my trend analysis proposal

Here is the title page...

Proposal of trend analysis study

The dissemination of intellectual property over the internet:
The manifestation of web standards
with regard to Web communities and developer input

* * *

Table of Contents
Study Topic
Research Approach
Study Goals
Significance
Source consideration

Here is the link... Proposal in PDF format

how novel

In looking to annotate my bibliography I was studying the amazon.com information about a book. I noticed they have added a few features to their meta data about each book. There is as matrix of words scaled in size by how often they appear in the book. Also, various scores for readibility versus education, words per sentence, word complexity, and lastly some counted information about the book. Some information must have long been available, but now it's viewable. This must also mean that the text version is in their database and is being computed by some algarythm. It's not available for all books, but it's certainly worth a look.

Amazon.com link to Media Effects: Advances in Theory and Research

Wk3 Reading (...to Death)

Postman, N. "Informing Ourselves to Death." 1990.

It seems that any conversation I have about my computer science training or potential subsequent career, always ends up in a discussion about the larger question of computer presence in people's daily lives. I bark about the advantages, people thank the device for email and then and then complain that there is little else it's good for. The time waster vs. time saver comment comes to mind. I especially appreciate the 'ancient metaphors' this essay has employed. I hope that makes sense.
I love the fact that Postman begins with his mention of deceit on the part of the expert. This moral question has been kicking around for several years, but I've only discussed it with close friends and in the odd philosophy class (where it didn't go over well.)
The word postmodern keeps screaming in my head. Anyone else? Total subjectivity... or at least to the point of temporary consistency.
I recall the moment in computer science 101 when we discussed the term information. Perhaps it came in communication 101 as well. The professor asked the class what the word meant, we all gave definitions regarding the recording of something meaningful. Then without a blink the pedagogue told us that information and data was in fact just anything that happened to be input or output. Any bytes that were stored, sent or streamed were information.
I am so thankful that this type of sentiment is coming through the pipelines. Some times it's the computer novices just throwing their hands up and cursing the whole thing, but this is a really informed position with a lot of perspective offered. A good take on the conundrum.

Wk3 Reading (Tele to Net)

Winston, B. "Chapter 2: Before the Speaking Telephone." and "Chapter 3: The Capture of Sound." Media Technology and Society.

I love the reoccuring references to the "lovers' telegraph." I vividly recall using the device he is talking about (which probably grew my brain in the direction of mass communication and technology.)
It's amaizing what kind of technological advances had to be made in order to facilitate the telephone from the telegraph. Reading the chapter explaining the invention process of the telegraph puts you in thouch with the understanding of the day. To then move into the telephone took a great deal of 'scientific competence' as Winston puts it.
It's also interesting to see the portions of the technology being discovered here that are second nature to our understanding of devices and general physics. I love the description of magnetic fields on page 32 that sound like a description of a magic spell.
The potential for the device was palpable, a frustrating race within the small community who knew it was there and were'nt afraid to try.
It's funny how rediculous some of these sound inventions are. But, without foresight you're doomed to look stupid from the future. The reliance on water is my favorite.
As for the carious factors that dictates adoption of an innovation, all I have to say is that the best does not always win. The chaotic and darwinian process that reveals business application and true social desire will drive a new technology's sucess.
Oh, wait... I forgot to use this weeks buzz word; supervening social necessity. So, their are larger factors at work which exist in the culture and state of a society which also effect the adoption of a given technology.
In the case of the telephone and gramaphone, the application of this technology was different than that of the intensions of the innovators. The telephone was a household sucess as well as a business device and recorded sound was used for entertainment more than for business.