Antiwar Blog #9

War has dominated the world since the dawn of time. I found a post on "The Museum Junkie" which contained a quote that resonated a lot with me. It reads as follows: "...there is a fundamental human need not only to be unique but to be a part of something larger than yourself. Though we are separate individuals, we are part of the total cosmos and not apart from anything else." This theory applies to everything, including the powerful figures who rule the nations around the world. Governments are money-hungry and drive the surge of war all throughout the population. Something worth considering is how there are seemingly little to no public voices in opposition to war. Let's take a deeper look. 

I located several sources 

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EOTO1 Technology Reaction: The Ball Point Pen Blog #7

The Ballpoint pen, a writing tool relied upon by millions worldwide, has a surprisingly long history that dates back to over a century. An article on BBC, "The Cheap Pen that Changed Writing Forever," claims that American man, John J Loud, was the initial creator of the Ballpoint pen. Before this, ink and quill were the primary method of composing literature. In 1888, Loud introduced the idea of a writing utensil that would be able to make a mark on rougher surfaces, but more as an efficient way to write, far simpler, and faster. 

A close-up of the Ballpoint Pen

The mechanics of the pen are quite simple and only involve simple internal structures. According to a reading from Goldspot, "The Ballpoint Mechanisms," the pen contains 3 major components: the barrel, the ink, and the cartridge. The barrel holds the components of the pen, while the cartridge stores the ink. While using the pen, the ink shifts from the inside of the pen to the exterior (a given surface) with the movement of a miniature ball at the tip of the pen. The force of gravity pulls the ink down to the exterior side. 

The invention of the Ballpoint pen was strategic in light of its effectiveness. The pen itself was easy to design, easy to manufacture, and cost-efficient. Aside from a business point of view, the pen is easy for users as well. They are clean and fail to make a mess like ink can, they are disposable, easily accessible, and long-lastingly convenient. Along with Loud's invention, came new possibilities for communication. Pens aid us in all regards of literature, and help us to communicate what cannot be told through verbal mannerisms. Now it is possible to say this about the Ink and Quil method as well, however, the Ballpoint pen made it far simpler to write from any location with only the use of one plastic tool rather than several utensils at a time. 

However, for as brilliant as they are, Ballpoint pens do induce environmental threats. In 2024, the global waste accumulation is exceeding faster than we can maintain. A brief statistics chart provided by Statista shows a chart depicting the rapid rate of waste production ranging from the 80s to the current day. The rising numbers are substantial, and some worry whether simple devices like the Ballpoint pen (plastics) can further contribute to this ecological danger. The average pen is made of plastic, a major source of our waste. It is worth considering just how much this writing utensil realistically plays a role in trash production. 

Increase in various waste producers over the last 40 years

For what seems like an insignificant invention, the Ballpoint pen has proved its worth as it remains a commonly-used product over a century later. 

The Age of A.I. Blog #5

The growth of technology is rapid. Back when Siri was introduced by Apple over a decade ago, the idea of a digital personal assistant was never a prevalent concept. In today's day, it is difficult to experience a single day without encountering Artificial Intelligence. The speakers in our mobile devices are also microphones that monitor every minute of our lives. A.I. helps its users in numerous ways, increases efficiency, and can provide results within seconds. Although, to no surprise, artificial intelligence poses several threats to our world. 

Frontline on PBS, made a documentary entitled "The Age of A.I.," where it speaks on the pressing issue of unemployment. Job loss is exceeding the normal rates as in previous years as machines dominate manufacturing facilities, warehouses, and any previous form of manual labor. Molly Kinder, featured in the video, highlights how women disproportionately fill the position of jobs at risk of automation. It is possible to consider how the male-to-female ratio in the workforce may be skewed in upcoming years. 

The documentary also discusses the increasing gap between the upper class and the lower class. The gap is so dramatic that the middle class is beginning to dissolve as the drive between the rich and poor enlarges. 

The widening gaps between the economic classes
The acceleration rate of development in artificial intelligence draws distinct lines between classes, and this may further polarize the United States.

Another concern regards our privacy. Artificial intelligence is everywhere. It surveils every action, emotion, every like and dislike, interests, conversations, appearance, and these are only several examples. Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, paid an astounding $5 billion dollars after failing to protect millions of Facebook users' privacy online. This made many users refrain from using the platform until he guaranteed protection from privacy violation. Frontline's documentary examines the technological practices in China in current day. It is said that there are nearly just under 700 million cameras on surveillance in which the Chinese government has access to. These cameras have the capacity to pick up facial and body movement, and uses every bit of information about any person to help make predictions to advertise back to said person. 
Artificial intelligence is raising concerns for many as people begin to recognize the true nature of mass surveillance. It makes you wonder what the world will look like 10 or even 50 years from now. 

Smith-Mundt & Smith-Mundt Modernization

When you think of propaganda, the first thing that comes to mind is likely Nazi Germany during the Second World War. The infamous propaganda movement driven by Hitler was a significant mode of influence for several years. However, propaganda is a double-edged sword, and it all depends on who is practicing it. Propaganda can positively or negatively affect an audience as their opinions may be swayed in compliance. While promoted under threatening motives, propaganda can serve a great role in positive influence as well. It is a force that the public is relatively unaware of as they often feel they have authority over their own thoughts and opinions.

In 1948, the Smith-Mundt  Act established a hold on the Government's ability to sell ideas to American citizens. The act allowed the Government to share our national policies with other countries while also prohibiting it from revealing those same policies to citizens in the United States. The U.S. imposed western ideologies in foreign countries.

In 2012, the Obama administration took action to null the Smith-Mundt act. Also referred to as the Smith-Mundt Modernization, the United States Government is now allowed to promote their affairs and policies to American citizens, influencing vast populations. 

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The Internet Diffusion Theory Blog #8

 The Diffusion Theory is an idea designed to demonstrate how new ideologies and technology develop through a given population. Several posts ago I talked about the invention of the Internet, and I emphasized the major impact this technology made, globally. The development of the Internet serves as an excellent representation of this theory; let's analyze the theory. 

Picture a hill, a peak with an upward slope, and a downward slope. 

The first step in the Theory of Diffusion  refers to the "pioneers" or those who primarily drive the idea into the spotlight. In the late 50s, a group of intelligent men, including J.C.R. Licklider, a then well-known computer scientist, were toying around with the idea of an interconnected global network that would help aid Government researchers. However, it took several years for the technology itself to surface. This group of engineers represents the "pioneers" on the scale of the Diffusion theory. 

Then came the early adopters, those who began using the technology for the purpose for which the technology was initially invented. These users were utilizing the Internet system to send information to other users to simplify the process of communication over vast distances. At this time, the majority of the public had refrained from using the Internet, seeing as the primary purpose of the technology was not intended for domestic and recreational use. 

In the 70s, came the early majority, the next step in the Theory of Diffusion. The concept of the Internet began to gain traction for most, and it became quite popular among its users. A post linked below that talks about the 5 stages of technology suggests that approximately 34% represented the early majority users of the Internet. In the late 20th century, it was difficult for the average person to spend a large sum of money on a product that they were unsure whether it even worked or not. Realistically, the majority of those who favored the Internet at the time were likely wealthy individuals who had the luxury of purchasing something of such quality. The Five Stages of Technology

The following stage in the Theory of Diffusion is the late majority. It is around this time, the late 70s to 80s, in which the majority of the population had begun to use the Internet. It became such a worldwide necessity once the technology itself was modified to adapt to any user's needs or desires. Messaging, forwarding, or any form of communication was available to any individual, which made it difficult to visualize a world without the Internet.

The resulting stage in the Theory of Diffusion is the "Laggard" stage which represents (in this case) a group of those who unwillingly choose to adopt the Internet. Typically older generations like the Baby Boomers, or Gen X, reject the concept of technology altogether, however, many succumb to the world of technology as they require new ways of communication to connect with family and friends. 

As a finishing bit to the theory, there is a coined phrase called "the Long Tail" which represents those who simply never hop on the bandwagon. Figures in their 80s and 90s are more likely than the majority to avoid the Internet to maintain their traditional morals. However, this population of individuals is very slim. 

It is safe to claim that the Internet holds such an incredibly valuable position in today's world. 

The Universal Endangerment of Privacy Blog #4

 Humans use technology every day for their own convenience. Social Media platforms, news sites, texts, calls, or online shopping, for example, are all types of things we use technology for. We open our phones within seconds, and all it takes is the press of a button, or far worse, facial recognition. Most would agree that facial recognition is a much more efficient way of unlocking devices, yet it is important to acknowledge the suspicions behind instant face detection and unusually fast-acting camera technology. However, suspicion is not limited to just facial recognition, and there is significant reason to believe that our privacy is not as private as we believe.

In the last decade, individuals have raised questions about whether their phones and computers are wiretapped, and monitored. A new phrase called an "electronic tattoo" has been tossed around, and it refers to the idea that whatever may be uploaded online, will unfortunately forever be out there. This is the threat to immortality, and it considers how one's digital footprint is essentially eternal. Any person can find your information and use it to their own advantage. The Government also has access to any individual's personal information.

Another SOURCE here, suggests that there is mass surveillance of every citizen living in the U.S. Our messages are tapped, our phone calls, our engine searches, and the gravest concern, audible tapping. All of the randomized ads we see pop up on our devices are really not so random. Suspicions are well-founded when considering the number of coincidences one might experience with ads that are miraculously manifested and offered to them. Wiretapping began over a century ago, further emphasizing the corruption of the Government. 

In most cases, these issues may not affect anyone detrimentally, however, it is the trust of the Government that has now been lost. Civilians are angered by the invasion of their personal privacy and fear that their information is being collected and sold amongst companies that will use it to advertise things to particular audiences. They discover your likes, dislikes, and desires. On the other hand, there are groups of individuals who have no interest in the subject of conversation and do not find tapping to be a direct threat to themselves. Often times a website will prompt you with a question asking you to accept or reject cookies. Accepting these cookies grants access to said site that allows it to collect data on you. This is something to consider next time you open a website browser. 

Of course, there are practical reasons behind the entire idea. Mass surveillance helps law enforcement locate wanted criminals, and to further expedite their investigations. It is worth considering how the Government may be monitoring for legitimate purposes, rather than for their own vile intentions. Protesting may or may not influence change, but it may be an event that surfaces in time. 

As a method of protection, use encrypted apps and platforms that are ensured to provide uncompromising privacy as a powerful tool to protect your identity. It is a great practice to secure your digital profile in any way possible. Check out the following privacy-safe apps in 2024

Click HERE to find out more on security-protected applications.

EOTO1 Post: The Creation of the Internet Blog #6

 When you look up "When was the internet invented," the first prompt will provide that the official 'birthday' is January 1st, originating in 1983. At face value, the answer sounds reliable, but in reality, the foundations of the internet occurred years prior to its official release. When Russia launched its first official satellite, Sputnik, in 1957, a new age of technology began. To counteract, the NASA corporation was founded in the United States, along with the corresponding ARPA organization. The Advanced Research Projects Agency was initially designed to aid military strategy in the 1960s, and its primary purpose was to "link computers at Pentagon-funded research institutions over telephone lines" (Britannica). 

Computer scientist, Dr. Joseph Carl Robnett Licklider, introduced the idea of an "Intergalactic Computer Network" and soon geared toward involvement in the first computer network, ARPA. 

J.C.R. Licklider 1979

Licklider expressed in an interview the difficulties of initiating a plan and putting it into action. It was simple enough to generate the concept of networking, it was not, however, easy to fund, acquire employees, and get it off the ground quickly. Once, up and running effectively, computer communication networking changed the way the world operated. It sparked national, and even global efforts, changed the way humans negotiate with one another, and amongst other things, stimulated creativity on an entirely new level. 

There are, what appears to be, infinite dates that the now-current internet claims itself was created, and truthfully, there is no particular date that which a certain individual may or may not have come up with the idea. The internet is unsure of its own creation, and the inner workings of the technology are much more complex to those of us who do not specialize in the field. 

When catalyzed by the threat of war in the 60s, the Internet was launched to help computer systems communicate with each other through various frequencies. The network allowed government affiliates to share research through database systems. While effective at the time, the system had its flaws. Early computers were limited and could not store large quantities of information all at once. A new mechanism was designed to modify the computers so that they could speak to each other using a universal language. The updated networking infrastructure became a revelation for its time. This, is the platform we use today, the network that you are reading this on. 

Engines are created, used, and replaced. Yahoo, Bing, or  Firefox, for example, are previous engines that proposed brilliant modes of technology for their time, yet are now outdated by rivaling tech companies who can offer faster, and more simpler results. 

Varieties of old search engines

In today's day, the Internet provides the many luxuries that we utilize every day. The Apple Maps system you used this morning to drive to work, the weather conditions that you looked up online, or the Google search engine you used to find the answer to a probing thought you had earlier in the day. It is no longer a conscious thought to open up a search engine. Students in grade school, even as little as preschoolers, are using computer technology to learn and do their assignments digitally. Before the pandemic, it was the "norm" (for most) to drive in to work 5 days a week, live the 9 to 5, and call it a day. Was this system ideal? When the pandemic began in 2020, the world shut down, and everyone was subjected to living only within the walls of their own home for months. As a result, individuals began working from home temporarily, however, the temporary aspect seems to have dissolved. 

While the notion of working from home sounds rather enticing, it poses a serious threat to the human psyche. Eyes are glued to screens for hours each day, even work aside, those recreational hours spent scrolling online may be doing more harm than good. The Internet gives us access to infinite things, but it does not give us access to a time before technology. There will be no restoration of simplicity, and I personally fear the dangerous attachment to our phones and computers. Technology is made so that humans can answer their own questions, spark their creativity, and more importantly, communicate with others. There came a point where communication occurs more online than it does socially, in person. A child's brain properly develops by human interaction, not by referring to a screen instead. These concerns have relevance and should be monitored in time. Check out HERE if you want to know more about the dangers of screen time. 

The Internet is a fundamentally life-changing amenity for all of its users and is undoubtedly one of the greatest inventions of our time. There is no fairness in claiming that the creation of the Internet has done more harm than good, but there are always multiple ways of looking at it. At first hand, yes, the Internet has created boundless limits for opportunity and connection, which has launched humanity further on its course. At the same time, however, there seems to be a gray area when considering the consequences of such easy access to exceptional technology. Like they say, time will tell.