Category Archives: Communication

Sherry Turkle: Connected, but alone?

Posted on March 27, 2013 by macca

As we expect more from technology, do we expect less from each other? Sherry Turkle studies how our devices and online personas are redefining human connection and communication – and asks us to think deeply about the new kinds of … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Computing, Data, Education, Family and Friends, Media, People, Resilience, Social Media, Sustainability, Telecommunications, The web | Comments Off

1960s Batmobile up for sale – get your money ready!

Posted on December 5, 2012 by macca

Holy Bargain Batman! The original Batmobile from the 1960s TV series Batman is up for sale. The man who’s selling it is the same man who created it – 87-year-old George Barris. Here’s George, interviewed by Waleed Ali on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Fiction, Graphic Design, Media, Transport, USA | Comments Off

Gen X & Y: Suffering a Narcissism Epidemic?

Posted on November 4, 2012 by macca

Poor attention span. Lack of concentration. Poor writing skills and dysfunctional spelling. You’ll find these problems – and many more – amongst the kids of Gen X & Y, and that curious planet populated by the “digital natives”. Digital technology … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Comprehension, Computing, Data, Education, Media, Politics, Science, Social Media, Telecommunications, The web | Comments Off

Alan Jones: The Closet Recordings

Posted on October 5, 2012 by macca

There’s been much ado about Alan Jones lately, insulting the Prime Minister and such. But we tend to forget the essential nature of the man; his monumental ego, his hard-right abrasive politics and his abusive temperament. Lest we forget, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Communication, Government, Media, Politics | Comments Off

Ex-Apple founder Wozniak to become Australian citizen

Posted on September 23, 2012 by macca

Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer, was interviewed yesterday on Radio 4BC while purchasing his new iPhone 5 in Brisbane. During the interview he told listeners that he was in the process of applying for Australian citizenship. Have a listen: … Continue reading →

Posted in Apple Mac, Communication, Computing, Telecommunications | Comments Off

Spammers flaunt their criminality on ABC TV

Posted on September 21, 2012 by macca

This is a very strange piece from Ticky Fullerton on the ABC’s The Business program. It’s been illegal in Australia to send unsolicited commercial electronic messages to consumers since 2004, yet here are a bunch of people admitting to it, … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Computing, Data, Government, Humour, Media, Politics, Social Media, SPAM, The web | Comments Off

Government’s data storage plans to impact all Australians

Posted on September 5, 2012 by macca

From the ABC’s Lateline program: Data-retention plan likened to Gestapo tactics Critics of the Federal Government’s plan to store the internet and phone data of every Australian say it amounts to constant surveillance. Attorney-General Nicola Roxon yesterday announced the controversial … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Computing, Data, Government, Inequality, Law, Politics, The web | Comments Off

Web 3.0 – Good or Evil

Posted on August 19, 2012 by macca

Authors Andrew Keen (#digitalvertigo – how today’s online social revolution is dividing, diminishing, and disorienting us) and Nick Harkaway (The Blind Giant: Being Human in a Digital World) debate whether the Internet and social media are positive or negative forces … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Computing, Data, Education, Media, Politics, Social Media, USA | Comments Off

Education: More computers = less literacy

Posted on August 6, 2012 by macca

Michael Callanan, a high school teacher from Brisbane, discusses whether computers in schools have a beneficial effect on academic achievement. He finds that as computer saturation levels in the Australian Education system have risen, literacy and numeracy scores amongst students … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Computing, Data, Education, Media, Science, Social Media, The web | Comments Off

Techno-Fix – the Dr. Michael Huesemann interview

Posted on June 15, 2012 by macca

An excellent interview from the Extraenvironmentalist with Dr. Michael Huesemann, author of Techno-Fix, focusing on “technological optimism” and why technological solutions have failed to solve our long-term problems with resource scarcity, inequality, overconsumption and environmental degradation. Visit the Extraenvironmentalist website. Visit Dr. … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Communication, Computing, Emissions, Energy, Environment, Inequality, Limits to Growth, Peak Oil, Politics, Pollution, Renewables, Resilience, Sustainability | Comments Off

Banks, lenders abusing tough new credit card laws

Posted on June 13, 2012 by macca

In Australia, from the first of July, unsolicited offers to lift your credit limit will be banned but, in the lead up, banks and finance companies have ramped up efforts to dole out debt, with some devastating consequences. Sourced from … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Communication, Debt, Inequality, Investment, Law, Politics, Resilience, Sustainability | Comments Off

Larry Lessig: How creativity is being strangled by the law

Posted on June 5, 2012 by macca

Larry Lessig, the Web’s most celebrated lawyer, cites John Philip Sousa, celestial copyrights and the “ASCAP cartel” to argue for a creative cultural revival.

Posted in Advertising, Communication, Copyright, Data, Investment, Law, Media, Politics | Comments Off