1. What might you have done differently if you were in the position of artist Ken Zeran, mentioned in this chapter?
Last year I wrote a paper regarding the Youtube/Google vs Viacom on ongoing battles. Viacom was claiming that Youtube, owned by Google, was breaching copyright law by allowing members to post video content from Viacom's various channels - like MTV.
In this case, the copyright law states that as long as the host ,Youtube, did not filter and turned a blind eye to what was being posted, its fair game. But, if Viacom tells YouTube that their stuff is being posted, then YuTube has t take it down. Youtube has been complying and often wins the court battles. The major problem with this, however, are the ads sold on over the videos. For instance, there is a music artist I really like named Ronald Jenkees -goofiest dude ever but he can make a sweet beat. He plays on a Yamaha Korg Triton Keyboard - very expensive. The ad over top of the video was for a the same keyboard. Viacom uses videos like this to prove that YouTube does in fact know what's being posted and that they are making a profit from it! This is still very grey and the decisions vary on the day.
If I were Zeran, I would use the defense that AOL was conscious of what was being posted, not inherently but once he pointed out them that is was being done that should have been evidence enough that AOL knew of the posting. If that didn't work, I might have called in and pretended that I did own the ad and decided that it wasn't generating enough business, so I'd like to swap it out with another.
Tylenol once was not the most trusted brand - a disgruntled employee sabotaged the company by poisoning thousands of bottles of product. People died. Tylenol took the blame and recovered their image. The disgruntled employee was never caught. Could Zeran not have attempted to sue the individual promising to take down the ad on the premise that they were perhaps disgruntled and enjoyed seeing him defamed?
Saturday, December 11, 2010
What might you do with access to UWB radio transmissions if you had a receiver in a car?
It's funny that this came up when it did. In another class we were talking about "Guerilla Radio." People would set up a radio transmission from their apartment and broadcast for really no wider than a couple of blocks. There would be almost a cult-like following on the block. This illegal practice would operate on used channels The major problem of course though is clogging up the band width and interfering with channels on their side.
But I think UWB is a radio wouldn't be practical in this situation. If I were a genius and it was 2030, maybe UWB could be used in every car to "feel" the positions of every car....like in Minority Report :). I suppose these days UWB may be what is used for car fobs that lock, unlock, pop the trunk.
One of my co-workers at Tradeshowdirect bought a remote control helicopter that can be controlled on an iPhone with a 200 foot range. I'm just waiting for the Aston Martin Driveing App inspired by James Bond.
It's funny that this came up when it did. In another class we were talking about "Guerilla Radio." People would set up a radio transmission from their apartment and broadcast for really no wider than a couple of blocks. There would be almost a cult-like following on the block. This illegal practice would operate on used channels The major problem of course though is clogging up the band width and interfering with channels on their side.
But I think UWB is a radio wouldn't be practical in this situation. If I were a genius and it was 2030, maybe UWB could be used in every car to "feel" the positions of every car....like in Minority Report :). I suppose these days UWB may be what is used for car fobs that lock, unlock, pop the trunk.
One of my co-workers at Tradeshowdirect bought a remote control helicopter that can be controlled on an iPhone with a 200 foot range. I'm just waiting for the Aston Martin Driveing App inspired by James Bond.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
What’s the value of a bit? It seems that going after folks who have traded songs or movies online is a huge expenditure of effort and money. Is DRM-protected content the way to go? If you don’t agree, propose another method for the distribution of digital multimedia so that content creators can still be compensated.
Totally disagree. "What is the value of a bit?" would be an unfair question. What is the value of a piece of paper? Almost nothing. But what's the value of the paper Shakespeare's words were first written on? A hell of a lot. So yeah, a bit is worth dick, but the information stored on them is more important.
Lets take the recording industry for instance. There is a false conception that the recording industry is doing "just fine" and that they have "plenty of money." False. Less than 3% of the recording industry is made up of Jay-Zs Beyonces, and Justin Timberlakes raking in the dollars. The other 97% barely breaks even. Ever heard of a guitarist named Eric Johnson (maybe you have, but most have not)? He is a platinum selling artist. But he's a regular guy. Not a rockstar - he doesn't own part of New York Knicks. It took him six years to reach platinum on his album Ah Via Musicam. More than likely his record label, Capitol Records, gave him the standard $1 million advance to make the album. Damn! A million bucks! Wrong. That million is split up amongst his band members, agent, manager, pays for music video production, travel, studio time etc.... After 1 year its all spent on expenditures. Royalties? He doesn't see a dime until that million is recouped. So if he made a dollar on each album and it took 6 years to reach platinum, then he went without a paycheck for 6 whole years! Now waht about the artists who never recoup? That's most of them.
In 2000, there were over 400 platinum albums in the US. In 2010, there were 70. The atmosphere is changing. People can buy songs individually now and get just what they want. And then "share" it with 100 million of their "friends."
The only way to combat this is through education. Teach kids at a young age that stealing bits is exactly the same as breaking into the bank or robbing a Quicky-Mart. Would you throw a brick through a record store window and copy a song then leave the disc...technically you didn't steal it. No. Mindset needs to change.
Totally disagree. "What is the value of a bit?" would be an unfair question. What is the value of a piece of paper? Almost nothing. But what's the value of the paper Shakespeare's words were first written on? A hell of a lot. So yeah, a bit is worth dick, but the information stored on them is more important.
Lets take the recording industry for instance. There is a false conception that the recording industry is doing "just fine" and that they have "plenty of money." False. Less than 3% of the recording industry is made up of Jay-Zs Beyonces, and Justin Timberlakes raking in the dollars. The other 97% barely breaks even. Ever heard of a guitarist named Eric Johnson (maybe you have, but most have not)? He is a platinum selling artist. But he's a regular guy. Not a rockstar - he doesn't own part of New York Knicks. It took him six years to reach platinum on his album Ah Via Musicam. More than likely his record label, Capitol Records, gave him the standard $1 million advance to make the album. Damn! A million bucks! Wrong. That million is split up amongst his band members, agent, manager, pays for music video production, travel, studio time etc.... After 1 year its all spent on expenditures. Royalties? He doesn't see a dime until that million is recouped. So if he made a dollar on each album and it took 6 years to reach platinum, then he went without a paycheck for 6 whole years! Now waht about the artists who never recoup? That's most of them.
In 2000, there were over 400 platinum albums in the US. In 2010, there were 70. The atmosphere is changing. People can buy songs individually now and get just what they want. And then "share" it with 100 million of their "friends."
The only way to combat this is through education. Teach kids at a young age that stealing bits is exactly the same as breaking into the bank or robbing a Quicky-Mart. Would you throw a brick through a record store window and copy a song then leave the disc...technically you didn't steal it. No. Mindset needs to change.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
cycling - info cascade
2. Look deeper into the concept of a “information cascade.” Can you cite an example of where following the actions of others was a sound idea? Where doing so ended up being a poor choice?
My immediate response to this question related to cycling - as mentioned a couple previous blogs, I recently signed a pro contract to race my bike. I've been racing since I was 12 and hoped the day would come.
Though its difficult sport to gain entrance into and even more difficult sport to understand, the basics are this:
1.) You have to be very fit. But the races are not like track meets - whos the fastest. The fat old guys still win.
2.) It is an extremely tactical sport. There are no dumb jocks who succeed. You have to be razor sharp.
The major type of racing in the United States is called "Criterium Racing." A city block - or set of blocks - is shut down and 1 mile loop is created. Tens of thousand of bewildered spectators watch as 150 pros zoom around and do laps around these 6-corner circuits with their eyes on the $20,000 purse. There are crashes, insane speed, quitters, unbelievable solo efforts and team tactics.
So, 1 mile loop, 50 miles, 50 laps downtown, crowds going nuts! The information cascade effect is apparent everly lap the race. If you are racing 50 miles are you going to go balls to the wall from the gun? No. But there are guys who do out of sheer stupidity or because they know that if they can win covetted "Crowd Primes" in which race organizers collected money from the crowd and put it up for grabs mid race. Its a gamble but I've seen crowd primes higher than $2500.
So rider A "attacks" to try and get clear of the main field. And riders B-Z file in and follow the guy in front of them. rider A never gets away. Conversely, Rider Y attacks and the whole main field lets him go thinking he's not a threat -maybe they don't recognize the new guy. Before they know it, Rider Y is gone and the rest are fighting for second. Meanwhile Rider M new all along that he needed to be with rider Y.
In another case, lets say Team A has a rider attack and he stays away. The other dominant team, Team B, lets him go because they know they let him roast for awhile and then line up and bring him back then delivering their own rider to victoy. Sometimes, Team B wins, Sometimes Team A wins. Teams C-Z are too complacent and pick a side. They are following Team A guy because they know he's the man, or they follow Team Bs leadout train because they are the best at what they do...
All are examples of how information cascade can be positive and negative. Hope it made sense. Cycling is a lot more in depth than my lame attempt at its explanation. It is nothing but a chess match.
My immediate response to this question related to cycling - as mentioned a couple previous blogs, I recently signed a pro contract to race my bike. I've been racing since I was 12 and hoped the day would come.
Though its difficult sport to gain entrance into and even more difficult sport to understand, the basics are this:
1.) You have to be very fit. But the races are not like track meets - whos the fastest. The fat old guys still win.
2.) It is an extremely tactical sport. There are no dumb jocks who succeed. You have to be razor sharp.
The major type of racing in the United States is called "Criterium Racing." A city block - or set of blocks - is shut down and 1 mile loop is created. Tens of thousand of bewildered spectators watch as 150 pros zoom around and do laps around these 6-corner circuits with their eyes on the $20,000 purse. There are crashes, insane speed, quitters, unbelievable solo efforts and team tactics.
So, 1 mile loop, 50 miles, 50 laps downtown, crowds going nuts! The information cascade effect is apparent everly lap the race. If you are racing 50 miles are you going to go balls to the wall from the gun? No. But there are guys who do out of sheer stupidity or because they know that if they can win covetted "Crowd Primes" in which race organizers collected money from the crowd and put it up for grabs mid race. Its a gamble but I've seen crowd primes higher than $2500.
So rider A "attacks" to try and get clear of the main field. And riders B-Z file in and follow the guy in front of them. rider A never gets away. Conversely, Rider Y attacks and the whole main field lets him go thinking he's not a threat -maybe they don't recognize the new guy. Before they know it, Rider Y is gone and the rest are fighting for second. Meanwhile Rider M new all along that he needed to be with rider Y.
In another case, lets say Team A has a rider attack and he stays away. The other dominant team, Team B, lets him go because they know they let him roast for awhile and then line up and bring him back then delivering their own rider to victoy. Sometimes, Team B wins, Sometimes Team A wins. Teams C-Z are too complacent and pick a side. They are following Team A guy because they know he's the man, or they follow Team Bs leadout train because they are the best at what they do...
All are examples of how information cascade can be positive and negative. Hope it made sense. Cycling is a lot more in depth than my lame attempt at its explanation. It is nothing but a chess match.
Nikola Tesla Should Have Changed the World Sooner
Based on the quote from this chapter, ““revolution doesn’t happen when society adopts new technologies--it happens when society adopts new behaviors,” do you agree or disagree? Cite examples to support your position.
I totally agree. Technology creates opportunity, but not behaviors. Behaviors change when people act.
I hate it when I read articles or see news programs that say "Video Game Made Him Act Out in School!" That's a load of BS. Mom and dad aren't connected enough with that child and aren't setting boundaries and aren't communicating with the simple reminder that its "just a game." Now of course I'm not ignorant enough to think that kids should be allowed to see porn at the theaters or play games willy nillly - I'm just suggesting that their behavior is not because of a video game - the responsibility lies with the parents.
And now more related to this question.... Lets take Google Docs for instance. Until about a year and half ago, I was totally unaware that they even existed. Once I was clued in, I still thought it was pointless. Now, for obvious reasons, I use them for everything - even class papers! I don;t have a printer, so I just open Google Docs at work or at school and print it off. Bam. Easy. I recently was signed on to a pro cycling team (!!!!!) and started doing some freelance design work for the sports management company that runs the team. The owner was passing around a 3-paged Excel sheet to 13 athletes to get information for sizing, specific needs etc... oh my god... 13 versions all named the same thing, its going to get lost, transferring all the info is a bitch etc etc... In the end, some one will get the wrong items. So I suggested Google Docs and Google Forms.
Here's an amazing historical example of technology not changing society. In Elementary School, we are taught that Thomas Edison was the greatest inventor who ever lived. This is false. He was brilliant, sure, but he was a businessman. The greatest inventor of all time, in my opinion, is a man named Nikola Tesla. His brain worked differently than ours. He saw problems 30 years before they happened and had an answer 40 years before anyone else could even dream about it. The alternating current powering your house -Tesla, the motor - tesla, radio - Tesla (Yup, not Merconi - that guy used 17 of Teslas pattons send a dinky "e" accross the Atlantic.)
In the Late 1880's Nikola Tesla presented to the world a radio controlled boat. He stood behind a booth pulling levers as wooden ship turned sailed in the pool in front of him. The viewers thought he was a crazy and a magician. This is the 1880s...... He proposed that war ships no longer need humans. They could save lives. Shortly there after he developed this technology to be able to detect other ships. 60 years later RADAR was finally being used as a standard. In the 1920s Tesla was hard a at work on a tower that he was convinced would be able to connect people across the world. Electricity, messages, pictures etc would be beamed from tower to tower and person to person instantly! He lost his funding however and the project was never completed. Today we have cell phones, wifi etc...
And lastly, Tesla in his old age had one last idea for a project. He believed he had all the knowledge he needed to invent a "Death Ray." Shoot beams of electricity into the sky and take out a fighter plane. After making this announcement In perfect helath, the US governement thought he was insane. Tesla was discouraged and threatened to tak his work to his home county (a soviet territory.) He was dead 3 days later. His lab, his hotel room (he lived in a hotel) and his papers were completely cleared away and only a few of the papers were returned to the public in the late 1950s -mostly blacked out in permanent ink. Electro Magnetic Pulse. Sound familiar? The guy was insane - he was a mad scientist but he introduced over 750 patented inventions and most were not adopted until decades later!
I totally agree. Technology creates opportunity, but not behaviors. Behaviors change when people act.
I hate it when I read articles or see news programs that say "Video Game Made Him Act Out in School!" That's a load of BS. Mom and dad aren't connected enough with that child and aren't setting boundaries and aren't communicating with the simple reminder that its "just a game." Now of course I'm not ignorant enough to think that kids should be allowed to see porn at the theaters or play games willy nillly - I'm just suggesting that their behavior is not because of a video game - the responsibility lies with the parents.
And now more related to this question.... Lets take Google Docs for instance. Until about a year and half ago, I was totally unaware that they even existed. Once I was clued in, I still thought it was pointless. Now, for obvious reasons, I use them for everything - even class papers! I don;t have a printer, so I just open Google Docs at work or at school and print it off. Bam. Easy. I recently was signed on to a pro cycling team (!!!!!) and started doing some freelance design work for the sports management company that runs the team. The owner was passing around a 3-paged Excel sheet to 13 athletes to get information for sizing, specific needs etc... oh my god... 13 versions all named the same thing, its going to get lost, transferring all the info is a bitch etc etc... In the end, some one will get the wrong items. So I suggested Google Docs and Google Forms.
Here's an amazing historical example of technology not changing society. In Elementary School, we are taught that Thomas Edison was the greatest inventor who ever lived. This is false. He was brilliant, sure, but he was a businessman. The greatest inventor of all time, in my opinion, is a man named Nikola Tesla. His brain worked differently than ours. He saw problems 30 years before they happened and had an answer 40 years before anyone else could even dream about it. The alternating current powering your house -Tesla, the motor - tesla, radio - Tesla (Yup, not Merconi - that guy used 17 of Teslas pattons send a dinky "e" accross the Atlantic.)
In the Late 1880's Nikola Tesla presented to the world a radio controlled boat. He stood behind a booth pulling levers as wooden ship turned sailed in the pool in front of him. The viewers thought he was a crazy and a magician. This is the 1880s...... He proposed that war ships no longer need humans. They could save lives. Shortly there after he developed this technology to be able to detect other ships. 60 years later RADAR was finally being used as a standard. In the 1920s Tesla was hard a at work on a tower that he was convinced would be able to connect people across the world. Electricity, messages, pictures etc would be beamed from tower to tower and person to person instantly! He lost his funding however and the project was never completed. Today we have cell phones, wifi etc...
And lastly, Tesla in his old age had one last idea for a project. He believed he had all the knowledge he needed to invent a "Death Ray." Shoot beams of electricity into the sky and take out a fighter plane. After making this announcement In perfect helath, the US governement thought he was insane. Tesla was discouraged and threatened to tak his work to his home county (a soviet territory.) He was dead 3 days later. His lab, his hotel room (he lived in a hotel) and his papers were completely cleared away and only a few of the papers were returned to the public in the late 1950s -mostly blacked out in permanent ink. Electro Magnetic Pulse. Sound familiar? The guy was insane - he was a mad scientist but he introduced over 750 patented inventions and most were not adopted until decades later!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Audio Book
Listening to an audio book has its advantages and disadvantages. While listening to this chapter I actually multi tasked cleaning my room and folding laundry. I was able to absorb the material while being productive in other areas. I did however catch myself checking emails and spacing out for a couple minutes here and there. Overall however, I enjoyed it and will look to this option for other classes. I cloud listen to the book while walking to classes or riding my bike (I just signed a professional contract to race and spend 20 hrs/ week in the saddle traversing the countryside.) Great time saver. Reading can be difficult to squeeze in to busy schedules or can be challenging sometimes - especially for me. It makes me tired and I always fall asleep even if its 1 pm!
Zero Fat (well...per serving)
Why is “zero” such a hot-button word?
Zero is often used to illustrate something "free" or minimal. Zero is supposed to make consumers jump for what ever the product is. Just about every car commercial I hear makes is sound like you could get a car for free.
"Zero money down! Get 0.0% financing for up to 72 months!"
or my personal favorite:
"Zero grams trans fat (the kind that kill you slowly and is nearly impossible to break down in your body and serves no positive purpose)....per serving."
This translates to: 0.4 grams trans fat per serving - just enough to be considered too minimal to count. If you have three servings, it adds up.
Everything is zero or free these days, and if its not, there are way to get it for free (not that I endorse nor approve of this.) I think Apple has done a great job combatting this. Not only do most of their products kick ass, but charging up the waa-zoo makes the products seem more valuable. I can get a "cheap" Dell with a fast processor and large graphics card for a 1/4th what I could get a comparable Mac for. But the Mac's quality - incorrectly perceived so or not - is higher than that of the cheap Dell.
Zero is often used to illustrate something "free" or minimal. Zero is supposed to make consumers jump for what ever the product is. Just about every car commercial I hear makes is sound like you could get a car for free.
"Zero money down! Get 0.0% financing for up to 72 months!"
or my personal favorite:
"Zero grams trans fat (the kind that kill you slowly and is nearly impossible to break down in your body and serves no positive purpose)....per serving."
This translates to: 0.4 grams trans fat per serving - just enough to be considered too minimal to count. If you have three servings, it adds up.
Everything is zero or free these days, and if its not, there are way to get it for free (not that I endorse nor approve of this.) I think Apple has done a great job combatting this. Not only do most of their products kick ass, but charging up the waa-zoo makes the products seem more valuable. I can get a "cheap" Dell with a fast processor and large graphics card for a 1/4th what I could get a comparable Mac for. But the Mac's quality - incorrectly perceived so or not - is higher than that of the cheap Dell.
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