Socialsciecetelecommunicationdevelopment.

What does it mean to be human? We are able to perceive time, the future, past and present along. We can distinguish and express feelings and we can analyze and think critically. We have a conscious and can determine whether we mistakes. Together, humans have developed cities and continue to populate the areas throughout the world, from Antarctica to collect scientific data to the vast, arid lands of the Sahara Desert.

I honestly wonder sometimes however if anyone has just stopped and questioned where we’re going with all this research. What exactly are we doing with all this jumble of information and data that we collect? What does it mean to actually be part of science? In a recent lecture given by Andrew Murphie, a distinguished professor at the University of New South Wales, there was mention of how science depends on communication and how there is a new development of science communication. Perhaps it might even be a major or concentration at universities one day. 

However, how does all this research and specialization tie in together to make the world a “better place” if that is even what we’re striving for as humanity. Why are there so many contradictions (I’m sure you can find a couple in this article) and why does humanity continue to think that progress is a thing of the future. For all we know there might not be a future considering that some religions believe that world will end in 2012 and others believe that it will end this December. 

We don't know what the future holds, but as long as we have hope in what future generations can create to remain together, then we're ok.

"The idea of waiting for something makes it more exciting." - Andy Warhol

Creating Matters that Matter.

The law of conservation of mass simply states that "matter cannot be created or destroyed." But what exactly happens when philosophers such as Glen Fuller explore cultural groups such as nomadic tribes that never settle down in a single place. How is it possible for them to communicate and remain in contact with others? It seems like this might be easy to do with the aid of cell phones and the internet. I can be in Sydney today, Tokyo tomorrow and Paris in three weeks and still remain in contact with my family and friends. The connections that you make with people do not have to be broken. Even though Lavoisier proved that matter/energy cannot be created or destroyed," the way that we flow and move through life can be created and destroyed. Our frames can be broken up and built down. That is just how technology applies to human society today; it is the catalyst to the enzyme.

But what would happen when there is too much high activity and virtual potential? Will we reach a plateau and will all of our progress remains at a single level? Will we continue to develop newer technologies to improve communication, archiving, and other information? How much information is enough and how much can we store? Will we develop new frames and set of minds to restructure all that has been restructured? If we cannot create nor destroy matter then why do we strive to come up with new technologies, information and ideas and what exactly is progress?

These questions may not be readily available for answers but by improving our methods of communication and fulfilling our human needs for connections and relationships we seem to progress and get things done at a faster pace. 

Media After All.

Today, during my one of classes, I was informed by a friend from America that Osama bin Laden had been killed by the CIA.

My friend lives in Los Angeles and I currently live in Sydney. 

Our great technological capabilities connect people through wires and hard drives all over the world. It seems like an easy task to spread a message across dimensions yet for some reason convincing people that global warming has been a slow progression. I find that I often come across motivational videos such as "Coalition of the Willing" yet I always end up with the same thought: "I should do something, but I don't really have the motivation because I'm interested in doing other things."[1]

Although the internet serves as a library and a storage unit where you can find anything you want to look for, our generation does not use the internet as a place for change itself. Instead, the internet is place where our generation can interact with other relatives in other countries, share information and spark ideas that can promote change. Change occurs outside of the realm of the internet where the tangible interacts and creates reactions.

In order for change to occur though, there needs to be a common ground and a positive, general consensus for change which is achieved through people talking about events. 

"A multitude can always veer off somewhere unexpected under the spell of some strange attractor."[2]
 

By placing a greater emphasis on the act of communicating and actually criticizing our opinions and ideas, unity and consensus will develop naturally and an increase in progress will be noticeable. The mediums we use to communicate rely on us to survive. They are just there to serve as slaves to our human needs.

We are the media after all. 

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[1] Knife Part and Rayner, Tim and Robson, Simon (2010) Coalition of the Willing <http://coalitionofthewilling.org.uk >

[2] Terranova,Tiziana (2004) ‘From Organisms to Multitudes’ In Network Culture: Politics for the Information Age London: Pluto: 101-106.

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