#thinkingdifferently

Going with the Flow 🌊

A lot of things keep randomly not quite going in our favor here, and I distinctly remember one thing my father told us before we left (aside from safety being the top priority) along the lines of: Don't stress when things don't go according to plan, just take the twists and turns as life throws them at you, and you'll find you'll probably have many more memories come out of it than you thought possible.

I'm actually rather proud of Melissa and I as we seem to be following my dad's advice better than I thought we'd be comfortable with. Melissa and I don't like things being out of our control or not go according to our plans, so the past 2 days have been both a good, but hard lesson in that.

Thankfully, we have had an amazing hotel employee helping us through the twists and turns Greece seems to like throwing us, which has helped this all seem a lot less intimidating. Melissa actually had a chance to talk with her today and found out she's going to school for a Marketing Degree. We're hoping we might be able to connect with her more, and possibly find more connections through her.

This place is a photographer's dream as well, and I'm hoping when I get home some of the photos I've taken both here and in Kosovo, will be able to make us more connections so we can fund future trips and have many more Mastermind Seminars throughout the world.

     There is a beautiful, blind innocence, seeing that new piece of technology for the first time. “What does it do? How can I use it? Is it a fad or trend? How much is it?” as we are ready to fork over our wallets at a moments’ notice. So as not to become prey to less-than-truthful advertising, we must research the pros and cons of inventions. Before DeVry, I was primarily drawn toward technology, which pushed the limits of UX design, graphics, and animation quality. These days, implementing tech into our lifestyle is the new norm, no longer for just work and play. I’m sure I still have a kid-in-the-candy-store look on my face watching yearly keynotes, but I will not be as eager to purchase without thoroughly researching first.  

          What did I expect to learn before starting this session? The forum post, check; Lab assignment, submitted; Course Project zipped and turned in…on to the next semester. This was the beat of my drum before entering the November 2019 session at DeVry University and MDD 410 Emerging Multimedia Technology. Working hard on my grades and absorbing the concepts I was tasked to learn, the basics are essential building blocks for the future! MDD 410 was a welcome change of pace. Delving into the world of current technology and discussing the cusp of change was right up my alley as a previous data compliance analyst. Art and technology are influential in that they can open minds and change perspectives. Finding new and better ways to interact and learn is fascinating, but at what costs? Keeping current on the social changes and what advances are made in science allows for designers to open their minds while understanding the ethical implications.  

          What blew me away is the sheer volume of resources that discuss new technology. I didn’t realize how many follow technology-trends, what it means to our economy, infrastructure, and social interactions. Many of the discussions I found surrounds privacy and what businesses plan on doing with the data they collect from consumers. Some companies are taking new technology and, with minor tweaks, are streamlining business processes and increasing productivity. I have always loved new technology and pushing the latest piece of equipment to its max. I can also get frustrated when what I consider simple doesn’t work. This class taught me how best to research technology because it is likely there is something out there that does just what I am thinking needs to get implemented.

           I love purchasing new technology but never realized how much testing and thought goes into UX design. Learning about what efforts a company has gone to for better UX Design, or using sustainable materials, show more about the company and their product than sales. Many consumers are no longer just paying attention to the quality of the product; what type of company they are purchasing from is just as much of a deciding factor. This has created a vast audience to discuss what people what to see and what issues might arise with new technology. Some articles are quite brutal to modern technology, but what the product can do speaks more than doubters’ comments. Researching the tug of war between those using the latest technology and those with negative opinions about it leads to hours of reading material.

          MDD 410 Emerging Multimedia Technology has left me both optimistic about what is coming out soon but also wary. There are many different ways to have your information stolen and used without your permission; it is like walking through a minefield. Knowledge is like figuring out how big your mental library can be but, at the same time, how empty the shelves are. Learning who to follow and what bias they may have over their reviews is essential, depending on the consumer’s outcome. As much time as we spent reviewing new innovations, it makes me take a look at the full world of technology and where I see myself working. It begs the question, “What is my purpose here?” after completing a Bachelor of Science in Multimedia Design. Will I work for a company that ends up a bad review article as well? What can I do to prevent and avoid this? It is always a beautiful thing when a person is taught to think a new way.

Author @SaraAnnRose