Blog Post 7: EOTO 1 Reaction

    Listening to my classmates’ Each One Teach One presentations this week gave me a lot to think about. It’s easy to go about our daily lives using modern technology without really considering how it all started or the impact it has. The presentations covered a variety of topics, from the origins of motion pictures to AI-generated images and the rise of Google, each shedding light on how media and technology shape the way we communicate, learn, and even perceive reality.

    One of the most interesting topics was motion pictures. We’re so used to watching movies and videos that we rarely stop to think about how they actually work. It was fascinating to learn that early motion pictures were simply a series of still images played in rapid succession—just six frames per second—to create the illusion of movement. What struck me the most was how powerful visual storytelling has always been, not just for entertainment but also for shaping public opinion. Whether it’s old propaganda films, news footage, or social media videos today, the ability to influence people through moving images has only grown stronger over time.

    Another presentation that caught my attention was about AI image generation. The fact that you can type in a few words and an AI will create an image in seconds is both exciting and kind of unsettling. While it’s an incredible tool for creativity, it also raises some tricky ethical questions. For instance, who really owns AI-generated art? If an AI mimics an artist’s style, is that fair or is it stealing? And then there’s the issue of misinformation—realistic AI-generated images could easily be used to manipulate people. It made me think about how important it is to be able to distinguish between real and AI-created content, especially as this technology keeps advancing.

    Another engaging presentation focused on Google and how it evolved from its original name, "BackRub," in 1996 to the global powerhouse it is today. It’s crazy to think about how different life would be without Google—getting information used to take hours of searching through books or asking experts, and now we can find answers in seconds. But the presentation also made me reflect on how much we rely on it. Google controls what information we see first, and its algorithms influence everything from news to shopping choices. While it’s made life easier in so many ways, it also brings up concerns about privacy, bias, and just how much control one company has over the internet.

    Overall, these presentations reminded me how much media and technology have evolved and how deeply they impact our daily lives. Each innovation—whether it’s film, AI, or search engines—has changed the way we consume and share information. But with each advancement comes new challenges, especially in terms of ethics and regulation. It made me realize how important it is to not only understand these technologies but also to question and think critically about them. As media keeps evolving, staying informed and aware will be more important than ever.