4 Matching Annotations
  1. Aug 2020
    1. Balsamo states that her own design work seeks to “inspire imaginations that are as ingenious in creating new democratic cultural possibilities as they are in creating new kinds of technologies and digital media”

      When creating a design, it is important to understand the demographic you are working with and how it is intended to be used. Ambition and risk-taking can help gain traction on the project, but it should stand out from its competitors while serving its intended purpose.

      It can be so ambitious that it alienates its demographic, or it can be so safe that its competitors overshadow it. Finding a balance is essential not just to innovation, but to technology as a whole.

    2. vaporware

      Vaporware: any form of technological device (computer, game console, etc.) that was advertised and marketed to the public, only to be continuously pushed back before disappearing from the market entirely.

      The term "Vaporware" is often used to refer to devices that will never return to market, but this is not always true; some devices are shelved due to business changes, but may be marketed again after such issues are resolved.

      The Phantom Game Console is an example of Vaporware that will never return to market.

    3. bandwidth

      Bandwidth is the amount of frequencies and their efficiency given under a certain technological band.

      Bandwidth is similar to an internet connection: when more devices are connected to it, the more bandwidth is used. If a lot of devices are used simultaneously, the bandwidth provider will struggle to support every frequency at its full capacity, reducing the performance of some devices and creating lag as a result.

    4. my students expressed concern about the potentially toxic bits of lead and mercury from the brittle, exploding circuit boards. Other students saw the whole exercise as a waste;

      A lot of technology is made with parts that could be considered harmful if the product is damaged or destroyed, such as mercury and lead. There are warnings on several modern-day devices that warn consumers of these items before purchase, and my laptop is an example of this.

      A balance between safety and efficiency is important, all while fitting the "planned obsolescence" model technology often follows.