Technology Weekly Inside This Issue:
Machines.................. Pg. 3
Social Media Era.......... Pg. 6
Technology and Grant Writing............. Pg. 10 dfd
Issue 7 April 16
In today’s society, technology is the building block which civilization is built upon. With the many recent technological advances and trends it is almost impossible to live a successful life without use of a computer or the internet. Because of this shift, many elders have had to learn about technology and many of the applications of it which help to run the world. There have been many different aspects of technology more useful than others such as social networking and social behavior on the internet. When thinking about social media many only believe that it is an alternative interaction to being with people but really it has allowed members of families to stay in contact with each other and to keep up even if they are miles away from each other. Specifically, older members of society have been able to know the day to day life of loved ones and even rekindle relationships lost over the years. Social media is not the only aspect of technology which is helping bridge generation gaps; there are thousands of technological applications that make living easier and allow people to be more involved than if they were without it.
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Index Page 3-5 Machines A short story about technology by Kiyo Stilson
Page 6-9 Social Media Era A look at Social Media and Technology
Page 10-14 Grant Writing and Technology A look at how Technology benefits the non-profit sector and Sample Grant
Page 15 Online Portfolios A look at how to utilize online portfolios as a resume tool
Machines
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Kiyo Stilson
Ebenezer Crowley sat behind the computer in a classroom of the community college down the street from his home. He was sixty-eight and had enrolled a week earlier in a computer class. The black screen of the machine stared at him; he saw himself in the reflection, sagging puffs under his eyes. The bald and liver-spotted man had decided to enroll in the computer class after he had been chastised by a boy who had dreads that reached his elbows. Ebenezer was at the hardware store when it happened, looking for a tool that he couldn’t find. When he asked the boy, whose nametag read Damien, where he could find the tool, the boy replied, “We stopped carrying that months ago, but you could probably find it on the internet.” “The internet?” Ebenezer asked. “Yeah, dude, you know, computers,” the boy said as he pulled his dreads into a ponytail. The elderly man stood there for a second. He knew of the internet, but had never seen it. Ebenezer knew of computers, however, and had seen them many times before. The lady receptionist in the doctor’s office he visited the other day used one to schedule his next appointment. Ebenezer wasn’t quite sure how- all he did was see her tap her salmon pink fingernails on the keyboard and then wave what he guessed was the mouse in a circle- all in five seconds. Computers scared him. He imagined that they would become too smart for humans and take over the world like he’d seen in movies as a child. He stuttered at the boy, “Well, couldn’t
4 you just order it for me and have it shipped here? I’m not quite sure if I could manage ordering something off a computer.” “Get with the times, old man, it ain’t the twentieth century anymore.” Ebenezer remembered this last line as he sat in the classroom. After being instructed to do so, he pushed the power button. He did it slowly and unsure of himself, like a six-year-old riding a bike for the first time. The computer shook and made a noise like there was a windstorm inside. Ebenezer gasped and for a second thought there might be thousands of bugs crawling inside the plastic tower. He had heard of computers having bugs and viruses before- like they were living things with parasites inside. For a second he imagined that his fear was coming true- the computer was turning on and it would be much smarter than him. The monitor and tower would grow great plastic glowing legs and begin to walk around like little monsters. He looked around to other students in the classroom and realized their computers were making the same noise. Breathing a sigh of relief, he waited for the computer to finish turning on. He wondered why it took so long. Were there little elves on the inside quickly working away? His television at home only took a few seconds to turn on before he could use it. What else was there to do on a computer besides schedule appointments and buy tools from the internet? In Ebenezer’s first day of computer class, his first day of school since he had graduated high school in 1960, he learned how to turn on a computer, use the mouse to open up a writing program, and how to type with the keyboard. He wondered if any of the people he graduated high school with had managed to learn the computer. Ebenezer realized that many of the people he used to know were probably dead. They were dead like the computer after he had turned it off. They were dead like his wife. The windstorm inside the tower stopped and sat there like it had never been on. When Ebenezer went to bed that night he thought about the dead computer sitting there in the classroom and how it was probably cold by now. It puzzled him how the computer could be made undead so quickly
and how there were so many things that could be accomplished on the machine.
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… The next day Ebenezer woke up at nine to go to class. He lived in a one bedroom apartment by himself. His wife used to live with him but she had passed away a year before from a heart attack. He still remembered every day how she looked in her hospital bed a week before she passed. Her eyes were shut and her skin had a blue glow from underneath. Her name was Mary and Ebenezer knew she was alive underneath. He knew she was only a girl who wanted to get out of her wrinkled skin. What he loved most about Mary was the way she lived with such energy, but now she was connected to this machine that beeped every couple of minutes. It was a large grey machine with several wires and tubes attached. It was a scary, ominous machine to Ebenezer, and most times he thought it was the machine that had killed his wife in the end. As Ebenezer walked the two blocks to his computer class, he thought. Once in a while he brought his wrinkled elephantine hand to his bald head and scratched. His eyes were grey and like concrete marbles; they matched the grey building that held the classroom he was walking to. In class that day he would learn about the internet. The teacher, a young woman with glasses, told of numerous things that could be done on the internet. Ebenezer found out he could talk to people halfway around the world. He could read the news, too, of any town he chose. The news he read was sad and made his heart hurt. He saw pictures of dead bodies from wars in different countries. He read articles made by vegetarians using scare tactics to stop people from eating meat. The pictures in the article showed animals being skinned alive. The teacher explained cyber-bullying and Ebenezer found out that people sometimes cry and hurt themselves because of the internet. He didn’t want anything to do with it at all. As he walked home, the tired man thought about his dead wife again and the machine that had killed her. He missed her silver hair and remembered how it smelled before they slept every night, like sour baby powder. Ebenezer Crowley didn’t want to “get with the times.” Machines aren’t any good at all, he realized. He realized he could probably find his tool just fine at a hardware store in the town next to his, but he would have to take a car or a train to the next town to get his tool. These were machines that killed people every day. Suddenly, Ebenezer Crowley very much wished that he had nothing to do with computers or any other ridiculous machine that mankind had invented.
Social Media Era
6
Ethan Warlick
Why is it that so many people are drawn to social networking? People have always been drawn in by media, and social networks are also considered ‘social media’. Unlike other forms of media though, social media does not perform for the user. Rather, the user creates and maintains the media. So again I inquire, why is it that people are drawn to social media as if it were an addiction?
Compared to other forms of media, such as film film or music, the user acts more as the director, screen-
writer and musician. Rather than enjoying the leisure of watching a movie or listening to a favorite artist, social media actually forces the users to continuously work. Compared to other forms of social communication, such as speaking face-to-face or on the phone, social media is very hands on and exhausting. Instead of being able to quickly discuss content with someone in person or on the phone, users must create sites with their information and maintain and update them as changes occur in their lives. Not to mention how many social medias one can have an account for; users must recreate themselves with each new network they join. So one last time I ask. Why so social? In fact, if social networking were to be compared to anything it should be marketing. marketing. As defined defined by Merriam-Webster, Marketing is (1)the act or process of selling or purchasing in a market, (2)the process or technique of promoting, selling, and distributing a product or service, (3)an aggregate of functions involved in moving goods from producer to consumer.
Comparing social media to marketing is a much simpler process. To mirror networks with the above
definition you must envision every ones social lives on one field or in one ‹market›. The social network is much like a social market because it is a way of displaying oneself to others, or ‹marketing› oneself. There is a certain process and an acquired technique to social media marketing and instead of being for leisure it is actually be-
coming a necessity in society today.
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So now this brings us to the question, why has everyone become marketers? Marketing establishes goods and services as unique and needed, so it is no wonder why people have become obsessed with marketing themselves. In such a fast paced real world, the cyber world allows users to keep up with their personal lives and update themselves to friends, family and assorted other online acquaintances.
Compared to technology, social media use is much like the digital divide. Since it has become such a
necessity, to fall behind divides those that are still maintaining their social lives and those that are not. Instead of being divided by those that have the ability to use it and not, networking is divided between those that are willing to update and those that are not willing (or those that do not matter in this culture shift).
For example, think about whenever the phone was first commercialized and every household had one.
Being the one household without a house phone is like not having a social network. More specifically, think about how important cell phones are to the society today. Not updating or having a social media or social marketing device is like not having a personal phone. Though it makes sense, it is still very interesting that marketing has gone from a professional career to a daily necessity in every ones lives. The era of considering any social encounter or action as anything other than a form of marketing yourself is over. Social media is the pinnacle of this marketing era. Social Mediation: Managing Multiple Platforms A year ago there was only one platform required to stay in the social loop, but as of lately users have increased the amount of networks that they are a part of. Users are dealing with new challenges that they have never experienced before, such as where to post what without seeming repetitive. Since issues like this have begun to arise, we are learning to become ‘social mediators’. Social Mediation is the user management of multiple platforms and the difficulties associated with them. Having more than one account with a specific social network is a new occurrence which makes these issues a precedent. Mediating between networks has never happened because social medias have only had
transition stages until now.
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Before Facebook became the capital of the World Wide Web, there were many other networks fighting to be on the top. For instance, when MySpace users began flocking to Facebook, there was a transition stage instead of mediation. Users did not make posts on both networks, instead most gave up on MySpace and became strict Facebook users. Now that there are diverse social networks that specialize in different parts of social living, users are creating accounts without disbanding from previous social medias. The largest difficulty that social mediators are dealing with is how to update users without seeming repetitive. This is very important because users maintain many of the same connections on separate platforms. To solve issues like these, users must adhere to certain steps in order to perform social mediation. Step 1: Analyze the content. - First you must decide whether the content of what you are broadcasting is generally found on one platform instead of another. For instance, if a user’s content involves a connection they have on a platform they would post it to that platform. Sometimes it is a simple decision, other times this step requires more attention. If a user wants to create a status update they can choose from multiple platforms to do so. This case is becoming extremely difficult because almost every network allows users to make status updates. To decide where content is finally posted, a user must determine which platform is designed for the premise of the content. Recreational content will be posted to a different network than business related content because of the premise of the platform and the audience. Step 2: Examine the audience of your platforms. -Next, users need to be attentive to the audience, or other users that are connected in their network. This is important because the proper platform can be decided based on its audience. Some content is meant for a large audience while other content is for a smaller audience. As well as step one, users analyze their audience on each platform and decide which content belongs to which audience. If a user is connected with colleagues and work associates they would not broadcast the
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recreational activities of their weekend. Users should refrain from broadcasting intimate content to a large audience; this has become a large issue regarding possible careers instigating platforms to learn about possible employees. In some instances this step can be more difficult than the first; frequent users become knowledgeable of audience sizes which makes this step simpler. Step 3:Â Determine the Platform. - Finally, users take their knowledge of the content and audiences and decide where the post is designated; this is the actual mediation between social medias. Some users decide that the content is proper for multiple platforms and must now make a decision of how to change it to fit another platform. If users share common connections on many platforms the more diverse they can create the content the more that it will not seem repetitive. Now that social networking has entered into a mediation stage, multiple platforms will continue to be added and users will continue to create many accounts. Difficulties in managing platforms will continue to occur which will lead to the need of social mediation.
Technology in the Non-profit sector
10
Michael Zulauf
As a society we have become increasingly reliant on technology, forcing us to obtain new knowledge along with each new wave of technology; by the time you have learned to use one program, it is obsolete. From school to work, I have become accustomed to keeping up with the latest technology. My generation learned from an early age that staying proficient with technology would play a dominant role in our ability to succeed in everything from school to work. Throughout my life I have had access to the latest and greatest technology, from software to hardware, and the only obstacle was my knowledge of how it all worked. Recently, for the first time in my life, I saw the dramatic results of a group of people who were not limited by their knowledge of technology, but their access to it. This essay will focus on technological needs in the non-profit sector, where I have recently begun to work. I have a strong passion for non-profit work as well as writing, and was recently introduced to grant writing, successfully combining both of these passions. In the spring of this year I started to intern at a local non-profit, Cape Fear River Watch; a group that works to protect the overall water quality of the Cape Fear River Basin through advocacy, education and outreach. As common with any non-profit, money is tight, and without proper funds, basic technological needs are unable to be met, forcing the staff at CFRW to waste valuable time waiting around for computers and software to perform tasks. This is common problem in the non-profit sector, when organizations have the best intentions in mind but lack the technology needed to produce results. The amount of technology that it takes to run a successful non-profit is mind boggling. In this day and age it is imperative to have adequate equipment in order to run the organization both inside and out. From taxes to Facebook, everything is done on the computer. Even though Cape Fear River Watch is an environmental protection organization, we rely heavily on technology for outreach as well as scientific work. People don’t want to receive newsletters in the mail anymore; they want an email or Facebook update sent to their smartphone instead. It is unfortunate that organizations such as this are hindered by technology alone, but it is a problem they must address in order to stay
11 competitive in the non-profit sector. I set it upon myself to work on a grant proposal that will hopefully fund new and functional technology for the staff to use. The grant I chose to apply for is from the Norcross Wildlife Foundation; a group that supports grassroots nonprofit organizations across the United States who need funding for technology in order to meet their goals and missions. In our (CFRW) case, the need was for computers, software and an e-newsletter service. The following pages are the result.
Executive Summary Cape Fear River Watch requests the support of the Norcross Wildlife Foundation in the amount of $3243 to purchase computers, software and an e-newspaper publishing program to effectively manage and complete our organizations goals and missions. With dated technology our staff and volunteers waste valuable time waiting for computers and software to complete tasks. With your support, we will purchase:
· 3 Dell Inspiron 14z laptop computers · One Dell XPS 8300 desktop computer · Microsoft office for four computers · Adobe Creative Suite for one computer · QuickBooks for one computer · 12-month subscription to an E-newsletter service
This technology will allow our staff to exceed our goals and missions without barriers.
The need for water protection in the Cape Fear River Basin is at an all time high. In the last 100 years, the populations of local striped bass, shad, river herring and sturgeon have declined by nearly 90% due to the installment of three dams along the river. In addition, in February of this year, the National Marine Fisheries Service declared the Cape Fear River’s population of sturgeon an endangered species. CFRW has spearheaded the movement to build three rock weirs that will allow all local fish populations to swim over the dams and return to historic breeding sites.
12 Cape Fear River Watch is located in Wilmington, North Carolina and a proud member of the Waterkeeper Alliance. We are a grassroots organization that protects and improves the water quality of the Cape Fear River Basin through action, advocacy and education.
Our Problem
Our ability to protect the environment is directly hindered by our slow, archaic technology and inability to reach members. Our office is home to two six-year-old desktop computers and two six-year-old laptop computers. None of these computers perform tasks or respond to commands in a timely manner. Furthermore, with only one fulltime staff member, our part-time staff and volunteers are already under constant time constraints. Nearly all of our part-time staff relies on personal computers to complete and store work, creating unnecessary problems and costs. In addition, our current online newsletter is unable to reach its intended audience of nearly 3000 and growing, making it difficult to communicate and distribute information in a timely manner. It is an arduous and nearly impossible task to break through these barriers without your funding.
Our Organization
Since its establishment in 1993, Cape Fear River Watch has been voice of the Cape Fear River Basin, an area home to countless unique species and ecosystems that are all in danger. When founded, it was envisioned as a permanent nonprofit organization, open to everyone, dedicated to the improvement and preservation of the health, beauty, cleanliness, and heritage of the Cape Fear River basin. Our work has been pivotal in the movement to protect this beautiful water shed from becoming unsuitable for every creature or plant that calls the area home. Our work in the community is a vibrant and growing part of our organization. Along with our above-mentioned projects, some of our work includes:
x Support for the Water Keeper Alliance, which is the umbrella organization for 58 Keeper programs, including CFRW, located throughout North and Central America and Europe. This Keeper movement is an environmental “neighborhood watch,” program that is designed to protect communities and the waters on which they depend
13 x At Greenfield Lake, we offer Environmental Education classes for school aged groups and other organizations; in addition, we host ongoing Eco Tours and Bird-Watching Tours at the lake
x Our newly established environmental summer camp programs offer a unique experience for children interested in environmental science. Topics taught at camp include North Carolina physiography and geology, Cape Fear River basin watershed and water usage, water quality testing, coastal ecosystems, kayaking/canoeing, and use of GPS systems
x We offer water quality education programs to civic groups, schools, developers, home-owner associations, trade associations and other organizations and provides storm water management training for local government staff.
Mission and Goals
The overall mission of Cape Fear River watch is to protect and improve the water quality of the Cape Fear River Basin through education, advocacy and action. With such a large area to protect we are constantly strained to meet the needs each problem requires. Some of the work we do that your funding will help include:
x Stopping Titan Cement Corporation from opening a cement plant on the banks of the Cape Fear River, which will be detrimental to both water and air quality.
x Protecting Greenfield Lake: A 90-acre Cyprus ringed freshwater lake. Home to wide array of plant and animal life including Wigeons, Gadwalls, Cormorants, Egrets, Blue Heron, Long Leaf Pine, Live Oak, and Magnolia.
x Restoring the fish populations of local Striped Bass, Shad, River Herring and Sturgeon in the Cape Fear River.
Our organization requires adequate technology in order to expedite work and reach our community in an effective
14 and environmentally friendly way, before it is too late to restore our river to its former beauty.
We believe that with your support for our request we can make tremendous strides in our mission to help protect our rivers and lakes and hope you will too. Please contact our office or Stephanie Borrett at (910) 762-5606 with any questions you may have. At your request we can provide any materials or information that describes any of our programs or projects in greater detail.
Online Portfolios Courtney Richardson
You cannot afford to blend in when it comes to your college application. Open a new web page and go to: LIFEYO. com Click the “Start Building” icon Click the option for “Portfolio” and scroll down to “Continue” Create a new account Add a new website
Transform your application from average to SPOTLIGHT by creating an online portfolio!
Moving Digital Add video to your page to your page by going to “Video” Use YouTube videos that you created or that you find relevant to your e-portfolio Copy and paste the embed code into the box and add the video Change the size and location of the video on your page To upload your resume and any other professional document you feel will enhance your site, go to “File” and choose the documents This allows colleges to view your own information rather than looking at it on the normal application Work on each page separately and begin thinking of how you want each page to look Add “Text” and “Photo” to show examples of school projects, community service or extracurricular activities you were involved in Have multiple photos changing by using “Photo Gallery” Increase the size of pictures and text on page by clicking the grey box on bottom right Move the box by clicking and dragging anywhere on the page