More essay ideas...

There are two main topics to look at for this essay: physical and mental health. The topic ideas that I had previously thought of, fall into these two categories as sub-topics.

Physical:

1. Rise of obesity-growing evidence supports this link.
2. Improvement of fine motor skills-there is evidence to suggest that this is true.
3. Video consoles promoting activity/exercise-rise in popularity of motion sensor consoles: Nintendo Wii, Xbox Kinect, PlayStation Move.

Mental:

1. Effect on relationships and communication-evidence supports that higher rate of gaming .means negative effect on relationships and communication.
2. Impact of violent games on mental health-everything I’ve read points to violence having a negative impact on players, heightened aggression, where there was none before.

There appear to be positive as well as negative impacts on the health of young people.

Essay ideas...

Some topic ideas that I've had for the essay.

Not all hackers are bad! (Week 9)

I have always thought of hackers as the bad guys. Whenever there is a report of hacking in the news, it always involves something malicious. Whether it is a virus or an invasion of privacy (e.g. phone hacking scandal); the recipients are generally considered to be the victims. My view of hacking has been shaped by the media, and the reports in the news.

One of the readings this week (Stockwell, 2008) discusses hacking in the traditional sense. I did not realise that traditionally hacking was generally never malicious. It was simply a way for people to understand the computer programs and systems better. Hacking viewed in this way allows the user to check the security of computer networks. The ability to pass through unnoticed will require a complete overhaul of the network security. I can imagine that it must be very satisfying for traditional hackers to know that they have gotten in; it can be viewed as a kind of game, where they have won.

If this was all that hacking was, the media would not have been able to put a black mark to their name, but, unfortunately there are also malicious hackers out there. These malicious hackers are the ones that get their names in the news and have turned hacking into a criminal act.

Stockwell, S. 2008, We’re all hackers now: Doing global democracy, viewed 21^st September 2011, <http://ajax.acue.adelaide.edu.au/~allan/createworld/Stockwell_2008_Hacking.pdf>.

A Mouse and Her Girl-The Final Product (Week 9)

Finally! The end product. My short video is complete, and it runs for just under two minutes. The narrative has changed again. I have shortened it, and have not included the original Plot Point 2 and Act 3, if I had chosen to leave these parts in, it would have ended up being too long! This just means a shift of some the action to make up Plot Point 2 and Act 3.

I have to thank my dear little sister for making a wonderful Melody. She has also messed around with stop motion before, and was able to help me with that. She showed me how to use Adobe After Effects to turn the photos into separate movie sequences, since I have never used that program before. She also let me use iMovie on her MacBook rather than my Windows Movie Maker, since it is easier (no need to convert videos and music to a different format). She also showed me how to use Audacity. Obviously I have never tried making videos before, whereas she has! I am going to have to buy her the biggest Cherry Ripe to thank her!

Overall, I am pleased with the outcome of my video, but if I had the chance to redo it, there are some parts that I would change. Unfortunately I did not allow myself enough time to make changes. If there is something that I have learnt from this experience it is to allow more time and to plan properly, so that I know exactly what I want to achieve.

Who represents...? (Week 9)

I have not actually changed my electorate since moving to Brisbane at the beginning of the year. Therefore I have included in this post my local, state and federal representatives for my hometown of Dalby.

Local Representative: Cr. Ray Brown, Mayor of Western Downs Regional Council.

State Representative: Ray Hopper MP, electorate of Condamine.

Federal Representative: Bruce Scott MP, electorate of Maranoa.

In the last month I have emailed my federal member, Bruce Scott, in regards to an issue that was coming up for discussion in Parliament. I received a generic, but prompt reply thanking me for my input.

I decided to also find out the representatives for where I live in Brisbane.

Local Representative: Cr. Peter Matic, Toowong Ward.

State Representative: Andrew Fraser MP, electorate of Mount Coot-tha.

Federal Representative: Jane Prentice MP, electorate of Ryan.

<http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/about-council/councillors-wards/index.htm>

<http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/members/current/list>

<http://apps.aec.gov.au/eSearch/LocalitySearchResults.aspx?filter=Ryan&filterby=Electorate&divid=177>

Essay topic... (Week 9)

‘Does the extensive use of computer/video games have an adverse impact on the health of young people? What are the most recent papers? Clarify what both sides of the argument claim and only then offer your reasoned opinion based on facts.’

This will be a very interesting topic to research. This issue is widely debated and there are many newspaper articles written about it. I am sure that I will find a wealth of information on this topic.

Some points that I will consider, include:

• Belief that computer/video games can improve fine motor skills
• Effect of violent video games on a person’s mental health (e.g. Norway, Columbine)
• Rising obesity levels in young people
• Effect on relationships and communication

I will look at the effect extensive use of computer/video games on the physical and mental health of young people. I will research papers discussing both sides of the argument, keeping in mind the points raised above. I will take into consideration any other points in the argument that I discover through my research, before I come to a conclusion regarding this topic.

Yay for Creative Commons! (Week 8)

Creative Commons is a great idea. Though I feel that there is a place for both full copyright, as well as Creative Commons in society today. It depends on what the producer wants to achieve through their work. For some musicians, artists, authors or filmmakers, their main source of income is through the production and distribution of music, artwork, books or films. Therefore for these people full copyright is preferable.

For producers who would like their work to be readily available for anyone to use, then Creative Commons would be the way to go. A work that is covered by a Creative Commons license allows other people to freely use that piece of work, as long as they comply with the rules of the CC license that covers it. This allows for a ‘some rights reserved’ approach, rather than ‘all rights reserved’ (Creative Commons: About).

Creative Commons can be useful for students as well. It can be difficult for students to gain approval to use full copyrighted materials. For this reason students can find it useful to have access to material that is covered by a CC license. Students need to ensure that they understand which CC license covers the material that they are using, so that they know exactly how they can use the original material.

Creative Commons: About, viewed 14^th September 2011, < https://creativecommons.org/about>.