DRM: Focusing on Catching Law Breakers?

What exactly is the DRM? 

The DRM is copyright protection for digital media. Their purpose is to prevent the copying of digital media by restricting the way in which consumers can copy the content they have recently purchased. The DRM was created because of the recent increase in online piracy in music, movies, video games and more. The DRM has embedded a code that prevents users from copying the media they have purchased. The DRM is focusing it's attention to try and catch law breakers who are copying and stealing digital media.

How does the DRM work? 

HowStuffWorks, explains how the DRM works. Many products use web based permission, which is when a user installs a new program the computer will contact a verification server to get permission (normally an access key) to complete the installation. The DRM also uses digital watermark, which is a broadcast flag and will not allow your DVR or DVD recorder to record the show or movie. The DRM also has a piece of code in the software of DVD's to prevent "DVD Ripping." This is code prevents the program from reading the DVD or also known as not being able to burn a duplicate CD.

What does this mean for myself? 

I can admit to illegally downloading music, but I have never actually copied a CD, DVD, or Software. I haven't done this because I always knew that it was not possible. Every time I watch a DVD I always see the warning from the FCC saying copying or video taping is illegal and subject to a fine. I have always grown up seeing this even on VHS's. The only issue I find is for school when there are books that come with verification codes. You always have to buy a new book because the code only works once. This past semester I spent $150.00 on a book just for the code, when it was on sale from Amazon for $50.00. Is it worth it for the DRM to make it financially difficult for students to purchase books because of their web based permission?

Are You There Facebook? It's me, Emily

When I heard that there were studies suggesting digital media was responsible for consumers shortened attention span I turned to Google, to check the statistics. So is it true? Forbes Magazine looked closer into the topic by saying social media is responsible for shortened attention spans. Author Ty Kiisel realized digital media has affected his attention span not only in the office, but at home with his wife. In the middle of a conversation, his wife will stop talking just to make sure he is listening while checking his iPhone. Kiisel said it become a problem when his wife actually left the room in the middle of a conversation because he was so in-tuned to his social media. Kiisel wondered what a life would be like without iPhones, laptops, and social media. How would our attention span be? I pondered this question thinking about the life I now live where my iPhone is my alarm clock, my laptop is my calendar, and my social media is my journal. Now a days it is normal for a student to take notes on their laptop and not in a notebook, but this is where I believe attention spans have decreased. How many students spend the entire class actually taking notes?

 I can admit, I am one of the students who occasionally gets on to Facebook when the teacher has been going on about the same topic for the majority of the class. I can also admit to pulling out my iPhone to check the time when there is a clock hanging on the wall. I can say I have observed the majority of students walking around campus are texting on their phone, talking to someone on their phone, checking Facebook, or Tweeting. On page 98 of Converging Media, the outlook for magazines is discussed. It is said that every year hundreds of new magazines are published, but do not survive more than two years. This is because more big editions are moving from print to online versions. For instance, the teen girl market has been narrowing titles in the past few years to target their audience who views more of their readings online than in print. This is similar to today's students changing from the typical paper format to digital. Their calendars are now available on their phone and computer, they take notes on their laptops instead of their journals. Why? Because Professors are adjusting to the changing times. If I were to walk into a lecture hall at The University of Maryland, the majority of the students would be on their laptop, texting, or sleeping. I would conduct a study of this by walking around campus and going into different classrooms and seeing first hand what students are actually doing behind their cell phones and laptop screens. Chances are, their not taking notes but chatting on Facebook, Tweeting, Pinning on Pintrest or iChatting with a friend. If our classrooms changed and involved digital media more into them, then students would change from being social media addicts to students using the latest technology to learn. Ty Kiisel tested our society's shrinking attention spans in the business world at a meeting. He asked everyone to put away their laptops, phones, and iPads. Everyone was able to focus by not hearing any chips or buzzes but the discussion at hand. Kiisel was able to accomplish the objectives of the meeting because there were minimal distractions. So you decide, is it time to put away our digital devices in order to increase our attention spans, or should we embrace them in this changing time? 

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