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Class 5

Before class a couple of us managed to meet up to discuss our group project, we talked about the future of the workplace and what kind of effect future technologys would have on it. We also discussed what form of media we could use to deliver it, slides, video, pictures, sound etc. I wasn't sure if the presentation had to be related to the course that we were studying (Visual Communication) for example, how will new technology effect the field of graphic design and visual communication, so I said that I would ask the lecturer in class to clarify this. Other members of the group were discussing the roll of automation using technology in the workplace, what percentage of our jobs will be automated by technology in the future? could we find ourselves out of work after being replaced by a robot? I suggested that we look at online companies such as those that provide services such as online shopping. What would these be like in the future? would we be able to do our shopping without ever setting foot in a shopping centre? would we try on clothes in a completely virtual environment? The group seemed to resonate with this idea and we decided that we would think about maybe using this as a topic to discuss in our presentation.

In this class we discussed how things both physical and virtual can effect a persons thought pattern and how they view themselves. We looked at how once a person holds a hammer it opens up the opportunity to both create and destroy, when the person looks at the hammer in their hand they mentally see the possible uses for the hammer and how it makes a person feel more powerful. I believe what the lecturer was getting at was that since we use our online profiles to represent ourself, these virtual profiles of ourselves can actually effect how we think and see ourselves in the real world even though they are virtual, the same as when we pick up a hammer. It also reminds us of how the internet can be used to create but also destroy and it can have a positive or negative effects on our lives. We should be more aware of the impact these digital medias are having on our perseption and understanding of our own reality. The discussion today made me think about, how much time do I myself spend in the virtual world? Is it possible that I spend more time these days in the online world (Facebook, Instagram, Youtube etc.) than in real life? How much control and influence does it have over me?

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