Blog 2

Heim's article is about defining "virtual reality". He goes into detail on how the definition of the word has changed and now it has a very loose meaning, which describes anything to do with computers. He tries to clarify the meaning and states that VR is a technology and not a nebulous idea. He then speaks about the three I's: Immersion, Interactivity, and Information Intensity. Immersion is feeling like you are there, Interactivity is quick perspective changes to feel like you are there, Information Intensity is Vr is a form of intelligent behavior. Telepressence: occupying the same virtual space through technological communications, ie. telephone. Then Heim goes into detail describing VR technologies such as helmets, networks and simulators, and the cave. Lastly he focuses on the steps in technology that were taken in order to develop the VR systems that are avalible now.

In Benjamin Woolley’s article “Cyberspace” Woolley attempts to give meaning to the term Cyberspace. He does not want to give the reader a etymological meaning of the word. Instead, he embarks on a study of the word and its evolvement in society.
Marshall McLuhan suggests that technology is an extension of our bodies. Woolley seems to agree with McLuhan because he feels that our society is physically and emotionally linked to technology, especially cyberspace. Woolley then goes into the history of the internet and how it was developed. Viruses were also a topic of discussion because future viruses could destruct the internet.
Network exchange information across distances and this network created a global community. Woolley seems to believe that cyberspace is the most powerful form of communication. Without cyberspace society would collapse because people are so interconnected and dependent on it. Woolley states that cyberspace is a new frontier. He gives so much information, history and many quotes from others with have written on this subject.

In Bolter & Grusin's "Remediation" they address the fact that nothing on the internet is original, every visual aspect on the internet has a new look and new feel but it is technically just an upgrade from past methods used. After we went over the definitions in class I had a better understanding of what Bolter & Grusin were tring to get across.

Hypermediacy- More than one media type coming at the user at once. ie. banner, music, hyperlinks, pictures.
Remediation- Moving from one idea to the next. ie. book into a movie
Medium- system of representation. New medium takes good stuff and puts it into a new medium.
Immediacy- sense of feeling you are there and thinking you are there.

In class we did some freewriting:
Who monitors crimes that happen on the internet?
how are people punished?
Is there a better way?
Information saftey?
Hackers, I dont know much about them.
Transfer of money between individuals/banks/ect.
What type of media generates the most hits by users at other sites?
Which type of media is most commonly used?