#uconndmd

[photoshopconsumed-blog]

I attended this great Digital Discussion on campus the other day. This cool guy Kut Akdogan talked to us about start-ups, and it was just really informative and entertaining. Can't wait for the next one in April. :) @uconndmd #mystamford #uconndmd #uconnstamford #digitalmedia #graphicdesign (at University of Connecticut - Stamford Campus)

[schecho7]

Another one of those citizens, made in Maya #3d #animation #maya #uconndmd

[thecelestialcactus]

Long Blog Post:The Matrix Part 1

In today's world, we are subject to the omnipresent process of information sharing. At this very moment, your device is processing vast amounts of data within its own system, beaming electronic signals to each one of its internal hardware components, insuring that it is performing its tasks at an optimal capacity. Meanwhile it is communicating through a network that seamlessly connects millions of other devices, all simultaneously sending and receiving packets of data on servers maintained by a subnetwork of bandwidth cables that span oceans and continents.

 At a moments notice, we can access just about any piece of information we want, whenever we want. It's formed into a habit for most technology users. Most can't truly live without its convenience. Sometimes it's extremely hard to disengage and really take a look at how and why something is happening. Especially when there is so much content to enjoy on the internet and not enough time to enjoy it. Regardless, I like to take the time to look up from my screen and orient myself with what is happening in the real world while people are living their digital fantasies.

It is that point that I again realize that our real world and digital world are more connected than I have cared to notice, and that in a similar fashion, the lines between our fiction and reality are becoming blurred.

Enter the Matrix.

The Matrix has been the subject of controversial discussion since its debut in 1999 for the thematic substance portrayed throughout the film, that deals with a broad range of topics. However, while many of these themes can fall secondhand to the spectacular film itself, they become increasingly hard to ignore when they tap into our very own digital culture. It is after all a film based around technological constructs, and does very well to put those themes on the forefront.  

One of the most interesting of these themes shown is the portrayal of digital culture and its impact on society. This is primarily displayed in the first half of the film in which the main character (Neo aka. Thomas Anderson) is still living in his false reality. The Matrix simulation in the film replicates nearly every aspect of the year 1999, the year where technology was making its way into the daily lives of the average American. However, this was still a time of uncertainty of technology, and the application of personal computers was seen primarily for personal organization. Regardless, technology had its impact on society, and this can be seen in some of the first scenes in the Matrix.

In one of the first establishing scenes, we can see Neo in his apartment asleep in front of what appears to be a significant amount of programing language on his computer. He is awoken to someone relaying cryptic messages to him on his computer regarding the Matrix, and his curiosity surrounding it. Almost immediately after the end line of the message, he hears a knock on his door. He then opens the door to a group of clients searching for the best hacks money can buy. We immediately see the prevalence of hacker culture displayed in this first seen. Hackers are seen as this shadow network of blackhats that operate only to disrupt the establishment. In a sense, that perception is true. However, hackers aren't all exactly out prey on unsuspecting citizens in the zero dark hours of the morning. Some are. But most are just simply tinkerers. People who are curious about the laws that have been set in place surrounding the hardware and firmware they operate on, as well as breaking them. This can be seen later during the dialogue exchange between Morpheus and Neo regarding the Matrix. It is a program based on set rules that can be bent fit your own standards. This is the same mentality that early homebrew clubs were built on. 

Its in that aspect that its interesting to see how these early cultural themes have influenced our culture today. Which makes it even more important to take the time to look at our past to see where we are headed in our bright digitized future.

[schecho7]

Creating a city using only primitives objects. #3d #uconnstamford #UConnDMD #Animation #maya

[schecho7]

My chairs. A piece of love. #dmd #Animation #UConnDMD #uconnstamford #3d

[nicolemelodytalents-blog]

This article defiantly gives me more of an insight with digital technologies, in this case, our smart phones. Our phones hold everything, our photos, notes, alarms, calendar, and we don’t realize how much we depend on our phones. The author of this article said “if we leave the house without our phone, most of us feel a void, a disconnect from reality”. This was something I had to really think about, because before I had a smart phone, I had one of those classic flip phones and I would forget it at home a lot of the time. Thinking about it now, I bring my phone with me everywhere. It’s just as important as wearing my watch or putting on shoes. It’s become natural for us to be attached to our phones in some way. I’m personality not much of a texter or instagramer, but my phone holds all of my appointments, photos/videos, and it’s my way to look something up if I don’t understand it or if I want to learn something more about something. It fascinates me how technology in smart phones are becoming more important by the day. This generative system in the smart phone world is growing rapidly and advancing in multiple ways with more reasons to connect with our phones and ourselves.

[schecho7]

Getting ready for this :D #uconndmd #dmdstam2014