A weblog for Pete Ellertsen's mass communications students at Benedictine University Springfield.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

COM(M) 150: In-class discussion questions

Friday in class we're going to go out on the World Wide Web, find real-world examples of the trends mentioned in the first chapter of the textbook and post them as comments to this blog post. (I'll explain how to do it below.) The questions:

1. Find three examples of interactivity (pp. 21-22) on the internet. Describe them and tell specifically how they complete the feedback loop in the SMCR model for the sender of each message.

2. What did Johannes Gutenberg invent? How did his invention change European society? What did it lead to?

3. How are the effects of the Internet similar to Gutenberg's press? How are they different?

How to Post Your Responses

Scroll down to the bottom of this post. On the right side of the last line, there will be a link that says "Posted by Pete # 4:21 PM ___ comments" (with a number filled in where I've left a blank, depending on how many comments have been posted). Click on that " ___ comments" link and fill in the comment field on the right. Sign in. You'll have to do something to register for Blogger. Do it. Make a note of the username and password you choose because we'll keep on posting to the blog, and if you don't make a note you'll forget it. Believe me. This is something we have learned by experience. Make a note of it. Review your comment if you wish and publish it by clicking on "Publish Your Comment." Logical, isn't it?

25 comments:

jeefrs23 said...

1. What we are doing right now is a form of interactivity. Blogs and message boards on the interenet are a great way to interact with people across the world. Interactivity is also found simply by visiting an informational website. You type in a keyword or phrase and the internet sends you "feedback" on the subject you have searched. Another way to interact on the internet is via shopping. You could go to your favorite brand name websites and look for a shirt that they did not have at the store in your size. You send a request and the website/company sends you back the information (size, model, color, etc.) that you were in need of.

2. Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. This device was created to make mass production of written material possible. Before Gutenberg's breakthrough, newspapers, books, and even bibles were hard to come by. Every book or written document had to be done by hand. Every copy that was printed was written out. The printing press made it possible to print multiple pages in the same time it took to copy one page by hand. The machine was like a giant stamp. They would dip it with ink and then press it onto the paper. Thus, several pages could be done in a relatively short time. This invention allowed for literature to be shared throughout Europe and also made it easier to attain. The Printing Press put information at the fingertips of society, which helped create a society that was more learned and could read and write with a much greater success rate.

3. The Internet can be likend to the printing press because it has made information much more accessible. It allows us to learn far more than we could ever learn from verbal teachings or books because the information is seemingly endless. There is no limit to the knowledge one could gain through exposure to the internet. For that such reason the internet is the single greatest learning tool one could possess.

greg said...

there are lots of different forms of interactivity. Email blogs and message boards are a great interact with people on the world wide web.

greg said...

Johannes Gutenberg invented the Printing press. the printing press was used to create more pages at one time.

TarynYemm said...

1. Comments on A news story is an example of interactivity as well as blogs and message boards.

2.JOhannes Guttenberg was a german goldsmith and printer who was credited with inventing moveable type printing in Europe. He changed European socity by making printing available in mass and by improving bookmaking.

3. The internet as well as Guttenbergs invention mskes information available in the masses.

Rob Schwarz said...

1.) At AOL News, the article "Letters reveal Mother Teresa's Secret" includes two polls that follow the story.

Every story on SJ-R.com, including this one about the budget, has an area after the article for comments from readers.

On Slate.com, they have a discussion forum that can be used to interact with other readers and talk about the articles.

2.)Johannes Gutenberg invented movable type printing. This revolutionized the way books were produced, and allowed them to be made very quickly and for mass production. The printing press also contributed to the Renaissance. (Source).

3.) The Internet allows for the mass production of content on a global scale, like the printing press. But the fact that many people have access to the Internet (as oppossed to a printing press, which not many people have access to), there is far more content available and even more ideas and viewpoints. The ability to access information on the Internet is also easier than using printed material.

greg said...

The internet has made the business society a lot faster and more reliable just like the printing press.

MeganM said...

Interactivity on the internet, after buying something on ebay, you give feedback to the seller, who then sends you an email and you send one back with your information, 2)if a website asks you to take a poll, you submit your answer and maybe some more information, then they send you some sort of message back (e-mail, or a thanks for participating,) 3) buying a ringtone online could result in either a message to your phone or to your email inbox.

2)Johannes Gutenburg invented the printing press, he changed European society with producing more and more books, he helped give science, the arts, technology and even religion,advances. This kind of advancment led to the world's first book using removable type.

3)The Internet and Gutenburg's press both made information much easier to find, before the printing press it was harder to get an abundance of news out, like the internet we recieve news faster. The difference is the Internet is almost taking the printing press' place, I'm sure this will take time, people can send stories or blog to get their stories out faster, rather than waiting for the paper or book to come out.

Shasan said...

1. A. State Journal Register, both paper and website, relay information and news to the local public.
B. Video games are a form of interactivity, as you score more the game gets more and more difficult.
C. Television shows relay information or unneeded information which is for entertainment to the audience who is watching.

2. Joannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. Gutenberg was the first in Europe who dramatically improved the speed of book production and eliminated hand copying of books. This led to to larger audiences as new types of books were printed.

3. The internet cuts the cost of buying books and the use paper to make books. All information can be found on the internet and there is no need to look in multiple books. They are very different in the sense because you are using a wireless information system.

dmband42685 said...

1. Three examples are myspace, facebook, and fantasy sports. Myspace and Facebook allows to interact with your friends and family. The only difference is that Facebook is separated into schools. Fantasy sports allow you to play fake sport games where you pick you're own team, and you face off against other people's teams.

2. Gutenburg invented the printing press. It changed Europe because it became easier to print lots of copies very fast. Europe changed completely from this. It led to the start of the Renaissance.

3. The internet is similar to the invention of the printing press because now everyone can their ideas out on the internet. They're different because at the time, the printing press was an extremely expensive invention. The internet is a relatively cheap way of putting you're thoughts out where people might be able to see them

mike said...

1. There are many different forms of interactivity. For example there are message boards, blogs, email, and chat rooms. They are very easy to be found and are virtually everywhere in the world of the internet.

2. Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1450. This made an immediate impact of European intelluctual life and thought. Not to mention the capabality to print in mass quanities.

3. The effects are similar because the production and viewing of information can be seen in a much larger grouping than ever before. Granted the printing press and the internet are two completely different things, but they each have made and equal if not more of an effect on their society.

AdamM52488 said...

1.Almost every website you look at on the internet there is a way to be interactive. Ebay, Youtube, Facebook, and Myspace are all great ways that people can interact. People can post comments and send private messages to their friends. They can also view photos and read blogs. Also, interactive video games are becoming popular where you can play the games with people all over the world.

2. Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1440. This sparked mass printing in Europe and was standard up until the 20th century. The printing press made products cheaper and more efficient, as well as making them more available to the public.

3. The internet has made sending and recieving information easier than ever. In 1440, the printing press made sending and recieving information easier than it had ever been. Both inventions made everyday life much easier.

Ben Harley said...

1.) Interactivity http://blogs.usatoday.com/interactivity/
this websight shows various articles that will be published in the USA Today. The reader cna then vote on what they think of fashion trends, Elvis tribute artisits and what they think of Kimora Lee Simmons.

http://www.sj-r.com/
readers can comment on stories, and even ask for old football pictures. Even the ads, you can peruse for yourself.

The websight that I am working on, and god bless you, so are you is damn interactive. We are having a veritable conversation here. There are messages, there is feedback, the internet is our channel, and when I make typ0s it's considered noise.

2.)Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. This lead to more Europeans reading, especially the Bible. Since production was so much cheaper, books were more affordable. Helped bring about the rise of protestantism. It brought down the aristocracy!!!briefly

3.) Much like Gutenberg's printing press, the internet is a cheap, but effective way of reaching the masses. Some differences are that not everyone has access to a computer (or smart phone), granted not everyone had access to a bookseller either. The biggest difference I would think is the lack of an editor. No one polices the internet, but people polices what was being said on the press since it took so much time. The internet is also the dawn of interactive masss communications. Not only can one person speak to the public at large, the public can speak back immediatley. Unlike the printing press which brought about the dawn of the mass monologue, the internet brought about the dawn of the mass dialogue.

618 said...

1. The internet is interactive A man atacks woman in the mall. A bank ad & Loan ad.

2.Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1450. And was good for Bibles.

3. the Internet is the new press and have lot more information that is reachable with in seconds.

lburke said...

1) Three examples of interactivity:
a. EBay auctions- by bidding or not bidding, you communicate with the seller
b. Interactive Internet novels (such as those on happilyeverafters.tripod.com/)- allow you to direct the plot and let the author know you’re reading their material.
c. Amazon- you can leave book reviews (feedback for the author and Amazon company), then others can leave feedback about how helpful they found your review.

2) Gutenberg:
a. Is credited with inventing the printing press
b. It made literature more widely available to the public, spurring literacy.
c. It was influential in the Reformation (people could/should read the Bible and interpret it for themselves). Also, it refined language as it provided somewhat cohesive examples of spelling and grammar.

3) Internet vs. Printing Press
a. Both have had a large impact on language: The printing press aided literacy, while it could be argued that the Internet is eroding it, LOL.
b. They differ immensely in regard to speed, availability and cost.

Janetta said...

1. Informational websites like google is a form of interactivity. You type in a key word and the internet sends you feed back on the subject. Poll questions and e-mailing other are also forms of interactivity.

2. Johanna Gutenberg invented the printing press. This invention changed the European society by allowing mass production of printed books. The printing press was able to give literature throughout Europe and the price became cheaper over time.

3. The internet and the Gutenberg's press are similar because of the informaton that is accessible. They are diffrent because the internet information is endless and the printing press is on paper.

Kimberly Jackson said...

1. Interactive is often times used as a synonym for two-way. But few interactive media are truly two-way. Anytime you buy something on the internet is a form of interactivity. Online novels that opt readers to select an alternate plot is a form of interactivity, and If you send an e-mail and it came back from the system operator explaining you had been playing a computer is a form of interactivity.

2. Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. European society was changed because this improved speed of book production and eliminated the need for time consuming duplication. This led to larger audiences as new types of books were printed. Before the press, newspapers and Bibles were difficult to have. Everything was done by hand
3. Like the press, the internet has made it easier to gather information. Through the internet you can get answeres for anything. But before the internet, getting answers for questions took more time, just like it took more time to get books before the press. You would have to go to a book, or to a library, or depend on lectures to get information. The internet is different from the press because the press invented only hard copies. If you have a printer, you can opt to have hard copies, from the internet. But you dont have to.

jessica leigh said...

1.) Interactivity, or "two way" is used everyday in forms such as Myspace. Myspace allows friends to view each others profiles, communicate through emails and instant messaging and also allows users to leave comments or feedback when veiwing webpages and blogs. YOUTUBE is another website that allows people to watch clips and videos, it also allows those who visit the site to rate the videos and to leave comments about what he or she liked or what could be better. Visiting websites of various stores allows a customer to receive emails concerning sales, job opportunities, and ways at which to obtain discounts and coupons.

2.) Johannes Gutenberg, a goldsmith from Germany created the first printing press. His invention made it possible to expand reading material to the common man, who before written information may not have been feasible. Guttenbergs invention started a revolution in the techology of printing and his technique was used up to the 20th Century. This technique allowed for today's infomrative society.

3.) The internet is similar to the printing press because it opened a quick and easier way to communicate and receive information. Similar to the affects of emailing and instant messenger at its first arrival.

Tony said...

1.http://www.sj-r.com,you can comment on the articles and even look up high school football pictures.http://popcap.com, has a game called Mummy Maze. In this game you have to out run a mummy that is coming after you. The levels keep getting harder and harder as you go along.http://www,ebaumsworld.com, you can sign up, leave messages about videos and even put your own videos up on the website. All these sites are examples of interactivity.
2. Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. This helped out the Europeans alot. Now books,newspapers and even bibles were easy to come by. This lead to widespead media at this day and age.This also could of lead to Protestantism.
3. Both have helped us out alot. The printing press has helped but get news and sports to people all over the world. The internet has let us watch movies,sports clips and even music videos. We can access news and stocks alot quicker by just looking it up on the internet.

kbooker said...

1.The internet is a interactivity, for instance E-mails, you message someone about how there days going and you will get a respones back.

2.Johannes Gutenberg is known for the invention of the printing press. The printing press made books easier to make in mass quantities. He changed society by making printing available.

3.The internet and the Printing Press are both great sources to receive information faster. The difference is the Internet you can send stories out faster, and receive information just from a click on the mouse. Rather than having to wait for a book to be printed or a paper.

Sheena said...

Question1. 3 examples of interaction would be:1) News acticles(sj-r.com) about students returning to school/class in the middle of a heat wave. It gives feedback by telling and describing what Springfield students had to go through& how they dealt with the heat the best way they could. And many of the parents also had feedback dealing with their children having to attend school in 90 degree weather without any air conditioning.
2)Cell phones are also examples of interaction & digital interpersonal communication if used alone.
3)Playing online games(chess) too is an interaction. Becoming so impressed with your opponent that you send them an email & then the email comes back. That would be an interaction because the message was modified.

Question2: Johannes Gutenberg was the first to in Europe to use moveable metal type, improving the speed of book production & eliminating the need for time-consuming duplication through hand-copying. This mass production led to larger audiences as new types of books were printed. His methods led to the manufacture of virtually all types of goods. It also led to mass literacy and the Industrial Revolution.

Question3: Inventing and improving the Internet everyday enables many more people to have access and complete many more activities and projects over the computer or Internet. In the same way his invention in the printing press spread and made it easier for many others, the Internet to thousands of others every single day, which gives the pc builders encouragement to add & manage the Internet to where it's more convienent than it already was. It's different in that Gutenberg's invention of the printing press was just the beginning. And with computers being remade & improved every minute, it's being made into newer and more modern technology.

Jill said...

1) The internet has changed the communication field by allowing more interactivity between the writer and his or her readers. A few examples of interactivity on the internet inclue: posting a comment to an article, registering for a goole account, and clicking on an advertisement that will take you to it's own website.

2) Johannes Guetenberg invented the printing press. This highly advanced invention changed European society by producing written material in mass at a relatively cheap price. This production was mainly focused in large cities which led to migration from country to city, and produced more industrial job opportunities.

3) The Internet is similar to the printing press because it too has changed the communication field. The internet gives us endless information in a matter of minutes. It also allows for more feedback from the readers. The internet is similar to the printing press in the way is has changed society. It is different, however, because the printing press created new jobs for people, and the internet is slowly taking them away.

moey said...

1) The Internet is Interactivity www.sj-r.com, Man who attacked elderly women at mall get 20 years, Click here, Governor oks his version of budget.

2) Johannes Gutenberg invent. The bible and a goldsmith and busiemen from the mining borrowed the Gutenberg. The Gutenberg press devetoped from the technology of the screw type wine presses of the Rhine Vally. The raised surface of moveable hand-set block letters

3) The Gutenberg's press is more accessibe the internet to people and to the global scale

Alyssa said...

1. One of the forms of interactivity i found was Myspace.com where users can comment on other user's pictures and videos, send them private messages, and post comments on their page. One of the other interactive sites i found was livejournal.com where the users use journals and other user can read and comment on the entries. The site also features forums where users can openly dicuss subjects of interest. The third interactive site i found was sjr.com were users can read and comment on newspaper articles.

2. Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press which was a huge contribution to world. Because of Gutenberg's contribution people were able to own printed copies of books and the mass production of them was much more effective. His invention changed European society greatly. It opened a new world for people to be able to write and own literature. Gutenberg's printing press is considered a key factor in the European Renaissance.


3.Effects of the internet are similar to Guttenberg's press because the printing press helped people get information quicker. The effects are different because the internet is faster information yet not always as reliable as a printed copy of book

charnea said...

1. Three websites that contain interactivity would be tyrashow.com, eduscapes.com, and fsdb.k12.fl.us. At tyrashow.com she shows clips from the show and asks for the opinion of the viewers. She may even respond via email or on the show. On the two websites eduscapes.com and fsdb.k12.fl.us both are learning internet games for children.

2.Johannes Gutenberg was the inventor of the printing press. Before this invention only the rich and the nobel were able to obtain any written documents such as books, newsletters, and so forth. The reason for such limited reading resources was the fact that all of these documents were handwritten. This machine made it possible to print out documents of these sorts at ease and at speed. The invention also expanded education.

3. The internet is similar because it allows everyone to see the same thing and it produces information massively. It is different because the internet can change information quicker than something that is being printed up. The internet is real time.

apple said...

Interactivity is similar to the degree of responsiveness, and is examined as a communication process in which each message is related to the previous messages exchanged, and to the relation of those messages to the messages preceding them. blogs, aol, and newspaper are examples of interactity

2. Johannes Gutenberg was a German goldsmith and inventor best known for the Gutenberg press, an innovative printing machine that used movable type.The use of movable type was a marked improvement on the handwritten manuscript, which was the existing method of book production in Europe, and upon woodblock printing, and revolutionized European book-making. Gutenberg's printing technology spread rapidly throughout Europe and is considered a key factor in the European Renaissance.

3. The internet teaches us a lot, because we are lazy to interact with printed info. it basically summarizes the main points, an easier and credible source

About Me

Springfield (Ill.), United States
I'm a retired English, journalism and cultural studies teacher at Springfield College in Illinois (acquired by Benedictine University and subsequently closed). I coordinate jam sessions for the "Clayville Pioneer Academy of Music" at Clayville Historic Site and the Prairieland Strings dulcimer club, and I sing in the choir and the contemporary praise team at Peace Lutheran Church in Springfield. On Hogfiddle I post links and video clips for our sessions and workshops on the mountain dulcimer (a.k.a. "hog fiddle"), as well as research notes on folklore and cultural studies, hymnody and traditional Anglo-Celtic and Scandinavian music. I also posted assignments and readings in my interdisciplinary humanities classes. The Mackerel Wrapper (now on hiatus), carried assignments and readings for my mass comm. students. I started teaching b/log when I chaired SCI-Benedictine's assessment committee, and reopened it as the privatization of public schools grew increasingly troubling and closer to home.