Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Blog Post #8: Artificial Intelligence and the Diffusion Theory

 Artificial intelligence has evolved very quickly to become one of the most potent technologies of the 21st century, transforming industries, altering communication, and upsetting traditional work patterns. To understand why AI has gained ground so quickly, and why others remain wary, the diffusion of innovations theory, which was outlined by Everett Rogers, provides an useful framework. The theory outlines how new technology diffuses over time through societies, categorized by types like innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards.



AI diffusion began with an influx of innovators: researchers, developers, and tech-forward companies eager to tap its potential. They were later joined by early adopters — professional organizations like marketing, education, healthcare, and finance — that recognized AI's potential for automating mundane tasks, enhancing decision-making, and generating insights at scale. For these buyers, the promise of increased productivity, efficiency, and competitive edge outweighed risk concerns.


The rapid uptake can also be accounted for by the minimal barrier to entry: most AI software, such as

chatbots, and writing aids, are extremely easy to use or integrated into preexisting systems. One of the most popular AI tools, ChatGPT, can be used by simply visiting the website and asking freeform questions. That ready availability facilitated the early majority's utilization of AI, sometimes unknowingly.

However, not everyone has embraced the technology. Late adopters are likely more prone to skepticism, perhaps due to fear of job displacement, fear of data privacy, or general unease with rapid technological change. These people end up using AI, but only later on once it has become the norm.

The laggards are the people who refuse to use. These people may see AI as a direct threat to their jobs and a threat to productivity. This leads us to the idea of a tug-of-war game between the power of AI and the need for human creativity. Laggards are likely to be afraid that AI will become the dominant force of the world, and that humanity has a bleak future if we are not careful with AI.

There are downsides to AI. Its use can promote greedy decisions in the workplace or replace human effort. AI can reduce creativity in problem-solving. To the user considering adoption, then, the question is: are rewards worth costs? If AI can enable me to communicate more effectively, work more efficiently, or achieve new insight, that's powerful incentive. But if I could over-rely on hidden computer decisions or trade off what counts, then the reward is less clear.


Ultimately, the adoption of any communications technology, including AI, is an ongoing cost-benefit calculation. Diffusion of innovations theory cautions us that individuals use technologies not because they perform, but because they are compatible with social norms, address actual problems, and are accompanied by accepted endorsements. With further development in AI, so too will the range of adoption, influenced not only by what the technology can achieve, but by what individuals will accept.

Friday, April 11, 2025

Blog Post #7: Anti-War Messaging

Prior Restraint and the Spiral of Silence

The Spiral of Silence is the phenomenon in which individuals tend to silence themselves when they believe their opinion goes against the majority. Prior restraint is when the government prohibits speech or expression before it happens. Prior restraint is almost always unconstitutional; however, the government is still interested in controlling what is said, whether or not they do it outright. The spiral of silence allows the government to effectively prevent people from speaking out against the government by influencing the mass media.

                                    

Prior Restraint Exceptions

As stated before, the government, while constitutionally limited, has a desire to silence minority opinions. One of the exceptions to the prior restraint rule is the idea that threats to national security, especially during times of war, are able to be restrained without being unconstitutional. This prompts the government to stay in war. War gives the government more power to silence minority opinions. War gives people something to stay focused on while the government does what they want. It can seem cynical to claim that the government actively searches for ways to violate our constitutional rights, but the rights were put in place because they would otherwise be infringed upon. Without the protection of these rights, our government has genuine interest in creating narratives and silencing minority opinions that speak out against government action.

Desire for Comfortability

It is human nature for people to want comfort. The mainstream media needs to give people what they want in order to maintain ratings. One side effect of this idea is that the mainstream media is reluctant or unwilling to present controversial stories under the threat of public backlash. Anti-war messaging is often viewed as "extreme" or "isolationist" or as a threat to the government, so the media tends to avoid those stories. Outlets like CNN or Fox News have consistent and thematic news cycles and brands of stories, so these stories that challenge the status quo are generally left out in favor of comfort and stability through consistency.

These outlets are also in the business of controlling narratives, and anti-war messaging muddies these narratives and complicates what could be simple. They take the simple "good guy vs. bad guy" idea and complicate it. Anti-war protesting and journalism also shows people they are not powerless against the government and they don't have to be passive. This is not something corporate sponsors of the mainstream media want you to think.

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Blog Post #6: Technology (Netflix, Google, and Carrier Pigeons)

 Netflix


The ancestors of Netflix were Blockbuster Video and Redbox. I remember Redboxes growing up, but I haven’t seen one in years. Netflix was founded by Marc Randolph, and was originally made for renting DVDs by mail. 10 years later, in 2007, Netflix started offering streaming services. Like so many other innovations, Netflix was considered a joke by its competitors. Netflix eventually eclipsed Redbox, Blockbuster Video, and all other DVD rental services.


Netflix’s Negatives

One major issue that has resulted from Netflix and other streaming services is the common cultural issue of Binge-Watching, or watching a series for hours on end, overloading our senses.  Addictive behaviors around streaming services can also cause sleep deprivation and isolation from friends and family. Netflix can also lead to a major decrease in productivity.

Google


Early search engines, before google was introduced, looked for how many times your word appeared in a website. For instance, if I searched for The Great Gatsby, I might find websites that say the words “The Great Gatsby” fifty times before I find the actual book somewhere. Google revolutionized the search engine game by using an improved PageRank algorithm based on the number of citations your website has. Funnily enough, Yahoo funded Google early on. Google also started the business model of getting paid to display targeted ads.


Bonus Round- Famous Carrier Pigeons

Easily one of my favorite parts of the EOTO, these pigeons were a blast to learn about and somehow, these birds are far more heroic than I am.

Cher Ami

Delivered a message that saved soldiers and lost its leg in the process

G.I. JOE

Flew 20 mile in 20 minutes to save lives by preventing a bombing


The EOTO presentations helped keep all this content engaging and fresh, and I was happy to learn what my fellow classmates had presented.

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Blog Post #5: TED Talks and Privacy

 The TED Talks I watched were eye opening. I felt naïve, in a way, for not realizing the severity of my lack of privacy. From the discussion about the “electronic tattoo” to the topic of invasive police surveillance, I was shocked to see just how much I didn’t know.


The idea of the “electronic tattoo” presented by our social media habits and the internet in general shows relevance to everyone’s daily life. In my hand I have access to social media outlets that could ruin my career and reputation in seconds if I decide to post something that affects my image. This is a relatively new thing, as in past generations, there was much less permanence in the world. But your online presence is never truly erased.

The mass surveillance technology used by police has
reached the point of invasiveness.  One of the most shocking technologies I was exposed to was the police license plate scanners that provide photos to a database of pictures and location information. While helpful in the fight against crime, these databases are invasive and unfair to the average person who has done no wrong.

The idea that “there’s no real harm in mass surveillance because only people who do bad acts should feel the need to hide” is a bad argument. This assumes two types of people, good and bad. It also forgoes the idea that privacy is an important right of all people.

The fight for privacy is a difficult one. My only goal to fight against privacy is to make sure that I am mindful and conscious of my actions online. There are battles being fought over privacy today, but I believe our job is to keep ourselves safe first. For example, I rarely post online, and I use a VPN regularly. By keeping my posts to a minimum, I hope to limit my exposure to the invasive nature of the internet. 

Monday, March 31, 2025

Blog Post #4 EOTO: The Newspaper

The history of the newspaper spans over two millennia, evolving from rudimentary handwritten notices
in ancient Rome to the mass-produced dailies of the industrial age. This evolution stems from shifts in public needs and is connected by key developments. This includes the Roman Acta Diurna, the Venetian avvisi, the early printed newspapers of Johann Carolus, and the rise of the American penny press in the 19th century. Together, these milestones make up the evolution of the newspaper into a public commodity and the birth of modern journalism.

The earliest known form of a public news bulletin was the Acta Diurna, or “Daily Acts” of ancient Rome. First published in 59 BCE under the direction of Julius Caesar, these daily records were etched into stone or metal and posted in public spaces like the Roman Forum. The Acta Diurna included information about official acts and even entertainment such as astrological readings. There are no surviving copies of Acta Diurna. The Roman innovation of daily bulletins was one of the first examples of a core function of the modern newspaper: reaching a broad audience through written word.

From 1500-1700, handwritten newsletters known as avvisi began circulating in Venice. These reports, were written by government officials or merchants and provided intelligence on political and military news. Unlike the Acta Diurnia, which served primarily as state communication, avvisi were produced for private subscribers who paid for access to strategic information. While the avvisi were only for the elite audience, it still paved the way for the paid-reader style of modern newspapers.


Following the invention of the printing press, the spread of copied word without having to handwrite became significantly easier. This technological breakthrough paved the way for the first printed newspaper, Johann Carolus’s Account of All Distinguished and Commemorable News. Being the first newspaper, it set the path forward for what future newspapers would model themselves as. Carolus combined news content with the ability to send it widespread using a printing press, and made newspapers a reality across Europe. All across Europe, major cities were publishing newspapers of their own that brought information to many people, (though still limited to a higher paying class).

Despite their widespread use, early newspapers were still


expensive and were purchased by the elite class. This changed dramatically with the penny press in the United States during the 1830s. Made popular by papers like Benjamin Day’s New York Sun, the penny press slashed the price of newspapers to one cent, making them affordable to the growing working class. These papers emphasized sensational stories, crime reporting, human-interest features, and accessible language, broadening the newspaper’s appeal. As printing technology improved, the penny press became more and more possible, and eventually led to what I believe was the most important shift in newspaper culture, the transfer from elite class only to the everyman. The penny press gave the working class access to the same information as the elites had been getting and made advertisements in the newspapers a real source of income.real source of income.

From carved tablets in ancient Rome to the street vendors selling penny-press-papers of industrial-era cities, the newspaper's evolution displays profound changes in society’s communication infrastructure. The Acta Diurnia established the concept of daily public information, while avvisi introduced a subscription-based, regularly updated format. Johann Carolus's printed newspaper utilized the printing press to abandon handwritten news, and the penny press expanded the newspaper’s audience and influence. Together, these developments trace the newspaper’s trajectory from exclusive record to mass medium, shaping the way societies access and engage with the world around them.

Monday, March 10, 2025

My Top Five Sources of News and Information

1. Youtube
Certainly my most used source, I rely on Youtube to keep me updated on current events. Youtube often gives feeds that compile separate coverages of political events. This gives the viewer access to a variety of different views and stances on the topics presented. Youtube is also generically useful for finding up to date information.



2. Instagram
Instagram is more social media than news source, but Instagram is a quick and easy way to find new information. Instagram is consistently up to date and delivers personalized news. Youtube and Instagram provide very similar functions, but Instagram tends to beat out Youtube in having up to date information on non-political topics. When I'm not on Youtube, I'm usually on Instagram to find information faster.







3.LinkedIn
LinkedIn provides very useful information for both job applications and employers. I use LinkedIn to find job/internship opportunities and connect with people online. LinkedIn gives me a good idea of who is hiring and for what jobs. I make sure to check LinkedIn consistently so that I can stay on top of job opportunities that arise. Game Design is a competitive field, so the more active I am on LinkedIn, the better.



4. CNN
While I see the inherent biases of most major news networks, I tend to see a small amount less when it comes to CNN. This outlet offers a lot of articles outside of just their live coverage, articles usually based in data and fact. As with a lot of major news sources, however, I take information from CNN with a grain of salt. Many major news companies want to push a story or simply churn out news as fast as possible to drive engagement. CNN can easily mislead the average viewer. This source tends to be left leaning nan 
5. Fox News
Fox News and CNN are complementary. I don't often look at either channel, but when I do, I usually look at both. Fox News is an undeniably right leaning source of media.