X-Libris: Amy, Julie and Chris

Our project will be exploring the ways that computers are changing the face and nature of literature and the organization of textual information. The introduction of hypertext has created entirely new means of literary expression and has also significantly changed the experience of reading. We will be providing an original work of hyperliterature, some influences on the forms that hyperliterature has been taking and exploring ways the digital age is changing the way readers approach a text in various forms.

Cybernetics and Religion: Colin and Rebecca

In today's society technology and religion are two areas that have a large impact on the lives of many people. Technology is a science based on facts, while religion is based on faith. Because they have a different basis, most people separate the two, something that is reinforced by conflicts such as the great evolution vs. creationism debate. Because topics like this will put those that favor religion on one side and those that favor technology and the other, the chasm that has formed between the two continues to expand. Yet, a closer look at the interaction between the two shows that they do not exist in separate spheres, but rather a state much like the Venn diagram: Two circles, overlapping in the center. This site focuses on the overlap between these circles -- the interaction of technology and religion and ways in which they conflict and reinforce each other.

Musical Influence on Culture: Alicia and Todd

In the musical world there are several different genres that help with the issue of identity. Whether it is among people or a culture as a whole, it can help develop the way that one can express their feelings and personal views. For instance, rappers have the tendency to express their rebellion against the law or a display of themselves being gangsters. Those who listen to hip hop or house express their freedom through how they dance. Just as those who thrive on music with a combination of drugs in the digital underground. Music is what helps cultures unite with one another by sharing similar tastes in the type of tempo that they choose. The only barrier preventing complete unity in the musical world is the language barrier. It tends to inhibit and prevent some from listening to different types of music because they cannot comprehend its meaning. The meaning is what allows people to accept it as a work, or the sound. Within culture, music can affect an individual how society or the individual's self views reflects in identity. The individual's actions are greatly affected in personal looks, behavior, speech, and thought process. This is the main effect of music upon people. Music develops a construction of the self. Digital samples and patches can be made which helps express what an individual likes and dislikes. The amount of bass within a song can bring pleasure to the ear. Every person has a different definition of what they consider to be music. This is entirely due to what each person tends to take as pleasing to the ear. Just because one type of music does not sound pleasing to some people, it does not take away its definition as music.

Science and S/F: Claudia, Melissa and Baruti

This project will explore the comparisons and the differences of how science works in science fiction texts and how science works in the real world. We will explore the uses of robots, space, and the interface between humans and technology as they relate to the texts of the course. Many science fiction texts have predicted that humans would be more advanced with these technologies than we already are at this point in time. For an example, 2001: A Space Odyssey predicted that humans would be able to travel in space past the Moon and Mars by 2001, when in reality man has not yet traveled to Mars. This project will explore these advances in technologies as they are now and try to explain the differences in the advancement that science fiction texts have predicted, or to explain a different direction in which the advancement has led to.

Digitalizing Media: Katrina, Ed and Kai

Society has made great leaps in the last two decades in the advancement of computer technology, (i.e., pc's and specialized computing systems). While these advancements have affected culture. Culture seems to affect or support this advancement reciprocally. We can see an example of this relationship in the advancements of the production processes of various entertainment media through the incorporation and advancement of advanced computer systems and capabilities. As a group, we will examine this relationship in three entertainment mediums:
· Hyper Literature
· Music
· Film
We plan to discuss and explore some specific examples of advancements in the production process of these entertainment media.

Formats for visualizing identity: Sarah and Brenda

When individuals meet face to face for the first time, they make impressions of one another based on clothing, facial expressions, and tone of voice. However, when people meet online, they do not have these same cues to go by. Instead, they are forced to rely upon written words as they appear on a computer screen. This allows people online to have more control over how they present themselves to others, but it can also cause problems because without facial expressions and tone of voice do clarify the meaning of a statement, so the same words can be understood differently. How people express themselves online and how their ability to represent themselves differs online from offline is what we will explore in our web page.

Biomedical machines extend the senses: Nick and Damien

"The first explorers of Earth had long since come to the limits of flesh and blood; as soon as their machines were better than their bodies, it was time to move". -- Arthur C. Clarke, 2001
The ability to overcome the weaknesses of the organic body, which is achieved by the extraterrestrials in Clarke's novel, is an extreme end to our technological means. As the technology of our society becomes more advanced, the human being is presented with more and more tools to extend the physical limitations of our organic bodies. Our technological power can even enhance the function and breadth of our own minds. This is a concept that is heavily reflected in the narratives of science fiction from Gibson to Dick, and "the boundary between science fiction and social reality is an optical illusion" (Haraway, 1985). Our interactive website will explore the technological tools that can enhance or improve each of the human senses as well as the human mind. To do this we will look at elements from science fiction narratives and compare them to our technology of today.