Blog #5

Blog #5

1. Lupton describes a number of different ideologies about computer/user relationships. Find an object— for example, an advertisement for a personal computer, a movie, or even a newspaper article--that supports or challenges what she has said about computer/human relationships. In other words, use the bold categories in the article, think like Lupton, and write about the object (200-300 words).

The object that I will examine is an advertisement for an hp personal computer.  Serena Williams is the actress in this advertisement.  I saw this as the humanized computer.  Serena used a lot of different features that the computer used in order to make it seem more human friendly.  She showed a lot of different things that could be done for what seemed as easy as “123.”  Serena showed how she could scout other players, talk to her friends, play games against the computer, see her photos and do so much more.  By doing this we see what Lupton (2007) explained “the emotions are commonly represented as a characteristic of humans apart from animals, evidence of their sensitivity, spirit and soul” (p. 427).  This advertisement showed that a computer could be all you need.  You can still be connected with other people you know in RL as well as meet new people, find out about other people, or do things you would do with others (play games, date, etc.).  Characteristics of a person are given to the computer, a computer can be everything you want it to be and need it to be.  In the advertisements Serena’s voice is never shown from her neck down is all we could see.  This can portray “one’s PC as an extension of the human body” (Lupton, 2007, 428).  Since not all of her is shown, this could be the part that is used to portray the computer.  We know what is missing so we know what we need in order to make the computer work.

2. What is the most significant thing you have learned about digital technology and culture so far in this course? What are you gonna take with you outside of this class into RL? Cite a source! (100-150 words)

The most significant thing that I have taken from this course so far is that there is not equal access in the technology world and it will be very hard for it to ever be equal.  Even if there is ever a way for everyone to have the same amount of technology, the access might still not be the same.  I agree with Warschauer (2002) from Reconceptualizing the Digital Divide when he says that “there is not a binary division between information "haves and "have-nots", but rather a gradation based on different degrees of access to information technology.”  The degree of the depth of knowing how to use the technology is going to very hard to equalize. 

Works Cited

Lupton, D., (2007).The embodied computer/user.  In D. Bell & B. M. Kennedy (Ed.), The cybercultures reader. (pp. 422-432). New York: Routledge.

Warschauer, M. (2002). Reconceptualizing the digital divide. First Monday, 7(7), Retrieved from http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/967/888