The Nintendo Switch is a cultural artifact because it is the fastest selling console in U.S history, brought Nintendo back to the top of the home console market, and opens up to new audiences. It has many features that do so, such as its portability. Its portability is innovative and in combination to its repertoire of games, the Nintendo Switch has become extremely popular. In comparison to the prior console of the Wii U, it becomes evident that they have made changes in how they appeal to a wider audience and its overall use.

Sources

Why is the Wii U A Failure? - By Gavin Cramblet

Analyze it by looking at the logic (statistics) in the article and the time period. See what events were going on. See what drove people off from the Wii U. What was the overall view on the Wii U? Can use this article to contrast it to the Nintendo Switch.

https://www.polygon.com/2018/1/4/16849672/nintendo-switch-sales-numbers-success-price-mario-zelda 

Why the Nintendo Switch is selling so well - Ben Kuchera

Analyze the article to see what people view as characteristics that have made the Switch such a popular console. Contrast it to why the Wii U has failed.

Nintendo’s latest  sales numbers reveal Switch Lite sold 2 million units - Andy Robinson

This article has released logistics and sales numbers from October 2019. Use the statistics to compare the popularity of the games.

The Beyond Burger is a cultural artifact since it is the world’s first ever plant-based burger that looks, cooks, and satisfies like real beef, without so many of the health, sustainability, and animal welfare downsides of a beef burger. Unlike traditional veggie burgers made from whole beans, nuts, seeds, or grains, the Beyond Burger aims to mimic beef with the help of pea protein, taking on the $1-trillion-plus U.S. meat and poultry industry. Over the last 2 years, Beyond Burger has successfully launched in Carl's Jr., A&W, TGI Fridays, and Dunkin' Donuts, and has future plans with McDonalds.

Sources:

“Beyond Burger®.” Beyond Meat - The Future of Protein™, www.beyondmeat.com/products/the-beyond-burger/.

Analyze it by learning what sets this burger apart from traditional veggie burgers and beef burgers. Understand the popularity from this burger as well as potential it has towards disrupting the meat industry. 

Darmiento, Laurence. “Ethan Brown Went Vegan but Missed Fast Food. So He Started a Revolution.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2020, www.latimes.com/business/story/2020-01-08/beyond-meat-founder-ethan-brown.

Analyze it by learning about the setbacks and challenges overcome by Beyond Meat founder Ethan Brown. Provides insight into the thought process of Brown and his goals for the company.

(the pdf)

On page 14 to 22, it clearly analyzed the management and the strategy of Uber. This gives a picture of what the company is doing. 

On page 38 to 41, analyzed based on competitions.

Provides a timeline of the company. Analyze it with the historical events of the company. Finds the influence of the events and their effect on the changes of strategy.

How YouTube changed the world from The Telegraph, 2015. https://s.telegraph.co.uk/graphics/projects/youtube/.

With the rise of accessibility in technology and rapid technological advancement, it is no surprise that people see technology as a way to improve or extend human life. Biohacking is a cultural artifact since it is a product of it’s time during the last decade. The technology currently use will be obsolete by the end of this new decade, making any work in the field a cultural artifact of it’s time. 

Sources:

Hines, Alice, and Arden Wray. “Magnet Implants? Welcome to the World of Medical Punk.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 12 May 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/05/12/us/grindfest-magnet-implants-biohacking.html.

This article provides statements from important medical experts and statements of people at the forefront of the Biohacking field. I will compare the statements in order to analyze how biohacking started out as a niche phenomenon, but grew to have a sizeable following. The article contains logos and pathos rhetoric which can help me strengthen my own arguments.

Samuel, Sigal. “How Biohackers Are Trying to Upgrade Their Brains, Their Bodies - and Human Nature.” Vox, Vox, 15 Nov. 2019, www.vox.com/future-perfect/2019/6/25/18682583/biohacking-transhumanism-human-augmentation-genetic-engineering-crispr.

The article contains many statistics which I will use to analyze the rise of the field. The article also provides anecdotal evidence for why people become interested in Biohacking.  The article will help me make an argument by using ethos and logos.

Sources:

Thompson, Derek. “The Booming, Ethically Dubious Business of Food Delivery.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 2 Aug. 2019, www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/08/all-food-will-be-delivered/595222/.

This article goes in depth on how web-based meal delivery services became popularized all across the world. I plan to use this article to describe why these apps are so popular and why they continue to receive funding despite their consistent losses as a business.

Isaac, Mike, and David Yaffe-bellany. “The Rise of the Virtual Restaurant.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 14 Aug. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/08/14/technology/uber-eats-ghost-kitchens.html.

This article describes an entirely new economy created by web-based food delivery services -- the virtual kitchen. I plan to use this article to describe the economic benefits that these apps have brought, and the possible downsides that come along with it. 

Tinder, the latest merging of technology and romance. As one of the largest online dating sites, Tinder caters to over 50 million people and averages 12 million matches per day. First, users upload pictures and write a short message about themselves. Then comes the swiping; Tinder shows users photos of singles based on their preferences. Not interested? Swipe left. Otherwise, swipe right. If both parties swipe right on each other, the app matches them and a chat function emerges for further interaction. In a technology-driven world where social interaction is so easy to avoid, could love still be one swipe away?

Sources:

Purvis. “This Is What Makes Tinder so Seductive to Those Seeking Love.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 11 June 2017, www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/this-is-what-makes-tinder-so-seductive-to-those-seeking-love/2017/06/09/b75bd6be-457e-11e7-a196-a1bb629f64cb_story.html.

This article focuses on the allure of Tinder and the psychology behind its addictive nature. The information in this source can be analyzed to see why Tinder is so popular and whether or not it is effective in finding users romantic/sexual partners.

Sumter, Sindy R., et al. “Love Me Tinder: Untangling Emerging Adults' Motivations for Using the Dating Application Tinder.” Telematics and Informatics, Pergamon, 30 Apr. 2016, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0736585316301216.

This study explores the motivations behind the use of Tinder. Based on user evidence, the study concludes that Tinder is more than just a “fun, hookup” app. I will use this source to prove that it is possible to find a partner on Tinder.  

Musical game pieces. 

Musical game pieces are compositions that rely on systematically organized collective improvisation. This is a cultural artifact because it is a medium of music performance and composition that tests traditional organizational principles of modern music. This style of composition and performance bears resemblance to jazz, classical, and rock, yet is very different from all of those. Instead of using chords or written parts, the game piece is organized by a set of rules (corresponding to a musical action) that are predetermined by the performer and “director.” 

SOURCE 1:

This source gives insight into the music of one game piece composer, John Zorn. It describes many of his precompositional plans and influences. 

SOURCE 2:

This source shows a theoretical game model and how it relates to musical interaction. Specifically, it will analyze certain modes of game interactions that can be expressed through music. 

Section 4

Alexander McQueen was a prominent fashion designer in the 90’s and early 2000’s. However, unlike the runways of Dior or Vivienne Westwood, McQueen’s catwalks were akin to a performance. By incorporating fire, water, or mechanics into the platforms or instructing his models to walk as if they were "insane," McQueen set himself apart from the confirmative nature of the fashion industry. Although his method of displaying his collections proved unorthodox, McQueen intended for his clothing to leave his audience with visceral emotions, whether it be awe or disgust. By looking at his early collection’s names -such as Highland Rape or Jack the Ripper Stalks his Victims- it’s clear that the majority of the media was left with the later impression. However as he continued his career, he became revered for his unusual presentations and clothing, moving forward from simply a provocateur. His runways proved that fashion could be combined with history, one’s own lineage, politics, nature, and fear. Clothing could become more than a protective layer for a body. Although all original McQueen collections occurred prior to his death in 2010, they still meet the requirements of a relevant cultural artifact due to remaining interest in them. In 2018, a biographical movie about McQueen was made to illustrate his life, relationships, and runway shows. Further, his clothing serves as an inspiration to current fashion designers who transform the body in a similar way. I contend that McQueen’s use of runway shows and clothing design reveal gender and sexuality politics. 

Sources:

Moon, Christina, and Todd Nicewonger. “Alexander McQueen's Iconic Designs.” Design Issues, vol. 28, no. 1, 2012, pp. 101–104., www.jstor.org/stable/41427815  Accessed 20 Jan. 2020.

This article addresses the Savage Beauty exhibit in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It provides insightful comments on how McQueen utilized various elements to create clothes, and how these elements transform the body and message of a collection. 

Mower, Sarah. “Remembering the Potent Performance Art of Alexander McQueen’s Collection No. 13—20 Years Later.” Vogue, Vogue, 14 Sept. 2018, https://www.vogue.com/article/alexander-mcqueen-no-13

This online article describes a fashion journalist’s experience at a runway for a spring/summer collection entitled No. 13. (1999) This article provides a reliable primary source, in which the author conveys how the catwalk created an atmosphere of emotional intensity.

Antifa

The turbulence of world capitalism in recent years such as the 2007 economic recession has lead to a greater divide in politics and dissatisfaction with the status quo. The popularity of anti establishment leaders such as Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders exhibit Americans rejection of political moderation that has dominated American politics in recent years. However,those unhappy with the current system in America do not share a consensus on what direction America should go in, leading to greater political polarization.  The rise of the right in America which culminated in the election of the controversial figure, Donald Trump has only worsened the political divide in America. Donald Trump's election has lead to greater militancy on the right, right wing terrorism is becoming more common place and the emrgence of fascism, xenophobia, and racism are concerning. In order to combat the rise of authoritarianism, bigotry, and violence on the right , Antifa has grown in popularity. Antifa is an autonomous and decentralized movement whose goals are to deprive the far right a platform to spread their dangerous ideas. Antifa’s clashes with the far right have been far from peaceful, violence on both sides is used and brawls between the two groups are becoming more and more common. This increase in political violence has many American’s concerned and leads to condemnation to both sides form moderates. I believe Antifa’s use of violence is not unwarranted as the rise of the far right has led to  persecution and violence against minority groups and threatens their safety and freedom. To stand by idly against violence and hatred has historically proven to be disastrous as the emergence of fascism in Spain, Italy, and Germany has lead to untold violence and injustice. In order to stomp the rise of fascism in America, direct action employed by Antifa is a necessity to secure an equal and safe future. 

Beinart, Peter. “The Rise of the Violent Left.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 6 Aug. 2017, www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/09/the-rise-of-the-violent-left/534192/.

This source explains the effects and ramifications of Antifa. It goes over its clashes with the far right and provides a narrative critical of Antifa. While the analysis of antifa goes against my point of view, It will serve a use in my paper as it provides contrary evidence and commentary that I will rebuke.  

Bogel-burroughs, Nicholas. “What Is Antifa? Explaining the Movement to Confront the Far Right.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 2 July 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/07/02/us/what-is-antifa.html.

This source explains the history of Anitfa and what lead to its rise. It gives a general overview of how the group emerged, what its goals are, what they do, and the reaction of Antifa from the public.

The idea of fame has changed drastically in the past few years―people like Kim Kardashian and Bhad Bhabie are slightly under-talented for the amount of money they make from fans’ attention. Attaining fame in this day and age is also simple and straightforward, when in the past, one had to be particularly competent or skilled at a certain task to garner widespread media attention. Every conversation held by ordinary people tends to reference someone in the limelight, whether it be Joe Goldberg from the trending show “You” or @imwoahvicky from God knows what. That said, new social media platforms, such as TikTok, make it incredibly easy for teenagers to post videos and get thousands, even millions, of easy views a day. These articles together will help me discover how and why fame is so easily attainable nowadays and why fan interaction has decreased so significantly even though there are more people to idolize. 

Sources:

“The Culture of Celebrity.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 9 June 2016, 

www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/199505/the-culture-celebrity.

Neimark discusses a recent change in the definition of “famous” across all social platforms. She also touches on the idea that not only has who is famous changed, but fan reaction and dedication has diminished as well, with fan’s declaring loyalty to a character one day and throwing him away the next.

Jennings, Rebecca. “How TikTok Turns Regular Teens into Celebrities.” Vox, Vox, 2 Oct. 2019, 

www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/10/2/20891915/tiktok-famous-teenagers-haley-sharpe-yodeling-karen

Rebecca Jennings, in her article “The not-so-secret life of a TikTok-famous teen” for vox.com, follows the story of accidental fame gained by sixteen-year-old Haley Sharpe in Huntsville, Alabama. After simply posting one or two videos, she had already amassed a little over 100,000 followers.

I will research the success of slot limits via the walleye slots in the midwest as a freshwater species (more accurate monitoring) and compare that to slots of the redfish in the southeast. I will do this to see how successful the slot limits are and to argue that all species should have slot limit regulations to prevent them from needing recovery. A side benefit is big trophy fish for pictures, but remember CnR. Tight rods folks.

Artificial intelligence is often used as an overarching umbrella term for many different concepts in the consumer and non-consumer computing space. Today, when we talk about AI, we might think of something like Amazon and Google’s respective Alexa and Home devices - ones that these companies effectively created to communicate with us in a way that computers didn’t used to do. These kinds of devices use a subset of that ‘AI’ term known as machine learning to effectively improve their usability through things like data collection. Even our smartphones and their virtual assistants function in a similar way. When Siri doesn’t know how to answer a question, ‘she’ doesn’t just forget it, and you might notice that a few phone updates later, the same question will yield an answer. These uses of AI have become a large part of our culture, especially in recent times, as they enter frequent, daily use, our homes, and become a bigger part of our lives.

Sources:

Lauren, Amanda. “How LG's Artificial Intelligence Is Changing How Consumers Use Appliances, Improving Sustainability And Doing Our Laundry Better.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 20 Jan. 2020, www.forbes.com/sites/amandalauren/2020/01/20/how-lgs-artificial-intelligence-is-changing-how-consumers-use-appliances-improving-sustainability-and-doing-our-laundry-better/#1849660e4c42.

This article gives an example of machine learning in a different context than just human-like communication. It talks about the different concepts LG announced for their product lines at CES 2020 that would include subtle machine learning-style traits for things like washing machines and refrigerators to be able to interact with consumers in ways they didn’t before. For example, the author considers the environmental impact of the AI embedded into these machines, writing, “if [a washing machine] detects an increase in water consumption, it will share tips with the users about how to improve the efficiency of their machines.” Analyzing this gives an example of the uses and projected usefulness of machine learning but also shows how advertising could have an effect on perception of it.

Barrett, Brian. “Alexa's Had a Big Year, Mostly Thanks to Machine Learning.” Wired, Conde Nast, 20 Dec. 2018, www.wired.com/story/amazon-alexa-2018-machine-learning/.

This article describes the machine learning mentioned in the summary above that directly involves smart devices and human-like communication. It describes how Amazon’s Alexa was able to correct itself and create correlations between questions it was asked if it couldn’t answer one of them. After giving an example of this with two names of radio stations - one Alexa knows and the other that it doesn’t, the author writes, “Alexa will learn that XM Chill and Sirius channel 53 are the same, all on its own.” Analyzing this gives an example of the kinds of improvements consumer AI allows it to make to itself. 

Rohde Jacob, “Who is responsible for Twitter’s echo chamber problem? Evidence from 2016 U.S. election networks” , Information, Community, & Society, Dennis Wu, July 2018, Tandfonline, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1369118X.2018.1499793

Analyze the text to determine the roots of the “echo chamber issue” to effectively tackle on the issue as the paper progresses. Analyze to fully exemplify the real world effects that Twitter interaction executes. This is a study article that tackles the 2016 election to evaluate how people choose the types of media they consume, and the types of communities they interact in. Allows us to study how moldable political and social perspectives are when exposed to media influence.

Dyagilev, Kirill, “Echo chamber amplification and disagreement effects in the political activity of Twitter users”, arXiv, Yom-Tov, Elad, June 2014, ProQuest, https://search.proquest.com/docview/2084456610?rfr_id=info%3Axri%2Fsid%3Aprimo

I need to analyze the text to find whether communities of like minded people result in the “echo chamber”. Evaluate the text to learn how imperative it is to have an online presence these days just to succeed, and to see how the political game has changed or not. The study evaluates the “political activity” (PA) of people in like minded communities and diverse communities, and determines the difference in PA between the two groups. The study tests the validity of the “echo chamber” theory in the context of Twitter.

"James Charles, Tati Westbrook and the Chaos of Cancel Culture". WWD, May 25, 2019. https://advance.lexis.com/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:5W67-3S91-DYJW-X2PD-00000-00&context=1516831

Examine the text to see the effects of misinformation and “cancel culture” on the individual. Analyze the text to learn what it takes to start a digital wildfire. Predict how cancel culture can become problematic when it comes to interpersonal relationships. This article takes on the recent story of an internet sensation whose reputation became tarnished due to inaccurate accusations that were able to spread with Twitter’s speed. We can evaluate how the perspectives of people change with reinforced ideas and phrases. We can also identify toxic behaviors that form as a result of “cancel culture”, and note how Twitter contributes to an “unforgiving,” “ruthless” community of users.

Sources:

Owens, Simon. “How Spotify's Changing the Production and Marketing of Music.” Medium, The Business of Content, 13 May 2019, www.medium.com/the-business-of-content/how-spotifys-changing-the-production-and-marketing-of-music-34c02c5c4061.

This article shows exactly how the landscape of the music industry has changed following the emergence of Spotify. I plan to analyze how the financial aspect has changed in detail. The article may also be used in showing how marketing and consumption has changed drastically.

Ingham, Tim. “Should Spotify Change the Way It Pays Artists?” Rolling Stone, 7 Dec. 2018, www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/should-spotify-change-the-way-it-pays-artists-763986/.

This article explains why an artist might have qualms regarding how Spotify pays them, and what it entails. In fact, the article has multiple quotes from artists with complaints. The article goes on to explain how the pay issue is closely related to how subscription money of users is distributed between artists. I plan to use this source to look closer at the business model of spotify and how it will affect both consumers and artists.

Sources:

Edwards, Haley Sweetland. “After Santa Fe, School Shootings Are Becoming the New Normal.” Time, Time, 22 May 2018, time.com/5286666/school-shootings-new-normal-santa-fe/.

Eltagouri, Marwa. “The Story Behind the Viral Photo of a Kent State Graduate Posing with Her Cap - and a Rifle.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 29 Apr. 2019, www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2018/05/16/the-story-behind-the-viral-photo-of-a-kent-state-graduate-posing-with-her-cap-and-a-rifle/.

Reddit, like all social media, has cultural power. People all around the world- though centered primarily around the US- have access to create and manage forums around specific topics of their choosing, creating communities that enrich each user’s daily online interaction. However, Reddit’s accessibility, relative lack of rules, and controversial pseudonominity creates a problem; those that use the site have the power to push any viewpoint they’d like, without typical repercussions. This has led to much positive contribution to discussion, but also much negative. Reddit has both made people millionaires and driven people to suicide, allowed for the discussion of intersectionality and feminism and inceldom, allowed for unfettered political discussion and served as a tool for election tampering. With Reddit entering further and further into the mainstream, it’s important to acknowledge its power, for good and ill.

Sources:

Kolawole, Emi. “President Obama's Reddit AMA: Top Five Most Awesome Questions.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 29 Aug. 2012, www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/post/president-obamas-reddit-ama-top-five-most-awesome-questions/2012/08/29/d3f2c1aa-f21a-11e1-adc6-87dfa8eff430_blog.html.

This article details one of the more radical developments that Reddit has allowed: the easy ability for citizens to interact with political leaders. In a previously unprecedented move, president  Barack Obama of the United States of America opened a forum to answer questions posted by literally anyone, without typical social repercussion. This is known as an AMA, or “Ask Me Anything”.This kind of transparency and accessibility was groundbreaking, and demonstrates the positive power of Reddit’s unique qualities. Since the AMA, many politicians and public figures have done AMAs of their own, increasing the transparency of the US’s political system by a somewhat significant amount.

Shontell, Alyson. “What It's Like When Reddit Wrongly Accuses Your Loved One Of Murder.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 26 July 2013, www.businessinsider.com/reddit-falsely-accuses-sunil-tripathi-of-boston-bombing-2013-7.

This article demonstrates one of the more famous instances where Reddit’s power went uncontrolled, and cost an innocent man his life. In Reddit discussions following the Boston Bombing, Redditors analyzed security camera footage, among other evidence, and “found” Sunil Tripathi to be the bomber. The trolling, doxxing, death threats, and other online vitriol led Sunil Tripathi to commit suicide. He had been missing for more than a month before his body was found. Sunil Tripathi was found to be not guilty of the bombings, meaning that the combined force of thousands of pseudononymous users killed a random bystander.

https://kotaku.com/do-we-own-our-steam-games-5883435
This article explains how no one owns any of the games they buy on Steam. Steam is a large platform that acts as a distributor of online games. You can make an account, purchase any game that Steam has approved for sale in their store, and have easy access to any game that you purchase, in your Steam Library. However, as the article says, you don't actually own those games, only the right to access them through Steam. If Steam decides to revoke your access, which they can at anytime for any reason, you would lose access to everything you paid for, as well as all the money you spent.

https://psmag.com/magazine/the-end-of-ownership
This article is similar, in how it explains that you don't own the stuff you pay for online. However, this article also explains how you don't own stuff in the game either. Because you only pay for the right to access the game, this includes the stuff in game. If a player in game somehow managed to steal your items in game, there is effectively nothing you can do about it in terms of legal action. No matter how valuable that item was to you, there is little you can do about it. Partially because it's an intangible object that doesn't exist in the normal sense, but also because you technically never owned that item. The company that gave you rights to the video games owns it.

Combustion engines have dominated the car industry for almost a century. Until the introduction of the electric car at the beginning of the decade. Although the EV was technically invented significantly earlier, their revival is closely tied to two factors. The recent climate crisis spurred a number of incentives programs across both the federal and state governments, allowing for large rebates consumers throughout the entire United states. And the other was the rise of Tesla, where both their positive reputation and affordable prestige aimed at the middle class community completely shifted the mindset on the viability and versatility of the electric industry as a whole. These innovations and reparations fostered an environment where now many older and corporate giants in the car business like Ford, General Motors, and Honda find the movement worth investing in. Now the question stands if the popularity of Ev’s has brought on a permanent change in direction for the future of vehicles, or if they will die out once set left on their own.

Hussain, Suhauna. “California Pulls Back Clean-Vehicle Rebates to Point Them at Lower-Income Buyers.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2019, www.latimes.com/business/autos/story/2019-11-13/california-pulls-back-clean-vehicle-rebates-to-point-them-at-lower-income-buyers.

This article is meant to show how the popularity of electrically powered vehicles have caused governments to believe that more affluent individuals have broken into the market of more affluent individuals. I also intend to use this article to look into the push of pushing this integration into lower economic brackets as well, and the unexpected abundance of buyers as a whole, both in the new and used markets.

Szymkowski, Sean. “Tesla, GM Could Score Big as Lobbyists Push Federal EV Tax Credit Extension.” Roadshow, CNET, 16 Dec. 2019, www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/tesla-gm-electric-car-tax-credit-extension/.

This article displays the significant effect Ev’s have brought on the industry, being so influential that now companies that would've once lobbied against them, have so much invested into the new technology that now they must support them. This is significant as it proves their endurance in the market long enough to demand extensions, and particularly how the age is significant enough to distinguish between the new electric companies and the earlier ones.

Mindfulness, the act, or process of becoming aware of your own state, whether it be the state of your body, mind, etc. is a practice that has become very popular. My particular high school and schools all over the world have begun implementing mindfulness in the classroom setting. The result is that students would become less stressed and more productive during school. Studies such as the one conducted by Charlotte Zenner prove that acts of mindfulness, specifically the “body scan” activity, demonstrates that students subjected to mindfulness have a small “increase [in] cognitive capacity”(“Mindfulness-based interventions”). The evidence of small studies has aided in the rise of mindfulness in schools and corporations. However, there is a large number of individuals who are not taught the concept of mindfulness in school or work; instead, they look to technology. Mindfulness applications have surged in popularity, much like mindfulness itself. However, the effect of mindfulness and technology is a concept that has not been explored. Mindfulness seems to have a positive correlation with brain health, but digital technology has a scattered correlation. Although the evidence may be vague, it appears that mindfulness apps such as “Headspace” create positive effects for the body and mind.

Work Cited

Resnick, Brian, et al. “Is Our Constant Use of Digital Technologies Affecting Our Brain Health? We Asked 11 Experts.” Vox, Vox, 26 Feb. 2019, www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/11/28/18102745/cellphone-distraction-brain-health-screens-kids

Resnick and other writers from Vox, a news website, wrote a list of testimonials from a diverse number of experts about the topic of digital technology and the effects it has on our brain health. The accounts reveal that digital technology, in excess, may negatively affect the brain. Despite the correlation, there is no definitive answer as to whether digital technology causes sleep problems or behaviors related to hyperactivity. More research needs to be done in regards to the type of digital technology that is correlated to adverse brain health and if it is the cause or merely a side effect of the negative behaviors discussed above. There is some positive correlation with certain digital technologies and phone usage as well, but again, more research must be done for a concrete answer. Heather Kirkorian, associate professor in the school of human ecology, summarizes it best with “the impact of digital media depends partly on how we use them.” Kirkorian explains that the usage of digital technology may be beneficial if it is engaging and educational rather than filled with harmful content. That being said, the recurring theme of the article is that there needs to be more research on the topic of digital technology. 

Each one of the writers and experts from the Vox article is credible and has some form of medical or science writing background. The writers of the report have won awards in the field of science and medicine coverage, have written in medical journals, or have aided in the debunking of medical misinformation; as a result, they have been deemed credible. Furthermore, the diverse number of experts from the article, for the most part, remain neutral on the topic of digital technologies affecting our brain health. Digital Technology seems to correlate both positively and negatively in regards to brain health. Despite the lack of research, Richard Davidson, a neuroscientist at the University of Wisconsin, says meditation may help to stop phone dependably or addiction. However, some ambiguity and inquiries arise with this statement. Davidson does not state whether guided meditation though phone usage, would aid in the prevention of phone addiction or further enhance the addicting relationship that people may have with digital technology.

Zenner, Charlotte et al. “Mindfulness-based interventions in schools-a systematic review and meta-analysis.” Frontiers in psychology vol. 5 603. 30 Jun. 2014, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00603

The study conducted by Zenner and other researchers showed positive results for the practice of mindfulness in schools. The mindfulness activities usually include mediation; however, the researchers chose to focus on the body scan activity in children from elementary school, middle school and high school. The result of the study concluded that “children and youths are able to increase cognitive capacity of attending and learning” by a small deviation. However, the study was relatively small and very diverse. Thus, the researchers concluded that a larger study was needed with more factors documented to account for the diversity among the students, even though the initial results appear very promising.

Zenner and other researchers conducted the study without any “potential conflict of interest.” It is clearly stated at the bottom of the journal that the sponsors did not partake in the study, and the researchers did not conduct the study for commercial or financial benefits, which demonstrates there credibility. Furthermore, the study itself was large enough to create a plausible data set and conclusion, but the study did not account for all the factors that could affect the diverse number of students. Taking into account the results of this study, accompanied by the Vox article above, it seems more research needs to be done in regards to the effects of digital technology and mindfulness for children. However, there appears to be promising evidence that mindfulness positivity affects general brain health in children and may counteract the adverse effects that occur with phones as well as other behaviors.

Kratom

The opiate crisis is one of the greatest health epidemics America is facing, with over 100 people dying each day from opiate overdose. However, a peculiar green plant that has been increasingly popular in recent years may be able to help America avoid this disaster. Kratom is a plant related to coffee trees that is native to Southeast Asia and has been used for hundreds of years for recreational and medicinal purposes, but in recent years Kratom has been increasing in popularity in the West. There are over 15 million Kratom users in the US, making it one of the most popular legal drugs next to salvia and there has been a huge increase in Kratom usage in recent years. People use kratom for its pain reliving properties, euphoria, decrease in anxiety, and to quit opiates. Kratom binds to the opioid receptors in the brain which results in said symptoms, but also helps opiate users curb cravings and to stop opiate withdrawal which are infamously brutal. Many users also use it instead of prescription opiates such as oxycontin or hydrocodone to deal with pain. Kratom offers a safe alternative to opiates as it is not as addictive, has less negative health side effects, and is nearly impossible to overdose from the substance alone. People who suffer from Depression and Anxiety have also found Kratom extremely useful in mitigating their symptoms. However, despite its benefits, Kratom is a controversial drug as many worry about its side effects, the little research it has on long term use, and the possibility of addiction. Kratom may not be a miracle drug free from downsides, but many users have described the drug as life changing and saving.

 

This source gives a great summary and introduction to Kratom. It provides benefits and side effects from this drug. It is a well-researched article and is a great overview of Kratom.

This source discusses the reasons of popularity and history of kratom in Southeast Asia and the United States. It also goes over the benefits of kratom and looks at studies of its health consequences.

McKnight, and Lucinda. “Still in the LEGO (LEGOS) room: female teachers designing curriculum around girls’ popular culture for the coeducational classroom in Australia.” Gender and Education 27.7(2015):909-927.

I need to analyze the text to discover the issue of boys’ dominance of the curriculum. In a broader social context, teachers and researchers develop and implement plans for gender identity and student thematic identity in the future while providing girls and women with negotiating thematic positions. Comparing with the LEGO which represents ingenuity and other good qualities and Barbie which designs for girls, we can evaluate the curriculum, the past and future, the gender and feminism. In this text, LEGO also plays a role as an ensemble and macro conception. After all, all the products represent their unique culture and have great influence in people’s ideology.

Fonnesbaek, Jeppe , and M. Melbye Andersen . “Story selling: how LEGO told a story and sold a toy.” Young Consumers 6.3(2005):31-39.

Examine the text to see LEGO as a part of a new ongoing epic story. Analyze the text to learn how the developers relate the Bionicle concept to LEGO’s previous successful toys and to its existing success in buying into stories like Star Wars. And next they use a wide range of media, such as posters and cinema advertisements to market it. We can know a kind of marketing way called peer-to-peer marketing. That is to say, this carefully designed mosaic of media was accompanied by compelling graphics, phasing the story to maintain involvement, and getting the children to tell the story to others. We can also discover how this marketing can benefit Lego’s overall image and bring a wider range of products.

We can believe that Animal Influencer makes up for the vacancy of Emotional Support Animal on the Internet, to a certain extent, helps people release the pressure they have suffered, and brings a healthier and better mental state.

This source illustrates some of the effects that Pet influencer may have on ESA. On the flip side, people's fanaticism for animals may make them try to make their pets ESA and stay with them. But it is worth noting that due to the scarcity of ESA resources, this will cause problems in the allocation of public resources.

Wisdom, Jennifer. "Another breed of “service” animals: stars study findings about pet ownership and recovery from serious mental illness." Wiley online library . 79. 3 (2009): 1. Web. <https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1037/a0016812>.

     This study elucidates the role of pets in recovery processes among adults with serious mental illness.And during the hypothesis period, four life scenarios and approaches were divided in detail. It is used to study how pets relieve mental illness.Primary themes indicate pets assist individuals in recovery from serious mental illness by (a) providing empathy and “therapy”; (b) providing connections that can assist in redeveloping social avenues; (c) serving as “family” in the absence of or in addition to human family members; and (d) supporting self-efficacy and strengthening a sense of empowerment. (Jennifer,2)The researchers focused on whether the sick volunteers experienced a change in mental status after having a pet. As well, volunteers were asked to record their recovery process in video form. Researchers have found that pets play an important role in this process. And the experimental process and experimental objects are strictly regulated, controlling the subjective variables that may exist in the volunteers.

     This study can reasonably prove that pets have a healing effect on human mental illness. Broadly speaking, it is an indisputable fact that pets can alleviate human stress. This study enhances the credibility and main arguments of my article. I will cite a part of the author's point of view and the experimental process in my article.

 

Cassell, Micheal. "Health communication on the internet: an effective channel for health behavior change?." Journal of health communication . 3. 1 (1998): 2. Web. <https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/108107398127517>.

 

     The publication date of this document has been around for ten years. It mainly demonstrates the role of the Internet and the role of the Internet. Reasonable assumptions and presupposed conclusions were made. This document mainly borrows some other texts on the function of the Internet to illustrate the achievements of the Internet of large computers in the past four decades.

     This document is a supportive point for me. Because the role of the pet live broadcast platform, the Internet is an important catalyst. The spread of the Internet is my main point of view.Although this document has been in production for 20 years, it is very suitable for basic ideas such as Internet communication. It is very important to me, maybe it will not be the only evidence about the Internet, but it is the most important one.

update:

https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/11/6/18066056/dog-instagram-famous-pet-influencers

YanruiL