Author: jrivero

AI Fiction

February 12, 2026 / jrivero

I chose “The Pedestrian” by Ray Bradbury and “In the Forests of Memory” by Lily Yu to read and analyze. Both stories have a very similar feeling to them and follow a similar pattern. Both creators write about an advancement in technology in the future and how humanity might become with technology advanced in these ways.

With how it develops in “In the Forests of Memory”, Sunny spends her time talking to projections of people who have been lost, but they only have so much responsiveness and are only projections in the end. The projections are also meant for the family of the lost. In the end, with having no one who remembers her, this shows the hollowness of the relationships with technology and AI. It can mimic humanity, but it cannot replace it. She also does not get a projection herself because of limited money, this also emphasizes the idea of this advanced technology as a product, not something to help humanity, but something to sell and please those better off. The advanced technology in the story does not balance society or help those who are poor and lonely, but the opposite. A lot of this reflects how technology and AI works right now. Like the false idea that the AI projections mimic real connections, many people become dependent on AI or try to mimic humanity and human connection with it. The way we distribute technology works the same way too, not to those who use or need it, but as a product to those who can afford it. Some people say this could help people who have less resources, but in the end there are many ways that this hurts those people.

In “The Pedestrian”, Bradbury feels like he’s making some similar statements. Instead of AI projections, there is no one for the character to talk to as he roams the street. People are still replacing human connection with technology in this story, but by staying in with their screens. The only interaction the character has is with an AI cop car. This AI cannot understand the human because of him acting differently than expected. This again shows how technology can limit humanity instead of progressing it. Both stories show impressive technology and AI, similar but much farther than what we’ve recently developed, and show us similar issues we can already see today with what we have now. This technology is impressive and can move humanity forward in some ways, but there are many ways it is distributed and used dangerously and unfairly, and can be forced upon us at times.

Web Accessibility

February 2, 2026 / jrivero

I chose the Campus Recreation page. For accessibility issues listed from WAVE, there is an empty link, some contrast errors, and a decent amount of redundant links. Many students or people looking into applying would want to access this page. I think the accessibility of actually getting to this page or knowing that this is where certain things are located is a bit of an issue. Student Life doesn’t have a drop down list to show what the contents are like some other things, and then you have to click on that, Recreation and Healthy Living, and then Campus Recreation. Some of the contents also seem like they could belong under club activities, like eSports. I didn’t know this page was there or that we had some of these things. I think having a drop down list under Student Life or clearer categories and ways to find them could help.

Interest Statement

January 21, 2026 / jrivero

Looking through the syllabus and topics, I saw a few things that seemed interesting throughout. I think Unit 2, with Thinking (with) Machines seems interesting for a few reasons, especially because of the AI sections. I have a lot of mixed feelings about different types of AI, but that makes me more interested to learn and have more information on things like this. I’m hoping to come out of this class more informed on AI and everything surrounding it, especially in the sense of the digital humanities. I think Digitization Technologies is also an interesting topic that I haven’t thought enough about before this class. Historical archiving and stuff like that are interesting and I look forward to learning more about it and digitization and accessibility. I think accessibility in the Audience and Accessibility topic seems interesting as well. Going into computer science, things like this will likely be important in the field for me, like universal design and many aspects of audience and accessibility.

Josh Rivero

January 14, 2026 / jrivero

Hi, I’m Josh. I’m working on my computer science major and psychology minor. I’m from the area, but lived in Michigan for a while before going back to school. I like drawing, video games, and music. I’ve been around the U.S. for gaming tournaments and concerts. I work at an eSports lounge in Missouri. I love animals and grew up on a farm, but right now I just have my 1 dog, Marnie, with my partner.

For social media, I use some Twitter, Tiktok, Bluesky, and Discord, but I mostly just follow stuff for the games I play or art. I talk to people through Snapchat a decent amount, although most of the actual pictures I send are just of my dog.