Health 2.0
This article was basically speaking on the internet health craze. In this age and time when people get sick they want to find out as much as they can about their ailment, ways to be healed, and how others dealt with the same issues. The internet is the perfect medium for that. There are tons of websites, chat rooms, and discussion boards for people to discuss their various illnesses. A person can go to a internet search engine and type in the same of their illness and find websites giving information about it, as well as support groups to help them through their illness. People can also go to websites such as WebMD and search their symptoms they are experiencing and find diseases and medical issues that might be the primary cause of their symptoms.
This article mostly talks about the cons of this boom in the online health world but I for one think that this boom has also done some good. My mother was just recently diagnosed with Bell’s palsy. Before she got it I had never heard of it. I did a search on yahoo and found many sites about the illness and got a vast amount of information about the condition. I also have used these medical site support groups and chats. I have a brother with cerebral palsy and unless you have it, or have a family member who does it’s hard to relate to someone in my or my brother’s shoes. It’s nice to hear the stories of others in my shoes and to be able to share my story with others. Being able to do that alone is a healing in its own right.
But having all this access to medical information is a hypochondriac’s worse nightmare…or maybe his fantasy. I’ve gone to these self diagnosis sights and typed in the symptom I was experiencing at the time and gotten results varying from a simple cold to cancer. It’s bad for those who like to diagnosis themselves without getting medical help. Say you’re very sick but the symptoms you are experiencing are similar to those as the flu and you use the remedies you find online only to find out months later it’s not the flu you have, but lung cancer. Most of these sites, in fine print, tell you they don’t give medical advice but being able to type in your illness or symptoms and find diagnosis and therapy information allows a person to self doctor.
So in turn the internet health boom is a great but something that must be viewed and used with caution
http://www.webmd.com/brain/tc/bells-palsy-topic-overview
http://www.webmd.com/policies/about-terms-and-conditions-of-use#part1
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Journal #5, July 20
Following up with the last journal I found another article about Carr’s article. One of the first things O’Brien mentions about Carr’s article is the title. He, in my words, says that if people didn’t actually take the time to read the article they would believe it was about the internet search engine Google’s impact on our collective intelligence. I thought about how tempted I was just to glance at the article and call it a day after I scrolled down and saw how long the article actually was. Like I mentioned in the last journal I have become a creature of convenience, a child of the microwave age. I want things when I want them and I want them to come quick and easy. It’s the mindset of my generation and those after mine. My generation is one of microwaves, internet search engines, TiVo, e-mail, instant messaging and a million other things that make like quick and to the point. Its part of the reason why I’m so impatient, I’m used to getting what I want right away or in minimal time.
I’m also used to having tools to make me life as easy as possible. Doing math in my head can seem so unreasonable to me on some days. I’ve grown accustomed to the use of a calculator, I even took four years of calculator based math and find math without it impossible. I mean with my cell phone always in reach, I always have at least a basic calculator around. Spell-check is another necessity in my life. My ability to spell over the years has decreased, like the O’Brien I can’t spell my way out of a bag. Technology has hurt me in these ways, but now that I have it, I can’t live without it. This ages technology is issuing a new way of thinking, yet it has me wondering is new better??
Journal #4, July 20
I’m one of the first people to say that A.I.M (AOL Instant Messenger), along with other instant messaging services is making my generation and the ones that follow “stooped.” Everyday I feel as though I might scream if I see one more e-mail written in shorthand “A.I.M.-talk” or if another person says LOL in a face to face conversation. I’m also the first to admit that I’m hooked on spell-check. I’m a horrible speller and have no desire to learn as long as I have the spell-check tool on my internet browser, instant messenger, and word processor. So, I thought reading this article might be interesting. From the beginning I could relate and agree with what the writer was saying. I am and always have been an avid reader but as my use of the internet grew so did the difficulty of diving into a book and staying underneath the ocean of words, especially for books that aren’t necessarily my cup of tea. But instead of contributing this to my use of the internet I contributed it to my ADHD and general lack of interest. While finishing the article up I began wondering off into my own little world, as I often do when reading and I thought maybe there’s a link between the use of the internet and ADHD. While searching for information about links between the internet and ADHD I did find a study that says that internet addiction is associated with ADHD* (although not quite what I was looking for.). Hmmm..It’s easy to drift off when you aren’t interested or swept away by what you’re reading. After reading the article I began to think that maybe the convenience of the internet has affected my ability to focus while reading. Google makes doing research so easy. You don’t have to look up books, then read tons of information that is useless to you just to get to what you need. Internet search engines do all the filtering for you. They find sites closest to what you’re looking for then show you the specific area of the site that mentions what you are looking for. Google give you what you need when you need it and in many cases how you need it without the extra junk. Maybe Mr. Carr has a point.
* http://www.anxiety-and-depression-solutions.com/articles/news/internet_addicted_adhd_0607.php <-the article about the study
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Journal #3, July 13
http://www.manifest-tech.com/society/voting.htm
Voting is one of the most valuable rights that Americans have. Voting is what allows each and every citizen to have a voice and hand in the people, laws, and polices that make up the system that governs out society. Electronic voting is something that many Americans are calling for instead of paper ballots and even being able to vote over the internet. It’s true that every system is flawed. But human error, for the most part, tends to cause more flaws than electronic voting. One of the problems with Florida ballots were that the people could not accurately match the candidate with the right area to mark. The same type of problems could occur with electronic voting. Many people, especially older people, are not technology literate. They don’t know how to work computers, they even have a hard time using the atm. Accidental problems and issues are bound to occur but what happens when the problems that occur with ballots aren’t accidental? When someone intentionally creates problems with ballots they are determined and I’m sure switching to electronic ballots would make it harder, but would not deter them. People would be able to hack systems, delete votes, create votes, or even place viruses in the systems that completely destroy it. Hackers would not even have to be “insiders” to hack into the system, they could do it from their home computer and cause an insurmountable amount of damage and community mistrust to the voting system. People could also use the identities of others and vote for them. Despite all that I’ve said I think if the proper amount of security measures were taken that electronic voting, especially voting via internet, could be a great thing. People wouldn’t have to leave work to vote, those unable to leave their homes, in the hospital, or away from home (i.e. on vacation, in school, in the military) wouldn’t have to go through the hassle of getting and turning in an absentee ballot. In the end I guess I’m pro- electronic voting.
Voting is one of the most valuable rights that Americans have. Voting is what allows each and every citizen to have a voice and hand in the people, laws, and polices that make up the system that governs out society. Electronic voting is something that many Americans are calling for instead of paper ballots and even being able to vote over the internet. It’s true that every system is flawed. But human error, for the most part, tends to cause more flaws than electronic voting. One of the problems with Florida ballots were that the people could not accurately match the candidate with the right area to mark. The same type of problems could occur with electronic voting. Many people, especially older people, are not technology literate. They don’t know how to work computers, they even have a hard time using the atm. Accidental problems and issues are bound to occur but what happens when the problems that occur with ballots aren’t accidental? When someone intentionally creates problems with ballots they are determined and I’m sure switching to electronic ballots would make it harder, but would not deter them. People would be able to hack systems, delete votes, create votes, or even place viruses in the systems that completely destroy it. Hackers would not even have to be “insiders” to hack into the system, they could do it from their home computer and cause an insurmountable amount of damage and community mistrust to the voting system. People could also use the identities of others and vote for them. Despite all that I’ve said I think if the proper amount of security measures were taken that electronic voting, especially voting via internet, could be a great thing. People wouldn’t have to leave work to vote, those unable to leave their homes, in the hospital, or away from home (i.e. on vacation, in school, in the military) wouldn’t have to go through the hassle of getting and turning in an absentee ballot. In the end I guess I’m pro- electronic voting.
Journal #2, July 13
http://www.enotes.com/technology-society-article
The first part of the article is something that I feel I can neither agree nor disagree with; it is simply the stating of facts about the internet and its use and progression so far. When it began to talk about how the Neo-Luddites felt that the internet caused fewer person-to-person relations, I was a little confused. I wanted to know if they were only against the internet, computers in general or all forms of technology like TiVo, digital cameras, cell phones, and etc. I searched Neo-Luddites on Google and found their website…it was simple an all black page that said “Hi;” So much for me getting information on the Neo-Luddites first hand.
From the information I did find on the Neo-Luddites I can’t help but partially agree with them about the digital divide the internet has caused. People don’t write letters, sealed with a kiss, anymore, they don’t visit their families and friends to share slideshows of vacations and catch up, they just send e-mails complete with smileys, and picture and video attachments. People hide behind their computers and use it to mask their issues and insecurities or even worse use it to vent what they can’t say in the real world. The internet also makes it harder for those who don’t have access to the internet to succeed in life. When I went out looking for a summer job I found that most places I went to apply at told me that all applications were done online. In high school most papers that I had to do were required to be typed and some type of internet research. Even networking is different, it used to be done at social events but now it’s all done through websites like Facebook. Just as the internet brings people together, it further sets people apart. It leaves out people who need voices the most.
The first part of the article is something that I feel I can neither agree nor disagree with; it is simply the stating of facts about the internet and its use and progression so far. When it began to talk about how the Neo-Luddites felt that the internet caused fewer person-to-person relations, I was a little confused. I wanted to know if they were only against the internet, computers in general or all forms of technology like TiVo, digital cameras, cell phones, and etc. I searched Neo-Luddites on Google and found their website…it was simple an all black page that said “Hi;” So much for me getting information on the Neo-Luddites first hand.
From the information I did find on the Neo-Luddites I can’t help but partially agree with them about the digital divide the internet has caused. People don’t write letters, sealed with a kiss, anymore, they don’t visit their families and friends to share slideshows of vacations and catch up, they just send e-mails complete with smileys, and picture and video attachments. People hide behind their computers and use it to mask their issues and insecurities or even worse use it to vent what they can’t say in the real world. The internet also makes it harder for those who don’t have access to the internet to succeed in life. When I went out looking for a summer job I found that most places I went to apply at told me that all applications were done online. In high school most papers that I had to do were required to be typed and some type of internet research. Even networking is different, it used to be done at social events but now it’s all done through websites like Facebook. Just as the internet brings people together, it further sets people apart. It leaves out people who need voices the most.
Journal #1, July 13, 2008http://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/the-technology-of-memory
As I read the first part of this article I recalled a project that I had to do in what I recall to be seventh or eighth grade. This project was one where I compiled information about myself up until that point in my life and one of the requirements was that I had to get a copy of the front page of a newspaper from the day I was born. Thinking back to all the memories I wrote about I realized that many of the earlier memories were not ones I remembered first hands but ones formed from stories I had been told so many times that they had materialized in my mind as my own memories, not the recollections of others.
As I continued to read about how videos, pictures, and blogs were “alienating” our memories I once again though back to this middle school project of mine. Is recalling events in one’s life through photos, videos, and etc. really that different from recalling them based on stories told to you by others? Then I thought it is different. A picture is worth a thousand words only because a picture cannot speak. A picture cannot explain itself and what is taking place within it. The greatest pictures, blogs, and videos are the ones that document great events in a person’s life. Although every year a person gets to see is a blessing, every birthday is not an exciting memorable one. I believe your mind remembers certain things for certain reasons. Forrest Gump says “I don’t remember the day I was born… but I do remember the day I met Jenny.” You meet so many people in your life, but isn’t it funny how you only remember the day you met the most important people in your life (i.e. your spouse, best friend, mentor etc.)
I believe I agree with the author of this article; these new technological advances make it easy for you to become a packrat vigorously holding on to every snapshot of life. You can’t remember where this picture was taken but it must be important, sure you have ten videos of Bobby’s little league games but this one is special too, yes this blog was just one where you vented but every day’s important even the horrible ones, right? I also agree with the author about these advances being hazardous to our memories, well mine at least. I can never remember where I’m supposed to be and at what time or a friend’s phone number I call every day, but it’s okay I have my PDA phone to remind me of my meetings… Maybe I will put down my camera and live life without worrying if I’ll remember it.
As I continued to read about how videos, pictures, and blogs were “alienating” our memories I once again though back to this middle school project of mine. Is recalling events in one’s life through photos, videos, and etc. really that different from recalling them based on stories told to you by others? Then I thought it is different. A picture is worth a thousand words only because a picture cannot speak. A picture cannot explain itself and what is taking place within it. The greatest pictures, blogs, and videos are the ones that document great events in a person’s life. Although every year a person gets to see is a blessing, every birthday is not an exciting memorable one. I believe your mind remembers certain things for certain reasons. Forrest Gump says “I don’t remember the day I was born… but I do remember the day I met Jenny.” You meet so many people in your life, but isn’t it funny how you only remember the day you met the most important people in your life (i.e. your spouse, best friend, mentor etc.)
I believe I agree with the author of this article; these new technological advances make it easy for you to become a packrat vigorously holding on to every snapshot of life. You can’t remember where this picture was taken but it must be important, sure you have ten videos of Bobby’s little league games but this one is special too, yes this blog was just one where you vented but every day’s important even the horrible ones, right? I also agree with the author about these advances being hazardous to our memories, well mine at least. I can never remember where I’m supposed to be and at what time or a friend’s phone number I call every day, but it’s okay I have my PDA phone to remind me of my meetings… Maybe I will put down my camera and live life without worrying if I’ll remember it.
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