Category: Unit 08

The thesis of Jone’s essay was directed towards the idea that new forms of art and technology are usually created with respect to older forms. An example of this idea from her text explained how, “the stone columns of ancient Egyptian architecture were based on earlier bound papyrus columns”(Jones 51). This example shows the influence and consistency that papyrus columns had on the columns of Egyptian architecture. I think another one of her views is that the ideas grow on one another an are not often random in the uprising of new technology.

 

One historical example  Jones provides as an illustration of her thesis is about the advancement in technology from two dimensional displays to three dimensional displays on a two dimensional surface. This three dimensional imagery was created from the combination of computer technician scientists extending computer limits, and artists that used computer graphic technology to make new 3D images. This was such an amazing advancement because, “the primary form of computer imagery in the early years was the two dimensional screen or plotter graphic” (Jones 54). 3D technology grew off of existing 2D technology and this just exemplifies Jones’ thesis about how new forms of art and technology grow off of the forms of old ones.

 

The mass global exception and technology advancement of  touch screen technology in today’s cell phones  is  based on the old form of button phone technology.Touch screen phones are such a big advancement because it went from touching stationary buttons to swiping across a virtual button. Touch screen phones and devices are extremely more interactive than older phones and are even becoming a necessity to be a part some social groups. For example, “Touchscreens are a must-have UX for any company’s stable of mobile products and has actually created a new style of enormously successful apps”(Sniderman). Phones like the iPhone are examples of how new touchscreen phone technologies grew from and then replaced older button based phone tech. Now with the widespread use of apps for business, school, and entertainment purposes our cultural need for touch screens phones is becoming increasingly prominent. I think that Jone’s would be very excited about the growth of this technological form, in fact she probably has an iPhone already.

 

Citation

Sniderman, Zachary. “Tech Advances That Are Transforming Digital Entertainment.” Mashable. N.p., Jan.-Feb. 2011. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.

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

 

I think it is an interesting idea that video games and players have the potential to help solve worldly problems. It wasn’t Until I read the text and watched the Ted Talks video that I actually believed this was possible. My question is, what other ways can video gamers help the world out other than informing themselves about problems in the world? Beverly Jones’ Computer Graphics essay stated that “most video games clearly show their origin in military simulation.” This and institutions like the military is where I think video games have the most potential, and whether we can implement these ideas into the video games that everyone plays is another objective. I think another problem arises in  the ability of game designers to trust the gamers completing these tasks and making the games relevant and directly applicable to real life situations. None the less I think this is a great way to move something that millions of people are going to do anyway into a direction that is beneficial to them and other in the World.