Is it not incredible the possibilities that we, the current generation of the post millennium era, have? The first thing that popped into my mind was the capability of an artificial machine to, within fractions of a second, take a “screenshot” of the image being displayed on my computer monitor! One can only appreciate the ability for anyone with a computer, let alone an internet connection, to use this resource at their will.

Furthermore, this technology was not available a couple of decades ago, so it is also pleasing that I was part of the first generation who had the ability to use such a feature. I wonder what our ancestors would think, or if they ever would have predicted, our technology today. I also wonder where we will be with these types of technological advancements in the future. What if a microchip was connected to the imaging centers in the brain and the chip wirelessly sent that picture through a Bluetooth connection to an artificial computer, and that computer was powered by a DNA (yes, they are in the process of creating a DNA Computer!) processor? It is difficult to argue the beauty that is inherent in such advancements. We, the human race, who evolved from simple inorganic materials like water 4.6 billion years ago, are now able to manipulate our natural environment from which we were produced! I suppose looking at the situation from this aspect is not really ethical, yet still undoubtedly unbelievable. These were just the first thoughts that came to mind.

Nevertheless, here we have a portrait of my attempt at first contact with the assistant Dean of the pharmacy school at University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. Indeed, it was a difficult composition! I did not know what to say, how to say it, how long the piece should be, or what the Dean would think. The purpose of the composition was an attempt to gather information about a program I am particularly interested in. Aside from the details of the actual picture, the questions raised in this writing prompt on digital composition is an important concept that needs to be addressed.

A digital composition such as this changes the shape of the content of a composition in a variety of forms relative to the more primitive approach of a writing utensil and paper. On paper, composing any type of work does not have any “font”. That is, there is no set style, size, boldness, indent, spacing, etc., of a letter or word. Digitally, every single letter in a word has the same exact shape, style, and size, yet all of these aspects can be changed within seconds. Even more interesting is the method in which digital compositions take place.

A digital composition includes electronic signals sent to a main terminal, which then process that information and transmit digital “pixels” (millions of little dots that we see as a picture). A better understanding at a digital composition would require the technological knowledge of a computer and the methods of output of a “graphics card”. Because of the technological nature of the issue, it is probably not something many people are cognizant about.

Nonetheless, this was a very interesting activity, and if all the activities are this interesting, I will definitely enjoy this class!

-Moneer