Megan Garber’s article, “When  your Facebook friend is Racist” had a lot of connections to Eli Pariser’s Filter Bubble. The first connection we saw was in chapter six of the book on page 174, when Pariser explained that “how we behave is dictacted in part by the shape of our environment.” In this quote, Pariser explained that architect Robert Moses was able to regulate people’s behavior through the use of bridges and tunnels. He designed the bridges and tunnels speifically to keep low-income families out of Jones Beach. This relates to the article because Facebook is designed in such a way that if you use Facebook often you are “more positive towards racist content.” For example, Facebook is structured in a way that allows users to “Like,” “Recommend” or “Share”, but not dislike or reject content. So if you come across a racist message you may not like it, but at the same time you are not able to express your dislike. You don’t have that option.

Another connection between Pariser and the article is what Pariser calls the “God Impulse.” (page 167) This is the idea that creative people feel empowered after they create or discover things, they feel as thought they have built their on realm or universe that you can control. Facebook users may feel the God impulse when they create their Facebook page. They have the ability to decide what comments and pictures they will post. Facebook users feel like they can say and do whatever they want on their page.They can also decide who to let into their page. Facebook users are able to influence the behavior of others because their friends are able to view their profiles. If their friend is saying negative or racist statements the other friend may become complacent about it.

We found two connections between the article and The Filter Bubble.

First, on page 235, Pariser discusses how Facebook should add an “Important” button.  Combined with the “Like” button, this collaborative filtering will allow news stories to appear in people’s newsfeeds, even though it might not be something they like.  Even by seeing the headline, they are made aware of an important news story.  In the article, When Your Facebook Friend is Racist, Megan Garber asks, “What will happen if information gets fully social(?)”  If we rely on personalized information, and only “Likes,” then we will not be shown news stories that are important or contrary to our beliefs.  Also, there is a chance of beng shown stories that are racist, as described in the article.  By adding an “Important” button, personalized news feeds can show the most crucial stories.

On page 154, Pariser discuses how its easier to agree and like certain viewpoints of friends due to the fact that they are the indivduals you usually agree with in the past. So the past interactions and talks with your friends affects the present and makes it so that you are more inclined to agree to their viewpoints. The indivdual on your Facebook friend list whom is also a close friend of yours posts a message referring to racism in america, it is unlikely you would just skip over it and more likely you will “like” it for the sake of not disagreeing with them and being in the “outter circle” An event such as this Pariser explains could be a threat to public life itself, because then these Facebook friends would simply be blinded by opposing viewpoints and your rational would be limited to the words of their friends, potentially manipulating your own view.

Frequent Facebook users are more likely to be influenced by persuasive messages on Facebook than less frequent users. The design is such that we can only filter things we like and if we were to dislike something on Facebook we would have to either unsubscribe or defriend someone to not see their posts. Pariser describes Facebook as a design that is more geared towards positivity than negativity in order to avoid confrontation and keep people thinking that they’re engaged when they’re only option is to agree or ignore rather than voice their opinion with a dislike button.  Facebook creates an “atmosphere of agreement” as the article points out, filtering out disagreement, and possibly critical thought. The article seems to imply that we are more likely to want to connect and agree with our friends rather than criticize them and their opinions/posts. There’s a tendency to rely on Facebook’s news feed to get your news but the news feed is far too biased based on your previous “likes” and the “likes” of your friends giving you a very limited filter of how you can possibly view the world and news.

Although, Google Glasses have a strong positive aspect on innovation, there are many major setbacks on owning this new invention:

1. Lack of regard for what is going on in your surroundings.
2. Obscures the vision of the user.
3. May cause major accident while driving.
4. People stealing them off your face.
5. Too much radiation to the brain.
6. People over hear private conversation, such as directions, private places, etc
7. People may try to get into personal space bubble, sharing of personal information like address, workplace, etc.
8. They’re ugly, non-fashionable, horrendous.
9. TOOO expensive
10. Impractical because you cannot get wifi everywhere and even if you were to pay for the service(4g) there is a lot of places that do not get signals such as trains, and the service itself would be too expensive.

by Group #3

• Privacy
• Dependency
• Filters – may discriminate smaller businesses
• Technical – rain/eye problems
• Fashion
• Easily breakable
• Distraction

Like Pariser described in chapter 7, the google glasses are an example of augmented reality. With the help of modern technology everyday tasks are much easier to do. It may also infringe in privacy issues, if and when it may record us without any consent.

The could be consequences of Google glass are:

1. It can casue accidents because people cannot do two things at once. For eg. crossing the street while reading on your Google glass.

2. People can take videos or pictures of you without your consent and this is a big privacy issue.

3. This is a serious hazard when driving and is similar to texting or talking on your phone when driving.

4. It may be inefficient, and not work as well as the advertisement puts it. We could relate to the Siri, on how the advertisement made it look so convenient, but in reality it had a hard time getting people’s mixed accents.

5. This could also be a health issue, because of the rays and with it being stationed near your eye and brain all the time. This could cause cancer with the antena stationed so close.

6. A bad fashion statement, however this could be the new norm in the future, which is equally frightening.

7. Google glass is made up of a wire and a freak accident is possible, with the wire splitting and hitting your eye.

1. Privacy issues – Traceable/Facial Recognition
2. The experience of others around you – refer to links
3. Hackers – Easy access to private information
4. Social networking going to take over real life
5. Dependency
6. Distracting
7. Shapes your experience of the world

http://creativegood.com/blog/the-google-glass-feature-no-one-is-talking-about/
http://gizmodo.com/5990787/google-glass-and-the-golden-age-of-creepshots

We found a lot of the problems of the Google Glasses come from its ability to secretly photograph.  There is a huge potential for copyright infringements at places like movie theaters.  Also, it makes it easier for someone to commit identity theft, such as recording someone entering their pin number at an ATM.

Two more consequences come from problems that already exist with cell phones, yet to an even greater extreme.  The first is social disconnect.  When in a social situation with friends or family, it will be way too tempting to resort to being entertained by the glasses.  Also, there will be problems with over reliance.  Once the user is used to using the GPS while driving, or the video chat to connect with friends, they will not be able to function without the technology.

The glasses will also exacerbate a problem that Pariser mentions, the lack of serendipity.  In the filter bubble, we are prevented from seeing things we might not like when it comes to web pages and the news.  Now with Google Glasses, that same effect will happen in real life.  We will not try that new, different restaurant because Google will not think we would like it.

Technology runs my day from morning to night time:

1. Alarm clock
2. television
3. computer
4. cell phone
5. car
6. bus
7. light systems
8. heater
9. train
10. motors of trains and cars
11. watch
12. coffee maker from dunking donuts
13. elevator
14. escalator
15. tablet
16. register
17. turn styles(train and at Baruch)
18. Baruch database
19. store signs
20. refrigerator
21. microwave
22. toaster
23. monitors
24. memory cards
25. gaming systems
26. applications on the ipod, ipad, cell phones

I began interacting with technology as soon as my day began. Here are a few in which I encountered throughout the day. First, I woke up to the sound of an alarm on my cell phone. After shutting off the alarm on my phone, for a few minutes I went through my phone (text messages, Facebook, email, etc.) I immediately turned on the radio in my bedroom as I chose picked out my outfit for today. On my way outside the house, I set my alarm/security system for the house. I got to my car and while driving the radio happened to be on. I parked my car by the train station. When I got to the train station, I swiped my metro card and went through the turnstile. During the train ride I used my phone to listen to music. Upon arriving to school I went to the nearby Dunkin Donuts, where I paid for my meal with the credit card in which the card reader obtains a whole bunch of information through that one swipe. When arriving to Baruch, I swiped my student ID card through the turnstiles. When going to class I took the elevator to head upstairs. After class I took the escalators.

Transportation- Metro card swipe, car, car radio, car charger for phone, phone on train for music.

School- elevator, escalators, credit card for food, phone for music,

Home- radio, alarm/security system, refrigerator, oven, house phone, cell phone

Computer- Speaker, monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer

Phone- social media networks, bank accounts

Lights, running water (sink/shower/toilet), heat, doorbell

Coffee/Espresso maker, fridge, range

elevator, Vespa, turnstile at Baruch (Baruch ID)

cell phone, ipad, cable tv, computer

Just about all of the technology I used today requires electricity. My phone, iPad, and cable tv are all communication channels which allow me to interact with others. The tv is less of a two way communication channel.

For Entertainment

Bluetooth,  Facebook, Twitter, DVD, TV, Itunes, Ipad, Ipod touch, Skype, Wii, Play station, headphone

For convenience

Computer, Espresso machine, Microwave, Internet banking, printer, scanner, copier,  GPS, search engine, Wi-fi, Alarm, Escalator, Elevator, Credit cards, ATM, Subway, LIRR, Car, Cellphone, Internet, Water purifier

List of the Technololgy I uesed throughout  my day:

cellphone alarm clock to wake me up, tv to watch the weather, hot water machine to make tea, car to get to the train station, ticket machine to buy my lirr ticket, mta to get to school, swipe machine to get into school, elevator to get to class, laptop to check emails, printer to pring papers, phone to text messages and make calls

Categories:

Satellite Operated devices: cellphone, TV, laptop, LIRR, subway system, printer

Mechanical/ Machine operated devices: tea pot, car, LIRR, subway system, swiping turn stiles, elevator, self- ticket machine,

Use for Transportation: car, LIRR, subway system, elevator

Uses at School: laptop, printer, turning stiles, elevator, cellphone

Uses for Entertainment: cellphone, laptop, TV

Necessity
Light – cables/wires, fuses
Phone – Internal -digitizer, mainboard, LCD, external – wireless towers
Car – Internal – ECU, Gauge Cluster, Wiring harness, battery,  radio, external – radio towers
Alarm – LCD, audio (speakers), outlet, more wires/cables.
Elevators
Refrigerator
Escalators

Entertainment/Leisure
Projector – Light
Computer (Monitor, keyboard, mouse, physical desktop, internet)
Printers

Security/Safety
Baruch Turnstiles – Magnetic stripe, led lights
Traffic lights

The list of technologies I encountered today are divided into two categories:

Cell Phone:

–  Weather App

– MTA App

Television

Electronic street lights

Elevators

Trains

Computer

– Software: Microsoft word, excel, ppt.

– Internet: Google, Facebook, emails

Simplification
coffee machine
computer
MTA machine
metrocard
subway
cell phone
credit card

Organization/Safety
turnstile’s
revolving door
crosswalk sign
traffic lights

Communication-1.TV, FIOS network, news channels
2. iPhone, calls, SMS, email, internet, personal hotspot, etc.
3. Desktop, laptop

Transportation-
1.Drive car to bus stop
2.Express bus, MTA card
3.School elevators

Food Appliances-1. Refrigerator
2. Toaster
3. Electric tea pot

Electronics-1. Alarm Clock
2. Electronic toothbrush
3. Watch
4. Radio (headphones)
5. printer
6.Credit Card payment

Phone

Satellite

Airplane

Cab

Cab television

Credit card machine

My television

Hot Pot

Ipod

Lights

Refrigerator

Computer

Airplane, cab, cab television, satellite, credit card machine are all public technologies used by a lot of different people while my phone, computer, television, refrigerator, ipod, lights, and hot pot are more personal and used by very few people that I know.