Team iLuminate

This possible primary source is a YouTube video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5YSsbU75y0, about the dance group Team iLuminate. It is a clip about one of their performances on the show 'America's Got Talent', a competitive reality show about different talents in the United States. This source focuses on the use of technology in performance, dance, and choreography.

There are nine dancers in this group who work together to create shapes and patterns wearing iLuminate suites (wearable wireless lighting systems) in the dark. They partake in complicated partner work and tumbling as well as contemporary hip-hop choreography. Most times they are dancing in unison, however not all dancers can be seen at once. Their suits are being lit up and turned off at different times and in different places. The aspects of lighting, dancing, and darkness are repeated throughout the work. This could be symbolize the choreographer's struggle with cancer. Her strength (the lighting and dancing) prevailing through her sickness and therapy (the darkness). Another thing these repetitions might serve to represent could be her passion for dance despite the challenges it brought about later in her life (again the lighting and dancing vs. the darkness). The inspiration of the repetition of light vs. dark may even be unrelated to her sickness and dancing and could have a connection with something that happened in her childhood or to her family.

The themes of precision and teamwork are both apparent in this piece. The theme of precision is seen in the movements. All movements must be precise though out the dance, as much of the work is in unison with the down beat in the music. All of the dancers must be attentive to details including rhythms, counts, and sharpness. Teamwork plays a major role in the choreography as well. Relaying on one another to be there for spotting and partnering is essential to the success of the performance. It is also extremely important for the dancers to be aware of their spacing and formations, even though they are in the dark. The entire piece depends on the awareness that the dancers have of one another on stage so that the big picture comes together.

Another thing that stuck out in the video was the use of technology not only on the stage, but off. The computers and computer program used to choreograph for Team iLuminate was fascinating. It would be interesting to learn more about the computer programming system and how it works to make everything come together. I also noticed binary opposites in the clip. The use of the flashlight to introduce the group seemed out of place. With the theme of advanced lighting design running throughout the video (not only in the dance but in the theater and during the interviews) the traditional "flashlight under the chin" move stood out as an elementary source of lighting in the clip. The host of the show, Nick Cannon, may just be poking fun at himself, humoring the audience about how he is not as technologically savvy as Team iLuminate. This could, however, literally be "shining a light" on how quickly technology is advancing and sparks the audience's interest to wonder what could be coming next.

Finally, this video raised the following questions: How is technology affecting the art of choreography and dance? And why might the choreographer, Miral Kotb, have been inspired to choose lighting design as the major visual detail in her work?

Bailey Denzy

Alex McGee

Brianna Lockridge

Os'Sad Shaheer

Emily McGuire

Reversing ALS

http://gizmodo.com/5844786/deadly-progression-of-als-reversed-in-an-amazing-stem-cell-first?tag=science

Whenever someone is diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease) it is essentially a death sentence. With most people with ALS dying in 2 to 3 years from when they were diagnosed, if it possibly the worst diagnosis that someone could receive. Though through medical advances and the use of controversial stem cell use, doctors have reversed the effects of ALS.

Stem cell research has and will continue to be a hot topic. Though if stem cells are able to reverse effects of one of the deadliest diseases, then what else could it cure?

Finally on a semi-related note Lou Gehrig might not have had ALS, the disease which bears his name. Brain trauma can mimic the symptoms of ALS and Gehrig was known to suffer multiple concussions.

Google Maps

In today's world, huge paper, folding maps aren't very convenient when you are trying to find your way quickly and not draw attention to yourself by holding a giant piece of wrinkled paper in front of your face. Google maps has made it easy to get directions. By simply typing in your starting place, your final destination and clicking "Enter" Google Maps is able to provide you with turn by turn directions and even tell you the mileage and estimated time of arrival. The ability to get internet access on smart phones increases the use of Google Maps by allowing people to use them not only on their computer but on their mobile devices as well.

I have never been good with directions, so Google Maps is a very useful tool for me. Though I don't have a smart phone I often find myself using Google Maps to get around whether I am using it on my computer before I go somewhere or when I am in a group of people trying to find our way using someone's phone. After coming to a new city and a new campus that I am not completely comfortable with yet I realized how much maps are a part of my everyday life and how technology makes it easy and convenient to use almost anywhere.

SportsCenter on Twitter

http://twitter.com/#!/SportsCenter

Twitter is advancing technology in so many new ways. It allows access to information and is a means of communication at all times from many different places. Twitter is an outlet for major corporations, organizations, companies, and businesses to expand. SportsCenter took advantage of this opportunity.

SportsCenter on twitter gives individuals a way to follow games, teams, and players even if they don't have access to a television. With over 1,400,000 followers, it is apparent that many sports fans depend on this means of communication to stay updated on what is happening in the sports world. This large number of followers also shows how popular twitter is in general and how social media really is a major part of many lives in this generation.

Chris Brown's Performance At The VMAs 2011

http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/684909/yeah-3x-protect-ya-neck-teen-spirit-beautiful-people-live.jhtml#id=1668981

This video stood out to me because it was very technical, which in turn, made it pretty entertaining. If it wasn't for all of the different color lights, the mixture of music, and Chris Brown flying the video wouldn't have been as intriguing.

Take an old video performance, like The Temptations, for example. If you watch their video it is pretty basic. They're standing there in front of mics, singing and dancing. There is no color changing lights, no flying over the audience, and nothing really technical at all.

Not only is technology taking over phones and other electronics, it is taking over the music industry. For example, a DJ is no longer needed to mix music because they have computers for that. Another popular form of technology in music is autotone. Most rappers or singers use autotone in their songs now. Technology has definitely taken over music performances. Take Chris Brown's performance for example. A majority of people said he had the best performance and his was also the most technical.

Technology is taking over, slowly but surely.

Really Funny Cell Phone Commercial!

In this commercial, almost every person shown is distracted by their cell phone. They are paying more attention to their phone than what is going on around them, causing them to have accidents. This commercial seems to be showing how distracting cell phones really are in one's every day life, which is true. However, they advertise for a phone that they believe will cut back one's time spent on their cell phone. We notice that people that have iPhones are usually seen using them a lot more than people that don't have smartphones. The reason for this is because they have so many applications and implications. Therefore, if this company is claiming that this new phone will make people spend less time on their phone, it is highly unbelievable since people tend to spend more time on a technologically advanced phone than an older model. What these phones are doing though, is distracting people from reality, the natural world, and processes around them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHlN21ebeak

Bailey Denzy

Alex McGee

Brianna Lockridge

Os'Sad Shaheer

Emily McGuire

Iphone 4 connecting the world

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Iphone 4 technology

Since 2007, the iphone has been leading the smartphone technologies. Now three generations later, the iphone 4 is focusing on the connectibility on people. Phones have been gradually advancing altogether. From calling, to texting, to sending pictures, then facebook and twitter, and now the ability to see people face to face in the palm of your hand. Sure you have always been able to talk face-to-face, but now I can see my baby cousin who lives across the country for my first time- anytime I want to. They have seen the problems with previous phones, smart or not, and adjusted to fit the new desires of the population. The iphone is trying to become a new, long lasting, vitually indestructable, social media tool.  Replacing the typical glass screen with a crystal glass 30 times harder than plastic along with the stainless steel frame holding it all together.  The connection idea, bringing people together all across the world, with facetime.  Now people do not even have to go outside socialize. The iphone 4 makes the world smaller. We are all just a video call away, and to the phone we are just a phone number.

Matt Noonan, Larry Ross, Alex Elchert, Kevin Duke