Module 4 - Digital Identity or "You should see my OTHER skin."

This week's module was all about one's "digital identity." Though this term is not unfamiliar to me, the extent to which digital identities interact and influence our actual, analog identities was. I also did not realize how many people in the tech industry are working towards the "Avatar Dream", as the article put it. Though I made mention of it in my Hypothes.is annotation, I did wonder if the "Avatar Dream" would be successful in terms of equity. So many women and POC's are run out of online spaces, or simply pushed out, while louder, more aggressive voices steal the spotlight. If people are designing AI tech have preconceived biases, (and they do, we know this) than how can Avatar's and digital identities reach all people, regardless of race, sex, gender orientation, sexual orientation and every other social indicator? There is of course, no easy answer, but speaking about it is the first big hurdle to social change.

This week, I completed a Challenge using Story Maps. I struggled with the Technology, not in terms of understanding how it worked, but its actual, technical capability. I wanted to include my own pictures from my trip, but they are extremely high quality, and the technology wouldn't even allow me to upload them. I've included the story map below, but I have also included a gallery of the photos I would have included, if I could have.

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Here are my two Daily Creates: (both involve cute animals so prepare yourself)

My Dialogue with Paul and Amy can be seen below, where I stretched my skills and ability some more, and emceed The Discover Channel's "Killing Kennedy." Enjoy!