Built Environment Outline:

Built Environment Analysis Outline:

Argument: How do they impact the Atlanta community, economy, and how will they impact the city of Atlanta in the future.

Introduction: Introduce Druid Hills and Underground Atlanta

Body 1: Compare the Druid Hills community and Underground Atlanta.How do these built environments impact the Atlanta communities?

Body 2: How do these built environments impact the Atlanta economy.

Body 3: How will built environments impact the city of Atlanta in the future.

Conclusion: Restate the argument and explain how these environments will continue to prosper.

 

Annotated Bib. #9

"Study: Atlanta Traffic 7th Worst in Nation." Writ. Jay Black. News 95.5 AM750 WSB. Atlanta. 13 Feb. 2013.

“Study: Atlanta Traffic 7th Worst in Nation.” Writ. Jay Black. News 95.5 AM750 WSB. Atlanta. 13 Feb. 2013.

In this blog entry, Darin Givins expresses his thoughts about Atlanta’s built environment. In the opening, Givins examines an interview with Jim Durrett of the Buckhead Community Improvement by the website Curbed Atlanta, who expressed his thoughts on how there needs to be an improvement on transportation. In this entry Givins insists that unless the built environment is accommodated into an alternative that is more pedestrian and bicycle friendly, then people will continue to rely on cars for transportation, creating traffic. He then goes on to make an amusing point about public transportation and the trouble Atlantans often seem to have an understanding of traffic flow and city form. He believes the reason Atlantans view the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) as a transit system that doesn’t go anywhere is because the design of the city is sprawling, encouraging the use of cars more while discouraging walking, bicycling, and public transportation. Lastly, Givins discusses how telecommuting is an answer and how it isn’t a reasonable solution because it doesn’t promote smart growth and alternative transportation. It’s viewed more as an anti-smart and transit system that isn’t showing much progress. I found this blog entry knowledgeable by I never thought about the built environment centered around transportation for metropolitan cities as mentioned in this blog entry.

 

Givens, Darin. “Atlurbanist.” Web log post. Reducing Car Trips in Atlanta The Quote in This… ATL Urbanist, May 2015. Web. 10 Apr. 2016

Annotated Bib. #8

"Have You Spotted A Lost Playing Field?" Kingdom FM & Aiir. United Kingdom. 19 Feb. 2015.

“Have You Spotted A Lost Playing Field?” Kingdom FM & Aiir. The United Kingdom. 19 Feb. 2015.

“The Importance of Green Spaces in Improving the Health of Communities.” The Playing Field, November 26, 2014. http://theplayingfield.org.uk/importance-green-spaces-improving-health-communities/.

In this article, “The Importance of Green Spaces in Improving Health of communities,” advocates and confirms that green spaces are essential in healthy development for communities. Local green spaces offer endless opportunities and provide people with great experiences while doing outdoor recreational activities or socializing interaction. There are various ways that green spaces impacts an environment positively while there are some negative influences due to a lack of green spaces. Having access to green spaces may influence those living in that particular area to be more physically active. According to the report from the UCL institute of Health Equity, having green spaces provide great health benefits such as an improved immune system, better sleep, and can lead to saving money in the future for physical and mental health problems. Also, those who live in deprived areas do not have access to green spaces, and the lack of green spaces can lead to depression. Lastly, this article discusses the importance of allowing the community to decide on what they want in their community, and if their needs have been met, they will use and look after the facilities that are provided. This article was interesting to me by these communities in The United Kingdom get to decide on what will benefit them the most in their community, while here in America if you come from a small town, you don’t get to make those decisions the city board member’s do.

Annotated Bib. #7

Thomas, Kelsey. “PHOTOS: Urban Design Gets People Moving – Next City.” Next City. Accessed April 8, 2016. https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/urban-design-health-photography-competition-winners.

Thomas, Kelsey. “PHOTOS: Urban Design Gets People Moving – Next City.” Next City. Accessed April 8, 2016. https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/urban-design-health-photography-competition-winners.

In this article Kelsey Thomas shared the following photo as the winner of a contest that Penn Institute for Urban Research and the Center for Public Health initiated. The contest was designed for photographers to capture the ways public spaces and environments promote health and well-being to get people involved with outdoor life. The photo above was taken be Ben Chrisinger in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. There were two other runner-ups who captured pictures at a Philadelphia waterfront pop-up park and Schuylkill River Trail. The purpose of the contest was to demonstrate how various urban environments make people be physically involved and active. From the lakes and forest trails to the community recreational centers, how do urban environments keep people from being couch potatoes to physically active. I found this article interesting and very intriguing to get you thinking more about how people use their surroundings to become more active instead of sitting around.

Better Online Living Through Content Moderation

Reporting Abuse on a Facebook Individual User." State of California - Department of Justice - Kamala D. Harris Attorney General. Department of Justice, 2015. Web. 3 Apr. 2016.

Reporting Abuse on a Facebook Individual User.” State of California – Department of Justice – Kamala D. Harris Attorney General. Department of Justice, 2015. Web. 8 Apr. 2016.

King, Melissa. “Better Online Living Through Content Moderation,” Model View Culture 28 (October 14, 2015). Web: https://modelviewculture.com/pieces/better-online-living-through-content-moderation.

In the article, ”Better Online Living Through Content Moderation,” written by Melissa King, she discusses the uses of content/ trigger warnings, block and ignore functions, block lists and privacy options that help to improve one’s computer experience by dismissing content they don’t want to see. She goes on to explain in further detail as to what kind of people benefit from these content managers, such as those with limited patience, anyone who wants to improve their online experience, and those who suffer from PTSD, who avoid triggers or topics that could cause anxiety.

King speaks about how those who prefer to use content moderates are highly criticized as being too “sensitive” or “weak,” which creates this stigma for people to expose themselves to various aspects they cannot handle or view as too much. Some of these things that can be considered too much are cyber-attacks, violence, and graphic content. In most cases these things arise from a disagreement or intentional provoking of violence or attacks.

Next in this article, she discusses the arguments posed against content control from the opposing forces. One major argument being that people tend to blow abuse and harassment out of proportion and therefore should remain less sensitive regarding coping. The opposing forces believe that for a society to be stronger, there must be an environment of free exposure without content moderation. To have gradual exposure to this particular content is likened to that of Exposure Theory, a term that King describes as being able to overcome these triggers and treat fears. In other words, the more you are exposed to an environment, the less you will be affected. This notion isn’t true when it comes to PTSD victims because overexposure will magnify their trauma rather than reduce it when faced with triggering content. Also, she mentions about how open the younger generations are too complex and emotional content and how they suffer from a bigger pushback against political and sensitivity correctness in the Western culture.

King then goes on to discuss how ignorance is depicted through media and myth about the truths of PTSD and how this disorder isn’t something that only veterans suffer from, but can also derive from cyber-attacks. She references a statement from a psychologist who specializes in anxiety disorders by the name of Caleb Lack, who spoke out about the truth of disorders and the effects cyber-bullying has on mental health. She then discusses the uses of block lists towards users and hate groups, how to opt into one that’s suitable for your need, and the most compelling arguments against them that come from those who haven’t done any threatening or harassing.

Finally, King concludes her article with the discussion of how ferocious online attacks can be and the dangers they prose can even go as far as harassing and calling family, and threatening to post personal information. Women are considered fair game when it comes to these type of attacks as stated by King and it is best that they utilize content and blocking tools to avoid digital abuse. Which is why having tools such as block lists and content modifiers are useful for those who desire and want to use them for the purpose of security to protect themselves and their mental health from the displeasing and anxiety-triggering trolling and cyber-bulling.

Color Walking

James. "Beatiful Nature Photography Forest." Wallpapers. Project4Gallery. N.p., 20 Mar. 2016. Web. 3 Apr. 2016. .

James. “Beautiful Nature Photography Forest.” Wallpapers. Project4Gallery. N.p., 20 Mar. 2016. Web. 3 Apr. 2016. <http://project4gallery.com/beautiful-nature-photography-forest/>.

Color Walking: http://www.radiolab.org/story/214709-color-walk/

The article, “Color Walking,” written by Phia Bennin and Brendan McMullan, is about an experiment that gives the reader a new insight about colors and their environment. In the introduction of this article, the authors tell the reader about how William Burroughs discovered a concept to inspire his students. The idea is pretty simple, just walk outside and pick a color that catches your eye. Once that color catches your eye; start following it and watch your surroundings pop as you watch where it takes you. This experiment can make you look at someone’s hair color, to someone’s shoes, which really makes a person feel more in tune with their environment.

The experiment created by Burroughs is a very easy experiment to test and can be very exviting and fun. The authors shared their personal experience by testing it out in WYNC, in lower Manhattan on a Sunday afternoon. However, they didn’t stick to just one color, they switched colors regularly because it was leading then to other colors. One color that kept leading them other colors was various shades of blue. Also, they state how the experiment left the colors hung in their brains and eyes to leave them with a memory of what they saw.

Lastly, the authors explain in detail how the colors they seen seemingly had a lasting effect on them. Seeing colors and following them can show people things that they never really noticed was in front of them and bring them to new places. This experiment can make people see things and the world in a new perspective. William Burroughs experiment is successful in implementing inspiration and having people see the world from a different perspective in new color.

Built Environment Description Interior: Underground Atlanta

Eloy, Michell. "City To Sell Underground Atlanta." 90.1 WABE Atlanta's NPR Station [Atlanta] 19 Mar. 2014: n. pag. Print.

Eloy, Michell. “City To Sell Underground Atlanta.” 90.1 WABE Atlanta’s NPR Station [Atlanta] 19 Mar. 2014: n. pag. Print.

Givens, Darin. "Tuba Christmas at Underground Atlanta." ATL Urbanist. N.p., 8 Dec. 2012. Web. 2 Apr. 2016.

Givens, Darin. “Tuba Christmas at Underground Atlanta.” ATL Urbanist. N.p., 8 Dec. 2012. Web. 2 Apr. 2016.

The Underground Atlanta is a shopping and entertainment district located in the Five Points neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia. This historic landmark built in 1969 by a group of Atlanta businessman that has undergone various restorations and renovations. Underground Atlanta is rich in history that dates back to the Civil War when the city began to rebuild itself around the railroad tracks. Most of the storefronts in Underground Atlanta date back to the late 19th and 20th centuries. The more I observed this landmark I realized that there is a lot that meets the average eye of what the Underground Atlanta district has to offer. However, I came across many things I didn’t know about the Underground Atlanta district as I began watching, listening, and feeling this environment that surrounded me.

 

Upon entering Underground Atlanta, the first thing I noticed immediately was how quiet and isolated the upper level was. Once I got on the escalator to go down to the lower level of Alabama Street, I noticed that the food court was packed with local Atlantans and tourists, and that the dark, red brick streets were lined with concrete sidewalks. The atmosphere was very noisy with people coming and going and lounging around in front of the storefronts. As I explored around the Underground Atlanta district more, I saw that there is a variety of storefronts and vendor stalls along the Lower Alabama Street. The scenery of Underground gives you the feeling as if you’re walking on a regular street shopping at a strip mall. Underground Atlanta host various events including musical concerts at many venues and bars. The vibe that the Underground Atlanta District gave off was very a friendly one despite how noisy it was on the far left end for people to enter using the street level escalator.

 

Overall, the Underground Atlanta district is a friendly and adventurous place to explore that a perfect combination of a mixed atmosphere of shopping and entertainment. I do not think this site targets a particular user, although I mainly saw African- American’s walking around talking and shopping throughout the upper and lower street levels. However, based on the layout of this historic district and the retail and restaurant outlets it has to offer, I would say this area is a great combination of history, entertainment, and shopping and caters to the middle class. This site made me feel welcome, and I would not hesitate to return again soon just to shop and explore the upper level more.