Technology and Writing

I wanted to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday. I wil begin reading your essays after the holiday and will have them graded by Tuesday or Wednesday. In the meantime, please stay tuned for the weekly video update on Monday and for the beginning of the white paper project.

The Ruckus focused on a whole slew of topics this week, but I found of particular interest the discussion about Gen. Wesley Clark's outburst concerning Sen. John McCain.

The first article I chose to read was titled, Power to the People. This article discussed the conundrum faced by many online web designers (even the more advertisement-driven ones) when it comes to choosing which is more important: implementing the newest technologies in their field, or serving the needs of their users. The author firmly believes that the web is supposed to work for its users instead of against them. By "against them", I assume he means trying to prey on their instincts in order to profit. He referenced the internet technology that made it possible for thousands of donors to send money to organizations involved in the Hurricane Katrina relief effort--as an example of how and why internet technologies should work for the people.

The writings about web design are interesting if no other reason than because they are written by web designers themselves and represent real opinions in the modern world of creative content. The first writing focuses on the profession of web design and how it has been manipulated to serve the interets of advertisers with extravagant marketing schemes. This author portrays the world of web design as the frontlines for ethical writing in a world increasingly dominated by forms of writing that are market-oriented and purpose-driven for economical interests.

Hi all,

This is too good to pass up. You will recall that in the essays we read early on in the term, Dennis Baron claimed that, basically, nothing is certain on an age when every text and image can be digitally manipulated. Although I am not a big fan of Fox News, I am not necessarily posting this to blast them (well, on the other hand, why not?) Apparently, Fox has altered the pictures of two NYT reporters who had published a ctitical piece about Fox. Good one.

Here's my blog post for the day. This article from Read/Write Web talks about the concept of "collaborative filtering." The idea is simple:

Unlike mainstream media where there is either one or very few editors setting guidelines, the collaboratively filtered social web can have infinitely many editors and gets better as you increase the number of participants.

In the articles written by Amber Simmons and Jeffrey Zeldman we are introduced the web design aspect of the internet as well as the meaning that inspires the design. Amber Simmons points out the important fact that many times designers and writers would work completely separately on their collaborative page. The writing was not seen as important as the design. Although the design is important and needs to be something that really can draw in readers, the readers need to be absorbing actual information that is important and respected. Writers and web designers need to focus on combining ideas and resolutions to the fork in the road between these two professions.

I admit, I have a Facebook account which I occasionally look at. Look me up, if you want. I don'r remember why I got it--I probably just wanted to see what it was all about. I lok at it only ocassionally because I am not sure what to do with Facebook. One of my friends who is into poker kept sending me virtual Texas hold 'em invitations but had to stop because I was not responding. I am a member of several professional groups there, but I barelly look at their pages. Overall, Fb just never "took" with me, although I realize that its inventor Mark Zuckerberg must have done something right if it is so wildly popular.

All,

this week's video preview is on the wiki rather than here because most of the action this week will take place there. As always, if you have any questions, please let me know. --pz

This week in Britannica was a lot more political talk, and most of it (again) centered on Obama. People have been skeptical of Obama’s recent decision not to use federal financing in the general election (the first major-party presidential nominee to do so); a decision that Republicans are calling “typical” of someone who will do anything to win an election, and even many of his supports are turning a critical eye on Obama’s choice. There are estimates that Obama could raise $300 or more under public financing. Critical watchdog groups are disappointed in Obama’s choice, foreseeing private funding coming with strings attached- expectations of favors or special access.