Monthly Archives: November 2016

Alcoholism and its affect on families

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I’m going to be focusing my capstone project on alcoholism. More specifically on the effects parental alcoholism can have on a family & friends – how spouses and children are impacted. This is something that affects a large amount of the population and something that I feel needs to be addressed – especially with the growing amount of binge drinking happening in college environments. This project will also be a closer look at recovery rates, things to be on the lookout for when suspecting someone is going down a slippery slope, and how to help a recovering addict.

I would like to present the statistics on how alcoholism can have a huge impact on a child – mentally, physically, and emotionally. How and alcoholic can affect friends’ and family’s lives. As well as how much of a detriment it can be for the actual person experiencing alcoholism. As a society, we often forget the looming possibility of addiction that alcoholism can present. In the days of brew fest and wine tastings, it’s really easy to indulge and just as easy to push away symptoms of something more sinister.

One of my 2 medias will be an infographic that break down the facts about alcoholism: how many alcoholics there are in the U.S., how often they go to treatment, rates of recovery, etc. as well as how the side effects and symptoms of alcoholism. The second will be a mashup of videos that look at alcoholism further – recovery videos, people talking about things they did while drunk, friends & family members effected by alcoholism.

https://twitter.com/ask_the_log/status/795868104848863232

https://twitter.com/ask_the_log/status/795867312700039168

https://twitter.com/ask_the_log/status/795866359833837569

https://twitter.com/ask_the_log/status/795866153839009793

https://twitter.com/ask_the_log/status/795864783039774721

Cap. Project Single parenting

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My subject matter for my Capstone Project will be single parents more specifically single moms. How to be successful and not to live within the limits put on us by society. As a single mom myself and raising 2 amazing little boys, I want to focus on the positives, the successes and courage it takes to do it.

“A single parent, sometimes called a solo parent, is a parent, not living with a spouse or partner, who has most of the day-to-day responsibilities in raising the child or children. A single parent is usually considered the primary caregiver, meaning the parent the children have residency with the majority of the time.”
No one signs up to be a single parent, it’s exhausting and probably the toughest job you will ever have. It is also the most rewarding. That you can do it just as well as a 2 parent family, just differently. Single moms are strong, can be successful but we need to surround ourselves with the right support networks and we need to educate ourselves. I am wanting to point out the myths and out of date way of thinking and how you don’t have to live within that box. If you are put into a position to be a single mom it’s not the end of the world. It may be a little more challenging, exhausting (did I already say that?) but it is doable. Your children can and will grow up strong, confident and successful adults, you just have to be willing to do the work.

I plan to create website/ blog of some sort. I want it to be a place for resources, encouragement and empowerment. I also want to either do a mashup video (if I can find enough content) or an animation. I haven’t fully decided as it will depend on my angle. I am still tossing this around in my head a little. I feel like this topic is pretty broad and I may need to simplify it a little more.

Urban Agriculture and Your Health

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For my capstone project, I will be focusing on Urban Agriculture and how it can affect the health of those who participate. Urban agriculture has been defined as “Urban agriculture, urban farming or urban gardening is the practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing food in or around a village, town, or city. Urban agriculture can also involve animal husbandry, aquaculture, agroforestry, urban beekeeping, and horticulture.”

When economic difficulties began to be experienced in recent years, people began to explore alternative ways to feed their families. In the United States, “food deserts” appeared in places like Detroit and Los Angeles,as grocery stores closed, and food could only be found at convenience stores or fast-food restaurants. As these places generally only carry “junk” or low quality food, obesity and health problems began to run rampant in these areas. To provide a source of healthy food without having to spend lots of money, many people began to turn to urban agriculture. This can include everything from large community gardens to small patio container gardens.

Studies have been done on the health effects of participating in urban agriculture: results include everything from increasing exercise, to increasing the amount of vegetables children eat. I will produce an infographic and a video that will focus on urban gardening (as it is the easiest urban agricultural practice to get involved with), highlighting some of the health benefits and how people can begin to get involved for themselves. I will include resources to investigate urban agriculture locally.

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I have decided to focus on the mental disorder ADHD in my capstone project. The project will explore how ADHD is treated in our society, observing whether or not ADHD is properly treated and cared for in the United States. This is a personal topic for me, as I was diagnosed with ADHD as a child. I have taken medication to help me with ADHD since I was in the 5th grade, so this is a topic that I truly care about. The two pieces of media that I will complete are the infographic and a remixed video. The infographic will give basic statistics on ADHD diagnoses in children and adults. The infographic will also further dive into which ADHD patients are medicated and what they are medicated with, depending on their age and/or gender. The infographic can also give information about whether or not people truly realize what ADHD is and that it is a serious mental disorder, as I have met some people that dismiss ADHD as an excuse for children that misbehave. My remixed video will further focus on the narrative of ADHD awareness and how it’s viewed by people in society, as I plan to find different interviews or conduct interviews of my own on how people with ADHD have dealt with their condition in society.

Cody Tucker’s Capstone Project

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Unless you live in a fairly large metropolitan area, it’s extremely rare to see an arcade near your location, let alone knowing of someone who frequents one often. Arcades are a dying breed in the US in favor for more accessible technology such as smartphones that can essentially store an arcade’s worth of games in your pocket. However, arcades still are a popular phenomena in other parts of the world such as Japan. The close-quarters living lifestyle in metropolitan Japan attracts more people to go out to play video games outside of their usual quiet and communal living spaces.

My capstone project will be on comparing how arcades fair in the US compared to Japan over the course of time, and why arcades have become severely less popular in the states in comparison over the past decade. The first media object I’ll use to easily share this comparison is an info-graphic easily highlighting differences over time between the two countries. This info graphic will include information from when arcades were first introduced, where they were the most popular, which kind of games were played in which countries, and how all of those change throughout the next few decades. The second media object will be a remix of videos to share visually the success of arcades in both countries as well as the different atmospheres they each create. I will be narrating over the video as a supplement to differentiate the arcade cultural of from each country.

 

Gun violence affecting kids and teens

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For my capstone project, I have decided to discuss gun violence in America. Specifically, I would like to focus on gun violence as it affects children and teens. On average over 111,000 people are shot yearly, and this is just in America. 17,000 of this total number are children and teens. 2,624 of these kids (ages 0-19) die from their wounds. Through the use of a main website page (home page) an infographic, and an animation, I will discuss the different gun safety factors and how they could be implemented to provide a safer environment for children. These will include locking up guns, in high out of reach places. As well as looking at the opinion that houses where children live should not own guns.
One of my media objects will be an infographic. There is a lot of statistics that I can use to create an in-depth infographic that will display the information in a way that will make sense. I will include daily statistics as well as yearly statistics.
For my second media object, I will create an animation using after effects. Since the infographic focused on more of the statistic side of gun violence, the animation will focus more on preventive measures. This will provide a different point of view from the infographic while still maintaining a cohesive unit through the website.

From paper to digital/code

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The DTC 375 Language, Texts, & Technology class gives me this idea about changing from a written world to a digital world.

– Written Literacy to Digital Literacy information with web code(eg.twine: they are html and css)
– Drawing from paper and pen to 2D drawing illustrator photoshop to 3D drawing(modeling) to VR 3D drawing tilt brush

I will probably use Infographic file and Remixed video for two media objects where one would be showing the transform from written/drawing to code/digital. Another one might be how would it be as a college program as well as so details about WSUV DTC program. (not sure which one for which media yet.)

Data source about WSUV DTC program:
https://studentaffairs.vancouver.wsu.edu/sites/studentaffairs.vancouver.wsu.edu/files/inserted-files/CMDCBroch_Trifold_Final_Web.pdf
http://dtc-wsuv.org/jturley/finalproject/

There is not much similar program but one would be Interactive Arts and Technology Department in Simon Fraser University

Data source about SFU SIAT:
http://www.sfu.ca/siat/undergraduate.html

https://twitter.com/kaho868686/status/796071265068908544

https://twitter.com/kaho868686/status/796112799395024896

https://twitter.com/kaho868686/status/796112041471660032

https://twitter.com/kaho868686/status/796111653783752704

 

 

 

 

SUV’s Vs Car Crashes

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Roger Balch
Brenda Grell
Digital Technology and Culture
November 7, 2016
SUV’s are large vehicles that when they get into accidents it poses a large threat towards other vehicle passenger safety. According to ohiotiger.com, “The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found in 2013 that a total of 21/268 passenger vehicle occupants died in 2013, 30% fewer than in 1975… with the likelihood of SUV accidents 15 times as high.” SUV’s have become popular so in contrast accident numbers have increased significantly. Popularity has been shown studies that according to the Insurance Institute for highway safety, “8% of all vehicle fatalities happens to passengers in the back seat. So, large cars are safer for all passengers, but especially those in the back seat.” Something has to be said for those purchasing a car. To purchase a vehicle for larger stability a and safety or for people trying to save money to go for the cheapest option possible and select a car with little to nothing for safety options just to save money. Reports show the higher center of gravity make them prone to rollovers in which case cause higher fatalities than any other type of accident. Most of the 6800 occupants in 2010 who died of rollovers did not happen to wear seatbelts. For most accidents are caused by some third object whether its driving angry, driving under the influence, or just as the reason mentioned not wearing seatbelts. According to consumerreports.org, “In car vs SUV head-on crashes, the study found that the odds of death were 7.6 times higher for the car driver than the SUV driver… Just because a big, heavy vehicle has the advantage in a head on [collision] with a smaller lighter one, it doesn’t mean that lighter vehicles are unsafe. In truth, they’re safer than overall traffic fatalities are near their all time low.” Overall the important thing to look at is type and demographics of vehicles whatever is the most comfortable option that meets the needs of the driver. The 2 sources of media I plan to use is a narrative piece video along with a graphic narrative.

Study: SUVs Safer Than Cars, Front Seat Most Dangerous Place to Sit http://www.ohiotiger.com/suvs-vs-cars-crash-survival/

Reduced vehicle weight does not compromise safety. http://ow.ly/ZFhr302n0Qw @ACCESS_Magazine

SUVs are safer than cars in front crashes, but there is more to the story http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2013/05/suvs-are-safer-than-cars-in-front-crashes-but-there-is-more-to-the-story/index.htm

Which Type of Vehicle is Safest: SUVs or Sedans? – Quoted https://www.thezebra.com/insurance-news/1704/which-type-of-vehicle-is-safest-suvs-or-sedans/

Plurality: When hearing voices in your head DOESN’T make you crazy

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For my capstone project, I’ll be discussing the recent, little known phenomenon of plurality: a movement embracing and supporting those who “hear voices in their head” not as “crazy,” but as an alternate life situation just like gender or sexuality. Plurality argues that those “voices” are not by their nature inherently dangerous, that they may actually be benevolent, and that it may even be argued that they are people with rights of their own. Many plurals report that their “voices” serve as an ever-present support network and have improved their lives. While there are situations (such as schizophrenia) when medication is necessary, other time attempts at suppression or reintegration can be seriously damaging to the person as the “voices” attempt to fight for survival or the person feels guilt at being forced by therapists to effectively murder their friends. Many plurals are afraid to tell others about their plurality for fear of being called a liar, freak, or crazy, and others cannot get the psychological treatment they need as their therapists ignore all other conditions and attempt to go after the plurality.

For my two media objects, one will be an infographic discussing facts and statistics surrounding plurality, the other will be an animated video explaining terminology and situations surrounding plurality. The infographic will be focused the more factual side of the issue, while the video will emphasize the emotional side, as well as encouraging understanding of plurals, their “headmates”, and their situations.

Benefits of Being an Entrepreneur

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Benefits of being an Entrepreneur
According to the Oxford dictionary an entrepreneur is “a person who organizes and operates a business or businesses, taking on greater than normal financial risks in order to do so”. With this definition people might ask themselves why would someone want to be an entrepreneur? Why risk more financials than a normal person? Well I hope to outline 5 good benefits of being an entrepreneur.
1) Opportunity
With being an entrepreneur individuals have the opportunity to decide what their work is. A decision of what you work on rather than just being told what to work on can really help motivation and the spirit of what you do.
2) Freedom
This one stays in the same vein of Opportunity. Perhaps Aaron Pitman, president and founder of API Domain Investments says it best when he states “Freedom is my driver…I always wanted to be able to call my own shots, be in charge of my destiny, and have the ability to set my own life.”
3) Responsibility to Society
Entrepreneurs have the opportunity to constantly watch the world around them on a large and small scale and acknowledge how themselves/their companies fit into it. They have the responsibility to enact change to help form that world they see into one they envision.
4) Control
There is something to be said about control of their work area and environment to be a driving force behind why many entrepreneurs follow their dreams. People can design out their work space and environment however they like.
5) Time
In the beginning most Entrepreneurs will trade their 40hrs/week for 60, but some can get themselves to a spot where they are only working 10 and still making the company run. This frees up time to allow the owner to invest in other things such as hobbies and family.

I would like to portray my capstone project through an infographic and a moving infographic. I think these are the two best ways in which to showcase the benefits listed above about being an entrepreneur.