Mechanical Turk Project

Over the course of a week I attempted to try to complete at least 2 hits a day. When searching for hits I tried to narrow my search down to surveys because they require the least amount of effort. While looking through the hits I came across the issue that you have to have a certain qualification to do certain hits which narrows your choice of what you can complete. I attempted to do tasks other than surveys but a lot of them required special abilities such as being fluent in Mandarin Chinese and having work experience in designated areas. This really brought down the availability of hits to me seeing as though I am a student in college so I have barely any work experience as well as English being my first and only language. 

I did find a hit that appealed to me perfectly. The qualifications were that you had to be an African-American College student. This hit listed a series of question that basically asked my views on other races and how I felt personally about them. As well as put my opinion on the work world and how each race correlates with  the amount of job opportunities available.  

The wide variety of hit types seems limitless. I came across a hit which said "this hit requires you to leave your computer." The basis of the hit was to go out and complete some sort of community service, document it, then submit the hit. Personally, trying to make $10 dollars on Mturk sounded easier than I thought but once I started working towards it I realized how difficult it was. I ended up 48 cents short of $10 after the one week mark.

As discussed in class, I now realize how tough it would be for people who use this as a main source of income. A lot of the hits are limited and waiting on your money to be approved is a very frustrating process. Also discussed in class, I feel like the people that complete these hits should be getting paid more per hit. They do take some time to finish and most of them go for as low as 50 cents. In my results, it shows I accepted 23 hits but only submitted 12. This is because a lot of the hits were phonies and after completion for some reason they wouldn't allow me to submit or Mturk would say that the hit was authorized within the system. To conclude this weeks experience, I cannot see how people live off of this type of income; the work is very tedious and awaiting your hits to be approved gets annoying at times. 

Week 12 Entry

THE PSYCHOPATHOLOGY OF EVERYDAY THINGS, proved many important points. A lot of the consumers nowadays only focus on the appearance of an object as opposed to it functionality. My relatable example would have to be with automobiles. A lot of individuals want the sleek, attracting sports cars that is physically appealing and grabs a lot of attention. What they fail to realize is that the sports car's maintenance is going to cost them a lot more as well probably require them to use Premium gas which will add up seeing as though they will have to fill up every week. American's overlook the more reasonable vehicle such as a Honda Accord, very good on gas and the maintenance is affordable. Not knowing how to function certain things without instructions usually has something to do with the generation of the user. The younger generation has already adapted to technological advances and is used to the idea of modern day technology. So when a new gadget is released they already have a feel for how to use it, like a universal knowledge on technology. Older people are just becoming familiar with such technology so they are considered "foreign" to it and require a manual or instructions to use it. 


The "Prototyping for Fingers" column I felt related to me because in my Honors seminar we have to construct a lo-fi model of a camera of the future. Although in the article it claims it should only take a couple hours I see it taking us a while due to being amateurs and never actually constructing one before. Lo-fi vs Hi-fi is a very interesting argument. Of course lo-fi is a lot less time consuming and cheaper but it also lacks the finalized view of an object. Hi-fi is a lot more expensive and takes up a lot of time but it gives you almost a look at your final product. The commitment that is required to a low-fi is reasonable because you didn't put much effort into the project so if there is something that needs to be changed, it won't be that heartbreaking. Golub used a sort of crowd sourcing in our Honors Seminar to explain the process. He explained the possibility of   an interface that was created using lo-fi and someone wanted to put a random smiley face on it but it had no functionality. Well while testing it and if someone presses the smiley face thinking it will do something such as take a picture, the programmers might take notes on the audiences reaction to the smiley face and make the smiley face a button in which initiates a camera function. 

Week 11 Entry

I found it interesting while reading the essay on the virtual world, that I kept on imagining a Sims like simulated program where people set up accounts and were able to communicate and create an avatar, as stated in the article, to control throughout this virtual world. But actually the virtual world stated in the essay is "text-based." I guess that is the affect the creators of this virtual world wanted it to have, one that replicates reality as the user creates their avatar using age, gender, and their interests. In my opinion the lack of a race input would make this virtual reality less realistic. In the real world you cannot hide your race from the public usually when you come in contact with someone face to face they can determine your race based on physical features. I do understand why they might want to hide race though, of course if one person has hostility to a certain race it may cause conflict online, i.e. harassment. I did find the comparison of race in RPG worlds to race in the real worlds to be very clever. Saying that elves, wizards, trolls, and humans all have a virtual hierarchy in the cyberspace similar to those of races in our society. Many races in the real world carry stereotypes as do the races in RPG worlds.

While reading the Interactivity and Vulnerability article I connected the interactivity of this article with that of the @race article. Editing famous paintings but in this case they add mustaches to destroy it comparable to how users of text-based realms could trash the image of another on social network sites. Also refering to the "ethno-cyborgs" and how the performers must assume these personas, similar to how user assume avatars online but the only difference is in this article the performers' personas have diverse cultural characteristics that are stereotypical latinos. In the @race article they try to avoid identifying race to prevent stereotypes. The technology used in the marines training is very useful! The interaction of the troops and the virtual terrorists creates a realistic situation for them to experience and prepare them for what they may face when in Iraq. But just as the troops mentioned it's no where near the same as being in the heat of battle in reality because the virtual avatars created do not shoot back.

Week 10 Entry

The concept of a Mechanical Turk is genius. Although people cannot make a living off of this, it still is creating ways for people to make easy, quick money, without a college education. Taking in account of the opposition, I believe that it's not immoral because people are not forced to do these jobs and they are well aware that they are doing this work without much pay. Many of them are not doing these jobs for the money but only to keep themselves entertained so if you really want to look at the whole situation closely, people are sort of getting paid to keep themselves busy as opposed to looking at it as below minimum wage work. Also in technical terms they are getting paid justly for the work that they do because the tasks provided by the site do not call for much experience or effort.

The comical feel to the Aaron Shaw video grabbed my attention and made learning more about the turk system more enjoyable. I kind of was confused to how the Colbert Report video related to the turk subject though. I do find it funny that the turks became upset when the grad student began to sell their drawn sheep for $20 when only paying $2 for them to draw them. Maybe in the aspect of products in that sense it may be immoral to sell the work of art of another. But according to the site his actions were still considered moral so he's not to blame.

Week 8 Entry

After reading all the readings I came to a conclusion that the common point that was supposed to be made was that technology not only has a digital effect on issues that take place in the world but also has a social effect as well. While reading the Is it a Crime? article I sort of related it to the social network, Tumblr. You are allowed to ask any on there a question as an anonymous person. Usually those are the boldest people to  speak just because of their unidentifiable profile. One of my friends was asked a simple question on there and ended up somehow giving away her hint for her password to her email, which was connected to her facebook as well. The hacker then took her profile and somehow received her number and held her facebook page captive, using it to message random people and deceive them as if it were her.

On Electronic Civil Disobedience began by speaking more about reality and Civil Disobedience in the real world. I really thought it was clever how they transitioned into the cyber realm and how hackers are considered disobedient when it comes to their activity online. Then the use of the physical blockade that was used to compare to the blockades that are made to prevent hackers from doing anything unethical sort of made it more understandable and in terms I could relate to. The Zapatista Effect: The Internet and the Rise of an Alternative Political Fabric was kind of confusing to me, I always get lost when the articles are sort of lengthy and don't necessarily clearly state the point. Rebellion and the use of the internet during rebellion are the main points I reached from that article.

Critical Analysis Pseudo-code

Learning programming this way gives people like me, non-computer science degrees, an easier way to comprehend the subject matter. It would be almost near impossible for me to learn code in enough time to effectively execute it in an actual program. Dance would not be the only thing that could be done in a pseudo-code, everything you do that is considered an action could be put in pseudo-code. For example, waking up in the morning, you would start the code with get out of bed, and you could loop your movement to and from the bathroom because many people take more than one trip during the morning for brushing teeth and other things. Another pseudo-code could be made from driving, starting the engine would be the beginning and you could loop using turn signals after a certain about of passed cars or streets.

While making our pseudo-code the hardest part was probably figuring out the song to use. We came across a few choices; "Party in the USA," "Thriller," and "Sunshine" but we decided to use "Hey Ya!" because of it's flexibility and our ability to break it down using loops and other computer science tools. Our objective is to have at least one group member act as Andre 3000 while the rest of the group acts sort of like his back-up dancers. I did have a question regarding the actual performance. During the performance does the narrator speak while the group performs or after?

"Now all Beyonces and Lucy Lius and Baby Dolls, get on the floor"

During our performance on Sunday you will figure out how these shots are relevant to our routine.

"Hey Ya!" Code

#include <Freestyle>

#include <Math.rand>

#include “Heya.mp3”

Main{

            Gather dancers

            Let random dancer be Andre 3000

            Start music

            While count is less than or equal to three

                        Wait

            Call Heya

            Start BackUpThread

            Start AndreThread

            Exit(EXIT_SUCCESS)

}

function Heya{

            define right = +1 right hand shake //left to right

            define left = +1 left hand shake //left to right

            define rightInv = -1 right hand shake //right to left

            define leftInv = -1 left hand shake //right to left

            for count equals 1 to 2

                        sing “Heeey”

                        right++

                        left++

                        sing “Yaaaa”

                        leftInv++

                        rightInv++

}

BackUpThread {

            Var count

            Sleep(“Fellas”) //wait until “fellas” is said

            If male

                        Cup hands around mouth

                        Say “Yeah!”

                        Sleep(“Cool”) //wait until “cool” is said

For count equals 1 to 2

                                    Shiver

                        Say “Ice Cold!”

Else

            Loiter

Sleep(“Ladies”) //wait until “ladies” is said

            Cup hands around mouth

            Say “Yeah!”

            Sleep(“Suga’”)

            Blow kiss

While Andre says shake it

            Shake //Shake something

Sleep(“Beyonce”)

            Place picture of Beyonce in front of face

Sleep(“Lucy Liu”)

            Place picture of Lucy Liu in front of face

}

AndreThread {

            Var count

            Sing “Hey, alright now\nAlright now fellas.”

            Sing “Now what’s cooler than being cool?”

            Cup hand around ear          

            Sing “I can’t hear ya. I say what’s cooler than being cool?”

            Cup hand around ear

            For count equals 1 to 14

                        Sing “Alright”

                        Number = rand(0,1)

                        Switch(Number)

Case 0: Jump in place

            Break;

Case 1: Jump around back up dancers

            Sing “OK now ladies”

            Cup hand around ear

            Start Freestyle

            Sing “I see we gonna break it down in just a few seconds”

            Sing “Don’t make me break it down for nothing”

            Sing “Now I wanna see y’all on y’all baddest behavior”

            Sing “Lend me some suga. I am your neighbor”

            For count  = 1  to 4

                        Sing “Shake it, shake, shake it”

            Sing “Shake it like a polaroid picture

            For count = 1 to 3

                        Sing “Shake it, shake, shake it”

            Sing “Shake it like a polaroid picture”

            Sing “Now all the Beyonce’s and Lucy Liu’s and baby dolls, get on the floor”

            For count = 1 to 3

                        Sing “You know what to dooo”

            Stop Freestyle

}

Week 7 Entry

The Right to Read seemed to relate to a lot to the modern trend of stealing products over the internet. A lot of people nowadays do not pay for things such as music, movies, and programs because of it's availability for free. I feel as though the punishments for piracy is outrageous, stealing software and other electronic data isn't really hurting anyone. If anything it's helping because it's showing that maybe online security should tighten up more. Referencing last week's hacker article, many professional hackers love the feeling of cracking the system and getting what they want, some people feel the same away about being able to get something for free that would of costed them money out their pocket.

While reading the Welcome to Sealand. Now Bugger Off. article. I felt like it was a little hypocritical for HavenCo to be against spam and cyber sabotage to be off limits but still support things such as porn, online gambling, and pyramid schemes, if anything get rid of it all. The article did grab my attention but a lot of it seemed random to me. Going from the topic of cyber punks to guns to helicopters, I was very confused. I didn't really gain an understanding on this subject due to its jumping from point to point. 

Week 6 Entry

Policing the Spectrum was very interesting to me because I am very interested in hackers. I've always been curious as to why they would want to disrupt the organization of a computer for their satisfaction. After this reading, it became sort of clear to me, they hack computers because security systems and firewalls prove a challenge for them to accomplish. When they're told "no" in the form of these security blocks, hackers want to prove that the security is no match for their expertise.  I've honestly caught many viruses while surfing the internet as well as just checking my email.

As for the article on digital voting, I believe that subject has both its pros and cons. It would be beneficial for those who cannot make it to the polls to vote which would lead to an increase in participation. Also voting digitally would appeal to a younger crowd, which would more than likely raise the vote of the youth by a lot. The negative side to this would be that all this information would be digital, targeted by people such as hackers who would love to outwit the government by tapping into these ballots. As well as politicians trying their best to tamper with the votes for their advantage.

Lyrical Algorithm

1. 

   
   
   
   1.   Open browser
   
   2.     Visit Wikipedia.org
   3.     Search (Katy Perry)
   4.     Look at discography
   5.     Find (album 3), (track 11)
   6.     Open new tab
   7.     Go to metrolyrics.com
   8.     Search the song found
   9.     Look at stanza 3 word 5
   10. Write down this word, labeling it “6”
   11. Return to Wikipedia.org
   12. Search (Jamie Foxx)
   13. Look at discography
   14. Find (album 3), (track 4) 
   15. Return to metrolyrics.com
   16. Search the song found
   
   

   

   17. Look at stanza 9 word 2
   18. Write down this word, labeling it “8”
   19. Return to Wikipedia.org
   20. Search (Run DMC),
   21. Look at discography
   22. Find (album 5), (track 8)
   23. Return to metrolyrics.com
   24. Search the song found
   25. Look at stanza 7 word 9
   26. Write down this word, labeling it “9”
   27. Return to Wikipedia.org
   28. Search (Sam Sparro)
   29. Look at discography
   30. Find (album 1), (track 2)
   31. Return to metrolyrics.com
   32. Search the song found
   33. Look at stanza 9 word 2
   34. Write down this word, labeling it “10”
   35. Return to Wikipedia.org
   36. Search (Amerie)
   37. Look at discography
   38.  Find (album 2), (track 1)
   39. Go to metrolyrics.com
   40. Search the song found
   41. Look at stanza 6 word 9
   42. Write down this word, labeling it “2”
   43. Return to Wikipedia.org
   44. Search (Two Door Cinema Club)
   45. Look at discography
   46. Find (album 1), (track 8)
   47. Return to metrolyrics.com
   48. Search the song found
   49. Look at stanza 1 word 9
   50. Write down this word, labeling it “3”
   51. Return to Wikipedia.org
   52. Search (Panic! At the Disco)
   53. Look at discography
   54. Find (album 2), (track 2)
   55. Return to metrolyrics.com
   56. Search the song found
   57. Look at stanza 5 word 4
   58. Write down this word, labeling it “5”
   59. Return to Wikipedia.org
   60. Search (Kanye West)
   61. Look at discography
   62. Find (album 5), (track 3)
   63. Return to metrolyrics.com
   64. Search the song found
   65. Look at stanza 9 word 24
   66. Write down this word, labeling it “11”
   67. Return to Wikipedia.org
   68. Search (Limp Bizkit)
   69. Look at discography
   70. Find (album 3), (track 3)
   71. Return to metrolyrics.com
   72. Search the song found
   73. Look at stanza 5 word 25
   74. Write down this word, labeling it “7”
   75. Return to Wikipedia.org
   76. Search (Timbaland)
   77. Look at discography
   78. Find (album 3), (track 5)
   79. Return to metrolyrics.com
   80. Search the song found
   81. Look at stanza 2 word 17
   82. Write down this word, labeling it “4”
   83. Return Wikipedia.org
   84. Search (Miley Cyrus)
   85. Look at discography
   86. Find (Extended play 1), (track 2)
   87. Return to metrolyrics.com
   88. Search the song found
   89. Look at stanza 5 word 20
   90. Write down this word, labeling it “1”
   91. Now place all the words in numerical order
   92. Place colon between word 7 & 8
   
   
   
   
   
   

Algorithm Analysis

            The concept for our algorithm was to create a hidden message using song lyrics. Because our honors program is one based on digital culture, we thought it would appropriate to base our algorithm on the virtual realm we know as the Internet. Using two sites as tools, wikipedia.org and metrolyrics.com, we were able to dissect songs word for word using a cut-up method to hand select what we wanted our message to read. The message read “The keys to success in our generation: digital culture and creativity.” Referring to our honor’s program.

            While the other group attempted to use our algorithm, I noticed that there were two types of errors made: user errors and programming errors. When the user would go to Wikipedia they would get lost trying to find the section where the album information would be located. We fixed this by specifying in the algorithm to go down to the discography.  Also wrong information was given when it came to the album number and word count. This was fixed by rechecking the source online.

            As for user error, once she went to attempt our algorithm, the user documented the wrong word or looked at the wrong album. After finishing up this project I can conclude that no matter how detailed orientated an algorithm may be, if a human user is used rather than a machine, there is always a chance of human error. I say this because machines are programmed to carry out whatever it is told. As opposed to humans, who may misread something or use their own intuition and take action. 
           
           Although when discussing the subject of "moving through a space," you think of a literal meaning of movement from one place to the next, we took it a step further and tackled digital movement (site to site). When reading Neuromancer the author spoke about virtual reality and being able to basically take the form of a body in this world and move. My group took that idea and dumbed it down for a more intermediate use. The thought of traveling from one site to the next to gain information would replicate traveling from one library on campus to another. This also proves the point that technology has in fact made obtaining information a lot more easier than it once was.

An Invasion of Long Boards (Process Project) (Fake Article)

Some may consider it a form of transportation while others see it as a trend. As a freshmen coming into the University of Maryland I have seen several bikes, mopeds, scooters, etc. But a large portion of our students enjoy riding long boards, which are much like skateboards but are "longer" in length. Due to the large quantity of riders on campus, many of the originators of long board riding feel like the others are just using it for some sort of trend in which won't last long. Marcus Davis, freshmen, said "as someone who has been riding for years, to come here and see everyone doing it kind of made me feel like a poser in the sense of hopping on the bandwagon."

Another freshmen, Aaron Banks, just began riding a month or so ago and believes he is just as good as the originators of this "trend." Aaron believes "just because they've been doing it longer does not mean they are as good as I am, I am a quick learner." To add to the controversy recently Marcus's longboard was sabotaged by an unknown assailant. As he got on to ride it one day, the wheels would not move, causing him much embarrassment as he tried to become mobile in front of the entire mall. Although this issue may seem minimal, this act of sabotage served as a warning of more to come from each side.

Week 5 Entry

I really found the Apportionment Methods reading cool how they put assigning seats in the House of Representatives in a system/formula. Great way to combine politics with Digital Culture in my opinion. While reading "Computer Programming as an Art," I really found it crazy that an entire paper could be based off of the notion as if Computer Programming should be considered an art, science, or both. Honestly when I think of "art" I think of abstract concepts and literally something that someone, an artist, created from a blank canvas. Now that I think about it though, Computer Programming is sort of the same thing.

Computer programmers start from a blank slate and depending on what they want their program to carry out is what their masterpiece will turn out to look like. The Imitation Game actually sounds like a lot of fun. I really like how the writer began with the basic rules of the game using humans then shifted gears and incorporated the use of machines to take the place of the game contestants. I believe the game would be way more natural using humans like the writer mentioned, with technical questions it would take us way longer to figure them out compared to a robot. The "Walking in the City" was very confusing to me. I didn't really see how it was connecting with the concept of Digital Culture.

Week 4 Entry

While reading the "Internet, bah!" article I found it funny that he was badgering the technological advances that were expected to occur in the future. One because he couldn't believe how they would help us and two because everything he was being negative towards ended up actually being created and user friendly. In the "Neuromancer," I really enjoyed the connection between the cyberspace and the ability for a human to control another individual in first-person view.  It goes to show you that even technology in the past paved new hopes for modern advances in the future. I noticed that the concept in "Neuromancer," matched that of the movie "The Matrix," which more than likely describes why it is one of our screenings for DCC.

"A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace" posed a conflict of interest between the government and the residence of cyberspace. It seemed to me as sort of a civil war between supporters of the web and congressional figures, both being Americans. In my opinion I believe that the Telecom "Reform" Act breaks the First Amendment; freedom of speech, religion, and press. Most of my friends being Asian, I could relate with the "Digitizing Race" reading. I hear a lot of people say that they all look the same and the program that uses visual aid to prove that American's believe so is a good polling system that brings this  to reality. Honestly I didn't know that 6 females created computers but it made sense when you think about it because all the men were at war, leaving females at home to do such work.

Digital Footprint

Documentation

I wanted to convey my actually digital footprint so I literally outlined my digital life in the shape of a foot. The toes are a picture taken of me that is on my facebook page. (Top to bottom) The first layer on my actual foot is the information section on my facebook page with education and location showing. The second layer is the banner for my high school's newspaper website in which I was the editor-in-chief of. The third layer is a screenshot from my music video "Culture Shock." The fourth layer is my cover art from my mixtape "Culture Shock," in which I designed and edited myself. The fifth layer is the banner from one of my favorite rapper, Big Sean's website in which he published a post on me speaking about my academic achievements. The last layer is an online interview in which a girl posted on her blog in order to highlight my musical career.

Critical Analysis 


I went on Google and typed in my name. From there I chose several items I wanted to use in my "footprint." Using both video screenshots and pictures from different websites I'm incorporated in. I considered what part of my online personality I wanted to display (music, facebook, newspaper) as well what my digital footprint contents would illustrate me to be in front of my peers.