Media Musings & Meditations

Real Potential

2007-05-04T12:06:00.000-07:00

How do you raise 70 million dollars for humanitarian charities in one week? One answer is to present your appeal to American Idol viewers. Then get corporate sponsors to pay a donation every time viewer calls in a vote for their favorite singer. That’s exactly what the popular reality TV show American Idol did earlier this week. The special episode was part charity infomercial, part star-studded telethon and of course part talent show. In the end, it seemed to achieve its goal of raising millions for charity.

I have to admit I was a bit skeptical of all the hype Ryan Seacrest and company churned out leading up to the big show. It all seemed a bit contrived. I wondered how they were going to raise donations and exactly where the money would go. Call me crazy, but I just wasn’t buying the sincerity of Simon Cowl interacting with rural African children with all the warmth of a beauty queen waving from atop a parade float. In another clip, we see Simon Cowl amazed to see a food bank passing out groceries. He says something about never knowing such facilities existed in the U.S. I’m amazed that Simon lives such a sheltered, elite life that he is unaware of such things.

Okay so Simon, Paula, and Randy are not going to win me over by their “heart-warming” personal appeals. However, the simplicity of helping others by making a few phone calls is wonderfully attractive. In fact, during the extravaganza my wife, Julie, had a good suggestion. Instead of providing a toll-free number for Idol voters each week, give out a toll number. Millions of viewers could vote for their favorites, at a few cents per call, week after week and we quickly and easily generate millions for the needy. After all, Idol viewers are already willing to text in entries to weekly contests on the show for 99 cents per call.

Regardless of your opinion of reality TV, I think we can all agree that it would be brilliant to tap into the potential wealth that could be generated as viewers across the country vote for their favorite singers or dancers.

Mystery and Magic in the Machine

2007-04-05T10:42:00.000-07:00

During WWII, when some sudden unexplained malfunction occurred in a US Air Force airplane the airmen would jokingly say that a gremlin caused it. There is even a 1940’s Bugs Bunny cartoon where Bugs has to match wits with this “all too real” mythological gremlin to keep his bomber from crashing. In fact it is one of the very few times when Bugs met his match.

I teach a number of software programs to college students. After observing class-after-class, of 20-25 students, I’ve seen all kinds of odd computer glitches and malfunctions, in both Windows and Mac machines. The software program that worked wonderfully the previous 50 times suddenly locks up. Worse yet, the tools and functions no longer work the way they used to causing unexpected effects on screen. I’m sure there is a technical explanation about the coincidental, simultaneously demand on RAM by two different programs, or something. Perhaps, if I knew exactly what was occurring there might be some mystical combination of quick keys that would solve the problem. But, as often as not, I don’t fully know what the exact problem is or the exact steps the caused it. My pragmatic answer, to the unexplained, is often to close and reopen the program -- which can miraculously puts everything’s back in order. In the most severe cases of machine malaise, such a horribly locked machine – my remedy might lead to restarting the monster. A freshly restarted system is like the dawning of a new day – one on which the computer works!

Okay, I’m not a technical geek, and computer experts are probably shaking their heads and making a tisking noises about now. When I talk to IT about my troubles, their recommendation is usually to upgrade my machine (get more gremlin stomping power). Interesting how even the new machines have their occasional hiccups, too! It’s almost like science and technology can explain and plan for everything up to a point… then the mystery begins. Why does the system suddenly choose the exact moment I have just about finished a special unsaved document – to inexplicably cough and lose my changes? Why the interface malfunction on April 12th that didn’t happen on the 11th and won’t happen on the 13th. I won’t call it magic, but it certainly is a mystery.

Sure technology is continually improving and better operating systems are coming. But I suspect that there will always be that 1% of unexplained, magic in the machine. Even the Star Trek talking computer occasionally has a glitch that risks the crew’s lives. Therefore, I staunchly reserve the right to my mystical rituals such as shutting down and restarting. And, I look longingly for the day when the computer will serve me, rather than the other way around. In the meantime, I’ve got a few magic tricks up my sleeve.

Head South for the Spring

2007-03-23T12:12:00.000-07:00

I've just recently returned from the South By Southwest Interactive (www.sxsw.com) conference in Austin Texas. It was my first time (along with hundreds of other first-timers) Now that I've had a chance to reflect, I'd like to give a report.

To anyone interested in web design or development, web graphics, software development or just Internet technologies and trends, in general, I would say this should be an event on your annual calendar. I would describe it as a time of:

learning (there were panel and lecture sessions),

networking (it was easy to meet and talk to people before and after the sessions - in the hallways, the tradeshow area and at free events),

problem-solving (talking to people with similar skills and interests frequently led to discussions about using new products and technologies or how to fix pesky problems with the same) and

fun (there was a spirit of fun, self-deprecating humor, industry-specific inside jokes, and even a comedian MC at the Website awards) among people within the Web Industry.

In addition to the regular daytime sessions at the convention, there were free, company-sponsored buffets, parties and events in the evenings around the downtown area. Other special highlights includes the Webby Awards pre-party, ceremony and after party, and a movie premiere.

If you would like to come check out South By Southwest Interactive next year, here are some suggestions/tips:

Periodically check out the event information and free podcasts at the SXSW website during the year.

Monitor websites of those who play prominently at SXSW, such as the people at A List Apart blog (and those they link to) during the year and especially leading up to the SXSW event each spring (March).

Book your hotels early; better deals can be found outside of the downtown area.

Bring lots of business cards for networking.

If you are looking for a job, have resumes handy as well as the link to your portfolio.

Bring any technology questions or problems with you as you just may find the answers.

Bring your own bottled water with you each day.

Hope to see you next year at the South By Southwest Interactive!

Plug and Play

2006-05-26T14:52:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I decided to get an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed reader so that I could link to my favorite news and technology websites and get the latest information updates forwarded to me.

My first step was to look for a free/open source version of the tool I wanted for Mac OSX. I found one that looked impressive from the icon, that resembled a Mozilla/Firefox product, right down to the description and interface. The only problem is that I couldn’t figure out how to get the thing working. The functions were not easy or intuitive. I even stooped to reading the instructions! (I know, I know…) Even then, no light of understanding came on. I finally decided, in frustration, that there must be an easier product out there somewhere on the Web.

After searching some more I found an open source RSS feed reader called Vienna. The difference was “like day and night.” Vienna was easy and intuitive. I was up and running in minutes with no instruction manuals or tutorials needed. It’s simple, not all that flashy, but I love it.

I know you’re overjoyed that I can now accumulate and read my RSS feeds, but the reason I tell this story is to illustrate what I believe will be the key to software success now and in the future -- “ease of use/ease of learning to use.”

Our society has grown impatient with the complex voodoo language of technology from the days of Microsoft’s DOS code and complicated setting changes. We want the friendly, easy to use technology of Star Trek instead. That’s why Apple continues to gain customers. They have embraced the idea of making technology components all “plug and play,” that is you shouldn’t have to learn new languages and incantations to get to consumer electronic devices to work together, they just plug together and work.

In the software arena, we don’t what to have to take a 12-week boot camp workshop to learn how to use our new software programs. We want to be able to get on and figure out how to at least get started right away. Technology and software change too frequently now for us to have to employ Herculean efforts to learn to use programs. The companies that understand this concept and make their products easier to use, and will, in my estimation, start passing by the big, complex software dinosaurs out there that haven’t got the point yet. I am looking forward to a simpler future!!

When does the learning stop?

2006-05-01T16:14:00.000-07:00

In a little less than two weeks from now our university will be turning the class of 2006 loose on the world. Many students will rejoice the end of their studies, celebrating freedom from textbooks, classes and exercises (echoing the anthem-like refrain from Alice Cooper's School's Out - “Schools out for summer, schools out forever”).

But it won't be long after the confetti settles that these graduates will learn another great truth, that the learning never really stops. There's just a change of venue. For example, there are many lessons to be learned during the process of finding and starting a new job. Observation and study will help new hires learn how to fit in with the company culture and practices. As years unfold, the employee's continued advancement will parallel their acquiring of an unfolding curriculum of job skills.

In my area, web design and interactive media, we must constantly read, research and study to keep up with the latest software and hardware. Before we master most programs new ones replace them. Licensed professionals like doctors, lawyers, and CPA's, must, (with the regularity of migrating geese, of fish swimming upstream) go to classes & seminars to keep their credentials up-to-date. Learning continues the earning. One IT professional I know will, at any given moment, be studying for his next in an unending succession of technical certifications. Even our spiritual life requires study. As a Christian disciple (which means student) I'm called upon to learn about Jesus, adopt his teachings, and imitate him.

Learning is linked to life itself. We could, like some try to resist and run away from all this study and learning. But I think the key is recognizing that learning is a part of our experience as humans. Rather than hide from it we should harness the opportunity to better our lives. That's why I recommend people seek out jobs doing what they love. Become committed to causes they feel deeply about. Acknowledge areas of our life where improvement can take place. The result is that when these endeavors require study we will tackle the task with passion and excitement like we pursue a hobby or favorite pastime.

My hope for the upcoming graduates is that they are blessed with a career and life that provides lifelong learning about subjects that excite them. And when will learning end? Not in this life!

My Soundtrack

2006-04-20T15:58:00.000-07:00

Some of my earliest memories are associated with music. I can remember riding in the car with my mom singing to the radio. Usually WABC, NY and the song was usually a Beatles song. In our house growing up Sunday afternoons Dad would put records on the HiFi, usually Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, or Show Tunes (my mom's favorites) and maybe an occasional classical album. Some I liked, some not so much.

Later on when I started earning money doing chores at home I bought an AM/FM Radio & Cassette Player (Sears brand, I think). And I would sit in my room listening to the classic rock station out of Albany or the off-beat college station at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. I would wait to hear my favorite songs and turn it up. But no station had just the right mix. Eventually, I went off to college at Ohio University where I got to DJ on my dorm station and came close to finding just the right mix for me at the time, combining rock, heavy metal, punk and new wave music. Of course I've taped my own combinations of songs and listened to a lot of radio but unlike Goldilocks from the fairy tale I never seemed to find one source that was “just right”. Even now, with Internet radio stations, computer “jukebox” programs, and a multitude of satellite radios stations, I haven't found the source that suits me best.

All this brings me back to an idea I had years ago, probably after reading some Science Fiction books or watching Star Trek. I began to imagine how great it would be if we had a soundtrack to our life like a movie. Of course, sometimes there would be silence and the rest of the time there would be just the right music to fit our mood and the situation. Sometimes in my daydream there might be some kind of button panel somewhere so we could adjust the mood or skip a song. As I watch technology advance, my crazy fantasy inches closer. I can easily see people in the future having some kind of credit card or Flash drive-sized device that they take with them everywhere and plug into the home stereo or computer or car audio which will play just the songs they like, when they like them. Perhaps one day there will even be a biological interface to enable our music device to read our emotions and mood. However, until then, I'm waiting and composing the score for my life soundtrack.

Reality TV Religion

2006-04-12T09:20:00.000-07:00

What makes reality TV more “real” than standard Hollywood-produced shows? One element is religion. For decades, Hollywood has followed that old adage about not discussing religion and politics that in polite company. So the majority of TV shows (and movies for that matter) don’t show or talk about religion to any degree. On those rare occasions when there is a religious character, as media critic Michael Medved has pointed out, he or she is usually portrayed as a psycho, a prude or a hypocrite. So despite polls reported in national magazines that show a majority of Americans believe in God, the Hollywood media pretends that hardly anyone does.

I’m not for a moment saying that reality TV shows are religious or even all that wholesome. But what I am saying is that when we see real people reacting to situations and circumstances one of the factors that helps them cope and overcome is their religious faith. For those people who have a religious faith, that belief affects their behavior and decisions (just like it does for most Americans).

Let me just run down some of the examples of religion in reality TV: on last year’s Survivor one of the tribes had a morning “devotional/prayer” time together as a group, on various seasons of Big Brother we’ve seen house guests reading the Bible, praying or talking about their faith, various couples on the Amazing Race have discussed their faith and prayed about their circumstances. This year’s Apprentice has two Jewish people who observed the Jewish holidays during the show. Kayser on last year’s Big Brother practiced his Moslem faith. And this year’s American Idol featured Mandisa who, referencing Jesus, publicly forgave Simon for criticizing her weight.

As we watch these religiously oriented people in reality shows encounter the same challenges and situations that the non-religious people do, we see that their faith affects their thinking and decision-making. Generally the religious people want to be fair and kind, they don’t like being deceptive, they try not to dwell on the negative and they are usually optimistic about the future, they are more ready to forgive and encourage and even losing does not seem to defeat them. Reality TV doesn’t teach us that religious people always win, but it does deliver a message that people who take religion seriously tend to be good people, are nice to be around, are more likely to help and encourage you and they remind us that winning isn’t everything. Evidently, this is a message Hollywood does not want delivered. But that is one of the reasons I find many reality TV shows interesting, fresh and REAL.

Mind over Body

2006-04-07T08:11:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about an exciting, dynamic topic - modesty. Okay, so maybe it's not an exciting topic in our society, but maybe it should be. I think the idea of modestly has been lost to our culture. Just think about it. We have young girls trying to dress like their idols in movies and videos baring as much skin as possible. We have pop music and movie performers dressed in little more than their underwear (Madonna-ware). We have celebrity models that do wear underwear in public and on TV (Victoria's Secret, is no longer a secret) and we've even had TV game shows where people would remove their clothes in a front of a crowd on a dare (Dog Eat Dog). You hear dumb comments like, “if you've got it flaunt it.” You see a national obsession with toning up muscles in your stomach that no one in the past even saw. We've lost our modesty.

I would venture to guess that many in younger generations don't even know the concept. “What's the hang up?” “Why are you so up-tight about seeing people's bodies?” What a shift in our culture. Since when did we start talking like the European art community rather than a country built on Judeo-Christian morals, values and justice. I'm not suggesting a return to the 1800's where every inch of your body had to be covered. But I think somewhere along the line, as media people were pushing the envelope and crossing the boundaries we forgot to say, “that's enough!”

And I fear it has signaled a psychological or sociological change in the way our culture views personhood. Is my value as a person determined by my appearance or physical attributes, received via genetics or surgery? And what of my privacy and control over myself, am I so willing to relinquish the reigns and throw my personal and private things out on display where they can be judged and ridiculed if I don't measure up? The only things not on stage are my inner feelings, and society is willing to tell whether those matter if I'll let them.

I think modesty is about regaining control over who you are and what you value. It's about balancing your identity between body and mind, physical and intellect. It's about making your own decisions about what you will share of yourself and with whom. Regardless of culture, we can choose to reclaim control over ourselves and keep the concept of modesty alive by communicating it to others.

Does Flash have a bright future?

2006-04-05T06:43:00.000-07:00

Flash has been the buzzword in web design and development circles for the last three or four years. Just try finding a web design job that doesn't ask for Flash skills these days. It doesn't matter whether the company ever actually uses Flash on any of its projects. There is just a prevailing wisdom that says a good designer ought to know how to do Flash. Just as prevailing wisdom assumes a good fashion designer can't dress conventionally, aka reality TV's Project Runway.

Flash certainly has its moments to shine when it comes to easy-to-create animation and interactions. But too often Flash gets channeled into pointless Flash intros or slideshows reminiscent of PowerPoint. It makes me queasy to think how many hours have gone into some of the gems you see on the web.

So what is the future of Flash? Let me add some anecdotal evidence. I've talked to two alumni of my Interactive Media degree program here at Harding in the last six months. One former student reported that Flash is a high demand skill in his job. He stressed that the most important aspect of Flash these days is the ActionScript code that runs behind the visual design interface. This seems to echo the call of many articles.

The other former student I spoke with told me that his web design company doesn't do Flash at all. Clients come and say, “don't you do Flash?” and his boss says, “No, and this is why we don't, and because we don't we can save you X amount of dollars in development costs” and quickly the clients forget the buzzword. So how can a web design company turn its back on the magic of Flash? The answer is the magic of Web 2.0. Using the latest technologies one can incorporate scripting, produce special effects and rapidly refresh page items producing some Flashy tricks. Web 2.0 is becoming the new buzzword.

That brings us back to our question about the future of Flash. My prediction is that Flash will transform, split really, into two smaller varieties. Using Flash as a complete web site authoring tool will fall out of popularity. The two remaining vestiges of Flash will be smaller specialized uses. One variety will Flash as a media tool used by designers to create interactive or animated web objects (just as Photoshop is seen as the photo editing tool). Smaller Flash-produced widgets will be nestled into standards-based pages. The other carryover of Flash will be the Flash technology used by big corporations and e-Commerce. It will be ActionsScripting incorporated into larger database-driven web sites that will enable server pages to create their own graphics as well as page templates and content shells.

Only time will confirm or dispel these predictions. And who knows, this time next year I may be pronouncing the eulogy for Web 2.0.

When TV "Got Real"

2006-03-30T09:31:00.000-08:00

I, for one, have grown tired of watching TV "dramas" written by Hollywood elite screenwriters. So often they write storylines about characters, situations and feelings that I can't relate to. ("I was married to a Mafia Don." "The soap-opera lives of spoiled rich teenagers in LA." Etc.) And when they finally do create some kind of detective show or suspense drama that seems interesting the stories lack originality. Typically, Julie and I will be watching a show and she'll say, "I bet that character will do x and then event y will take place, etc." And sure enough Julie has prophesied (or rather detected) the entire storyline. Can anyone say "formula" or "cliché.")? And then, in the midst of one of these tried-and-true story templates, the writers will inject a political message or "PC" sermon. Oh sure I'm going to change my political philosophy because of what some beat cop tells his buddy or I'll change my core values after hearing what the SciFi alien says about humans. The worst part is the writers can't even skillfully weave the message into the story anymore. Most of these non-sequitor diatribes can be seen a mile away. When the juxtaposed message is finally delivered it is followed by an awkward pause in the action. (For us to take notes?! Or what?)

That's why I have come to embrace Reality TV. Okay, so maybe the situations and scenarios aren't real at all -- but at least it is real people reacting in real ways. It's not some detached actor attempting to act like a normal working man. It a working man, warts and all. If the guy is a jerk, he convincingly acts like a jerk. I fully realize that most successful reality shows have a storyline, if not a script, and that the editors pick and choose clips to carefully create suspense, conflict and resolution, but at least those clips are real. And when we watch real people exercising their beliefs and stating their observations we take away more life messages than any Hollywood homily.

My favorite reality TV show is The Apprentice. Apart from all of The Donald's posturing and the overly materialistic view of the world, we still learn basic truths about work, struggles, goals, success and failure. Sadly, (talk about reality) there are a lot of people on company payrolls right now that resemble some of the clowns that are eliminated on the show. In the midst of the "drama" of The Apprentice people with good hearts, motives, and work ethics ultimately rise to the top. To me that is a happy ending and a fresh message from TV.

Google the New Evil Empire?

2006-03-28T09:17:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry to say it's my second posting and already I am ranting. I am excited to have joined the Blog world but I have had a potential epiphany. Google could become the new Evil Empire. Let me explain.

As a professor, I work in a department that is dominated by Mac computers. I also teach many students who are Mac zealots and who have sworn allegiance to open source software as the last hope against the Darth Vader (aka Bill Gates) and the Evil Monopoly Empire affectionately known as "Microsoft." I confess that I have worked in harmony with Microsoft products over the years and don't have the same fanaticism as many of my colleagues and students. On the other hand, I also like open source software and I look forward to healthy competition that can humble giants like Microsoft (and bring down prices ;) ). My complaint against Microsoft is more that it is so proprietary, not willing to play well with other programs and platforms.

I thought this Internet age was all about "Interoperability" -- that we could get all computers to communicate using the universal language of hypertext & browser (like the music note scene out of Close Encounters of the Third Kind). And it seemed Microsoft was the only one who didn't get it. So I watched as Internet companies like Google began to emerge from the protoplasmic mire we call the WWW and assert itself as a new web-facing company. As Google grew and fed upon smaller companies (like Blogger, incidentally), I had no concerns. After all, this is a new and smarter "web" company; they know about interoperability. Perhaps, some like me thought that companies like Google might sufficiently penetrate the web and the computer industry enough to give Microsoft some real competition -- at least in some aspects of the empire.

But I began to see marks of the dark side in Google. My unassuming Search friend began to make some very big "corporate-type" moves. While cool features such as Gmail and Google Map came to the scene, there was also the indication that Luke (aka Google) might be tipping to the "less-light side." For example, Google Map does not work on Macs. I asked some company reps at a convention when the Mac version was coming out. "It's not." They said with all the dark apathy of Count Dooku. "Oh, ok." I said, "Well, how about the future, do they have any long-term projections when it will come out? " "No, there are no plans for a Mac version at this time."

Now, even as I work to create this Blog, I learn that the photo features embedded in the program are "Windows only" 3rd party vendors. Nooooooo! So despite the fact that I can add my paltry rant from a Mac I am denied full-citizenship in the Google Empire.

BTW- My connection to Blogger suddenly became disconnected during the writing of this posting… coincidence?

Stay tuned for the next Rebel alliance meeting! :).