Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Reading an Artifact --
The artifact I'm examining is 3.5" square, and composed primarily of a black synthetic substance, probably plastic. The object has a metallic, sliding piece, that opens, like a window, on the magnetic media below. The object is light, fairly inflexible, and seemingly durable. The object contains a white label with green stripes. Below a black block, a blot really, are written two characters -- (I) and (T). There are also black characters on the slide portion -- the characters are (B) (A) (S) (F), printed boldly and in capital letters. Printed similarly are (2) (H) and (D). In far smaller characters are these symbols: (M) (S) (-) (D) (O) (S) ("Formatted") and ("High Density") On each corner, imagine top corner, are square holes, one of which is obscured by another slide. There is also a half-moon shaped notch taken from the lower right hand side of the object. The object weighs a few ounces at most, and is approximately and 1/8 of an inch thick.
The person who uses this object is "in the know". They are adept with technology, capable of utilizing it to further their own ends.
The science behind this device is confusing to me. I understand the function of the device, but I'm unable to puzzle out the how -- how does it work, what role does magnetism play, what is high density? This is technical, and beyond the basic physics of, say, an automobile engine. I understand, conceptually, the internal combustion engine, but I do not understand, on any level, the functioning of a device such as this. The science is beyond me.
This is a labor saving device. This device replaces archaic and outdated storage media like paper files and microfilm. I wonder at the environmental impact of a device such as this. I wonder if the magnetic media found within is biodegradable, or if it contains hazardous chemicals. If it does have an environmental impact, a negative one, I assume the user is utilitarian in the sense that they see the end, the technological advance and labor-saved because of it, as outweighing the negative consequences.
The artifact I'm examining is 3.5" square, and composed primarily of a black synthetic substance, probably plastic. The object has a metallic, sliding piece, that opens, like a window, on the magnetic media below. The object is light, fairly inflexible, and seemingly durable. The object contains a white label with green stripes. Below a black block, a blot really, are written two characters -- (I) and (T). There are also black characters on the slide portion -- the characters are (B) (A) (S) (F), printed boldly and in capital letters. Printed similarly are (2) (H) and (D). In far smaller characters are these symbols: (M) (S) (-) (D) (O) (S) ("Formatted") and ("High Density") On each corner, imagine top corner, are square holes, one of which is obscured by another slide. There is also a half-moon shaped notch taken from the lower right hand side of the object. The object weighs a few ounces at most, and is approximately and 1/8 of an inch thick.
The person who uses this object is "in the know". They are adept with technology, capable of utilizing it to further their own ends.
The science behind this device is confusing to me. I understand the function of the device, but I'm unable to puzzle out the how -- how does it work, what role does magnetism play, what is high density? This is technical, and beyond the basic physics of, say, an automobile engine. I understand, conceptually, the internal combustion engine, but I do not understand, on any level, the functioning of a device such as this. The science is beyond me.
This is a labor saving device. This device replaces archaic and outdated storage media like paper files and microfilm. I wonder at the environmental impact of a device such as this. I wonder if the magnetic media found within is biodegradable, or if it contains hazardous chemicals. If it does have an environmental impact, a negative one, I assume the user is utilitarian in the sense that they see the end, the technological advance and labor-saved because of it, as outweighing the negative consequences.
