#1501hum

[philippakate833-blog]

#11 - The Dangers of Violence in Video Games

Here is the link to my movie on the dangers of violence in video games:

Inspired by A Current Affair, this video is meant to be humorous, however it explores a real and quite serious issue. All footage is legally obtained and is either my own or approved by Creative Commons. References can be found underneath the video which was posted on Youtube. Hope you enjoy :)

[bella-lofty-blog]

1501HUM New Communication Technology - 2 minute video on Tinder. 

[emmastewartme-blog]

Should Edward Snowden be in jail?

During late 2013 it was almost impossible to open up a newspaper or turn on the television without seeing the name Edward Snowden. These ground breaking revelations turned the world and it’s governments on their head and brought about massive debate about the expectation of privacy from our world governments in our everyday lives. The leaks and Snowden’s vilification and consequent call for imprisonment, raised the question, should Edward Snowden be imprisoned for his actions? This essay will look at arguments both for and against his imprisonment and come to a conclusion based on this information. Before looking at the arguments for and against Edward Snowden’s imprisonment, we must first understand what Edward Snowden did and his reasoning behind his actions.

Edward Snowden was a subcontractor for Booz Allen, a management and technology consultancy agency (Booz Allen, 2015) and through this he began working for America’s National Security Agency (NSA)’s office in Oahu. After three months of working for the agency, Snowden began creating a dossier of top-secret documents pertaining to the NSA’s domestic surveillance practices (Biography.com, 2015). After much moral and political deliberation, Snowden then shared thousands of these documents with Glenn Greenwalk, Laura Poitras, and Barton Gellman (Cole, 2014), journalists whom he selected to assist him in his efforts of sharing this information with the world (Branum and Charteris-Black, 2015). On June 6, 2013 The Guardian and Washington Post reported on the information that would cause global shock and debate (Government Accountability Project, 2015).  The published articles revealed that the NSA in conjunction with the British Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) had been conducting worldwide secret surveillance on the public (Branum and Charteris-Black, 2015). Although the NSA does not know the full extent of the information stolen by Snowden, it estimates that close to 1.7 million classified documents containing the US’s most closely guarded secret surveillance programs were taken (Cole, 2014).

Through these revelations, Snowden revealed secret orders under which the NSA was seizing phone and text records of virtually every citizen in the United States, conducting extensive surveillance of at least 122 world leaders by the United States, as well as forcing US telecommunication companies to cooperate by turning over data on every US citizen, intercepting millions of calls in target countries (all calls conducted in Afganistan, for example) and that a British spy agency in conjunction with the NSA was tapping fibre optic cables (Look away: The revelations of Edward Snowden have confirmed just how much surveillance the state undertakes, 2014). These shocking realities about the extent of surveillance of a government on its citizens caused widespread public debate about what extent governments can go in order to discover illegal activities at the stake of it’s citizens privacy.

Upon the discovery of the whistleblower’s identity, the U.S government cancelled Snowden’s passport, effectively removing all his rights and causing him to reluctantly accept asylum from Russia, despite his misgivings (Sheurman, 2014). If Snowden is to return to U.S. soil Snowden will be charged “with stealing government property and violating the Espionage Act” (Cole, 2014). There are many who believe, along with the U.S. government, that these charges are warranted and should be carried out.

Regardless of the moral reasons that drove Edward Snowden to act and reveal these NSA secrets, we must not forget that he willingly and knowingly broke the law. America’s Attorney General at the time, Eric Holder announced that Snowden violated the Espionage act and would be charged accordingly (Sheurman, 2014). Furthermore, he also broke the civil contract created when he signed the standard government non-disclosure agreement upon beginning his work for the NSA (Sheurman, 2014). Tony Abbott stated that “This gentlemen Snowden, or this individual Snowden, who has betrayed his country and in the process badly, badly damaged other countries that are friends of the United States” (Your government watches you: The revelations of Edward Snowden have revealed an era of digital totalitarianism, 2014). He brings up a good point about whether or not Snowden’s actions resulted in the positive outcome Snowden hoped for. Many governments were angered by the discovery of the spying conducted on their leaders causing massive mistrust between friendly nations. Both President Obama and the then Prime Minister of Britain accused Snowden’s disclosures of placing people in harms ways by increasing the risk of terrorist attacks as retaliation (Sheurmen, 2014). In addition to the mistrust between nations, the leaks also caused feelings of betrayal for U.S. citizens.

Despite the level of betrayal that the public felt due to these revelations, the government does have a right to conduct surveillance on it’s citizens if it means that lives are saved and abuse is avoided. One such example would be foiled terrorist attacks that were discovered through this surveillance, or the shutting down of paedophile rings. If this surveillance was not protected by secrecy, those guilty of these actions may be able to create more secretive and discrete ways to go about their wrong doing and illegal actions, making it harder for those responsible to be brought to justice. (Look away: The revelations of Edward Snowden have confirmed just how much surveillance the state undertakes, 2014). Snowden’s decision to blatantly break the law also raises the question of where we draw the line when it comes to disregarding laws in order to satisfy our morals (Sheurman, 2014). This raises the question, would Snowden’s release and pardon in regard to his crimes set a dangerous precedent for those looking to justify their own misconducts? While these arguments create enough of a case for Snowden to be sent to jail for his actions, we must balance these against the arguments against Snowden being imprisoned.

Despite the illegality of his actions, Edward Snowden undertook great moral debate with himself for some time and deemed that the truth needed to be heard, even if that meant giving up a cushy life in Oahu, a six-figure salary and leaving his loved-ones behind. Snowden essentially put his own wellbeing and lifestyle on the line, with his own country cancelling his passport and labelling him a terrorist (Your government watches you: The revelations of Edward Snowden have revealed a new era in digital totalitarianism, 2014). Snowden believed that the NSA’s actions were and attack on long-standing rights set out in the U.S constitution, particularly the Fourth and Fifth Amendments (Shuerman,2014). The Fourth amendments describes “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized” (law.cornell.edu, 2015). The Fifth amendment states “[no] person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury…nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation” (law.cornell.edu, 2015). After some time, James Clapper, director of the NSA basically admitted that what they were doing wasn’t legal, although they adhered to some laws while partaking in their surveillance (Your government watches you: The revelations of Edward Snowden have revealed an era of digital totalitarianism, 2014).

The laws set up at the time dismissed the ideas that Snowden could have approached his superiors about the issue, which he did in fact do, only to have them ignore his concerns, leaving him no option to incite change other than to have the public become aware of their violated privacy. Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks “commented in an article entitled ‘Conspiracy as governance’ that only mass disclosure of information to the public can really undermine the emerging form of digital totalitarianism. Snowden’s large scale revelations are the only effective to this growing intrusion” (Your government watches you: The revelations of Edward Snowden have revealed an era of digital totalitarianism, 2014). As is presented in this essay, there are many arguments that dismiss the idea that Snowden should be imprisoned.

Based on the research undertaken, and taking into account arguments both for and against Edward Snowden’s imprisonment, it is impossible for this author to believe that Snowden should be punished to the extent currently being called for by the American Government. Yes, Snowden’s actions were not adherent to the laws set in place and he did fail to meet the expectations of the non-disclosure agreement he signed relating to his work with the NSA. However, the way in which the American government has vilified Snowden and condemned him to a lengthy jail term for simply sharing the truth, in essence treating the government just as they are treating their citizens by providing the public with information they deserved to be aware of, there has been no dramatic after-effects such as death or destruction as a result of his revelations. The only result of his actions was that the public were made aware that their government is watching them. In an interview conducted shortly after his ground-breaking revelations, Snowden stated “I’m willing to sacrifice [my former life] because I cant in good conscience allow the U.S. Government to destroy the privacy, internet freedom and basic liberties for people around the world with this massive surveillance machine they’re secretly building” (Greenwald, MacAskill and Poitras, 2013). Whether or not Edward Snowden is imprisoned, the circumstances show that there is a desperate need for a change in the laws that allow governments to remain unaccountable and unchecked by the public they are meant to be protecting.

REFERENCES

Biography.com, (2015). Edward Snowden: Biography. [online] Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/edward-snowden-21262897 [Accessed 26 Sep. 2015].

Booz Allen, (2015). [online] Available at: http://boozallen.com/ [Accessed 27 Sep. 2015]

Branum, J. and Charteris-Black, J. (2015). The Edward Snowden Affair: A corpus study of British press. Discourse & Communication. [online] 9(2), pp.199-220. Available at: http://dcm.sagepub.com.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/content/9/2/199.full.pdf+html [Accessed 25 Sep. 2015]

Cole, D. (2014). The Three Leakers and What to Do About Them. 1st ed. [PDF] New York: The New York Review of Books. Available at: http://w-t-w.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Whistleblowers-Saints-or-Sinners.pdf [Accessed 21 Sep. 2015]

Government Accountability Project, (2015). Snowden Timeline | GAP. [online] Whistleblower.org. Available at: http://whistleblower.org/snowden-timeline [Accessed 26 Sep. 2015]

Greenwald, G., MacAskill, E. and Poitra, L. (2013). Edward Snowden: the whistleblower behind the NSA surveillance revelations. [online] The Guardian. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/09/edward-snowden-nsa-whistleblower-surveillance [Accessed 27 Sep. 2015]

Law.cornell.edu, (2015) Fourth Amendment | Wex Legal Dictionary | Encyclopedia| LII | Legal Information Institute. [online] Available at: https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/Fourth_amendment [Accessed 27 Sep. 2015]

Law.cornell.edu, (2015) Fifth Amendment | Wex Legal Dictionary | Encyclopedia | LII | Legal Information Institute. [online] Available at: https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/Fifth_amendment [Accessed 27 Sep. 2015]

Look away: The revelations of Edward Snowden have confirmed just how much surveillance that state undertakes. The Australian Rationalist. [online] 94(Spring 2014). Pp.16-20. Available at: http://search.informit.com.au.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/fullText:dn=990464036341083;res=IELAPA [Accessed 21 Sep. 2015]

Scheurman, W. E. (2014). Whistleblowing as civil disobedience: The case of Edward Snowden. Philosophy and Social Criticisms. [online] 40(7), pp.609-628. Available at: http://psc.sagepub.com.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/content/40/7/609.full.pdf+html [Accessed 25 Sep. 2015]

Your government watches you: The revelations of Edward Snowden have revealed an era of digital totalitarianism. (2014). Australian Rationalist, [online] 94(Winter), pp.40-41. Available at: http://search.informit.com.au/libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/fullText;dn=460952259591217;res=IELAPA [Accessed 15 Sep. 2015]

#EdwardSnowden #NSA #governmentsurveillance #1501HUM #essay

[philippakate833-blog]

#9 - New Communication Technologies and their Influence on the Lives of Disabled People

                                                                                                                   (Wordle)

Human communication is a process in which an individual initiates a message and transmits information to the intended receivers. This is achieved using verbal and nonverbal symbols and contextual cues in order to create meaning and have it understood by the receiver, with minimal distortion (DeFleur et al. 2014, p.8).

This process can become obstructed for people with disabilities, namely those disabilities where communication is limited or somehow distorted. These include hearing, vision and speech impairment, acquired neurogenic disorders and developmental disabilities, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (McNaughton & Light 2013). People with these disabilities thus require augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) methods, used to supplement or replace speech and/or writing for people with communication impairments (McNaughton & Light). AAC techniques are becoming increasingly associated with new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), which communicate information through the use of modern technologies such as the Internet, wireless networks and mobile phones (Christensson 2010).

New Communication Technologies are integral in aiding people with disabilities to overcome their communication barriers, thus improving their quality of life. The modernising of these technologies is generating many benefits for people requiring augmentative and alternative communication and are essential in their social development. Also, due to the increased accessibility that the modern devices provide, AAC options continue to be brought into the mainstream and are thus more accepted in society.

1. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

New communication technologies are advancing the social development of people living with a disability, and the benefits of these technologies for people and children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in particular are considerable. Autism Spectrum Disorder is an umbrella term covering a set of developmental disabilities and people with ASD can have significant difficulties with social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication (NIDCD 2014). Due to their unique perspectives and ways of thinking, many children with ASD are unable to communicate effectively and have difficulties responding to others (NIDCD 2014). Therefore, AAC options for these people are essential, and computer-mediated communication plays a significant role in overcoming these difficulties.

Due to their condition, people with ASD can be socially isolated and the Internet provides them with a comfortable environment in which to interact with others online. Having the opportunity to write to someone, rather than speaking to them, is generally preferred by Autistic people as it removes the anxiety and nonverbal cues involved with interpersonal communication. The Internet allows them to socially develop by providing them with the independence and confidence to successfully build relationships online that may not be possible offline (Gillespie-Lynch et al. 2014).

Advances in the social development of people with a disability can also be attributed to recent progresses in iPhone and iPad applications designed specifically to improve responsiveness in Autistic children. The ECHOES research project, exploring the effects of technology in schools, determined the advantages of a group of apps known as Visual Scene Displays. These apps provide detailed context to common situations and children with ASD often find the use of technology engaging and motivating (Parson et al. 2015). Also, HandHold Adaptive, a company focussed on creating AAC apps especially for people with ASD is continuing to develop new software. The iPrompts app is a picture-prompting tool introduced in 2009, designed to help Autistic children to focus on tasks as well as learning socially acceptable behaviours (Siri & Lyons 2013). The Autistic children who participated in the ECHOES project responded well to the different apps, demonstrating skills and understanding that were previously constrained by the standard curriculum (Parsons et al. 2015).

New communication technologies are maximising opportunities for growth, interaction, learning and play for children with ASD, ultimately allowing them to thrive (Parsons et al. 2015). And as their confidence grows, their ability to participate and contribute to mainstream society increases.

2. ACCESSIBILITY

The iPad and iPhone have become commonplace in modern society, and AAC is utilising these devices to make their methods more accessible to those who need them (McNaughton & Light 2013). In comparison to specialised assistive devices such as speech-generating devices (SGD’s), modern communication technologies are extensively available and much easier to acquire. Also, regular mobile devices are more cost-effective than SGD’s, allowing people who require AAC the option to purchase a more convenient product that still manages to provide them with the necessary support (McNaughton & Light)

Improved access to new ICTs is proving beneficial to people with a disability, particularly those with hearing or vision impairments. People with sensory disabilities have restricted access to visual and/or auditory information due to deafness, blindness or deaf-blindness (Ladner 2012) and thus require assistance for augmentative and alternative communication. Programs included in mobile devices are assisting these people to communicate effectively and they are able to use these accessible technologies to their advantage. For instance, texting is a standard form of communication for deaf people because they communicate through sign and text, and the primary role of deaf technology is to help transmit and receive information in a visual or tactual way (Ladner 2012). Therefore, the constant need for texting and messaging features to keep up with popular demand is also increasing the accessibility of AAC methods for people with a disability.

Moreover, the use of video telephony is now a commodity product, supplied by organisations such as Skype, and applications including Facetime (Ladner 2012).

The videophone has become a reality for deaf people due to the development of the VRS, a video relay service allowing a deaf person to talk with a hearing person through a relay operator working as a sign language translator (Ladner 2012). New ICTs are paving the way for programs such as the VRS to be made possible, addressing the needs of people with hearing impairments and improving their ability to communicate. Likewise, there are included features in mobile devices that aid people with vision impairments. Phones using spoken commands are trending and this is obviously accommodating to people who rely on their hearing. For instance, current features such as spoken GPS devices within the phone are suitable for vision impaired people, and there are developments in place to improve on the GPS system. Therefore, the availability of new ICTs is significantly improving the lives of people with a disability due to their association with augmentative and alternative communication.

3. SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE

Due to new communication technologies, AAC has been brought into the mainstream and is thus more socially accepted. The multi-purpose nature of current mobile and tablet devices offer people requiring AAC access to a range of functions above of their particular needs. People with a disability have a right to the same range of communication options available to the rest of society and due to the advances of modern technology, this has been made possible (McNaughton & Light 2013). AAC apps are available from the same store as regular apps, increasing general awareness from the public, as well as allowing people with a disability to explore a range of business, educational and social apps (McNaughton & Light 2013).

Additionally, the stigma occasionally associated with assistive technologies does not exist using mobile devices, which are socially valued in modern society (McNaughton & Light 2013). By meeting their AAC needs using mainstream devices, people with disabilities are not marginalised by their communication impairments, making them more widely included. Social acceptance is a pinnacle goal for all adolescents, but is more difficult for teenagers needing AAC. For most adolescents, keeping up with the trends and trying to fit in is an essential part of life, and new ICTs are helping teens with a disability to feel more accepted.

Current smartphone devices are significantly increasing in popularity amongst teenagers and 85% of adolescents aged between 15-18years own a mobile phone, spending an average of 1.5 hours per day sending and receiving texts (Zheng 2015, p. 1462). The desired features of communication devices for teens with communication difficulties include access to the required vocabulary, reliability and ‘coolness’ of the language style of a teenager, provided on an age appropriate device (Zheng 2015). AAC features on mobile and iPad devices are meeting these conditions and their popularity is facilitating the social integration of AAC adolescents with their peers. For people requiring AAC, the use of new communication technologies continues to be influential in providing the necessary methods of communication through mainstream devices that inspire social acceptance.

CONCLUSION:

Communication is a fundamental part of human life and for people requiring augmentative and alternative communication it is imperative that they have the necessary tools to ensure that they are able to communicate effectively. The introduction of AAC features in new communication technologies is vastly improving the lives of people with a disability, allowing them access to universally accepted devices. Also, the social development of people struggling to communicate is expedited due to the innovative programs available through modern devices. Moreover, by bringing AAC into the mainstream, new communication technologies have made AAC devices approachable and have thus encouraged more acceptance from society.

The increasing success of the partnership between AAC methods and modern communication technology is generating future projects with the potential to have even more benefits for AAC users. Current technological research to aid people with sensory disabilities includes the development of GPS phone relayed audio descriptions of obstacles in the environment that will be extremely helpful for people with vision impairments (Zheng 2015). Moreover, the new TOBY iPad application for Autistic children is just one of many new technologies for people with ASD currently in a trial period (Moore et al. 2015).

For more information on Handhold Adaptive, click here.

People with a disability and their families continue to embrace the use of iPads and other mobile technologies for AAC systems. However, merely adopting the technology does not guarantee success, as additional supports are often required to maximise outcomes. Nevertheless, the quality of life for people requiring AAC has been enhanced due to new communication technologies, and the infinite potential of these technologies is revolutionary.

REFERENCES:

Christensson, P 2010, ICT, viewed 19 September 2015, <http://techterms.com/definition/ict>.

DeFleur, M. H, Kearney, P, Plax, T. G, DeFleur, M. L 2014, Fundamentals of Human Communication, The McGraw Hill Companies Inc., New York, NY, America.

Gillespie-Lynch, K., Kapp, S.K., Shane-Simpson, C., Smith, D.S. & Hutman, T. 2014, "Intersections between the autism spectrum and the internet: perceived benefits and preferred functions of computer-mediated communication", Intellectual and developmental disabilities, vol. 52, no. 6, pp. 456-469.

Ladner, R.E. 2012, "Communication Technologies for People With Sensory Disabilities", Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 100, no. 4, pp. 957-973.

McNaughton, D. & Light, J. 2013, "The iPad and Mobile Technology Revolution: Benefits and Challenges for Individuals who require Augmentative and Alternative Communication", Augmentative and Alternative Communication, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 107-116.

Moore, D., Venkatesh, S., Anderson, A., Greenhill, S., Phung, D., Duong, T., Cairns, D., Marshall, W., Whitehouse, A 2015, TOBY play-pad application to teach children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A pilot trial, viewed 25 September 2015, < http://autism.telethonkids.org.au/our-research/toby-trial/>.

NIDCD 2012, Communication Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, viewed 19 September 2015, <http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/pages/communication-problems-in-children-with-autism-spectrum-disorder.aspx>.

Parsons, S., Yuill, N., Brosnan, M. & Good, J. 2015, "Innovative technologies for autism: critical reflections on digital bubbles", Journal of Assistive Technologies, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 116-121.

Siri, K & Lyons, T 2013, Cutting-Edge Therapies for Autism 2011-2012, Skyhorse Publishing Inc., viewed 24 September 2015, via Google Books.

Zheng, Y 2015, Encyclopedia of Mobile Phone Behavior, IGI Global, viewed 24 September 2015, via Google Books.

[philippakate833-blog]

#7 - Essay Topic

I have decided to write my essay about communication thanks to this topic prompt:

What is communication? Do whales communicate? Do birds? Do atoms? Does DNA communicate? What would you suggest as the limits to communication? When does a failure of human communication occur?

I am interested in researching and writing about this topic due to the Fundamentals of Communication class I took last semester. That class, combined with this one provides an important information base in which I can refer to when writing this essay. I hope to gain a deeper understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of technology’s (namely the Internet’s) role in modern day communication.

TITLE: Does technology influence communication?

CLAIM: That communication is significantly impacted by the constant advancements of technology.

PREMISES (broken into body paragraphs):

·      What is communication?

·      Positive effects of technology in communication

·      Negative effects of technology in communication

[emmastewartme-blog]

Me and Social Media

As long as I’m asking questions of people in regards to their social media usage, I may as well be candid about my own. I am probably a little bit addicted to social media, it’s too easy to be with access available all the time through my phone. I am currently registered on Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr (obviously), snapchat and Reddit and regularly use all of them, Facebook and Instagram being used daily (if not hourly). I use Facebook to keep in contact with my friends and family, and keep them up to date with what is happening in my life. For example, I just got a new puppy so I’ve been flooding my friends news feed with pictures of my adorable bundle of fluffy joy. Instagram is mainly a boredom curer, allowing me to mindlessly scroll through pictures, and Reddit gives me a laugh and allows me to connect with people throughout the world who I otherwise wouldn’t while discussing topics that interest me. I’m pretty smart when it comes to posting things on my accounts, I never post anything out of anger or spite, I don’t believe that social media is the right place for those kind of things, if you have a problem with someone, say it to there face. I have received malicious and vindictive posts before, my response was to ignore and block the person because I don’t allow that kind of behaviour in my personal life, so I definitely wouldn’t allow it online. 

[emmastewartme-blog]

Cyberspace, Cybernetics, Cyberpunk and beyond...

This week we looked at all things cyber and what it means to us. To start with, there is cyberspace, a difficult to define term, through science fiction-writers and academics alike we can gain some understanding as to what cyberspace actually is. Architect Michael Benedikt believed that cyberspace was to become “a globally networked...virtual reality” whereas N. Katherine Hayles believed that the arrangement of data that is the internet would become “a landscape in which narratives can happen” (Dyehouse, 2009). Cyberspace is very real, as we become more dependent on the internet and the communities we join online, we become more entwined with the virtual world at our fingertips. I truly believe that as technology progresses the line between reality and cyberspace will become blurred. Facebook is in cyberspace, we use the technology at hand to exchange information and communicate, everyday more and more people are depending on this cyberspace to keep in contact with their loved ones and to make new friends, Facebook allows humans to feel connected to one another without having to leave the safety of their bedrooms without any actual interaction.

Cybernetics is “the general study of communication and the related study of control in both machines and in living beings” (Weiner, 1950). as technology gets more advanced, I believe that as a race we will benefit greatly from cybernetics, we already see the benefits in the medical realm with devices such as pacemakers and cochlear implants providing a better quality of life for humans, therefore humans can not be left out of the cybernetic system.

Cyberpunk is a popular genre of movie and books today, with movies such as The Matrix and Bladerunner championing the movement. Cyberpunk “seeks to completely integrate the realms of high tech and of pop culture, both mainstream and underground, and break down the separation between the organic and the artificial” (Project.cyberpunk.ru, 2000). The Hunger games is a popular movie that at first glance appears to fall under the cyberpunk genre, it is set in a dystopian future where those in charge keep the people segregated and under control, however, due to the fact that technology does not play a major part in this control, I believe that it is in fact a high fantasy.

References:

Dyehouse, J. (2009). The Cyberspace Incrementum: Technology Development for Communicative Abundance. Rhetoric Society Quarterly, [online] 39(9), pp.281-302. Available at: http://www.jstor.org.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/stable/403232592 [Accessed 25 Aug. 2015]

Project.cyberpunk.ru, (2000). Cyberpunk as a Science Fiction Genre. [online] Available at: http://project.cyberpunk.ru/idb/scifi.html [Accessed 20 Aug. 2015].

Wiener, N. (1950). Cybernetics. Bulletin of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, [online] 3(7), pp.2-4. Available at:http://www.jstor.org.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/stable/3822945 Page Count: 3 [Accessed 20 Sep. 2015]

[emmastewartme-blog]

Timeline of the evolution of the telephone

http://www.tiki-toki.com/timeline/entry/499418/The-Telephone/ 

For week 4, our tutorial task was to create a timeline using one of the provided sites, I chose to create on based on the telephone as I was interested to see how the telephone evolved from the candlestick version it started as, to the necessary and mobile part of life that we know it as today. 

References:

About.com Inventors, (2015). The History of Communication. [online] Available at: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bl_history_of_communication.htm [Accessed 20 Aug. 2015].

Greatachievements.org, (2015). Telephone Timeline - Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century. [online] Available at: http://www.greatachievements.org/?id=3625 [Accessed 20 Aug. 2015].

McGaughney, W. (2015). Some Dates in the History of Communication Technologies. [online] Worldhistorysite.com. Available at: http://worlhistorysite.com/culttech.html [Accessed 20 Aug. 2015].