems in the store while still being fun. There is humor and the entertaining aspects that come with video games. I think learning through video games is a great modernization and really does get points across to people fast and effectively. I would like to play this game and see how well I would do dealing with employees and customers, getting smarter while having fun.
Andrew Hainen
ReplyDeleteADP III :: James Rotz
World Changing :: “Leapfrogging” page 292
The topic of leapfrogging was discussed in lecture last week and I thought it would be a good topic to look at for a World Changing post. The four pages dedicated leapfrogging in the book explain what it is, and then continue to use the mobile phone industry as an example. Basically, leapfrogging is where one area of the world takes on a piece of technology, an idea, or a some other piece of societal gain which lets them skip over the inferior method. The perfect example used by the book is where Africa has cell phones everywhere, but no landlines. Of course landlines were introduced first, but because Africa didn’t invest into that, they don’t have to go through the whole learning process of traditional phones; they skipped right ahead to the new technology.
The book seems to hold the idea of leapfrogging in a pretty high light, not really showing the drawbacks of it. I personally, must agree and say that it I think leapfrogging is a very good thing in many ways. Being a thorough believer in capitalism, it opens up brand new markets for entrepreneurs with newer technology, but also thinking of the people using the products, it allows them to be mesmerized by something new and up to date that the rest of the world is using.
Now, I did hear the argument Joe Trumpey made in class that it can be a bad thing, because (as seen with the One Laptop Per Child program) it can cause money to be invested in an area where it is totally not needed. Africa is in the middle of an AIDS epidemic, there is genocide, and people go hungry by the minute. So why on earth are we investing in laptops instead of cures, food, and aid? I see this argument as valid and very noble, but at the end of the day it just doesn’t work for me. The human mind can only take so much “Fight, fight, fight to help them!” Instead, we’re giving the continent something else: entertainment and productivity. The mind needs to take a step back and see something else, they need to see a larger picture than what is haunting them all day long. With mobile phones and laptops, it might not be saving them, but it does provide a mental refuge and some excitement into their lives. If this argument doesn’t seem valid, find me a student who when they want to mellow out, doesn’t go right to their computer, check Facebook, or pick up their phones and text/call their friends. The mind has to be exercised in many ways, and there are plenty of people looking for a cure and for aid, there needs to be people looking to enlighten underdeveloped countries too.
World Changing Response
ReplyDeleteTrisha Previte
ADP III: James Rotz
For this first World Changing response, I would like to comment on the section entitled “Art Meets Technology” (p97). To begin, I am glad this book takes a chance to acknowledge the role and power artists have in today’s society. When most people think of environmental change, they typically associate solutions with scientists; however, creativity is the driving force behind innovation and progress. Without artists of creative minds and daring spirits, the advancement of this world for the better would decelerate dramatically. By posing questions and statements about the surrounding world through visuals, artists provoke and stimulate innovations that might otherwise have been left uncovered or unthought of (After all, a picture is worth a thousand words). As the authors of World Changing state, these artists “trigger new experiences that transform our perceptions of what is and what could be” (97). That is not to say that science holds second footing to artistry and creativity. Instead, there needs to be coexistence between art and technology, as evidenced in the individual art developments addressed in this section.
Indeed, I found all of these examples of art exhibited through or in collaboration with technology highly original and wonderfully intriguing. For example, coming from a well-experienced service industry worker (I have worked at California Pizza Kitchen since junior year of high school), the video game Disaffected! seems not only wildly entertaining, but a great way to aggravate people into treating such employees – both as a customer and/or fellow employee - with respect and kindness. Also, I found the Carbon Robot to be a wildly inventive method for eye-opening experience. I imagine that as a viewer, to have the visible art elements as well as its implications literally drawn out before you, and by a robot no less, must be truly astonishing, even shocking. This powerful combination of creative media and bold message set the stage for a memorable piece of art that is sure to make a lasting impression on its audience. Lastly, the only piece in this article that disconcerted me was the hug shirt. Indeed, it is a wonderful idea for someone lonely, but I doubt the sensation of a shirt squeezing you can ever quite replace the warmth and comfort of a live human hug. Granted, what an impressive little gizmo, but I would hate for technology to so infiltrate this world as to deface the value of natural human life and contact. Nevertheless, forever the optimist, I have full faith that the human race will not allow this to occur. That being said, problem solved. Hopefully.
The chapter on using Hydrogen Fuel Cells blew my mind. I knew that both Chrysler and Honda were working on prototypes that drive cars purely off hydrogen gas. I also knew about the many problems involved with this such as storage and subfreezing temperatures. I am excited to hear the Honda has not dropped the ball yet and developed a new model that polishes upon many of the older feature of the first concept. Furthermore, if we could use fuel cells in order to power our houses, we would save a great deal of energy on a renewable product that essentially turn into clean water when it is used up. The only part that I disagree with is that this will become a resource that will truly not need a brand of sorts. Someone is going to have to maintain and service these fuel cells. Also, one of the best ways to receive hydrogen is via pipes underground such as propane. These pipes will have to stem from a company that features a great number of these fuel cell generators. At that point the concept will become capitalized.
ReplyDelete