Cheryl DeVito

ENC1102

Final Draft

February 14, 2014

Is Technology Transforming Our Lives in a Positive Way?

      We live in a time of many opportunities to be able to communicate with one  another, rather it be loved ones, friends, businesses or purchases. Technology is a high tech means used in interrelations with life, society and environment (“Technology”). It has become very much a part of our daily lives. There are advantages to having technology in our lives. Technology gives us many tools and ways to help people in different aspect of their lives by communicating faster, accessing information easily. It is like walking into a candy store, all flavors available and you want to try every single one of them. Just look at all the social media, video games, cell phones that are at our disposal. Is this exposure for the betterment of society or not?

     Take social media for instance, our surroundings have a huge impact on how we develop and on how our minds will function. A Common Sense Media Research Study (2012) was conducted on Social Media, Social Life: How Teens View Their Digital Lives and the study found that 90% of 13-17 year olds have used some form of social media in their daily lives. It was reported also that teens express that social media has more of a positive impact on their life then negative. Most teens don’t think that social media is affecting their social and emotional well-being. As a parent these results of the research ease some concerns that teenagers are getting an effect that is positive by using social media than having the opposite effect. Concluded in the study “social networking can contribute to feelings of depression or social isolation; so it is with some relief that we find that only 5% of teens say social networking makes them feel more depressed, compared to 10% who say it makes them feel less depressed and 83% who said it doesn’t make a difference one way or another”.

            For more information visit www.commonsense.org/research.

                  On a negative note is social media taking away our ability to have conversations

face to face, where we are able to hear and see feelings involved, and  be able to react on them. How do we know who we are actually conversing with if we cannot see them?

      Video games, however are another concern. Media technology is a part of our lives today. More and more children are starting at an early age using video games. How is this affecting their young brains when it comes to creative play, using their imagination, critical thinking skills and empathy for others? There are games available for play that are not suitable for young children and yet being a pre-school teacher I hear of how a four year old has been expose to either watching an adult play and or playing, a game themselves. Their little minds are just starting to mold and soak like a sponge all that is around in their environment. How are they able to distinguish between reality and fantasy? There is concern of too much viewing of in-appropriate games in numerous amounts of adolescents and teens today. Feelings of empathy and compassion towards others are diminishing in society (Sara).

      Then there are cell phones It is wonderful to be able to pick up my cell phone and be able to talk to any loved one who are in a different country, state, or city, whether it is talking, using face time and texting. Texting now a days is second nature to teenagers. The more teens driving the more fatalities can happen with cell phone usage and texting. Texting is a distraction that causes you to not focus on the road. Our youngest drivers are the most at risk. Teenagers think texting is so quick that there is no harm to do it while driving.  It becomes dangerous because it involves focus, using your hands and mind all at the same time (NHTSA). States are making laws against texting while driving. Fifteen states have implemented texting laws because it takes away a person’s attention on the road (Anyanwu).

     Is this exposure of technology for the betterment of society?  Being a parent of a teenager, after reading and researching about technologies in this time I could see how technology can be positive for society. The studies show that using technology in our schools at an early age is beneficial in reading skills. Students are more motivated to work with the computer on reinforcing skills introduced and by working with each other they learn cooperation. We just have to be more aware of what our children are doing on the internet. Teach them the advantages and help to reduce the effects of violent video games and misuse of social media. Not let ourselves lose our human nature of feelings and compassion towards others.

                                                             Works Cited

Anyanwu, Ofinakachi J. “Estimating the Impact of Cell Phone Laws on Car Accident

Fatalities.”  Pepperdine Policy Review 5 (2012): 103-16. ProQuest. Web. l8 Feb.2014.

Barnhart, Steven, Lesley Mandel Morrow, and Debra Rooyakkers. "Integrating technology with

         teaching of an early literacy course: the early literacy course described used many kinds of

          technology to improve teaching and learning." The Reading Teacher 56.3 (2002): 218+.

          Academic OneFile Web, 25 Feb. 2014.

Document URL     

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA94326626&v=2.1&u=lincclin_fccj&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=dfd0639b132e6a7e8dd789f8fca15b71

Gale Document Number: GALE|A94326626

NHTSA U.S. Department of Transportation www.nhtsa.gov.

Sara “Children and Technology should you be concerned.” Care2make a difference

            Web 8 Sept. 2013. www.care2.com

Social Media, Social Life: How Teens View Their Digital LivesCommon Sense Media Research

            Study June 26, 2012 Web www.commonsence.org/research 

Journal 3 Digital Nation film

       The film Digital Nation was definitely an eye opener for me.  I am one of those

 who was brought up in a time where there was none of this available so easily.

 I did not realize how advanced and far society is in technology.  It was almost like

 watching the Syfy channel. Yes I am aware of some technology, cellphones,

 computers, (I have those), social media, video games, but I was not aware of

 how technology is tolerated in the some schools especially among college students. I

 am attending college and I would never think to have my focus somewhere else but on

 the teacher.

     The video games that are so readily available and used as I watched the film are

 mind boggling especially  the games at the government facility, where teenagers are

 aloud to go and play when they want and recruits visit, are violent in my book and are

 teaching the children to shoot aim and fire without any remorse or consequence.  Yes,

 they are playing a video game but I don’t think that any game with violence is for our

 children in society.  It is almost as if this type of violence is ok with the person playing

 the game but with no consequence or feeling.

     The gentlemen in the film talked about a “New Human Being”, is this the type of

 human being that we would want our children to become?  I’m wondering that with

 more and more new technology becoming available, is this really what we want for

 our children in the future and is it worth the consequence?  

November 1, 1959

                                                               November 1, 1959

     For my New York Times research on my birthday, November 1, l959, I decided to look into what happened on that day in general interest. There wasn’t much appealing to me as I read and researched the information at hand but then I noticed how people were helping others.

     The first one that I found was interesting to hear that the city of Chicago was planning to help reduce slums and crime by taken on an urban renewal project.  The cost for the Federal, city, university and private funds will be $135,000.000 over a five year period of time.  This is said to be the largest renewal project of its kind.  For the total size of 900 acres, it is up there with other large projects that have happened in other states.

   

     Another general interest piece was how Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart held a benefit for college students and charities that were in need.  They are going to have a bridge, tea and fashion show put on by the student relief committee at the college.

 

      The last interest piece was in the city of New York, James Felt, chairman of the City Planning Commission and the Urban Renewal Board was planning on making a three year organizational survey of Harlem’s clearance of the slums.  He voiced this in reply to a two year promise that was made and not followed through.  He visited the areas and is going to make this a priority. 

         It is sad to think that there is still a lot of poverty and crime in our world but, it is nice

to know  that people, no matter what happens, will always try to be there to help each

 other out.  In general, all people tend to have a good heart.

                                                                               Works Citied

 By AUSTIN C WEHRWEINSpecial to The New,York Times. "CHICAGO U. SPURS RENEWAL PROJECT." New York Times (1923-Current file): 61. Nov 01 1959. ProQuest. Web. 9 Feb. 2014  .

 Special to The New,York Times. "Manhattanville to Hold Benefit Fete Tuesday." New York Times (1923-Current file): 94. Nov 01 1959. ProQuest. Web. 9 Feb. 2014 .

 By, WAYNE P. "CITY MAPS SURVEY OF SLUM PROGRAM." New York Times (1923-Current file): 1. Nov 30 1959. ProQuest. Web. 11 Feb. 2014 .

Through the Lens

Cheryl DeVito

ENC1102

Gallery Opening

January 26, 2014

Through the Lens

When looking at a photo, it is a whole new opening to a different side of captured memories.  Portraits are made up of different subjects, lighting styles, colors and interests.  Looking at any photo can bring out many different feelings.  One may have feelings of nostalgia, remembering and reliving youth and days gone by while others may have a feeling right at that very moment of wanting to never forget what has been captured on film.  Photographer Trent Parke said, “I am forever chasing light.  Light turns the ordinary into magical.”

            The Gallery opening of Photography Competition Exhibit is being held on January 21, and continues through February 4, 2014, at the Kent campus of Florida State Community College of Jacksonville.  Here photos of different subjects, lighting styles, color and interests are on display and open for viewing.  The photos were judged and chosen for best overall.

             In this small room, the lights were dimmed low and classical music was playing to set the mood.  Photos were placed on the walls at eye level for easy viewing.  There was a small but pleasant crowd meandering about visiting and taking advantage of light refreshments while observing the photos that were up for display. 

 A black and white photo of a monarch butterfly, titled “Still” captured by Susan Mazur, was among the first of 40 photos displayed at this exhibit of photography.  The monarch butterfly in the photograph portrays a slender body with clubbed black antennas, and broad conspicuously marked wings.  With the white background behind the butterfly, your eye could not help but see every detail of this lovely creature.  The close up of the contour of the wings shows patterns of spots and the clearness of the antennas on the head.  Like looking through a magnifying glass, you are almost able to reach out and touch it.   As it sits on its side, quiet and calm, evidence of lifelessness brings upon a feeling of sadness yet the beauty of the butterfly draws the eye back for a peek.

            Walking towards the next black and white photo, a picture of a lonely swan in a small stream of water, titled “Binary Vision” taken by Lynn Pham.  The black swan in the photo is swimming soft and slowly by some rocks, as you can see by the calm ripples in the water.  The long slender neck of the swan craning out of its body shows this animal’s unusual beauty and poise.  Feelings of tranquility can easily overtake the viewer.   Shadows appear to be descending on the water and the swan, depicting the start of dusk.  As the sun sets in the background, the black silhouette of the swan’s graceful structure mirrors itself in the clear water. Peacefulness instills as night approaches. The swan’s motion of gradually moving, suggests that perhaps it wants to retire alone for the night. 

 The photo titled, “Morning Mystery”, by Stephen Hunter, won second place in the gallery opening.   A black and white photo of a tall monstrous cluster of trees.  Long and relatively narrow trees, reaching to the sky as far as the eye could see, move your vision upward.  Looking upward at this photo of soaring trees brings upon the feeling of smallness.  The cloudiness through the light gives a hint of sunlight in the midst of each tree.  Shadows bounce back and forth off of the surroundings.   Looking at this photo was serene and magical, as if one could see straight into another world.   Excitement and wonder fills the air as the morning journey continues on.  

                        Each and every photo mentioned captured memories of how beautiful nature portraits can be and how these memories have an impact on our lives.  We tend to forget with our busy way of life how our surroundings can help remind us of the wonderful world in which we live in.  Some memories are welcomed and some are not.  Some memories are remembered and some forgotten.  The different lighting styles, subjects, colors and interests can play an important part in portraying the meaning of each photo at hand.  Each and every person has a different perception of what the photographer is portraying, whether it may be a feeling of contentment or feelings of despair and loneliness.  I think each photo was chosen specifically by the photographer to portray an interest and a challenge of what the photographer is capable of doing and that each portrait relays a wonderful story.  Adventures that can bring out feelings close to the heart of the photographer and to the viewer.