Root Shock

Well I’ve been having issues uploading everything to blogspot, put I think I have it under control now, so uploading everything now!

I thought the reading from Root Shock was really interesting. The urban renewal projects did not turn out well at all. City blocks that were once vibrant turned to vacant lots. Homes were bulldozed, and the “renewal” took place. The effects of this shock have impacted these communities. This federal program destroyed MANY neighborhoods in different cities. This caused the residents to move into different neighborhoods.

I enjoyed the first person accounts and the stories about the people, families and communities. It really showed you vividly how the “urban renewal” process devastated these cities

The Roundtable

I wasn’t able to stay for the whole roundtable discussion, but I still learned a lot from it. It was nice to hear from students who previously took the class and to see their final project. It was also nice to hear from George, who grew up in the community. Every week I think I understand a bit more of this class. The overall theme was building relationships in the community, and I thought everyone at the roundtable was doing a good job getting involved. Even through our walk on Lancaster, how it was described to be once vibrant_now all apartments are used for storage & all businesses were pretty much the same. I am very excited to start our project, even though I have no ideas as of yet! But seeing the students from last year, and what they accomplished, I am pretty psyched

Reaction to Mobile Interface Theory

I found it interesting how the author in Mobile Interface Theory spoke about using mobile media as a way to distance people in space, who are actually close in proximity. I always find myself doing this, whether I am on the train, in an elevator, at the bar or any situation where I’m close to people I do not wish to speak to. There is this awkwardness of being close to people we don’t know. They are invading our personal space. Its weird, (and I believe socially unacceptable) to be that close, just staring at each other, not saying a word. As for me, I don’t want to talk to strangers. So, I get on my phone, ipod, anything to keep busy. This makes it less awkward and makes you feel not as close in space.

Also I like how the author also mentioned how mobile media does the exact opposite at times. If I want to distance myself on the train, I’ll listen to Pandora or check my Facebook. However, I can use mobile media to “experience a sense of community and intimacy through the use of these mobile technologies” with people who are geographically distant from me.

Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, IM, Instagram, Blurb Mobile, Skype, Facetime, etc makes you feel physically close in space, to those who are actually far. I can share pictures, write on “walls”, and see my family who live in California. When using these technologies, sometimes I forget they live across the country. I feel close in proximatey to them.