Kodak perpetuates Orwell's vision

Axtech · Post by **Axtech** » 1/14/2004, 5:35 pm

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industrie ... eras_x.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/techinvest ... ital_x.htm
http://www.cbc.ca/storyview/CBC/2003/09/25/kodak250903
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/comp ... meras.html
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/?http://www.pcpr ... p?id=52346
http://arstechnica.com/news/posts/1074052333.html
http://www.rnews.com/Story.cfm?ID=15617 ... ry_type=18

You can find sources on this anywhere, if you want.

Kodak is planning on stopping production of regular film. They're going digital.

Sounds alright, right?

Wrong.

In George Orwell's novel 1984, we see an all-digital society. No hard copies of anything left. (this is amazing because it was written long before anything was digital, and includes things such as a universal database of information [our internet]). The protagonist's job is to go through newspaper databases and alter the information. For example, if the government raises taxes, it's his job to go through and change all records so that it shows that taxes in the past were much higher, so that people will be forced to believe that the taxes were actually lower (it's much more complex than I've described here. read it to find out). You see, with no hard copies, anything digital can be edited, and we can not know for sure what is real and what isn't.

Now, for our modern day. We know what things in the past looked like because we have hard copy photographs of them. Now, however, everything is becoming digital, meaning that anyone can edit anything. The fact of the matter is that once everything has gone digital, we will have absolutely no way of knowing what is real and what isn't. It's starting with pictures, sure. But it won't be long until everything is digital.

Plus, of course, there's the ever-present danger of something simple like a solar flare wiping out all of our stored knowledge so, with no hardcopies, we will be left with nothing.

I know I'm sounding a bit like a Luddite, but I think this is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. I mean, I heard this from my philosophy teacher, who heard a few second blurb about Kodak on the news. Humans have a tendency to overlook things until it's much too late, and then they wonder why nothing's been done. Though completely stopping the revolution to the more "futuristic" world, but I think we're blindly headed down a path much too similar to Orwell's chilling vision.

Corey · Post by **Corey** » 1/14/2004, 5:38 pm

define irony:

Using an online forum as a medium to express a concern that everything is going digital...

Axtech · Post by **Axtech** » 1/14/2004, 5:40 pm

I thought of that.

But the real irony would be if someone went in and edited my post. :lol:

Corey · Post by **Corey** » 1/14/2004, 5:41 pm

I have to stick up for my boys Kodak, though. They had no choice. In order to keep any sort of business at all, they had to switch their business strategy to digital.

Down with FUJI!!! Buy KODAK!! :thumbs:

cor3y · Post by **cor3y** » 1/14/2004, 5:47 pm

That is scary. Hmmm... I don't know what I think about that. Not in a thinking mood.

Random Name · Post by **Random Name** » 1/14/2004, 5:56 pm

Holy shit.

I didn't realize there were two of you.

:freak:

I need to pay more attention to these things.

Sufjan Stevens · Post by **Sufjan Stevens** » 1/14/2004, 6:31 pm

Man, the only reason I am into photography is to develop my end products. It's just not even worth it when I have everything on my computer screen. I guess I'm going to buy like 500 rolls of film from Best Buy...

Joe Cooler · Post by **Joe Cooler** » 1/14/2004, 8:11 pm

I'm not really suprised that everything is going digital. Its sad but true. Theres even a company out there that plans on embedding chips in peoples hands to use as a credit card of sorts. Just hold your hand over a device and money is deducted sort of deal. Now if anyone has ever read up on the end times according to the Bible, you'll find it talks about the "mark of the beast", which essentially is a mark placed on the hand allowing only those who have it to buy or sell. Kind of creepy.

Cheers.

Susan · Post by **Susan** » 1/14/2004, 8:12 pm

Hopefully this isn't foreshadowing the death of photography as an art...

Axtech · Post by **Axtech** » 1/14/2004, 8:16 pm

Joe Cool wrote:I'm not really suprised that everything is going digital. Its sad but true. Theres even a company out there that plans on embedding chips in peoples hands to use as a credit card of sorts. Just hold your hand over a device and money is deducted sort of deal. Now if anyone has ever read up on the end times according to the Bible, you'll find it talks about the "mark of the beast", which essentially is a mark placed on the hand allowing only those who have it to buy or sell. Kind of creepy.

Cheers.

I heard about that one a while ago. Although, I think the scar from inserting it would have to be in the shape of a "666". :lol:

Joe Cooler · Post by **Joe Cooler** » 1/14/2004, 8:29 pm

Not quite. The verse goes on to say:

" If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666"

Meaning.. 666 shouldnt be taken literally. Heres one scholars view:

"For what it is worth, some have pointed out that 666 is what is called a triangular number, that is, the sum of every whole number from one to 36. Thus if we were to lay out on a sheet one dot, then two, then three, then four and so on up to thirty-six, we would form a triangle made up of 666 dots. The number 36 is of interest not only because it is the square of six but because it too is a triangular number, the sum of every whole number from one to eight"

So really, the "mark" could be quite a few things. Even a simple design on the chip. Yeah... this stuff really intresests me if your wondering.

Johnny · Post by **Johnny** » 1/14/2004, 11:40 pm

Man, all digital? What aboot the folks who don't have a digi cam? What aboot the folks who arent technology minded?

I AM ME · Post by **I AM ME** » 1/14/2004, 11:49 pm

i think everyone should read 1984, it should be a mandantory thing in highschool, esspecially social studies

Axtech · Post by **Axtech** » 1/15/2004, 6:47 am

Definately. Amazing novel, especially with all of these then-unheard-of things becoming reality.

Random Name · Post by **Random Name** » 1/15/2004, 9:49 am

I dislike digital photography. I have nothing against it, but I prefere film. Maybe thats me cause I learned how to develop film in art class...and my dad was a photographer for a while....but I still just don't like digital.

Joe Cooler · Post by **Joe Cooler** » 1/15/2004, 11:39 am

I dislike digital as well. When it comes to taking snapshots of your friends for funand so on, digital is great but not for art. Digital cameras seem so cold as well. Nothing like my old Pentax SLR.

thirdhour · Post by **thirdhour** » 1/18/2004, 1:28 am

Joe Cool wrote:I'm not really suprised that everything is going digital. Its sad but true. Theres even a company out there that plans on embedding chips in peoples hands to use as a credit card of sorts. Just hold your hand over a device and money is deducted sort of deal. Now if anyone has ever read up on the end times according to the Bible, you'll find it talks about the "mark of the beast", which essentially is a mark placed on the hand allowing only those who have it to buy or sell. Kind of creepy.

Cheers.

Wait, isn't the "mark of the beast" a sign forcasting death of those who have it or something? Or am I thinking of pirates.....? :freak:

Post by **xjsb125** » 1/18/2004, 8:46 am

You are correct Yannic. Those who receive the mark of the beast will be cast alive into a lake of fire, a.k.a. Hell. All that stuff comes from the book of Revelation in the Bible. If anyone is interested its verses:
13.16 and 13.17
14.9
19.20
The entire book is quite interesting, even if you are not into religion. :O

upgradable · Post by **upgradable** » 1/18/2004, 2:33 pm

Man, I loved that book. I got so frustrated near the end, where the Thought Police get him and are breaking him down. It was definitely the best book I've ever read (next to The Age of Spiritual Machines).