Unfortunately my technology sources are rather limited. Up until a few weeks ago, I would learn about technology through Stumble Upon and set the focus on Technology. Stumbling through pages of the internet I landed on www.lifehack.org/technology. I am not sure if this site is particularly useful for those who are tech-savvy, but for people like me – it’s incredibly practical. Most of the site’s articles consist of handy tricks like “7 Tricks to Make You A Spreadsheet Expert” or “12 Ways to Secure Your Smartphone”.  Almost all of their tech articles are full of information I did not know at all, and written in a language I can completely understand. The website is simple and allows me to scroll through the headlines and decide which one intrigues me most.

I like that the site allows me to apply their information to my real life, where I feel like I am actually learning something. Again, it’s probably completely useless to anyone that knows anything about tech.

They recently posted a video about the History of the Cellphone:

When thinking about people which impact my views on tech and provide me with endless information two individuals instantly come into mind. One of them would be Linus and the other Mike.

Linus works for NCIX over in Vancouver and does youtube videos about up and coming technology and computer hardware. As someone who is really interested in this, he is the first place I check for reviews on new and old products. I’ve gotten a keyboard because of him and even a laptop. His advice is brilliant and reviews very honest which makes me trust what he says. Linus also has over 700,000 subscribers on youtube so that must mean that there is some truth to what he is saying, right?

Here is a link to his website and here is the youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/user/LinusTechTips

http://linustechtips.com/main/

As for Mike, this is a different direction and towards gaming. Mike used to be one of the best raiders in the game known as World of Warcraft. He played for Method EU which is currently the best raiding guild in the entire world. He provides tons of information about the game and great guides on classes and anything else you can imagine. Beyond that; he provides a lot of hilarious stories and tales that people send him which allow me to get through work days and just have a good laugh. Here is a link to his youtube channel which I strongly recommend everyone who plays or has played WoW to check out and watch. Specifically the drama Fridays. They are really funny.

https://www.youtube.com/user/mikepreachwow

Over the course of Technology in Society 400 a reoccurring question has lingered in my mind; although technology has unleashed emancipative opportunities for humanity, have we neglected the negative consequently on users?  Sherry Turkle, a professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, focus’ on adverse effects that are the result of societies dependency on technology.  Recently, after I watched Sherry Turtle’s Ted Talk, I began to follow her twitter feed and further understand her views toward technology and how, as a society, we should become aware of the damaging physiological effects technology has on humans.  Turkle’s Ted Talk specifically drew on societies impulse to constantly be connected to the social web, which, in turn, diminishes face-to-face interactions and relationship building with human beings.  This obsession with technology has ultimately brought society to a place where self-reflection and relating to others is highly difficult.  Turkle declares that people using these devices intensify their expectations from technology and less on each other.  During the duration of the Ted Talk, I found myself becoming concerned; Turkle was right, even movies like Her depict a future society that no longer yearns for social interactions but solely depends on the companionship they can maintain with artificial intelligence systems.  However, this companionship is a façade, which results in true loneliness.  Turtle demands for a shift in how people operate and depend on their cell phones, internet, social networking, etc. she believes that a growing number of adolescents have not developed interpersonal skills, this renders these individuals incapable of creating deeper connections with other humans.  Turkle encourages the reclaiming of our personal connections through talking; she yearns for us, as individuals, to understand our vulnerabilities and embrace our faults, not conceal them on Facebook by portraying an idyllic version of ourselves.

In my opinion, I completely agree with Sherry Turkle’s discourse around technology.  As an avid smartphone and Internet user I have noticed a change in my own behaviour and personal interactions.  I feel, increasingly more of a blasé attitude toward the physical society around me, even though people surround me, I admit, I am ultimately alone.  Technology has enveloped my conscious and the only way to escape is through the creation of new, deep, meaningful relations.

A personality that I follow online is UVic Anthropology as a friend on Facebook and a follower on Twitter. UVic Anthropology posts links to interesting articles, blogs, events and news all pertaining to anthropology and archaeology, locally and globally. The online presence of UVic Anthropology provides insight to the current trending topics and news in the industry, as well as insight as to the local talks and social events that are happening. By following UVic’s Anthropology Department, I am becoming more engaged with the people, staff and organizations in my local field as well as becoming more inspired to dive into my research interests.

The UVic Anthropology Department is worth following online because all of their posts are extremely relevant and most importantly, useful. They always post reminders about social events with all of the details (time, location, cost, etc) and encourage socializing as well as academic research within the field. Having a presence on both Facebook and Twitter has given the department a lot more attention in recent times. The articles they post online are the item of small talk between faculty and students, on a daily basis, and receive a lot of shares and reposts on social media sources. UVic’s Anthropology Department is also being extremely effective in using social media, as they are able to “get with the times” and create more of a fetching bond and rapport with the faculty’s students. I would include UVic’s Anthropology Department as a source for my Personal Learning Network as a source of inspiration and insight because they are a strong example of the positive impact that technology can have in academia. Taking a students university experience to the next level by engaging with their peers and subject of study outside of the classroom.

UVic Anthropology Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uvic.anthropology?fref=ts

UVic Anthropology Twitter: https://twitter.com/UVicAnthro

Blog #4 Tetsu Ozawa

They are not quite mentor because they motivate me to study my major by ignite my anger, hate, and any imaginable negative feelings. I am discussing how Japanese people use internet as a strong propaganda tools in Japanese society, and now, there is a “mentor” for Japanese young kids. There are two people and two homepages that influence Japanese student. One is the super-right wing politician Toru Hashitomo (http://www.hashimoto-toru.com/), one is also the super-right wing politician, and former air force officer Toshio Tamogami (http://www.toshio-tamogami.jp/), the other two homepages are called Hachima-Kikou (http://blog.esuteru.com/) and Kyoko-Shinbun (http://kyoko-np.net/). First of all, those two politicians are recognized as super-right-wing, that are keep justifying Japanese invasion of WWII, keep claiming that Nanjing massacre is a fake that is made up by Chinese government, and Japanese (as a race) is the most superior humankind that was chosen by the god. Then, why those two are important? Because those two politicians use Twitter in order to “teach” their followers that what is the “truth”. On the other hand, the two news sites often support those super right-wing politicians with spreading exaggerated or fake information that is insult Korea, China, the U.S. and even Taiwan (known as a Japan-friendly country). Especially, Kyokou-Shinbun means “Fake Newspaper” in Japanese, but still many of those Nationalist Japanese students believe in those “welcomed lie” rather than “inconvenient truth”. And more, I also consider that the Internet itself is also a Mentor for those Nationalistic movements, because all people more ore less may have nationalistic thoughts, but those ideas usually surprised by the people around them. However, internet let them connect with those Authorities and huge number of groups that are strong enough to justify their idea, and drive them into super-right-wing thought. This may be the process I must analyze and find some method to stop this cycle.

—-below this is not a part of assignment—-

this is totally off the topic, but Toru Hashimoto’s first name’s Chinese character is same as mine. I feel  ashamed a lot these days because of that fact 🙁

Through previous research for this class I ran into tech blogger Christina Bonnington. Since I am not technologically savvy or aware of what is going on the tech world, many blogs or articles tend to go straight over my head. After being able to actually understand what she was talking about I began to follow her on twitter (@redgirlsays). Christina’s twitter, vine videos and articles are hilarious and provide me with information I am actually interested in.

Christina Bonnington is one of the writers for Wired’s Gadget Lab, where you can find tons of information on any type of up and coming tech device. I found myself drawn to her articles as I am very interested in new apple products and iOS and she specializes in this area. She covers their apple rumor watch titled This Weeks Apple Rumors, Ranked from Dumbest to Most Plausible. This week’s edition can be found here.  After finding this blog and then specifically the articles written by Christina, I have found myself going back to casually browse and through this I have become more and more technologically aware.

I also find myself connecting with Christina personally through her comedic tweets and her passion for cycling. Her dedication to living a healthy life is something I relate to even though I am not a cyclist. The best part of following Christina is that she is extremely effective at getting her message across in a fun and occasionally sarcastic manner. Her articles and videos are short and to the point while also being entertaining and full of information I find useful.  I would definitely add Christina Bonnington to my personal learning document as my favorite online tech personality as she has and continues to provide me with entertaining insight into the world of technology that I was formerly very unfamiliar with.

I am going to be completely honest about this as there is no point in attempting to stretch the truth. I do not have a virtual mentor. I know that many people have one, but I just do not see a reason for one.

I do follow some interesting people on social media and YouTube. Most are critics for media such as TV, movies, and video games. Then there are others who do food related videos such as cooking and candy. However, I have never felt the desire to look up to them for what they do. To me, I find that being a mentor requires you to look up to them and requires them to be experienced with what they do. With all the people and sites I follow, I cannot see someone who is that experienced enough to be someone that I would follow for everything they have done.

The closest to following someone is Eatyourkimchi. I see them as a mentor for some on Korean culture, but I don’t see it applying to me.

I might have the definition mentor wrong, but to me I just do not have one.