In “Computer Graphics: Effects of Origins”, the author Beverly J. Jones examined the rapid and significant changes of computer graphics during times, especially from 1945 to the present. She also talked about the relationship between “specific image, object, event or environment to conceptual frames.” (P.21) which exist within art and technology, and she emphasized that “cultural patterns embedded in their material and symbolic form” The primary thesis of this article is even though technology development is rapid and significant, old cultural patterns do not die. As she said “They may fade or become more evident…they may be deemphasized or emphasized.” (P.21)

One of the three historical examples Jones provided as an illustration of her thesis is during the early years of computing. “…Working at Bell Labs in 1966, Knowlton and Harmon produced gray-scale images form drawings, photographs and real objects by using data from a photodensitometer. ” (P.24) Jones stated, “This instrument presents the scanned image so prevalent in contemporary work.” (P.24) This example just shown that even though technology was not that developed in the early years of computing, people today are still drawn to the artwork with the same old patterns. Just like Jones thesis “old cultural patterns do not die.”

Another example to illustrate Jones’ thesis at work in today’s culture would be the instant camera. Instant photography, “Invented at Polaroid during the 1940s. Company founder Edwin H. Land masterminded the development of a one-step dry process that produced a finished photography a minute after the picture was taken.”(Baker Library.) So before the invention of instant camera, people had to go to the dark room and make photo. However, nowadays people can just use the instant camera to take photographs everywhere and the photos would come out on the photo paper just in seconds. Compare to the old fashion and digital camera, instant camera seems to keep advantages of new technology and also continuing the fashion of old culture patterns.

“Polaroid Instant Camera.” — New Directions – Baker Library. Harvard Business School, n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.

Jones, B. J. (1990). Computer Graphics: Effects of Origins. LEONARDO: Digital Image – Digital Cinema Supplemental Issue, pp. 21-30.