Look at your object of study in terms of rhetorical organization and rhetorical ‘devices.’ Specifically, discuss one rhetorical device mentioned by Horn (Synecdoche, Metonymy, or Metaphor) that you see in your object of study.
All in all, Microsoft's Xbox has been a key part in the advancement of video gaming. It currently is the most sold game console according to USA Today. But why do people like it so much? When you turn on Xbox, the first page you see is your profile. This, along with your video, music and game options are presented very clearly and easy for anyone to understand. The interface is very neat and clean, and it allows the user to move around the console with ease. Since 2008 Xbox has developed a new interface for their users, which integrated Windows Media Player and is compatible with the Microsoft Zune. But one of the most important rhetorical features about the Xbox is Xbox Live. Here the user is able to connect to the internet, buy music, games or movies and download them directly to their Xbox.
One rhetorical device that really stood out was Xbox Live Marketplace. I would like to compare it to what Horn calls Metonymy. This means that "the name of one thing is used for that of another with which it is associated." The reason for this being, the Xbox Live Marketplace, isnt an actually marketplace, but rather a place to search for you favorite game, music or even movie.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Rhetoric
It was about half way through the Foss Foss and Trapp reading, when I realized I really did not know what the exact meaning of the word rhetoric meant. In the dictionary, it was simply put: "using language effectively to please or persuade" This article had a very interesting argument, which really made me think about how we all go about living our lives. Rhetoric has always been used a form of communication, and according the Foss Foss and Trapp "rhetoric is the human use of symbols to communicate". This statement is quite true in my opinion. We always are using symbols to define who we are, or what sports teams we support. In fact most of the things we interact with on a daily basis is a symbol.
We all love visuals and multimedia. Who doesn't love using that new gadget or computer, fresh out of the box. But what led us to buy it? Was it because of the design of the box, or the flashy ads for the product? This is why visuals are rhetoric. We use them as a very effective tool of communication, where we basically allow visuals to convey any sort of message. Marketing can be used as an example of using rhetoric for visual use.
We all love visuals and multimedia. Who doesn't love using that new gadget or computer, fresh out of the box. But what led us to buy it? Was it because of the design of the box, or the flashy ads for the product? This is why visuals are rhetoric. We use them as a very effective tool of communication, where we basically allow visuals to convey any sort of message. Marketing can be used as an example of using rhetoric for visual use.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Interface
Think about a certain digital device or software interface that you use on a regular basis and discuss how you look through it (its transparency) and how you look at it (its reflective quality).
In today's world, the speed at which new technology is being produced is astounding. Everyday we hear about some device that can store more memory, or how thin the newest laptop is. Yet most people do not actually take the time to understand the "transparency" of these items. Transparency can be put in the most simplest terms as: being able to use the interface or device, easily, with out actually knowing what is going on in the back ground. As a former computer science major, I have only seen a little of what it takes to write a computer program, and it requires a certain skill set that not many possess. Such interface's and devices also have a element of reflection to them as well. This happens when there is a problem with the interface or device, which causes the user the dwelve further in their problem, looking around for solutions even though they do not actually know what is going on at a "code" level.
I frequently use a new online radio website called Grooveshark. Here I am able to basically find any of my favorite music, make playlists and save them on my profile. The interface is quite easy to understand and it provides the user with friendly hints, and even remembers what you have played recently. When thinking about the transparency of the this website, I usually just type in the song I want, not thinking about where it comes from or the intense amount of code that goes along with it. This is what makes such interfaces popular, they are easy to use and do not require much thinking. But if something were to go wrong, like a deleted playlist or the song you want isnt loading, most would look deeper into the issue, even though most of the time there is nothing we usually can do. It requires almost a different sort of user all together, the administrator or lab tech to solve the problem.
In today's world, the speed at which new technology is being produced is astounding. Everyday we hear about some device that can store more memory, or how thin the newest laptop is. Yet most people do not actually take the time to understand the "transparency" of these items. Transparency can be put in the most simplest terms as: being able to use the interface or device, easily, with out actually knowing what is going on in the back ground. As a former computer science major, I have only seen a little of what it takes to write a computer program, and it requires a certain skill set that not many possess. Such interface's and devices also have a element of reflection to them as well. This happens when there is a problem with the interface or device, which causes the user the dwelve further in their problem, looking around for solutions even though they do not actually know what is going on at a "code" level.
I frequently use a new online radio website called Grooveshark. Here I am able to basically find any of my favorite music, make playlists and save them on my profile. The interface is quite easy to understand and it provides the user with friendly hints, and even remembers what you have played recently. When thinking about the transparency of the this website, I usually just type in the song I want, not thinking about where it comes from or the intense amount of code that goes along with it. This is what makes such interfaces popular, they are easy to use and do not require much thinking. But if something were to go wrong, like a deleted playlist or the song you want isnt loading, most would look deeper into the issue, even though most of the time there is nothing we usually can do. It requires almost a different sort of user all together, the administrator or lab tech to solve the problem.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Multimedia Authoring
In regards to these two articles, how do you think the university views multimedia authoring?
I think that the university has quite an open view about multimedia authoring. They allow us to do so much of our homework and other assignments on a computer, some classes even have homework that must be submitted online! The "paperless" class room is actually becoming a reality. Multimedia authoring is becoming easier to do every day for the everyday person. According to the first reading, " The beauty-and peril- of the World Wide Web is that everyone can publish their own information quickly and easily". This is very true about the current day and age we all live in, and luckily we are all able to go to a university where we are allowed to basically be our own authors.
I think that the university has quite an open view about multimedia authoring. They allow us to do so much of our homework and other assignments on a computer, some classes even have homework that must be submitted online! The "paperless" class room is actually becoming a reality. Multimedia authoring is becoming easier to do every day for the everyday person. According to the first reading, " The beauty-and peril- of the World Wide Web is that everyone can publish their own information quickly and easily". This is very true about the current day and age we all live in, and luckily we are all able to go to a university where we are allowed to basically be our own authors.
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