Advice for Computer Skills Class

This class has been one of the only classes at Trinity so far that I have actually learned something useful for my future. That is a pretty sad statement, however it is true. This class will teach you a lot, ESPECIALLY if you show up for class and really focus on the steps of each process taught!

Creating a Website

Creating a website was easily my favorite and most educational project that we have accomplished in this class. I really enjoyed having a hands on experience with creating a website. I have a website for my photograhpy company, however I had to pay someone to create it for me. Now I have the ability to update it myself!

My three favorite websites were, Abigail's, Christa's and Joy's. Abigail's was good because it was very unique and had a lot of creative artwork and style. Christa's amazing imagemap made her website really stand out to me. Joy's website had soo much creativity because of her expertise in using photoshop. I really enjoyed all of the websites, however these three really stood out in my mind.

If you would like to view my website you can go to cs.trinity.edu/~ckay1

HTML Code

HTML code, although complicated is vital to the creation of websites. In our present day, web design programs have been created to skip the steps of writing the exact HTML code, however, having the knowledge of website creation is important beyond using these programs. If you know how to use HTML code, making small edits to a website is much easier than changing the entire website through the use of a program. Changing colors, headlines and other information can easily be altered through the use of HTML, rather than editing the web layout through the use of a program. I am glad that web design programs have been created, but I am also happy that I know how to write HTML code to create a website.

PowerPoint

Creating the PowerPoint presentations for class opened me up to some new techniques I had never used before. My two favorite presentations were Ralph Petang's and Robert Parker's. Ralphs was amazing because of the inspirational photos and technique of fading in and out of pictures. Robert's was awesome because I love Pete Carrol because USC is my favorite school. I play soccer here at Trinity so Ralph's power point really caught my attention. Overall the class created unique and fantastic power points

Chris Nolan Presentation

Chris Nolan's presentation on quality web searching, in my mind, was probably the most imporant presentation of the year. Searching for scholarly material for school projects and papers has become harder and harder through the use of mainstream search engines because of the mass of information that has flooded the internet. It is tough to decipher if information is valid or not and if the information is unbiased. Chris Nolan showed us a few sites I had never seen before including, GoogleScholar and Infomine. These websites are directories to scholarly works that will be quality text to cite in a paper. Google Scholar may not show an entire piece of work on the website, however if the scholarly work is in the Trinity Library database, google will send you to that document on the library network, or show you the location in the library in which to find it. This information will help me in the future.

My Experience with Excel

Before we began learning how to use Excel in class, I had no idea how to insert complex information or even regular information into a spread sheet. Now that I have been given the skills to add formulas, design meaningful charts and graphs and create unique spread sheets, I feel like I will use Excel as a tool for my daily life. I plan on using Excel as a balance for my purchases and spending. I know that I will be able to create a running balance and even highlight problematic numbers and information. Excel has the capability to not only compute simple numbers and equations, but can sometimes automatically understand what you are trying to accomplish as well as solve complex equations. I am glad that I learned all this new information regarding Excel because I know that it is an important tool and I hope to use it in the future.

Photographs That Lie

Doctoring photos for media use has become a common practice among news companies and political groups. Taking pictures and changing the content or altering small sections of the picture causes a multitude of legal issues as well as controversy among viewers and law makers. But why does the media alter these pictures? Many photographers or story writers distort the true captured pictures in order to create a false representation of the event or wish to over emphasize certain aspects of the story.
I chose the image of a British soldier in Basra, motioning for Iraqi citizens to take cover during a military conflict in the early days of American and British invasion of Iraq. I decided to choose this photograph and discuss it because images like this have been altered and distorted throughout the war in Iraq in order to improve the image of American involvement in Iraq and instill a negative reaction to the opposition of U.S engagement. Citizens of the U.S should be rightfully informed of the happenings in the war because families and friends of our troops pray every day that their loved ones make it home safe. This picture (pictures) was taken by a Dartmouth College student, Hany Farid and was printed by the Los Angeles Times. The thirty year veteran writer of the story combined two pictures of the war scene in order to "improve" its message by creating a horrifying image of innocent civilians in danger. The image portrays a heavily armed soldier surrounded by innocent civilians, including infants and children. The picture makes the viewer feel empathy for the Iraqi people and support the war while instilling a feeling of anger towards the "terrorist" forces. I believe that the manipulation of this image may not lead to first degree harm, but distorting the truth and lying about life changing events is wrong, legally and morally. Although I believe that action in Iraq was necessary, images like this wrongfully portray the actual events taking place during the war. Distorting photographs for personal benefit is wrong and I do not agree with it under any circumstance.