Blog #6 EOTO #1 presentation

  

The EOTO project was about inventions that impacted the world’s ability to communicate and how it set trends and standards of new access to services, goods, and convenience. There were many inventions dating back to the 3500 BC to 21st century such as the Postal Service, Streaming platforms, Typewriter, and more. All of these inventions have something in common and multiple reasons on why it was successful. These factors include innovative ideas and foreign concepts during that time like Mailing companies in the 18th century instead of horseback riders. There were many inventions that my peers and I researched that caught my interest. Some of my peers conducted research about these inventions as well and some of the new facts I learned were very interesting.

Photo of an Oscilloscope

Since I am a Game Design Major, the invention that really was interesting to me and taught me a lot was Video Games. I learned Video Games always have an evolving term especially since the time that it was developed. The meaning is subjective depending on the individual but a formal definition for video games is an electronic game that is played on a video display. The first video game documented was a game called “Tennis for two (1958)” created in Brookhaven National Library on a computer called the Oscilloscope by William Higgenbotham and Robert Dvorak. 

Something else that was cool to learn about was the reason why video games were made. They were not just for entertainment usage but to help developers push technology to the extreme limits to show investors who had the strongest computer. This factor also helped technology evolve faster because of companies were trying to beat their competition.

Photo of a PlayStation 4

Due to this competitive fight between companies to make the strongest consoles or computers, Video Games have become one of the biggest forms of communication and entertainment revenue in the world. According to Statista, the Gaming market in the United States is estimated to be at least $455 billion dollars. Cultures and communities were even formed due to video games as well. As people who love gaming can connect with each other from all around the world. They were formed through companies and gaming consoles such as PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and EA (Electronic Arts).

Video Games are very influential and changed the way that people communicate with each other and make friends. It gives users access to find people who have the same interest as them regardless of the distance. Video games are accessible for all age groups, but it is mainly popular among young children, teenagers and young adults. It has become a part of the identity of many people and even become a part of cultural exchange among other countries. Video games are not just entertainment, but also viewed as storytelling, educational, learning new skills that challenge the mind.

Privacy, Online, Off

The Ted Talk videos highlight the importance of how technology and social media has become advanced and provides information about possibly anything. It gives information about celebrities, political figures, loved ones, friends and even yourself. Social media brings people together through its fun and addictive content, but many users do not know that social media can act as a location tracker for people.

For example, If I posted a Tik Tok every day and the username is my real name and I wear a specific color in every video, someone can build a profile of me in public. Also, your cell phone collects that data so if I wear pink dresses, I will then get ads for pink dresses. Social Media acts as a mask but it can tell anything about all types of information about an individual.

Inside the videos, many of the speakers used terms discussing many issues about how technology can track consumers and share very personal information about them and some organizations keep the information just in case they need to keep it for later. One speaker used the term electronic tattoos. I loved his comparison of using social media as a tattoo. He said tattoos can be very personal, they tell someone’s story about their feelings, history, family name. Similarly, social media does that to expect that it is not on your body, it is stored inside cell phones. 

Social Media apps such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are notorious for selling their users data for extra money, which is very harmful to the consumers who are unaware about who is buying their data. According to Forbes, “Among them was a chain featuring none other than Mark Zuckerberg himself proposing the idea of actually charging a monetary fee for developers to access user data, which they could repay either by purchasing advertising, selling items or simply writing Facebook a check”. The article also clarifies that in the report that this plan proposed by Mark Zuckerberg would only cost developers who want to buy users data a fee of $0.10 per year.  It is shocking to her that a user is only worth 10 cents when a user is a real person in day-to-day life who does not know who knows sensitive information about them.

This is very dangerous to users, especially elderly people, who did not grow up with technology, this plan exposes people to scams which commonly target the elderly age group. Even young kids are at risk because they now have access to cellphone and social media.

Hacker setting up fake accounts

I remember when I was got a new phone, and I began to download apps and when I login into them a notification kept popping up on each app asking to track my location or track my data so the phone can get me ads that I am interested in. I kept pressing no on all of them, when I used these apps, I notice that the ads kept showing me thing that I liked such as shopping on an app that I previously was on or vacations spots that I was going to in aa couple months. I was freaked out, so I looked at my setting and all of my notification for tracking through ads were on when I did not want them on. throughout that whole year, I was getting scam calls, text about tolls, or false payment on certain apps like amazon or banks.

Consumer about to share personal information to scammer

I know friends and family who have been impacted by their data being sold but it was more extreme than my experience. Previously I mentioned the friend from high school, well he got his Instagram account hacked by someone else impersonating as another one of his friends then blackmailing him into paying for money for it back. Then the hacker would follow people who he follows and try the same thing on other people. I felt heartbroken for my friend because he had that account for a long time and used it to promote his love for streaming and learning computer science.

I think the Government should have policies in place for that can help inform users about what happens to their information through the technology they use. I think that should ban apps containing sensitive information like location, health, education and more. Also making people who purchase this information show a license to keep record of who is holding this information to find out their motive to protect citizens.

This would have protected more children and elderly who are not very education on matter like these leading to identity thief. Another solution can be limiting companies' ability to collect, use, or sell data. Users should be informed about new policy agreement and users should be able to not agree to share data even through ads, social media. If a user says no then it means no, they are the consumers and they deserve privacy.

Theory: This connects into the 14th Amendment including citizens' right to privacy of their bodily autonomy but if a bill is proposed and using the argument of Substantive due process.  The 14th Amendment in section 1 specifically states, "nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law". Cases such as Whalen v. Roe can help support the claim that data privacy is a fundamental right because it protects a citizen's liberty from corporations. However, it might be a bit difficult because of corporate parenthood, so I think citizen who have been impacted propose this bill instead of the government just involving themselves. For a better chance at winning this bill if someone proposed this.

Dad teaching Son internet safety

I think people should read the terms and conditions carefully to know what they are signing up for when they sign up for these apps can be a good start to know who is invading your privacy. Parents should monitor their children and grandparent phones to make sure that they do not fall victim to a scam. Searching up your name on search engines to see if people are making fake accounts, if your information is on platform, you did not sign up for is another great way to protect your privacy.

Practice not putting location, personal information such as last name, updates about health, job place because from profiles, videos, and photos. Strangers can build profiles of you using your actual information or when companies sell or leak data, someone you do not know has your information. Social media and technology can be fun and make happy moments for millions, but it exposes its users making them becoming venerable to unknown surveillance and violation of privacy. Be careful what you sign up for because it can expose you to harm.

EOTO #1

Early 1900's United Postal Service Truck 

The U.S. Postal Service is one of the most influential inventions in the world and still is in the present day. If you want the newest lululemon set, send a vote by mail in the ballot, send mail, or receive mail, the Postal Service provides all of those things. This invention is a public company that aims to serve the people who do not have access or cannot afford to communicate with people from long distances.

In the 18th century, America did not have the same technology that they have today, and they did not have the ability to continuously communicate long distance like today. This was critical during many parts of American history such as the Revolutionary War as important messages would arrive to the military or political leaders late. Most mail systems in the 18th century were delivered by horseback riders or private companies with high fees for the average day American.

Portrait of Benjamin Franklin 

Many citizens complained about how slow mail would arrive, but it was until the Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin as the first Postmaster General in 1775. He was appointed because he was beloved by American people and leaders for his innovative ideas and he had experience in business with his popular newspaper, The Pennsylvania Gazette. 

The Postal Service was added to the constitution under the listed powers of Congress in article 1, section 8 referred to as the Postal Clause. This clause gives Congress the ability “to establish Post offices and post roads”. This means that congress has the power to control the land that the trucks ride on specific routes to carry the mail and control the building needed to preserve the mail system.  

There is a lot of unique history about the Postal Service, it was originally made for mail delivery and communication expansion that connected the 13 colonies for faster communication among leaders. Franklin’s plan for effective mail delivery involved collaborating with steamboats, railroads, and private companies. However, it turned into something bigger that involved citizens as well who wanted to send or receive mail from their relatives in another state or in the military. This system has changed America’s speed and access to communication. 

Postal Offices and routes located in the United States in 2020

The invention was a huge success for all citizens whether class, race, and status, the postal service lived up to its expectations of serving all. There were so many impacts that the postal service has influenced and encouraged in America such as the new concept of mailing in votes (Mail in Ballot), geographic and cultural exchange as rural areas are able to connect to big cities.

Economic growth and consumerism, since the postal service gave the average American the ability to send letters outside of America as well or expand trading goods and services. For example, if an old man needed to contact his doctor in Canada, he could now with the help of the postal service. Due to this new invention, it created a new demand in what convenience is and helped all types of people have access to services like medical, banks, and other companies. This system has set the trend for technology and new forms of communication in America.

Wealthy Woman writing a letter

While inventions can have positive impacts on the Postal Service, there can also be negative effects that need to be improved. The postal Service was innovative for its time because in the 18th century, there were no cell phones, tv, and most of the technology that we have today in 2025. This system was foreign to millions of people because letters and mailing was viewed as a luxury for the wealthy as they used ink and paper which was expensive to make for that time.

The Postal service even though it aimed to have a faster and effective mailing delivery system, it was still slow and a delayed system. Also, the postal service has never really had competition, which never encouraged them to keep evolving their invention as the world progressed. 

This currently has changed as more delivery companies have been developed due to the influence of the Postal Service and many consumers have switched to Amazon, DHL, UPS, and FEDEX because of the faster delivery rate compared to the Postal Service. These companies have better technology while the USPS is an 18th century invention. The USPS has had many investigations against them for unfair treatment towards employees who are overworked or violating union agreement which resulted in worker strikes. 

USPS employees checking mail and packages

There have also been many tragic incidents that involved USPS such as Mail security issues and Drug smuggling. The Postal Service serves all types of people including famous people and political figures which can lead them to danger because their information is public. There was an incident in 2018, where packages were sent to mainly Democratic figures and public critics of Donald Trump. The package contained an explosive device, an envelope consisting of an unknown white powder. Lucky, none of the people who these packages were sent to did not get them and were not harmed. If something were to happen, the USPS would be blamed for this due to their lack of technology that scans for unsafe packages.

Another incident is Covid-19 was a major change for the postal service because it stopped the flow of mail and good due to the concern of the deadly disease spreading more. It shut down communication through mail which was a big blow to the business as people started to use technology more like apps such as Tik Tok, Facebook, and Gmail to maintain communication with friends and family. The Postal Service did not have a decline because of increase of online shopping but it did struggle with keeping Wokers from leaving from being sick or fear of getting sick.

In the present day, the postal Service is suffering again because the Trump administration and a group called DOGE wants to privatize this public company into a business which should concern millions of people. As if this agreement goes through, millions of people will lose access to what the postal service has provided for generations. The postal service is a right to people not a privilege. Think about the elderly who need their medication or college students who want to vote like myself. I would say through this project I have learned so much about the postal service and also through my experience of voting my first time this year as well.

I just turned 18 not too long ago, I always wanted to vote as I have been told how important it is and how it contributes and changes the lives of many people including my own. I remember when I completed my first mail in the ballot as I was far away from home. The postal service was very helpful as I did not know what I was doing for my first time as a voter, but it was a very easy process. That day, I realized how easy and liked how accessible everything without having to pay a fee as a college student was very convenient.

U.S. Postal Service Mail Man

In conclusion, the Postal Service to sum it up was amazon before amazon, if you wanted to send or receive something then the postal service is your best friend. It was the trend setter before technology and set the foundation of how mail and good companies deliver and give access to their consumers. The postal service changed the flow and speed of communication, giving people of all classes and rural areas the ability to communicate with each other.

Click here to Learn more: USPS Timeline

Fun Fact: I also did a little research of my own by connecting this assignment to stuff we learned in class. The question was, is the Postal Service a negative right or positive right? Negative right is a right that protects you from another individual who tries to take that away. For example, the 1st Amendment protects the freedom of speech, and the negative right would be the freedom of censorship. Then a positive right is the government completing a duty that helps their citizens who need assistance, for example, the department of education. I would argue that the USPS is a positive right because the postal service provides help to citizens who do not have the ability to access the big cities or fees that private companies give to consumers. As well as, voting and receiving medical or goods from faraway places. Who do you think?