Guest Speaker: Roy Christopher

Roy Christopher joined our English class today via video chat. He spoke briefly about himself, technology, and the impact of digital media. These are my notes:

Roy Christopher—Background

·         Became interested in the internet during the mid-nineties, when he learned that it was an easier way to distribute his BMX/skateboarding magazines

o    His friend (who was in web-development) introduced him to it, and it was a “slippery slope” ever since

§  The internet was barely growing during this time, so it was impossible not to get completely sucked in

·         His self-published book has begun to sell more now than it did when it first came out 4-5 years ago        

o    Attributes this to the fact that people are learning more and more about the internet and social media, making his ideas more significant/understandable/relevant

·         Focuses on mash-ups, remixes, and repurposing technology… not ramifications of social media

His view on Technology

·         Cited Program or Be Programmed by Douglas Rushkoff

o    Said learning about technology is just like learning about your car: you don’t need to know every detail about how exactly it works, but the more you know, the more prepared and “digitally mature” you are

·         Learning technology is like working out or mowing your lawn: some people will do it, some people won’t

o    For example, he doesn’t have a  car or smart phone because those are technologies that he has chosen not to participate in

§  **This idea poses problems:

·         Can you ignore the evolution of technology, or is there a point where it is necessary to adapt?

·         Although it seems like mobile technology is moving in to supplant older technologies (i.e. television, desktop computers), big things, like movies and books and complex web-pages, will always require technologies like the TV and the desktop computer because they are too difficult to view on mobile devices

o    Doesn’t buy into the whole sci-fi idea of rapidly growing technology taking over our lives just yet

·         Believes the older generations should trust the youth with new culture and technology

o    Every generation has that suspicion, that resentment of the fact that the new generation is destroying your generation’s traditions

o    People his age grew up just fine, even though the older generation was discouraged

o    The practice of changing the way you talk for different mediums is nothing new, so “text talk” shouldn’t be an excuse for the older generations to bag on the younger

·         Technology is only a vehicle to your “end”

o    It doesn’t change your motives or goals, it just helps you get to the ones you already had either more quickly, or more efficiently

o    You can choose what technologies to use and to which extent you use them; we are in control of the technologies, not the other way around

Advent horizons

·         “A fish knows nothing of water.” – Marshal McLuhan

o    Technology that was invented either before or very early in a person’s life has virtually no effect on the person

§  They grew up with it, so it’s natural to them (called digital natives)

·         Advantages:

o    If they are born into, they are more accustomed to it, more fluent

o    They can teach it to others and potentially replace the digital immigrants that don’t understand as well

“The medium is the message.” – Marshal McLuhan

·         The nature of each individual medium forces the characters/aspects of a story to be changed in translations from medium to medium

o    For example, in the books, James Bond is smooth, suave, incognito; but on film he is overtly physical and obnoxious

Learn more about Roy Christopher on his website: http://roychristopher.com/