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Sun Rise   
03:14pm 09/11/2005
 

Sun Rise
Originally uploaded by dextertastic.
A Picture of the lovely sun rise in Toronto.
  
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Suveillance systems   
12:32pm 28/09/2005
 
mood: sick
I had mixed feelings on the article about having underwater cameras in pool. I think that it was incredible lucky that the young girl was revived after drowning but I think this technology creates a false sense of security for those both using and working at the pool. I think that lifeguards may be less inclined to take their jobs as seriously as they should because they can "rely" on the cameras and sensors to find a child who is drowning. As we all know technology is not that reliable. What happens if the sensors fail and a child is subsequently killed? I think that we should still be relying on the lifeguards to be watching the children at all times.
I think that having cameras in a childcare centre is a bad idea. I think that it would make the teachers act unnaturally because they know that they are being watched. I think that society is becoming way too paranoid. I think that people should put the time and effort into finding quality childcare where they can attain piece of mind. Having a camera in the centre also makes it harder for parents to let their children lead independent lives. I think it is sort of weird to want to watch after your child all day. If you really want to make sure that your child is safe and secure then the parent should home with the child. It interferes with the parents work too because they are always checking up on their child. I would not place my child in a centre that had cameras.		  
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Turkle's Articles   
01:18pm 14/09/2005
  As someone who uses the internet frequently I have been in many chat rooms over the last few years. Chat rooms can be dangerous places. It is incorrect to assume that everyone in the chat room is who they claim to be. Although a person could potentially explore different facets of their personality by taking on a different persona in a chat room, one can never be too sure of who they are chatting with or what kind of motives that person has. Turkle does have some good points about how one can use the chat rooms for self discovery but fails to mentions some of the potential risks associated with letting your guard down in a chat room.
Although I hate to admit it I do enjoy playing the computer game The Sims sometimes. I remember when the game first came out how I would play for hours, constructing lives for the characters. The problem was that I would do this and ignore other responsibilities. It was like living life through someone else. I would not recommend these games for children because of the potential to get too caught up in the virtual reality. A child cannot necessarily separate fact from fiction and may become to caught up in the fantasy world. In one article the child did not question how things happened in the game and just accepted that if something went wrong that was the way it was supposed to be. In real life how will this child deal with problem that may arise? It seems as if they would just assume that that was what was correct and not question the problem.		  
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Technology and The Incredibles   
02:02pm 11/09/2005
  In the movie The Incredibles extreme forms of technology were almost seen as being "evil". To me it seemed like the "bad guys" in the movie used the most complex form of technology to help with whatever evil scheme they had cooked up. The character Buddy, who has no natural "super" powers uses technology to achieve the same status as a superhero. He builds machines that are complex, have the ability to learn and able to destroy even the strongest of the heroes. I feel as though this movie is saying that although technology can be exciting and interesting, it can also be used to do harm when it is the the hands of the wrong people. I think this idea is especially prevalent in today's society with the hype surrounding "weapons of mass destruction". Many people are afraid that terrorists will use high tech weapons to wage war against other countries.
I also thought the movie made a point of separating technology and the family. After Mr. Incredible and his wife are unable to use their natural super powers or their high tech gadgets they are forced to live normal, mundane, low tech lives.
I also think the movie points out that new technology is really only available to those who have the money to attain it. I think this is very true in today's society. Gadgets like Ipods, cell phones, etc are really great and fun to use but come at such a high price that only those with the means can afford to buy them. In the movie, Edna, who is obviously very wealthy, has a magnificent clothing manufacturing machine right in her own home. A "normal" person would not be able to afford that.
I think children watching this movie are not getting the same message as adults are. To children the movie is funny and it has cool things in it like rocket boots. I think adults have the responsibility of explaining the pros and cons of technology to children so they can understand it better.		  
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