Module 6 - Responses

Sandra Wenzel

Stephen Raymond

Kat Crawford

Module 6 - Addressing the Digital Divide

No matter how much we try there will always be the haves and have nots of virtually everything.  This is definitely true with technology.  However, one unifying piece is the internet.  With the internet, many technologies can have access to information and power that they are not isolated from.


There have been talks about a universal wireless technology that will work for everyone and is not dependent on towers or hard-line connections.

If I had the power to help to decrease or erase this divide, I would put my efforts towards the universal wireless internet.  This would allow all citizens on the earth regardless of location or piece of technology, the ability to access information and connect to each other.  This could help countries in places like Africa, or any other places without infrastructure, the ability to connect to others.

In some ways this has already occurred.  With social networking, the fall of Egyptian president Mubarek was able to be exposed, where in the past this information would have never been able to get out, and the people would not have been able to organize (or at least the same way).

Module 5 - Responses

Sandra Wenzel

Stephen Raymond

Kat Crawford

Module 5 - Red Queens and Increasing Returns

• When you decided to obtain a DVD for your science fiction assignment in Module 4, where did you go to find a movie based on a Philip K. Dick book? Did you rent or purchase a DVD, or did you view it digitally on your computer using Netflix or a similar vendor of video on demand?

For my choice I ended up having the movie Minority Report.  However, I do have Netflix and that would have been an option as well.

• Is the current competition between DVDs and video on demand an example of increasing returns or Red Queens? Justify your response with sound reasoning and specific examples.

I believe that it is a reference to "Red Queens."  As Dr. Thornburg mentioned about Lewis Caroll's story, "Run as fast as you can to stay in the same place," movie companies must continuously think of whats next. If they do not adapt, they will become obsolete.  Success only lasts so long and competition is always there.  I know personally that I stopped buying DVDs because I know that I can have just about any movie in my mailbox within a couple business days.  However, movies that are collectibles or worth keeping, I will go out and buy.  One major difference now is that I don't waste money on pointless DVDs that I wish I never bought.

• Where do you think DVDs and video on demand are on the four criteria of McLuhan’s tetrad?

DVDs enhance the ability to watch movies with great video and sound at home.  However, now with HD television and extremely high quality televisions, the home experience is slowly obsoleting the movie theater industry. (Their counter attack is to offer 3D movies but that is also slowly being made obsolete with this being able to be done at home as well.)

DVDs and Video on Demand rekindle movie night for families.  Many people would go to the movies or even watch a show on TV, but with the cost of movie tickets and the ability to record TV and watch at leisure, this has gone away.  With more choices both in types of movies and when and where to watch, more families have the option to meet most of the families wants and needs.

With the available at any time movie as well as the ever growing technology world, movies may become more interactive.  Like the old books where you can "Choose your own adventure," a movie might allow you to do the same.  This will make the audience be able to be a part of the art.