EOTO Reaction

 Throughout our EOTO presentation day, I learned a lot about how communication has evolved over generations. Especially when it came to two inventions that we have all used at some point in our lives: Paper, and CDs. Another invention that I am going to talk about in this post that I found interesting is the Petroglyphs that are commonly found throught Egypt. 

1. Paper

 While listening and jotting down notes on the history of paper, I learned many things that I never knew about until now. I found it very interesting how paper was originally made from bark, hemp rags, and fishing nets before wood pulp and cellulose fiber became the world's standard materials for making paper in 1838. 

Cai Lun

When paper was first developed in china around 105 C.E., it was made using a material known as hemp rags, which produced the first coarse paper. Until a Chinese eunuch court official named Cai Lun, who is credited with the invention of paper, revolutionized the development of paper, and changed the course of human communication, by replacing the hemp rags and fishing nets used to create paper, with bamboo and silk. This made paper more accessible and affordable for others during this time period. 

Thanks to Cai Lun, this expanded literacy and education, helped with the creation of books, newspapers, libraries, and supported the printing revolution. But it also came with some negative impacts like how large amounts of papers require a lot of natural resources and can lead to environmental concerns.

I never thought about, how far paper has really come since it was first created, but through all this information, I was able to get a glimpse as to how it revolutionized the way that we communicate amongst each other. As time moves on and everything starts to become digital, I believe paper will still be here and remain as a form of communication.

The CD

2. CDs 

As someone born in the 2000s,  I grew up using both CDs and DVDs. There was one fact that I enjoyed learning, and that was who invented the CDs.

Learning that Sony and Philips invented the CD for music in the 1970s was interesting to me. Especially because they were created after records and cassette tapes became obsolete. 

Another fact I learned from the presentation is how everyone replaced their old music collections with CDs.  Which I find very interesting, especially since vinyl records and cassette tapes are making a comeback due to feelings of nostalgia. Vinyl's have so far outsold CDs in certain markets, while cassette tapes are on the smaller scale of the resurgence.

3. Petroglyphs

Petroglyhphs

 The last piece of communication that I found to be really interesting and had never learned about before
was the Petroglyps that are scattered around Egypt. 

Learning that these petroglyphs were created so that people then and now could look at them and interpret what their lives were like in the past made me think about how we don't use that method anymore due the evolving methods of communication. Since we have access to cameras, all of our memories are stored digitally, maybe on the cloud or on a SD Card. 

Unlike the Petroglyphs that managed to last for so long, anything can happen to our memories stored on these pieces of technology and can easily be erased or destroyed either on purpose or by accident. 

I loved learning about all the different types of communication that developed from far into the past into what we now know it as. While I didn't have a lot of information on the petroglyphs, from what I have written I enjoyed learning about that the most. 

 AI Disclosure: AI was not used in the research or in the blog. Everything came from my own notes that I took during EOTO presentations. 

EOTO - Video Tape

Ampex VRX-1000, the world's first commercial broadcast videotape recorder that was introduced in 1956.

When people think about important technological inventions, they often think of computers, smartphones, or the internet. However, videotape was one of the technologies that helped lay the foundation for the way we record and share information today.

Before learning about videotape, I did not realize how difficult it was to record television programs in the early days of broadcasting. Television networks did not have a simple way to save programs for later use. Instead, they relied on a process called a kinescope, which involved recording a television screen onto film. This method was expensive, time-consuming, and not very efficient.

The need for a better solution created an opportunity for innovation.

In 1956, Charles Ginsburg and a team of engineers at Ampex Corporation developed the first practical videotape recorder. Their invention was designed to solve a major problem facing television broadcasters. Networks needed a faster and more reliable way to record television programs so they could be replayed, edited, and shared later.

One of the biggest challenges at the time involved broadcasting programs across different time zones. A show airing live on the East Coast could not easily be shown later in another part of the country. Videotape made it possible to record broadcasts and play them back when needed, making television production far more efficient.

Quadruplex Videotape. The first practical and commercially successful analog recording video tape format

What stands out to me is how practical the invention was. The creators were not simply trying to invent something new. They were trying to solve a real-world problem that affected an entire industry. In many ways, that is what makes technology successful. It improves an existing process and makes people's work easier.

The impact of videotape was enormous.

Television stations suddenly had the ability to record, store, edit, and replay content with much greater flexibility. This changed the way television programs were produced and allowed broadcasters to operate more efficiently. What had once been a complicated and costly process became much more manageable.

Videotape also changed communication in important ways. Instead of information existing only in a live moment, it could now be preserved and shared later. News broadcasts, educational programs, sporting events, and entertainment shows could all be recorded for future audiences.

I think this was one of videotape's most important contributions. It allowed people to revisit events and information rather than relying solely on live broadcasts. Many important moments could now be saved instead of disappearing once they aired.

Ampex VR-2000

The influence of videotape extended beyond television networks. It eventually led to technologies such as VCRs and camcorders, giving everyday people the ability to record and watch videos in their own homes. This changed not only entertainment but also the way families documented memories and experiences.

Like many technologies, however, videotape also had some negative impacts.

Because recordings could be copied, concerns about copyright infringement became more common. There were also environmental issues as millions of videotapes eventually became obsolete and were discarded when newer digital technologies took their place.

Even with those drawbacks, I believe videotape remains one of the most important communication technologies of the twentieth century. It transformed broadcasting, made information easier to preserve, and expanded the ways people could communicate through video.

Looking back, it is easy to see that videotape was more than just a way to record television. It was a technology that changed how information could be captured, stored, and shared, and its influence can still be seen in many of the video technologies we use today.

AI Disclosure: AI was in the research and information for this blog post. All information came from Microsoft Copilot Pro, which I asked to give information on the history of videotape, and its impacts on communication. I then prompted Microsoft Copilot Pro to help me shape the information given to me into a blog post of between 500 and 600 words written in a smooth professional style. I then added a link to a website for viewers to learn about the history of videotape. Finally, I added appropriate images, and captions to help break up the type and give the post a more professsional look.   

Privacy, Online & Off

Protecting our privacy has become the most important thing in modern times.

One of the biggest themes I took away from the TED Talks was how much information about our lives is being collected, stored, and analyzed. Before watching, I knew that technology companies and government agencies gathered data, but I did not fully appreciate how detailed that information could become.

The discussion about police surveillance was especially eye-opening. The video described technologies that allow law enforcement to gather large amounts of information about people, including data related to license plates, cell towers, and location tracking. What stood out to me was the idea that records are often retained because they may become useful in the future. 

 

I found myself thinking about the balance between public safety and personal privacy. The TED Talk done by Catherine Crump raised concerns that tracking the movements of innocent people can be abused, which made me realize how important oversight and accountability are when new technologies are adopted. One suggestion was that city councils can help govern police departments to ensure these tools are being used legitimately.

The section on Facebook and privacy introduced several concepts that I had not considered before. The idea of data mining showed how companies can profit from personal information, while the concept of a digital dossier explained how thousands of pieces of data can be assembled into a portrait of an individual.

What struck me most was how much information people voluntarily provide online. The discussion of adhesion contracts and the Third-Party Doctrine suggested that users often give up significant control over their information without fully understanding the consequences. After watching, I felt that people should be more conscious about sharing personal data.

The final video by Juan Enriquez connected these ideas through the concept of "electronic tattoos." Just as a traditional tattoo tells a story, our online activity tells a story about us. The lessons from Greek mythology reinforced the importance of being thoughtful, avoiding distractions, and remembering our purpose in a world flooded with information.

Overall, these videos changed the way I think about privacy. My biggest takeaway is that technology leaves lasting records, and both individuals and institutions have a responsibility to think carefully about how information is collected, shared, and used. 

 

AI Disclosure: AI was not used in the research and information for this blog post. All information came from notes that I took while watching the Ted Talks. I then prompted Microsoft Copilot Pro to help me shape my notes into a blog post of between 300 and 350 words written in a smooth professional style. I then added links to the videos that I watched so that the readers can watch them as well. Finally, I added appropriate images, videos and captions to help break up the type and give the post a more professsional look.  

Eight Values of Free Expression

   

Individual self-fulfillment is an important value of free expression.

Individual self-fulfillment is a value of free expression that I believe is important because people should have the right to pursue their own beliefs and talents.

Within society, people have different beliefs and different interests that help shape who they are, as well as different goals that they want to pursue in their lives. Free expression allows people to pursue what they want without fear of government interference. People can pursue their beliefs, interests, and goals by figuring out what makes them unique or sets them apart from the people around them. They can do this by openly practicing and developing their talents, exploring their interests, and possibly sharing them with a community. 

Because every person is different with unique experiences and aspirations, people should have the right to decide what they want to do with their lives. If the government were in control of our choices, we as individuals would have less freedom to develop ourselves and our talents. When we are given the power to pursue our beliefs and talents, we are able to develop and become more confident in who we are as individuals, as we are pursuing the things that are important to us. 

 

Judge John Marshall Harlan II
Judge John Marshall wrote
the ruling of the Cohen V California case. 

If we take a look at Cohen V. California (1971), the case embodies the value of individual self-fulfillment. Cohen was convicted for wearing a jacket with the words "Fuck the Draft. Stop the War" written on the back, in a corridor of the Los Angeles Courthouse. 

Cohen's conviction was a violation of his free expression. The Supreme Court later overturned the conviction because the government has no right to ban a word simply because it is vulgar or offensive.

If we continue to pursue what is important to us, then society will continue to become more diverse, and individuals will continue to express themselves through their beliefs and interests.

In the future, the government will also continue to remain uninvolved in what a person decides to do with their life. As people continue developing their skills and reach their goals, there's a possibility that new ideas and forms of expression will be brought into society, which would allow future generations to have a better understanding of who they are as their own person and pursue what is important to them.

I believe that the value of individual self-fulfillment is an important value of free expression for us to have because it gives us the ability to pursue what's important to us. Every person is different. We each have something we believe in that is different from one another. We have different interests, and we also have different talents and goals that we want to pursue at some point in our lives. 

By having the ability to express ourselves freely without any interference from the government, we can also allow future generations to have the same opportunity to pursue their own beliefs and talents. Without this freedom, we would be relying on the government telling us what we can and cannot pursue. We would be unable to develop ourselves individually and unable to explore our own interests.

Supreme Court Video Reflection

The United States Supreme Court. It is the most powerful judicial body on earth.

The United States Supreme Court receives thousands of petitions every year, yet only nine justices are responsible for considering the questions that reach the nation’s highest court. The Supreme Court remains the most powerful judicial body on earth and serves as a model for high courts throughout the world.

What stood out to me most is that the Court’s power does not come from force. Its authority rests on public faith. For more than 200 years, Americans have accepted the Court’s role in interpreting the Constitution and resolving important legal questions.

The Court’s responsibility is significant. It interprets a Constitution that is more than 200 years old while safeguarding liberty, preserving the union, and upholding the rule of law. The justices have also historically defended the Court’s independence, helping it gain respect as a co-equal branch of government.

One of the most important historical moments mentioned was Marbury v. Madison (1759) case. During the Marshall years, the Court gained public respect, and Chief Justice Marshall expressed the idea that “it is a constitution we are expounding,” reflecting the importance of constitutional interpretation.

Dred Scott (1857)

The Court’s history also includes serious failures. In the Dred Scott v Sandford (1857) case, the Court ruled that Black slaves could not be counted as citizens. I found this part especially interesting because the notes describe it as one of the Court’s self-inflicted harms and an example of how judicial decisions can have lasting consequences.

The video also discussed the 14th amendment, which many people call the second Bill of Rights. The notes emphasized how the post-Civil War amendments changed the Constitution that the Court interprets today.

Another surprising fact was the Court’s workload. It receives about 7,000 cases each year, or roughly 100 every week, but accepts only a small number for consideration. Every petition receives individual review, and a denied case has no precedential value.

I was also interested in the Court’s traditions. The justices shake hands whenever they meet, and as they discuss cases, their views gradually become more settled. The video compared this process to walking through wet concrete, where opinions become harder to change over time.

Overall, the history of the Supreme Court shows that its authority depends not only on the Constitution, but also on the trust and confidence of the American public.

AI Disclosure: AI was not used in the research and information for this blog post. All information came from notes that I took while watching a video titled "Supreme Court of the United States." I then prompted Microsoft Copilot Pro to help me shape my notes into a blog post of between 300 and 350 words written in a smooth professional style. I then added links to online sources that the reader could pursue for more information. Finally, I added appropriate images and captions to help break up the type and give the post a more professsional look. 

My Top 5 Sources of News

1. X (Formerly Twitter)

X is my primary source of information when it comes to real-world events and topics that interest me. X allows anyone aged 13 or older to create an account, and many of these accounts belong to mainstream journalists and news outlets that report on real-world events or cover game industry news. Thanks to the wide range of journalists and news outlets active on the platform, X allows me to stay informed about the latest updates on real-world events and announcements in the video game industry. One thing I will say about X is that it's important to double-check who is posting the news on the platform because you never know if it could be from an official account or a parody account. 

2. TikTok

TikTok is a platform that I use every day. It is a platform that allows users to create and distribute the short-form content they have created. While I am scrolling through the platform, there are times when I will come across updates about news and events happening in my local area, as well as news from around the world. One aspect that I like about TikTok is that it allows me to receive news in a 30-second to a minute-long video that summarizes key information, rather than having to read an entire lengthy article. 

3. Google News

Google News is the third important source that I use to stay updated on current worldwide events and political topics that interest me. With Google News, I am able to see news from different sources all in one website. The main thing I like to use Google News for is staying updated on the latest developments in technology and the tech industry.

4. YouTube

YouTube is a platform that I use to stay updated on the latest developments in technology and the tech industry. I often use YouTube to watch technology-based creators who discuss new software and hardware. I find YouTube useful for any sort of information because the videos that creators make can provide more detailed explanations of how brand-new software works or how a new piece of hardware is better than its predecessor. I also like to use it for my other interests, like art, crime documentaries, and anything regarding space. 

5. Threads

The last source that I indirectly use for news or any real-world information is Threads. While I personally do not use Threads that much, I occasionally receive notifications from the app every now and then. The notifications will often lead me to the latest updates within Politics or a topic that Instagram's algorithm has been trying to recommend to me. If you enjoy using X as a source for news, I would recommend giving Threads a try.