What’s technology got to do with it?

Or maybe the more appropriate question is, “What does technology have to do with art?” It is a question often asked in the face of ever-more pervasive digital content. There are so many ways that art can benefit from technology. It is likely that you are having one of two reactions to that statement. Maybe a raised eyebrow with a silent, “Yeah, right.” Or perhaps you have already bought into this notion and your gut reaction was more like, “Well, of course!” Regardless of your point of view it is probably next-to-impossible to see it from the opposite perspective. Why?

I assert that it has to do with how much you love technology. My life, for example, is steeped in it. I read art blogs, watch YouTube videos people send to me via e-mail and spend nearly every moment wired in to some form of technological interaction. So of course I think art, like everything else in my life is fair game for technological enhancement.

But I know there is another point of view. One that firmly holds art and its viewing in a quiet, pensive place, unfettered by the white noise the digital world can create.

The difference in these perspectives is often attributed to Read the rest of this entry »

Is there such a thing as a free lunch?

Maybe…but this post is about free stuff on the web. The March 2008 issue of Wired featured the article, Free! Why $0.00 Is the Future of Business written by Chris Anderson. It sat on my desk for a while, then moved to the little sitting area outside my desk, and got covered up by other magazines I also didn’t read…then Noelle sent an e-mail saying I should read it, so I did. If it weren’t for these nudges, I might never read anything! Anyway, it is a fascinating look at all things “free” on the web and what it means for companies and institutions that provide them. So what does it all mean?

http://www.wired.com/techbiz/it/magazine/16-03/ff_free

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Out of the Office

As hard as it is to believe, I have taken a whole 5 days in a row off! I am a notorious workaholic, so it is quite a miracle for me to voluntarily stay away for such a long stretch with no associated holiday in the immediate proximity.

But here I am, typing my post from home while watching the latest re-run of Family Guy. Two of my fellow nuggeteers are also out of the office at the SXSW conference in Austin.

Converse One Star - Despi’s Next Shoe Purchase

I hope we all get an update tomorrow from Daniel’s next post. By the way, have you noticed a pattern yet? We have taken to blogging more regularly so that all of our dedicated readers can wait excitedly for their favorite IMA author’s post.

Back to the business at hand…On a tip from Noelle, I am working up a post centered around an article in the most recent Wired magazine, but in my mini-vacay state-of-mind I would prefer to keep this one more casual. So look for that next week.

This week I am looking for some perspective and spending some time selfishly trying on shoes and other similarly indulgent endeavors like surfing the web.

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