Wednesday, February 12, 2025

EOTO Reaction #1: The Ball Point Pen

We all use ballpoint pens daily and don't think twice about using them. But there was a time when there was no ballpoint pen. One of my classmates did a deep dive into the ballpoint pen to teach the whole class its history.

The idea of this pen originally came to mind over 130 years ago in 1888 by a lawyer named John J Loud. John J Loud aspired to have a pen that could write on wood and leather. But he did not want this device to look anyway. He wanted the pen to have a revolving steel ball and a socket to hold it in place. While Loud had high hopes, his patent could not take off because the ink was not distributing evenly.

In the 1930's a Hungarian journalist, Laszlo Biro, noticed that every time he used a fountain pen the ink would smudge. Frustrated with the result Laszlo teamed up with his brother Gyorgy who was a chemist at the time. Gyorgy created an ink that would not smudge and spread easily.

With the quick-drying ink, the days of drippy and splotchy letters were over. This new pen created a continual line of ink never seen before. The pen was patented in the early 1940's. Marcel Bich bought the patent in the 50's. Marcel started the company Bic that we all know, love, and use today. This was a cool fact that my classmate shared as I have a lot of Bic products.

The ballpoint pen changed the world of communication for the better. It was the first pen that did not leave a total mess on a piece of paper and could also write on other surfaces as well. The ballpoint pen allowed people to write whenever they wanted as it was very hard and inconvenient to carry around ink and a feather. I'm glad I got to learn about a device that is still used today and relevant in our daily lives.

Privacy, Online & Off Ted Talks

Friday, February 7, 2025

Privacy, Online & Off Ted Talks

  In this day and age, everything is public. Your private Instagram account is public, the photo that you deleted is public, and the phone call that was just between you and your Mom is public. Using technology is all fun and games until our privacy is invaded. 

An issue that directly affects me is the electronic tattoos talked about in the first TedTalk video. I grew up in a generation where social media was the center of society. Unlike my parents who had to learn how to use cell phones, I was very used to a screen in my hand at a young age. I love using social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and X (Twitter).

I enjoy sharing videos on these platforms and watching my peers do the same. But this enjoyment only lasts so long when you realize all of the information that you have ever posted is out there for everyone to see. A tattoo is a piece of art on someone's body for the whole world to see. Electronic tattoos are the same thing. They are digital pieces of information for the publics eye.

With iPhone facial recognition people's contact names will appear when their face is shown in pictures. But what most people don't know is that strangers' names can appear in pictures too. These TED Talks made me think twice about sharing videos and even taking pictures. 

One way that we can protect ourselves from an invasion of privacy is by using encryption communication tools. The third video talked about how Silicon Valley Companies have built strong encryption technology into their communication products. IPhone messages cannot easily be wiretapped and WhatsApp has built a strong encryption technology into its product. We have to encourage each other to use encryption communication tools that cannot be easily wiretapped like imessages, FaceTime, and WhatsApp to ensure our safety.

In the last Ted Talk video, Darieth Chisolm mentions a social media term known as "revenge porn". This is when a controlling ex-partner uses their phone, laptop, or any other technology device to post inappropriate photos, videos, and other explicit content without consent. One and ten women under the age of 30 are affected by revenge porn. As this is an alarming number to the average person, there is no law or federal bill criminalizing revenge porn. The government needs to make a law to protect cyber civil rights as they are at stake. This way individuals can get justice and the criminals can be put away.

Having to think about our government or even other governments having a hold of our personal information is a scary thought. Unfortunately, this is our reality in this age. NSA is requiring police departments to retrieve sensitive information about us. Because of this, the governemnt can create a map of patterns of how citizens interact. That is why we need to use safety tools, always double-check what we are posting, and pay close attention to who we spend our time around. While it all may seem like common sense, these small steps ensure the safety of one's life.

EOTO Com Tech Timeline

 Monday, February 3, 2025

EOTO #1

It was 2004 when Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson performed at the Super Bowl halftime show. There was a wardrobe malfunction where Justin Timberlake tore off a piece of Janet Jackson's costume. This was a shocking and impactful moment in Super Bowl history that put the public in an uproar. Naturally, after the Super Bowl was over all anyone wanted to do was rewatch the video. With limited video-sharing sites on the internet, the video was hard to access. That was until three men put their heads together to end this issue and create a video-sharing website called YouTube.

Three former PayPal employees, Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim were at a dinner party for their company when they all happened to be sharing videos of their cats with each other. They thought to themselves there must be a way to upload these videos just like there has to be a way to watch the Super Bowl halftime show. 

Before YouTube people primarily accessed videos from DVDs/CDs, TV, and VHS tapes. The biggest problem with having to watch a video on these devices was the lack of diversity within the video content. If a person was trying to find a specific video to watch, they could not do that by watching television. Even if the video that you desired to see was on TV, you would have to wait for it to come on. YouTube was not the first video-sharing website, but it was the first one that was easily accessible.

People felt that they had to be computer geniuses to use other websites and ran into several problems. People often found that the files they were trying to upload were not the file type the website accepted. So if the website only accepted PEG files but the video that you were trying to upload is an MPEG file, you were simply out of luck. When people tried to email videos to their friends, the files were too big.

And when people were unsuccessful with email they had to burn CDs which started to become a waste. The lucky few who were able to upload their videos could only share a certain amount due to the structure of the website. Putting a limitation on the amount of videos one can share defeats the purpose of creating a platform. 

The three founders  got to work. Hurley focused on the design aspects of the site while Chen and Karim focused on coding as they were software engineers. On December 15, 2005, YouTube was launched and forever changed the world. People now finally had a platform where they could access everything they needed in one place and did not have to worry about storage and file size.

YouTube took advantage of a fast-growing technology at the time called Adobe Flash Player where you could watch any type of video on your computer without having to download it.

It was the first time that people felt that they didn’t have to be computer geniuses. The days of burning CDs or mindlessly scrolling around the internet were over. YouTube provides features such as trending pages and "videos we think you might like".

YouTube also took tutorials to a whole new level. Instead of flipping through books or figuring out how to do something by yourself, YouTube provides step-by-step videos showing you the way.

YouTube changed communication for the better. The rise of creators and influencers have allowed fans to get an inside look at their favorite creators lives with storytelling and streaming. If a popular social media couple breaks up publicly, it is not uncommon for the ex-girlfriend/boyfriend to make a YouTube Video explaining the breakup. This keeps the public up to date and allows the full truth to be shared. 

All of the news broadcast channels  have YouTube. People can look back on old interviews or if they missed the news on TV, they can watch it on YouTube. YouTube is a worldwide platform so anyone can access the news at any time obtaining up-to-date news.

Because I grew up with YouTube I cannot imagine a world without it. All of my middle school and high school classes were filled with YouTube videos. The popular artist, Justin Bieber, was found on YouTube and stole girls hearts for generations. It might sound silly to some but watching videos on this platform was and is a big part of my life. My childhood consisted of finding which artist had the best music video. Youtube is a wonderful platform that has forever impacted the world socially, educationally, and technologically. 

Eight Values of Free Expression

Friday, January, 24, 2025

Eight Values of Free Expression

If someone says the Constitution, the first thing that usually comes to people’s mind is our freedoms. Our most famous rights are listed in the First Amendment. These freedoms are what separate us from other countries. The freedom of speech, press, religion, for religion, assembly, and petition has shaped this country into what it is today. It gives free rein to people to fully express and defend themselves. Regarding freedom, people have the freedom to interpret these rights however they want and even make theories out of them. 

The theory that resonates the most with me is theory number 4. Theory number 4 is the individual self-fulfillment theory. This theory claims that free speech allows free expression and people’s identities are created through this act. Individual self-fulfillment also helps people find kindred spirits and is the basis of human dignity.

I have exercised the freedom of speech in many ways in my lifetime. In the past year, I have felt that I am finally mature and old enough to understand political topics that I am interested in. I have debated with friends on abortion marches and posted on social media about our government's lack of care for families affected by hurricanes. While these issues don’t define my life I do feel that having a vocal opinion on them is shaping me into who I am as a person. As I become an adult it is important to me to speak up for myself especially when nobody else agrees. Freedom of speech creates a confident and well-spoken individual which is needed now more than ever in this society. Freedom of Speech prepares us for the world ahead full of opinions and communication.

All the debates I’ve had haven’t always ended badly. I have created friends along the way and agreed with people I never thought I would agree with. I do believe that Americans are entitled to this right while some may seem that as radical. And while we are all shouting out opposing opinions left and right we should also give the same respect we would give to someone we agree with. 

I think the theory that seems most important is theory number 3. The stable change theory states suggest that a society where people are aloud to speak and vent their angry thoughts aloud is more stable. If people are aloud to outwardly share their angry thoughts there will be less violence. With less violence the government can focus their energy on serious and violent crime.

I found this theory to be a humorous at first. To me it sounds too good to be true and unrealistic. But at the same time this theory caught my interest because if everyone in society thought like this, there may be less violent crime and simply more verbal conversations. This would solve a huge safety issue in our country if the majority knew that the government would not criticize the public for every little thing they said. 

With our newly elected Republican president Donald Trump, the government will have limited power. Theory number 5 is the theory I see in action today. The check on governmental power theory is a part of the checks and balances system and ensures the that government is not abusing its power.

One way Trump is trying to limit the government’s power is by banning the Department of Education. Republicans believe that the government should not push political ideology on children such as gender and race topics. They think this authority should be left up to the states as the states handle most of the educational issues. 

When it comes to social media and First Amendment rights, TikTok has taken the spotlight on this matter. TikTok v. Garland is a Supreme Court case that has consumed the news. The attorney general under the Biden administration, Merrick Garland tried to ban TikTok claiming that Chinese Chinese-owned company was a threat to The United States national security. 

TikTok follows along with theory number three and number seven. In my opinion, the TikTok band is detrimental to Americans for three main reasons. The individual self-fulfillment theory states that free speech allows an individual to find identity in expressing themselves. If a person is looking to be famous, the time is now in the place is TikTok. People who never thought that they had a voice growing up and individuals who feel like an outcast have become popular and found a community that fits their liking.

Another reason is that TikTok is also all about finding kindred spirits. People are meeting their best friends on TikTok. They buy plane tickets to fly all across the country to meet them. TikTok is the only app that I’ve seen where you can find your spouse on the app or find out that your spouse is cheating. The tight-knit community moves in a unique way that the social media world has never seen before.

The promote innovation theory claims that a community that cherishes free speech is more creative, riveting, and uplifting. The last reason why I think people are up in arms about the TikTok ban is because it is their job. People who rely on TikTok for money call themselves creators or influencers. They call themselves this because most of the time they are making up original content to influence or entertain people. When you take away the creator, you take away the innovation. Without innovation, we can’t learn new things, improve old things, and are left with narrow-minded thinkers. 

A theory can help explain something going on in the real world because theories follow patterns. And if someone can follow a pattern they can conclude. These conclusions are what help us better understand issues around us. While not always 100% accurate theories help explain why certain things have certain outcomes. 

History & Workings of The U.S Supreme Court

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

History & Workings of The U.S Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the most powerful judicial body on Earth that shapes and displays the United States Constitution. The court is made up of nine justices. They receive approximately 7,000 cases a year but only accept around 100 of them. Because the court only selects a small number of cases per year, these cases have to fit a criteria that is highly selective. Because of this highly selective process, The Supreme Court can affect society as a whole, not just the legal world.

 The Supreme Court has a deep rich history that was very surprising to me. The Dred Scott v. Sandford case was a controversial time for the Supreme Court. Part I explains that Dred Scott was an enslaved Black man who tried to fight for his freedom in a court of law. His case went all the way to the Supreme Court where they upheld slavery in the United States territories denying the legality of Black citizenship in America. 

I find it interesting that it wasn’t just the South that wanted power to be left to the states. The Supreme Court left the issue to the states claiming that the U.S could not ban slavery as a whole. The American public was not always in favor of the Supreme Court, but eventually, the court started to gain the public's respect.

I imagine it did take some time for America to adjust to this court system. Living in a democracy, a lot of positions in the United States are voted on by the public. The Supreme Court differs from this system as the justices are appointed by the president. Unlike a senator, a Supreme Court justice cannot come into a room and present a problem, they have to wait for the problems to come to them.

Not long after the court approves the case they hold the oral argument. An oral argument is where lawyers on the opposing side of each case are allowed 30 minutes to make their arguments before the court. Justice Kennedy surprised me in Part II by explaining that people think the oral argument is a dialogue between the justice and the attorney, but that is a misconception. It is a conversation the court is having with itself through the attorney. This is when the justice's ask their hard questions to get a better look at the case. The Supreme Court communicates and maneuvers in a very unique way. 

The system of having a Supreme Court will forever be a controversial topic. Some people say that it's undemocratic, too conservative, and biased together. However, there is a lot the public does not know about the Supreme Court. These videos changed the way I thought of The Supreme Court. I was under the impression that the Supreme Court was just secretive and serious judges who never shared their mysterious ways with the public. But as the justices explained in the videos the court has no inside story and that nothing is secretive because everything is out there in the opinion. Through the videos, I got to see the justice's personality and humor, and reminded me that they are just people too. 

My Top 5 News Sources

 Monday, January 13, 2024

Where Do I Get My Top 5 News Sources From?

With only being 19 years old, I have grown up in an age where technology and social media have been at the center of people's lives. While some older generations may watch the news on regular television, read the newspaper, or listen to talk radio, Generation Z has been on social media for as long as I can remember. News is harder to comprehend when I find it boring. I find it interesting to learn something new while also watching a fun video to go along with it. I think my generation has reached a point where receiving news on social media has become addicting. The fascinating information that comes at an excessive rate draws my peers and I to online news. 

1. tiktok.com

The Chinese company ByteDance merged an app called Musical.ly in 2018 into what is now known as TikTok. Musical.ly consisted of fun dances, goofy humor, and catchy songs but TikTok opened up a whole new realm into the social media world. As TikTok became more popular big-time celebrities and businesses created TikTok accounts. It wasn’t just little kids anymore on an app singing and dancing. Suddenly you could learn about law school from a successful lawyer through TikTok or learn about different complex surgeries from a real surgeon. Because most of TikTok's videos average around 30 seconds long it is easy for me to pick up quick news that I can comprehend. It has come to a point where if your business does not have TikTok you are probably missing out on a whole generation of customers. TikTok has an engaging tool called “stiches” where you can react, respond, and collaborate on different topics. I tend to fall into a spiral of news sources when I click on stitch after stitch. I learned about the LA fires, the ingredients in alcohol in America vs Europe, and Israel and Hamas all through TikTok. Every news channel has a TikTok account. One of my main sources of news during the 2024 election was TikTok. People were constantly bringing up the polls on TikTok live and both candidates had accounts. While I know not always 100% accurate, It was fun and easy to find out news about the election through TikTok. 

2. instagram.com

If I am not getting my news from TikTok I am getting it from Instagram. If an industry doesn’t have a TikTok account, you can count on them to have an Instagram account. The United States Department of State does not have a TikTok account, however, they often post news about foreign policy and diplomacy on their Instagram account so I could go get my news from there. On Instagram, I also look at official documents like statements from the president that are for immediate release. News accounts like CNN and FOX are both more likely to go in-depth about the issue at hand on Instagram than TikTok because they are more active on Instagram. The “stories” feature is a feature that is available on TikTok but hardly used. It is a very popular feature on Instagram and it is what separates Instagram from other apps. News channels and journalist can post a story to their account showing what’s happening to the world in real-time to display the most reliable information possible. And if all else fails Instagram has a feature called Instagram reels where you can post the same video you were going to post on TikTok. 

3. youtube.com

YouTube is my earliest memory of using an online platform to find out information. My love for sports has always led me to watch videos of after-game interviews, sports analysis talks, and, sports shows and podcasts. As a big Ravens football fan, I am always curious about what sports analysts have to say about the amazing but controversial quarterback, Lamar Jackson. I use Youtube for other reasons other than sports. YouTube is famous for its in-depth documentaries. I watched the Rise and Reign of Jeff Bezos on YouTube and learned the ins and outs of the famous Jeff Bezos. YouTube is a great educational tool. I can’t name a class I was in from middle school until now that didn’t use YouTube. From science to history I have gotten my news from YouTube videos. All news channels also have YouTube. Instead of sitting down and watching the news. I can look up on YouTube certain issues that I care about and watch a short video on it.

4. google.com

I think Google is the most reliable news source that I use. When I have a question about news it often brings up a reliable article right away. So many questions I’ve had have been answered by the New York Times through Google in seconds. Google also provides Google Scholar and Google News. These sources are filled with articles that have been peer-reviewed time and time again by multiple editors and journalists before being published. A lot of news sources are only specific to a niche group of topics. Google will provide you with any issue you have ever thought about with an article, picture, and video. I use Google a lot when I’m looking at news of the past. I won’t find the amount of information I’m looking for on any other platform. Google is also the only platform I can rely on to give me local news. I cannot find out what’s going on in my county on TikTok. 

5.  x.com

Out of all my social media platforms I use X (used to be known as Twitter) the least. While I may use it the least I still think it is a great news source. I mainly use X when there are rumors about a celebrity going around and want to know if it is true. While I could just google it or look it up on another social media platform, there is nobody quicker to find out information other than the people that use X. X is best known for their real-time updates from political figures, witnesses, and celebs. X takes breaking news to a whole new level. Political figures are best known for their famous statements on X. And like Instagram you can post a picture or a video to back up your statement. X is a great engagement tool because not only can people reply to your statements but they can also “retweet” them to show you agree or relate to the statement.