A course introducing students to new technology in media communications.

2016

In this course we will explore new and emerging technologies for communications and media creation. Students will become acquainted with theoretical texts through readings and written responses as well as deepen their knowledge of practical implications new technological innovations can have on their future professional work.

Course Description
This course explores new ways that we communicate and the technological means in which these communications are made possible. To exchange information over a distance greater than naked physical senses can access, technological appendages are required. Traditional media communication has relied on technologies such as books, radio, television, telephones, etc. for most of the 19th and 20th centuries. Since the onset of the information age or digital revolution within the last two decades, telecommunication technologies have all but ditched their traditional analog foundations in favor of much more robust, versatile and relatively inexpensive digital offspring.

In this course we will explore new and emerging technologies for communications and media creation. Students will become acquainted with theoretical texts through readings and written responses as well as deepen their knowledge of practical implications new technological innovations can have on their future professional work. Lectures will address many aspects of the current technological landscape illustrated through images, video, and as story telling elements in film and television.

Catalog Description
Examines the development of new technologies and communication networks. The structure of the marketplace, government policy, and the social impacts of new technologies are discussed. Issues such as globalization, computer security, privacy, and changes in regulations may be covered. Prerequisites: TVR-12100, two level-2 courses in one or more of the following fields: television-radio, psychology, sociology; junior standing.

Learning Objectives
Students will identify and analyze current debates and critiques of new technologies, as measured by papers. Students will research and understand one aspect of the Digital Environment thoroughly, as measured by a paper and class presentation. Students will identify and critique different philosophies of technology, as measured by papers.

 

Example Semester Schedule

01.26.16 – Introductions :: Syllabus :: Course overview
01.28.16 – Telecommunications :: New Media

02.02.16 – Marshall McLuhan :: Radio: The Tribal Drum :: in Understanding Media (1964)
02.04.16 – Radio :: Streaming Radio :: Electronic Signals :: Software Defined Radio

02.09.16 – Jean Bauldrillard :: Ludic and Cold Seduction :: in Seduction (1990)
02.11.16 – Television :: Streaming Television :: New Formats :: OSMC/Kodi

02.16.16 – Gille Deleuze :: Postscript on the Societies of Control (1992)
02.18.16 – Computing :: Internet :: Networks :: Self-Organization

02.23.16 – Katherine Hayles :: Boundry Disputes (1994)
02.25.16 – Immersive Media :: Virtual Reality :: Augmented Reality :: 360 Video :: Gaming

03.01.16 – Sherry Turkle – Chapter 14 – in Alone Together (2011)
03.03.16 – Micro-Compuing :: Smart Phones :: Raspberry Pi :: Cellular Transmission :: Wi-Fi

03.08.16 – Philip K. Dick :: Pay the Printer (1956)
03.10.16 – Printing :: On-Demand Publishing :: 3D Printing :: Replication :: Cloning

03.15.16 – SPRING BREAK NO CLASSES
03.17.16 – SPRING BREAK NO CLASSES

03.22.16 – Alan Turing :: Computing Machinery and Intelligence (1950)
03.24.16 – AI :: Chatbots :: Robotics ::

03.29.16 – Manuel Delanda :: Policing the Spectrum : in Zone ½ (1987)
03.31.16 – Encryption :: Cryptography :: Spying :: Information War

04.05.16 – Paul Virilio :: Chapter 7 :: in The Information Bomb (2000)
04.07.16 – Social Media :: Instant Messaging :: Facebook :: Instagram :: Periscope

04.12.16 – Lev Manovich :: Trending: The Promises and the Challenges of Big Social Data (2011)
04.14.16 – Big Data :: Cloud Storage :: Collaboration

04.19.16 – Alexander R. Galloway :: Hacking :: in Protocol: How Control Exists (2004)
04.21.16 – Hacking :: Torrents :: File Sharing :: Copyright :: Copyleft

04.26.16 – Presentations
04.28.16 – Presentations

05.03.16 – Presentations
05.05.16 – Presentations

05.09.16 – Final Exam Week / Presentations
05.11.16 – Final Exam Week / Presentations