How do you make three million twins? Or a three-hundred foot high robot talk to a tiny winy man? C-O-M-P-U-T-E-R T-E-C-H-N-O-L-O-G-Y.
Thanks to computer graphics and the latest digital filmmaking software, anything is possible now in the silver screen. The technological advancements in film are surely a great addition to the silver screen mystique. This technology has brought many the excitement they never dreamed of in cinema.
It has made possible the once impossible feats, angles, shots, stunts in cinema.
Results: more excitement for the audience, more money for the producers and those behind the magic of the screen, more advances in cinema.
There are endless options for the men and women behind and on the scene. Thanks to digital filmmaking technology. This is a great blessing to the human race—it gives us moments of being superhuman. In and on the screen, only of course.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Distance Learning: Learning from a Distance
Learning inside the classroom is just an option. A university is now just a click away. There are now a variety of options for learning—formal or informal. Thanks to the advent of online technology via the ubiquitous Internet. While this opens up vistas of opportunities to learn and advance intellectually, it also has deep dark areas.
The biggest so far is dishonesty. Because of lack of student and teacher interaction, the student has more leeway to be dishonest. This is not a pessimistic view of online scholars. It is just that the medium for this type of learning allows for more chances of cheating.
Furthermore, regular class attendance is no longer a must. There is great value in regular class attendance and class discussion that is face to face. The emotions involved in an online class are greatly reduced; so is student-student interaction. Social education may be sacrificed for the sake of convenient online learning.
While the Internet offers great opportunities, the learning of our children must never be solely left to online institutions. Humans learn by interacting with fellow human beings. Learning happens in interaction—socially, emotionally, intellectually, physically. And that interaction is not just in pixels of hypertext; it happens in words, sounds, images, feelings—tangible objects and not just flashing computer screens.
The biggest so far is dishonesty. Because of lack of student and teacher interaction, the student has more leeway to be dishonest. This is not a pessimistic view of online scholars. It is just that the medium for this type of learning allows for more chances of cheating.
Furthermore, regular class attendance is no longer a must. There is great value in regular class attendance and class discussion that is face to face. The emotions involved in an online class are greatly reduced; so is student-student interaction. Social education may be sacrificed for the sake of convenient online learning.
While the Internet offers great opportunities, the learning of our children must never be solely left to online institutions. Humans learn by interacting with fellow human beings. Learning happens in interaction—socially, emotionally, intellectually, physically. And that interaction is not just in pixels of hypertext; it happens in words, sounds, images, feelings—tangible objects and not just flashing computer screens.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
reaction to REQUIREMENTS ELICITATION TECHNIQUES: ANALYZING THE GAP BETWEEN TECHNOLOGY AVAILABILITY AND TECHNOLOGY USE
The paper talks about requirements elicitation techniques and the relationship of its availability and use. There are many factors affecting this such as time, modes of transfer, the social system.
It gives a very insightful view on the process of developing software or technology. No wonder there are many “useless” inventions because of the lack of applying requirements elicitation te4chniques.
The paper gives me another insight into the frequency of technology usage among certain groups of people. It aided me in understanding why some people can use certain technologies while others cannot. Like me for example, although technology is available to me, I am still hesitant to use them. The paper has given an insight into my fear of technology and exploring the capabilities of machines.
Although it is customary for me to think and do things outside of the box, I am still trapped in the box when it comes to computers and cellphones.
I guess the paper is right. I need more time to adjust to the technology available to me. I must learn to love them if I were to survive in these rapidly swirling technological advancements of our age.
It gives a very insightful view on the process of developing software or technology. No wonder there are many “useless” inventions because of the lack of applying requirements elicitation te4chniques.
The paper gives me another insight into the frequency of technology usage among certain groups of people. It aided me in understanding why some people can use certain technologies while others cannot. Like me for example, although technology is available to me, I am still hesitant to use them. The paper has given an insight into my fear of technology and exploring the capabilities of machines.
Although it is customary for me to think and do things outside of the box, I am still trapped in the box when it comes to computers and cellphones.
I guess the paper is right. I need more time to adjust to the technology available to me. I must learn to love them if I were to survive in these rapidly swirling technological advancements of our age.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
What is Missing in Primetime News?
TV news is as we now it—big time. All eyes zoom in, all ears point to the television set as the primetime news airs with its loud and bombastic soundtrack. We eat in front of the television; we gather and socialize with and on the news. Fires, guns, riots, government decrees—we have all sorts and sizes. Come one! Come all! Primetime news is on.
News is to inform, to impart, to report. It presumes to be complete and encompassing on the subjects, people and events it covers. But sometimes, it still misses the point: the viewers are intelligent.
The presumption that the television is the “idiot box” may be true, as much as it may be false. A recent study by University of the Philippines – Diliman students found primetime news viewers know what is missing in their news—an in-depth and a more comprehensive coverage of international and local news.
One of the respondents said the he is always waiting for news from the Philippine countryside. News on Philippine television has always been focused on the seat of government, the center of commerce, the metropolis of Manila.
One of the respondents in the study referring to minimal coverage of international news, said in an interview, “feeling ko, siguro feeling ng network na it’s not interesting to the people” (I feel that the TV networks feel that international news is not interesting to the people).
Crime has often been the banner bearer of news. No primetime news program would forget to report on crime, crime and more crime. A respondent has said that there must be less coverage on crime in news.
News is not about crime. Crime becomes newsworthy because it shadows or reflects a social phenomenon. What the news programs can do is to use a crime story as a human interest point to hook in the viewers. Then it must report on the social conditions and circumstances that the single crime reflects. This is in-depth news reporting. Statistics will help reporters give a bigger picture of a single, remote act of crime. By so doing, the news programs now answer the viewers’ question: What has this to do with me.
Viewers of the “idiot box” are not idiots. They want more and deserve more from the current setting and reportage of primetime news. Unless there is a less focus on the mundane and the sensational, news viewers will remain idiots. Fault be on the TV networks.
News is to inform, to impart, to report. It presumes to be complete and encompassing on the subjects, people and events it covers. But sometimes, it still misses the point: the viewers are intelligent.
The presumption that the television is the “idiot box” may be true, as much as it may be false. A recent study by University of the Philippines – Diliman students found primetime news viewers know what is missing in their news—an in-depth and a more comprehensive coverage of international and local news.
One of the respondents said the he is always waiting for news from the Philippine countryside. News on Philippine television has always been focused on the seat of government, the center of commerce, the metropolis of Manila.
One of the respondents in the study referring to minimal coverage of international news, said in an interview, “feeling ko, siguro feeling ng network na it’s not interesting to the people” (I feel that the TV networks feel that international news is not interesting to the people).
Crime has often been the banner bearer of news. No primetime news program would forget to report on crime, crime and more crime. A respondent has said that there must be less coverage on crime in news.
News is not about crime. Crime becomes newsworthy because it shadows or reflects a social phenomenon. What the news programs can do is to use a crime story as a human interest point to hook in the viewers. Then it must report on the social conditions and circumstances that the single crime reflects. This is in-depth news reporting. Statistics will help reporters give a bigger picture of a single, remote act of crime. By so doing, the news programs now answer the viewers’ question: What has this to do with me.
Viewers of the “idiot box” are not idiots. They want more and deserve more from the current setting and reportage of primetime news. Unless there is a less focus on the mundane and the sensational, news viewers will remain idiots. Fault be on the TV networks.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)