EOTO reactions

I am posting my reactions on the EOTO projects on Blackboard but I thought I’d also post them here.

EOTO Reaction #1
Lisa Bistreich and Seniors: The Forgotten Digitial Divide

Lisa, I really enjoyed reading your each one teach one project. I found it very educational. Seniors and the internet is also a topic I’ve found myself intrigued by as well. My grandmother absolutely refuses to use the internet!! She’s 80 and she won’t even touch it. She calls it “that thing.” I thought that your concerns were very well said and I definitely agree. You had a lot of good information in your project, I thought. I couldn’t really find any additional sources on the topic that you hadn’t already touched on. I did find this article though: More Seniors are using the web for health information. It discusses the fact that a big majority of seniors that do use the internet, use it to research medical issues. That was one of your concerns. That article also mentions this article: Senior Health. If you look at this one, it’s VERY senior friendly. It even has a button at the top you can click on to make the text larger!! Sites that a majority of seniors look at should be more like this one, I think.

I know a lot of senior agencies are trying hard to promote internet use among seniors and I think the numbers are growing but still there always going to be those, like my grandma, who just won’t touch it.

EOTO Reaction #2
Marcie Barnes and Global Issues in Nutritional Communication

I enjoyed reading Marcie’s EOTO project. Healthy eating is something I’d love to be able to do but it’s difficult when foods are labeled as healthy but truly they are not. I think you make a great point in your essay on that. I especially liked your last fear: “- Consumer dependency on labels and packaged foods: a tendency to think it’s healthy because it is labeled, when it’s likely that the opposite is true.”

There are so many people who go out and buy things based on the label and the packaging saying,”SURE we’re healthy.” And then when they go to the doctor, they become lectured on how their blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. is still too high. A lot of foods are so misleading.

I’m overweight, as are a huge chunk of Americans and North Carolinians. I was raised by a meat and potato dad and admit, I don’t eat healthy. I’ve tried but just really don’t know what to look for. I agree with Amanda, you’re essay really was an eye opener. I doubt I’ll jump on the organic food train but I do think I’ll start doing more research and looking into healthy eating more.

Last thing, I think a lot of people, especially those who aren’t eating right have no clue what organic foods really are. I really didn’t understand all that much myself. Maybe you could include some links that discuss organic foods more so those that are clueless can understand what organic is and how it’s better. Here are a few links I found that kinda filled me in.

Organic foods: Are they healthier? Safer?

How Organic Food Works

EOTO reaction #3
Cynthia Anderson and Virtually Real

I read fellow classmate Cynthia Anderson’s EOTO “Virtually Real” and my initial response was, “huh?” I have never heard of Second Life and was immediately intrigued by the concept.I quickly imagined developing a skinny, beautiful woman for my second life character, a woman who would rock! I would create this woman who is everything I’m not on the outside but keep some of my internal features. Immediately, my mind wandered into my virtual world and all the things I could do there that I’m afraid to try here. But as the days went by, I kept pondering the idea and in the end, I find Second Life strange. My main concern is what you mentioned in your post: addiction. I can see people, especially insecure, withdrawn people becoming highly addicted to something like this. And, as with all addictions, it seems it can be dangerous. You also mentioned some advantages as well and I agree that it could be a neat tool for education but still, the negatives bother me too much. I still can’t believe people spend real money on fake things!! Thanks Cindy for sharing the concept of Second Life with me. I enjoyed reading your EOTO and also enjoyed the research I did after reading it!

I found two articles on Time.com that discuss Second Life. One article rates it as the worst site and the other is by Joel Stein. He creates an avatar and wanders around Second Life for a while.

My So-Called Second Life

Five Worst Sites

EOTO Reaction #4
Leslie Wilkinson and Adaptive and Assistive Technologies

I enjoyed reading Leslie Wilkinon’s EOTO project on “Adaptive and Assistive Technologies.” I especially liked how she included her own personal experience into her essay. Thanks for sharing that. Internet accessibility for those with limited vision has definitely crossed my mind, especially in regard to Seniors. However, I haven’t really thought about how the internet works for those who may completely lose their vision. It’s an interesting point and one web developers should definitely look into. I think with the popularity of the internet, the vision of everyone is going to be affected at some point. I’ve had to get reading glasses to combat eye strain and blurred vision after staring at a computer screen all day. It’s definitely a topic I think we should be focusing on more.

I agree with your final recommendation of awareness and education. I think that’s the key to any issue. I found your resources to be helpful and especially liked knowing the government is aware of the issue,even if they are forced to be aware!

EOTO Reaction #5
Marina Calabrese and Disasters and the Internet

I thought Marina’s topic was a great choice. The internet has definitely become an important tool in an emergency or disaster situation. I remember after 9/11, the web is where I turned for information. I didn’t have anyone I knew personally affected by 9/11 so I didn’t have any communication issues to tackle but I can only imagine that in an emergency, the internet is where I’d turn to communicate with family and friends. I do remember cell phone access being limited during the aftermath of 9/11.

I found the array of resources you provided to be very helpful. They were filled with a lot of different information that I thought helped answer your question and provide insight into your topic. Here is an article I found that also addresses how the internet is helping during disasters.

Disasters in the Internet Age