Submission 3 – No one can escape the algorithm

What I am exploring in this meme is the advantages and disadvantages of algorithms for smart device users. In simple terms, an algorithm is a process by which a computer learns human behavior. In continuous learning, the computer will become humane and conform to the user’s habits. Taking clothing as an example, people will consider what to wear for the day based on the weather and temperature. The computer will imitate people’s thinking processes and give users suggestions on what to wear (Denny, 2020). The algorithm can not only provide users with clothing suggestions, but it is ubiquitous in a highly digitalized society, and it is constantly evolving.

The older man’s grandson in the meme told him on the phone that he wanted a Transformer as a Christmas gift. After hanging up the phone, many push notifications from e-commerce appeared on the older man’s computer screen. The content of these push notifications is nothing more than Transformers toys. When the older man hangs up, he may not have any plans to buy toys, but the push notification may arouse his desire to buy. This older man might think that the algorithm makes life easier, but the algorithm’s constant monitoring of users makes him feel dissatisfied and insecure. This meme is adapted from my personal experience. When I discussed which pair of shoes I should buy with my friends, Amazon and Taobao sent me discount notifications. While enjoying the convenience brought by algorithms, users must also bear the risks arising from that place. The habits and privacy of users and other personal information will no longer be safe.

This meme is created based on a picture called Hide The Pain Harold. The authoring tool I use is Canva. To ensure that there is no infringement, all the pictures in the meme are from copyright websites.

Step 1: Download the original image of the meme

Step 2: Edit text

Step 3: Choose special effects for the slogan to make it more eye-catching

Reference List：

Denny, J. (2020, October 16). What is an algorithm? How computers know what to do with data. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/what-is-an-algorithm-how-computers-know-what-to-do-with-data-146665

Dia, X. (2013, November 27). amazon-logo [Photograph]. Flicker. https://www.flickr.com/photos/imdia/11081131693/in/photolist-hTcGoH-Aorpif-9dtm6J-2kWfZQ7-dFEksb-ahTU9b-bnD2Yu-2dS2Zbg-CHtTR7-gk5DVn-dwcus6-drbyA8-cbELB5-dUJfLn-8kXRs4-9sSP7U-7oRC3S-aNmZZX-6KAdDY-2h3AyHW-frRejP-fvokhN-aPkz52-8eBVgU-65t8ki-66iquq-6NTH5y-9kguQJ-oStreY-4xKHhT-5v768P-dybap1-eUogzf-e4yhxH-5ju5ck-8kXUiM-bwHQCQ-XR8DtT-hwDBHA-7oXby9-jGcotr-7nNQEB-abe657-7vTPwC-dHK6w4-3qWQBN-5sXRhb-aJLHxF-9QpZAw-4Xe8SV

ebayink. (2009, April 13). eBay logo [Photograph]. Flicker. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ebayink/3440028348/in/photolist-6eZ3zA-8hXENv-5hLRh5-9hgHZH-4MzKW5-4qoent-5Bv3ih-4SSYBD-32CBQA-4LzgAx-4LDsEE-9WjyAa-4LDsBq-4LzgBg-4LDsGo-4LDsAW-4Lzgx6-4Lzgxv-4LzgxK-4LDsyu-4LzgAg-bC95Fb-7ZqsAF-4Poc2x-4PnAwZ-AoiUB-4NumGH-4PsjF5-4NtTpc-9ehmjy-4QXeaA-4Nyzru-4Nyzqj-4Nyzuo-4QXe9C-4PnAya-4PGEsx-4NyzqG-4PGErx-4PnAyM-4PLUXW-4NumEV-4mESx7-4wQbQz-JfD6ys-caUny-4QQDsT-4PGEmz-4PGEjz-depiEG

jsksma (2010, October 7). logo_target [Photograph]. Flicker. https://www.flickr.com/photos/54004763@N06/5061263815/in/photolist-8Hfipe-SpEdQy-8YwiBP-3jfd3u-FYETaf-auKNJU-84Uj8L-4AU1Za-4uZbMS-5K9tMH-85TY3F-Rayh2W-bsJMcB-Mvq9T-AbJ71T-adFBRR-fcJYgg-a6cbkp-7t563v-NrYVVg-2hETSoE-2m9a7p8-9f94df-M72Q9-89JE4N-6xFXcM-864KNT-2j6L2hg-2hELBQB-6xL7cf-87BdAv-7vP9Pq-3MGuUd-MEW1Ys-a91H5C-35GjK8-nQxcnz-3h7PV-5T2i7Z-8SbFT3-faToW3-nwxCEC-MHAv2-ng8ZAw-61bynS-8RRBLP-Kp1zj-2jxMvLq-ec9Zkw-5DbJhJ

Raina, A. (2017, July 19). Hide_the_Pain_Harold [Photograph]. Flicker. https://www.flickr.com/photos/152774834@N07/35167227664/in/photolist-ccwqgu-9KY5B6-x6wW7V-oeT5ux-25zXUuN-25zWVPo-2kZWoiX-EcShrK-VzBezs-od9cWi-x6HwEx-Rq8wPx-oupzYT-2dMZCrs-osJizz-odytDA-odyCLT-gc8APH

talknmime (2008, October 29). New Best Buy Logo [Photograph]. Flicker. https://www.flickr.com/photos/93199353@N00/2984439962/in/photolist-5xJ32q-nbTvma-gyUsqT-aqmvgH-5VY1XH-2kMvPAo-Y2Ym9f-WQF1Tu-2jWe9Av-n9R1wo-n9QZs4-GUnuzF-5xwzfU-khiV6H-22KCmau-khmjmL-khjytg-khiUaz-GYGAsE-2iMcWfn-TaBroQ-24WWdoF-nf6E4M-2kJREZZ-2jm533j-Hax1JN-5cTyev-2htFKD9-36HzUq-E5Qqt-26HPAia-nd44uf-nf6tGr-nd42or-nf6ran-nf6pRv-nf6pnK-7PbRvm-7CE75t-5jhXmd-b4rbh4-5CLf6x-8d5AAr-5hnA7G-nd41Gs-2jmgBve-fN1Uk8-EpzEed-qPfpc-QKFQp1

Taylor, B. (2017, June 6). Walmart [Photograph]. Flicker. https://www.flickr.com/photos/134933573@N07/35095562986/in/photolist-VtgWay-9LkzLm-i1V5f-mVSbag-9W9Kd7-8DFeGK-aHSgqF-boj3pu-dtLagd-oqtZqh-QKghKj-P74r7c-82TZen-25WGeBm-r19pW3-24DpunF-MEW2Pq-2mcFxyU-XTFy9j-EEa3Mx-NFaYps-2hvPZpn-52U7dL-Gmpodt-2ghtLyc-NdogDK-HSMgHU-25WGHmj-51jEHQ-279QhTZ-xvWK6i-5ohgUV-7dCUtS-8wEvLY-N6Y4Wi-5ivYLY-23fAv8Y-51e7sV-HSE4uM-261xhm2-QUMgEu-N54MhG-2hN9vQq-2kGz46E-2kZJPcG-2mcwGEE-Pe2MkA-2jNPNus-2kSL5w2-L3miFN

No one can escape the algorithmMeme GIF version

Submission 2 – A huge octopus-like monster

The purpose of this six-page fictional story is to show people the inconveniences in life caused by the digital divide, and its potential audiences include but are not limited to practitioners in the digital education and technology industries. Sanders and Scanlon (2021, p. 130) believe that in today’s society where technology is booming, people’s high dependence on the Internet is almost unavoidable. If people lose the Internet, they will find it challenging to keep in touch with society and have trouble working, studying, and receiving real-time information (Sanders & Scanlon, 2021, p. 130). Some people in the community did not lose the Internet. Still, because of some reason, they have never been in contact with the Internet, which makes their social isolation problem particularly prominent. There are many reasons for the digital divide, such as age, income, and growth environment (Warf, 2012, as cited in Sanders & Scanlon, 2021, p. 132). The story begins with a piece of news displayed on the computer screen. From the second page to the fourth page of the story, the reporter is reporting that a giant octopus-like creature that emits toxic gas is about to threaten the lives of residents on the west coast of the Pacific Ocean. In the news, reporters reminded people to wear masks to avoid inhaling unknown toxic gases. At the end of the story, the young man carrying the goods had already put on masks, while the elderly couple in the lower right corner did not wear masks because they may not know what happened. The purpose of displaying news on computers is to demonstrate the efficiency and convenience of the Internet. Most people will not carry a TV with them, but they will always take smart products, guaranteeing them to receive real-time information quickly. On the story’s last page, young people wearing masks represent those who have received news about monster invasions via the Internet. In contrast, elderly couples represent those affected by the digital divide. The name of the old couple comes from the top list of the most commonly used names in the 1960s in the United States collected by the Social Security Administration (2021).

In this creation, I used the cutout tool and Canva. All the materials in the story came from copyright websites and were allowed to be used for non-profit purposes. I put them together through editing and compositing.

Step 1: Collect useful materials

Step 2: Cut out the required material from the original picture

Step 3: Integrate them together and save as a picture to reduce the workload

Step 4: Enter text

Step 5: Adjust the final version

Reference List：

chrisinphilly5448. (2008, July 4). NBC 10 News reporter, Aditi Roy [Photograph]. https://www.flickr.com/photos/21545100@N00/2637073855

Mortenson, N. (2020, May 13). Delivery Man Wearing a Face Mask Carrying Boxes [Photograph]. https://www.pexels.com/photo/delivery-man-wearing-a-face-mask-carrying-boxes-4391478/

Parks, J. (2013, December 26). Octopus on display at the Key West Aquarium. [Photograph]. https://www.flickr.com/photos/34450190@N08/11847079564

Pixabay. (2016, April 20). Planet Earth [Photograph]. https://www.pexels.com/photo/planet-earth-87651/

RODNAE Productions. (2020, October 19). Elderly Couple Standing on the Shore [Photograph]. https://www.pexels.com/photo/elderly-couple-standing-on-the-shore-5637771/

Sanders, C. K., & Scanlon, E. (2021). The Digital Divide Is a Human Rights Issue: Advancing Social Inclusion Through Social Work Advocacy. Journal of Human Rights and Social Work, 6(2), 1–143. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41134-020-00147-9

Social Security Administration. (2021, March). Top names of the 1960s. https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/decades/names1960s.html

Zhukovskaya, K. (2021, September 1). Netbook on pouf near curtain in room [Photograph]. https://www.pexels.com/photo/netbook-on-pouf-near-curtain-in-room-6446683/

a-huge-octopus-like-monsterStory PDF version

Submission 1 – Beware! Filtering bubbles is making you short-sighted.

This poster is divided into three parts. Its purpose is to remind viewers that personalized algorithms may be narrowing their view of the world. The first part is a title or a lead, and its function is to imply that Internet algorithms may have screened the information that viewers usually browse on the Internet. The second part is news about an explosion, and the information provided in the news is fictitious. The third part contains two sets of pictures. Figure 1 in the first group shows protesters, who can be understood by the audience as environmentalists. In the recommendation list shown in Figure 2, the search engine recommends mainly the environmental issues associated with this event. In Figure 1 of the second set of pictures, this man in a suit represents stakeholders, and their list is usually information related to interests. According to Pariser (2011, as cited in Seargeant 2019, p. 42), the definition of filter bubbles refers to an algorithm that predicts the information that the viewer is interested in based on the viewer’s habits, hobbies, and browsing history. This information is usually consistent with the viewer’s views. However, its shortcomings are also apparent, and that is, the viewer cannot obtain other different views (Pariser, 2011, as cited in Seargeant 2019, p. 42). The audience for this poster can be anyone who has the habit of getting information through the Internet.

The production of this poster used graphic design tools and photo processing tools. There are three pictures in the poster from Creative Commons, they are explosions, protesters, and men in suits, and the other two are taken from computer screenshots. Whether it is a news event or a search engine recommendation list, the information in the poster is original and fictitious.

Step 1: Choose a suitable background and write a title (introduction)

Step 2: Embed the picture and write the event

Step 3: Write two recommendation lists

Step 4: Extract useful parts from the original image

Step 5: Adjust the poster layout

Reference List：

Fibonacci Blue. (2016, October 25). Protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline [Photograph]. https://www.flickr.com/photos/44550450@N04/30450223762

Huser, A. (2010, April 21). Gulf Oil Spill Photo Gallery [Photograph]. https://www.flickr.com/photos/133900327@N03/20977287952

Lian-udom, W. (2006, December 25). businessman with a cup of coffee [Photograph]. https://www.flickr.com/photos/48450255@N08/5188623761

Seargeant, P., & Tagg, C. (2019). Social media and the future of open debate: A user-oriented approach to Facebook’s filter bubble conundrum. Discourse, Context & Media, 27, 41–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcm.2018.03.005

what-you-see-is-what-they-want-you-to-see.-what-you-care-about-is-what-they-want-you-to-care-about.Poster PDF version

Critical Reflection on Digital Inclusion and Digital Divide

As a developed country, Australia already has a prevalent network, and most residents can connect to the network without barriers and use a variety of electronic devices. However, due to various factors such as regional differences, income gaps, and different levels of education, some Australian residents still have Internet access barriers. Judging from the data shown in Week 4’s PPT, Australia’s digital divide has changed in nature. It has changed from a problem of Internet penetration rate to a problem that a minority of people cannot normally use the Internet and lack digital literacy caused by many factors. Rennie, E et al. (2016, p. 13) stated that in 2010 in remote areas of Australia, it was a regular problem that most residents could not access the Internet normally. This problem has caused a clear digital divide between cities with large populations and small-scale settlements. Popularizing the Internet to remote areas can solve the problem of residents’ difficulty accessing the Internet. However, the popularity of the Internet does not mean that the digital divide can be resolved entirely. Rennie, E et al. (2016, p. 25) believe that residents use the Internet for limited reasons. They generally use the Internet for daily life, such as browsing websites, watching videos, and socializing on the Internet. Most Internet users may have these skills, but the advantages that these skills bring to them are minimal—for example, competitive advantage in job opportunities. Turning the Internet into a tool for work, thereby forming a competitive advantage for positions, shows the importance of digital literacy. Therefore, universal digital education is a driving force to improve the digital literacy of the people. Not only that, but improving the website’s user experience also contributes to the improvement of digital literacy. Imagine that if a website is designed with a very high barrier to use, then users may choose to give up using it. At the same time, lower broadband, wireless network, and mobile data charge making it affordable for everyone. This move also contributes to the improvement of digital literacy. Telstra is a well-known network operator in Australia. It provides fast network speeds, but its charges are high, and even in large cities like Sydney, it cannot guarantee the stability of the signal. In some crowded places and underground buildings, Telstra users often feel helpless because there is no network signal.

Reference List

Rennie, E., Hogan, E., Gregory, R., Crouch, A., Wright, A., & Thomas, J. (2016). Internet on the outstation: the digital divide and remote aboriginal communities. (Theory on Demand; No. 19). Institute of Network Cultures. http://networkcultures.org/blog/publication/no-19-internet-on-the-outstation-the-digital-divide-and-remote-aboriginal-communities/

Critical Reflection on User Experience

One of the learning goals of Week 2 is user experience. It appears in daily life all the time, the simple may be the comfort of holding a pen, and the complex may be the design and layout of an application or website. Garrett, J.J (2003, p. 10) believes that poor product design may only cause minor troubles to users. However, when small problems come together, they will eventually cause serious adverse effects on users’ daily lives. Simply put, user experience is the degree of people’s satisfaction with the product when they use it. It is very subjective and changeable because different users have different usage habits. Bad user experience caused by product design defects can be avoided, but designers and buyers often only focus on product features and neglect the product’s use methods and processes, which may eventually lead to brands losing their customers (Garrett, JJ, 2003, p. 10). The user experience of a website is usually to evaluate its accessibility and usability. A high-quality website needs to consider the usability and accessibility of the website while pursuing the diversification of functions and services. If most people cannot use a website or it is tough to operate, then it will eventually be eliminated by competitors. Garrett, J.J (2003, p. 14) explained in the article the importance of user experience to websites, that is, the advantages of website functions are essential, but if peer websites have better user experience, then the former will be at a disadvantage. Take ABC and BBC, two well-known news websites in Australia as examples. When a user clicks on an article to browse news details, ABC will pop up an advertisement window, while the BBC article interface does not have advertisements. Advertising may not seriously affect the reading experience, but some viewers may subjectively think that BBC is more rigorous than ABC.

Reference List

Garrett, J.J. (2003). The Elements of User Experience : User-Centered Design for the Web. American Institute of Graphic Arts, New York.

Critical Reflection on Digital Literacy

The learning goal of Week 1 is to understand what digital literacy is, the uses of digital literacy, and the importance of digital literacy to a high information society. Digital literacy refers to the proficient use of the Internet and its related products, such as smart electronic devices, social media, and various websites. Use them in daily life, study, work, social interaction and entertainment, and other occasions. Ng (2012, p. 1066) believes that people with digital literacy can quickly and effectively adapt to new things and update their self-cognition with the changes of the times and technology development. People show their digital literacy in daily life, such as sending and receiving emails, browsing news websites, and purchasing online. This phenomenon is pronounced among young people. Prensky (2001, as cited in Ng, 2012, p. 1065) believes that people born in 1980 and after are digital natives. They have different learning styles and different growth environments from previous generations, so they are generally good at using Internet technology. However, there is a gap in the level of digital literacy among people. Some people cannot apply digital literacy to deep learning and research, such as creating websites and writing blogs, so they are only nominal digital natives. The study by Ng (2012, p. 1077) shows that some digital natives will not actively apply digital literacy to learning unless they are explicitly required to do so or have to do so to achieve their goals. The characteristic of digital literacy is that the more energy and time devoted to it, the more flexible and creative it is (Ng, 2012, p. 1077). Suppose a digital native can only apply digital literacy to daily life, entertainment rather than deep learning, and do not have diversified digital literacy. When looking for a job, their limited digital literacy cannot give them an advantage in job competition. If a person can’t even check emails and download attachments, this means that the person will not receive job requests in time and will also miss a high-paying job.

Reference List

Ng, W. (2012). Can we teach digital natives digital literacy? Computers and Education, 59(3), 1065–1078.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2012.04.016

What is digital literacy?

Digital literacy is a new concept that emerged with the rapid development of Internet technology and high-tech electronic devices. It refers to those who have mastered and can proficiently use the skills of the Internet and intelligent electronic devices. They can apply this skill skillfully to life, study, and entertainment. According to the description of digital literacy by Ng (2012, p. 1066), digital literacy skill includes the use of various smart devices, such as smartphones and computers, and the use of diversified software and applications. The people who master the skill of digital literacy are mainly divided into two categories. Those who grow up with the development of Internet technology and the update and iteration of smart electronic devices are called digital natives. For those called digital immigrants, their life experience, education experience, and entertainment methods are divided into two stages, namely, before and after the emergence of digital technology. According to Frawley’s (2017, para. 1) description and distinction between digital natives and digital immigrants, digital natives affected by digital technology have a more pure digital language than digital immigrants. Although they all have mastered the digital language, digital immigrants’ digital language generally has accents, grammatical errors, and pronunciation errors.

Reference List

Ng, W. (2012). Can we teach digital natives digital literacy? Computers and Education, 59(3), 1065–1078. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2012.04.016

Frawley, J. K. (2017, March 5). The myth of the ‘digital native.’ Teaching@Sydney. https://educational-innovation.sydney.edu.au/teaching@sydney/digital-native-myth/