The Web Isn't Dead!

In response to the “The Web Is Dead. Long Live the Internet” article on Wired.com, I have to disagree with the idea that the WWW is dead per se. I also feel that the chart featured in the article is not an accurate representation of the Web’s worldwide usage, as it strictly focuses on American statistics. Though portable apps and other indirect internet media are growing in popularity, I believe there will always be a demand for the Web. In making these online services more convenient and portable, these emerging internet-based innovations suffer the price of being scaled down in proportion and quality. By this I mean that there will always be certain tasks that are just better handled on the traditional computer and internet browser (for instance, writing a research paper that uses multiple internet article quotations).

I don’t mean to portray these simplified, sleeker services as ‘evil’. In fact, I believe they have great potential in making certain online services more convenient. However, I would like to point out that the Web (however less portable than these innovations) houses a wider spectrum of tools, features, and possibilities than portable apps and feeds will ever have.


“But the Web is now 18 years old. It has reached adulthood.” I don’t believe age has anything to do with a service such as the Web becoming obsolete. Books have been around for centuries longer than PDF’s and digital copies have, but have they become outdated? No, sir! Also, I would consider the following quotation an overly strong generalization: “Blame human nature. As much as we intellectually appreciate openness, at the end of the day we favor the easiest path.” That’s not entirely true. Not all internet users want the simplest (easiest) path to completing their tasks. In fact, a large amount (including me) may prefer to have as much options and potential for optimization as possible. Some of us want to bake the cake ourselves, as opposed to having a slice handed to us.

Project 2: iMovie!

DISCLAIMER:
The following video is a result of a lack of ideas, resources, and time. Please be generous and keep your expectations low!



Moving on!!!

Artist Spotlight: Peter Jaworowski

Born in Bialystok, Poland, Peter Jaworowski is a digital designer who works as a design director for the creative agency; Ars Thanea. Completing spectacular pieces of art for The Discovery Channel, Warner Bros, Samsung, Nike, and many more, Jaworowski implements amazing effects and details into compositions you wouldn’t expect them to have. I greatly admire the way in which he subtly does this. I’m also a huge fan of how Jaworowski uses *only* Photoshop to create works which appear to have been created using 3D software. Since I use Photoshop myself, I can appreciate the amount of time and effort put into making an image appear so realistic that it pops out at you. His image “No Strings Attached” does just that. When it comes to Photoshop, Peter Jaworowski is definitely an inspiration.

Project 1: Photoshop!

This image was created using Photoshop. It is composed of the 5 pictures posted below, as well as various effects featured in the program. The background of the image (metal wire) represents my preferred genre of music (metal!). A "burst" overlay is also pictured on top of the background, to give the image an overall complex (yet organized) feel, since the burst lines converge into the splattered paint.

The splattered paint encases the silhouette of a figure doing parkour (a passion of mine). The contrast between the black paint and the figure within amplify his visibility, and make him one of the main focuses of the image. The paint is also a representation of my love for art.

On the right-hand portion of the image is a set of headphones, symbolizing my interest in music. I chose to use headphones instead of earphones because headphones are worn by the entire head. Since a head (or brain) are symbols of knowledge, the headphones also represent my love for philosophy.

A lightsaber divides the image in half. One half displays physical interests (parkour, visual art), and the other half symbolizes my intangible interests (music, philosophy). The most colourful and radiant part of the picture is in the middle (in the form of a lightsaber, which represents my favourite movie).

My name is also repeated in the background of the image (representing me!). It is faded to prevent being the focus of the picture. However, it is worth noting that in the bottom right hand corner of the image, and instance of my name is pictured at 100% opacity (acting as a signature).

Pictured below are the images used in my composition: