gdp's Comments

Spark | CBC Radio : Book Giveaway! The Virtual Self by Nora Young

Fri, 11 May 2012 15:20:30 +0000

Congratulations on your book, Nora! I just put it on my to-read list on Goodreads. Goodreads is an excellent example of a positive and flexible channel for life-logging and digital quantification. For a voracious reader like me, it is an invaluable and irresistible tool, because I can keep track of every book I read. Every. Single. One. No more, “Oh yeah, I think I read that three years ago. I guess I liked it.” Now, I _know_ which books I read three years ago—and because I’ve taken it upon myself to write fairly detailed reviews of every book I read, I know exactly what I thought of that book three years ago. More detailed metrics allow me to break down the books I read into year by how many stars I give them, or by genre. Thanks to this almost effortless tracking (the only part the really requires effort is writing a review, and not everyone on the site does that), I learn so much more about myself—and I have access to this log of who I was in the past, what I thought was important in a book, etc. Just as I’m always amused to go back and read blog posts from my 16-year-old self in 2007, it’s fun to read book reviews I wrote a few years ago and compare them with how I write now. Until now I’ve tended to be very transparent about who I am and what I say online, and I intentionally aggregate what I say across various places. (That is, I import my tweets to Facebook, display them on my personal website, etc.) While I am aware of privacy concerns around these services, the fact is that until recently, I haven’t had much of a life that needed to be kept private. This is starting to change. I have just graduated from the Faculty of Education, and last month I finished my student-teaching practicum. Much like others struggle with the possibility of repercussions at work for what they say online, I find myself second-guessing what I want to post because students I have taught (or parents of students I have taught) might see it. As a consequence of maintaining very open, public profiles on places like Twitter and Goodreads, students can find me and see what I’m saying outside of the classroom. I’ve had students try to befriend me on Facebook, and while I do not accept those requests, they can still “subscribe” and see anything on my profile I make public—which is basically anything I tweet or blog about or write on Goodreads. With this in mind, suddenly I find myself thinking, “Should I be writing this? Are kids going to be reading this?” It’s weird, because of course “kids” could see everything I did online before—I just wasn’t as concerned about it. But the previous generation of teachers didn’t have to deal with the fact that what they say online one night might be part of the discussion in the classroom tomorrow. This is a tremendous opportunity if leveraged properly, but it’s also a huge challenge.

Spark | CBC Radio : Full Interview: Rob Spence on Cyborgs, Eyeborgs, and Human Augmentation

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 17:56:44 +0000

Excellent interview! A few weeks ago, I read MACHINE MAN, a novel by Max Barry in which the protagonist loses a leg in an industrial accident. Deciding he’s unhappy with the prosthetic legs available to him, he builds himself a better leg (with WiFi!) … but of course, then he’s stuck with one, inadequate human leg and his far superior “better” leg. I’ll give you three guesses what happens next. The novel is somewhat tongue-in-cheek in the way it follows this progression to its conclusion, but it really digs down and addresses some of the big questions this sort of transhumanist approach to augmentation raises.

Spark | CBC Radio : What Does "Tech Savvy" Mean to You?

Thu, 1 Sep 2011 00:21:35 +0000

Well said, Celeste. It's like this xkcd comic: http://xkcd.com/903/

Spark | CBC Radio : What Does "Tech Savvy" Mean to You?

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:48:52 +0000

I think you nailed it when you called it a "mindset" and mentioned having "confidence and a willingness to explore." For example, say you are presenting a PowerPoint show, and the projector isn't communicating with one's computer. To me, a "tech savvy" person doesn't wait for the technician to show up; he or she fiddles with the computer settings and tinkers to try to get the projector working. One might not succeed at this, but it's the act of taking that additional step that earns one the "tech savvy" accolade. That confidence, of course, can often come from experience. As one becomes more experienced, more literate in computers and how different programs work, one usually sees patterns in those programs. Becoming "tech savvy" means making that transition from, "Why isn't it Program A working??" to "Hmm, Program A isn't working. But I had a similar problem once with Program B, and *this* fixed it. I wonder if Program A is the same…." And there are levels of tech savviness! Some people are savvy with, say, Windows, and that's it—that's all they need, and that works for them. Other people are savvy with quite a few different operating systems: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, etc. And some people are truly tech gods. "Tech savvy" is not just a single state of being but a continuum predicated on a willingness to engage with technology and learn about it. I think there is a difference between being a "digital native" and being "tech savvy". Not everyone who is "tech savvy" is a "digital native" (some are "digital immigrants", if you will). And I would argue that the majority of "digital natives" are not tech savvy. Many, if not most, of my peers are digital natives; we were the first and second wave of teens growing up with the Web already established in our household. Not all of my peers are tech savvy though—they might have cell phones and use Facebook, but they will be just as lost as their parents if their computer begins malfunctioning.

Spark | CBC Radio : Full Interview: Jennifer Stoddart on Online Privacy

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 15:11:04 +0000

She's not saying that police intrusions are less of a concern but that there are better checks in place against such intrusions and systems for dealing with such intrusions than there are for corporate intrusions. The police ultimately answer to the government and the people, but because it's more difficult to follow where one's information diffuses throughout the corporate sphere, a similar mechanism is harder to implement for corporations. I thought Stoddart was anti-anti-business throughout this interview, since she repeatedly emphasized self-moderating privacy guidelines for business groups rather than more legislation and more government regulation.

Spark | CBC Radio : What Do You Think About Facebook and Privacy?

Fri, 14 May 2010 02:02:28 +0000

I am concerned about the way that Facebook's attitude toward privacy has been changing. Matt McKeon created a great visualization of how Facebook's default privacy settings have changed since 2005:http://mattmckeon.com/facebook-privacy/ It shows the definite evolution toward less privacy by default. The recent announcement that Facebook's "instant personalization" of other websites would be opt-OUT rankled me. That's exactly the sort of feature that should be opt-in because of its invasive, privacy-abrogating nature. However, I'm not going to leave Facebook. I Facebook responsibly. I put only what I want to share with the rest of the world online, whether it's on Facebook or some other site. Most of my biographical information and interests are available on my website to the public at large, so why shouldn't they be available on Facebook too? I don't use many Facebook apps, either. Probably the worst case scenario is if a friend posts an embarrassing photo of me on Facebook and makes it available to the public--but leaving Facebook won't prevent that from happening. I'd have to ask the friend to remove it, and not do it again. I might even send the message by Facebook. . . . Facebook should be censured for its approach to privacy, yes. But I don't think leaving Facebook is necessary yet. The privacy settings, when configured properly, do make it possible to Facebook responsibly. What matters is educating people so they're aware of how to use their privacy settings--and why it's so important.

Spark | CBC Radio : Spark 112 - May 2 & 4, 2010

Sun, 2 May 2010 16:01:52 +0000

Agreed about the segments! Also, Nora gets mucho bonus points for using the word "bailiwick."

Spark | CBC Radio : Full Interview: Kyle Wiens on iFixit's plan to "change repair forever"

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:47:45 +0000

Do they have repair instructions for a time machine? My first gen iPod nano broke last week, and I bought a replacement first gen iPod nano from eBay. It was only $37, and with 2 GB of space it's an upgrade from my 1 GB one. Had I known about iFixit, however, I would have thought twice. I can't wield a soldering gun to save my life, but I happen to have a brother who does these things. Now I have an extra iPod nano that's in good condition aside from a battery that doesn't charge and a display that doesn't work. Is there a complementary site that matches me up with a DIY enthusiast who wants to repair an iPod nano but doesn't happen to have one? I could then ship it to him or her and feel less wasteful.

Spark | CBC Radio : Does music have soul?

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:30:32 +0000

Thinking of _music_ as having soul seems rather backward. It's not the music that has the soul. I agree with Cope when he says that music has no inherent meaning. It's the listener who ascribes meaning to a piece, and hence, if the listener is the one, if anyone, who has a soul. Now, when we create computers that are moved by music, that will be exciting. But for now, the ability to be moved by music is unique to humans, and that's something one can cherish.

Spark | CBC Radio : Full Interview: Marie Bjerede on cell phones in the classroom

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:08:45 +0000

Loved the interview. I appreciate that you took the time, Nora, to ask Marie some really great questions: to differentiate between the benefits of cell phones vs. similar technology, to explore the potential for more rigorous studies, to identify the motivations of the company sponsoring this project, etc. That's why I listen to Spark. As a teacher-in-training, I'm excited by the prospects new technologies have for improving classroom experiences. However, like Chris above, I'm sceptical of any attempts to apply technology for technology's sake (whether it's because the companies have a business interest or just because "it's cool" and should therefore be used). It's very easy to get carried away.

Spark | CBC Radio : Computers are hard. Who's to blame?

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:29:44 +0000

I don't agree that "people who just don't gel with how computers work" exist. Perhaps there are people with a learning disorder similar to computers as dyslexia is to reading, but we don't give up on trying to teach dyslexic children how to read. I don't think we _have_ been trying very hard. I learned how to type in elementary school, and that was it. In grade nine, we did the compulsory "integrated technology" course for Ontario high schools. Neither teacher nor students took the course very seriously. The answer is not "more education" but "better education." For instance, education that teaches people the difference between a real login page and a fake login page. That's not something kids should have to learn "on the street" (if they ever learn it at all).

Spark | CBC Radio : Computers are hard. Who's to blame?

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:07:09 +0000

The problem is not that computers are complex but that computers are stupid. Take Gruber's analogy with cars. It's a good analogy, and I agree with it and Jono Xia. People shouldn't have to know how computers work in order to operate them, just as I don't need to know how my car works in order to drive it. And that's good, because I'm very knowledgeable about computers but hopeless when it comes to cars! But when you think about it, we haven't achieved the simplicity of a car's operation by simplifying the technology. We've actually done the opposite; cars obviously have more technology in them than in previous eras, and each generation increasingly relies on a computer running the show. Our technology performs better when it becomes smarter and is better able to interpret the irrational input its users provide. Often our frustration with a computer is the result of its misinterpretation of our commands. We want a certain result, but we don't know how to manipulate the computer's interface to get that result. And the computer can't help us, because the only way we can communicate our desires is through the interface. Hence, it isn't the computer's fault, and it isn't your fault. If you don't understand how to use your computer, it is the designer's fault (assuming you have made a reasonable effort at it). My reservations with the iPad and its ilk is not over the change in interface but in the idea that "simpler is better" is a better model for computing. I prefer "smarter is better." As Don McArthur points out above, the iPad is an "electronic appliance" (or, as Jonathan Zittrain calls them, "tethered appliances" because they are still controlled by Apple after you buy them). I differ with Don when he says that it is "not really an issue," since I subscribe to the same concerns that Zittrain has with such devices. The iPad generation will be a generation raised in the sandbox over which Apple has ultimate authority. I don’t deny that app-based platforms like the iPad are simpler and therefore easier to use for non-tech-savvy individuals. Nevertheless, that simplicity has been purchased at the price of freedom. If you purchase an iPad, it isn’t yours. You can use the device, but you never really own it. And this goes beyond simply “controlling a computer.” Apple has the final say on what apps you can install, which limits what and how you can use the computer. You haven’t just lost control of the computer; you’ve lost control over how you can use the computer. I have to agree with @jennamcjenna's comment regarding computational literacy: we have to educate people. The iPad doesn't do that, and I would go as far as to argue that computers cannot teach us computational literacy any more than books can teach us how to read (LeapFrog learning aside!). Education is a social mechanism, and like all social problems, throwing more technology at the problem isn't a solution. It may help in implementing a solution, but it cannot be a solution in and of itself. So to reiterate, giving the user the benefit of the doubt, the fault lies with the designer. Nevertheless, what I've attempted to demonstrate above is that the onus lies on we, the consumers, to specify how a designer should improve interfaces. Designers create in order to meet our expectations, which is why old QWERTYs seldom learn new tricks.

Spark | CBC Radio : Spark 99 - January 17 & 19, 2010

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:27:30 +0000

I sort of feel like I'm spamming the comments for this episode, but this comment didn't really relate to my replies above. . . . :D I just wanted to say that I enjoy how well all the segments in this episode mesh together. In that respect, this episode is very well put together. I'm not saying that I want every episode to integrate interview themes so closely like this one did--sometimes a potpourri is a nice change of pace! But when you do integrate your themes, Spark team, you do it well.

Spark | CBC Radio : Spark 99 - January 17 & 19, 2010

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:24:45 +0000

Andrea, it seems to me that the interview with Sahara agreed with your position on spying on one's children: it has a negative result. Why do you dislike the episode for pointing out something with which you agree?

Spark | CBC Radio : Spark 99 - January 17 & 19, 2010

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:22:08 +0000

Not really, no. The "line," as you put it, is bounded above by the magical ages of 18 and 19, which are the ages of majority in the various provinces and territories of Canada. A parent has no legal right to control what his or her child does online after the child reaches the majority. If you're implying that a child, upon reaching the age of majority, is going to _want_ state surveillance because he or she has grown used to it, I seriously doubt it. As Sahara pointed out, strict surveillance by parents usually caused a child, even one who had a good relationship with his or her parents, to react negatively. And in the highly individualist cultures of the Western world, it's unlikely children are going to grow up comfortable with the idea that there is _no_ personal privacy. The ideology of privacy will continue to change and shift in response to the effect of the Internet, there's no doubt about that. But accepted state surveillance? No, I doubt it. Back to the idea of entitlement though. I would be surprised if many parents continue surveillance on their children right up until 18! Nevertheless, there is no "magical age" prior to that where one can say a child is going to be mature enough. Some children are mature enough by 12 or 13, others by 15 or 16. It's something each parent and child must decide on a case by case basis. However, surveillance is only one (and neither the most important nor the most effective) strategy for ensuring a child remains safe online. Hopefully parents are talking to their children and educating them about how to use social technology safely. And this is a dialogue that should continue long into adulthood. It's not a dialogue of static roles either, with the parent as the mentor and the child as the student. Children have plenty to teach their parents about new technology as well.

Spark | CBC Radio : The future of radio? Crowdsourcing questions for James Cridland, radio futurist

Tue, 1 Dec 2009 21:03:48 +0000

You ask "will iTunes or Sirius/XM or Last.FM ever be as simple to use as my radio?" The radio may be simple to operate, but I think it's easier to obtain the programming I want through something like iTunes. With a radio, I have to learn at what time the program is broadcast and then tune to the correct station. On the dinky clock radio I have in my bedroom, the stations are crunched together, so a minute flick of the tuning dial will take from CBC to a staticky folk music station. And heaven forfend if I reposition the radio in any way, because that means another five minutes of fiddling with the tuner! By listening to my radio shows via podcast, usually through iTunes, this whole process is "simpler" to me. I don't have to worry about scheduling: I can just search for the show I want by title, download it, and it'll play without any fuss. While iTunes has more bells and whistles when it comes to the user interface, the controls for operating podcast playback are as simple as a VCR: play, pause, rewind, fast forward.. In case one can't tell from my position above, I find listening to my radio shows as podcasts enjoyable as well as simple. :D I love that the CBC makes podcasts available, and I'm interested in hearing this interview. No question from me for now, although I like GaryM's point above about how our on-demand technologies give us less exposure to "random learning."

Spark | CBC Radio : Full Interview: Gabriella Coleman on digital book piracy

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:24:08 +0000

Great interview! However, I would have liked to see more on the issue of accessibility of books and how this relates to piracy. I've been thinking about this lately because I'm reading Robert J. Sawyer's new book, WWW:Wake. The protagonist is blind. Someone has recommended a book to her, and this is what she has said in a blog post about acquiring it: "There's no legitimate ebook edition, damn it all, but of course _everything_ is on the Web, if you know where to look for it..." Before online distribution of books became easy, people with a disability that prevented them from reading print books had to find an alternative format (which isn't always available), have someone read to them, or just not read the book. The Web changes all that, making it possible to easily download audio books if they exist or use screenreaders to listen to ebooks. That's why the controversy over the Kindle's text-to-speech function angered me so much: sure, maybe a corresponding audiobook existed for some of the Kindle books, but certainly not for all of them. Thus, what the publishers are saying is that some of the potential customers aren't worth the effort. I won't argue, like they have, that a text-to-speech function is the equivalent of an audiobook narrator; however, it's still better than not reading a book at all. The Internet has a great deal of accessibility issues of its own, so sometimes we forget that it's giving new opportunities to people who face accessibility gaps offline. For some people, the choice isn't between the convenience of downloading a pirated copy and purchasing a legitimate one. Instead, it's a choice between downloading a pirated copy or not reading the book. I know which I'd choose.

Spark | CBC Radio : Full Interview: Is Google Killing General Knowledge?

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:14:19 +0000

The answer is: yes, Google is killing general knowledge. However, I don't believe that's a bad thing. I loved this interview even though I'm tired of this topic--mostly because unlike this interview, when the subject comes up it tends to turn into Google-bashing (or education-bashing). Here, Cathcart's honest about not being able to draw a firm conclusion either way, and I appreciate that. Certainly there are cases where general knowledge is useful or even necessary. The story about the taxi driver is entertaining, but I question whether it falls under the category of "missing general knowledge." For a taxi driver, local geography is knowledge specific to his or her job. The fact that the taxi driver relied solely on GPS directions reflects worse on the driver (and his or her employer) than it does on the state of general knowledge. On a related note, London taxi drivers are required to demonstrate that they have "the Knowledge" of London's geography before they're certified to drive in the London area: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/businessandpartners/taxisan...

Spark | CBC Radio : Spark 84 - September 13 & 15, 2009

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:06:07 +0000

It appears we've been going about this whole "flying car" concept backward. The Terrafugia Transition is an airplane that doubles as a car--a "roadable aircraft". While not practical for everyday consumers yet, it's proof-of-concept and definitely has some applications: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/654495 Also, just wanted to point out that the link to the full interview with Wasik and Niedzviecki is ... non-existent. Excellent season premiere!

Spark | CBC Radio : Full Interview: Luis Suarez explains how to quit email

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:03:03 +0000

Mr. Suarez makes a compelling argument for preferring social networking to email. While he has many valid points, email still comes out ahead in one respect: your email knows everything. Distribution comes with the price of potentially forgetting where you put stuff. For me, the most useful tool my email provides is search. I've got messages I received back in 2005 that I occasionally consult because they have important information. Now, I suppose I could save that information to a special folder on my computer so I know exactly where to look--but why bother when my email remembers and organizes everything better than I ever can? I often communicate with friends and coworkers through social networking sites (usually Facebook). But then it becomes a problem of remembering where I sent someone a certain message if I later need to look up the message itself.