#weektwo – “The Geese That Lay the Golden Eggs” Winston Churchill

This week we were introduced to the brief history of computing. It is so fascinating that it all began with the abacus! To think that in ancient history, people used this as a tool to work out complex mathematical equations…

A significant moment in history would be the invention of the Enigma Code machine.  A machine invented as a code making weapon in WWII to keep German military codes secret and unbreakable.

What the Germans did not predict was the invention of a machine with the ability to crack the encryption of the enigma code machine. Alan Turing and a group of selectively hand picked mathematicians invented the BOMB, a number crunching machine which revolutionised code cracking!

By cracking the enigma code, the British were able to decode the Germans messages, and by doing so shaping the outcomes of many battles of WWII.

Sourced from: Creative Commons https://www.flickr.com/photos/_dchris/20235659265

Reference

YouTube. (2018). Cracking the NAZI Enigma Code Machine. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb44bGY2KdU&t=4s [Accessed 14 Aug. 2018].

 

#weektwo – The Masterminds Behind it All… Cambridge Analytica

Let me stimulate your train of thought… just because your a small town, flip flop wearing average Jo from down the road, it does not make you less of a target for the master minds lurking in your home, on your laptop or on the other side of your digital devices.

Perhaps this makes you an easier target for the monstrous tech giants to exploit and manipulate you through various means of psychological and subconscious techniques in order to control their desired outcome. Sounds like Hollywoods next big blockbuster film, well sadly, it isn’t.

Cambrigde Analytica was not a household name, up until 2017 this data marketing firm went by its business unnoticed, until whistle blower Christopher Wylie came out to reveal the digital tech master minds whom have been accused of political propaganda and the manipulation of information during the 2016 American presidential elections.

So, how safe and private is the content that you upload and share online? do you think twice about what you comment and what you like? reality is, Cambrigde Analytica not only hacked your personal data via Facebook, but also your entire friends network in order to manipulate and control.

Next time you upload content on the internet, just stop and think twice… I have opened a can of worms I can no longer turn the other way.

Sourced from: Creative Commons https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/F_icon.svg

#weekone – Let Us Experiment!

Ask yourself this… can you go two hours without being connected? Connected in a digital and technological sense! To find out, we conducted an in class experiment which involved ditching our hand held devices aka ‘smart phones’ by removing them from our pockets, and placing them at the front of the classroom.

This is when our survival instincts kicked in! Voices echoing in the back of our minds, ‘will she text back?’ ‘how many likes will my newest photo get?’ ‘oh man, why is he making us do this silly experiment!’ these thoughts and many more circulated the room… As time passed, it seemed as though no one had been hurt, in a physical sense anyway…

We made it, we were able to carry on with our lives without our digital devices being connected to our hips. When we reconnected with our smart phones, some of us had texts from friends, social media notifications and news updates.

To conclude, I can confidently say that I am able to disconnect from the matrix, and tune back into this reality.

Sourced from: Creative Commons http://laoblogger.com/matrix-movie-clipart.html#gal_post_132252_matrix-movie-clipart-9.jpg

#weekone – What I Want To Gain?

So now that we have a basic idea of what this subject entails, the question is, what do I want to gain from this course? Let me begin by stating my intention, which will allow me to focus and channel my mind and energy in a direction which will, hopefully, keep me motivated, enthusiastic and driven throughout the twelve weeks ahead! In our class discussion, it was evident that my fellow like minded folks and I were all connected, not just via our blogs and/or social media… but rather the essence of what makes us human, the need to communicate, interact in order to grow and learn, inspire and to be inspired, create and innovate, all these things are what connects us all in achieving our goals and dreams as a collective consciousness. So to conclude, my friends, I am here for the same reasons you are…

 

Image sourced from: Creative Commons https://pixabay.com/en/the-work-people-the-life-thinking-2172684/

#weekone – The Beginning of Something Awesome!

My first offical blog, welcome! a great space to share ideas and information.

For the next twelve weeks, I will be focusing on new communication technologies, and how we have adapted, evolved and invented these communication technologies over time.

So my friends, plug in and lets start this adventure, together!

Image sourced from: Creative Commons https://pixabay.com/en/photos/?q=digital%20adventure